India tour
| country: | India |
| location: | Rajasthan, The Golden Triangle, Ranthambore |
| departures: | 2008: 27 Jul, 28 Sep, 26 Oct, 16 Nov, 22 Dec 2009: 15 Feb, 5 Apr, 16 Aug, 25 Oct, 15 Nov, 20 Dec |
| price: | From £1299 (12 days) including flights from the UK, from £899 excluding flights. Single supplement from £340 |
the amazing things you'll be doing
An unforgettable journey through northern India – the tranquil lakeside palaces of Udaipur, the ‘pink city’ of Jaipiur, Ranthambore tigers, the stunning Taj Mahal and the contrasts of New and Old Delhi.
Udaipur & Jaipur
Following a tour of New Delhi, you fly south to the romantic Rajasthani city of Udaipur, for a relaxing couple of days discovering beautiful Lake Pichola and the grandiose lake shore palaces. Taking the sleeper train north you travel to Jaipur – famously painted pink to mark a visit by Prince Albert – where you’ll visit the magnificent City Palace and nearby Amber Fort.
Ranthambore Tiger Safari
The scenery and pace change as you arrive at Ranthambore National Park. As well as niglai, leopard, crocodile and sambar deer, you may be lucky enough to spot one of the park’s famous Bengal tigers, as you go on safari amongst the watering holes and forest scrub.
The Taj Mahal & Delhi
Agra is your next destination, where the Taj Mahal sits serenely by the River Yamuna. To watch the sunrise over perhaps the world’s most beautiful building is an unforgettable experience. As the early morning mists clear the delicately carved marble walls change from rose pink to dazzling white. Your journey ends where it began, in the vibrant capital city of Delhi, with an on-foot exploration of the narrow, busy streets and colourful bazaars of the Old City.
This trip has a maximum group size of 12 people and can take place year round. Graded 'gentle', this trip is more about culture, landscapes and sights, rather than activity. There may be the odd walk on reasonably flat terrain, but be aware that walking city streets or clambering over ancient monuments can still be tiring. The itinerary could involve some tough travelling, so a sense of adventure is essential; you should be flexible, open-minded and prepared for the unexpected. Anyone in good health should be able to take part.
Udaipur & Jaipur
Following a tour of New Delhi, you fly south to the romantic Rajasthani city of Udaipur, for a relaxing couple of days discovering beautiful Lake Pichola and the grandiose lake shore palaces. Taking the sleeper train north you travel to Jaipur – famously painted pink to mark a visit by Prince Albert – where you’ll visit the magnificent City Palace and nearby Amber Fort.
Ranthambore Tiger Safari
The scenery and pace change as you arrive at Ranthambore National Park. As well as niglai, leopard, crocodile and sambar deer, you may be lucky enough to spot one of the park’s famous Bengal tigers, as you go on safari amongst the watering holes and forest scrub.
The Taj Mahal & Delhi
Agra is your next destination, where the Taj Mahal sits serenely by the River Yamuna. To watch the sunrise over perhaps the world’s most beautiful building is an unforgettable experience. As the early morning mists clear the delicately carved marble walls change from rose pink to dazzling white. Your journey ends where it began, in the vibrant capital city of Delhi, with an on-foot exploration of the narrow, busy streets and colourful bazaars of the Old City.
This trip has a maximum group size of 12 people and can take place year round. Graded 'gentle', this trip is more about culture, landscapes and sights, rather than activity. There may be the odd walk on reasonably flat terrain, but be aware that walking city streets or clambering over ancient monuments can still be tiring. The itinerary could involve some tough travelling, so a sense of adventure is essential; you should be flexible, open-minded and prepared for the unexpected. Anyone in good health should be able to take part.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Overnight flight to Delhi; New Delhi sightseeing |
| Day 3: | Morning at leisure; fly to Udaipur |
| Day 4-5: | Udaipur; visit the City Palace and Lake Pichola |
| Day 6-7: | Jaipur; see the Palace of the Winds and Amber Fort |
| Day 8-9: | Ranthambore National Park; tiger safari |
| Day 10: | Agra; sunrise at the Taj Mahal and visit to Agra Fort |
| Day 11: | Return to Delhi; Old Delhi sightseeing |
| Day 12: | Fly to London |
Please note: In the summer months we operate an amended itinerary visiting Sariska National Park rather than Ranthambore. | |
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Visits by travellers to Shekhawati have helped save the havelis from crumbling into dust. Hotels used in this remote region also provide employment, encouraging local people to remain in their villages rather than drifting to the city for work. We have also developed a programme of school visits with our local agent in India. These schools are government funded but would benefit greatly from additional support. You will have the opportunity to visit a school during your stay in Ranthambore. If you would like to offer your assistance by taking a gift they would be delighted to receive the following; clothes (remember Indian children are smaller than those in the UK), exercise books, schoolbags, pencils and crayons, erasers and similar stationary. Although you can take things out with you, goods are available cheaply locally and your group leader will be able to advise you on where to buy things. Please note - there are departures in October and November when you're visit to Ranthambore is at the weekend when the school is closed and visits won't be possible.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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. |