Highlights of Northern India & Nepal

Begin your adventure in pulsating Delhi. It’s a city split in two, with historic Old Delhi in the north and the nation’s capital, New Delhi, in the south. Around 6pm, we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant. Want more time in Delhi? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative

Head out after breakfast for a tour of Old Delhi, starting outside Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, before being guided through the narrow streets of Old Delhi, through the Kinari Bazar (or we can explore by rickshaw, additional cost). We finish at Jama Masjid and learn about the history of the building. Those interested can enter the mosque, let your tour leader know if you’d like to and they can assist with arranging (fees may apply). Continue exploring the city in the afternoon, beginning with New Delhi, visiting the tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun, which was built by his widow Hamida Banu Begam and is now a World Heritage site. We then drive past fine colonial buildings, including Rashtrapati Bhawan, a 320-acre (130ha) estate built by British architect Edwin Lutyens in 1931, which comprises the official residence of the President of India; Parliament House; and India Gate, a memorial dedicated to soldiers who died during the First World War. Return to the hotel late afternoon with the evening free.

We head on the road after breakfast for our drive (approximately five to seven hours, depending on traffic) to the Pink City of Jaipur. On arrival, we check into the hotel and can relax for the evening.

Enjoy a full day to explore Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and one of the most attractive cities in India. Built in the late 18th century, it is a planned city of broad sandstone avenues that were later painted pink. Early risers can join a dawn walking tour as the Pink City begins to wake. Visiting different chowkris (blocks) within the walled city, we can see the local people start their day and watch the rituals that take place in early morning markets and small temples. We can also interact with different artisan communities, while also sampling local food and drink. We return to the hotel in time to join anyone preferring a more leisurely start for a later breakfast and to freshen up, before the whole group heads out mid-morning. We visit one of the most intriguing sites in India, Jantar Mantar (Jaipur Observatory), an assembly of immense marble-and-brass astronomical instruments in a pleasant garden. We also see the impressive landmark, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Then travel just outside the main city to the Amber Palace, an imposing hilltop fort above a lake with large courtyards, finely decorated interiors and a Chamber of Mirrors. The evening is free for you to relax.

Begin with an early breakfast before driving (four to five hours) to Agra. We arrive this afternoon and start our half-day sightseeing tour, first visiting Agra Fort, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the white-marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of Emperor Akbar’s sons and successors: Jehangir and Shah Jahan. Later, we visit the Taj Mahal for sunset, when the white-marble exterior is illuminated by the soft light and the crowds are smaller. After admiring it from the outside, we head inside, with a chance to explore the beautiful inner chambers and mausoleum, while our tour leader shares the history of this New World Wonder.

Rise early to reach Agra station for our 6am Vande Bharat Express train to Varanasi. Rest and relax on board before we arrive around 1pm and transfer to our hotel. On the river Ganges, Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India and stands at the centre of the Hindu universe. As such, the city lives and breathes Hinduism: there are thousands of pilgrims, wandering holy men (Sadhus), religious elders and casual visitors. There is time to visit emporiums specialising in silks and brocades or maybe take a massage by the riverbanks. In the afternoon, we visit the nearby Sarnath Temple. The main monument here is the Dhamekh Stupa, the spot where Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon. The evening is free to relax. Upgrade to a premium room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Varanasi, on the Ganges, is one of the holiest cities in India and a key destination in Hinduism: there are thousands of pilgrims, wandering holy men (Sadhus), religious leaders and casual visitors. Explore the narrow lanes and many temples or watch the Hindu ceremonies that take place around the clock. We rise early this morning, just before dawn, and take a boat onto the Ganges. On this trip, we see the city wake up and the extraordinary ghats (the steps leading down to the river), where thousands of Hindu pilgrims come every morning to submerge themselves in the river’s holy waters. In the evening, witness an aarti ceremony from the banks, in which priests wave lamps, chant and ring bells and devotees join the rituals. Upgrade to a premium room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

The adventure comes to an end this morning at check-out. Unless, of course, you’d like to join our exciting extension, in which you spend four days hiking in the Annapurna region, taking in magnificent mountain views as you pass through Gurung villages. This extension would commence from day 13, starting in Pokhara. Speak to your sales representative to book.