Highlights of India & Nepal

Join your local leader on an excursion through Old Delhi. Ride the city’s metro system, then hop in a rickshaw to the busy marketplaces of Chandni Chowk. See the Jama Masjid, Delhi’s oldest mosque, before learning about the history of the Sikh religion at the Sheeshganj Gurudwara. Ask your trip leader for their recommendation on where to go for dinner.

Drive into Rajasthan and on to its capital, Jaipur, known as the ‘Pink City’. Take your time to explore this busy city filled with palaces and bazaars selling everything from jewellery and textiles to tea and spices. You might like to stop by the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), then head over to Jaipur's Royal City Palace and explore its extravagant rooms and apartments. Later, discover one of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur.

This morning, you might want to take an optional early morning hot air balloon experience. Cruising through the air overlooking the countryside is often a highlight of visiting Jaipur. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Amber Fort. Set on a hilltop overlooking Maota Lake, the fort is an authentic example of Rajput architecture, and the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) is one of its more spectacular buildings.

Leave the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur behind and drive to the Lotwara Village in Dausa district of Rajasthan. This town, founded in the 17th century retains its traditional temples and is known as the ‘Peacock Town’ of Rajasthan due to the dense population of peacocks. Take a guided walk around the Old Quarter, learning about rural Indian life off the tourist trail. Be sure to visit the local stalls along the way and sample seasonal local sweets made from Indian ingredients, including petha (pumpkin), jaggery (organic sugar) and gazak (sesame seeds). Tonight, you’ll stay in a restored heritage property where dinner is included.

This morning, depart Delhi via train to Agra – home to India’s most iconic building, the Taj Mahal. This 17th-century palace was built in the style of Mughal architecture and surrounded by trimmed English gardens. You’ll get your chance to see it up close on a rickshaw tour across Agra, whizzing past the city’s many important sites and busy chowks (marketplaces). Later this afternoon, visit Akbar's Mausoleum – a red sandstone and marble tomb built to honour one of the great Mughal emperors, Akbar. Inlaid with intricate patterns, both inside and out, the tomb is another of Agra’s impressively striking monuments.

Today, you’ll get a chance to see the beauty of the Agra Fort up close. Known for being one of the most impressive forts in India, over time, the Agra Fort has been used as a military base, a palace and a prison. Later today, get on a train to Jhansi, where you’ll travel through traditional rural Indian landscapes to reach the town of Orchha. Located on the banks of the Betwa River, Orchha was once a hunting area that became a site of 16th-century palaces and temples. Take the afternoon to get settled before you visit the Ram Raja Temple puja (prayer) ceremony at the shrine at the heart of the city.

Step out into Orchha for a visit to the Orchha Palace. Built by Bir Sing Deo for his friend Jehangir, the great Mughal ruler, the palace is an important building in Orchha. While inside, look out for the grand Iwans (domes) that were built large enough to allow the movement of war elephants. Later, you’ll visit Taragram – a paper-making factory that offers a way for local women to earn an income by using wood pulp and recycled clothing to make paper. After a busy day, enjoy the atmosphere at your Orchha accommodation – a restored heritage property.

Prepare your tastebuds because today is all about food. Take part in a cooking demonstration run by local partners and learn about the regional specialty dishes, flavours and ingredients. After you’ve eaten your fill, the rest of the day is yours to finish sightseeing in Orchha. Maybe ask your leader for their advice on which temples to visit. This evening, hop aboard an overnight train from Jhansi and head to Prayagraj (Allahabad) – the starting point for your Ganges boat journey.

Arrive in Allahabad this morning and make your way to the Ganges by small riverboats for a cruise down the river. The River Ganges is very important in India, not only because it’s a sacred place in Hinduism but also because it connects millions of people to their livelihoods. A support crew will be on hand as you cruise down the waterway, passing village communities and watching life on the river. When you arrive at your campsite, sit back and relax, you might like to read a book or play some cricket. Then, watch the sun go down over a vegetarian meal prepared by the boatmen.

