India Discovery: Golden Triangle & Himalayan Highlights

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included through the G Adventures-supported Women With Wheels project. Arriving early with a free day in Delhi? Opt to add the "Half Day Culinary Tour of Delhi" extra to your tour.

Included Experiences

• Women With Wheels Transfer: Transfer by a G Adventures-supported project, Women With Wheels. This program provides safe and reliable transport for travellers, while providing a dignified livelihood for local women who once lacked financial opportunities.
• Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group: Welcome: Welcome-Moment – Lerne CEO und Gruppe kennen.

Optional Experiences

• Half Day Culinary Tour of Delhi: On this half-day adventure that will leave you in food heaven, visit age-old markets and landmark food joints around the city and indulge your tastebuds. Walk with an experienced foodie-guide who will teach you about the intricacies of cuisine from various parts of the country. Highlights on the tour can include; Chandni Chowk, filled with bustling markets and shops, enjoy a steaming cup of Chai tea in an authentic terracotta cup, Kebabs with a recipe that stretches throughout generations, and indulge in local sweets and flatbreads. Perhaps also visit a chaat street chef and stop by Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Sikh House of Worship which hosts the world's largest community kitchen.

Enjoy a youth-led walk through the backstreets of Delhi with G Adventures-supported project, City Walk. Observe a different perspective of Delhi while supporting at-risk youth in the community. Later, explore Old Delhi and travel onward to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.

Included Experiences

• City Walk: Explore the streets of Delhi with a youth-led tour guide from the G Adventures-supported City Walk project. As a former at-risk youth, your local guide will have a unique perspective on the city and can provide more information on the life of a child in India. The guided tour helps support the guide's college or university tuition.
• Old Delhi Guided Walk: Visit historic Old Delhi. Explore Jama Masjid, the "Great Mosque," and enjoy its massive courtyard, which can hold up to 25,000 worshippers. Also, visit the ancient Sikh temple of Gurdwara SisGanj, which was established in 1783.

Set eyes on the sparkling Taj Mahal at sunrise before exploring more of this famous landmark. In the afternoon, visit the I'timad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj) and the Agra Fort.

Included Experiences

• Taj Mahal Visit: Cross one off your bucket list as you visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Explore the gorgeous white marble mausoleum, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a testament of his love for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
• Baby Taj Visit: Visit this mausoleum that looks like a jewel box, built before the Taj Mahal by Queen Nur Jahan for her father. Enjoy the intricate details of the structure; it was the first Mughal building faced with white marble and where "pietra dura" (precious stones inlaid into marble) was first used.
• Agra Fort Visit: Enjoy a visit to this impressive Mughal fort made of red sandstone and white marble.

Explore Experiences

Stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the now-deserted former capital of the Mughals, and a stunningly preserved UNESCO site. Visit the Abhaneri Stepwell and marvel at this uniquely Indian water harvesting system. In the afternoon, travel to Dhula Village and get a closer look at rural life in Rajasthan. Tonight, settle in to your cozy tent then opt to relax by the fire and take in the starry night sky. At Dhula Village you will have the opportunity to learn about local life, play a fun game of cricket, relax in the peaceful atmosphere, or take a cycle to explore the surroundings. Tonight's accommodation is in spacious and comfortable tents outfitted with beds, lamps, and simple en suite bathrooms.

Included Experiences

• Fatehpur Sikri Visit: Explore the magnificent red sandstone fort city that was once the capital of India's Mughal Empire and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Keep an eye out for elements of different religions, as King Akbar built three palaces for each of his favourite wives—a Hindu, a Muslim, and a Christian—in the city.
• Abhaneri Stepwell Visit: Walk around the amazing Chand Baori, a tenth century water tank that's an impressive 6.1m (20 ft) deep. Learn about ancient Indian environmentalism—a "baori" is a unique Indian invention for harvesting rainwater.
• Dhula Village Experience: Get a closer look at village life with a stay in rural Dhula. Enjoy opportunities to interact and explore that may include meeting shepherds and their flocks, cycling through hamlets, tea with villagers at the local temple, trekking in the hillocks.

Continue to the pink city of Jaipur. Along the way, try your hand at block printing with the women of the Anoothi Project before arriving at your hotel. Built according to Hindu architectural principles, Jaipur utilizes a unique organization unlike anywhere else in India.

Included Experiences

• Anoothi Block Printing Experience: Women from marginalised communities outside Jaipur came together to create the Anoothi Project. In Hindi, Anoothi means 'unique and extraordinary' and by teaching these women to master the traditionally male handicraft of block printing, the collective shines a light on the unique and extraordinary within each individual. At this G for Good visit, engage in a hands-on block printing activity with the local women as you indulge in some local snacks prepared by your hosts.
• Jaipur Orientation Tour: Enjoy an orientation of the Pink City by foot, with a short e-rickshaw ride in the walled city.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a visit to the Amber Fort, famous for its mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture. After, visit the City Palace and have a photo opportunity at Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Opt to get active by pre-booking a cycle tour or sharpen your culinary skills by pre-booking a cooking class with a local family.

