Fuel up with breakfast before diving into the captivating duality of India’s capital. Your exploration begins in Old Delhi, a centuries-old labyrinth of narrow lanes established by Emperor Shah Jahan. Navigate the iconic Chandni Chowk market, where the air is thick with the scent of spices and the organised chaos of local commerce.
After the intensity of the old city, find yourself in New Delhi, where you’ll discover the architectural wonder of Agrasen Ki Baoli, a 60-metre-long historical stepwell hidden amidst the urban sprawl. Find a moment of quiet reflection at Raj Ghat, the elegant marble memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. In the afternoon, the scenery shifts to the grand, wide boulevards of New Delhi. You’ll drive past the monumental India Gate, the Presidential Palace and Parliament House before visiting the Qutab Minar — a 12th-century masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture that served as the prototype for minarets across India. Your day concludes with a welcome dinner, the perfect opportunity to meet your fellow travellers and toast to the journey ahead.
After breakfast, leave the capital behind and drive toward Agra, the former seat of the Mughal Empire. Upon arrival, check into your accommodation before setting out to explore two of India’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Your afternoon begins at the Agra Fort, an imposing red sandstone citadel situated on the banks of the Yamuna River. Wander through its elegant mosques and audience halls, and visit the private quarters where Emperor Shah Jahan spent his final years gazing out at his greatest creation. As the day draws to a close, head to the Taj Mahal. Arrive in time to witness the “monument to love” at its most magical, watching the shifting light of the setting sun reflect off the ethereal white marble domes. It is a moment of pure architectural mastery that remains etched in the memory long after you leave.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours
Taj Mahal at sunset
Following breakfast, your journey into the heart of Rajasthan begins with a drive towards the deserted imperial capital of Fatehpur Sikri. Known as the “City of Victory”, this sandstone complex was built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century but abandoned just fourteen years later due to a failing water supply. Wander through the remarkably preserved courtyards and admire the architectural detail of its hundreds of palatial buildings, which remain a hauntingly beautiful testament to Mughal ambition.
Continue your travels to Ranthambore National Park, once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur and now one of India’s premier tiger conservation enclaves. This rugged landscape of dry deciduous forests and ancient ruins offers some of the best opportunities in the world to observe the majestic Bengal tiger in its natural habitat. On arrival, check into your hotel and settle in before dinner.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours
Rise before the sun for an exhilarating morning in Ranthambore National Park, accompanied by an expert naturalist. This is the optimal time for wildlife photography, as the jungle awakens and the low light offers the best chance to spot the park’s most famous resident, the Bengal tiger. As you navigate the rugged terrain by jeep, keep a keen eye out for sloth bears, leopards and the diverse species of deer that frequent the watering holes, including nilgai and sambar.
Return to your hotel for a relaxed lunch and a few hours of downtime before your afternoon game drive. With over 300 species of birds and a landscape dotted with ancient ruins, every excursion into the park offers a new perspective on India’s wild heart. Whether you catch a glimpse of a tiger hunting or simply soak in the ancient beauty of the forest, the day concludes back at the resort with a gourmet dinner and a night spent under the stars of Rajasthan.
Morning and afternoon safari at Ranthambore National Park
The morning is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Savour a slow breakfast and make use of the resort’s facilities, or choose to hike to the Ranthambore Fort. Perched on a dramatic hilltop, this 1,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site offers spectacular views over the entire national park. Explore the intricate acoustics of the Hammir Court and visit the Gupt Ganga, a series of ancient steps carved into the rock leading to a perennial stream.
After lunch, leave the wild behind as you drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Known globally as the “Pink City” due to the distinctive terracotta hue of its historic centre, Jaipur is a masterpiece of symmetrical planning and Rajput architecture. Upon arrival, check into your accommodation, perfectly positioned for exploring the city’s royal heritage. Enjoy dinner then spend the evening at leisure, perhaps soaking in the city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere or relaxing at the hotel.
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
After breakfast, set out to uncover the regal history of Jaipur. Your morning begins with a jeep ascent to the Amber Fort, a magnificent 16th-century hilltop stronghold that blends Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. Explore its sprawling courtyards and intricate mirrored halls, which offer panoramic views across the rugged Rajasthani landscape.
