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14-Nights Essential India - Classic from $1,119
G Adventures
OFFER ID 1532856
Essential India
From the intricate saris of Rajasthan to the beautiful symmetry of the Taj Mahal, this compact journey is a photographer's delight and the perfect introduction to India. You'll float past the ghats on the Ganges River to encounter the spiritual heart of Hinduism in Varanasi and get off the beaten path exploring carved stepwells and quaint temples in rural villages. With the perfect combination of included activities and free time to explore the nation's rich heritage, you're sure to be caught up in India's incredible tapestry of life.
Highlights
Explore India's vibrant cities, discover ancient forts and temples, revel in the beauty of Agra's Taj Mahal, witness the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho and Orchha, sail the Ganges in venerable Varanasi
Accommodation
Hotels (12 nts), comfortable tented camp (1 nt), sleeper train (1 nt).
Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Group Size Notes
Max 15, avg 12
Meals Included
1 breakfast, 1 dinner
What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Women With Wheels Transfer, Indira Gandhi International Airport
Your G for Good Moment: City Walk, Delhi
Your G for Good Moment: Anoothi Block Printing Experience, Jaipur
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group. Old Delhi walk with stops at the Jama Masjid, Gurduwara, Chandni Chowk, and Connaught Place. Amber Fort tour. Rajasthani rural village stay. Village cycling excursion. Abhaneri stepwells visit. Taj Mahal and I’timad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj) entrance. Agra Fort entrance and guided tour. Orchha Palace complex visit. Western Temple complex entrance and guided visit. Ganges River boat trip at sunrise and sunset, including candle flower ceremony. Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
14 nights from $1,119 per person
G Adventures: Essential India
Day 1: Delhi
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included through the G Adventures-supported Women With Wheels project.
Day 2: Delhi
Enjoy a youth-led morning walk through Delhi by G Adventures-supported City Walk project offering a unique perspective of Delhi while supporting at-risk youth. Later, visit Delhi’s famous Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) and climb the minaret for a bird’s eye view of Old City. Walk through Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest markets, and learn the history of the Sikh religion at Gurdwara. Stop for photos at the colourful market before finishing at Connaught Place, one of the most prominent architectural remnants of British rule.
Day 3: Delhi/Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, to start exploring the Pink City. Along the way, try your hand at block printing with the women of the Anoothi Project. Later, opt to visit the Jantar Mantar, or Royal Observatory. Don't miss the opportunity to see a Bollywood film at the famous Art Deco Raj Mandir cinema.
Day 4: Jaipur
Stop and admire the intricate architecture of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) before venturing to the ruined city of Amber to explore the famous Fort.
Opt to see the city on bicycle by pre-booking the Jaipur Cycle Tour.
Day 5: Jaipur/Dhula Village
Travel to Dhula Village and get a closer look at rural life in Rajasthan during a cycling excursion. Tonight, settle in to your cozy tent, relax by the fire, and take in the starry night sky.
Before saying farewell to the Pink City, admire it from above by pre-booking the Jaipur Balloon Ride when booking your tour.Tonight's accommodation is in spacious and comfortable tents outfitted with beds, lamps, and simple en suite bathrooms.
Day 6: Dhula Village/Agra
Stop by the impressive Abhaneri stepwell en route to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.
Day 7: Agra
Visit the sparkling, iconic Taj Mahal for sunrise with time to explore the picturesque grounds. Afterward, take a ride to the walled city of Agra Fort and Baby Taj.
Day 8: Agra/Alipura
Board a morning train then transfer to a private vehicle for a ride across rough Indian roads to Alipura. This friendly village will be our base for two days where you'll stay in a heritage property with time to wander the town and interact with local people.
Day 9: Alipura
Enjoy a day trip to Khajuraho, where India's largest group of medieval temples reside, known for their Kama Sutra statues. Learn the history of these world-famous temples on a guided tour and enjoy a taste of a little erotica from the Middle Ages. After, opt to visit a nearby waterfall or watch an evening dance performance.
Day 10: Alipura/Orchha
En route to Orchha, visit a unique paper making plant, set up to assist tribal women from the area. All the paper is made from recycled clothing and wood pulp. Continue on to Orchha and embark on an orientation tour of this small town. Set on the banks of the Betwa River, it is the perfect antidote to the chaos of India’s cities. Later, attend an evening puja ceremony at the Ram Raja Temple.
Day 11: Orchha/Varanasi
Visit the Orchha Palace complex and enjoy free time before the overnight train to Varanasi.
Opt to sharpen your culinary skills by pre-booking the Orchha Cooking School extra when booking your tour.
Day 12: Varanasi
Disembark the train in legendary Varanasi - the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindus visit for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn, or to die. Take an orientation walk through the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. There is time here to shop, wander, and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city. Marvel at the ghats from the River Ganges as you enjoy an evening boat trip to witness a mesmerizing candle-lit flower ceremony.
Pre-book the Varanasi Heritage Walk and enjoy a guided tour that focuses more on the local life in Varanasi and its philosophical and cultural values. Witness pilgrims singing and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of Varanasi in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Day 13: Varanasi
Watch the sunrise from a boat along the Ganges. Spend the rest of the day getting to know this holy city. Opt to visit the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, the site of the Buddha's first sermon.
Day 14: Varanasi/Delhi
Soak up some free time this morning and continue exploring Varanasi. Later, cut out the travel time with a flight back to bustling Delhi.
Day 15: Delhi
Depart at any time.
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Moderate facilities have modest enhancements to amenities and décor. These hotels or resorts are dependable, comfortable and some may offer standard features, such as select business services, Continental breakfast or coffee service and may have a swimming pool or small fitness center on-site. Guestrooms are comfortable, moderately spacious, in-room telephones, televisions and limited amenities. Moderate establishments provide suitable accommodations and service for budget-minded travelers.
Local Flights
All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure. Please Note: Only 1 piece of luggage that weighs up to 15kgs will be permitted on our internal flights in India. For any extra weight the airline may charge an additional fee at the time of check-in.
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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EJS Travel LLC
(616) 214-8995