Including Ranthambore National Park - home of the Indian Tiger
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
Depart for Mumbai via Dubai.
Arrive in Mumbai and settle into your hotel.
Begin your Mumbai city tour at the iconic Gateway of India. Drive along the coastal boulevard, visit marble Jain temples and ascend Malabar Hill for panoramic views. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Prince of Wales Museum, a Victorian Gothic building with priceless art and sculpture collections. Next, witness the Dhobi Ghat laundry area and stroll the lively Crawford Market. Tonight is our welcome dinner.
Take a boat trip to the beautiful 1,200-year-old Elephanta Caves. Later, fly to the romantic city of Udaipur.
Tour the City Palace, now a museum with lovely lake views, Jagdish Temple known for its sculptures and interiors, and Sahelion-ki-Bari, a historic royal party garden. Later, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola surrounded by hills, palaces, temples, and bathing ghats, and visit the island palace of Jag Mandir
Visit the intricately carved Nagda and Sas-Bahu temples from the 10th century. Enjoy a jeep drive through rural landscapes, explore a cave temple, and visit a lake frequented by migratory birds. Stay the night at Rajasthan’s stunning medieval Deogarh Mahal, a marvel of grand architecture.
Travel to the Pink City of Jaipur, with a stop at beautiful Bijay Niwas Palace for lunch.
In the morning, visit Amber Fort, renowned for its panoramic views, splendid paintings, precious stones and mirrors. See the famous facade of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Later, explore the Maharaja’s Palace and Jantar Mantar, the world’s largest stone and marble observatory. Enjoy dinner with a local family, learning secrets of Indian cuisine.
Fall Departure : Depart for Chomu Palace, a 300-year-old fortified palace converted into a fabulous hotel. In the evening, enjoy a lively dance performance. Winter Departure: This morning, we depart for Bagru Village, home to artisans renowned for their traditional Bagru Prints, a craft that has flourished for over 300 years. These skilled craftsmen use wooden blocks and eco-friendly dyes to create beautiful and unique fabrics. The afternoon is at your leisure. In the evening, we will enjoy a captivating folk dance and puppet show, followed by dinner.
Travel to Ranthambore National Park, a renowned wildlife reserve, and keep an eye out for the famous diurnal tiger, leopards, hyenas, jackals, crocodiles, wild boar and various deer.
Spend the morning on a park safari, observing a variety of animals and birds such as gray-legged goose, Indian gray hornbill, kingfisher, sandpiper and more.
Take a train to Bharatpur, then proceed by motorcoach to Agra. After lunch, visit the Agra Fort’s mix of beautiful Mughal design and military features.
Experience an unforgettable at the Taj Mahal, often regarded as the world’s most beautiful man-made structure. Built in 1630 by Shah Jahan for his queen, this white marble marvel crafted by 20,000 artisans from around the world took 17 years to complete. After the visit, drive to Delhi airport for a flight to Varanasi.
Embark on an early morning boat ride along the sacred River Ganges, where thousands of pilgrims perform cleansing rituals in the water. Stroll the narrow lanes of Varanasi, historically a path for millions seeking Nirvana at the river. Visit the Vishwanath Gali and the Thatheri Bazaar. This evening, we experience the spectacular Arti of Ganges, a collective nightly prayer to the river.
Visit Sarnath, site of Lord Buddha’s first sermon, and see Dharmarajika Stupa, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar Temples, and the Archaeological Museum’s collection of Buddhist sculptures. Later, fly to Delhi.
Take an unforgettable rickshaw ride through 300-year-old Chandni Chowk Market, a maze of lands crowded with various shops. See Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, the Red Fort, Raj Ghat—a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi—and Humayun’s Tomb. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Farewell Dinner.
On your final tour, discover the 12th-century Qutub Minar monument, India Gate, Presidential Palace and Parliament House. Afternoon at leisure until evening airport transport for late night departure.
Fly to Canada via Dubai.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
