India's Rich Culture, Heritage, Tea Estate & Backwater Tour
Description
Day 1: Arrive Delhi
On arrival at Delhi airport assistance & transfer to hotel check in. O/n at hotel.
Day 2: Delhi (B)
City tour of Delhi visiting Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Raj Gath, Humayun Tomb, Qutab Minar & Lotus Temple. Also drive pass President House, Parliament & India Gate etc. O/n at hotel.
Day 3: Delhi - Agra (204kms) (B)
Drive to Agra check in at hotel. Later visit Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Itmad-ud-Daula Tomb. O/n at hotel.
Day 4: Agra - Orchha (220kms) (B)
Drive to Orchha. Enroute visit Gwalior Fort known for its great architecture and rich past. Arrive Orchha check in at hotel. Later visit Orchha Fort complex, which houses fort, palaces, temples & other edifices. O/n at hotel.
Day 5: Orchha - Khajuraho (178km) (B)
Drive to Khajuraho check in at hotel. Visit exceptionally well maintained Khajuraho temples built in the short span of hundred years from 950-1050 AD by Chandela dynasty. O/n at hotel.
Day 6: Khajuraho - Varanasi (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. On arrival transfer to hotel. Evening attend Holy Ganga Aarti, a magical ritual held at sunset on the banks of the holy Ganges. O/n at hotel.
Day 7: Varanasi (B)
Early morning boat ride & Ghat visit. Later visit Banaras Hindu University, Bharat Mata Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple & Sarnath Temple complex including the Great Dhamekh Stupa. If time permit visit Ram Nagar Fort & Museum. O/n at hotel.
Day 8: Varanasi - Mumbai (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival transfer to hotel check in. Rest time free for personal activities. O/n at hotel.
Day 9: Mumbai (B)
Morning excursion to Elephant caves (Monday closed). Later city tour visiting CST, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan & Dhobhi Ghat. O/n at hotel.
Day 10: Mumbai - Aurangabad (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Aurangabad. On arrival transfer to hotel. Later visit Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar Temple & Daulatabad Fort. Also visit Bibi ka Maqbara, Panchakki & Aurangabad Caves. O/n at hotel.
Day 11: Aurangabad (B)
Full day excursion to Ajanta which house 30 rock-cut cave from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE. Drive back to Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Day 12: Aurangabad - Cochin (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Cochin. On arrival at Cochin airport assistance & transfer hotel check in. In the evening enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks etc. O/n at hotel.
Day 13: Cochin - Munnar (140kms) (B)
Visit Fort Cochin, St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Dutchs Palace & Chinese fishing nets. After sightseeing drive to Munnar, check in at hotel. Later tea estate visit & tea testing. O/n at hotel.
Day 14: Munnar (B)
Visit Pothamedu, Mattupetty dam, Rajamala hill, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupedi Dairy Farm, Echo Point & Tea Museum. O/n at hotel.
Day 15: Munnar - Thekkady (110kms) (B)
Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu one of the windiest places in Asia. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock & twin-statue Kuravan & Kurathi. Arrive Thekkady check in at hotel. Evening attend Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show. O/n at hotel.
Day 16: Thekkady (B)
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Sanctuary is home to tigers, elephant, rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee etc. O/n at hotel.
Day 17: Thekkady - Alleppey (140kms) (B)
Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. O/n in houseboat.
Day 18: Alleppey - Cochin (60kms)/ Delhi (flight) (B)
Disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin airport to board flight for Delhi.
On arrival transfer to the hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax and visit any place of your interest with your driver. O/n at hotel.
Day 19: Delhi - Departure (flight) (B)
As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
On arrival at Delhi airport assistance & transfer to hotel check in. O/n at hotel.
Day 2: Delhi (B)
City tour of Delhi visiting Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Raj Gath, Humayun Tomb, Qutab Minar & Lotus Temple. Also drive pass President House, Parliament & India Gate etc. O/n at hotel.
Day 3: Delhi - Agra (204kms) (B)
Drive to Agra check in at hotel. Later visit Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Itmad-ud-Daula Tomb. O/n at hotel.
Day 4: Agra - Orchha (220kms) (B)
Drive to Orchha. Enroute visit Gwalior Fort known for its great architecture and rich past. Arrive Orchha check in at hotel. Later visit Orchha Fort complex, which houses fort, palaces, temples & other edifices. O/n at hotel.
Day 5: Orchha - Khajuraho (178km) (B)
Drive to Khajuraho check in at hotel. Visit exceptionally well maintained Khajuraho temples built in the short span of hundred years from 950-1050 AD by Chandela dynasty. O/n at hotel.
Day 6: Khajuraho - Varanasi (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. On arrival transfer to hotel. Evening attend Holy Ganga Aarti, a magical ritual held at sunset on the banks of the holy Ganges. O/n at hotel.
Day 7: Varanasi (B)
Early morning boat ride & Ghat visit. Later visit Banaras Hindu University, Bharat Mata Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple & Sarnath Temple complex including the Great Dhamekh Stupa. If time permit visit Ram Nagar Fort & Museum. O/n at hotel.
Day 8: Varanasi - Mumbai (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival transfer to hotel check in. Rest time free for personal activities. O/n at hotel.
Day 9: Mumbai (B)
Morning excursion to Elephant caves (Monday closed). Later city tour visiting CST, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan & Dhobhi Ghat. O/n at hotel.
Day 10: Mumbai - Aurangabad (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Aurangabad. On arrival transfer to hotel. Later visit Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar Temple & Daulatabad Fort. Also visit Bibi ka Maqbara, Panchakki & Aurangabad Caves. O/n at hotel.
Day 11: Aurangabad (B)
Full day excursion to Ajanta which house 30 rock-cut cave from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE. Drive back to Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Day 12: Aurangabad - Cochin (flight) (B)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Cochin. On arrival at Cochin airport assistance & transfer hotel check in. In the evening enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks etc. O/n at hotel.
Day 13: Cochin - Munnar (140kms) (B)
Visit Fort Cochin, St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Dutchs Palace & Chinese fishing nets. After sightseeing drive to Munnar, check in at hotel. Later tea estate visit & tea testing. O/n at hotel.
Day 14: Munnar (B)
Visit Pothamedu, Mattupetty dam, Rajamala hill, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupedi Dairy Farm, Echo Point & Tea Museum. O/n at hotel.
Day 15: Munnar - Thekkady (110kms) (B)
Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu one of the windiest places in Asia. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock & twin-statue Kuravan & Kurathi. Arrive Thekkady check in at hotel. Evening attend Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show. O/n at hotel.
Day 16: Thekkady (B)
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Sanctuary is home to tigers, elephant, rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee etc. O/n at hotel.
Day 17: Thekkady - Alleppey (140kms) (B)
Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. O/n in houseboat.
Day 18: Alleppey - Cochin (60kms)/ Delhi (flight) (B)
Disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin airport to board flight for Delhi.
On arrival transfer to the hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax and visit any place of your interest with your driver. O/n at hotel.
Day 19: Delhi - Departure (flight) (B)
As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Included
- Assistance on arrival at airport.
- 18 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.
- Meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)
- Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.
- English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.
- Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
- Bottled drinking water in car.
- Government taxes.
Excluded
- Khajuraho - Varanasi - Mumbai - Aurangabad - Cochin - Delhi flight fare approx INR 30500 per person in economy class.
- Camera charges at monuments.
- Meals other than mentioned in day plan.
- Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.
- Gratuities & optional activities.
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
Know before you go
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.
- Few tour sights may not be wheelchair accessible.