Delhi to Kathmandu

Cultural adventure tour of the Golden Triangle region in India, holy Varanasi and Lumbini, and Bardia National Park & Kathmandu in Nepal

This 16-day journey takes you through India and Nepal, visiting some of its top attractions and the less visited destinations before heading to Nepal to visit the birthplace of the Buddha in Lumbini, before searching for tigers in the Bardia National Park. The India leg of this 16-day tour starts in the capital city of Delhi, before we make our way to Rajasthan’s capital, the Pink City of Jaipur, renowned for its craft markets and colourful jewelry. After exploring the cities, we’ll make our way to the rural part of Rajasthan, the ancient village of Tordi, where we’ll reside in a converted palace and explore the region on foot, as we gain unique insight into the daily lives of the locals. We’ll make our way to the world’s largest stepwell at Abhaneri, before enjoying a guided cycle rickshaw ride through the Keoladeo National Park - one of the best places for birdwatching in India. Our next stop is a trip to Agra, where we’ll witness the magnificent Taj Mahal and explore the fields and villages on the banks of the Yamuna River, before hopping in a rickshaw to explore the city’s backstreets and places of worship. We’ll also board an overnight train to the holy city of Varanasi, where we’ll explore the serene waters of the River Ganges. We’ll even partake in an Aarti Ceremony, which gives candlelit offerings to the river, have a home-cooked meal with a muslim family, explore a weavers village famous for making some of the best saris in the whole of India, and visit Sarnath, where the Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. The Nepal leg of this tour takes us to another mportant Buddhist pilgrimage site, his birthplace at Lumbini. We’ll also spend three nights in the wildlife-rich Bardia National Park as we search for tigers, rhino, wild elephant, before boarding a plane to witness spectacular views of the Himalayas and landing in Kathmandu. We’ll spend some time here in Nepal’s capital, visiting important pilgrimage sites of Pasupatinath temple (Hindu) and Boudhanath stupa Buddhist) complete our journey. Extensions are available to see much more of Nepal if you have more time, whether that be to do some trekking, white water rafting, or more sightseeing and exploration.

Day 1: Welcome to Delhi After arriving in India’s capital city, a staff member will be present to meet and greet you, before escorting you to your hotel. After settling in, we’ll run through what you can expect over the next few days, before arranging a time to collect you tomorrow. | OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel | EXTRAS: Single room supplement, Extra day in Delhi - pre-tour Day 2: Exploring Delhi and a street food experience Our morning starts with a city tour of New Delhi, India’s capital, located on the banks of the Yamuna River. From the back of a vehicle, we’ll visit India Gate, a towering 42-metre Archway which shares a resemblance to France’s Arc de Triomphe. New Delhi is also the seat of India’s government and we’ll drive past the President’s Palace and the Parliament of India, before passing Humayun’s Tomb and the Bangla Sahab Gurudwara Sikh Temple. We’ll then head to Connaught Place Station to board a train to Old Delhi, where we’ll explore is bustling markets and bazars, such as the Chandni Chowk and the Chawri Bazar, well known for its unique copper, paper and brass products. This afternoon, we’ll be treated to some of India’s finest street food cuisine, trying all the unique snacks and delicacies on offer, before we hop into a rickshaw to explore the old city a little more. A visit to one of the largest mosques in India - the Jama Masjid - is also on the cards. | OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 3: Goodbye Delhi, Hello Jaipur. Optional activity available We’ll say goodbye to Delhi for now as we make our way to the largest city in Rajasthan - the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur. On our way there, we’ll visit the impressive Amber Fort situated high atop a hill, made out of sandstone in the 16th century for the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber. We’ll explore its stunning architecture, its towering fortress walls and marble palace. We’ll then go on a Lassi tasting experience, which is a rich, yoghurt based drink, either made sweet or salty and is often flavoured with ground or roasted cumin as well as fruit. It’s a great pairing with spicy foods. We’ll check into our hotel for the night, or as an optional extra, you can head out to the Raj Mandir Cinema to watch a Bollywood movie. | OVERNIGHT: Jaipur hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 4: Exploring Jaipur. Optional activity available You can either choose to sleep a little later, or you have an option of enjoying a hot air balloon ride over Jaipur, giving you an aerial view of its stunning architecture. We’ll then head out into the city, visiting Jaipur’s most popular tourist attractions, such as the Jantar Mantar monument - India’s biggest astronomical observatory, before making our way to the manicured gardens of the City Palace, which was once the royal seat of the King of Jaipur and the leader of the Kachwaha Rajput clan. After lunch, we’ll visit Jaipur’s popular craft markets, where you’ll watch jewellers, silversmiths and bangle-makers craft all sorts of beautiful creations, before visiting its bustling fruit, vegetable and spice