BEST OF NORTH INDIA

Overview

Location

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An arrival transfer from the airport to your hotel is included in your trip price. Depending on traffic, the drive to your hotel takes around an hour and a half (nearly 25 km).

Check-in time at your hotel is 12:00 pm. Early check-in is subject to availability.

The rest of the day is at leisure. If you have arrived early, take a look at our list of recommended optional activities.

The city of Delhi has always been a centre of politics for several distinct enclaves, the earliest being Indraprastha which dates back to nearly 5000 years in the Hindu epic Mahabharat. The latest was Old Delhi with its Mughal built monuments such as the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and New Delhi when the British shifted their capital from Kolkata in 1911. With imposing forts and mausoleums, temples of antiquity, museums, art galleries, upscale boutiques, luxury hotels, and not to forget, some of the world’s most lip-smacking cuisine, India’s capital is a treasure trove for every taste.

Please join your group leader for an important meeting at 06:00 pm. They will share important trip-related information with you and collect your passport, visa, and travel insurance details.

Today, your group leader will take you out for dinner at one of the local restaurants. Here, you will have the opportunity to know your fellow travellers while enjoying some of the most delicious north Indian cuisines.

Overnight stay in Delhi.

Visit the Sis Ganj Gurudwara that warmly welcomes everyone with no discrimination. Join the locals at the langar (community kitchen) that serves nearly 10,000 people daily for free. Sneeze your heart out at Asia’s largest spice market. There are spices you may never even have heard of, like Javitri and Khus-Khus.

Drive through the tree-lined avenues of New Delhi interspersed with grand colonial vistas and imperial structures of the British era. Our drive will take us past the Parliament House, the President’s House, and the India Gate. Locate the rustic 14th-century stepwell tucked away in the heart of a modern commercial hub.

Overnight stay in Delhi.

Inclusions

Optional Activities

After visiting Fatehpur Sikri, we drive to Bharatpur (around 20 km) railway station from where we travel by train (nearly 2 hours) to Sawai Madhopur, home of Ranthambore National Park. We arrive at Sawai Madhopur in the evening and check in to our hotel for a two-night stay.

Overnight Stay at the Hotel.

Optional Activities

After we visit the temple, we carry on with our drive to Jodhpur.

Located on the silk trade route of the 16th century, Jodhpur was the erstwhile capital of the royal kingdom of Marwar. Founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha on the edge of the great Indian Thar desert, Marwar was once ruled by the warrior Rathores, one of the premier Rajput clans that dominated Rajasthan for well over a thousand years.

Overnight stay in Jodhpur.

If you are a polo lover, the famous Jodhpurs were first designed here.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Optional Activities

This afternoon, ride camels out in the desert for a local Rajasthani experience. Enjoy the sunset from the dunes while you sip a cup of piping hot chai.

Overnight stay in Pushkar.

A fun walking tour of the pink city awaits you with your group leader. You won’t get bored while exploring the city’s awe-inspiring landmarks, characteristic markets teeming with people and activity, pungent smells, myriad sounds, and endless photo opportunities. Stop at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), probably the most photographed building in India after the Taj Mahal.

Overnight stay in Jaipur.

Included Meals

Tour the spectacular Amber Fort, one of the most popular places to visit in Jaipur. A perfect blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, the fort cradles a wide range of stunning palaces, impressive pavilions, open courtyards and beautiful gardens.The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight stay in Jaipur.

Included Meals

Agra was the seat of the royal Mughal court in the 16th and 17th century. The city rose to prominence under the reign of Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan, who built formidable forts, luxurious palaces, mighty mausoleums and beautiful gardens.

Overnight stay in Agra.

We will take a day train (nearly 3 hours) to Virangana Lakshmibai railway station (formerly Jhansi) and then drive in our private cars (around 4 hours) to reach Khajuraho. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

This evening, you may choose to attend a cultural dance show (optional activity) staging live performances of different dance forms of India.

Overnight stay at Khajuraho.

Nestled on the banks of the Betwa River, the scenic town of Orchha has changed little over the centuries. Originally a hunting area, the town was the capital of the Bundela Rajput kings, who built colossal palaces, beautiful cenotaphs, and magnificent temples.

This evening, your group leader will take you out on an orientation walk of the town. Later join the Aarti ceremony at the Ram Raja temple.

Note: We travel in 3 tier air-conditioned trains. Each compartment has six berths (2 each of top, middle, and lower) facing each other and two berths (upper and lower) in the aisle. There are Indian and western toilets attached to either end of the carriage. We recommend carrying a chain and a padlock to fasten your luggage under your berth. As part of the Covid safety protocols, the Indian railways have not been providing pillows and sheets. You may consider carrying a sleeping bag for travelling comfortably on overnight trains.

Though we try our best to secure tickets in the same carriage, it may not always be possible as we have no control over the railway reservations system. There might be a case where the group is split into more than one carriage.

Home to a religious and spiritual legacy that goes back nearly 3000 years, Varanasi has attracted scholars of different faiths, including Lord Buddha, who delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, just 10 km away from the city. Also known as Kashi (the city of lights), the city draws its existence into narrow lanes, ashrams, priests and the prestigious Banaras Hindu University. We will go out on an orientation walk of the city’s old quarter this afternoon, followed by the evening Aarti on the Ganges.

Overnight stay in Varanasi.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Included Meals

Overnight stay in Delhi.

Activities

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: We have recommended optional activities on a day to day basis based on our past travellers’ feedback. Prices are approximate and do not include transport or services of a local guide unless specified otherwise. Optional activities are subject to availability, and some may be on a join-in basis. Depending on the available free time, it may or may not be possible to pursue all the optional activities listed in the trip itinerary.

Due to the constantly evolving health and safety advisory on Covid-19, it is imperative that you monitor your government’s travel advice for the most up to date border-measures and travel requirements as they may change without notice.

• BEST TIME TO VISIT: September to March with warm days and cool nights. December and January are the coldest months, with temperatures reaching 0 degrees Celsius in some parts of north India.
• SUMMER: April, May, and June are peak summer months with temperatures rising to 48 degrees Celcius
• MONSOON: July, August, and September are the monsoon months when it gets warm and highly humid.

India experiences vast variations in its climate. We recommend checking the region’s weather you intend to visit beforehand and planning your trip accordingly.

We highly recommend you check your government’s travel advisory for safety-related information on the region you intend to visit. Additionally, please ensure your travel insurance policy covers you for the trip you are taking and all the activities part of your trip itinerary. Your group leader will accompany you on all the included activities on this trip. They will deliver daily safety briefings on activities and sightseeing, travel and transport, food and drinks, etc., for you to have the safest possible experience.

We recommend you use a neck wallet or a money belt to carry your valuables such as passports, bank cards, flight tickets, cash, etc. You may also use an electronic safe (available at some hotel rooms) to store your valuables. However, please do not forget to retrieve your belongings before checking out. Do not bring expensive jewellery on the trip. Please bring a lock to secure your luggage. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: You may get some free time to pursue your interests or relax. Any optional activities are not a part of the trip itinerary, and ‘Tourrnival Jourrneys’ cannot be held responsible for the associated safety concerns or the standard of the operators running them. We recommend you make your judgment before you choose to pursue any optional activity during your free time.

WOMEN’S SAFETY: Of late, there have been reported cases of sexual assault against women in India. While the risk of a safety incident on your trip is meagre, we suggest you take the below-mentioned precautions to have a safe travelling experience:

Some hotels offer free WiFi connectivity while some charge for this service. A mobile prepaid SIM (we recommend Airtel or Jio) that usually costs 200-300 INR is easy to buy. You would be required to produce a photocopy of your passport and visa and a passport size photograph. We suggest you buy it from a store close to your hotel so that you can follow up if required.

You must have a valid travel insurance policy while travelling on a ‘Tourrnival Jourrneys’ trip. Your travel insurance policy must cover you for medical expenses, including related covid-19 expenditures and emergency repatriation. We highly recommend that your policy covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment or loss of luggage or personal belongings.

Your group leader will collect your travel insurance details in the group meeting on Day 1. If you do not possess valid travel insurance, you will not be permitted to join the trip.

All our group trips are led by group leaders who are locals with excellent field skills, supported by extensive local knowledge and training. The role of the group leader is to facilitate your trip in a way that you can have the best possible trip.

Though not conventional local guides, you can expect your group leader to provide you with adequate information on the places of your visit, including historical, religious, and cultural aspects of a destination, recommendations on safe eating options, optional activities, etc. Wherever required, we also hire the services of local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit.