Best of North India

Overview

A fun and action-packed trip to India that brings you the perfect intro to the most incredible country on the planet.

Embark on this absorbing North India tour and visit the historic cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, dotted with majestic forts, opulent palaces, ancient temples and characteristic marketplaces. Photograph the famous landmarks and iconic sites while getting a sense of authentic local culture and discovering some lesser-known gems. Get up close to d temples to hot air ballooning, shopping and a Bollywood movie – a quintessential Indian experience.

Location

Look out for the ‘Beyond The Tours’ representative or driver who would be waiting to receive you just outside of gate number 5 with a placard bearing your name.

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).

If you cannot meet our representative or the driver, please call us on the below numbers to assist you further.

Tourrnival Jourrneys (India): +91- 9891613131

Important: Do not follow anyone who may tell you that your hotel is sold out and that they have better options for you. This may be a scam!

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.

Contemporary Delhi has a history that traces to 5000 years in the Hindu epic Mahabharat. The city has always been a centre of politics for several distinct enclaves. 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. After the violent partition of India in 1947, millions of people flocked here from west Punjab in search of a new living. Since then, there has been a steady influx of people from all country’s pockets, making Delhi a potpourri of different cultures. 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 group meeting at 06:00 pm. They will share important trip-related information with you. Your group leader will also collect your passport, visa, and travel insurance details.

Today, your group leader will take you out for dinner at one of the local restaurants. This is a perfect way to break the ice and get to know your fellow travellers while you open yourself up to the world of delectable Indian cuisine.

Optional Activities

Visit Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. The grand red sandstone edifice dominates Old Delhi’s skyline and can accommodate a whopping 25,000 devotees at a time. Follow your group leader on a fascinating old Delhi walking tour, winding through the quirky neighborhoods and specialized marketplaces. Visit the highly revered Sis Ganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) that warmly welcomes everyone without discrimination. For a truly authentic local experience, join the locals at the langar (community kitchen) that serves nearly 10,000 people daily, and it is all free!

Take a cycle rickshaw tour and maneuver the chaos to reach Asia’s largest spice market.

Unlike the organized chaos of a traditional Indian bazaar, New Delhi offers wide avenues, grand vistas, and British-era architecture. Our drive will take us past the Parliament House, the President’s House, and the India Gate. Check out the 14th-century stepwell amid the urban jungle – a true hidden treasure!

The rest of the day is at leisure. Your group leader will be happy to assist you in organizing the optional activities.

Inclusions

The red sandstone complex houses breathtaking palaces, open courtyards, gardens and pavilions, including a stunning mosque, still in use today. 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.

It’s fun to watch the non-stop antics of the monkeys as you get captivated by the chic peacocks posing gracefully. Herds of deer are quick to flee, but lazy crocodiles can’t resist the urge to rest. Be quiet and listen to every rustle and crunch piercing the silence of the jungle. The mighty beast might be staring at you from the safety of the town grass. Good luck!

While the naturalist and the driver make every possible effort to spot a tiger, there is no guarantee we will see one. Tiger is a nocturnal animal and prefers to remain alone.

This afternoon we go on a guided visit to one of the local community villages to get insights into life and culture in rural Rajasthan.

Return to your hotel around in the evening and relax.

Note: Safari timings are seasonal.

Overnight stay in Jaipur.

A departure transfer (trip hotel to airport) is included in your trip price. Please provide us with your flight details at least seven days before your flight date. Your group leader will help you re-confirm your transfer.

Included Meals

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.

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.