India adventure holiday
| country: | India |
| location: | Indian Himalayas |
| departures: | This set itinerary runs throughout the year at a time to suit you and departs with a minimum of two people |
| price: | From £820 (9 days) excluding flights, based on twin share. We can offer advice on flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A 9 day adventure travelling north from Delhi to the revered pilgrimage centre of Haridwar, where the Holy Ganges river finally leaves the Himalayas on its way to the sea and home of the legendary Aarty ceremony. Meet with Gujjar villagers, go whitewater rafting, take an elephant safari and visit the Taj Mahal...
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Dehli. Meet your group in the reception area of your hotel and enjoy an introductory talk over dinner. |
| Day 2: | Haridwar. Early morning board the Shatabdi Express for HARIDWAR. Arriving late morning and transferring our hotel. After lunch visit Mansa Devi - a hill top temple - via cable car, for a bird's eye view of the city & its beautiful surrounding landscape. In the evening visit Harki Pauri for the famous Ganga Aarti where oil lamps are set on the water to drift downstream as priests perform elaborate rituals - an unforgettable sight. |
| Day 3: | Rishikesh. After breakfast, travel to Rishikesh which was made famous by the Beatles after visiting their Guru in the 1960's. Today it is a peaceful centre for spiritual learning, nestled around the Ganga as it runs swiftly through the last hills of the Himalayas. Those feeling adventurous may choose to raft down the river - a fairly easy trip with some rapids but plenty of time in between to relax on the still water and watch the life along the banks. Alternatively, perhaps you'd prefer a yoga lesson or an Ayurvedic massage at one of the Ashrams in the area. Visit the suspension bridges of Lakshman Jhulla and Ram Jhulla - a picturesque area with wonderful views, waterfalls and secluded beaches along the river. Return to Haridwar in the late afternoon. |
| Day 4: | Gujjar village. Rising early we travel to Rajaji National Park where we take an elephant safari into the Park before enjoying a late breakfast in the park lodge. Then travel by mountain bike (or vehicle) to the outlying areas of Rajiji, riding parallel to the Ganga canal which overlooks the forest, the Ganga river below and the mighty Himalayan peaks. We visit the Vindyavasani Temple and then arrive at a silver sand beach on the River Ganga where there is time to relax in the sun and to take a swim. (Cycle ride is on roads with little traffic, the total distance covered is about 14 km.) After a picnic lunch we travel to our Gujjar village for an overnight stay. The Gujjar people live a simple life tending to their buffalo in the forest. They are one of the few tribes which have resisted changes enforced by the 21st century. Our overnight stay will be rustic, sleeping communally in simple huts and sharing our meals with these friendly people. The privilege of this experience should compensate for any discomfort. |
| Day 5: | Corbett National Park. Travel by local bus through lush mango orchards and farmland to the entry point for Corbett National Park. Here our comfortable lodge is beautifully situated in the foothills of the Himalayas beside the Ramnager river. After lunch, take a walking tour. This area is famous for its paddy fields where Basmati rice is grown. There should be an opportunity to talk with local farmers, gain a unique insight into rural India and learn about the traditional methods of agriculture. Commonly seen wildlife includes wild elephant, langur monkeys, several types of deer and the elusive tiger. In the evening we enjoy a barbecue dinner. |
| Day 6: | Taj Mahal. An early morning jungle safari by jeep or elephant into the park, returning for breakfast. Relax at the Lodge during the day or swim in the swimming pool / Kosi river beside the Lodge, watching the Elephants being bathed, catch up on your diary or spend some time animal /bird spotting (580 species) around your lodge. In the evening we drive to Ramnagar town to board the train to Delhi arriving early the next morning. |
| Day 7: | Delhi.. Arriving in Delhi in the morning, we catch the train to Agra enjoying breakfast en route. After freshening up at our hotel, we visit the most famous image of all India, the Taj Mahal where you too will understand that the stories about its legendary beauty are indeed true. Bicycle rickshaws are the ideal way to see Agra and they take us to Agra's Red Fort. After lunch, visit a carpet manufacturer before spending the rest of the day at leisure - not forgetting to see the Taj at sunset. We will also provide information and directions plus suggest some suitable restaurants for dinner. |
| Day 8: | Delhi. If you wish, get up early to see the Taj at sunrise before breakfast at the hotel followed by an optional visit to Fatipur Sikri, the perfectly preserved ghost city that was once the capital of the Moghul emperor, Akbar. Return to Delhi in the late afternoon with time for some last minute shopping before enjoying a farewell dinner. |
| Day 9: | Delhi. Our trip ends with a farewell buffet breakfast at the impressive Imperial Hotel in New Delhi before transferring to the airport for your onward flight. For those departing later, late check-outs or extra nights accommodation and further sightseeing can be arranged at an additional cost. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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We try to ensure that all our trips not only minimise the negative effects of tourism but actually have a positive impact on the communities who welcome us into their villages and often their homes. Using local guides, local transport and local accommodation and paying fair wages, ensures that not only do our clients gain a unique insight into the culture they are visiting but also that as much of their money as possible stays in the local community. Wherever possible we also contribute to community projects (helping to preserve traditional ways of life, providing education and supporting environmental initiatives) and encourage our clients to visit or even lend a helping hand.
Running this trip as a tailor-made trip and using local guides who help our clients to understand and respect the cultural differences means that our clients are often treated as welcomed guests rather than intruding foreigners. We travel at a leisurely pace to allow you the time to fully appreciate the charm of this fascinating country. Our trip will also include a visit to the Corbett Trust Foundation's Gujjar Villager Land Project and usually an overnight stay with in the village offering a unique opportunity to experience this ancient culture at firsthand.(The Corbett Foundation is a public, charitable trust set up to preserve, protect and conserve the unique ecosystem of Corbett country in the foothills of the Himalayas, to restore the natural harmony between human beings and the surrounding flora and fauna in the natural environment and to restore the ancient simple culture of the hill folk in this area). |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |