Northern India holiday
| country: | India |
| location: | Rajasthan, The Golden Triangle, Ranthambore |
| departures: | 2008: 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 13 Nov, 27 Nov, 11 Dec, 18 Dec |
| price: | From £2220 (19 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. Single supplement £580. Deluxe option available - please contact us for details. Maximum group size is 15 people. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is an in-depth journey that enables travellers to explore Northern India's major attractions, and the chance to get off the beaten path in some rewarding parts of Rajasthan.
Designed to take in the must-see destinations of Agra, Ranthambore National Park and Jaipur, this adventure also gives us the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere in the Shekhawati region's colourful 'havelis' and the living fort town of Jaisalmer. We experience the real India, and are sure to be enchanted by her past, conjured by incense and brightly painted deities, and her future, apparent in modernisation that is thankfully steeped in tradition.
Highlights include:
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal Tiger spotting in Ranthambore and Rajasthan village jeep safari Stay in atmospheric castles, palaces and a tented sand dune camel camp Walking tour of Jaisalmer, a living fort town
Accommodation is in hotels and two nights in a tented camp, and travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles and jeeps. Our cost includes breakfast daily, 3 lunches & 5 dinners, a tour leader and local English speaking guides throughout. Entrance fees are not included; US $76 will be collected at the start of the trip.
Designed to take in the must-see destinations of Agra, Ranthambore National Park and Jaipur, this adventure also gives us the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere in the Shekhawati region's colourful 'havelis' and the living fort town of Jaisalmer. We experience the real India, and are sure to be enchanted by her past, conjured by incense and brightly painted deities, and her future, apparent in modernisation that is thankfully steeped in tradition.
Highlights include:
Accommodation is in hotels and two nights in a tented camp, and travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles and jeeps. Our cost includes breakfast daily, 3 lunches & 5 dinners, a tour leader and local English speaking guides throughout. Entrance fees are not included; US $76 will be collected at the start of the trip.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Delhi. Arrive in India's colourful capital and transfer to your hotel. Begin your exploration with a traditional rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi. Visit India Gate, the Parliament buildings, the elegant mosque, the spot where Gandhi was cremated and finish with some free time for shopping and exploring in the lively Connaught Place. Explore the city's fine dining options or relax at your hotel. |
| Day 3: | Agra & Taj Mahal. Head out of the city and drive to Agra and the stunning Taj Mahal. Visit Agra’s large red sandstone fort and a marble inlay workshop, where skills are passed down from generation to generation. The following morning, see the breathtaking Taj itself at dawn and marvel at its incredible symmetry. Once inside, the intricate marble work and semi-precious stones reveal a beauty which is truly awe-inspiring. |
| Day 4-5: | Ranthambore National Park. After breakfast, depart for the ruins of Fatehpur Sikri, a ‘perfect city’ whose only flaw was its lack of water. Continue on to Ranthambore, one of India’s most famous National Parks. Search for one of the park’s tigers with early morning and late afternoon vehicle safaris and soak up the exotic jungle setting. |
| Day 6: | Samode. Travel to the traditional Rajasthani village of Samode. Explore the picturesque village with its crumbling havelis (painted merchant houses) and friendly inhabitants. Take a jeep safari to explore the surrounding area – you will be able to spot women in colourful saris, traditional farms and camel herders. |
| Day 7-8: | Jaipur. Depart by road for Jaipur, one of Rajasthan’s most famous and pleasant cities. Jaipur was painted pink to celebrate a visit from Britain’s Prince of Wales in 1876 and the city has proudly retained its dusky rose colour ever since. Visit the famed Palace of Winds for a photo stop before enjoying the imposing Amber Fort and a brief elephant ride. The Observatory, the City Palace and its museum will provide a fascinating insight into this city and all are testament to the extraordinary intelligence of its founder, Jai Singh. |
| Day 9-10: | Udaipur. Fly to Udaipur, centred around the famous Lake Picchola. Known for its pleasant lakes and scenery, Udaipur is also home to the famous “Lake Palace”, now a renowned hotel in a stunning location at the centre of the lake. Visit the famed City Palace, full of fascinating history and explore the network of small lanes in the old city which offer some fantastic opportunities for shopping as well as some lovely havelis. |
| Day 11-12: | Narlai. Travel by road to reach the intricately-carved temples of Ranakpur for devotees of the Jain faith. Continue by road to Narlai and witness the local communities and their traditional crafts and livelihoods. Drive into the Aravalli Hills to the huge fortress of Kumbhalgarh which lies amongst some of southern Rajasthan’s most rugged landscapes. |
| Day 13: | Rohet Garh. Depart for the peaceful village of Rohet. Take a jeep safari to visit the surrounding area, populated by the Bishnoi people, a unique community devoted to protecting the environment and wildlife.This will be an insight into real life in rural Northern India and the colourful villages are sure to be a paradise for any photographers. |
| Day 14-15: | Jaisalmer & Thar Desert. Travel by road into the Thar Desert to Jaisalmer, one of Rajasthan’s most memorable destinations. The walled fort city is the only remaining fortress in which people still live and trade and its intricate network of tiny alleys and golden sandstone are magical to behold. Explore the palace, the city’s several ancient gates, the many amazing havelis and the famous Jain temples before enjoying some free time to soak up the atmosphere. |
| Day 16-17: | Osian. Continue on to Osian, where you will reach this unique tented camp in time for a sunset camel ride. A morning jeep safari will further help you to explore this desert region. |
| Day 18-19: | Jodhpur. Leaving Osian travel to Jodhpur - a bustling and vibrant city where you will explore the lively bazaar and of course, the city’s famed Meherangarh Fort. The views over the city which the fort affords are stunning and are the best place to view the many brightly coloured roofs which give Jodhpur the nickname “the Blue City”. |
small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 15 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.how this holiday makes a difference
 We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of India’s beautiful natural environment. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people. This in-depth journey allows you to explore Northern India’s major attractions as well as get off the beaten path. A stay at Osian Camel Camp is a key feature of this journey - it is situated atop the area’s highest sand dune and has wonderful views over the surrounding area. The camp intensively employs local people and returns tourist revenues to local people during a monthly camel festival. During this journey we actively encourage our travellers to patronise or financially assist numerous not-for-profit organisations in India including the Jaisalmer Art Palace community cooperative in Jaisalmer. On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different areas in India. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions. |
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 led 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. |