Expert Travel Advice
For assistance with all of your travel needs, call us at...
1-866-286-9323
or visit one of our many
CAA Store locations.
 |
||||||||||
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Travel
Highlights of North India
Commencing in Delhi, travel to the Rajasthani capital - the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. A highlight of your stay in this fascinating city is visiting the huge Amber Fort. Continue your journey to the eerie abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri before reaching Agra, where you visit one of the world's most famous and beautiful monuments - the Taj Mahal. Then an overnight train to Varanasi, the holiest of Hindu cities jammed along the banks of the Ganges River. The old city is a warren of alleyways and a lot of fun to explore. Return to Delhi for some sightseeing, shopping and a final night out on the town.
Package Inclusions
- Local tour leader
- Local guides
- Arrival transfer
- Transport including train
- Sightseeing and entrance fees
- Accommodation including 1 night air-conditioned sleeper train
- 8 Breakfasts
- Delhi
- Jaipur
- Amber Fort
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Taj Mahal
- Agra Fort
- Varanasi
- The Holy Ganges River
Trek Holidays
Trek Holidays has become Canada's largest wholesale adventure travel company and their staff have been to over 100 countries around the world. Trek works in conjunction with travel agents across Canada to prepare you for your arrival in a new destination based on their own personal experiences, videos, pre-departure booklets as well as reading lists.
- Day 1 Delhi: Upon arrival you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The drive from the airport to the hotel is around 45 minutes. Most flights arrive in Delhi in the late evening, so there is nothing arranged for this day. If you have arrived early, you will be briefed with sightseeing options.
- Day 2 and 3 - Jaipur: After breakfast catch an early morning train to Jaipur, where you arrive just before lunch. Sometime this morning or just after lunch, there is a briefing to outline the holiday itinerary and also cover many aspects of travelling in India. The colourful capital of the state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a vibrant and exciting town. Here, traditionally dressed Rajput men wearing colourful turbans and sporting magnificent moustaches make their way through crowded streets packed with cars, camel carts, rickshaws, trucks and bicycles. On your second day in Jaipur you travel 11 kilometers out to the stunning medieval Amber Fort. This fort was built in 1592 by Maharajah Man Singh and is a superb example of Rajput architecture. Several hours are needed to explore this huge fortification. Your guide will also take us to the Old Bazaar and Hawa Mahal, better known as The Palace of the Wind. This five-storey façade with its pink, honeycombed sandstone windows is one of Jaipur's best-known landmarks.
- Day 4 Agra: From Jaipur make your way to the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. This magnificent ghost town was capital of the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585. Built during the reign of Emperor Akbhar it was abandoned shortly after his death due to a lack of available water. Then continue to probably the most celebrated of the Mughal cities - Agra. Arrive in Agra in the late afternoon, so there are no planned activities for the rest of the day. However, your tour leader can offer suggestions regarding optional sightseeing excursions and of course there is always the option of an evening visit to the Taj Mahal.
- Day 5 Agra: After breakfast make a morning visit to India's most famous site - the majestic Taj Mahal. This amazing 17th century marble mausoleum was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his second wife, who died giving birth. Started in 1631 the project was completed in 1648 and employed a workforce of over 20,000 people. Construction materials were brought from all over India with the marble from Rajasthan transported by over 1000 elephants. Also visit the nearby Agra Fort - a huge complex built of red sandstone by Akbar in 1565 and partially converted into a palace during the time of Shah Jahan. In the late evening transfer to the railway station in Agra and catch the overnight sleeper train bound for Varanasi.
- Day 6 Varanasi: As the sacred Ganges River flows from the snow-clad Himalaya into the vast plains, half way between Delhi and Calcutta it curves into a gentle crescent and therein lies Varanasi. Also known as Benares, this spiritual place is the oldest and the holiest of all pilgrim places of India and undoubtedly the venerated city of Hinduism. Arrive in Varanasi in the afternoon, where you check into your hotel and freshen up. Then visit the ruined monasteries of Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon. This is a holy spot and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all around the world. A bodhi tree is present and represents the fact that Buddha did some of his preaching from beneath this particular type of tree. Spotted deer are kept in an enclosure, reflecting the presence of this animal in the story of the original Lord Buddha - Siddhârtha Gautama.
- Day 7 Varanasi: Get up before dawn and make your way down to the river. Then partake in a boat ride at sunrise on the Ganges and watch Hindu rituals being enacted along the banks of the river as people pray, wash and cremate their dead. Your tour leader also takes you through the back lanes of the Old City where you experience the peculiar lifestyle that this ancient city is famous for. The rest of the day is free for you to further explore this spiritual place.
- Day 8 Delhi: After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. On arrival enjoy an orientation tour around the Indian capital, New Delhi. This drive around the city takes you to India Gate and past the President's House (Rashtrapati Bhavan), Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan) and the colourful Janpath Bazaar. You then have the chance to enjoy pre dinner drinks before heading out to one of Delhi's great restaurants for a final group dinner (optional) to commemorate the end of your tour.
- Day 9 Delhi: Your trip ends in Delhi this morning after breakfast. Check out time is 12 noon. If your flight leaves in the evening you may wish to book additional accommodation so you have a room until departure. Your leader will be on hand to assist with transfers to the airport.
For reservations or additional information, call 1-866-286-9323 to speak with an experienced travel consultant.
 |
 |
