Real Delhi to Kathmandu

SUMMARY

Head from bustling Delhi to remote Tordi on this 13-day adventure through India and Nepal. Get down and dirty with the best street food, gape at one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Taj Mahal, cruise down the holy Ganges in Varanasi, hang in Buddha’s hometown (Lumbini), search for sloth bears and rhinos at Chitwan National Park and finish up in colourful Kathmandu. With incredibly delicious food (naan bread, anyone?), spiritual significance and culture that’s waiting to be explored, what’s your excuse for not taking the adventure of a lifetime?

TOTAL DURATION : 13 Days

GROUP SIZE : MIN 1 MAX 16

TOUR ITINERARY AND DATES

START : Delhi

END : Kathmandu

COUNTRIES VISITED : India,Nepal

Validity : 01 JAN 2023 To 31 DEC 2024

Day :1

Location : Delhi

Namaste! Welcome to India. This Himalayan adventure kicks off in Delhi – the capital territory of India’s north. Meet your trip leader and new travel buddies at a 6 pm welcome meeting tonight. If you arrive early, there's plenty to do in this wonderfully chaotic city. Maybe wander the streets, sip on your first chai or practice haggling in one of the many markets. Tonight, ask your leader for the best nightlife spots and perhaps grab a drink with your group.

Day :2

Location : Tordi

Your next destination takes a bit of work to get to, but that’s because it’s a secret, tucked away haven away from the prying eyes of the everyday tourist. You’ll journey through picturesque countryside by train to a unique stay in Tordi – this remote and rarely visited village offers a fantastic glimpse into the real Rajasthan. Tonight, sleep in an 18th-century palace with its owner as your host. There's a ruined temple and fortress nearby that you can explore, and then you can settle in and savour the delicious local flavours with a home-cooked dinner.

Day :3

Location : Jaipur

Kick on to Jaipur – India's super pretty Pink City. You'll have plenty of free time here to haggle to your heart's content at the bazaars and backstreets, where vendors sell a variety of textiles, precious and semi-precious gems and stunning blue pottery. Drop by one of India’s finest palaces – the Royal City Palace – where the guards’ moustaches are almost as impressive as the building itself. Foodies will want to hit the streets for raj kachori chaat (a big fluffy chaat served with chutney, yoghurt, chilli and potato). Then, maybe cool off with a lassi from Lassiwala on MI road – Jaipur's oldest and most famous lassi shop. Tonight, cinema buffs won’t want to miss a Bollywood blockbuster at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema.

Day :4

Location : Jaipur

If you're keen on a different view of the Pink City, an optional early morning hot air balloon ride is a trip highlight for many visitors. Later in the morning, you’ll drop by Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) – the impressive five-storey facade with pink and honeycombed windows is the most photographed building in the country after the Taj Mahal. After, it’s out to the old capital of Amber where you’ll explore the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort. The rest of the day is free for you to use as you like – maybe ask your leader for the best spot for dinner and pick up a biryani or a tasty plate of chicken tikka masala.

Day :5

Location : Agra

Take advantage of the chance to rub shoulders with the locals today on a five-hour public bus ride to Agra – this might not be the prettiest city in the world, but the minute you see the Taj Mahal, all other worries will fade away. You’ve made it to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – India's most enduring symbol and an epic monument to love and loss. For some reason, local families find it more interesting to take photos of you than the actual Taj Mahal! But you'll be too busy standing there with your mouth gaping open to notice. Take your time taking in the delight of this gorgeous monument and make sure you grab an epic Instagram – you won’t want to forget this!

Day :6

Location : Agra - Overnight train

Today is free to explore at your leisure. Agra Fort is a spectacular option where you can stroll the palatial gardens of this red sandstone stronghold and get some great views of the Taj Mahal from afar. For a meal that makes a difference while in Agra, consider visiting Sheroes Hangout, a remarkable social enterprise that supports survivors of acid attacks. Then, it's on to the next stop – Varanasi. Tonight, it’s time for a unique slice of Indian life aboard an overnight train.

Day :7

Location : Varanasi

Arrive in one of the holiest cities in the country this morning. Varanasi is the ultimate destination for Hindu pilgrims who travel far and wide to experience the spirituality of this city. Overflowing with temples, shrines and devotees, this is a super interesting place to explore. Maybe take the chance to perfect your yoga in one of the epic chakra-balancing spots. Or just chill out and soak in the meditative surroundings, ready for your early start tomorrow.

Day :8

Location : Varanasi

Today’s an early start, but it’s completely worth it – you’ll take a sunrise boat ride along the sacred Ganges, a true revelation. Even if you're not spiritual, you can't help but get goosebumps during this experience. Pass the many ghats (stairs leading to the water) and temples along the river and watch thousands of Hindu pilgrims cleanse their sins in the holy water as the sun bathes the surrounds in glorious shades of amber and orange. After, maybe hop on an auto rickshaw to the oldest part of the city to explore its maze of narrow alleyways packed full of small shops, stalls and lumbering cows. See pilgrims performing rituals unchanged for hundreds of years and pass chiming temples as wafts of incense fill the air.

Day :9

Location : India/Nepal border crossing - Lumbini

Wave goodbye to India as you travel to the border (Sunauli border crossing) and enter Nepal. Make sure to charge up your music and fish out your book, as it's a long day of travel today. Arrive in Lumbini. No ordinary border town, this is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha – the founder of Buddhism and one of his four holy places of pilgrimage. Check out the beautiful Ashoka Pillars and hop on cycle rickshaws to the Maya Devi Temple – the actual site where Buddha is thought to have been born.

Day :10

Location : Chitwan National Park

Put on your safari hat this morning, as you’ll drive to Chitwan National Park – UNESCO declared this park a World Heritage Site in 1984 and it offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Asia. Think the Jungle Book coming to life with rhinos, deer, monkeys and a wide array of birds, including Nepalese wild chickens. Tonight, you’ll stay in a lodge near the park, listening out for the roars of tigers as you fall asleep to the sounds of nature

Day :11

Location : Chitwan National Park

This morning you’ll hop aboard a jeep, meet your local guide and take a fun safari drive through Chitwan National Park. Look out for elephants and rhinos and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one of the 100-or-so Bengal Tigers that call the park home. There are also a number of optional activities available through your accommodation this afternoon, including biking, bird watching, cultural performances, canoe rides and village tours. Whatever you choose, whether it’s an active cycle through the park or a leisurely float along the river, you’re sure to have a gorgeous afternoon.

Day :12

Location : Kathmandu

Today, you’ll travel to your final destination – the Nepalese patchouli–scented capital of Kathmandu. Maybe book in for a massage or a yoga session when you arrive to ease those body kinks and settle into a meditative state. With the rest of your free time, you can visit the giant Buddhist Stupa at Bodnath or head out into the narrow streets – home to holy men, monks, bicycles and sacred cows. Got a sweet tooth? Take one soft, fluffy ball of buffalo milk dough, deep fried until it's the texture of a doughnut, dropped into sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom powder, rose essence and saffron and eat! Your leader will know where to grab these delicacies. If you like, just chill out with a cool drink or grab some dinner with your group tonight. Kathmandu has some great spots for nightlife too, so you might want to say cheers to an epic trip and celebrate your last night together.

Day :13

Location : Kathmandu

With no further activities planned, your adventure ends this morning. Since you're already here, why not stay an extra day or two and dig a little deeper into Kathmandu? If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent and maybe get to know the city better through an Urban Adventures day tour (or two).