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Classical
Splendour, India...
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Holidays specialist Dave on 0845 003 2211 or 01543 258631
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Tour
summary
Itinerary
Prices
How to book
Tour Summary...
Group Tour (19 days) - also available as a Private Tour
Departs October to April
London - Delhi - Lucknow - Varanasi - Bandhavgarh - Khajuraho
- (Orchha) - Agra - (Bharatpur) - Jaipur - Deogarh - (Ranakpur) - Udaipur -
(Mumbai) - London
| Group Size: |
No more than 12 |
| Meal Plan: |
Bed and Breakfast.
Full Board in Bandhavgarh; The welcome dinner and lunch on days 7, 9,
11, 13 & 16 are included. |
 Holiday Highlights
Historic Delhi, India's capital city
Lucknow with its colonial heritage and colourful bazaars
Sail down the Ganges in the holy city of Varanasi
Bandhavgarh - one of India's best game reserves for spotting the elusive tiger
Celebrated Chandela temples at Khajuraho
Taj Mahal, Agra - the eternal monument to love
Monuments and palaces of Jaipur, the pink city and romantic Udaipur
Rich in cultural and historical detail, this tour combines the
classical sights of the Gangetic plains - such as Varanasi by the River Ganges
and the celebrated temples of Khajuraho - with the colourful state of Rajasthan,
famed for its great palaces and forts. At Bandhavgarh, we visit one of India's
finest game reserves, home to elusive tigers. At Deogarh we stay in a delightful
royal mansion in a village.
The hotels are all top of the range and are among the best
available in each place. Accommodation in Bandhavgarh is comfortable but simple,
in keeping with its surroundings.
Road travel is by coach or car with air-conditioning where
required. Two short internal flights and two daytime train journeys add
diversity to the internal travel. International flights are on direct non-stop
services of British Airways from Heathrow, flying time to Delhi is around 9
hours.
You travel with a small group, accompanied by one of our
excellent hand-picked tour escorts.
Itinerary...
Day 1 London-Delhi
Leave Heathrow in the morning for Delhi. Arrive around midnight and transfer to
The Oberoi, one of the most exclusive hotels in the capital, for 2 nights.
Day 2 Delhi
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon visit the bazaars of Chandni Chowk
in Old Delhi, Jama Masjid and Rajghat - the "samadhi" of Mahatma Gandhi. A
welcome dinner in ethnic setting is arranged in the evening.
Day 3 Lucknow
The morning sightseeing tour visits the beautiful buildings of New Delhi, built
by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the historic Qutab Minar and Humayun's tomb.
In the afternoon a short flight takes us to Lucknow where our stay has been
arranged at the tastefully designed Taj Residency for 2 nights.
Day 4 Lucknow
This morning we visit the Residency Complex - site of the famous siege of 1857,
Dilkusha Gardens and La Martinere. In the afternoon we visit the monuments of
Avadh Nawabs including the Imambaras, Romi Darwaja and explore Lucknow's
colourful bazaars.
Day 5 Varanasi (Benares)
A long drive through the rural countryside takes us to Varanasi, one of the
oldest living cities in the world, for two nights at the Taj Ganges.
Day 6 Varanasi
Today we enjoy an early morning boat-ride on the Ganges to see thousands of
devotees immersed in prayer along the banks. Later we visit the city sights and
Sarnath, the site of Buddha's first sermon. In the evening we enjoy a
cycle-rickshaw ride to the Ganges to witness the ceremonial worship or "aarti"
on the riverbanks.
Day 7 Bandhavgarh
An exciting train ride, with packed lunch on board, brings us to Katni from
where we transfer to Bandhavgarh for 2 nights at the Churhat Kothi or Camp Mewar.
Situated in the Vindhya Hills, Bandhavgarh has an undulating terrain and is home
to blackbucks, wild oxen, sloth bear, barking deer, leopard and tiger. The rich
and varied bird-life includes golden orioles, parakeets and hornbills.
Day 8 Bandhavgarh
Enjoy activities in the jungle including a game drive and a possible elephant
safari.
Day 9 Khajuraho
After a morning game drive we undertake a long road journey to Khajuraho for 2
nights at the Jass or Taj Chandela hotel. Khajuraho, a remote village, is home
to some of the most outstanding monuments in the world - the intricately carved
10th century Chandela temples, renowned for their erotic sculpture.
Day 10 Khajurajo
The temples are visited in the morning with the afternoon free.
Day 11 Agra
This morning we depart for Orchha, dotted with palaces and temples built by the
Bundela kings. We enjoy the sights and have lunch beside the Betwa River before
a train ride to Agra where we stay at the Amar Vilas, a super deluxe hotel, for
2 nights.
Day 12 Agra
We visit the famous Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the morning. The afternoon is
at leisure.
Day 13 Jaipur
Today we drive to Jaipur visiting the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri en route.
A brief halt at the world famous Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary gives an opportunity
to view birds on cycle-rickshaws and have lunch. We stay in Jaipur for 2 nights
at the Raj Vilas, another super deluxe property.
Day 14 Jaipur
In the morning we ascend the hilltop fort of Amber on elephant back and also
visit a small block-printing unit. The afternoon city sightseeing includes the
City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and the museum.
Day 15 Deogarh
A morning drive takes us to Deogarh where we stay at the fortified Deogarh Mahal.
The afternoon is free to explore the colourful village.
Day 16 Udaipur
Today we drive to the romantic city of Udaipur visiting the intricately carved
Jain Temple at Ranakpur en route. We enjoy lunch in the pleasant surroundings of
Maharani Bagh orchards. The next 2 nights are at the Lake Palace - Lake View
Room.
Day 17 Udaipur
The morning city sightseeing includes the City Palace, Jagdish Temple and
Sahelion-ki-bari. The afternoon is free.
Day 18 To Mumbai
The day is at leisure. In the evening we fly to Mumbai to connect with the
midnight flight to London.
Day 19 Mumbai-London
We fly back to Heathrow arriving the same morning.
Special Tours
Diwali, the Festival of Lights tour departing Thu 19 October
2006. Celebration of Diwali in Lucknow and a special gala dinner with an extra
day there. Group size 16, please contact us for more details.
Suggested Tour Extensions
Mumbai Option (2 days)
Fly Udaipur to Mumbai and transfer to the celebrated Taj Mahal
Palace & Towers for 2 days (room booked for 3 nights, till departure) in a
Deluxe Tower Wing room with sea view (or stay in the Heritage Wing -
supplement). We will arrange city sightseeing and a cruise to the Elephanta
caves during your stay here. Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast. Meal Plan: Bed &
breakfast
Ajanta-Ellora (3 days)
Dating back to the 2nd century BC, the Buddhist caves at
Ajanta, with their beautiful tempera paintings, are part of India's rich
cultural heritage. The later Ellora caves have Hindu, Jain and Buddhist
sculpture including the Kailasa Temple, carved out of a single rock on the
mountainside.
Stay one night at Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai, before
flying to Aurangabad the following evening. On arrival transfer to the Taj
Residency for 2 nights. Visit the famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora before
flying back to Heathrow via Mumbai. Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast
Goa (5 days)
Take the morning flight from Udaipur to Mumbai and connect to
the Goa flight at midday. Stay 5 nights at the Taj Exotica or the Leela Palace
(pavilion room) before flying back via Mumbai. Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast
Kerala Backwaters (6 days)
Fly via Mumbai to Cochin and transfer to the Brunton Boatyard
for 2 nights. Enjoy city sightseeing, a cruise to see Chinese fishing nets and a
Kathakali dance performance. Then transfer to Alleppey to board a riceboat for
overnight stay, cruising along the Vembanad Lake and its narrow tributaries.
Transfer to Kumarakom for 3 nights at the Coconut Lagoon, overlooking the
backwaters (or you could stay at the Marari Beach Resort for this duration). At
leisure for 3 days when you fly back to Mumbai and transfer to the international
airport for the return flight, the following day. Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast,
riceboat on full board
See below for price information for this tour
Prices...
Main Tour
| Departure Date |
Tariff
|
SRS
|
|
| Thu 9 Oct 2008 |
£3998 |
£2097 |
|
| Thu 20 Nov 2008 |
£4195 |
£2097 |
|
| Thu 8 Jan 2009 |
£4250 |
£2145 |
|
| Thu 5 Feb 2009 |
£4250 |
£2145 |
|
| Thu 12 Mar 2009 |
£4250 |
£2145 |
|
| Thu 2 Apr 2009 |
£4250 |
£2145 |
|
| Private travel
supplement |
£398 |
|
Cultural
evening & welcome dinner excluded |
The basic
tariff is per person, based on twin share
SRS: single room supplement, to be added to basic tariff for
those requiring single accommodation |
Ahmedabad and Textiles
| Details
|
Tariff
|
SRS |
| Tour price |
£189 |
£49 |
Mumbai and the Elephanta Caves
| Details
|
Tariff
|
SRS |
| Tour price |
£459 |
£279 |
Ajanta-Ellora
| Details
|
Tariff
|
SRS |
| Tour price |
£439 |
£89 |
Ranthambore National Park
| Details
|
Tariff
|
SRS |
|
| Tour price |
£419 |
£239 |
available October to May
only |
Goa
| Details
|
Tariff
|
SRS |
|
| Taj Exotica |
£928 |
£559 |
excluding Christmas period
and summer |
| Leela Palace |
£859 |
£579 |
excluding Christmas period
and summer |
| Cidade De Goa |
£819 |
£579 |
excluding Christmas period
and summer |
| Holiday Inn |
£679 |
£309 |
excluding Christmas period
and summer |
| Coconut Creek |
£609 |
£309 |
excluding Christmas period
and summer |
| Goan Heritage |
£509 |
£209 |
excluding Christmas period
and summer |
Kerala Backwaters
| Details
|
Tariff
|
SRS |
| Tour price |
£1195 |
£529 |
|
How to book...
To check
availability and make a booking please call our India Holidays specialist Dave on
0845 003 2211 or 01543 258631.
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