Wonders of India Nepal and UAE

Welcome to Delhi! The Indian capital is a monumental city with a vibrant mix of old and new teeming bazaars, stately British boulevards, powerful Mughal palaces and forts, and intricate, ethereal towers, temples, and tombs. Upon arrival at the Delhi International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel and met with a non-alcoholic welcome drink.

Overnight in Delhi

After breakfast, you will head on a tour of Old Delhi, the Mughal capital established by Shah Jahan in 1638. Your tour will begin at Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Embark on an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the by lanes of Chandni Chowk (Silver Street), walk through the old dusty alleyways, and see other fascinating sights! Drive past the mighty and sprawling Red Fort, which was built in 1648, standing along the Yamuna River. From there you will head to New Delhi to see the colonial architecture which defined the British era in India. You will see the Qutab Minar Complex — home to the tallest brick minaret in the world, constructed by the first Islamic rulers of India. This magnificent structure continues to be the most imposing, artistically carved, and engraved sandstone pillar anywhere! Your tour will end with a visit to the Sikh Temple, before heading to your last stop — Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Sikhism is a progressive religion (and in many respects, ahead of its time). At Bangla Sahib, you will see how this religion blends practices from Hinduism and Islam into something new. You can witness (and join if you like) the langar — the voluntary group cooking and feeding program at Gurudwara.

Overnight in Delhi

After breakfast, you will drive to Agra, the past capital of the mighty Mughal Empire. This city is currently home to some of the top tourist sites in the world! Even if visiting what is arguably the world’s greatest “monument of love” does not appeal to you, there is still more to see in Agra! Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. At leisure, you may join the optional tour below.

At sunset, you will visit the Taj Mahal, one of mankind's greatest architectural accomplishments and a highlight of tours of India. Built out of white marble by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his loving wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal was erected by 20,000 laborers over a 12-year period. The entire monument is a masterpiece of symmetry.

Overnight in Agra

Known as the Red Fort of Agra, this walled imperial city was founded in 1565 by Emperor Akbar (1556—1605) and is a well-deserving UNESCO World Heritage site, situated just 2.5 kilometres from the famous Taj Mahal. Its palaces, grand mosques, and elaborate public hall are crafted from pink-red sandstone and are a testament to an era when Indo-Muslim art, strongly marked by influences from Persia, was at its height. Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal for his deceased wife, was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in Agra Fort. He is said to have died in the Musamman Burj, a marble tower he built himself, with one of the most breathtaking views of the Taj Mahal.

After a delicious breakfast, you will travel to Bharatpur – a birder’s paradise, with an en-route visit to Fatehpur Sikri, an eerily abandoned capital from the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1586. Akbar built this city to celebrate the birth of his son and the future heir to the throne — Emperor Jahangir. While Akbar is believed to have been illiterate, he took great interest in the arts and architecture; Fatehpur Sikri is one of his masterworks. Sadly, it served as the capital for little more than a decade, as the city was eventually abandoned for its lack of accessible water. Afterwards, you will continue your tour to Bharatpur. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Bharatpur

Head on an escorted visit to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary by bicycle/paddle rickshaws. The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the finest bird parks in the world. The sanctuary (also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park) is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as well. Nesting indigenous water birds, as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by Sambars, Chitals, Nilgais, and Boars.

In the morning you will drive to Jaipur. The “City of Victory" was originally intended to be named "Sawai Jaipur" after the boy Prince who commissioned it — Maharaja Jai Singh II — a warrior, astronomer, and politician who reigned over the Mughals from 1699 to 1743. Today, Jaipur is colorful and pink, aesthetically described as a city that is shaded with the autumn colors of the sunset. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel. Head on an orientation city tour of Jaipur. Start your excursion with a photo-stop at the Hawa Mahal, a striking landmark that is often referred to as the Palace of Winds. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh for the women in the royal family, this building helped them watch the city’s processions through tiny, latticed windows and balconies without ever being seen. Next, you will visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This stone astrological and astronomical Observatory was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century. Continue your tour to the City Palace Museum, home to a priceless collection of antiques, costumes, and armory of the Mughals and Rajputs. It also boasts an art gallery that displays a wide collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia, and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin, and Sanskrit. In the evening, enjoy an authentic Rajasthani dinner in Jaipur.

Overnight in Jaipur

This morning you will visit the Amber Fort. Located approximately 11km outside Jaipur, this majestic monument was created using elements of Hindu and Islamic architecture and design. Murals, frescos, and paintings depict the daily life of a bygone era on the walls that are also etched with carvings and decorated with mosaics and mirror work. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Galta Ji Temple — a large Hindu temple complex that lies 10km east of Jaipur. These temples are a popular tourist attraction as they are home to a big colony of monkeys, which has given rise to the common name of the complex — The Monkey Temple. Galta Ji Jaipur is a unique Hindu temple as it is centered around a natural spring that has been channeled to fill seven large pools. In these pools, pilgrims come to bathe away their sins, while, at quiet moments, the playful monkeys can be found swimming in the holy waters. Spend the rest of your day at leisure or join our optional tour.  

Overnight in Jaipur

This specially designed morning cycle tour of Old and New Jaipur aims to provide a ‘green way’ of exploring the waking up of the Pink City. We will start the tour early to avoid traffic at the iconic Statue Circle with a safety briefing and time to gear up for the ride. The tour will head northwards to M.I Road where we start by tasting a famous Lassi (churned yogurt shake) to build our energy up. Afterwards, enter the walled city cycling past its mansions; we will see the city waking up and the temple services starting. We will stop at the market to climb up to its roof for a bird’s eye view of the city, and then ride through the twisting lanes to visit the chief deity of the city ‘Govind Dev Ji’ and attend a morning Aarti ceremony. The next stop will be the morning vegetable market before heading south to Albert Hall, which is currently a government museum. On the way, we shall make pit-stops to taste local snacks.

Enjoy the day at leisure or consider the following optional tour. After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel back overland to Delhi and check in to your hotel. Explore Delhi at leisure. 

Overnight in Delhi

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer back to Indira Gandhi International Airport to catch your flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Kathmandu

Today you will head on a city tour of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, also known as Kantipur. Visit Durbar Square — one of three durbars (royal palace) squares in the Kathmandu Valley. From there you will visit Pashupatinath, one of the most important Hindu temples in Nepal. This is one of the most significant Shiva temples on the subcontinent and draws attention from devotees from all around India every year. Pashupati is considered to have a special concern for the kingdom of Nepal. Pashupatinath, an ancient plinth situated by the banks of the holy Bagmati River, is dedicated to Lord Shiva — the Lord of all Creatures. The old buildings on the site were destroyed by Moslem invaders in the 14th century with its stone linga smashed to dust. However, it rose again behind their retreating backs. Succeeding monarchs reinstated the temple and the images. The flowing Bagmati is a holy river and the ghats (crematorium) at its bank are the earnest Hindus truest cremation center. Spend your rest of the day at leisure or choose to join the below optional tour.

Overnight in Kathmandu

This tour will take you to Patan City. Lalitpur, the city of beauty is separated from Kathmandu only by the Bagmati River and is the second-largest town in the valley. Lalitpur is fragmented from other cities due to its significant architectural masterpieces dating to ancient times. Patan's central Durbar Square is packed with temples: it is an architectural center point with a far greater concentration of temples per square meter than Kathamandu or Bhaktapur. Krishna Mandir, one of the grandeurs of the squares, was built in 1637 by King Siddhinarsingh Malla. The Golden Temple which is the unique Buddhist Monastery was founded in the 12th century with a large rectangular building with three roofs and a copper gilded facade showcasing images of Buddha and Avalokitesvara. The square has been unrestrainedly adorned by the Bhimsen Temple, Manga Hiti, Vishwanath Temple, Jagannarayan Temple, Golden Temple, and various others.

In the early morning before breakfast, join our optional tour to Mount Everest. If you are not joining our optional tour then prepare for a tour of Kantipur or Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Visit the Durbar Square — one of three durbars (royal palace) squares in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the site of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex, which served as the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and where significant ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch still take place. The two-hectare (five-acre) palace complex is divided into two main chowks, or courtyards, and was initially constructed in the 16th century. However, subsequent additions were made during the Shah (Gurkha) dynasty in the 18th century and by the Rana rulers in the 19th century. The palace is decorated with elaborately carved wooden windows and panels and houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum, dedicated to the monarch who opened Nepal to the outside world along with the Mahendra Museum, dedicated to his son, King Mahendra. At the southern end of Durbar Square, you will discover one of the most curious attractions in Nepal, the Kumari Chowk. This gilded cage features the Raj Kumari, a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu Mother Goddess, Durga. She is worshipped during religious festivals and makes public appearances at other times for a fee paid to her guards. Then you will visit Swayambhunath — the golden spire of the 5th-century. Swayambhunath Stupa is adorned with a colorful fluttering of prayer flags; it crowns a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and offers breathtaking views over the city of Kathmandu. Swayambhunath is one of the most recognizable symbols in Nepal and the painted eyes of Buddha watch all who ascend the worn stone steps. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal and is at the source of the Valley’s mythical beginning. Legend has it that the history of the Valley began with the draining of an ancient lake by an Enlightened Being to reveal the Valley. A lotus flower was transformed into the hill and the shining light became the stupa itself. Swarms of pilgrims and red-clad monks circle the complex, spinning the prayer wheels, while the scores of monkeys that give the temple its nickname, Monkey Temple, prance about in irreverent groups. The temple complex is scattered with shrines and statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities. The assortment of pilgrims from both faiths characterizes the country’s unique religious harmony. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. After your visit, you will be transferred to Kathmandu International Airport for your flight to Abu Dhabi. Upon arrival at the Dubai International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Dubai

