Itinerary
- Day 1
Airport Transfer to Delhi
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to the hotel. From there, you'll spend the day walking through Old Delhi's historic sites like the Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Raj Ghat, and Gurudwara. The rickshaw ride through the spice market gives you a real sense of how busy and vibrant the area is. After grabbing lunch, head to New Delhi where you can see India Gate and check out the Diplomatic District with Parliament House and the Secretarial Buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Old Delhi monuments - Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Gurudwara
- Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi narrow streets with stop at spice market
- Sightseeing of New Delhi - India Gate and Diplomatic District
Landmarks/POIs Jama Masjid Red Fort Raj Ghat Gurudwara India Gate Parliament House - Day 2
Delhi to Jaipur
Following breakfast, you'll drive toward Jaipur, known as the 'pink city' because Maharaja Jai Singh had everything painted that color back in the day. Once there, a local guide shows you around the city. You'll also visit Galta Gi, a temple with monkeys hanging around in the hills nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Local sightseeing of Jaipur
- Visit to Galta Gi - monkey temple among the hills
Optional Activities
- Cooking classes in Jaipur
Landmarks/POIs Galta Gi - Day 3
Jaipur
After breakfast, a local guide takes you out to see Jaipur's main sights. Amber Fort sits up in the hills and offers great views over the city. The City Palace complex has several courtyards and museums to walk through. You'll also see Jantar Mantar, an old astronomical observatory, the Gaitor royal tombs, and Jal Mahal, a water palace. The Hawa Mahal with its 1000 small windows is the most recognizable building. Later, you'll have time to shop at local markets.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Local sightseeing of Jaipur with English-speaking guide
- Visit to Amber Fort
- Visit to City Palace
- Visit to Jantar Mantar - Astronomical Observatory
- Visit to Gaitor tombs - Royal tombs
- Visit to Jal Mahal - Water palace
- Visit to Hawa Mahal
- Shopping at local market
Landmarks/POIs Amber Fort City Palace Jantar Mantar Gaitor tombs Jal Mahal Hawa Mahal - Day 4
Jaipur to Agra
You'll leave for Agra after breakfast, stopping at Fathepur Sikri on the way. Your driver points out this UNESCO heritage palace complex before you continue on. Once in Agra, a guide meets you for local sightseeing, starting with Agra Fort, which is one of India's most impressive forts and also UNESCO-listed.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Fathepur Sikri Heritage UNESCO palace complex
- Local sightseeing of Agra
- Visit to Agra Fort
Landmarks/POIs Fathepur Sikri Agra Fort - Day 5
Agra to Varanasi
It's an early start to catch the sunrise at the Taj Mahal. After that, you'll head back to the hotel for breakfast. Later in the day, you'll drive to Delhi to catch a domestic flight heading to Varanasi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Taj Mahal at sunrise
Landmarks/POIs Taj Mahal - Day 6
Varanasi and Sarnath
Your morning starts with a boat ride on the Ganges to see the ghats and cremation areas. Back at the hotel for breakfast, then you'll drive 6 km to Sarnath, a major Buddhist site where Buddha gave his first sermon. You'll walk through Dhamek Stupa, check out the museum, and see Chaukhandi Stupa. Later you return to Varanasi to visit Alamgir Mosque, Dashashwamedh Ghat, and Bharat Mata Temple. Come evening, take a boat cruise watching the Aarti fire ceremony on the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat ride on Ganges River in morning with views of ghats and cremation places
- Visit to Sarnath - site of Buddha's first sermon
- Visit to Dhamek Stupa
- Visit to Sarnath Museum
- Visit to Chaukhandi Stupa
- Visit to Alamgir Mosque
- Visit to Dashashwamedh Ghat
- Visit to Bharat Mata Temple
- Evening boat cruise on Ganga River watching Aarti ceremony
Landmarks/POIs Ganges River Sarnath Dhamek Stupa Chaukhandi Stupa Alamgir Mosque Dashashwamedh Ghat Bharat Mata Temple - Day 7
Varanasi to Lumbini
After breakfast, you'll drive to Lumbini. When you arrive, check into your hotel, have dinner, and settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Lumbini - Day 8
Lumbini to Chitwan National Park
Following breakfast, you'll visit the birthplace of Buddha and look around the temples in this complex. Then you travel to Chitwan National Park, Asia's largest park. It has 450 bird species, four types of deer, leopards, sloth bears, wild boars, one-horned rhinos, and Royal Bengal Tigers. You'll spend time seeing the wildlife and different plants before dinner at the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Buddha birth site and temple complex
- Travel to Chitwan National Park
Landmarks/POIs Lumbini - Buddha birthplace Chitwan National Park - Day 9
Chitwan National Park to Pokhara
In the morning, you can choose between riding an elephant or taking a jeep safari through the park to see wildlife. After breakfast at the hotel, you'll travel to Pokhara, the gateway to the Himalayas and Nepal's second-largest valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning safari in Chitwan National Park - choice of elephant ride or jeep safari
Landmarks/POIs Chitwan National Park Pokhara - Day 10
Pokhara to Kathmandu
After breakfast, you'll explore Pokhara by taking a boat on Phewa Lake and stopping at Varahi Temple. Then visit local temples, the Devi Waterfall, and Bindhyabasini Temple, the oldest temple in the city. In the afternoon, travel to Kathmandu and stay overnight in the Thamel district.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat ride on Phewa Lake with stopover at Varahi Temple
- Sightseeing of local temples
- Visit to Devi Waterfall
- Visit to Bindhyabasini Temple
Optional Activities
- Early morning trekking to Sarangkot viewpoint
- Helicopter flight in the valley
- Paragliding in the valley
Landmarks/POIs Phewa Lake Varahi Temple Devi Waterfall Bindhyabasini Temple - Day 11
Kathmandu
You'll start at Durbar Square, the spiritual center of Kathmandu with the old royal palace and surrounding temples. From there, head to Swayambhunath, Nepal's most important and oldest Buddhist site with its famous Buddha eyes. Continue to Bodnath, the country's largest stupa. Finish at Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu pilgrimage site on the Bagmati River, dedicated to Shiva.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Durbar Square
- Visit to Swayambhunath - Buddhist stupa with eyes of Buddha
- Visit to Bodnath - largest stupa in Nepal
- Visit to Pashupatinath Temple - Hindu pilgrimage site
Landmarks/POIs Durbar Square Swayambhunath Bodnath Pashupatinath - Day 12
Kathmandu
An optional mountain flight over the Himalayas is available in the morning if you want panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks (250 USD per person). After breakfast, travel to Patan, the second-largest town in the valley, known for its temples with detailed carvings. You'll explore the royal palace complex that has a museum with bronze statues and religious items. Then go to Bhaktapur, the valley's third-largest city, which has kept its medieval character better than Patan.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Patan
- Sightseeing of Patan temples and shrines
- Visit to Patan royal palace complex and museum
- Travel to Bhaktapur
- Sightseeing of Bhaktapur
Optional Activities
- Morning mountain flight over the Himalayas - 250 USD per person
Landmarks/POIs Patan Bhaktapur - Day 13
Kathmandu Departure
You'll be transferred to Kathmandu airport to catch your flight back to Delhi.
