Grand Tour of India
India tour information
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| Taj Mahal | Houseboat | Buddhist Site | Camels | Beautiful Scenery | Desert | Temples & Palaces | UNESCO World Heritage | Cultural Show | Shopping |
So Many Magical Experiences
29 days from £4990
This tour combines the best that India has to offer – from the deserts of Rajasthan in the north, to the tranquil backwaters of Kerala in the south. Also included is the ‘Bollywood’ city of Mumbai and the historic caves at Ajanta and Ellora. India is a land of extraordinary contrast and this tour will leave you with a strong sense of history, culture and geography of this diverse country.
Days 1-2 : UK – Delhi
Fly overnight to Delhi, India’s capital city.
Day 3 : Delhi
Sightseeing today begins with a visit to the Red Fort and a walk through Chandni Chowk bazaar to Jama Masjid, which is India’s largest mosque. We have a brief photo stop at India Gate and Parliament House. We also visit Gandhi Smriti where Gandhi was assassinated and Qutab Minar.
Day 4 : Delhi – Varanasi
Fly to Varanasi.
Day 5 : Varanasi
Visit the Buddhist sites at Sarnath which date back to the 3rd century and then enjoy a rickshaw ride to the Ghats of the River Ganges to witness the pooja ceremony of Ganga Aarti in the evening.
Day 6 : Varanasi – Khajuraho
We rise early to enjoy a boat ride along the River Ganges to view the Ghats at sunrise which are abuzz with activity followed by a city tour. Later, fly to Khajuraho and enjoy a cultural dancing show in the evening.
Day 7 : Khajuraho
Tour the Khajuraho Temples.
Day 8 : Khajuraho – Agra
We continue to Agra stopping at Orchha en-route. We continue by road to Jhansi and the travel by Shatabadi Express to Agra.
Day 9 : Agra
We rise early to view the impressive Taj Mahal in all its glory at sunrise. We also stop at a traditional marble workshop and visit Agra Fort.
Day 10 : Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur (Jan to May)
Drive to Bharatpur, then travel by train to Ranthambore National Park and enjoy a canter safari in the park this afternoon.
Day 10 : Agra – Bharatpur – Jaipur (Sep to Dec)
Drive to Bharatpur, then continue to the ‘ghost city’ of Fatehpur Sikri and visit the Keoladeo National Park. Later, return to Bharatpur.
Day 11 : Ranthambore/Bharatpur – Jaipur
Continue to Jaipur where we visit City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory.
Day 12 : Jaipur
We begin with a photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Continue to Amer Fort and shop at the local bazaar in Choti Choper. Enjoy a traditional dinner and dance performance in the evening.
Day 13 : Jaipur – Alsisar
We travel through the countryside to the small heritage town of Alsisar for a backward glimpse of village life in rural Rajasthan. The area of Shekhavati has beautiful frescoes, havelis and mansions and is often referred to as an open air gallery.
Day 14 : Alsisar – Bikaner
We continue to the major desert town of Bikaner and visit Junagarh Fort and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the medieval streets to the old city bazaar.
Day 15 : Bikaner – Jaisalmer
We continue to Jaisalmer and in the evening visit the local markets and Sunset Point.
Day 16 : Jaisalmer
Sightseeing today includes a visit to Jaisalmer Fort. We also visit the beautifully carved Jain temples and Badal Vilas Palace and Sam Sand Dunes where we enjoy a camel ride to view the sunset.
Day 17 : Jaisalmer – Jodhpur
We travel to Jodhpur and visit Meherangarh Fort the museum located in the Umaid Bhawan Palace. We also experience a rickshaw ride and then walk through Subji Mandi, a local vegetable and spice market.
Day 18 : Jodhpur – Rohetgarh – Jodhpur
Travel by jeep to Rohetgarh to visit a Bishnoi Tribe before returning to Jodhpur.
