Optional Tours

LEARN more. EXPLORE more. DREAM more.

Enrich your vacation with Vantage's collection of deluxe optional tours, designed exclusively for our guests. You’ll discover a world beyond the landmarks and gain immeasurable insight into the culture and people of your destination. So join us … and make the most of your journey!

---

Gaitore & Jaigarh Fort Tour

Jaipur, India
Morning Tour

Approximate Time: 3 hours

During this morning tour, you'll see a couple of the most impressive attractions in Jaipur. First, visit peaceful Gaitore, a royal cremation site featuring remarkable cenotaphs of the maharajas (kings) of Jaipur. You'll marvel at these intricately carved structures, elaboratly decorated with elevated, umbrella-shaped pavilions called chhatris - a common element in Indian architecture. Particularly striking is the cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the great warrior/astronomer who founded the city.

---

Taj Mahal at sunset

Agra, India
Early Evening

Approximate Time: 3 hours

You are about to witness one of the greatest sights of one’s lifetime - the Taj Mahal at sunset! This early evening excursion will enable you to experience the Taj Mahal at sunset, a truly unforgettable sight. As you visit the fabled Taj Mahal , you will witness the magical effects caused by the reflections of the changing colors of the setting sun on this brilliant white marble building. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1,000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid 17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really astounding. This tour also includes a visit to the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah. Even more decorative than the Taj, this tomb is often described as a "jewel box." It's the perfect complement to your visit to the Taj Mahal.

---

Sunrise Boat Tour on the Ganges

Varanasi, India
Early Morning Tour

Approximate Time: 2 hours

Discover the soul of India during your visit to Varanasi, the city of Lord Shiva, one of the most sacred cities in Hindu India. Here, temples line the sacred River Ganges, with broad ghats or steps leading down to the water’s edge. You will follow steps to the river’s edge in the pre-dawn light to board a boat for the ride into the broad river. As you venture out into the morning mists, you’ll find yourself transported to a different world. Then, as the sun rises and illuminates the temples along the river, you’ll see the devout coming down to the river for a ritual washing away of sins. Others will be doing exercises and priests will be performing sunrise rituals. Whether you treat this as one of India’s best “photo ops,” or an experience to silently absorb, this is an experience no visitor to India should miss.

---

Mountain Flight Tour Over Mt. Everest

Kathmandu, Nepal
Early Morning Tour

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Only awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on a flight that encounters the tallest mountains on earth. You’ll take off from Kathmandu in the early morning on a small aircraft with a window seat for an hour of spectacular mountain scenery. You’ll see the whole stretch of the Himalayas that extend across Nepal. Weather permitting, the magical vista of the Tibetan Plateau as well as aerial views of Mt. Everest, the Kanchenjunga mountains, and the Namche Valley are clearly visible. The thrill of seeing these majestic mountains at close range is an experience not to be missed.

---

Bhaktapur City Tour

Kathmandu, Nepal
Afternoon tour

Approximate Time: 3 hours

Bhaktapur, once the capital of Nepal, is perhaps the best preserved medieval city-state of the Kathmandu Valley. The city is called “City of Devotees” and has three huge squares full of towering temples that comprise some of the finest religious architecture in the country. This beautiful city has a rural setting and many of the locals make a living farming the fields around it, so you’ll often see crops drying in the streets. On this comprehensive tour a local guide will lead you around the winding cobblestone streets, red-brick squares and charming courtyards of this historical and cultural gem

---

Please Note: All prices are per person and subject to change. All optional tours are offered by Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Descriptions and scheduling are subject to change. Minimum tour participation is required to operate optional tours. Optional tours cancelled by passengers within 48 hours of the excursion are non-refundable.