Explore India & Nepal
17 days
From
$ 3599
Duration17 days
Discover northern India’s famed Golden Triangle and get immersed in Nepalese culture on a 17-day journey. Explore the Taj Mahal and encounter the iconic colors of Rajasthan. Spend a night at a Buddhist monastery and meet with one of the brave women from SASANE, a program that trains former victims of trafficking to become paralegals. From epic sights to intimate encounters, every moment packs a big punch.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 17 daysService level: Upgraded
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Physical Grading: Average
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Ages: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Delhi
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting, so check into to the hotel and enjoy the city. We highly recommend booking a pre-night in Delhi to get over your jetlag and be ready for this very busy trip.
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included through Women on Wheels, a G Adventures-supported project.
Day 2: Delhi/Āgra
Enjoy a youth-led walk through Delhi as part of the G Adventures-supported City Walk project. Later, explore Old Delhi with your CEO before an afternoon drive to Agra.
Meals: B
Day 3: Āgra
Spend the day visiting the highlights of the walled city of Agra including the famed Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Agra Fort.
Meals: B
Day 4: Āgra/Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur, visiting the deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri and the village of Abhaneri, which has one of India's deepest and largest stepwells (tank gardens).
Meals: B
Day 5: Jaipur
Consider treating yourself to a night at the cinema. Going to see a Bollywood film in India is much more than what we are accustomed to in the west. The atmosphere, energy, and pure fun (not to mention volume!) has to be experienced to be believed.
Explore the "Pink City," known also as Jaipur, including the Amber Fort, City Palace, and the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Listen to a local historian/scholar discuss the spirituality, social fabric, customs, and traditions of India.
Meals: B
Day 6: Jaipur/Pachewar
The village is about 85km (53 mi) from Jaipur and has beautiful temples dedicated to different religions. The residents of the village are still involved in traditional commercial activities. You'll see pottery wheels, silversmiths, cobblers, traditional huts, old temples, and a mud house where you can witness a cooking demonstration with local family.
Drive to the rural village of Pachewar where we stay in a heritage home. Exploring this traditional village is like stepping back in time. Walk and meet with locals and explore how urbanization affects village life, modernization and its benefits and disadvantages, as well as simple village customs and traditions.
Meals: B, D
Day 7: Pachewar/Delhi
Drive back to bustling Delhi. Opt to join your CEO for a group dinner.
Meals: B
Day 8: Delhi/Kathmandu
Kathmandu is fascinating at every turn and a great place to just wander, seeing where the city may lead you.
Transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Kathmandu.
Meals: B
Day 9: Kathmandu
Spend the day exploring Kathmandu and surrounding areas, including Boudhanath Stupa, one of the world's largest Buddhist shrines. Also visit the Royal City of Bhaktapur, exploring Hindu temples, pagodas, and monuments, including the stunning wood-carved palace in Durbar Square. After, visit the Sisterhood of Survivors Project and learn how to make Nepalese momos (dumplings) before enjoying an authentic local lunch. You'll also meet one of the women that has graduated from the Sasane paralegal program.
Some of the sites visited in Kathmandu were damaged in the earthquake in 2015. Restorations are ongoing to bring these beloved landmarks back to their previous glory.
Meals: B, L
Day 10: Kathmandu/Pharping
Experience the serenity of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The monastery guest house offers comfortable accommodations in a peaceful setting with balconies and private western-style bathrooms. There are approximately 200 monks in residence following the Nyingmapa tradition. This is a new monastery (2006), and income from the guest house directly supports it.
Opt to take an early morning Everest experience flight, then visit ancient Swayambhunath Buddhist temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the holiest shrines in Kathmandu. Then, visit a local home to learn about National Geographic grantee Chhing Lhomi, who works to preserve ancient weaving traditions of the Upper Mustang region through the Himalayan Indigenous Society. Depart the city to Pharping for a unique overnight stay at a Buddhist Monastery guesthouse. Learn about monastery life from the inside, then enjoy a chanting and prayer service. Opt to walk in the surrounding village and countryside.
Please note that on select departures, the itinerary may be re-ordered to have the Monastery visit at the end of the itinerary.
End place: Pharping
Meals: B
Day 11: Pharping/Kurintar
Start place: Pharping
Arrive at our remote lodge, which sits on a ridge amidst the hills and overlooks sandy beaches and a river. Forests cascade down the hillsides, enclosing tiny settlements of tribal people.
Wake up early to enjoy the sunrise and morning chanting from the monastery. After, drive to Kurintar and hike to our remote lodge on the banks of Trishuli River and valley. Opt to relax and enjoy the pool or take a hike in the surrounding countryside.
The lodge is only accessed by foot, so please expect a walk of approx. 30 to 45 minutes. Porters will be hired to carry our bags but please pack what you need for the night, as we will leave our larger bags in the vehicle.
Meals: B, D
Day 12: Kurintar/Chitwan National Park
Spend two nights enjoying cultural and wildlife excursions in and around Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP), the oldest national park in Nepal. Established in 1973, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. Within its area of 932km² (579 mi²), RCNP is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles, including sambars, chitals, rhesus monkeys, tigers and langurs.
Drive to our lodge located on the bank of the Rapti river which borders the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chitwan National Park. After lunch, board a traditional boat to view wildlife along the river.
The specifics and order of activities may change, depending on the season and local conditions. Your CEO will confirm the exact activities and timing with the naturalists upon arrival at the lodge.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Chitwan National Park
Explore Chitwan National Park with expert local guides. Activities can include a village walk, boating, nature walks, and a jeep safari in search of rhinos, leopards, wild elephants, monkeys, and crocodiles. Also meet with a local tiger “technician” who will give a presentation about the Nepal Tiger Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of tigers in Nepal. Our expert will join us on a jeep safari to teach us how tigers are tracked, protected, and monitored with help from the local community. If we’re lucky, we may catch a glimpse of one of these elusive great cats. This evening, return to our lodge and enjoy a Tharu cultural dance program presented by local villagers.
The jeep safari is often prohibited during monsoon season by the park authorities; monsoon season is from June-September, and sometimes it can last till October. When the park is inaccessible, we will search out wildlife in the surrounding forest which is unfenced and just as likely to view animals. Boating is also subject to the water levels and local conditions on the Rapti River.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 14: Chitwan National Park/Pokhara
Nestled in a tranquil valley at an altitude of 827m (2,713 ft), beautiful Pokhara lies on a once vibrant trade route between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalayas. This enchanting city has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. It is popular place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Drive to beautiful Pokhara and immerse yourself in stunning views of the Himalayas. Enjoy an orientation walk with your CEO and opt to have dinner at one of the popular restaurants in town.
Meals: B
Day 15: Pokhara
Hike up to Sarangkot and enjoy the sunrise and sweeping Annapurna Himalayan views. Later, hike to the brilliant World Peace Pagoda, a stunning monument built by Buddhist monks from Japan. After, visit a Tibetan refugee settlement to learn more about this community by viewing their photo gallery and enjoying a local Tibetan lunch. This afternoon, opt to try paragliding or go boating in Phewa Lake.
The hike up to the World Peace Pagoda can be quite strenuous and is all steps up and back down. If you are not feeling so energetic, please let the CEO know and you can opt out of this activity.
Meals: B, L
Day 16: Pokhara/Kathmandu
Enjoy free time in the afternoon for exploring. Visit the burning ghats at Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath, or the monkey temple. Kathmandu is fascinating at every turn, and some travelers prefer to just wander, seeing where the city may lead them.
Catch a flight back to the capital, Kathmandu. Enjoy free time for shopping or opt to visit the Pashupatinath Ghats
Meals: B
Day 17: Kathmandu
Feel free to depart at any time today, but remember that check out time from the hotel is 12:00pm.
Depart at any time.
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Meet a Local Historian, Jaipur Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Local Village Immersion, Pachewar Your Journeys Highlight Moment: SASANE Lecture, Kathmandu Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Weaving and Indigenous Peoples Lecture, Kathmandu Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Overnight at a Buddhist Monastery, Pharping Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Neydo Monastery Sunrise Chant, Pharping Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Chitwan Tiger Experience, Chitwan National Park Your G for Good Moment: Women on Wheels Transfer, Indira Gandhi International Airport Your G for Good Moment: City Walk, Delhi Your G for Good Moment: Sisterhood of Survivors Project, Kathmandu
- Visit the Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Agra Fort
- Excursion to Fatehpur Sikri and the Abhaneri step wells
- Explore Jaipur
- Tour of Kathmandu
- Bhaktapur guided tour
- Visit Swayambhunath
- Chitwan National Park village walking tour and jeep safari
- Hike to the World Peace Pagoda
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Van, Bus, Auto-rickshaw, Cycle-rickshaw, Walking, Plane, Boat, 4x4 -
Accommodation
Hotels (14 nts), Heritage hotel (1 nt), Monastery guesthouse (1 nt)