Day 19 : Jodhpur – Udaipur
Travel to Udaipur, a city of lakes, palaces and temples. En-route we stop at Ranakpur to visit the largest Jain Temple complex in India, built in the 15th century. We continue to Udaipur and enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Pichola.
Day 20 : Udaipur
We begin with a drive around Fateh Sagar Lake and then visit the Folk Museum, Mewar Art Gallery and Sahelion Ki Bari (Garden for the Maids of Honour). We also visit City Palace and wander through the local shops.
Day 21 : Udaipur – Mumbai – Aurangabad
Fly to Aurangabad via Mumbai.
Day 22 : Aurangabad – Ajanta Caves – Aurangabad
Visit the UNESCO world heritage listed Ajanta Caves.
Day 23 : Aurangabad – Ellora Caves – Mumbai
visit the UNESCO world heritage listed Ellora Caves before flying to Mumbai.
Day 24 : Mumbai – Kochi
Enjoy the city of Mumbai starting with a drive past the Gateway of India and along Marine Drive, also known as the 'Queen's Necklace'. We also visit the Hanging Gardens, Chowpatty Beach, Kamala Nehru Park, 'Dhobi Ghat', Crawford Market and Flora Fountain. Later, fly to Kochi.
Day 25 : Kochi
Visit the Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica and Fort Kochi. We also see the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets and stroll through the nearby markets. Enjoy a Kathakali dance performance in the evening.
Day 26 : Kochi – Nedumudy
Visit the Jewish Synagogue before travelling to Nedumudy (near Kumarakom) where we board our houseboat, a converted rice barge known as a ‘kettuvallam’. Witness the village life around the backwaters of Kerala as we cruise to Alleppey. Lunch and dinner will be served on-board and we stay overnight on the houseboat.
Day 27 : Alleppey – Kovalam
We disembark from out houseboat in Alleppey and travel to Kovalam.
Day 28 : Kovalam – Trivandrum
Visit Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Zoological Gardens and Museums, Sri Chitra Art Gallery and Reptile House. We also see the Observatory, Kanakakunnu Palace and Sree Shastri Purthi Memorial.
Day 29 : Trivandrum – UK
Fly to the UK, arriving home later the same day.
Dates and Prices
| Depart UK | Arrive UK | Price pp from | |
|---|---|---|---|
| * 21 Mar 2012 | 18 Apr 2012 | £4,990 | |
| ** 12 Sep 2012 | 10 Oct 2012 | £5,390 | |
| ** 17 Oct 2012 | 14 Nov 2012 | £5,390 | |
| * 6 Feb 2013 | 6 Mar 2013 | £5,290 | |
| *# 6 Mar 2013 | 3 Apr 2013 | £5,290 |
#Departure coincides with Holi Festival celebrations and sightseeing may be affected
*Tour departs Wednesday and returns Wednesday (Ranthambore itinerary)
**Tour departs Wednesday and returns Wednesday (Bharatpur itinerary)
- Prices are fully inclusive from the UK and based on London Heathrow departures
- Regional departures available
- Flight upgrades available on request
- Land only from £4,590pp (Delhi - Trivandrum)
- Single supplement from £990 (no supplement if you are willing to share)
- Tipping payable locally US$150pp
- Medium Paced Tour
This document is designed to be read in conjunction with the other pre-departure information provided by Wendy Wu Tours including the tour itinerary as described in our brochure and/or website. It aims to provide a straightforward description of the physical activities involved in sightseeing or travelling during the tour.
If there are any particular challenges, from the length of time spent on your feet, the length of drives and flights, to the standard of remote accommodation for our more adventurous tours; they will be explained here.
All passengers must read this document to ensure the itinerary is suitable for their interests and physical capabilities. This is not your final itinerary and therefore does not mention all the sites visited. The order of sightseeing is subject to change.
| Grand Tour of India- Ranthambore (Jan to May) | |
| Grand Tour of India- Bharatpur (Sept to Dec) |
Tour map
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Call on 0844 499 3899 or for general tour enquiries click here
