Itinerary

Days 1-2: USA or Canada/Delhi, India

    Depart on your overnight flight to Delhi. Arrive late in the evening to your hotel, located in a picturesque residential area in the capital of India.
    The Taj Mahal Hotel
Day 3: Delhi

    Today, you have an opportunity to visit the AKP-supported Deepalaya School before starting your tour of Delhi, an intoxicating blend of modern-day verve and ancient structures and traditions. Start exploring in New Delhi, which includes two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Qutub Minar, the country’s highest tower, and Humayun’s Tomb, a red-sandstone predecessor to the Taj Mahal. The afternoon is at leisure. Gather with fellow travellers tonight for a welcome dinner.

    Deliver supplies to the Deepalaya School in Delhi to help underprivileged children.
    The Taj Mahal Hotel B D
Day 4: Delhi

    Embark on a half-day tour of Old Delhi. Highlights include the Red Fort, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture; Jama Masjid, the most important mosque in India; and Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Take an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the Chandni Chowk bazaar, inching your way through a maze of ox carts filled with fresh produce, cars and the occasional wandering cow.
    The Taj Mahal Hotel B L
Day 5: Delhi/Varanasi

    This morning, fly to Varanasi, the great pilgrimage city on the River Ganges, holy to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Explore the buried city of Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism. Visit the ruins of a once-flourishing monastery and a museum with an excellent collection of Buddhist art. In the evening, approach the ghats (wide steps leading into the river) by rickshaw, cycling through the narrow lanes of the city as dusk descends for the evening Aarti ceremony along the Ganges River. Bear witness to this solemn tradition and a slice of India’s ancient culture. Join the mass of worshippers as they pray near the water by the light of open flames, the scent of incense filling the air.
    Gateway Hotel The Ganges Varanasi B
Day 6: Varanasi/Khajuraho

    Rise early to experience India’s spirituality upon the sacred Ganges from another perspective — by private sunrise cruise. In the blue light of dawn, travel through Varanasi’s misty, winding streets and board a private row boat, watching from the water as the sun rises and the banks begin to crowd with worshippers. In the afternoon, fly to Khajuraho, home to the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in the country. Spend the afternoon meandering amid exquisitely carved temples.
    Lalit Temple View B
Day 7: Khajuraho/Jhansi/Agra

    Travel through rural India, where 70% of the population resides. Pass tiny villages of mud-brick homes and fields plowed by ox cart. Following lunch, visit the abandoned yet impressive 17th-century Orchha Palace. Afterward, board an express train to Agra. Check in to your luxury hotel, which offers a private view of the majestic Taj Mahal from every room.
    The Oberoi Amarvilás B L
Day 8: Agra

    After waking to the silhouette of the Taj Mahal rising just beyond a canopy of trees, you set off for this iconic monument to watch as the sunrise decorates its sheer white surface in rosy pink. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Then, set off for a sightseeing tour, including a visit to the Agra Fort, where Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, was imprisoned by his son. From his perch, Shah Jahan was forced to gaze upon his enduring testament of devotion — and his own final resting place. At sunset, return to view the Taj Mahal again, and watch as the light dances off the crisp white marble.
    The Oberoi Amarvilás B
Day 9: Jaipur

    Journey overland through rural Rajasthan — literally, the “land of princes” and a region known for lively folk traditions and incomparable hospitality. En route, make a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and walk through adjacent Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world. After lunch, arrive in Jaipur. Known as the “pink city,” romantic Jaipur is a sight to behold, with its pink-hued sandstone buildings contrasted against clear blue skies, and the flurry of daily life made more memorable by its friendly inhabitants. Check into your luxury hotel, the former residence of the Maharajah of Jaipur.
    Rambagh Palace B L
Day 10: Jaipur

    Begin the day by setting off just outside the city to explore the pink Mughal-style architecture of the Amber Fort. Rising high above the valley floor, this impressive structure is considered by many to be one of India’s most classic and romantic forts. Its elegant halls and stately towers serve as a backdrop for Rajasthan’s unique sights and sounds: vibrant hues of the local women’s saris, ornately decorated elephant ambling by on parade and music piped from snake charmers’ flutes. Afterward, travel to a local village to enjoy a private visit to a farm that includes an elephant ride through the countryside, a skilled mahout (trainer) handling the reins. Following an al fresco lunch, visit the spectacular outdoor Jantar Mantar Observatory that houses the world’s largest sundial, as tall as a nine-story building. Also view the Hawa Mahal (or Palace of the Winds), which allowed women of the court to watch life in the bazaar from behind stone-carved screens.
    Rambagh Palace B L
Day 11: Jaipur/Udaipur

    After a morning of leisure, board your flight to Udaipur, a city known for its crisp white buildings, stately architecture and serene lakeside setting. You have time to enjoy the exquisite surroundings of your hotel, formerly a summer palace.
    Taj Lake Palace B
Day 12: Udaipur

    This morning venture to the City Palace along the shores of Lake Pichola and enjoy an exclusive visit to the Crystal Gallery, located in Fateh Prakesh Palace. Continue to Sahelion Ki Bari (Garden of the Maids of Honor) and take a quiet respite in the shade or sit next to one of its many marble fountains or lotus ponds. In the late afternoon, board a motorboat launch (water levels permitting) for a lake cruise with lovely views of Udaipur. Cruise and disembark at Jag Mandir Palace, built for royal functions on its very own island in the middle of the lake. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for cocktails and a farewell dinner.
    Taj Lake Palace B D
Day 13: Udaipur/Delhi

    This morning travel through rural landscapes toward the rolling Aravalli Hills to visit Eklingji and Nagda temples. Eklingji features more than a hundred shrines, each with stunningly elaborate carvings and decorations; its main shrine still draws devout Hindu worshippers, while nearby Nagda is completely abandoned, making for a fascinating and contrasting experience. Afterward, enjoy lunch at Devi Garh, a fort-palace hotel nestled in the countryside This afternoon, board your return flight to Delhi.
    The Taj Palace B L
Day 14: Delhi/USA or Canada

    Board your homebound flight.
    B

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