Country(ies): India
Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 12
Accommodation: 3 to 4-star hotels and heritage properties
Meals:
Transport: A/C minivan/minibus
Highlights: Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar, Wagah Border ceremony, Buddhist sites at Dharamsala, Pragpur and Garli heritage villages, Toy train to Shimla, Himalayan Foothills, Hindu pilgrimage site of Haridwar, River Ganges at Rishikesh, Delh
This India tour spends 12 days exploring the foothills of the Himalayas from Dharamsala to Rishikesh, taking in important Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh sites along the way as well as visiting remote villages and riding the Himalayan Queen toy train to Shimla. The India tour begins in Amritsar which is now easily accessed by many international airlines. We'll visit the Sikh Golden Temple here both in the morning for a tour and to take part in 'Langar Seva' in the community kitchen, and again in the evening when the temple is perhaps at its most atmospheric. Next we leave the Punjab and head into the foothills of the Himalayas as we drive to the Buddhist enclave at Mcleodganj. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Mcleodganj is packed with Buddhist temples and monasteries as well as being surrounded by lovely mountain scenery.
Our next stops are at the heritage villages of Pragpur and Garli which are packed with old colonial buildings, reflecting the faded glory of their earlier importance to colonial residents. Another colonial remnant follows, as we board the Himalayan Queen 'toy train' for a spectacular journey up through the mountains, across hundreds of bridges and through numerous tunnels and tiny villages to Shimla. The former summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla and other hill stations still provide an escape from the heat of the plains below.
A much faster train then takes us to the important Hindu pilgrimage site at the ancient city of Haridwar. Here we'll see pilgrims bathing in the holy waters of the river and take a cable car up to a temple overlooking the river. A short drive brings us to nearby Rishikesh in time for the evening Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges at the Triveni Ghat. We have two days in Rishikesh during which we take a walking tour along the river and past the many temples and ashrams that make the town one of India's main centres for yoga and meditation. We also have plenty of free time during which various options are available, including white water rafting, a cooking class, and a wildlife safari in Rajiji National Park.
The India tour finishes with a train journey to the capital, Delhi.
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This tour is also available for booking privately for travel anytime through the year, and we can also customise the itinerary to fit your personal requirements. Please contact us for details and prices.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
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