Border Information: If you are joining the trip in Kathmandu, you will most likely enter Nepal at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (IATA code: KTM).Wrapped around the Himalayan mountain range is the remarkable country of Nepal. It is the birthplace of the Buddha and is a land of legend and beauty. Within its narrow confines Nepal contains an utterly spectacular variety of culture and landscapes. Nepal has a stunning natural beauty and a simple charm.There is an important group meeting at 6:00pm. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where and when this important meeting will take place.Please note that many of the optional activities listed will only be possible for those with extra time in Kathmandu before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Kathmandu.
Today our journey begins with a drive to the historic village of Nuwakot, one of Nepal's hidden gems nestled in the central hills of the country. Full of ancient temples and palaces, Nuwakot has a beautifully serene atmosphere and rustic ambience - perfect for getting a taste of the calm pace of rural Nepalese life.
Today is a free day to explore the stunning village of Nuwakot and its surroundings.
Today we will depart Nuwakot and make our way to Nepal's second city - the adventure town of Pokhara!
Today we will have a free day in the fantastic city of Pokhara. The area is famous for its myriad of spectacular waterfalls surrounded by fertile forests and towering mountains, for its fantastic choice of yoga and meditation retreats, and for its overwhelming choice of adventure activities from trekking to rafting to zip-lining to mountain biking!
This morning we take a short drive out of Pokhara to the small village of Dhampus, where we start our 3-hour trek to our Annapurna eco-lodge. The lodge is dramatically located in the foothills of the mountains of Annapurna and Manaslu, and is a paradise for taking walks through the stunning Nepalese countryside.The trek is approximately 3 hours in total, and is relatively easy but is mainly uphill. The trek can be skipped by any individual if need be.
Today we will explore the area around our eco-lodge, meet many of the locals, and get into the heart of the community. We will hopefully visit a local school and give something back to the local community by helping to maintain their ingenious water systems.
Today we will make our way back down to the town of Pokhara. If people are feeling energetic there is an option to walk down to another village and meet the jeeps there giving people a chance to take in more incredible views of Annapurna and Machhapuchhare mountains. We will stop at a small village for lunch and then take the steep downhill trail to rejoin our overland truck on the main road. From there, we will drive to the delightful town of Bandipur.
Today we will have free time to relax and explore the local surroundings.
Today we will drive through stunning scenery down to the lowlands of Nepal and the Terai grasslands. Our destination is Chitwan National Park, where we will stay for the next 2 nights.If we arrive in good time we will make a visit to Bis Hajaar Tal, also known as 20,000 Lakes, which is a wetland area near the Royal Chitwan National Park. Here we will get the opportunity to see peacocks, wild boars, deer and there is also a slim chance of seeing tigers and rhinos. If we cannot visit the 20,000 Lakes area today we will make our visit tomorrow.
Today we'll spend the day exploring the National Park by canoe and on foot, and there is the option to take a jeep safari! There will be an opportunity to see a traditional Nepali dance demonstration in the evening.In Chitwan we will stay in a local guest lodge.
Border Information: Exit Nepal at Belhiya, enter India at Sonauli.Today we enter the legendary country of India. India has so much to offer, from the beautiful landscapes of the Himalayas, to the amazing temples and coastlines, rich culture, and of course the food!This morning we have a fairly relaxed start to the day before packing up and driving to the border. We will cross the border to India and continue on a short drive to the town of Gorakhpur
Today we will continue driving and reach the holy city of Varanasi in the evening.
Today we will get up very early for an included boat trip down the Ganges. This is a magical time of day to see the famous ghats and watch the morning rituals of the thousands of people who come here to purify themselves in the holy river. We will have auto-rickshaws for the rest of the day to explore the rest of the city - we will have the opportunity to use them to visit a traditional silk workshop and the Mother India temple.
Today we will have a full days drive to the town of Khajuraho.On arrival we will set up camp before settling in for the evening.
Today we will head out for an included guided visit to the Khajuraho Erotic Temples. In the afternoon we will have some free time to explore the town or relax back at camp.
Today is free to explore the area, relax on the banks of the river, or take an optional jeep safari to the nearby Panna National Park in search of wildlife.
After breakfast we leave our campsite and head to the city of Agra. Most of today will be spent travelling and we will arrive in the evening.
Today we will have an included day tour of the major sites of Agra, starting with sunrise at the world-famous iconic mausoleum of the Taj Mahal, followed by a visit to the Agra Fort.
We leave Agra today and head overland to the pink city of Jaipur, stopping en route at Fatehpur Sikri (the old capital of the Mughal Empire).
Today we will have a full day exploring the sites of Jaipur on rickshaws with our local guide. Whilst in Jaipur there will also be the option for an early morning or late afternoon hot air balloon ride over the city.
Today we leave Jaipur and travel to the chaotic Indian capital of Delhi.
Today we will have an included guided tour of Old Delhi, heading to the Mughal Jama Masjid mosque, a local tea-maker, a Sikh temple, and the local spice markets. We will also have some free time to freely explore the sights of Delhi in the afternoon.
Border Information: If joining the trip in Delhi, you will most likely enter India at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (IATA code: DEL).Today is a free day to explore Delhi. There will be an important group meeting at 6:00pm - please look for a note from your tour leader when you arrive at the hotel giving more details about this meeting.Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Delhi before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Delhi.
Today we start our journey with a full day drive to the city of Bikaner.In Bikaner we will either stay in a local hotel or camp at an eco-lodge a short distance outside the city.
Today we continue our journey with a drive to the ancient Rajasthani city of Jaisalmer, stopping at the Karni Mata (Rat Temple) for an included visit en route.
We will have free time this morning to explore the sights of Jaisalmer. In the late afternoon we will head out on an included camel safari into the Thar Desert - exploring the desert with local Rajasthani camel drivers is the most authentic way to experience the area!Tonight we will camp out on the outskirts of the desert, sleeping under the stars.
This morning we will return to Jaisalmer from our camel safari. The rest of the day will be free to relax or explore more of Jaisalmer and the surrounding area.
This morning we will drive from Jaisalmer to another famous Rajasthani city, Jodhpur. En route to Jodhpur we will make an included visit to the Sambhali Trust project (a charitable project that works for the empowerment of women and girls in Rajasthan), where we will learn about the efforts of the project and make a group donation from the kitty.After our visit we will make our way to our accommodation, rooms that have been set up by local families in their own homes for visitors. We will be splitting up into 2 or 3 small groups for our community guesthouses.
After breakfast we will have an included visit to the Mehrangarh Fort and palace. The afternoon is then free to explore this wonderful city independently.
After breakfast we set off for our drive to Udaipur, visiting the Jain Temple at Ranakpur en route. We will have 3 nights in Udaipur, giving us plenty of time to discover this amazing, romantic Rajasthani city.
On these 2 days we will have free time to explore the sites in and around Udaipur, take part in some optional activities, and relax on one of the many roof-top terraces in the city.
We have a 2nd full day in Udaipur to give us plenty of time to discover this amazing, romantic Rajasthan city and relax on one of the many roof-top terraces
Leaving Udaipur, we will be joined by a local cook who will accompany us during the next few days as we travel through Ajanta and Ellora.Today will mostly be spent travelling to Mandu via the backroads of rural Rajasthan. We will be off the tourist trail here and tonight we will camp or stay in a local hotel.
Today we will visit Mandu, an extensive and largely abandoned hill-top fort from the Mughal era. We will then spend the afternoon driving to our camping spot near Kharwand Dam, en route towards Ajanta.
Today we complete the drive to Ajanta, arriving in the afternoon. We will visit the complex of 29 ancient Buddhist temples cut into the rock face. We will find a basic camp nearby or continue onto Ellora depending on time.
Today we will drive a short distance to Ellora where we will have an included visit to the ancient Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves - a set of a small temples in the rock face dating from the 6th to 11th Centuries CE. We will camp in the grounds of a hotel tonight.
Setting off early today, we will say goodbye to our local cook and drive to the bustling city of Mumbai.
Border Information: If you are leaving in Mumbai, you will most likely exit India from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (IATA code: BOM).Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Mumbai. Please note there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight - please contact your sales agent if you are interested in booking extra nights of accommodation in order to fully explore and take part in some of the optional activities listed below.
