Wonders of the Himalayas & Amritsar

Delhi

Day 1: Welcome to Delhi!

Welcome to India!

On arrival in Delhi, you will be greeted by a representative and transferred to your hotel. Get some rest before your Indian adventure begins tomorrow.

Delhi

Day 2: See the sights of Delhi

After breakfast, you have the opportunity to explore the contrasts of New and Old Delhi with an English-speaking guide. This includes driving past the President's Palace, Houses of Parliament, and impressive India Gate with its eternal flame.

Visit the Gurudwara Sri Bangla Sahib Sikh temple where the community kitchen serves free meals to thousands of people each day. Venture on into Old Delhi next, stopping en-route at Rajghat, a memorial complex erected on the site of Mahatma Gandhi's funeral pyre.

Drive past the Red Fort followed by a visit to the Jama Masjid mosque, which can accommodate up to 20,000 people at a time. Explore the bazaars through the bustling alleys of Chandni Chowk, where silver merchants ply their trade.

Delhi - Amritsar

Day 3: Visit magical Amritsar

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for your flight to Amritsar. On arrival in Amritsar, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel to rest and unwind.

Amritsar was founded by the fourth Sikh Guru Ram Das in 1577. In the centre of the city is the Sri Harmandir Sahib – the Golden Temple, the Sikh community’s holiest shrine.

Amritsar

Day 4: Pay homage at Jallianwala Bagh

The day is dedicated to sightseeing in Amritsar with an English-speaking guide. Visit the iconic Golden Temple, a symbol of the spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs. This is followed by a visit to Jallianwala Bagh, the memorial site for one of the most brutal incidents that took place during the Indian freedom struggle.

In the evening you'll venture to the India-Pakistan border to visit Wagah, famous for its border ceremonies. Each evening since 1959, a retreat ceremony known as the 'lowering of the flags' takes place here, and is a true sight to behold.

Amritsar - Dharamshala - Mecleodganj

Day 5: Drive to spiritual Dharamshala

In the morning, have breakfast at the hotel before checking out and driving to Dharamshala. This hillside town is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile. It features swathes of oak and conifer woods, and snow-capped mountains surround it on three sides, with a scenic valley stretching out ahead.

Continue your drive to Upper Dharamshala's Mcleodganj, known as 'Little Lhasa' or 'Dhasa' because of its large population of Tibetans. Spend the evening here at leisure.

Mecleodganj

Day 6: An immersive day of sightseeing

Today is dedicated to sightseeing in Dharamshala with the help of an English-speaking guide. Explore the Kangra Art Museum in the Kotwali Bazaar, followed by the State War Memorial, scenic tea gardens, and the Kunal Pathri temple.

Continue your tour with a visit to the St. John in the Wilderness Church, one of the most poignant memories of the British Raj. Beneath the shade of deodar branches, visit a memorial for the British Viceroy, Lord Elgin who died in Dharamshala in 1863. Finally, visit the ancient Bhagsunag Temple, a medieval shrine with a waterfall.

Mecleodganj - Manali

Day 7: Journey to magical Manali

Today, you'll pack up and drive to Manali via Palampur. Set on the Beas River, this is an outdoor-lover's gateway to skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in the Parvati Valley. It's also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting, and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to the 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass.

En route, you'll visit Chamunda to explore the Chamunda Ji Temple and stop in the town of Baijnath to see the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. On arrival into Manali, check into your hotel and rest after your journey.

Manali

Day 8: Explore beautiful Manali

After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to the towns of Kullu (also known as the Silver Valley) and Manikaran. In Kullu, surround yourself with splendid forests and the blooms and fruit of fragrant orchards. You could perhaps even enjoy some river rafting before setting off for Manikaran, known for its hot springs and Gurudwara (a place of worship built years back by Shri Narayan Hari).

It is said that the town's hot water springs emerged with full force, turning into a fountain of up to 4m! It's also believed that these springs do not contain sulfur, and that one can even cook food in them - although you may choose to simply relax and soothe your weary muscles in these waters, which contain healing properties for arthritis.

Finally, before driving back to Manali for the day, you'll stop to visit the Rama Temple, which was built in a pyramidal style and is dedicated to Lord Rama.

Manali

Day 9: Adventures in the Solang Valley

Have an early breakfast at your hotel; be sure to get your fill ahead of a big day exploring the Solang Valley and Rohtang Pass - gateway to the Valley of Leh, Ladakh.

The Solang Valley, located at the top of the Kullu Valley, and known for both its summer and winter sports. The adventure activities offered here include parachuting, paragliding, skating, and zorbing.

The landscape here also creates a fascinating natural divide between the Kullu Valley in the south, with a primarily Hindu culture, and the arid high-altitude Lahaul and Spiti Valleys in the north, with a Buddhist culture.

Manali - Chail

Day 10: Enjoy stunning views of the Himalayas

Today you'll drive on to Chail, a hill station known for its natural beauty and virgin forests. Upon your arrival, spend the rest of the day here at leisure. If you're feeling up for it, hike around your surroundings to enjoy their natural beauty - they offer wonderful views of the Lower Himalayas.

Chail

Day 11: Explore Chail Palace

Have breakfast at the hotel, before spending the day at leisure. Why not set out to visit Chail Palace, well known for its architecture; it was built as a summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj. Chail is also home to cricket and polo grounds at an altitude of 2,250m; the cricket grounds are in fact the world's highest, making them a worthwhile attraction to explore.

Chail - Chandigarh

Day 12: Drive to Chandigarh

Drive to Chandigarh, the only modern planned city in India. Built and designed by the famous French architect Le Corbusier, it stands in stark contrast to any other overcrowded Indian city.

Check into your hotel to rest, and in the afternoon, set out to explore the sights. Visit Nek Chand's Rock Garden, named after its founder, a government official who started the garden secretly in his spare time in 1957; across its grounds you'll find man-made interlinked waterfalls, walled paths, and sculptures creatively made out of scrap and waste. Continue with a visit to Sukhna Lake, a reservoir at the foothills of the Himalayas, before ending your tour.

Chadigarh - Haridwar

Day 13: Evening worship in Haridwar

Today, you will drive to the city of Haridwar, where the River Ganges exits the Himalayan foothills. Here, the largest of several sacred ghats (bathing steps), Har Ki Pauri, hosts a nightly ganga aarti - a river-worshipping ceremony in which tiny flickering lamps are floated off the steps.

On arrival into Haridwar, check into your hotel and spend the day exploring at your own pace, before witnessing an evening aarti on the bank of Ganges. This is a spectacular event as hundreds of people gather on the river to worship.

Haridwar - Rishikesh

Day 14: A cultural day in Rishikesh

After breakfast, drive to the city of Rishikesh, the lap of Hindu philosophy and learning, with several ashrams devoted to the understanding and propagation of the faith.

Signs of religious rituals can be seen all over Rishikesh - in its numerous temples lining the banks of the Ganges, and its shops selling books and religious objects. If you wish, you could visit the Lakshman Jhula Ghat, and participate in the evening aarti.

Rishikesh

Day 15: Enjoy a relaxing yoga session

Today, it's time to indulge your mind and spirit with a yoga session - after all, you are in Rishikesh, an ancient city renowned as the centre for yoga and meditation. Continue the day with a visit to some of the local ashrams, and take your time soaking up the city's lovely atmosphere.

Rishikesh - Jim Corbett

Day 16: Explore India's oldest National Park

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Uttarakhand's Nainital district, home to India’s oldest National Park which opened in 1936 under the name of Hailey National Park. It was later renamed after Jim Corbett, who played an important part in its creation.

This was the first park to come under the Project Tiger initiative, ensuring the protection of the endangered Bengal tiger. Visitors to this beautiful wildlife sanctuary will delight in an abundance of fauna and flora.

Amongst other animal species, the Dhikala Zone shelters tigers as well as a population of leopards and elephants, which also roam the Sonanadi Zone. The latter is on the banks of the Ramganga reservoir, where bird-lovers can observe hundreds of species.

Jim Corbett

Day 17: Dive deeper into Jim Corbett National Park

Embark on an early-morning jungle jeep safari though Jim Corbett National Park, in search of the mysterious Bengal tiger. You'll have the rest of the day to relax in the land of the tiger, before enjoying an evening jungle jeep safari; take in the magical ambiance as the shadows grow long.

Jim Corbett - Delhi

Day 18: Drive back to Delhi

Today, bid farewell to your scenic park surroundings and drive back to Delhi. Here, check into your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. It's your final night in India, so make the most of it!

Delhi

Day 19: Farewell, India!

Wake up to your last breakfast in India! You'll have a driver at your disposal for today, allowing you to enjoy some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. Tuck into a farewell dinner and transfer to Delhi's international airport for your flight home. Safe travels, and visit again soon!