Day 1 to 1 – Arrive Delhi
Delhi is India’s bustling capital, political and cultural centre, with a population of almost 13 million and is bound to be a city that keeps you on your toes no matter what time of day it is!
Many dynasties have ruled here and they have all left their own legacies in the architecture, culture and monuments. The city has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times in its long history. Distances are long in the city and walking to places can be futile. Take a bike rickshaw or a motorised rickshaw to get around some of the sites. You can visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum or the infamous Red Fort, maybe make your way to Humayun’s Tomb in south Delhi, near Hazrat Nizamuddin station, one of Delhi’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A popular way to discover Delhi for many people is to take a bicycle rickshaw tour and check out the view from Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.
Included on your tour is an orientation walk through the Karol Burgh area in Delhi. This excursion is only available in the evening of the first day of your tour, before your pre-departure meeting. Ask a member of the reservations team for more details.
Tucan Travel’s group tours operate on a modular system with smaller tour sections joining the main tour throughout its duration. Please note that on this tour, you will join the main India and Nepal tour in Agra/Jaipur . Upon your arrival to Delhi, your Tour leader will have left information for you at the hotel reception and a time to meet the local Tucan Travel guide who will provide a brief pre- departure meeting and your bus/train tickets to join the main tour in Agra/Jaipur. The Tucan Travel local guide will also escort you to the bus/train station to ensure that your boarding is easy and problem free. Upon arrival at Agra/Jaipur you will be met by your Tour Leader who will escort you to the hotel to join your new friends at the hotel.
Included Excursions
,Evening walk around Karol Bagh
Optional Excursions
Red Fort – US$10 • Qutab Minar – US$10 • Gandhi Memorial Museum – free • National Museum – INR 150 • Jama Masjid – free (camera charge INR 200) • Humayun’s Tomb – INR 250 • Salam Balak Trust (This trust offers educational opportunities and meals to street children, teaching them trades and giving them the chance of a brighter future. If time allows your tour leader may bring you here or you can donate money through your tour leader.)
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Perfect or similar
Day 2 to 3 – Jaipur
Jaipur is Rajasthan’s capital and most visited city, and is a bustling, lively destination. It is known as the ‚pink city‘ because of its pink wash buildings although time has faded some of this colour. Make sure you check out the Old City with its bazaars, palaces and havelis. There’s also the popular Nahargarh (Tiger Fort) which is a small fort with towering walls. You may also wish to go on a group visit to Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is one of Jaipur’s most famous attractions – a five storey high Baroque- like structure built to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe the street scenes below, out of sight of the people below. The following day there is free time to view the city independently. Try the fresh fruit juices from the street markets (remember to ask for no water or ice!). You could shop for souvenirs and look out for the Meenakaari (enamel work) and Kundankaari (inlay work with gems), which are the two styles of jewellery made by local artisans. Alternatively you could wander around the old city taking in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Or why not visit the Amber Fort, which used to be the capital of the city.
Included Excursions
Visit Amber Fort,Visit to Birla Hindu Temple
Optional Excursions
Hawa Mahal – INR 50
Accommodation
2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Jai Niwas or similar
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 4 to 5 – Agra
Today you will travel by train to the industrial city of Agra, steeped in history and tradition, and home to the world-famous Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal never ceases to amaze all who visit to marvel at what is possibly the greatest testimonial to love and romance ever built. It was commissioned between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife.
There is more to Agra than monuments of love, and other popular attractions include the Agra Fort and Tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah. You will have free time in Agra to explore at your leisure or book some optional excursions. Your tour leader will offer suggestions and assist you with these.
You have the option to watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal – a truly incredible sight (this will be organised with your tour leader). You might also like to visit Fatehpur Sikri – a complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for 10 years. The day will be free to explore Agra further and admire some of Hinduism’s most holy sights.
Included Excursions
Entry & guided tour of the Taj Mahal,Evening Visit to Ram Temple
Optional Excursions
Fatehpur Sikiri guided tour – US$5 • Agra Fort – INR 300 • Sikandara – INR 150 • Akbar’s Mausoleum – INR 300 • Itmad-ud-Daula – INR 150
Accommodation
2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Mani Ram Palace or similar
Meals
2 Breakfast(s)
Day 6 to 7 – Orchha
In Orchha we will visit the Ram Temple as well as enjoying an heritage walk around the city. You can also visit the beautiful Fort. Built by the first King of Orchha in 1501, it was built on the banks of the Betwa River, surrounded by a battlement wall. It consists of intricate temples and a roof with eight domes on top. Along with the fort there are several other temples to enjoy or sit back and relax on the river.
Included Excursions
Orchha Heritage Walk
Optional Excursions
Jahaghir Mahal/Orchha Palace – US$6 • Rafting – US$7 (Seasonal) • Village Visit – US$6
Accommodation
2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Aditya or similar
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 8 to 8 – Basari Village
Get a feel for local life in the small village of Basari. Here we can enjoy a tour through Basari, discovering the makeshift religious shrines, the smell of incense wafting in the air. Visit a local school (except in school holidays), and discover the caste system that differentiates the houses.
A perfect place to get off the beaten track with friendly locals, Basari Village will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the big Indian cities, for an authentic Indian experience.
Included Excursions
Village Walk,Visit a local school (exc school holidays)
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Hammer Ghari or similar
Day 9 to 9 – Khajuraho
Khajuraho has been growing in popularity in recent years due to the nearby temple. Here exotic architecture has given the temple the nickname of the Kama Sutra temple. You will be able to view the sculptures here, watch the sound and light show in the evening and learn about the story behind the statues.
Included Excursions
,Walk about Khajuraho market
Optional Excursions
Western Group of Temples at the Kama Sutra – US$6 • Panna Tiger Reserve – US$30 • Sound and Light Show at the Kama Sutra Temple – US$6
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Siddharth Khajuraho or similar
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 10 to 10 – Overnight Train to Varanasi
After exploring Khajuraho we board an overnight train to the holy city of Varanasi.
Included Excursions
Entry & Guided Tour of Kama Sutra Temple
Accommodation
1 night(s) on overnight sleeper trains
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 11 to 11 – Varanasi
Varanasi is one of India’s most holy cities and attracts many Hindu pilgrims. We join the crowds along the holy ghats (steps leading down to the water) lining the sacred Ganges where pilgrims take a purifying dip in the river. We also can enjoy an evening boat trip to view the river in all its glory and the significance it plays in the lives of the people. The rest of the day is free to wander through the old city with its maze of narrow alleyways, and visit the temples of one of the oldest and longest inhabited cities in the world.
Included Excursions
Puja Ceremony & boat ride down the River Ganges
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Siddharth Varanasi or similar
Day 12 to 12 – Overnight Train to Delhi
After spending the morning exploring more of Varanasi, we board an overnight train back to Delhi where there’s time for some last minute souvenir shopping or to check out any sights you may have missed first time around.
Accommodation
1 night(s) on overnight sleeper trains
Day 13 to 13 – Delhi
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Perfect or similar
Day 14 to 14 – Depart Delhi
Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.
