Maharajas and mountain kingdoms

When you arrive in Delhi, you’ll be collected by your private driver and taken to your hotel. On this India and Nepal tour you can choose from either a hotel situated about half an hour’s drive from the airport or a charming hotel in central Delhi, an ideal base to explore both the spice markets of Chandi Chowk and the modern bars of Connaught Place. Here, you can catch your breath and rest after your flight. In both hotels, you’ll have a comfortable room with a private en-suite bathroom. 

During the second day of our India and Nepal tours you'll travel to Jaipur by private car, a trip which takes about 4-5 hours. While in Jaipur, you’ll stay at a cosy family hotel where you'll experience typical Indian hospitality firsthand. The rooms are tastefully decorated in traditional Indian-style and several have four-poster canopy beds. Breakfast is served in peaceful courtyard and the family will go out of their way to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

The Pink City is a fantastic place to kick off a trip in India and during your two nights here you can relax, acclimatise, and explore. There is so much to see in this elegant and astonishing city that you could spend weeks here without getting bored. Jaipur centre is a lively mass of saris, saddhus, holy cows, spice markets, street vendors, camel carts, elephants, beggars, rickshaws, temples, forts and palaces. Later on during this trip you'll spend more time in Jaipur.

Today on your India and Nepal tour, you’ll leave Jaipur and head for Pushkar, standing sleepily on the banks of a beautiful lake. You’ll spend tonight in a palace with a unique atmosphere where almost all of the rooms have stunning lake views. It has an exotic inner garden and a palm terrace providing great views over the glassy lake. On the opposite bank of the lake, you’ll see pilgrims bathing and, if you listen carefully, you’ll hear them singing.

Pushkar is a picturesque holy town in the desert, with pastel-coloured buildings lining narrow streets. There are dozens of rooftop cafes looking out over the city towards the lake; perfect places to linger over coffee or lunch. Wander through the twisting alleys of the old centre and take a look at the Ghats (stone staircases that lead into the water) where the pilgrims perform ritual bathing. You can take part in a 'puja' or blessing ceremony too, but watch out for Brahmin priests offering to become your spiritual guide in return for money. During the famous Camel Fair, usually held in November, over 25,000 camels plod into the town to be traded by their owners, and huge crowds of pilgrims arrive.

Today, you’ll travel to Udaipur, the most romantic town in Rajasthan. Elegant Udaipur is surrounded by green hills, a brilliant contrast to the sparkling white palaces and the blue waters of Lake Pichola. The legendary Lake Palace floats on an island in the centre of the lake, giving the town a fairy-tale feel. This palace was the winter residence of the Maharaja and featured in the James Bond film Octopussy.

You'll spend two nights in Udaipur on the India and Nepal tour, staying in a charming and traditional haveli which looks out across Lake Pichola and the old city.
 

You'll be staying in Udaipur on Day Six of your India and Nepal tour, so you'll have plenty of time to explore this fascinating city of lakes and palaces either on foot or by rickshaw. There's a city tour planned for this morning which will give you a good impression of the city. The tour will of course include the City Palace. The palace is known for its intricate murals and mosaics and even some original but rather out-of-place looking Dutch Delftware tiles... You'll also visit the Jagdish temple and admire the Lake Palace from across the lake.

The city tour will have given you an idea of the layout of the city so in the evening you can head out on your own and wander through the historic centre with its many shops selling fabrics and local crafts. Make sure you take a look inside the little temples throughout the city. On a sunny day the bright light shimmering across the lakes and in the narrow streets gives Udaipur a magical aura, a great time to take a break on one the rooftop restaurants and soak up the atmosphere. Udaipur is definitely one of our favourite cities in Rajasthan.

On Day Seven of your India and Nepal tour, you’ll set off in the direction of Jodhpur, The Blue City, a journey of about 6 hours. On the way, you can stop off and visit the striking Jain temple of Ranakpur, situated in a beautiful green valley. The enormous temple complex has 1444 pillars, with stunning decorations carved from stone. Incredibly, none of the pillars are the same. Each has been decorated in its own unique way. Jainism is a fascinating religion that originated in northeast India about the same time as Buddhism (around 400BC) and it is still popular across the country today. 

 

In the afternoon, you’ll continue on to Jodhpur. This city is the home of Mehrangarh Fort, one of the most dramatic Mughal forts in India and another real highlight of your India and Nepal tour itinerary. Here, you can wander through the narrow alleyways of the city, where rope-makers colour their warps, spice-sellers display their aromatic wares, barbers shops and lots more line the streets. The shopping hotspots are the Sojati Gate, the Tripolia Bazaar, the Mochi-ki-Gali and the Lakhara Bazaar. If you’re looking for hand-woven material, head for Rajasthan Khadi Sangh. The central bell tower is a good orientation point, as you’ll always manage to find your way back. You’ll stay in another authentic and traditonal Rajasthani haveli in the old part of Jodhpur at the foot of the mighty fort.
 