Leaving your boats at Chunar, transfer by private vehicle to Varanasi – one of the holiest cities in India. Varanasi is the ultimate destination for Hindu pilgrims who travel far and wide to step foot in this spiritual city. Your leader will take you on a walking tour of the Old City, passing temples and shrines, stopping to watch as rituals are performed. This evening, see the spirituality of this city in motion at the sunset candle flower ceremony. The daily ritual involves people sitting a small candle on a leaf which is then placed on the water, accompanied by chanting, songs and fire performances.

Today is an early start but watching the sunrise across the Ganges from a boat is well worth the alarm. The rest of the day is free to explore Varanasi. There’s an option to take a trip to nearby Sarnath – one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. Sarnath is where Buddha preached his message of the path to enlightenment and features stupas (Buddhist shrines) and museums to explore. Or perhaps visit Ram Nagar Fort – a crumbling 17th-century fort famous for being the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras. There are many ways to soak up your time in Varanasi. You could fill your day wandering the laneways behind the ghats, shopping for local silk or even taking a yoga class.

Today, wave goodbye to India and say namaste to Nepal, as you cross the border at Gorakhpur. This will be a longer journey, so maybe get stuck into a good book or your favourite podcast. When you arrive in Nepal, take a private bus to your hotel in Lumbini – the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and one of his four holy places of pilgrimage. Later today, travel to the Lumbini Heritage Park, home to the Ashoka Pillars, where you’ll hop on cycle rickshaws to the Maya Devi Temple – the actual site where Lord Buddha is thought to have been born.

Today, your journey continues as you travel by private vehicle through the Terai to the Amaltari Madhyavarti village homestay – your stay for the night. A well-known Indigenous group in Nepal, the Tharu community who live here are known for their distinctive culture and lifestyle. When you arrive, have lunch in the community with your group, get to know some of the locals and then enjoy some free time to freshen up. After, you’ll head out on a 4WD drive to the lake to enjoy some afternoon tea. Learn about village life in the community over dinner tonight and sit down for a home-cooked, traditional meal made by the locals.

Start your day with a guided walk around the Tharu community with one of its members. Your local guide will show your group the Indigenous architectural styles, as well as the farms and produce used to feed and economically sustain the community. Along the way, you might learn a little more about life here as they share their customs, values and stories with you. After, say goodbye to your hosts, and head for your lodge in Chitwan National Park via Twenty Thousand Lakes (Bis Hajaar Tal) – Nepal’s second-largest natural wetland and a great introduction to the wildlife of Chitwan. Look out for migratory birds, crocodiles, and, if you’re lucky, an Indian rhino.

After breakfast, take a walk to the Rapti River, where you’ll be taken on a boat or jeep safari through the national park. Keep your eyes on the sky for the many brilliantly coloured birds of the area. Then, sit down for a picnic lunch by the river. Keep your eyes peeled for gharials – this fish-eating crocodile has long been hunted for the supposed aphrodisiac qualities of its snout. Learn more about them when you drop by the crocodile breeding centre. Once back at your accommodation, there’ll be time to relax or to take part in optional activities offered by the park. Tonight, you’ll be treated to a cultural performance by the local Tharu community.

Today, you'll travel by bus from Chitwan to Nepal's capital – Kathmandu. Try to grab a window seat for this trip, as the views are not to be missed. Look out over Nepal’s rural landscape of rice terraces, mountain-side villages and flowing rivers – all with the backdrop of the Himalayan mountain range. Arrive in the city and get your bearings, maybe with a walk through the narrow streets to the traditional architecture of Durbar Square. Or stop for a shop at the markets and bazaars. While in Nepal, make sure you sample the local favourite food - momo (Nepali dumplings). Ask your trip leader for a place to grab dinner.

Today you’ll head out to Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine – the ancient Swayambhunath Temple, known to tourists as the Monkey Temple. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes that stare out from the top have become the quintessential symbol of Nepal. You’ll also join the pilgrims at Bodhnath Stupa – the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temples. Then, visit Pashupatinath – the most famous Hindu temple in the country – located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here you will see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating and pilgrims bathing. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy Kathmandu. One way to spend your time is to take a scenic flight through the mountains – great if you’re not able to take on a trek.

Your adventure through Nepal and India ends today and you're free to leave the accommodation at any time.