Treasures of India: Temples, Tigers, and the Taj Mahal

Mystical and spiritual, chaotic and confounding, India overflows with riches. Staying at excellent hotels, your small group travels the classic Golden Triangle: bustling Delhi; Agra, home of the sublime Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, great city of the Rajput. The 17-day exploration begins with Old and New Delhi’s important sights. Discovery of the “pink city” of Jaipur includes the stunning Hawa Mahal palace, Amber Fort, and a home-hosted dinner with a Rajasthan family. Search for the elusive Bengal tiger on game drives in Ranthambore National Park, then meet Meena tribespeople in Gadoli. In ancient Agra, encounter the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal and take an Indian cuisine cooking lesson. Experience life along the sacred Ganges in Hinduism’s holiest city, Varanasi, and visit nearby Sarnath, one of Buddhism’s holiest sites. Absorb the beauty of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal on an optional 6-day/4-night post-tour extension that includes extensive sightseeing.

Event Itinerary

Day 1: Depart for Delhi, India

• Depart from the U.S. on overnight flights to India

Day 2: Arrive in Delhi

• Arrive and transfer to the hotel

Day 3: Delhi

• Visit Raj Ghat, the black marble memorial honoring Mahatma Gandhi
• Explore the Red Fort (Lal Qila), a UNESCO-listed complex
• See the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, and ride rickshaws through the colorful Chandni Chowk market
• Welcome dinner

Day 4: Delhi

• Visit Qutb Minar, the world's tallest brick minaret
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Visit to a Sikh temple
• Explore the Gandhi Smriti museum

Day 5: Delhi / Jaipur

• Travel by coach to Jaipur, the UNESCO-listed "Pink City" renowned for its historic forts, palaces, and gardens
• Afternoon exploration of Jaipur's vibrant colorful market

Day 6: Jaipur

• Visit the Hawa Mahal, the elaborately carved pink sandstone "Palace of the Winds"
• Explore Amber Fort, the Kachhawah Rajput capital from 1037 to 1728
• Tour Jantar Mantar, the remarkable open-air observatory, and the City Palace Museum with its magnificent Maharajah art collections

Day 7: Jaipur / Sanganer

• Visit the village of Sanganer to see traditional block printing and handmade paper industries
• Explore a lively outdoor market
• Dinner as guests in the home of a multi-generational Rajasthan family

Day 8: Jaipur / Ranthambore

• Travel to Ranthambore National Park, home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, and mammals, including Bengal tigers
• First afternoon game drive through the park

Day 9: Ranthambore

• Morning and afternoon game drives
• Explore picturesque ruins of forts and palaces within the park

Day 10: Ranthambore / Gadoli

• Village walk in Gadoli to meet local Meena tribespeople in their homes
• Evening traditional folk dance performance

Day 11: Gadoli / Abhaneri / Agra

• Stop in the ancient village of Abhaneri to see the Chand Baori step well (c. 800 CE), whose 3,500 steps descend 13 stories into the ground
• Continue to Agra, the ancient Mughal stronghold
• Afternoon visit to Itimad-ud-Daulah, the two-story marble "Baby Taj" that inspired the Taj Mahal

Day 12: Agra

• Morning visit to the Taj Mahal
• Indian cuisine cooking lesson followed by lunch
• Tour of imposing Agra Fort

Day 13: Agra / Delhi / Varanasi

• Drive to Delhi, then fly to Varanasi, Hinduism's holiest city

Day 14: Varanasi / Sarnath

• Optional private yoga session before breakfast
• Visit Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught after achieving enlightenment
• Tour temples, stupas, and the Sarnath Museum's superb collection of Buddhist artifacts
• Sunset Ganges cruise to witness a traditional aarti ceremony

Day 15: Varanasi

• Early morning boat ride along the Ganges to witness Hindu pilgrims performing rituals at the ghats
• Afternoon walking tour of the city
• Private performance of classical sitar
• Farewell dinner at the hotel

Day 16: Varanasi / Delhi

• Afternoon flight to Delhi
• Evening at leisure

Day 17: Depart for U.S.

• Early morning transfer to the airport for return flights home