In the afternoon, the focus shifts to the heart of the city at Jantar Mantar, an extraordinary 18th-century astronomical observatory featuring the world’s largest stone sundial. Continue to the City Palace, a vast complex of courtyards and museums housing a priceless collection of royal costumes and weapons.
Before returning to the hotel, pause for a photo at the world-famous Hawa Mahal. This “Palace of Winds” with its 953 intricately latticed windows was designed to allow royal ladies to observe the street festivals below without being seen. The remainder of your evening is free to enjoy the sophisticated comforts of your hotel or explore the local artisan markets.
Jeep ascent to Amber Fort with panoramic views
After breakfast, leave the Pink City behind as you begin your drive back to the capital. This journey offers a final look at the rugged landscape of rural Rajasthan, passing through local villages and agricultural hubs that line the route to the National Capital Region.
On arrival, check into your hotel and the rest of the day is entirely at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 5.5 hours
After breakfast, transfer to Delhi Airport for your flight to the holy city of Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. As Mark Twain famously remarked, Varanasi “is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” This sacred destination on the banks of the Ganges is a profound centre of pilgrimage for Hindus.
Upon arrival, check into your hotel. As dusk descends, you’ll head to the riverbanks by boat to witness the Ganga Aarti. This powerful spiritual ritual involves saffron-clad priests worshipping the goddess Ganga with incense, camphor, conch shells, bells and rhythmic chanting. Watch as hundreds of tiny oil lamps, or ‘diyas’, are set afloat, their flickering lights casting a mystical glow over the darkening waters; a truly unforgettable introduction to the spiritual heart of India.
Travel time: Flight – approx. 1.5 hours; Driving – approx. one hour
Witness the mesmerising Ganga Aarti ceremony by boat on the sacred Ganges
Begin your morning before dawn with a boat ride on the sacred Ganges. As the mist lifts, you will witness the river come to life with the ancient tradition of “puja”, devotees performing ritual baths and offering prayers to the rising sun. The haunting sound of Sanskrit mantras and the fragrance of morning incense create an atmosphere of ultimate bliss as the water reflects the shimmering red and gold hues of the sky.
After breakfast, explore the unique Bharat Mata Temple, a significant landmark dedicated to “Mother India” that houses a massive relief map of the undivided subcontinent carved entirely from marble. In the afternoon, travel to Sarnath, the town and deer park where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon. This peaceful archaeological site, with its ancient stupas and ruins, offers a serene contrast to the energy of the city. You will have free time in the late afternoon to browse the local silk markets, famed for their exquisite Banarasi weaving, before a final farewell dinner at your hotel.
Sunrise boat ride along the sacred Ganges
Enjoy one more breakfast at the Radisson as the Indian leg of your subcontinental journey comes to a close and the Nepal leg beckons.
Meet your transfer at the hotel for the drive to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi (VNS) and a flight to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu.
Settle into your Deluxe Room and enjoy your first glimpse of Nepal’s lively capital, where ancient temples, prayer flags and bustling streets sit beneath a backdrop of forested hills.
The afternoon is free to relax after your journey. You may choose to make use of the hotel’s outdoor pool, fitness centre or spa, or simply take some time to settle into your new surroundings.
This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant. Over a meal of local specialities, you’ll be introduced to the country’s distinctive flavours and warm hospitality. The evening continues with a cultural performance showcasing the music and dance traditions of Nepal’s diverse ethnic communities.
Return to the hotel afterwards for a restful night ahead of tomorrow’s sightseeing.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 30 minutes / Flying – approx. 45 minutes / Driving – approx. 15 minutes
This morning, you may choose to begin the day with an optional scenic flight over the Himalayas (surcharge applies). A fixed-wing flight offers approximately one hour of mountain views, while the optional Everest Breakfast helicopter experience includes the chance to land at Hotel Everest View for breakfast overlooking the Himalayas.
After breakfast, meet your group in the hotel lobby and set out to explore the Kathmandu Valley with your local guide. Begin at Boudhanath Stupa, one of the world’s largest spherical stupas and an important pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists.