Today you will be picked up early in the morning for your flight over Mount Everest. Pickup will be from the hotel around 5:45 AM for a flight departing at 6:30 or 7:00 AM for extraordinary views of Mount Everest. [This flight only operates when the weather is nice, and viewing will be satisfactory]. The Himalayan Range will fascinate every visitor to Nepal. One of the main attractions for travelers is the Mountain Flight. For those who are restricted by time or other constraints, mountain flights offer an incredible alternative to climbing and will give you incredible memories of the highest peaks on earth. The first mountain you will see is Langtang at 7234 meters. The Valley of Langtang, which is not visible from the plane, is the most beautiful in the Himalayan region. From there you will see Gosainthan (8013m). This mountain is situated on the Nepal – Tibetan border. The Tibetan name for this mountain is Shisapangma. Next, get ready to see Dorje Lakpa (6975m): this mountain has a Tibetan name, which means “the mountains of many sacred Thunderbolts”. It is considered a holy site for Buddhists. From there you will discover Gauri–Sanker (7134m). This single mountain has two peaks and two names because the Hindus believe the mountain looks like the Gods Shiva and Gouri. This holy mountain was restricted to climbers until 1977. It was only in 1979 that an American/Nepalese group reached the summit. Next, you will see Lhotse: (8516m): this mountain lies to the south of Everest. The name given by the Sherpas is Lhotse, which means “South Peak”. The first ascent of this mountain took place in 1956 by the Swiss. Finally, get ready to see the magnificent Mount Everest (8848m). This extraordinary mountain was discovered in 1852 and is the highest mountain in the world. It is named after Sir George Everest — an English surveyor. Sagarmatha “Top of the Universe” is the name given by the Nepalese which means, “Mother of the World” and Chomolungma in Tibetan. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa, were the first to climb Everest on May 25th, 1953, as a coronation gift to Queen Elizabeth II. After the flight, you will return to the hotel.

Today you will explore this fascinating city with a tour of Dubai. While the vast swathes of Dubai have been transformed with contemporary architecture into a modern and luxurious city, traces of the historic town from 40 years ago are still evident in certain areas. This tour will take you on a cultural journey through time into mini mazes of wind-towered buildings, narrow lanes, and meandering pathways of the lively souks. During the tour, you will visit the heritage area of Bastakiya and the 225-year-old Fort Al Fahidi, which houses the Dubai Museum. Pay a visit to the Spice and Gold Souks. With tantalizing scents and shimmering jewelry, you will drive by the Burj Al Arab, the iconic hotel in the shape of a sail. Enjoy a photo stop at the Jumeirah Mosque, an architectural landmark. Spend the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Dubai

Enjoy your morning at leisure. Later this afternoon you will be picked up for a dune drive through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. This mysterious desert beckons you for a magical evening out — an adventure you will never forget. Leaving behind the bustle of the city in the afternoon, our safari guides will take you on a thrilling journey over rolling dunes deep into the heart of the desert. From the crest of a high dune, watch the setting sun cast its orange glow over the vast expanse of rippling sand all around you. Like a shimmering mirage in the distance, you will see the flickering lights of your camp where a traditional Arabian welcome will await you. The encampment conjures up images of Arabian nights. Relax on comfortable cushions in Bedouin tents and quench your thirst, have your hands painted with intricate henna designs, head on a short camel ride, or just enjoy the aromatic shisha. A feast of grilled meats, fresh salads, and delectable Arab sweets will be served under a galaxy of stars. You will be entertained by the bewitching belly dancer swaying to the haunting strains of Arabian music.

Overnight in Dubai

Today you will be transferred back to Dubai International Airport for your flight home.