North India Highlights
16 days
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Group Tour
Spend two weeks exploring North India's highlights from the Golden Temple at Amritsar and the Himalayan Foothills to the Taj Mahal, Keoladeo National Park, Jaipur and various small heritage villages and off the beaten track sites
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Overview
Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
What's this trip about?
Spend two weeks exploring North India's highlights from the Golden Temple at Amritsar and the Himalayan Foothills to the Taj Mahal, Keoladeo National Park, Jaipur and various small heritage villages and off the beaten track sites
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Details
Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 1 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityMcleodganj
End CityBharatpur
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- All accommodation in mid-range hotels and heritage properties
- All transport and transfers in AC vehicles
- Himalayan Queen toy train journey to Shimla
- 2nd class AC train journey from Chandigarh to Delhi
- 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
- Sightseeing tours and activities as per the itinerary
- Services of a local tour leader and specialist local guides
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (15 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners)
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Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Amritsar - airport to hotel transfer included
After your flight to Amritsar, one of our staff members will be there to meet and greet you, before transferring you to your hotel for the day. Once you’ve settled in, we’ll brief you on what lies ahead, before arranging a time to collect you in the morning.
| OVERNIGHT:
Amritsar hotel
| EXTRAS:
Single Room Supplement
Day 2: A visit to Amritsar’s Golden Temple
Our first full day of our India tour starts at the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion the Golden Temple. If you look up, you’ll notice that the entire top of the temple is made of gold and its interior is laden with jewels and gold leaf.
We’ll then spend some time in t...
| OVERNIGHT:
Amritsar hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Drive to McLeod Ganj. Free afternoon
After breakfast we'll drive to McLeod Ganj, where you'll have some free time today to explore the town, situated at the foothills of the towering Himalayas. You can visit its Buddhist monasteries, museums, temples, waterfalls, lakes, and Tibetan settlements. You can visi...
| OVERNIGHT:
McLeod Ganj hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 4: Exploring the Dalai Lama Monastery
After a free day in Mcleod Ganj, we’ll start things with a visit to the Dalai Lama Monastery, taking part in a prayer session known as a puja, which includes chanting mantras, bowing and making offerings. As a show of respect, we’ll offer lamps and religious cloth, made ...
| OVERNIGHT:
McLeod Ganj hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 5: Exploring the Heritage Villages of Pragpur & Garli
Today we’ll visit the Norbulingka Institute, built to commemorate the Tibetan culture’s literary and art forms. We’ll then make our way to the Pragpur Heritage Village, which was founded in the 16th century. Pragpur is notable for its cobbled paths, mud-plastered walls a...
| OVERNIGHT:
Garli hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: A Toy Train Ride to Shimla
We start our day with a drive to Dharampur Himanchal and hop on the ‘toy train’ to Shimla, situated on the edge of the towering Himalayas. Shimla used to be the summer capital of British India and is still one of the stops of the Kalka-Shimla Railway built in 1903. Its n...
| OVERNIGHT:
Shimla hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 7: Exploring Shimla
We have some leisure time this morning to explore Shimla independently or you can choose to hike to the Tara Devi Temple, which offers spectacular views of the Himalayas which surround it.
We’ll continue to explore Shimla this afternoon, this time on foot, as we explore ...
| OVERNIGHT:
Shimla hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 8: A train ride to Delhi. Transfer to hotel
We have some free time this morning to explore Shimla, but we’ll say our final goodbyes at midday, driving over the hills of Kalka, as we board an evening train to Delhi. Once we arrive, we will transport you to your hotel for the evening.
| OVERNIGHT:
Delhi hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 9: Exploring Old and New Delhi
Our day starts with a morning tour of India's capital, New Delhi. Built on the banks of the Yamuna river, New Delhi is a beautiful blend of a historical past and a vibrant present.
We start at India Gate in the centre of New Delhi, a 42-metre high "Arc-de-Triomphe" like...
| OVERNIGHT:
Delhi hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 10: Jaipur and a visit to Amber Fort
Today we head to Jaipur, the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan in Western India. We'll stop to visit Amber Fort, the jewel in Jaipur's crown - an ancient fortress built on a hilltop in the 16th century dedicated to the ruling Kachhawa clan of ...
| OVERNIGHT:
Jaipur hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 11: Exploring the city of Jaipur
You have an option of going on an early morning hot air balloon ride over Jaipur, flying over its palaces, forts and lakes - a truly mesmerising experience.
If you chose to sleep a little later, your morning starts with a sightseeing tour of Jaipur, as we visit the stran...
| OVERNIGHT:
Jaipur hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Hot air balloon in Jaipur
Day 12: Meet the locals at Tordi Garh, optional activities available
Today we leave the region's popular tourist areas and head into the heart of rural Rajasthan to the village of Tordi. In the 16th century, Th. Akhey Singh, one of the descendants of Khangar Singh (the founder of Khangarot clan) overthrew the regional chief and built a hi...
| OVERNIGHT:
Tordi Garh hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13: Birdwatching and the world's largest step well
Today we'll head to Bharatpur and the bird watcher's paradise that is the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Enroute, we'll visit the Abhaneri step well, the largest and deepest step well in the world, which boasts 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. You may recognise this as ...
| OVERNIGHT:
Bharatpur hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 14: Fatephur Sikri, and a first view of the Taj Mahal
We head to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri, a fortified ancient city which was the short-lived capital of the Mughal empire between 1572 and 1585. This sprawling and well-preserved site is fascinating to explore. Once you’ve checked in into your hotel, we'll spend the afternoon ...
| OVERNIGHT:
Agra hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Cook with a Hindu family in Agra
Day 15: A Taj Mahal sunrise and a multimedia water show
We start today early for our tour of the Taj Mahal. Truly one of the wonders of the world this elaborate monument to love was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and took over twenty-two years to complete. Sunrise is a great time to visit as the light changes graduall...
| OVERNIGHT:
Delhi hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Extra day in Delhi - post-tour
Day 16: Bon voyage! Airport transfer included
You have some free time to buy any gifts for your loved ones back home before we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home.
| OVERNIGHT:
N/A
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Extra day in Delhi - post-tour
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Dates & Availability
Price From $0
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Last Updated: 4/18/2024
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Encounters Travel.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
Encounters Travel is an adventure tour operator, based in the UK but with representatives in Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. We run a wide selection of cultural and adventurous tours around the world, each carefully designed to help you get the most out of the country you're visiting.
Our tours range from historical sightseeing and Nile cruises in Egypt, through to long strenuous treks and white water rafting in Nepal or swimming with whales in Tonga. You can join other travellers on a small group departure, or personalise and tailor-make an itinerary for you to enjoy privately.
Whatever your preference, we have a team of experienced travel consultants ready to advise you and help arrange your next great adventure tour!
Why choose us?
- Financial security for your peace of mind througn ATOL & financial failure insurance
- Members of ABTA (Y4447)
- Airport transfers included
- Encounters with local cultures and like-minded travellers
- No local payment as part of tour price
- Tours designed by experts
- Itineraries that don’t cut corners or costs at your expense
- Clear info provided on entrance fees & local costs
- The best industry renowned guides
- Every booking contributes to local projects
- Great value for money!
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights (available on request)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
- Tips for drivers and guides
- Entrance fees (allow approx. US$154)
- Any other items not mentioned above
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against
unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies.
It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before
or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination.
It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements.
For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements,
please visit this link
.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
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