Your Delhi, Rajasthan and North India Specialist
Beauty of India Tours
STREE SHAKTI
In India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it, inhabiting cities,
but not being fixed to them, possessing everything, but possessed by nothing. – Apollonius Tyanaeus
Stree Shakti with Holi Festival
25 days | 24 nights | from $2790 USD
THE EXPERIENCE
Holi Festival. Friendship. Exploration. Self-Discovery.
Celebrate "Stree Shakti" with your fellow travellers and enjoy women-powered, spiritual India at it's most authentic.
NOTE: One date only with 2 options.
15 Days/14 nights with Holi or
25 Days/24 nights including Holi and Rajasthan
This value plus journey includes transport by auto rickshaw, rickshaw, train, internal flights and private vehicle with driver and female escort.
Our trip starts in Delhi where we visit the temples, mosques and holy sites of this sprawling city along with the 15th and 16th c forts of Mughal India. Attend the optional "Sound and Light" evening spectacular at Purana Qila that tells the story of early India.
We'll visit the most sacred sites in India to explore the unique Ayurvedic and Yoga culture that goes back centuries and explore North India's most fascinating sites.
You'll stay in a hilltop retreat in the foothills of the Himalayas with scenic views for miles, attend the Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the sacred Ganges, take an early morning boat ride to view the ghats in Varanasi, travel by air to the Unesco site of Khajuraho - an ancient complex of the most beautifully carved temples in the world, travel by private vehicle to medieval-like Orchha on the river Betwa with a wealth of royal chhatris, palaces and fabulous Mughal architecture.
Be captivated by 6th c Gwalior Fort - the ancient seat of the Scindia dynasty and tour the modern day palace the family still lives in today. We'll stop in Agra for the magnificent Taj Mahal - an undying symbol of the great love of Shah Jahan and spend the evening with local hosts over an authentic Indian feast. Celebrate Holi in Jaipur - and experience the revelry during this colour festival and the following women's Gangaur festival - celebrated in the honor of Goddess Parvati or Gauri. Explore the tiny alleyways and bazaars in Jaipur by the City Palace (still occupied by royalty today) and have a local cooking lesson by an award winning chef and traditional Indian dinner.
For the 25 day tour, continue by air to Amritsar and the Golden Temple - the magnificent shrine of the Sikh religion, return by air to Jaisalmer, India's Golden City on the edge of the Thar Desert and the far reaches of Rajasthani tribal culture. Explore Jodhpur, the Blue City, with the Unesco Mehrangarh Fort and lively Sadar Bazaar. Spend a blissful interlude in beautiful Udaipur - the most romantic spot in India with it's interconnected lakes and fabulous City Palace. Your journey closes after Chittorgarh (the magnificent Unesco fort containing palaces, towers and an exquisitely carved Jain temples) where you'll ride the rails back to Delhi on the overnight Mewar Express sleeper for onward travel.
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. Free time late afternoon or optional trip to Janpath Road for street bazaar. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Delhi.
Optional evening program:
Lodi Gardens walk and Food Crawl through Chandi Chowk or
Purana Qila Sound and Light Show and Indian dinner.
DAY 3 Dehradun
Breakfast and then we'll take a short flight to Dehradun in the Himalayan foothills arriving late morning. Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand and is host to many famous Buddhist temples and Hindu shrines. We'll visit the Buddha temple first and make wishes in the wishing pond. The temple area is calm and peaceful and you can see the monks and old Tibetan men and women chanting hymns and carrying out prayers. Enjoy a fun, street snack followed by visit to Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara - a huge Sikh complex. Evening free time. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Dehradun.
DAY 4 Rishikesh
Start after breakfast with a visit to the Tibetan Monastery of Mindrolling - a centre for learning and studying for over 300 years. Special emphasis was placed on the learning of Buddhist scriptures, astronomy, Tibetan lunar calendar, calligraphy, rhetoric, and traditional Tibetan medicine.
Our next stop is the Hindu temple to Lord Shiva - Tapkeshwar Temple located at the forest edge, with the main lingum inside a cave. In the afternoon we'll travel to Rishikesh (1 hour) and have a meditation session before we tour the ghats and city. Dinner at an Ashram. Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges. Overnight Rishikesh.
DAY 5 Rishikesh
Start the morning early with meditation and yoga at a riverfront ashram followed by breakfast. We'll visit the temples on the Ganges and spend time with a special guru teacher learning about Ayurvedic practices and medicines. Travel back to Dehradun - we leave early the next morning for Varanasi. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Dehradun.
DAY 6 Varanasi
Arrive Varanasi airport and transfer to our hotel. After check-in we'll head out to explore the ghats and temples in the oldest, continuously populated city in the world. Tonight we'll experience an authentic Brahmin Thali dinner with music, garlands, prayers on a heritage rooftop palace.
DAY 7 Khajuraho
We'll start our day early to take a private boat tour of the ghats. The sunken Hindu temple, burning ghat (where cremations are held) and the Palace ghat are highlights. We'll have breakfast and then transfer to the airport for our flight to Khajuraho. Upon arrival, our vehicle will meet us and we can check-in and relax before we explore the East Temples and the city. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Khajuraho.
DAY 8 Ali Pura
Today we'll tour the fabulous West Temples after breakfast. The setting is beautiful as well with the temples spread across manicured lawns interspersed with gardens and water features. After lunch we'll drive to Ali Pura and spend the night in a restored palace. Free time for reflection and group dinner. Overnight Hotel Ali Pura.
DAY 9 Orchha
After breakfast we leave for Orchha - a charming town on the Betwa River memorable for it's 17th and 18th c palaces and temples. Vibrant, Bundela style murals adorn the walls of the Laxmi Mandir and are in an excellent state of preservation. We'll tour the town on foot and visit the bustling markets. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Orchha.
DAY 10 Jhansi/Gwalior
Today we will stop overnight in Gwalior - home of the amazing Unesco Gwalior Fort but first we'll visit Datia palace and the Jhansi Fort outside Orchha. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Gwalior.
DAY 11 Gwalior to Agra
We'll continue to explore Gwalior - both the Fort and the magnificent Scindia Palace today. The Scindia dynasty is full of great intrigues and the palace still houses the descendants of royalty, now occupied by politics.
Leave mid-afternoon for the drive to Agra arriving early evening. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Agra.
DAY 12 Agra
Home to the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, Agra sits on the banks of the Yamuna River and was once the capital of the Mughal empire between 1556-1668. The city is full of gardens, monuments and marble bazaars. We'll spend the day touring the city and Taj Mahal before we go to our apartment for an authentic Indian dinner and Mendhi application. Overnight Agra.
DAY 13 Jaipur
Leaving Agra, we travel through Rajasthan - first to Fatehpur Sikri - the ancient city that Emperor Akbar built then abandoned after only 10 years, then to Keoladeo National Park for a guided tour by rickshaw through the wetlands. This important area is popular for migratory birds and is a calm respite from the city noise.
We'll arrive in Jaipur late afternoon and check-in to our hotel. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Jaipur.
DAY 14 Jaipur
Today we'll experience the festival of colours - Holi in Jaipur. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many, a festive day to meet others, play and laugh.
Finishing early afternoon, we get cleaned up to visit the Amber Fort and City Palace complex. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Jaipur.
DAY 15 Delhi
Breakfast and visit to the Elephant Sanctuary on our way back to Delhi. You'll have a chance to wash, feed and interact with the animals during this gentle excursion. Arrive Delhi early evening. Drop at hotel. Farewell dinner with your hosts, Beauty of India Tours. Overnight Delhi.
End of Services for
15 Day/14 Night Tour
DAY 16 Amritsar
Leave for your morning flight to Amritsar. At the center of its walled old town, the gilded Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is the holiest gurdwara (religious complex) of the Sikh religion. It’s at the end of a causeway, surrounded by the sacred Amrit Sarovar tank (lake), where pilgrims bathe. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Amritsar.
DAY 17 Delhi/Jaisalmer
Today we fly back to Delhi arriving late morning for our connecting flight to Jaisalmer. We'll have a chance after check-in to browse the city and visit the cenotaphs on Gadisar Lake. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Jaisalmer.
DAY 18 Desert Camp
Take a morning tour of Jaisalmer Fort and the ancient Jain Temples. This fort is still inhabited by the original descendants and is considered one of the few "living forts" in the world. The alleyways hold little shops and stalls as people go about their daily lives. Lunch in the rooftop Tibetan restaurant where we can see the golden city below. In the afternoon we'll go on foot to the havelis and then by car to Bada Bagh - the garden of the ancient Rajput rulers and their tombs. Evening view of Jaisalmer from Sunset Point. Overnight desert camp in Swiss tent with dinner, entertainment and breakfast next morning.
Optional afternoon program: Explore the surrounding villages and dunes by jeep. Sunset viewing on the dunes.
DAY 19 Jodhpur
Leave the camp after breakfast for our trip to Jodhpur - about 4 hours. “The Blue City” is the second largest in the Indian state of Rajasthan and just as well known for the magnificent Unesco Mehrangarh Fort as its lovely blue houses.
Upon arrival in Jodhpur we will have a walking tour around the medieval old city and wander the pretty streets and bazaars – everything is for sale from incense to handicrafts. Nearby the Sardar Market is Ghanta Ghar – the old Clock Tower. Built a century ago, it still dominates the city centre. Dinner in the old city. Overnight Jodhpur.
DAY 20 Jodhpur
Your first stop today is the Mehrangarh Fort, an important historical landmark and a popular Jodhpur attraction. You will find numerous beautiful palaces, galleries, ancient temples, and a museum inside the complex.
Optional Zip-Lining:
The Flying Fox (I - 2 hours) over the rocky desert and the fort. 6 different zips - all thrilling!
Next we'll tour Jaswant Thada, a 19th-century royal cenotaph. In addition to the monument, it also features spectacular desert gardens on the edge of a small lake.
We'll break for lunch before another popular landmark in Jodhpur - Umaid Bhawan Palace. The elegant palace was built during the 20th century in order to provide employment for 3,000 famine stricken residents of Jodhpur.
Optional afternoon Activity:
Mandore Gardens - Mandore is an abandoned city housing ancient temples, memorials and magnificent high-rock terraces along with the stunning gardens.
Late afternoon free to wander the city. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Jodhpur.
Day 21 Udaipur/Ranakpur
Ranakpur, home of India’s biggest and most artistic Jain temple, sits in the Pali district among the green, wooded valleys of the Aravalli Hills. Constructed over 50 years in the 15th century, the white marble temple is exquisitely carved and exudes a sense of calm within the 29 halls. 1,444 individually engraved pillars set under a complex of 80 domes make this Unesco temple a must see.
After lunch we'll continue on to Udaipur. Romantic Udaipur, with it’s interconnected lakes, has a wealth of lavish palaces and scenic views. We'll make a visit to the Monsoon Palace to view the sunset before heading to dinner at a rooftop cafe overlooking the lake. Overnight Udaipur.
Day 22 Udaipur
Today we tour the dazzling City Palace, overlooking Lake Pichola. The complex contains 11 palaces and museums filled with fabulous art – including the stunning restored Peacock Courtyard.
We’ll have a panoramic view of the Palace and ghats from our tour boat as we visit another royal mansion – the smaller, but elegant palace on Jagmandir Island.
Spend the balance of the afternoon at your leisure - we'll meet up for dinner and a Rajasthani Dharohar Folk Dancing evening at Bagore Ki Haveli for 7:00 pm.
Day 23 Chittorgarh
Free time in morning then drive (2.5 hours) to Chittorgarh - known for the beautiful sand-colored, Chittorgarh Fort. A massive 7th-century city with the remains of many temples and monuments we'll visit in the afternoon. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Chittorgarh.
Day 24 Chittorgarh
Celebrate the Tribal Festival of Rang Teras (times to be confirmed) in the fort. This is one of the most important festivals for Rajasthan with exhibits of strength and bravery by the inhabitants. Early dinner then at
8:00 PM we'll board the Mewar Express overnight train to Delhi arriving early morning.
Day 25 Delhi
Arrive early morning to Delhi. Transport can be arranged for onward travel to airport.
SUITABLE FOR:
A seeker of authentic
spiritual experiences.
Yoga and Ayurvedic devotee.
• J'ai eu une incroyable visite autour de la ville d'Agra en Inde. Grâce à l'agence Beauty of India j'ai eu une journée superbe et mémorable. entre le tour. Louise et son équipe sont vraiment des personnes magnifiques. On ne sent pas en agence touristique, on se sent en famille et le moment est plus magique. Les tarifs avantageux, la courtoisie des guides et la gentillesse de la responsable sont juste bluffant. J'ai trop hâte d'y retourner. - Nicole, December 2017
OUR DIFFERENCE:
Personal service. Focus on culture,
wellness and enlightenment.
Safe and comfortable travel.
• Louise prepared an excellent tour for me - all the top sites in Rajasthan from the busy Agra and Delhi to the huge Thar Desert, I had a once in a lifetime experience in this fascinating country. My guides and the team at Beauty of India Tours made an unforgettable trip and I highly recommend them! - William, March 2018
I was searching for a tour company and came across to Beauty of India Tours which is ran by a lovely Canadian woman, Louise and her business partner, Ashfaq. I must admit I wasn’t sure about the decision I’ve made to visit India but it turned out a huge success thanks to them. We had an amazing time in India. Architecture, music, crafts, food, culture and the people... Everything was absolutely fabulous. We ended up becoming good friends than just clients and an agency. We will definitely come back soon guys and thank you again for an amazing tour - Kobe, March 2018
Stree Shakti with Holi Festival
25 days | 24 nights OR 15 Days | 14 Nights
TOUR DATES 2020 - 1 DATE ONLY - 2 TOURS PRICING
March 10, 2020 - 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS (Includes Holi Festival) 2790 USD PAX
March 10, 2020 - 25 DAYS/24 NIGHTS (Includes Holi Festival) 3990USD PAX
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Guided tour of Humayun's Tomb,
Red Fort, Jama Masjid and
Qtub Minar in Delhi
Tour of Mindrolling Monastery, Shiva Temple and the
Tibetan Buddha Shrine in Dehradun
Rishikesh City Tour, Aarti ceremony
Meditation, Yoga and Ayurvedic at Rishikesh Ashram
Guided tour of the temples and
ghats in Varanasi
Authentic Thali dinner and music on palace rooftop in Varanasi
Early morning private boat trip (2 hours) to explore the ghats in Varanasi
Tour of Unesco East and
West temples in Khajuraho
Tour of Datia Palace
Guided tour Orchha and
Orchha Palace
Tour Gwalior Fort and
the Archeological Museum
Tour of Scindia Palace
Guided tour of Unesco Agra Fort,
Baby Taj, and Taj Mahal in Agra
Indian dinner and Mehndi application at our local apartment in Agra
Guided tour of the abandoned
Unesco Site of Fatehpur Sikri
Unesco Site Keoladeo National Park rickshaw/walking excursion with Naturalist Guide
Stop at Abhaneri Stepwell
Guided tour of City Palace,
Galatiji Temple
and Amber Fort in Jaipur
Holi Celebration, Elephant Festival and
Gauthaur Festival Jaipur
Visit to Elephant Sanctuary
Guided tour of
Golden Temple in Amritsar
City tour of Jaisalmer Fort
Visit to Patwon Ki Haveli and
Bada Bagh in Jaisalmer
Desert Camp dunes tour and
haunted village visit Jaisalmer
Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort guided tours Jodhpur
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum
tour in Jodhpur
Unesco site Ranakpur, temples visit
Udaipur Monsoon Palace visit
City Palace tour Udaipur
Boat Tour to Jag Mandir Island Udaipur
Rajasthani Dharohar Folk Dancing evening at Bagore Ki Haveli
Chittorgarh Fort Tour
Rang Teras Tribal Festival Chittorgarh
(to be confirmed)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
22 nights standard accommodation
in our select hotels - shared twin room
1 night desert camp - Swiss tent
1 night sleeper train
All monument entry fees
Daily breakfast, 3 lunches, 7 dinners
Comfortable air-conditioned
mini van
Expert escort, local city guides
and professional driver
Flexible leisure time
and optional activities
Airport/train transfers for
arrival and departure, internal flights
and overnight train
Top sites and
off-the-track experiences