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Itinerary

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Delhi, India

 

Day 2: Arrive Delhi We arrive in India’s hyperactive capital late evening and transfer to our hotel.

Day 3: Delhi After a morning briefing with our tour director, this afternoon we tour Delhi, including the 16th-century Tomb of Humayun, with its ground-breaking Mughal design; Qutab Minar, the 234-step tower dating to 1193; and India Gate, honoring the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting alongside the British in World War 1. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel. B,D

Day 4: Delhi Today we explore Old Delhi, beginning with the Gandhi Memorial, the simple black marble slab honoring Mahatma Gandhi. Then we visit two renowned 17th-century landmarks: Lal Qila, the Red Fort complex of palaces where we stop for photos; and the red sandstone and marble Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque (circa 1656). Then we ride rickshaws through Chandi Chowk market; visit a Sikh temple; and tour the National Museum. Tonight we are dinner guests in the homes of urban Indian families. B,D

Day 5: Delhi/Jaipur Today we travel by coach to the “pink city” of Jaipur, one of the great cities of the Rajput, with historic forts, palaces, and gardens. We reach our hotel, once a Maharajah’s palace, late this afternoon and dine there tonight. B,L,D

Day 6: Jaipur Our first stop is the stunning Hawa Mahal, the elaborately carved pink sandstone “Palace of the Winds.” We continue on to Amber Fort, built by the Kkachhawah Rajputs as their capital from 1037 to 1728, considered the pinnacle of Rajput architecture. Later we visit Jantar Mantar, the open-air observatory with its huge astronomical instruments; and City Palace Museum, housing the magnificent art collections of the Maharajahs of Jaipur. B,L

Day 7: Jaipur/Sanganer This morning we visit the village of Sanganer to see traditional block printing and handmade paper industries. Later we tour a local market then take a traditional rickshaw ride. Tonight we are dinner guests in the home of a multi-generational Rajasthan family. B,D

Day 8: Jaipur/Ranthambore We travel today to Ranthambore National Park, the former hunting ground of the Maharajah of Jaipur and now a 512-square-mile natural preserve that is home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, mammals, and of course, Bengal tigers. This afternoon we take our first game drive through the park. B,L,D

Day 9: Ranthambore We take both morning and afternoon game drives today to see not only game (though tiger and leopard sightings are not guaranteed), but also picturesque ruins of forts and palaces. B,L,D

Day 10: Ranthambore/Kalakho We depart early this morning for Kalakho and the Dera Lake View Retreat on the banks of monsoon Madhosager Lake. Here we enjoy a unique small group encounter when we embark on an afternoon camel safari to meet the local Meena tribespeople in their homes: mud huts adorned with floral and animal designs along the walls and floors. B,L,D

Day 11: Kalakho/Fatehpur Sikri/Agra Leaving Kalakho this morning, we travel to Fatehpur Sikri, the late 16th-century city of red sandstone that is an outstanding example of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Early afternoon we reach Agra, the ancient Mughal stronghold. B,D

Day 12: Agra This morning we visit the Taj Mahal, the magnificent tomb built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. Some 20,000 laborers spent 17 years on the exquisitely symmetrical white marble mausoleum, which was begun in 1632. After an Indian cooking lesson and lunch, we venture to imposing Agra Fort, a complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens that served for generations as the seat of Mughal power. B,L

Day 13: Agra/Jhansi/Orchha/Khajuraho We travel by train to Jhansi, then continue by coach to the village of Orchha, known for its 16th-century palaces and temples. After lunch here we travel on to Khajuraho, whose collection of 22 Hindu temples dating to the 10th century is a UNESCO site. B,L,D

Day 14: Khajuraho Today we tour several of Khajuraho’s well-preserved temples (many adorned with erotic sculptures), considered the finest examples of temple architecture in northern India. B,D

Day 15: Khajuraho/Varanasi We fly today to Varanasi, Hinduism’s holiest city and a sacred place of pilgrimage. This evening we attend a traditional aarti offering ceremony as we cruise along the Ganges. B,D

Day 16: Varanasi Early this morning we return to the Ganges, where Hindu pilgrims perform their rituals along the ghats (steps) leading to the river. We visit several of the important ghats by boat as we experience for ourselves the spiritual mystique of these hallowed waters. Next we visit Kashi-Vishwanath Temple, the most sacred of the shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Later we travel to Sarnath, birthplace of Buddhism and still a major center of the practice. Tonight we celebrate our journey at a farewell dinner. B,D

Day 17: Varanasi/Delhi We fly this afternoon to Delhi, where the evening is at leisure. B

Day 18: Return to U.S. Early today we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.

Included

Tour Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within India
• 16 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, First Class, and unrated hotels
• 34 meals: 15 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 12 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
• Rail transportation Agra/Jhansi
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours)

Dates and Prices

2009 Tour Dates & Prices

	Jan 15 Jan 22 Feb 5 Feb 12
New York	$4,695
Boston, Wash, DC	$4,895
Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa	$4,995
Dallas, Denver, Hou, Los Angeles, Minn, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle	$5,095

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Single travelers please add $1,895. Your $375 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All 2009 tour prices above are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip international flight: $4,595 per person

Airline taxes and departure fees of $493 per person ($639 with Kerala extension) are subject to change and will be listed separately on your invoice.

Hotels

Hotels & Ratings

Day Itinerary Hotel Rating 1 Depart U.S. for Delhi 2-4 Delhi Shangri–La Deluxe 5-7 Jaipur Jai Mahal Palace Deluxe 8-9 Ranthambore Dev Vilas Not rated 10 Kalakho Dera Lake View Retreat Not rated 11-12 Agra Taj View Hotel Deluxe 13-14 Khajuraho Taj Chandela First Class 15-16 Varanasi Taj Ganges Hotel First Class 17 Delhi Crowne Plaza Gurgaon Deluxe 18 Depart Delhi for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too small, too new, or too remote to be listed.