Day 1
Overnight international flight to New Delhi.
Day 2
Upon arrival, airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 3
Begin your morning tour of Old Delhi with a cycle rickshaw ride through the streets. You will visit the Red Fort, which was once the most affluent fort and palace of the once reigning Mughal Empire; Raj Ghat, the memorial site of the Mahatma Gandhi; and Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Your final stop in Old Delhi will bring you to Chandni Chowk, a lively and colorful market that was once the commercial center of the city.
You will then drive to New Delhi which will provide a stark contrast between the old with the new, a recurring theme throughout India. In New Delhi you will visit the India Gate monument, followed by the Parliament House (from the outside) and other extravagant government buildings. Then continue onward to Humayun’s Tomb, built in honor of India’s second Mughal emperor, followed by a visit to The Bahai Temple (Lotus Temple), the house of worship. This temple, designed in the form of a lotus, offers a simple message of humanity as a single race and calls for the Oneness of Mankind. Later you will visit the world’s tallest brick minaret, Qutub Minar. In store for today are also several other modern day landmarks, as well as some good opportunities to do some shopping.
Note: Yampu recommends one of our optional tours (price not included) to enjoy a fine dinner at the Veda Restaurant, a lavishly designed nouvelle cuisine curry house that offers a fusion of traditional Indian food with a modern spin. A second option is a visit to Akshardham, a unique, yet stunning monument that boasts 234 elaborately carved pillars, 9 decorative domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars (towers of Hindu architecture), stone elephants sculptures and 20,000 murtis (Hindu images portraying Divine spirits). Please enquire with a Yampu travel consultant for more information.
Day 4
Begin with a drive to Agra that will take approximately 4 hours. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. You will then proceed for your sightseeing tour of the stunning Taj Mahal, India’s most picture perfect work of architecture and one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
As you then drive through the city to the Agra Fort, you will get some good images of the local scene and bazaars, and the everyday buzz of India. Once at the Agra Fort, you will be led through its regal chambers that were once home to some of India’s most powerful Mughal emperors
Note: We recommend an optional tour (cost not included) to a showing of Mohhabbat The Taj, a live show with a touch of Bollywood. This 80 minute presentation is a charming way to top off your day at the Kalakriti Auditorium. Please enquire with a Yampu travel consultant for more details.
Day 5
Drive approximately 4-5 hours to Jaipur. En route, you will stop to enjoy an excursion to the abandoned city of Fatepur Sikri, the once imperial city of the Mughal dynasty that was mysteriously deserted years after its inception. This ornate city was built with such grandeur that words do not do justice to the glorious atmosphere created by its buildings. Once arrived, you will check in and have some time to relax before a sound and light show at the city’s Amber Fort.
Day 6
This morning you will return to the Amber Fort for a half day excursion. As you stroll through the magnificent rooms and chambers, observe the various intricate ivory, mirror and glass work. In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour that will begin at the City Palace Museum, followed by a visit to Jantar Mantar (an accurate observatory built in 1726), and great photographic opportunity at the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds – a spectacular five storied, honeycomb styled building exemplifying superb Rajput artistry.
Note: Yampu recommends an optional tour (price not included) of an evening elephant safari. After a chance to feed these gentle creatures, ride upon their backs through a private jungle area, passing many villages, fields and a medieval fortress as the sun sets. Please enquire with a Yampu travel consultant for more information.
Day 7
Transfer to Jodhpur. This is approximately a 5 hour drive. Once settled in, you will begin an afternoon tour of the city. Exploring the second largest city of Rajasthan, you will first visit the Mehangarh Fort. Within its great walls (which remain scarred from cannon balls), you can meander through its impressive courtyards and many small palaces. Of these, the most notable palaces to visit are Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palce), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana and Daulat Khana.
You will also visit the fort’s museum, which hosts a fine selection of palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles, miniature paintings, musical instruments, costumes and furniture. Stroll to the top of the fort for great photographic views of the sprawling Blue City that lies below. Then visit the spectacular Jaswant Thada, a pure white marble memorial built to commemorate Maharaja Singh II. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure to explore the city or perhaps walk through the colorful bizarres.
Note: We recommend a Jeep Safari to the nearby Guda Bishnoi Village (at added cost) to experience a sense of tribal India. 25 kilometers outside of Jodhpur, you may find the Bisnoi community, a group of faithful worshippers of nature and the sanctity of plant and animal life. A natural desert oasis, this is a great place to experience the customs of tribal life and enjoy its beautiful natural surroundings.
