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March 1-14, 2008

Optional Extension to Pokara & Chitwan National Park March 14-23

This tour combines the highlights of North India with the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. An excellent introduction to both countries, it includes the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), the spectacular ancient temples of Khjauraho and the holy city Varanasi on the banks of Ganges River; as well as the three ancient cities of Kathmandu Valley and small mountain villages nearby.

The hotels are a mix of five star and heritage properties plus a mountain resort one night in Nepal.

You may elect to join the India tour only. There is also an optional extension to the Nepal tour which includes a rafting trip and a short moderate trek as well as a wildlife safari.

Detailed Itinerary

Delhi - Day 1
Transfer to Hotel Taj Ambassador.

Delhi - Day 2 (B,D)
Relaxed morning. Afternoon: Tour of Old and New Delhi, including Red Fort, Qutab Minar and India Gate, House of Parliment, President's House, and riksha ride thru the market in Old Delhi. Welcome dinner at Pind Baluchi featuring excellent Delhi-Punjabi cuisine.

Delhi - Jaipur - Day 3
Drive to Jaipur. After check-in and lunch, visit Albert Museum and arrive at Ganesh Temple in time for evening aarti (light ceremony). Hotel: Samode Haveli.

Jaipur - Day 4 (B,D)
Morning visit Amer Fort, riding on elephants to the gate. Afternoon city tour including City palace, Palace of Winds, Jantar Mantar Observatory.

Drive Jaipur-Agra - Day 5
Early morning visit Galta Temple at sunrise. The Hanuman Temple here surges to life at sunrise when crowds of languar monkeys come to meet the priests who arrive in a ricksaw with sacks of bananas. Return to hotel for breakfast. Drive Jaipur-Agra, enroute visit Fatephur Sikri, the deserted city. Hotel Taj View, Taj- facing rooms.

Agra - Day 6
Visit Taj Mahal (sunrise visit if requested). Return to hotel for breakfast. Afterwards visit Agra Fort; afternoon visit Sikandra, the site of AkbarÕs mausoleum, six miles north of Agra.


Agra - Khajuraho - Day 7
A sunrise visit to Taj Mahal, returning to the hotel for breakfast.
Transfer to railway station for Shatabdi Express to Jhansi, dep 8:15 am. On arrival at Jhansi at 10:40 am, we drive to Khajuraho (4 hrs). Evening: attend a sound and light show. Hotel Taj Chandella.

Khajuraho-Varanasi - Day 8 (B, D)
Visit the western complex of temples. Afternon visit eastern complex of temples and the old village of Khajuraho.

Fly Khajuraho-Varanasi (flight 9W334 dep 13:30, arr 14:10). Transfer to Hotel Taj Ganges. Upon arrival, lunch and independent time to stroll the wonderously stimulating area around the Ganges. Evening: witness sn Aarti ceremony on the banks of the River Ganges. Dinner at an authentic Indian restaurant, Shyamal, located on the Assi Ghat road; it has a nice garden.

Varanasi - Day 9 (B,D)
Early morning boat ride on the River Ganges to witness the religious ceremonies of the Hindus. Afterwards, a walking tour of the temples and ghats. Return to hotel for breakfast. Rest of morning independent to relax or wander around the old village independently.

Afternoon visit to Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon in 500 BC. The very spot is marked by the Dhamekh Stupa. Located in the midst of the Archeological Park, you will also be able to visit the ruins of the small monastery where the Buddha lived during his visits and walk the path he took while meditating. After visiting the museum that houses sculptures excavated from the park, we will continue to the fairly new Buddhist temple. The walls of the temples are decorated by the paintings of a Japanese artist tracing the important events in the life of The Buddha. At approximately 6pm, local Buddhists chant the words to Buddha’s last sermon.

Buffet dinner at Aman Restaurant, a typical restaurant of this region located in one of the by lanes between the main city and the Ghats.

Those on the India Only tour will fly to Delhi and transfer to international airport.

Varanasi-Kathmandu - Day 10
Transfer to airport for a flight to Kathmandu (flight IC751 dep 12:10 arr 13:20). Transfer to hotel The Summit in Patan, garden wing rooms.

Independent afternoon. You may want to visit the museum next door or browse the shops.

The Patan Museum is located in the beautiful renovated Malla Palace Garden and a visit there and stop off at the Museum Restaurant is a must. The Summit Hotel operates the restaurant in the Patan Museum. It is open from 10am - 5 pm and offers an excellent variety of Nepalese and continental snacks & meals with organic vegetables and salads grown in the museum gardens. The Patan Museum itself displays the traditional sacred art of Nepal in an outstanding architectural setting. Its home is an old residential court of Patan Durbar, one of the royal palaces of the former Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley. Its gilded door and windows face one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The museum's exhibits cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history and some rare objects are among its treasures. Their meaning and context within the living traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are all clearly explained. Most of the objects are cast bronzes and gilt copper repoussé work, traditional crafts for which Patan is famous.

Also located near the Summit Hotel are some of the best woodwork and handicraft shops in the valley. The Tibetan Refugee Camp has a wide selection of hand woven natural and vegetable dye carpets.

The Summit is a very special Nepali style hotel with western comfort. It is located between the great Durbar Squares of Kathmandu and Lalitpur Terraces, set in spacious flower gardens that give views north across the Kathmandu Valley to the Shivapuri ridgeline and the snow-capped Himalayan range beyond. Open balconies with local hand made tile floors and carved wooden pillars connect the rooms. Even with Kathmandu now being a crowded city, the old city of Patan (Lalitpur) has not changed much over the centuries and can easily be explored on foot. The hotel website: www.summit-nepal.com

Full day touring Patan & Kathmandu - Day 11
Morning tour of Patan. Originally known as Lalitpur, Patan is situated on the southern bank of the Bagmati River and is 5 Km southeast of Kathmandu. Its Durbar Square is an enchanting melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the former royal palace complex is the center of Patan's religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects. One remarkable monument here is a 17th-century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, built entirely of stone instead of the usual brick and wood used for temples in Nepal. We’ll also visit the Golden Temple, the Mahabouddha Temple (also known as the temple of the thousand Buddhas due to the carving of Buddha on each brick), Uku and Kwa Bahal.  Afternoon walking tour of Kathmandu City’s Durbar Square with it’s array of temples centralized around the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient seat of royalty. Visit the Jagannath Temple with it’s erotic carvings, the Kal and Seto Bhairav temples, the Temple of the Living Goddess, the big bell and the Kasthamandap Pavilion, said to have been built out of timber of a single celestial tree and from which the city of Kathmandu derives it’s name.

Culminate with a visit to Swayambunath, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Swayambhunath, the oldest Buddhist stupa, said to be 2000 years old. The stupa, which forms the main structure, is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. Painted on the four sided base of the spire are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. This hill is a mosaic of small Chaityas and Pagoda temples.

Kathmandu - Day 12
Day excursion to Dakshinkali. The drive is about 13 kms (approx 4 hrs rnd trip). En-route we visit one of the typical Newar villages - Kirtipur.; afternoon visit Sankhu.

Dakshinkali & Kirtipur: Located in a small gorge on the bank of a stream, Dakshinkali is dedicated to Goddess Kali, a Hindu goddess of power. A chief center of tantric worship, animal sacrifices (hens, goats and buffaloes) are held every Tuesdays and Saturdays. The temple itself is located in a forested canyon and lies 19km/12miles from Kathmandu City.

We proceed to Kirtipur via Shesh Narayan Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu Trinity. The temple is accessible by climbing a short flight of stairs and overlooks fish ponds. Kirtipur, 6 km southwest of Kathmandu and said to be situated on a single rock, was the only town that resisted the Gorkha Invasion for 17 times in the late 18th century. The ancient township of 35,000 people, is a natural fortress thus having proud and courageous history. Built on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, Kirtipur was once an independent kingdom. Perhaps as a result of Kirtipur's legendary stubbornness, the town has been unaffected by the development of Kathmandu and Patan. Here you will visit Uma Maheswore Temple and the Bagh Bhairav Temple as well as small lesser known shrines, The tour of Kirtipur town is to be conducted on foot. The people are known for their skill in building and weaving.

Sankhu: is a small village 20km/12miles North East of Kathmandu. This village was the last stop for the traders going to Lhasa from 7th till 19th century AD. The village is a legend in itself. The town is famous for itsÕ small shrines and the Vajrayogini Temple, a Buddhist goddess of power, located on a hillock and reached by a flight of stairs taking about 30 minutes.

Bhaktapur-Dhulikkel Day 13
Full day excursion to Changu Narayan Temple, the medieval village Bhaktapur and culminating with our arrival in the mountain village Dhulikkel. Overnight at the Mirabel Resort.

The temple of Changu Narayan, located 14km (9miles) from Kathmandu, is the oldest in the valley and represents Lord Vishnu. Located on a hill which at one time doubled as a small fort, it is considered to be one of the greatest artistic legacies of the Lichhavian era. The courtyard of the temple is a virtual museum of ancient stone carvings.

Bhaktapur: the third city of the valley, Bhaktapur, is a store house of medieval architecture. Completely renovated by the Germans a few years back, the city reflects a medieval look. It was founded in the 9th century and shaped like a conch shell. Located 4,600 feet above sea level, the city boasts an array of temples overlooked by the Palace with its 55 windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla. Here you will visit the Golden Gate at the Palace of 55 windows, the Pashupatinath temple famous for its erotic carvings, the Nyatapole temple-- the tallest in the country – best example of the Pagoda style, the Dattatreya temple and Pujari Math with its uniquely carved wooden windows.

Panauti : An ancient village, 32 Km (20 miles) southeast of Kathmandu, is situated on the banks of the Punyamati River. A leisurely walk through this tiny village will reveal its antiquity to the visitors, a must in Panauti is a visit to the 14th century Hindu temple of Shiva locally known as Indreshwor Mahadev. The wooden struts supporting the temple are a splendid example of wood carvings from that era, which remain unmatched in the entire Kingdom.

Nala: A small isolated village, 27km (17 miles) east of Kathmandu, Nala is situated on the southern slope of a mountain overlooking the beautiful green valley. The whole village has a mystical atmosphere due to its location and the temple of Bhagawati, a classic example of pagoda architecture.

Dhulikkel - Day 14
Situated at an altitude of approx 1600 m (5500ft) above sea level and 32 km (20 miles) east of Kathmandu City, Dhulikhel is famous for its vantage location in viewing the Himalayan ranges of Cho Oyu in the east to Himalchuli in the west. Dhulikhel is very popular for viewing the sunrise and sunset. This small village is interesting because it is authentic--not a tourist attraction. For those who are continuing with us, there are a number of temples to visit including the Harisiddhi Temple, Vishnu Temple, Krishna Temple, Bhagwati Shiva temple, a smaller Shiva temple at the bottom of a gorge and for a spectacular view--Kali Temple high up the hill.

Transfer to Kathmandu airport for flight home or onward destination

Optional Extension
Day 14 Overnight at Dhulikhel

Pokhara : The rare combination of snow clad peaks and snow fed lakes and rivers has helped to make the Valley of Pokhara (210Km/131 miles from KTM) one of the most picturesque natural attractions in the Kingdom.

Day 15  River Raft Excursion to Pokhara
Early morning sunrise viewing ( weather permitting) then after breakfast transfer to raft put in point (Charaudi or Fishling) . We float down the river for 3-4 hours, stopping mid-way for a lunch along the river banks. Our vehicle will be waiting to pick us up and transfer to Pokhara (approx 3 hrs drive). Upon arrival in Pokhara, check in at hotel Kantipur.

Trekking

Day 16: Pokhara – Nayapool - Ghandruk (1950m) 5 hrs walk
We take a one hour scenic drive to Nayapool from where the Trek starts. In the beginning there is a one hour pleasant level walk through rice fields following the Modi river. We pass by the beautiful village Birethanti – the gateway of the Annapurna Trek. We ascend stone steps to Ghandruk. Ghandruk is one of the most beautiful Gurung villages of Nepal. A spectacular close-up view of Annapurna South, Himalchuli and Machhapuchre can be seen from Ghandruk. Camp.

Day 17: Ghandruk – Tokla ( 1810m) 5 hrs walk
From Ghandruk we descend through terraced fields to Modi River. Crossing the suspension bridge on Modi River, the trail ascends to another picturesque Gurung village, Landruk. There is a pleasant level walk with several switchbacks and a short ascend to Tolka, a quaint village with a great view of the valleys and mountains. Overnight Camp.

Day 18: Tolka – Dhampus ( 1750m) 5 hrs walk
From Tolka, the trail ascends through forests to Duerali (2150m), atop a hill. From here it descends through rhodhodendron forests to a enchanting settlement, Pothana, where there are several Tibetan souvenier shops and a spectacular view of Machhapuchre can be seen. Again the trail descends through forests to Dhampus, on top of the ridge with a great view of entire Annapurna and Manaslu ranges and several other peaks.

Day 19 Dhampus – Phedi – Pokhara (2hrs walk )
From Dhampus we descend all the way through terraced fields to Phedi, then return to Pokhara and transfer to Trek Otel Hotel.

Day 20 Pokhara Chitwan National Park (3-4 hrs drive)
The drive to Chitwan offers a great opportunity to see several small towns along the highway. Upon arrival in Chitwan transfer to Mahan Wild Life Resort or similar. Evening briefing. Dinner and overnight.

The Royal Chitwan National Park, in the lush valley of Chitwan situated in the foothills of Churia Ranges, 75 miles southwest of Kathmandu, is the first National Park of the Kingdom. The National Park is famous for it’s variety of wildlife especially the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros and the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger.

Day 21: Partake in jungle safari activities including: elephant safari, boat safari, jungle walk, jeep safari, bird watching etc. Overnight at Lodge. B/L/D

Day 22: Morning jungle walk , then transfer to the airport (1 hr drive) for flight To KTM ( (YA 172 dep 12:30/arr 1300). Upon arrival, transfer to hotel Shangri La.

Day 23: Check-out 12 noon. Transfer to airport for flight home

PRICES
India Only: 10 Days: $2185 (min 4 people, accompanying escort); Single room: $475
India + Nepal 14 Days: $2665 (min 4 people, accompanying escort); Single room: $595

Plus Air: HJR/VNS $102 VNS /KTM $110 KTM/DEL $168 = $380 + $10 serv fee= $ 390 total
[if not continuing on to KTM: VNS/DEL $145] (all airfares subject to change)

Includes:

• Airport Transfers
• Accomodations as listed or similar
• Daily Breakfast & meals as mentioned in India
• Daily breakfast in Nepal
• Dinner in Dhulikhel
• Land transport by private ac car
• Experienced Professional Local Guides
• Accompanying escort throughout (min 4 people) *
• Entrance fees to monuments

*for for less than 4 people will be run as private tour with local guides.

Does Not Include

• International Air
• Airport departure taxes
• Insurance
• Tips
• Nepal visa (available on entry)
• Any expenses of a personal nature such as phone, laundry, drinks

OPTIONAL EXTENSION: $1210 per person (based on min 4 people); single supplement $325
Plus airfare Chitwan (Meghudi) -Kathmandu : $76 (subject to change)

Includes:

• Accommodations, dbl occ
• Daily breakfast, all meals at wildlife sanctuary.
• All jungle safari activities and National Park fees
• Day raft with lunch enroute, raft transfers
• Three nights/four days camping trek inclusive of all camping / trekking equipment such as dining tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, kitchen staff, cooks, Sherpa Guide, porters, three meals per day , conservation fees,
• Airport transfers and final departure transfer.

Does Not include: (all of the above non-inclusions listed in main tour plus sleeping bags while trekking (can be hired in Ktm for approx $3 per day )

*International Air: We offer discounted group prices for the international flight.