Continue to Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple complex, set beside the Bagmati River. Later, visit Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, where Buddhist and Hindu imagery share the hilltop complex.
Your final stop is Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with former royal palaces, courtyards and shrines showcasing Newari architecture.
In the late afternoon, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Leave Kathmandu after breakfast and travel south towards Chitwan National Park. The drive descends through terraced hills and river valleys before reaching the subtropical plains of Nepal’s Terai region.
Arrive at Barahi Jungle Lodge, an elegant riverside retreat set beside the Rapti River just outside the park. After checking into your Deluxe Boutique Hut, enjoy lunch and an orientation at the lodge.
The afternoon’s jungle activity will be arranged by the resort and may include a nature walk, village visit or other introduction to the surrounding environment. Return to the lodge for dinner in the peaceful jungle setting.
Travel time: Driving – approx. six hours
Rise early for a full day of wildlife experiences in and around Chitwan National Park. Your activities will be arranged by the lodge according to local conditions, seasonal availability and the daily schedule.
A jeep safari takes you through the park’s forests and grasslands in search of one-horned rhinoceroses, deer, monkeys and a variety of birdlife. Later, travel by canoe along the Rapti River, where crocodiles, river birds and the rare gharial may be seen along the water’s edge.
Continue with a guided jungle walk before visiting a local Tharu village to learn more about the culture and traditions of one of Nepal’s Indigenous communities.
Return to Barahi Jungle Lodge for dinner, followed by a Tharu cultural dance performance. Through music and movement, the performance offers a lively introduction to the heritage of the communities who call the Terai home.
After breakfast, leave Chitwan behind and travel north towards Pokhara, a lakeside city framed by the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The route passes through countryside, villages and river valleys, offering a changing view of Nepal beyond the Kathmandu Valley.
On arrival, check into Fish Tail Lodge by Annapurna, a peaceful retreat beside Phewa Lake. Settle into your Garden Terrace Standard Room and enjoy the hotel’s gardens, mountain views and lakeside setting.
The remainder of the afternoon is free. You may choose to relax at the lodge or head into Pokhara’s Lakeside district, a lively area of cafes, bookshops, boutiques and restaurants lining the shore of Phewa Lake.
As evening approaches, take a gentle walk beside the water or enjoy the views from the lodge before a relaxed night in Pokhara.
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
Begin before sunrise with a drive to Sarangkot, a hill station known for its sweeping views over the Himalayas. If conditions are clear, watch the first light reach the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges before returning to the hotel for breakfast.
Later, join your guide for a hike from the shores of Phewa Lake to the World Peace Pagoda. Built by Japanese Buddhist monks, the white-domed monument overlooks the lake, Pokhara and the mountains beyond.
Continue to Davis Falls, where the water disappears into an underground passage, followed by nearby Gupteshwor Cave and its shrine dedicated to Shiva. Your sightseeing continues at a Tibetan refugee settlement, where you’ll learn about the community’s history and see traditional handicrafts.
Finish with a walk along the Lakeside trail beside Phewa Lake. Lunch is at your own expense, and the remainder of the afternoon is free to relax at the lodge.
After breakfast, transfer to Pokhara Airport (PHH) for your included flight back to Kathmandu (KTM). On arrival, continue by private vehicle to Nagarkot, a hilltop village east of the capital known for its Himalayan views.
The drive takes you away from Kathmandu’s urban energy and into a quieter landscape of forested hills and mountain air. On clear days, the panorama may extend towards Mount Everest, while the surrounding terraces and valleys provide a peaceful setting for your final evening in Nepal.
Check into Club Himalaya by ACE Hotels and settle into your Deluxe Room in the Heritage Wing. Enjoy the resort’s mountain outlook and landscaped grounds before gathering with your group for a farewell dinner at the hotel.
As the sun sets across the distant peaks, raise a glass to the landscapes, wildlife and cultural experiences that have shaped your journey through Nepal.
Travel time: Flight – approx. 30 minutes / Driving – approx. two hours
Rise early for one final view across the Himalayas. If the skies are clear, sunrise from Nagarkot offers a striking farewell to Nepal, with the surrounding peaks gradually emerging in the morning light.
After breakfast, check out and transfer by private vehicle to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu for your onward flight.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours