India Tours Suggested Itineraries

...it is known as Rajputana “the Land of Rajput Kings” a brave warrior clan some of whose forts and towers still remain today, turned into heritage hotels and offering a glimpse at the past. It is the desert state but the colourful saris and turbans offset the barren landscape. It is India in minature and offers a great introduction to the country.

Strictly speaking, Agra is in the state of Uttar Pradesh but along with Jaipur and Delhi, they form India’s Golden Triangle.

Best visited mid October to late March. Temperatures head into the 40Cs by the end of April. Too hot to handle.

DAY 1 _ Fly to DELHI

Met on arrival and transferred to hotel for overnight stay.
Sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi.

DAY 2 _ DELHI - AGRA

Drive to Agra . ( Optional visit to Bear Sanctuary en route.)
Afternoon tour of Agra Fort and Tomb of Itmad ud Daulah.
Sunset at Taj Mahal.

DAY 3 _ AGRA – FATEHPUR SIKRI – BHARATPUR- JAIPUR

Sunrise at Taj Mahal from different viewpoint.
After breakfast drive to Fatehpur Sikri, 16th century capital of Mughal rulers abandoned due to water shortage.
Lunch in Bharatpur. (Optional visit to Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary and overnight stay.) 
Continue drive to Jaipur.

DAY 4 _ JAIPUR

Morning visit to beautiful Amber Palace with short ride on elephant up to Fort.
Afternoon City tour. (Optional rickshaw ride through old city.)

DAY 5 _ JAIPUR- PUSHKAR- JODHPUR

Short train journey to Ajmer and car to Pushkar, a relaxed picturesque little temple town one of the holiest centres of Hinduism. Famous for the Camel Fair, usually held in November.
After lunch continue to Jodhpur.

DAY 6 _ JODHPUR

Morning visit to Mehrangarh Fort.
Afternoon shopping in the bazaar.

DAY 7  _ JODHPUR- RANAKPUR- UDAIPUR

Morning drive to Udaipur via the Jain temples at Ranakpur.
After lunch continue to Udaipur.

DAY 8 _ UDAIPUR

Sightseeing  tour in morning and afternoon at leisure to enjoy this romantic and beautiful city, location for the Bond movie, “Octopussy.”
Sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola if the monsoon has been good.

DAY 9 _ UDAIPUR- DELHI

Transfer to airport to return to Delhi for onward flight.

Their influence is still clearly seen in Shimla and Mussoorie. The mountainous scenery is stunning with pine forests and apple orchards.

Parts of this region are covered in snow for most of the year and between December and February nights can be very cold. But the air is fresh and clear and it is a good summer destination. Particularily attractive to guests who want a more active holiday with various sports available.

DAY 1 _ DELHI

Met on arrival at airport. Transferred to hotel for overnight stay.
Sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi.

DAY 2 _ DELHI – HARIDWAR

Train to Haridwar, afternoon sightseeing tour of temples.
Enjoy evening Aarti ceremony.

DAY 3 _ HARIDWAR  - RISHIKESH

Short drive to Rishikesh.
Afternoon  walk around Rishikesh.

DAY 4 / Day 5 _ RISHIKESH

Free to enjoy a variety of  activities, including white water rafting, trekking, yoga and meditation or stay in a luxury spa resort with an extensive range of beauty treatments.

DAY 6 _ RISHIKESH – MUSSOORIE

Drive to hill station of Mussoorie. A town with a distictively British feel.

DAY 7 _ MUSSOORIE

Explore at leisure.

DAY 8 _ MUSSOORIE – DEHRA DUN – DELHI

Afternoon train from Dehra Dun to Delhi.
(OPTION to transfer by car from Mussoorie to Shimla and stay for extra 2 nights in the “summer capital” of British India. Return to Delhi on Toy Train to Kalka and train on to Delhi.)

There are sandy beaches, tranquil backwaters, rice paddies and coconut groves. The mountains are covered in tea and spice plantations, truly the emerald state.
Cochin  was the first European township in India. It retains a strong Portuguese, Dutch and British influence in its architecture and culture.

The main monsoon hits the state in June and lasts until August. The second monsoon, the “retreating” monsoon lasts from October to mid December, so the best time to visit is between late December and early March.

DAY 1 _ MUMBAI

Meet at airport. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 2 _ MUMBAI – COCHIN

Arrive at airport and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon at leisure.
Sunset cruise around Cochin harbour which gives a fine view of the famous Chinese fishing nets.

DAY 3 _ COCHIN

Morning  sightseeing walk through city.
Afternoon at leisure.
Evening performance of Kathakali, the dramatised presentation of a play with drummers, singers and elaborate costumes. Attend the make-up session.

DAY 4 _ COCHIN – THEKKADY (PERIYAR.)

Free to enjoy a variety of  activities, including white water rafting, trekking, yoga and meditation or stay in a luxury spa resort with an extensive range of beauty treatments.

DAY 5 _ THEKKADY – KUMARAKOM

Morning drive stopping at Phillip Kutty’s Farm (cultivates coconuts, nutmeg and bananas) for home cooked lunch with family.

DAY 6 _ KUMARAKOM

Morning cruise on traditional rice barge through colourful canals of Lake Vembanad.
Afternoon at leisure.

DAY 7 _ KUMARAKOM – COCHIN – ONWARD DESTINATION

Morning transfer to airport for onward journey.

Indeed one wildlife park, Sariska, in Rajasthan has seen its tiger population completely disappear. However plans are afoot to reintroduce them, and a few young tigers from Ranthambhore are being transferred. There are many wildlife sanctuaries in India and we visit the major ones where the opportunity is greatest to see tigers, although no guarantees. The state of Madhya Pradesh contains some of the finest parks, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Panna are the best known and our main tiger tour will be based in the first two, with extensions available to other parks. Ranthambhore is also easily accessible in Rajasthan and is available as an extension to the Essential Rajasthan tour.

DAY 1

Meet at airport. Transfer to hotel.
Rest of day at leisure.

DAY 2

Morning tour of city.
Late afternoon transfer to overnight train to Katni.

DAY 3

Transfer to Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Afternoon game drive in open topped jeep.

DAY 4

Morning and afternoon safaris.
Optional nature walk and talk on wildlife conservation.
Lunch at Anant Van and proceed to afternoon game drive.

DAY 5

Morning and afternoon jeep safari.
Optional visit to Bandhavgarh Fort and lunch at the temple with fantastic panoramic view of the Park.

DAY 6

Morning game drive and then long journey to Kanha National Park by air conditioned car.

DAY 7 & 8

Morning and afternoon game drives on each day.

DAY 9 _ KANHA – NAGPUR – FLY TO DELHI

Transfer to Nagpur airport for internal flight to Delhi.

This tour is essentially for the tiger lover but we aim to show you the jungle is a fascinating place with so much more to enjoy. Our naturalist can identify the numerous varieties of bird and other wildlife. You will learn about the tiger habitat and see for yourselves the pressures affecting its very existence. Safaris in India are a totally different experience from Africa which teems with big game. Indian wildlife is more subtle and viewing it requires more patience. Sit back and enjoy the jungle atmosphere, its sights and sounds. Be prepared for action when the call “tiger,tiger” comes.

In the winter months, of December through to mid February, the morning game drives can be very cold, requiring hat and gloves first thing.  Occasionally there is rain but the parks are generally less busy.

Peak season is mid February to mid April when the grass has died back making it easier to spot the elusive tiger. As the heat increases wildlife tends to congregate around the water holes. Sunscreen and hats are needed during the day and the Parks do get busy, in particular avoid holidays like Holi. Dress in subdued colours of browns and greens.

Morning game drives involve an early start with chai (tea) and biscuits served before leaving for the park entrance. The park gates open around sunrise and the jeeps are allocated routes through the park so they do not all drive together. They meet again inside the Park where the drivers discover if a tiger has been found by the mahouts. Mahouts are men who ride out at dawn on the back of their elephant tracking the tigers. If one is found, then for a local payment, it is possible to take an elephant ride into the jungle to see the tiger, as long as it will not be disturbed. These “tiger shows” only occur in the morning. In the afternoon, an optional excursion visits the elephants at one of their camps. Afternoon drives start in late afternoon and end before sunset. No driving is permitted inside the parks after dark, for obvious reasons, although some parks do offer night safaris outside the perimeter fence.

Between drives you can relax at each lodge, take a nature walk, visit a village or school and in Kanha one of the lodges has a pool to ease tired muscles.

At night you can relax and dine in the lodges, enjoying the occasional slide show, local village dancers or, depending on the time of year, fireside chat under the stars which are magnificent in the clear, dark Indian sky.