Your Delhi, Rajasthan and North India Specialist
Beauty of India Tours
ESSENCE OF INDIA TOUR
I like the evening in India, the one magic moment when the sun balances on the rim of the world, and the hush descends, and ten thousand civil servants drift homeward on a river of bicycles, brooding on the Lord Krishna and the cost of living. – James Cameron
Essence of India Tour
8 days | 7 nights | from $2560 USD
TOUR OVERVIEW
THE EXPERIENCE:
Join fellow solo women for this amazing small group journey "The Essence of India". We'll explore Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on this select trip of India's most popular cities. Travel in safety and comfort with a local guide and dedicated driver, stay in 4 star heritage hotels and eat amazing food. The tour starts and ends in Delhi - India's teeming capitol - as you experience an insider view of the incredible contrasts of India!
You will see the fabulous wealth of the early Moghuls - the palaces and forts dating back to the 1500's and the famous Taj Mahal, Amber Fort
and Red Fort. Marvel at Akbar's Buland Darwaza, or the "Gate of Magnificence", built in 1601 at Fatehpur Sikri - a testament to the architectural daring of the great ruler.
Optional Experiences:
• View Sound & Light show at Purana Qila and Indian dinner in Delhi
• Visit a block-printing factory in Jaipur and have a tunic custom-tailored • Rajasthani Thali dinner at our favourite rooftop restaurant in Jaipur
• Take a street food walk in Old Delhi through Chandni Chowk
• Experience a massage/Ayurvedic treatment in Delhi
• Learn the tragic love story of the Taj Mahal at Mohabbat The Taj show
• Soar over Jaipur in an amazing, sunrise balloon ride
• Visit Raj Mandir in Jaipur for a hit Bollywood movie
ITINERARY
DAY 1 Delhi
Pick up at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Begin your city tour (time permitting) or relax with an optional Ayurvedic massage/spa. Welcome refreshments with your guide and driver in the evening. Overnight Delhi.
DAY 2 Delhi
Breakfast and then start your city tour including Jama Masjid, Qtub Minar, Red Fort and Humayan's Tomb.
Tea break and lunch at your leisure.
Free time late afternoon. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Delhi.
Optional evening program of Lodi Gardens walk and Food Crawl through Chandi Chowk or Purana Qila Sound and Light Show and Indian dinner.
DAY 3 Agra
Leave Delhi after breakfast and travel to Agra - approx. 3.5 hours.
On the outskirts of Agra, is Sikandra and the Tomb of Akbar the Great.
Also called Akbar's Mausoleum, this masterpiece of architecture was constructed in the 1600's. It's noteworthy for the beautiful sandstone buildings inlaid with marble and slate and the surrounding grounds. One of the greatest Mughal rulers, Akbar's tomb is a fitting monument to his life and accomplishments. Covering over 119 acres, it hosts a wildlife park, expansive gardens and several tall minarets.
Break for lunch and tea before we travel to the lesser known, but still impressive, tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, called the “Baby Taj”. The buildings are smaller but wonderfully decorated with inlaid, painted and raised plaster designs.
Check-in to your hotel. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Agra.
Optional evening program of the Mohabbat The Taj show - a song, dance and musical depiction of the romantic love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Held in the Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Center and followed by Indian dinner.
DAY 4 Agra
In the early morning we'll watch the sunrise across the Jumana River illuminate the beautiful Taj Mahal. We'll take in the view from the Moon Garden or Mehtab Bagh at the riverfront. Then back to your hotel for breakfast before we see more of Agra.
The next famous monument we’ll see today is the Agra Fort. This was built as the summer palace of Shan Jahan and from the high terrace you can view the Taj Mahal in the distance. Built of intricately embellished red sandstone it provides a distinct contrast to the marble palaces within.
We return to Taj Mahal by midday - the stunning monument to Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan’s beloved wife. Designed and built over 22 years by Persian architect Ustad Isa, it stands forever as a testament to the heart-broken Shah’s undying love.
Late afternoon free time. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Agra.
Optional evening program: Local dinner, cooking lesson and Mehndi application at our Agra apartment.
DAY 5 Agra to Jaipur
Today we leave early for Jaipur - approx 4 hours from Agra.
On our way, we will stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the city Akbar built in 1570 and abandoned 10 years later. This Unesco site has been well preserved with the palaces, gates and sandstone exteriors lying undisturbed over the centuries.
Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur is next. The former duck hunting preserve of the Maharajas is an important overwintering area for thousands of migrating water birds as well as home to over 300 endemic species.
Quiet trails surround man-made lakes and wetlands interrupted by grassy savannah and dry tropical forests. This Unesco World Heritage site spreads over 29 square kms and we will enjoy a naturalist guided hike and rickshaw ride for approx. 1.5 hrs.
Later we'll pass by the small town of Abhaneri, famous for Chand Baori.
This is the deepest stepwell in the world at 100 feet deep.
Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Jaipur.
DAY 6 Jaipur
The grand Amer or Amber Fort, built by Raja Man Singh in the 1600’s, awaits our morning arrival. Walk the scenic route to the Sun Gate overlooking
Maota lake.
Optional Balloon Safari (I hour) at sunrise followed by Amber Fort.
The huge enclosure holds the stunning Palace of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal),
Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-e-Aam), the Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-e-Khas) and the innovative Sukh Niwas. This enclosure created early air conditioning using the wind that blew over water soaked reeds within the palace!
Nearby is the Tiger, or Nahargarh Fort,
standing on the edge of the Aravalli
Hills overlooking sprawlingJaipur
below. Although smaller, the palace has wonderful views and impressive frescoes throughout.
Tea stop and light lunch enroute to "The Pink City" where we will stop at the iconic Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds).
On our way we can view the Jal Mahal - the lovely Water Palace set it Man Sagar Lake. Now abandoned, it floats like a mirage surrounded by the lake and mountains.
Our afternoon finishes with a walk through the beautiful palace and gardens of Sisodia Rani ka Bagh a romantic 18th-century palace with formal gardens, fountains, temples & pavilions.
Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Jaipur.
Optional evening program: See a hand-block printing technique demonstration and have a custom tailored Kurta made from your favourite cotton print. Scenic rooftop Indian dinner following.
DAY 7 Jaipur
Today we explore the City Palace built by Raja Man Singh during 1729-1732. The complex includes the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal palaces as well as a colourful bazaar.
There is a wonderful museum and opulent palace rooms decorated with antique carpets and furniture.
Parts are still inhabited by the royal family members today.
Free time to explore the bazaars and shops before we travel to the Galtaji Monkey Temple in mid-afternoon.
Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Jaipur.
Optional evening program:
Bollywood movie and dinner at the classic Raj Mandir cinema - an Art Deco dream built by a leading jewellery dynasty in Jaipur.
DAY 8 Jaipur/Delhi
After breakfast and check-out we’ll visit the Elephant Sanctuary followed by a vegetarian home-made lunch. Wash and feed the elephants during this gentle excursion before our drive back to Delhi - approx. 4.5 hours.
Drop at your Delhi hotel and celebrate with a farewell dinner.
-- End of program --
Please do not book any onward travel until the next day (Day 9)
We will help arrange transfers to the airport/train.
Essence of India Tour
8 days | 7 nights
TOUR DATES 2022/2023 Pricing
November 4, 2018 - 4 places left 2560 USD PAX
November 17, 2018 - 8 places left 2299 USD PAX
January 20, 2019 - 8 places left (Join us for Jaipur Literature Festival) 2450 USD PAX
February 12, 2019 - 6 places left 2299 USD PAX
March 18, 2019 - 6 places left (Join us for Holi) 2499 USD PAX
* Please note for this tour, conditions below apply:
• Tour must be booked and paid in full prior to October 10, 2018
• Accommodation is twin share. If you wish to have your own room, please add $350.00
• Hotels and guesthouses are 3-4 star
• Optional activities must be booked and paid for prior to November 4, 2018
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
City Tours of Old and New Delhi,
Agra and Jaipur
Local dinner, cooking lesson and Mehndi application at our Agra apartment
Guided tour of the abandoned city
of Fatehpur Sikri
Keoladeo National Park walk with Naturalist Guide
View the Palace of the Winds
and Jal Mahal in Jaipur
Stop at Abhaneri Stepwell
Visit Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort,
Jama Masjid, Qtub Minar in Delhi
Visit to the Elephant Sanctuary in Jaipur with vegetarian lunch
Guided tour of Agra Fort, Baby Taj, Akbars's Tomb and Taj Mahal in Agra
Guided tour of City Palace,
Jantar Mantar, Galatiji Temple
and Amber Fort in Jaipur
WHAT'S INCLUDED
4 Star accommodation
in our select hotels - private room
8 Breakfasts/2 Lunches/2 Dinners
Comfortable air-conditioned
vehicle
Expert female guide
and professional driver
Flexible leisure time
and optional activities
Airport/train transfers for
arrival and departure
Top Golden Triangle sites and
off the track experiences