markets. | OVERNIGHT: Jaipur hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Jaipur Day 5: A visit to the Tordi Village. Optional activities available We’ll start our day with a visit to the rural Rajasthan village of Tordi, founded in the 16th century by Th. Akhey Singh, a descendant of the Khangar Singh, who overthrew the regional chief and built a hilltop fortress here, with its ruins still available today. The family still lives in the palace and in a fort built on the plains below. We’ll stay in a wing of the palace that has been customised for guests. Our village exploration will also take us to a temple and a potter’s house. As an addition, you can do optional activities such as camel cart riding, a jeep safari to a 300-year-old step well, a visit to a shepherds village, watch the sun go down at the Tordi Sagar Dam or if you’re looking to do something more strenuous, a hike to the 400-year old Tordi Fort for snacks and drinks. Horse riding and henna hand art activities are also available. | OVERNIGHT: Tordi Garh hotel | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 6: Birdwatching in the Keoladeo National Park and a visit to the world’s largest stepwell We leave Tordi and head towards the Keoladeo Ghana National Park via Bharatpur - one of the best bird watching destinations in India. On our way here, we’ll stop at the Abhaneri step well - the largest of its kind on the planet - boasting approximately 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. We’ll have some time to settle in at our accommodation for the day, before enjoying a guide cycle rickshaw ride through the Keoladeo Ghana National Park - formerly a duck hunting reserve but now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home to over 360 species of birds. Keoladeo is also a stopover for the birds who partake in the Central Asian migration, especially for wintering water birds and the endangered Siberian Crane and its huge heronry which in good years can host more than 20,000 nesting birds of various species. Its also home to other wildlife such as wild boar, black buck, sambar, chital, mongoose, porcupine, several different wild cats, and some huge pythons. | OVERNIGHT: Hotel next to Keoladeo National Park | MEALS: Breakfast Day 7: The magnificent Taj Mahal. Optional activity available After a wonderful time in Keoladeo, we make our way to the ancient city of Agra - the home of the Taj Mahal. Agra was once the capital of the Mughal between 1572 and 1585 and is the only Indian city to have three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. You’ll have some time to relax and settle in, before spending the afternoon exploring the Mughal Heritage Walk through the ancient village of Kachhpura and surrounding farmland on the banks of the Yamuna River. The Mughal Heritage walk was created by a local NGO to provide employment and new infrastructure to the locals. We’ll also tour the village, learning about the local cottage industry for leather shoe making which helps Agra export shoes all over the world. We’ll also visit some of the lesser known, but still important Mughal Era Monuments. Our day ends with a visit to Mehtab Bagh Park, as we witness the spectacular sight of the Taj Mahal at sunset. Watch how the colours of the Taj changes as the sun goes down, as we find out just why it’s listed as one of the seven wonders of the world. This evening you have an option to join a Hindu family for a vegetarian Thali cooking lesson and meal tonight before settling in at your hotel for the night. | OVERNIGHT: Agra hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Cook with a Hindu family in Agra Day 8: Sunrise at the Taj Mahal Today we’ll start early to witness one of the wonders of the world at sunrise - the Taj Mahal. Created by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan over the period of 22 years, witnessing the magnificence of the Taj Mahal at sunrise is spectacular. As the light changes gradually, so does the colour of the Taj Mahal. We’ll have breakfast before visiting the Agra Fort - a huge complex which was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638 before the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. The Agra Fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the afternoon comes around, we’ll continue to explore Agra, this time from the back of an electric rickshaw, enjoying the incredible culture and cuisine that the city has to offer. This hour-long journey gives you an authentic view of Agra, taking you to its old bazaars, traditional eateries and its places of worship. We’ll start at the gurdwara near the Taj Mahal, before visiting Dara Shikoh's library, Mirza Ghalib's birthplace, the home of the Radhasoami faith, the ancient Manka Meshwar Temple, the Jama Masjid as well as Asia’s oldest convent, St. Patrick's Junior College. We’ll also pass the busy Johri Bazar, the paan mandi, the petha mandi and the chaat-pakori street of Seth Gali. After an action-packed afternoon, we’ll be transferred to Tundle Train Station to board overnight train to Varanasi, the next stop on our Indian adventure. | OVERNIGHT: Overnight sleeper train to Varanasi | MEALS: Breakfast Day 9: Exploring the villages of Varanasi Once we arrive in Varanasi, we’ll have a tasty breakfast, before making our way to visit the Sarai Mohana Weavers Village. Sarai Mohana is well known for its silk weaving as most of the locals here are indulge in silk weaving. The Banarasi sarees made by these waivers are among the finest saris in India. We’ll