Best of India & Bhutan - 14 Days

Saturday. Upon arrival into Delhi, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or independently explore this bustling capital.
Overnight: Delhi

Meet your guide and the rest of the group at the welcome meeting this morning. Then we head out to enjoy a full day tour of Old and New Delhi. Highlights include Humayun's Tomb, Jama Masjid - India’s oldest and largest mosque, Raj Ghat - the site of Gandhi’s cremation in Old Delhi, Rajpath and India Gate. Tonight, we gather for a group Namaste dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Delhi  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Delhi - Jaipur. Bidding farewell to Delhi we drive to the Pink City of Jaipur today. After hotel check in we head out to explore the bustling capital of Rajasthan, visiting the ornate City Palace and Jantar Mantar - an ancient yet cleverly designed space observatory. Keep an eye out for snake charmers along the way.
Overnight: Jaipur  |  Breakfast

Early this morning there's the option to sail over the hilltop forts, palaces and roof tops of Jaipur on an exhilarating hot air balloon ride. Then we travel beyond Jaipur to explore the stunning 16th century Amber Fort, perched on a hillside overlooking the dusty plains below. Heading back to Jaipur we stop at a cotton weaving house en route to see a demonstration of fabric dyeing and block printing.
Overnight: Jaipur  |  Breakfast

Jaipur - Abhaneri - Bharatpur. Today we travel to the village of Abhaneri to see Chand Baori, the largest and deepest step well in the world, which has a staggering 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. Continuing our journey to Bharatpur, we stop en route to meet the pupils of Adarsh Vidya Mandir school (if open), where we operate our ‘Change for Children’ programme. In Bharatpur there's time to freshen up before enjoying a leisurely bicycle rickshaw ride through Keoladeo Ghana National Park.
Overnight: Bharatpur  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Bharatpur - Agra. This morning we drive to Agra, stopping en route to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned imperial capital of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. Built between 1569 and 1585, it has been deserted for more than four centuries due to a lack of water. Arriving into Agra, we visit the impressive Agra Fort before making our way to the spectacular Taj Mahal. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, who died in childbirth in 1631, the Taj Mahal is described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love.
Overnight: Agra  |  Breakfast

Agra - Delhi. Today we travel back to Delhi. Upon arrival the rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax or independently explore the city.
Overnight: Delhi  |  Breakfast

Saturday. Delhi - Paro. Our tour of India concludes today. Transfer to Delhi airport for your flight to Paro in Bhutan.

Please note: The flight from Delhi - Paro is not included in the cost of this tour. Drukair - Royal Bhutan Airlines fly direct. Please provide us with your flight details and you will be met at Paro airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Paro  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Paro - Thimphu. We begin our sightseeing in Bhutan with a tour of the National Museum, which is perched on a hilltop within the old watch tower Ta Dzong. Then we head to the impressive Rinphung Dzong, which is the backdrop for the Hollywood film Little Buddha. This afternoon we drive to Thimphu and visit the bustling weekend market. From Friday onwards vendors from surrounding villages travel to Thimphu to display their wares until Sunday afternoon when the market ends.
Overnight: Thimphu  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bhutan's captivating capital is the kingdom's most modern city and yet it has retained the unique character of a traditional Bhutanese town. Highlights of today's guided tour include the Memorial Chorten - a beautiful stupa built in the memory of Bhutan’s third King, Drubthob Nunnery, the Folk Heritage Museum and the Takin Preserve, which is a wildlife reserve for the Takin, the national animal of Bhutan.

We'll also stop to visit various workshops and see a wide variety of beautifully hand-woven and crafted products at the Handicrafts Emporium. This evening we enjoy a cooking demonstration at our hotel and learn about the art of cooking tasty Bhutanese cuisine.
Overnight: Thimphu  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Thimphu - Punakha. This morning we travel through oak, pine and rhododendron forest to reach the Dochu La Pass (3050m). After a short break we continue on to the spectacular Punakha Valley, where we enjoy a leisurely 1.5 to 2 hour hike up to Chimi Lhakhang, the divine mad monk’s temple. After lunch we visit the impressive Punakha Dzong, which is located at the confluence of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers and still serves as the winter residence of the central monk body.

Later this afternoon we head to our camp site on the banks of the Mo Chu River, where there's time to relax and explore the natural surrounds. In the early evening you can opt for a hot stone bath served with local drinks, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Punakha (Premium Camp)  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Punakha - Paro. After an early breakfast we enjoy another scenic hike, for approximately 2 - 2.5 hours, up through rice fields and along the banks of the Mo Chu river to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a beautiful temple located on a hill with stunning views of the valley below. We continue our exploration of the area with a drive to the picturesque villages of Talo or Nobgang, perched along a ridge above the Punakha Valley.

After a picnic lunch we visit the Sangchen Dorji Lhendrup Nunnery, perched on a ridge with spectacular views of the Punakha and Wangdue valleys. There is a complex for the higher studies and meditation of the nuns within a temple, which also houses a 14 foot bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara, one of the largest in the country. After our visit to the nunnery, we drive to Paro.
Overnight: Paro  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we embark on an incredible 4 to 6 hour hike to the beautiful Taktshang Monastery (aka Tiger's Nest Monastery), which clings to the side of the rugged cliff face, at a dizzying height of 3,000m above sea level. The monastery is only accessible on foot or you can ride a pony part of the way (this must be arranged in advance by your guide). From the trail (2600m) we take a steep one hour walk up to a cafeteria where you can enjoy refreshments and wonderful views of Taktshang (2940m).

Those who wish to proceed further must travel on foot. The trail continues uphill for another 45 minutes to a high observation point (3140m) where there is a Chorten (stupa). From this vantage point, the lookout to the monastery is incredible and seems almost close enough to touch. Continuing down a flight of cliff-hanging steps on the narrow trail you’ll reach a beautiful waterfall that plunges down the deep chasm and alongside is a retreat hermitage, jammed dramatically into a rock crevice. Then climb up the flight of steep steps to the monastery.
Once inside the monastery, there are several shrines or temples to see with few monks in residence. After exploring the monastery we walk back to the cafeteria for lunch, before retracing our steps back to the road to journey back to Paro.
Overnight: Paro  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner