Itinerary

DAYS 1-2:

Begin your journey with an overnight flight to Delhi, arriving late on Day 2. You’ll be met by a Vantage representative and transferred to your hotel (or depart 5 days earlier for our optional Mumbai & Cochin pre-trip extension).

 Taj Mahal Delhi Hotel >

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DAYS 3-4:

Set out on a city tour of Old Delhi on Day 3, including Raj Ghat, the memorial to Gandhi, the huge Jama Masjid mosque, and views of the Red Fort. Learning Discovery: Hop aboard a rickshaw for a ride through the narrow alleys and markets of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll also visit the tomb of Humayun, the 16th-century ruler of Northern India. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at your hotel.

On Day 4, join a morning city tour of New Delhi that includes views of the President’s Palace and India Gate. Learning Discovery: You’ll also visit golden-domed Bangla Sahib, a bustling Sikh temple, then be welcomed as a guest for lunch in a local home. Depart for an afternoon visit to the Qutab Minar complex, where you’ll see India’s oldest mosque, and pay a visit to Cottage Industries, an emporium of shops, each devoted to the handicrafts of a different Indian state.

 Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners

 Taj Mahal Delhi Hotel >

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DAYS 5-7:

On Day 5, you’ll depart for Jaipur to visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Day 6 begins with a visit to magnificent Amber Fort, followed by a photo opportunity at the Palace of the Winds. Learning Discovery: Ride an elephant as the maharajas once did. Then, visit a jewelry store to observe a skilled gem cutter. Lunch today is at a local restaurant. Learning Discovery: Visit Jaipur’s Old Bazaar to see where locals buy jewelry, textiles, and almost anything else you can think of. Enjoy a free morning on Day 7, followed by an exclusive lunch at the Royal Palace and a visit to the elegant City Palace and the Royal Museum. Afterward, visit the Birla Temple, one of Jaipur’s must-see sites.

 Included meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches

 Jai Mahal Palace >

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DAYS 8-9:

We next depart for Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Upon arrival, take a horse-drawn tonga ride to the outer courtyard gates of the Taj Mahal for an afternoon visit. Later, enjoy dinner at the hotel. The next day, you’ll visit Agra Fort and a marble inlay workshop where the skills that built the Taj Mahal are still practiced. Learning Discovery: You’re the guest for a traditional Indian tea in the home of a local family.

 Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners

 ITC Mughal >

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DAYS 10-11:

Learning Discovery: Experience India as you travel via the surprisingly sleek rail system to Khajuraho, where the Chandela dynasty built extraordinary temples. Stop in Orchha for lunch and to view remarkable abandoned palaces and temples. Savor an included dinner at your hotel. Learning Discovery: On the morning of Day 11, attend a lecture at your hotel on the history and significance of the Khajuraho temples. You’ll then tour the eastern and western groups of Khajuraho temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learning Discovery: This evening, enjoy dance performances from different regions of India.

 Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners

 Hotel Chandela >

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DAYS 12-13:

Learning Discovery: Get a taste of village life on Day 12 as you meet with local families and visit their open-air kitchens and courtyards. Then you’ll fly to Varanasi, the sacred Hindu city on the banks of the Ganges. Enjoy a panoramic city tour with a stop at Bhara Mata (Mother India) temple, to see its famous large relief map of India. Learning Discovery: A mesmerizing experience awaits as you cruise on the Ganges to observe the evening aarti offering, an up-close-and-personal experience only possible in your small group of 18-24. Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight.

On Day 13, visit a local textile workshop to see how hand embroidery is done. Afterward, pay a visit to the Sarnath Temple, where Buddha first preached the “Middle Path” of Buddhist practice. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.

 Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners

 Gateway Hotel Ganges Varanasi >

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DAY 14 :

Today you’ll fly to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. En route to the city, tour the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Learning Discovery: An early evening talk by a former Gurkha solider, one of the legendary Nepalese fighters who served in the British Army, is followed by dinner at the hotel.   

 Included meals: breakfast, dinner

 Hyatt Regency Kathmandu >

DAYS 15-16:

On Day 15, set off for Chitwan, where black rhino, sloth bears, and other wild animals in the broad grasslands and deep jungle cover. Lunch and dinner are included today. On Day 16, enjoy a full day of park activities, including an elephant safari, a jungle walk, and a lecture about the wildlife at the park given by a naturalist.

 Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

 Temple Tiger Jungle Lodge >

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DAYS 17-18:

Learning Discovery: After breakfast, visit a local village en route to the airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. On Day 18, you’ll set off on a city tour of Kathmandu, which takes you to Durbar Square, Taleju Temple, Kasthamandap, and Kumari Ghar, home to the Living Goddess. You’ll also visit Swayambhunath Stupa and, after lunch, Boudhanath — one of the largest stupas in the world. Tonight, gather for a Nepali Farewell Dinner and live entertainment at a local restaurant.

 Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners

 Hyatt Regency Kathmandu >

DAYS 19-20:

After a morning at leisure, fly from Kathmandu to Delhi. Enjoy dinner at the airport before checking in for your flight home, which will depart in the early morning on Day 20. Or, depart for your optional extension to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

 Included meals: breakfast, dinner