also visit Chiraigaon Village famous for its pickles, jams and guavas. As night falls, we’ll be treated to an Aarti ceremony, a devotional ritual using fire and it’s common to place a small candle inside a cup made from leaves and flowers and float it down the river. We’ll offer candles and flowers to the Ganges River. As we place each one in the water, we'll make a wish and watch it float away. | OVERNIGHT: Varanasi hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 10: A boat trip on the Ganges and a Hindu cooking lesson Our second day in Varanasi starts with an early morning boat ride along the Ganges River, as we explore the city. The Ganges is a constant hive of activity throughout the day, as hordes of people come to pray and immerse themselves in its spiritually cleansing waters. We’ll then go on a walking tour of the city, exploring its medieval streets, intricate temples and busy markets, abuzz with the general cacophony of Indian life. After exploring the old city, we’ll make our way to a local Hindu Brahaman family, which has 14 members living under one roof. Here, we’ll be given a cooking master class of Indian cuisine, before having lunch with the family. This afternoon we take the short trip to the ancient Buddhist site at Sarnath where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after becoming enlightened. | OVERNIGHT: Overnight sleeper train to Delhi | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch | EXTRAS: Varanasi to Delhi flight upgrade Day 11: From India to Nepal Today we say goodbye to India as we make our way from Varanasi and head north to the India-Nepal border. The drive is lengthy, but the views of India’s rural life is fascinating as we make our way past the town of Gorakhpur. Once we enter Nepal, we’ll change vehicles and head to Lumbini, where we’ll spend the night. | OVERNIGHT: Hotel in Lumbini | MEALS: Breakfast Day 12: From Lumbini to the Bardia National Park Our first full day in Lumbini will be led by a local guide who will show us its popular attractions, which includes a visit to the Temple of Mayadevi and the Mayadevi Pond, the Bodhi tree covered in Prayer Flats and the Ashoka Pillar. We’ll then journey to the Terai lowland region as we make our way to the Bardia National Park. Our drive passes tiny Nepalese villages and farmland, and can contrast these to the Indian rural life we saw along the road yesterday. We’ll have a snack lunch along the way and stop at the bridge before the park, where once can see mugger or gharial crocodiles in the river below. Once we arrive at our lodge located at the banks of the Karnali River, you’ll have some time to settle in for the evening. From our lodge balcony, you might see monkeys, peacocks, deer, eagles, bee-eaters, as well as the National Park’s domestic elephants passing to and fro from their stables. | OVERNIGHT: Bardia Eco Lodge | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 13: Exploring the Bardia National Park Today we’ll explore the Bardia National Park, one of the largest wildlife reserves in Nepal. Since its more remote, it means its less visited than the Chitwan National Park, giving you an excellent opportunity to escape the crowds. You also have a better chance of seeing wild tigers here, as well as rhino, wild elephant and crocodiles. If we are lucky, we might even get a glimpse of the rare Gangetic dolphins in the Karnali River. We’ll get to experience a variety of safaris here, one by jeep plus a walking safari through the jungle led by a local guide. Later in the afternoon we’ll explore the villages around Bardia and gain unique insight into the lives of the Tharu people. | OVERNIGHT: Bardia Eco Lodge | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 14: Rafting on the mighty Karnali River We’ll explore the waters of the Karnali River in a raft today, breaking the journey with short jungle walks to reach some of its most spectacular viewing spots before watching the locals panning for gold in the river. Karnali is one of India’s best white-water rafting locations, but we’ll drift easily down the river, encountering minor rapids along the way. We’ll see a huge variety of wildlife on the river, from colourful birds to hopefully some otters and dolphins too, as well as looking for tigers, rhinos and other land animals during the jungle walks. A packed lunch is provided. | OVERNIGHT: Bardia Eco Lodge | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 15: Onwards to Kathmandu. Pasupatinath and Boudhanath visits We’ll say goodbye to Bardia and head towards the town of Nepalganj situated about two and a half hours away. We’ll board a plane to Kathmandu and if you have a window seat on the left hand side of the aircraft, providing you with scenic views of the Annapurnas, Langtang and other Himalayan peaks. Once we arrive in Kathmandu, we’ll explore the Hindu pilgrimage temple of Pasupatinath and the unique Buddhist Boudhanath stupa. We’ll spend our final evening visiting the cafes and restaurants of the busy Thamel area of the city. | OVERNIGHT: Hotel in Bodhnath | MEALS: Breakfast Day 16: Bon Voyage! Transfer to airport included We have some free time today to explore until we transport you to the airport for your flight home. If you would like to extend your time in Nepal then we offer a range of extra sightseeing tours in Kathmandu and the surrounding valley, as well as trekking and whitewater rafting trips into the Himalayas. | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Extra day in Kathmandu - post-tour