Trip Style
Basix
Departures
Budget
Affordable
Max. Group Size
16
Pace
Leisurely
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
HHYK
Overview
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Intrepid's 13 Day Real Delhi to Kathmandu. Head from bustling Delhi to remote Tordi on this 13-day adventure through India and Nepal. Get down and dirty with the best street food, gape at one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Taj Mahal – cruise down the holy Ganges in Varanasi, hang in Buddha’s hometown (Lumbini), search for sloth bears and rhinos at Chitwan National Park and finish up in colourful Kathmandu. With incredibly delicious food (naan bread, anyone?), spiritual significance and culture that’s waiting to be explored, what’s your excuse...read more for not taking the adventure of a lifetime?
Itinerary
Namaste! Welcome to India. This Himalayan adventure kicks off in Delhi – the capital territory of India’s north. Meet your trip leader and new travel buddies at a 6 pm welcome meeting tonight. If you arrive early, there's plenty to do in this wonderfully chaotic city. Maybe wander the streets, sip on your first chai or practice haggling in one of the many markets. Tonight, ask your leader for the best nightlife spots and perhaps grab a drink with your group.
Your next destination takes a bit of work to get to, but that’s because it’s a secret, tucked away haven away from the prying eyes of the everyday tourist. You’ll journey through picturesque countryside by train to a unique stay in Tordi – this remote and rarely visited village offers a glimpse into the real Rajasthan. Tonight, sleep in an 18th-century palace with its owner as your host. There's a ruined temple and fortress nearby that you can explore, and then you can settle in and savour the delicious local flavours with a home-cooked dinner. (D)
Kick on to Jaipur – India's Pink City. You'll have plenty of free time here to haggle to your heart's content at the bazaars and backstreets, where vendors sell a variety of textiles, precious and semi-precious gems and blue pottery. Drop by one of India’s finest palaces – the Royal City Palace – where the guards’ moustaches are almost as impressive as the building itself. Foodies will want to hit the streets for raj kachori chaat (a big fluffy chaat served with chutney, yoghurt, chilli and potato). Then, maybe cool off with a lassi from Lassiwala on MI road – Jaipur's oldest and most famous lassi shop. Tonight, cinema buffs won’t want to miss a Bollywood blockbuster at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema.
If you're keen on a different view of the Pink City, an optional early morning hot air balloon ride is a trip highlight for many visitors. Later in the morning, you’ll drop by Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) – the impressive five-storey facade with pink and honeycombed windows is the most photographed building in the country after the Taj Mahal. After, it’s out to the old capital of Amber where you’ll explore the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort. The rest of the day is free – maybe ask your leader for the best spot for dinner and pick up a biryani or a tasty plate of chicken tikka masala.
Take advantage of the chance to rub shoulders with the locals today on a public bus ride to Agra. When you arrive, you’ve made it to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – India's most enduring symbol and an epic monument to love and loss. For some reason, local families find it more interesting to take photos of you than the actual Taj Mahal! But you'll be too busy standing there with your mouth gaping open to notice. Take your time taking in the delight of this gorgeous monument and make sure you grab a great pic– you won’t want to forget this.
Today is free to explore at your leisure. Agra Fort is a popular option where you can stroll the palatial gardens of the red sandstone stronghold and get some great views of the Taj Mahal from afar. For a meal that makes a difference while in Agra, consider visiting Sheroes Hangout – a social enterprise that supports survivors of acid attacks. Then, it's on to the next stop – Varanasi. Tonight, it’s time for a unique slice of Indian life aboard an overnight train.
Arrive in one of the holiest cities in the country this morning. Varanasi is the ultimate destination for Hindu pilgrims who travel far and wide to experience the spirituality of this city. Overflowing with temples, shrines and devotees, this is an interesting place to explore. Maybe take the chance to perfect your yoga in one of the epic chakra-balancing spots. Or just chill out and soak in the meditative surroundings, ready for your early start tomorrow.
Today’s an early start, but it’s worth it – you’ll take a sunrise boat ride along the sacred Ganges. Even if you're not spiritual, you can't help but get goosebumps during this experience. Pass the many ghats (stairs leading to the water) and temples along the river and watch thousands of Hindu pilgrims cleanse their sins in the holy water as the sun bathes the surrounds in shades of amber and orange. After, maybe hop on an auto rickshaw to the oldest part of the city to explore its maze of narrow alleyways packed full of small shops, stalls and lumbering cows. See pilgrims performing rituals unchanged for hundreds of years and pass chiming temples as wafts of incense fill the air.
Wave goodbye to India as you travel to the border (Sunauli border crossing) and enter Nepal. Make sure to charge up your music and fish out your book, as it's a long day of travel today. Arrive in Lumbini. No ordinary border town, this is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha – the founder of Buddhism and one of his four holy places of pilgrimage. Check out the beautiful Ashoka Pillars and hop on cycle rickshaws to the Maya Devi Temple – the actual site where Buddha is thought to have been born.
Put on your safari hat this morning, as you’ll drive to Chitwan National Park – UNESCO declared this park a World Heritage Site in 1984 and it offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Asia. Think the Jungle Book coming to life with rhinos, deer, monkeys and a wide array of birds, including Nepalese wild chickens. Tonight, you’ll stay in a lodge near the park, listening out for the roars of tigers as you fall asleep to the sounds of nature
This morning you’ll hop aboard a jeep, meet your local guide and take a fun safari drive through Chitwan National Park. Look out for elephants and rhinos and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one of the 100-or-so Bengal Tigers that call the park home. There are also a number of optional activities available through your accommodation this afternoon, including biking, bird watching, cultural performances, canoe rides and village tours. Whatever you choose, whether it’s an active cycle through the park or a leisurely float along the river, you’re sure to have a great afternoon.
Today, you’ll travel to your final destination – the Nepalese patchouli–scented capital of Kathmandu. Maybe book in for a massage or a yoga session when you arrive to ease those body kinks and settle into a meditative state. With the rest of your free time, you can visit the giant Buddhist Stupa at Boudhanath or head out into the narrow streets – home to holy men, monks, bicycles and sacred cows. Got a sweet tooth? Take one soft, fluffy ball of buffalo milk dough, deep fried until it's the texture of a doughnut, dropped into sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom powder, rose essence and saffron and eat! Your leader will know where to grab these delicacies. Kathmandu has some great spots for nightlife too, so if you like, chill out with a cool drink or grab some dinner with your group tonight.
With no further activities planned, your adventure ends this morning. Since you're already here, why not stay an extra day or two and dig a little deeper into Kathmandu. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent and maybe get to know the city better through an Urban Adventures day tour (or two).
Trip Inclusions
- Ditch your alarm in the spiritual capital of Varanasi – there’s only one way to wake up here and that’s with a sunrise sail along the Ganges. Maybe indulge in some yoga or meditation after and keep the good vibes going.
- See the majestic Taj Mahal – one of the famed Seven Wonders of the World. This may be one of the most recognisable buildings on Earth, but do you know its poetic history? Don’t worry, a local expert will fill you in.
- Spend some time in rural Tordi, away from the tourist trail, and stay in an 18th-century palace, enjoy a homecooked dinner from your host and explore the nearby ruined temple and fortress.
- Fall asleep to the calls of the jungle in Chitwan National Park, then embark on a safari in search of rhinos, deer, monkeys, tigers and a wide array of bird life.
- Indulge in Delhi-cious street food and immerse yourself in the colourful chaos of India’s capital city – from chicken tikka to vegetarian curries, your local leader will know all the best lunch and dinner spots.
- Hotel (8 nights)
- Jungle Lodge (2 nights)
- Heritage Property (1 night)
- Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
- 1 Dinners included
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Availability
Sunday
12 Jan 2025
Friday
24 Jan 2025
Status
From:
$1,410
Sold Out
Sunday
12 Jan 2025
Friday
24 Jan 2025
Status
From:
$1,790
Sold Out
Show more dates...
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Intrepid. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Intrepid. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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