A 22-day Fantasy tour in India. Including a one week stay Honeymoon Wishes in the Indian Riviera : Kerala and a Housboat cruise Tour India the Way the Maharajas Did. Ultra Deluxe Private Tour of India

This exceptional package includes India t in all its variety, from the wonders of the old city in Delhi , Agra , Ranthambore , Kota , Udaipur , Deogarh , Jodhpur , Jaipur and a one week in the Keralal Fantasy Land of Honeymooners. . Private Touring . Private English Speaking Tour Escort. Private Air-conditioned Vehicle - Private Chauffeur, Choose the day : Arrive any day you wish . Compare with Egypt and India 21 Day Tour

Day 1 – Arrive Delhi - India - You choose the day of the week. Daily Arrival (cB)
You will arrive in Delhi this evening. Later you will be met and transferred to the hotel for a three night stay. The drive from the airport introduces Delhi as a spacious, tree-lined city with a number of beautiful parks.

Day 2 - Delhi
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon take a tour of Delhi including visits to Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, and Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor in the Indo-Persian style. See the imposing India Gate, Parliament buildings and Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s residence. (B)

Day 3 - Delhi
Take a morning tour of Old Delhi, beginning with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. See the Red Fort and continue on to Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. It was the last architectural extravaganza of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, built in 1656 AD, and large enough to hold as many as 25,000 devotees. The afternoon is free for shopping or leisure. (B)

Day 4 – Delhi to Agra
Travel by road this morning to Agra and check-in to the hotel for an overnight stay. Visit the Taj Mahal, arriving at the gates by horse drawn carriage. The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built in the mid 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal appears amazingly perfect from almost any angle, and close-up the marble inlay work is astounding. You will have ample time to view this outstanding piece of architecture. Continue on to Agra Fort, once the stronghold of the Mughal Empire. This evening try your hand at bargaining at the marble & leather stalls. (B)

Day 5 – Agra to Fatehpur Sikri to Jaipur
You will be driven to Jaipur today stopping en-route to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. It was abandoned soon after when the wells dried up and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago.
On arrival in Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’ of palaces and monuments, proceed for the check-in at the hotel for a two night stay. (B)

Day 6 - Jaipur
Sightseeing today includes an elephant ride up to the Amber Fort, then time to stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. See Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds, whose elaborately carved façade captured cooling breezes and concealed from view the ladies of the court watching the activity in the streets below. Visit the City Palace gardens and courtyards, and explore the collections of costumes, armoury and rare manuscripts in its museum. Walk to the adjacent Astronomical Observatory, built in 1726 and still in use, and shop in the local bazaar. (B)

Day 7 – Jaipur to Ranthambore
Travel by road to Ranthambore National Park and check-in to the hotel for a two night stay. Once the private hunting grounds of Maharajas, the large and beautiful Park is now an important conservation area for the Royal Bengal Tiger. Your adventure begins on a jungle safari this evening, on the lookout for tigers, panthers, sambar, crocodiles, eagles and other wildlife. (BD)

Day 8 - Ranthambore
Morning and afternoon wildlife viewing by jeep or open top truck is included today, plus a visit to the Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century and commanding a panoramic view of the tiger reserve. (BLD)

Day 9 – Ranthambore to Kota
After breakfast you will be driven to Kota. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. The rest to the day is at leisure, perhaps to visit the impressive city palace or some of its well-maintained gardens. (B)

Day 10 – Kota to Bundi to Udaipur
Start early today for the journey to Udaipur, stopping en-route at Bundi to visit its Taragarh Fort and the adjacent Palace filled with beautiful murals reflecting the glorious era of Indian royalty. Stay two nights at the hotel in Udaipur. (B)

Day 11 - Udaipur
No city in Rajasthan is quite as romantic as Udaipur. Full of pale, elegant palaces and intricate temples, the city encircles the placid waters of Lake Pichola. Explore the City Palace and Museums, a maze of courtyards, apartments and decorated halls. The frescoes, glass and mirrorwork are not to be missed. Also visit Saheliyon-ki-Bari, the ornamental Garden of the Maids of Honour, featuring fountains and pools. In the afternoon, a feast for the senses awaits on a visit to the old market at Udaipur, walking through areas where the James Bond film Octopussy was shot. Later there is a boat-ride on Lake Pichola visiting the bathing ghats. (B)

Day 12 – Udaipur to Deogarh
Your journey today takes you through the rugged, wooded hills of Rajasthan, stopping to visit the Ranakpur Jain Temples, renowned for their grandiose scale and highly decorated ceilings. Continue to Deogarh, nestled in the Aravallis, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the village, or watch for the numerous migratory birds attracted to the area. Stay overnight at the hotel, a hilltop palace overlooking the town. (B)

Day 13 – Deogarh to Jodhpur
The destination today is Jodhpur, the desert city of blue painted buildings and origin of the name for the baggy-tight horseriding trousers. The old walled city, a tangle of winding streets, is best viewed from the Mehrangarh Fort situated on a rocky ridge above the city. Visit the palaces inside the fort to see the delicate friezes and treasures of the royal family. Take an exhilarating walk through the old city, perfumed by incense and roses, then climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage for a ride back to your hotel. Stay overnight at the hotel. (B)

Day 14 – Jodhpur to Delhi
The morning is at leisure before transferring to the airport for an afternoon flight to Delhi, where you will be met and transferred to the hotel for an overnight stay. (B)

Day 16– Cochin to Munnar
On a morning city tour visit the waterfront to see the Chinese fishing nets, the Mattancherry Palace with its Ramayana murals (closed on Fridays), the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Friday, Saturday and Jewish Holidays) which was built in 1568, and St Francis Church which is the believed to be the oldest European built church in India and for some years held the remains of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Travel by road to the hill station of Munnar this afternoon, an idyllic haven of crisp mountain air, and tea and spice plantations. Stay overnight in Munnar. (B)

Day 17 – Munnar to Thekkady
Visit a tea estate then travel on to Thekkady and the Periyar National Park. Take a boat safari on the park’s picturesque lake to view the wildlife. Herds of elephant, sambar and wild pigs wander down to the lakeside, and monitor lizards can be seen basking in the sun on rocky outcrops along the shore. You may even spot a tiger! Stay overnight in Thekkady. (B)

Day 18 – Thekkady to Kumarakom
Drive on to Kumarakom located on the shores of the enchanting Vembanad Lake. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the scenic setting and pretty township. Stay overnight in Kumarakom. (B)

Day 19 - Kumarakom to houseboat
Early morning is the best time to view the abundant bird life in the lake sanctuary. The morning is at leisure before transferring to the dock for a sojourn in a kettuvallam, the traditional houseboats of Kerala. Cruise the palm-fringed backwaters in comfort and style, with an onboard chef at your service preparing local cuisine. (BD)

Day 20– Houseboat to Mararikulam
After breakfast disembark the houseboat and be driven to the sleepy fishing village of Mararikukam, checking in to the Marari Beach Resort. Set amongst coconut groves the resort cottages have a charming local flavour. Relax for two nights in idyllic surrounds. (B)

Day 21 - Mararikulam
Today is at leisure in the resort; time perhaps for a massage in the resort’s fully equipped Ayurvedic spa, or a swim in the pool or the ocean. (B)

Day 22– Mararikulam to Cochin - End of tour
Your tour concludes after breakfast. Hotel check-out is 12 noon and drive 30 Kilometers for the transfer to Cochin airport, always in a private air-conditioned vehicle and private chauffeur (B)

RATES per person in USD

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES :

• Domestic airfares within India ( economy class ) as described in the itinerary.
  
  
• All airport transfers and taxes . Private Touring . Private English Speaking Tour Escort. Private Air-conditioned Vehicle - Private Chauffeur
  
  
• Hotel accommodations (including taxes).
  
  
• And set-menu (table d'hôte) meals as indicated in the itinerary above.
  
  
  
• Guided sightseeing by private air-conditioned vehicle / motor coach, including all admissions fees.
  
  
• An English Speaking Escort will always be with you for the entire tour staying at the different hotels as the group
  
  
• A horse carriage ride from the nearest parking to Taj Mahal in Agra.
  
  
• An elephant ride (alternatively by jeeps) to ascend Amber Fort in Jaipur.
  
  
• All currently applicable taxes including the 4.94% government service tax .
  
  
• Three jungle safaris by shared canter in Ranthambore National Park
  
  
• A boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
  

• Visa for India , please apply thru any of the visa services or contact the Indian consulate nearest you

 

 

	Web www.nubiannilecruises.com