Day 8
Begin your drive south from Jodhpur to Udaipur. This is approximately a 5-6 hour drive, but will be broken up by visiting the Jain Temples of Ranakpur. The more renowned Jain temple boasts over 1400 marble pillars that are carved in exquisite detail. Opposite this temple, you will also visit the much older Sun Temple. Then you will continue your drive to Udaipur. Once checked in at your hotel, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 9
This morning you will begin by visiting the City Palace Museum. The museum preserves the architectural extravagance of the palace; the granite and marble balconies, lavish arches and cupolas, and octagonal towers that offer fine views of the surrounding lake and city. Adjacent to the north entrance, you will then visit the Jagdish Temple. Lavishly designed and enshrined with stone images of Krishna, this is celebrated as the city’s largest temple. Then, you will visit Sahelion Ki Bari, a remarkable garden once designed for the royal ladies of the palace.
Later in the afternoon, you can relax on a boat cruise upon the serene Lake Pichola. You will be able to see the fascinating Jagmandir Island Palace. Before returning to your hotel, you will also have time to peruse through the open air markets that sprawl behind the City Palace.
Note: We recommend a tour of the Crystal Gallerey (price not included), which displays a breathtaking collection of crystal items, including tables, sofa sets, dressers, fountains and even beds. We also offer horseback riding (price not included) through the peaceful nature and stunning landscape outside of the city. Please enquire with your Yampu travel consultant for more details.
Day 10
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you are free to spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 11
Enjoy a guided tour of Kathmandu City beginning with Kumari Ghar – home to Nepal’s most important living goddess, and the Hanuman Dhoka Palace. Then, enjoy a brief visit to Kasthamandap, a medieval temple said to be built from a single piece of wood, which also gives Kathmandu its name. Proceed to the Kal Brairab shrine, a colorful memorial to the Hindu God of destruction, followed by a visit to Taleju Temple, the city’s most magnificent temple.
Afterwards, embark on a sightseeing tour of the Swoyambhunath Stupa. Celebrated as one of the oldest Buddhist stupas in the world, this majestic structure sits highly on a nearby hilltop overlooking Kathmandu Valley. In the afternoon, travel through Patan, the “City of Fine Arts”. Stroll through the famous Durbar Square, where you can see Krishna Mandir, a temple built in honor of Lord Krishna that is considered to be the world’s finest example of stone architecture. As you walk around, you can enjoy the many traditional artists and sculptors throughout the streets.
Note: Yampu recommends an optional one hour mountain flight for unforgettable aerial views of the Himalayas. Experience the thrill of seeing Mount Everest up close, as the plane flies two aeronautical miles in front of the Natural Wonder. Please inquire with a Yampu travel consultant for more details.
Day 12
Morning visit to Pashupatinath, Nepal’s oldest and most holy Hindu temple. Situated upon the banks of the Bagmati River, this is an important ritual and cremation site, as the water flows into the Ganges. Proceed to Boudhanath, one of Asia’s largest stupas that has earned the nickname of “Little Tibet”, as it has become a focal point of Tibetan Buddhism. Standing tall at thirty-six meters (118 ft), this white mandala-shaped structure is a symbol of the universe that facilitates meditation for the local Tibetan Buddhists.
In the afternoon, go on an excursion to the medieval city of Bhaktapur, located about an hour’s drive outside of Kathmandu. In this “City of Devotees”, wander through the winding lanes lined with old homes and temples that date back to the 13th century. Beginning in the city’s Durbar Square, you will be able to marvel at the intricately carved deities and monsters of the richly molded Golden Gate before entering the Palace of 55 Windows that incorporates exquisite wood carvings into its medieval design.
Then, see the Lion’s Gate, with its huge guarding lion statues, before continuing to the Nyatpola Temple, a beautiful five-storied, 17th century pagoda. The last stop of the day will bring you to the splendorous Bhairab Temple, which is dedicated to the Lord Buddha. Before returning to Kathmandu, take some time to watch the skill of the traditional potters as they work at the Pottery Centre and the Dattratraya Temple.
Day 13
Depart Kathmandu, driving approximately 5 hours to Chitwan National Park. After checking into your hotel, enjoy an afternoon of jungle activities. Begin tracking some of the resident wildlife on the back of an elephant for closer viewing or take a leisurely jungle walk with an experienced naturalist to intimately explore the local flora and fauna.
Day 14
Awake for a full day of jungle activities. Today cover more ground on a guided 4x4 Landrover safari that will bring you further into the park for a chance to track more animals. For something a bit different, you may also choose to take a canoe trip for a different perspective. These peaceful canoe trips usually embark upon the Rapti or Narayani rivers and offer better chances to see many of the water foul as well as crocodiles and the rarely seen Gangetic dolphin.
Day 15
Awake for a final day of jungle activities. Use today for more wildlife tracking or to try something different, like a cultural walking tour of a local Tharu village. Something of interest here are the traditional stick dance performances put on by the villagers. Moreover, some other must sees in the park include the Elephant Breeding Program and the Gharial Crocodile Breeding Project.
Day 16
Transfer back to Kathmandu for your flight home or continue with the Yampu Tours add-on of your choice.
Combined India and S. Asia
Indian One-Horned Rhino
Boudhanath, Kathmandu
Fatehpur Sikri