On Day Eight of your India and Nepal tour, you'll be crossing the desert to reach the isolated desert city Jaisalmer, a trip which takes about 5 hours. Towards noon you can see the contours of the city shimmering on the desert horizon like a desert mirage. You'll still have a magical feeling when you are dropped of at the entrance of the ancient walled fort with its dozens of towers. From the upper walls you can look out across the desolate desert landscape which stretches out from the foot of the castle. In the distance you can see the Sahara-like sand dunes where you can go on a spectacular camel safari accompanied by a guide from the camel drivers caste.

Jaisalmer appears to be imprisoned inside its walls. Among the narrow streets you can see several traditional havelis but also three beautifully sculptured Jain temples dating back to the 12th and 13th Century and five interlinked palaces. In the afternoon you'll explore the ancient city and in the evening you can enjoy a good meal in one of the small restaurants in the old centre or one of the many rooftop restaurants in the lower part of the city. You'll be staying the night in an original golden sandstone haveli.
 

After breakfast on Day Nine of your India and Nepal tour, you’ll take a guided walk into the old town of Jaisalmer, which lies entirely within the walls of the fort. The narrow streets are quite remarkable, with half-hidden havelis, three beautifully carved Jain temples, and five interconnected palaces. If you have time to spare, you can explore enchanting Jaisalmer at your own pace, wandering around the havelis, Lake Gadi Sagar, or Jaisalmer Fort. The fort has four entrances: Akhaiya Pol, Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol and Hava Pol. You might even bump into a camel or two on your way or hear the sound of a sitar playing from inside a haveli.

You can spend a couple more hours enjoying this fairytale city before boarding the sleeper train in the late afternoon for the 13-hour journey from Jaisalmer to Jaipur and the next stop on your India and Nepal tour.

Take a look at the India transport page for more information on train travel.

You'll arrive early this morning in Jaipur and head towards the same family-run hotel as earlier in your India and Nepal tour. You'll be welcomed back enthusiastically and after settling in and freshening up, you'll have the rest of the day free to explore more of Jaipur. We will automatically arrange a transfer and an early check in for you as you arrive early hours into Jaipur train station

Jaipur is famous for textiles and jewellery. You can find both of these in abundance in the bazaar, which is one of the biggest, and perhaps the best, in the region. Equally, the pink-meringue-like cinema in Jaipur is famous for its flambuoyant design, making it the perfect place to catch a Bollywood film during your stay. About an hour from Jaipur, you'll find the amusement village of Chokhi Dhani, which celebrates Rajasthani traditions with palm-readers, snake-charmers, camel drivers, elephant rides, snacks, sweets, music and dancing. This is a fun-filled way to spend a spare evening and particularly if you are travelling with children.

From Galta it's another three-hour drive to Bharatpur, once the hunting grounds for several Maharajas of the Singh family. It's a fascinating water world criss-crossed with many pathways, great for a bike ride on a trusty rusty Indian bike. You can hire bikes or hire a cycle-rickshaw driver to take you around the park. Here you can spot birdlife, deer, soft-shell turtles and lots of other wildlife. A pleasant stop on your India and Nepal itinerary and somewhere to stretch your legs.

After breakfast you will visit two more impressive sights. Early in the morning you will visit the Taj, certainly a highlight of the India and Nepal tours. We had such high expectations of the Taj beforehand that we thought it could only disappoint, but we couldn't have been more wrong... Seeing the building in the first light of day it looks so serene and more impressive than we could ever imagine. It's one of the few buildings that actually moves you. Built by Shah Jahan out of love for his deceased wife, it's the epitome of sober harmony. After this, you’ll head for Agra Fort. This huge but restrained structure seems to be immersed in a dreamy atmosphere when it’s bathed in the golden afternoon light which slants through the pillars and galleries. From its majestic walls and through its arches, you can see the Taj Mahal, just as Shah Jahan would have done centuries ago, when he was imprisoned here by his son. You'll return to the hotel by lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax by the pool perhaps.
 

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to Agra and head for the train station for the next stop on your India and Nepal tour itinerary. The train leaves from Agra Central Station at 8am for Jhansi. After 2 1/2 hours (not to be taken too literally in India) you'll arrive in Jhansi where you will be met by your driver and transferred to Orchha about 16km further on. Orchha is a beautiful small town (9000 inhabitants) where you can wander freely without being hassled by touts so it's a peaceful part of India. The town is renowned for its Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple and Lakshmi Narayan Temple. You'll have time in the afternoon to explore the sites and head down the beautiful Betwa river. After a busy but rewarding day, you'll have no problem falling asleep in your charming palace style hotel... 

In the morning of Day Fifteen of your India and Nepal itinerary, you will drive to the quiet town of Khajuraho. In the afternoon you'll visit the western temples of Khajuraho which are mainly famous for its eyebrow-raising erotic images from the Kama Sutra amongst other interesting and beautiful scenes. The temples are 1000 years old and are in surprisingly good condition, although today only 22 of the original 85 remain. You will be staying in a simple and comfortable guesthouse a short distance from the temple gardens.

In the early morning you will be transferred to the city of Satna where you'll board the train to holy city Varanasi, the next stop on your India and Nepal tour. The train leaves Satna Central Station around 08.15am, which means you will arrive in Varanasi 8 hours later, just after 4pm. On arrival in Varanasi you will be transferred to a charming and quirky guest house directly on the banks of the Ganges. There are several ghats along the Ganges, each of which has its own meaning. Your hotel is close to the Assi Ghat which is to the south and is used by pilgrims for bathing on a special pilgrimage route Panchatirthi Yatra. You can walk down to the ghats from the hotel and observe all the activity even at the cremation area where you may respectfully observe proceedings (no photography allowed).

Just before dawn is a great time to take a boat out onto the river Ganges and observe the bathing pilgrims from the water. The pilgrims have a metal pot which they use to pour water over their heads. Some sit motionless for hours meditating while others splash around in the water or do their laundry. You can also see whole families bathing in the holy water. After your unforgettable sunrise boat ride there's a walk through the old centre of Varanasi. Watch out for the holy cows in the narrow alleyways and step aside as the cows seem to have right of way and they know it! You will spend another night of your India and Nepal tour in your hotel on the Ganges.  

This morning you’ll head to the small town of Sarnath, which is not far from Varanasi. Sarnath is another place of pilgrimage, this time for the Buddhists. It was here that Buddha gave his first lecture. After his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, Buddha came to Sarnath to preach about the Middle Way of reaching Nirvana. After this, the religious ruler Ashoka built an enormous stupa (temple) and several Buddhist monasteries to commemorate the teaching. Each Buddhist country in the world now has its own temple, which often makes the place seems like a World Expo is being held. The Sri-Lankan Buddhists are in white and the Thai Buddhists and other nationalities dress in shades of mustard, orange and burgundy. In contrast to the site, the village itself is small, with a feeling of tranquillity. After you’ve spent a while exploring Sarnath, you’ll be taken back to Varanasi, where you’ll have all afternoon to wander through the city. Then, in the evening, you'll head for the train station for your overnight journey to Delhi, the next stop on your India and Nepal tour.

On Day Twenty of your India and Nepal tour, you'll take a tour of the highlights of Kathmandu with your english-speaking guide. The sightseeing trip begins in Durbar Square, an ideal starting point from which to explore this ancient city. After this, you'll head towards the temple complexes of Swayambunath and Pashupatinath - the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites in Nepal. Take a seat on the steps of one of the many temples, indulge in some people-watching and soak up the energetic local atmosphere. Another highlight of the tour is the trip to Bouddhanath temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monument and one of the largest stupas in the world.

By the end of the day you'll be totally templed-out, but you'll certainly have a clear idea of the important role that religion plays in Nepalese daily life. For a more detailed description of the various sights in the city, take a look at our Kathmandu Valley information page.
 

On Day Twenty One of your India and Nepal tour, you'll head out of the city with your driver to explore the surrounding area of Kathmandu. Your visit will include the towns of Bhaktapur and Patan and you can opt for an excursion to Nagarkot or Dhulikhel. Patan, just south of Kathmandu is known for its many ancient squares where rice is laid out to dry and children run around playing with paper kites. You will also spot lots of old-fashioned water pumps throughout the city. It's like being in a medieval time-warp. This is also your final night in Kathmandu.

Today, it's a 5-hour drive to Chitwan National Park which is the next stop on your India and Nepal tour. After a short briefing there's time to freshen up in your bungalow and grab some lunch. In the afternoon, you'll have your first elephant safari. Perched high on the back of these giant beasts you're safely out of reach of anything lurking in the tall grass. If you're lucky you'll spot your first rhino, although there's a better chance of seeing them on foot on your walking safari tomorrow morning. If a rhino comes into view your elephant will sound the alarm with an almighty growl, just to subtly show the rhino who's boss...
 

Chitwan is at its most beautiful at dawn and a real highlight of the India and Nepal tours. The early morning golden light seeping across the plains gives it mystical atmosphere. The river is even more magical. Working elephants stride through the water, a ferry glides to the other side and rhinos graze in the grass.

Today you will start off with a guided walk through the jungle, hiking along narrow paths through the forests and plains where the high grass seems almost impenetrable. It's a little scary knowing that this grass is a hiding spot for rhinos, leopards and tigers, but luckily the experienced guides know what they're doing. If a rhino gets too close you're quickly directed to scramble up the nearest big tree. As they have very poor eyesight, they tend to storm into any noise or smell they're not familiar with so it may be wise to follow your guide's instructions very closely. Depending on how the day unfolds, later on there will be a "crocodile walk" with canoe trip or another elephant safari.

This morning there will be either a jungle walk or a crocodile canoe safari (it will depend both on the weather and what you did yesterday). In the afternoon, you'll begin the long drive back to Kathmandu and the end of your India and Nepal tour.

Your India and Nepal itinerary ends after breakfast this morning, and, when the time comes, you'll head towards the airport to check in for your flight home (usually via Delhi). Of course, you could choose to stay and explore more of Nepal or perhaps make your way back to Delhi to begin a trip in India. Check out our sister site, India Travel Plan for more tours and travel suggestions for India.

If you have any questions about this itinerary, please call or email us. If you would like to request this itinerary, please fill out our quote request form.