Chants echo through a Buddhist monastery and colors shimmer across the Taj Mahal as the Himalayas rise and the great Mughal cities refuse to fall. From astonishing monuments to intimate local experiences, this 17-day handcrafted tour will explore the cultural and the spiritual heartlands. Indulge your senses and create your own perceptions as you explore two countries with a heritage that is still incredibly vibrant in the 21st century.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Delhi – An Intoxicating City of Old and New
Delhi has been a seat of power throughout most of its history, witnessing many battles, quarrels, sieges, coronations, and transfers of power. For a country that liberally entices the senses, there is no better introduction than its capital as such soaring colors and spiritually rich scenes play out on the central streets. Some of the impressions you may be anticipating, such as women in colorful saris forming processions towards deities shrouded in incense. Others are surprising, especially the contemporary side of India’s capital. The city was smartened up for the Commonwealth Games and quickly dispels any myths that all of India is going to be busy and crowded. You will be greeted at the airport and get a short orientation tour as you settle into the city as your journey begins.
What's Included:
Day 2
Agra – World Heritage Wonders and Overlooking the Taj Mahal
Day 3
Agra – More Than The Ode to Love: Intimate Agra Tour
Day 4
Jaipur – Evocative Memoirs to the Mughals
Day 5
Jaipur – Exploring the Great Pink City
Day 6
Jaipur – Relaxed Day in Jaipur With Balloon Ride
Day 7
Sawarda – Traditional Village Homestay
Day 8
Kathmandu – Into the Nepalese Experience
Day 9
Kathmandu – Historic Highlights: After the Earthquake
Day 10
Pharping – Everest Scenic Flight and Night In a Buddhist Monastery
Day 11
Kurintar – Morning Chants and Serenity of the Trisuli River
Day 12
Chitwan National Park – First Wildlife Encounters On the Rapti River
Day 13
Chitwan National Park – Full Day of Intimate Safari Experiences
Day 14
Pokhara – Views Onto the Himalayas
Day 15 - 16
Pokhara – Relaxed Days in the Mountains
Day 17
Pokhara – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Watch the Taj Mahal change color with the moving sun
- Listen to the chants and the spinning prayer wheels with an overnight stay in a Buddhist monastery
- Inhale the aromas of yesteryear in Jaipur, the pink Mughal city
- Feel your goosebumps rise on a two-day safari in Chitwan National Park with endangered rhinos among your neighbors
- Taste tradition with a unique village homestay experience in Sawarda
- Sense the history in and around Kathmandu, where three kingdoms have their capital and much has survived the earthquake
- Balloon above Jaipur at sunrise and take a scenic flight alongside Mount Everest
- Settle into the serene atmosphere of Pokhara, a city where you can relax to end your busy and adventurous tour
Detailed Description
India and Nepal are two countries that have always celebrated authenticity. From the Himalayas to Rajasthan’s Mughal cities, these are lands that lay open their hearts and souls for visitors. Spend the night in a Buddhist monastery for a beautifully simple experience in the mountains. Explore the grand forts and palaces as intoxicating local markets stretch out beneath you. Go in search of the rhinos and watch the sun dance across the Taj Mahal, all while surrounded by more than your eyes can take in.
There are many astounding highlights here, including Everest, Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri, and Boudhanath, but these countries are most memorable for their authenticity. Over 17 days you will create your own new perceptions as you sink all of your senses into seeing far beyond the postcard images.
Your first week in India will be followed by another in Nepal, and your handcrafted route will be designed to diversify your experience with a mix of both local and traditional experiences along with the world-famous highlights. While the pace is relatively quick by necessity to cover two such vast and diverse countries, India and Nepal have a serenity that most visitors do not expect to find. Yes, there can be crowds and chaos at times, but when you leave the bustling streets, a soft spiritual heart comes to the forefront, one that massages away any travel fatigue with its unassuming authenticity.
Delhi is your first stop, and the City of Djinns provides a journey through both old and new, with so many fabulous first impressions it is difficult to know where to look. Travel to Agra and the ode to love, the Taj Mahal just one of the remarkable World Heritage Sites in the city. Continue on the trail of Mughal memoirs you can explore Fatehpur Sikri and Jaipur, including a balloon ride above the Pink City. Completing your time in India is an overnight stay in a village homestay, luxury defined by the experience as you enjoy an unfiltered look at the joys of local life. From here, it will be a relatively short ride back to Delhi and the flight to Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu.
Three ancient kingdoms center on the Kathmandu Valley and you will explore what is left after multiple earthquakes, including a hands-on look at the restoration process. Take a scenic flight alongside Everest and many more of the world’s highest mountains, before a night in a monastery away from the world. From here onwards, the pace of the trip slows to immerse you in nature. Spend time first along the Trishuli River and then move amongst the rhinos and elephants on a Chitwan safari. You will soon find yourself amid the Himalayas with a two-night stop in Pokhara. Hiking, cycling, temples, and viewpoints abound, so these final two days can be as active or as restful as you would like. And with Phewa Lake stretching out before you, they also create space to process all of the experiences gathered during your 17-day journey. Consider learning more about our travelers’ best India vacation experiences by reading their India travel reviews.
Starting Price
$4,200 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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