Included Experiences

• Amber Fort Visit: Take in the Hindu and Muslim architecture of the beautiful Amber Fort. Wander through the halls and courtyards and admire the intricate details.
• City Palace Visit: Explore the courtyards, gardens, and buildings that make up the City Palace. Located in the heart of the Old City, it is a striking blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. Visit the palace's museum to look at ancient carriages and the former maharaja's gold-embroidered wedding outfit.

Optional Experiences

• Jaipur Cycle Tour: With its many lanes and organized layout, Jaipur is the perfect location to explore by bicycle. Choosing to cycle through the city on this morning tour will introduce you to sights, sounds and smells that a vehicle just can't match, so grab a helmet and jump on your bike! Navigate the streets of the 'Pink City' with the help of your experienced guide, starting the day with a traditional Indian yoghurt drink of Lassi. Marvel at the architectural wonders as you enter the walled part of the city and stop at the City Palace to visit the Govind Dev temple. Wander through the historical spices and sweets market, stopping for tea and a tasty snack of pakoras before heading towards the majestic Albert Hall Museum where the tour ends. Taxi transfers from the hotel to the starting point and from the finishing point back to the hotel are included in the price of this cycle tour.
• Jaipur Cooking Class with a local family: Join a local family in Jaipur as they welcome you into their home and share their recipes and best-loved dishes with you. Get hands-on with the ingredients and learn how to prepare Pakoda (Pakora), vegetable dishes and Indian breads such as chapatis and puris. Once the hard work is done, get to know your hosts over lunch. Savor the flavours of your creations with the additions of other vegtable dishes, daal and raita, and finish the meal with a sweet treat.
• Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds): Enjoy a visit to the intricately-carved Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of the Winds," which is named for the cool breeze that comes through the structure and keeps it comfortable, even in the hot Jaipur summers. Admire this architectural wonder and snap some photos.
• Jantar Mantar Visit: Visit the Jantar Mantar observatory for a guided tour and explore the collection of astronomical instruments housed there, some dating back to 1727.
• Movie at Raj Mandir: Visit this spectacular cinema and watch a song-and-dance Bollywood film. (200-400 INR per person)

Explore Experiences

If you aren't afraid of heights, opt for a morning hot air balloon ride over Jaipur. Return to Delhi in the afternoon and enjoy free time to explore more of the bustling city. Admire the Pink City from above by pre-booking the morning Jaipur Balloon Ride when booking your tour.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy free time to see more of Delhi.

Optional Experiences

• Jaipur Balloon Ride: Begin your day at dawn, just as the sun starts to rise. As you drift into the sky, enjoy the silence and serenity of the morning, watching as the day starts for the colourfully dressed inhabitants below. From high in the sky, you may float over rolling hills, villages teeming with life, and a small monastery. You may even spot elephants—if luck is on your side. Available September 1 - April 30.

Today is yours to explore the city of Delhi! The options are seemingly endless so enjoy it on your terms. Connect with India's incredible food scene by pre-booking the Half Day Culinary Tour of Delhi.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy the whole day to explore Delhi how you wish!

Optional Experiences

• Half Day Culinary Tour of Delhi: On this half-day adventure that will leave you in food heaven, visit age-old markets and landmark food joints around the city and indulge your tastebuds. Walk with an experienced foodie-guide who will teach you about the intricacies of cuisine from various parts of the country. Highlights on the tour can include; Chandni Chowk, filled with bustling markets and shops, enjoy a steaming cup of Chai tea in an authentic terracotta cup, Kebabs with a recipe that stretches throughout generations, and indulge in local sweets and flatbreads. Perhaps also visit a chaat street chef and stop by Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Sikh House of Worship which hosts the world's largest community kitchen.

Today is a long travel day, but well worth the trek. We'll take a train from Delhi to Pathankot and transfer to a private vehicle. Pathankot is located at the foothills of the Himalayas, so our drive will get even more beautiful as we travel deeper into Himachal through the Western Himalayas. We'll arrive to Chamba in the evening and walk to our farm-stay. Enjoy a traditional welcome with the family followed by a local dinner. Sit back and relax as you get comfortable in your incredible farm-stay tucked away in the Himalayan Mountains.

Included Experiences

• Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Himalayan Orchard Traditional Welcome & Dinner: Embrace the warm hospitality of our farm-stay hosts with a Traditional Welcome, followed by a delicious traditional Chamba dinner of cuisine dating back over 1,000 years.
• Walking: Walk up the hillside from the road to the farm-stay. There is no road access so the final kilometer is done on foot.

Start the day off right with a morning yoga and meditation session before a delicious breakfast. Today we explore the picturesque town of Chamba, tucked away in the Himalayas. Visit ancient temples, vibrant paintings and an embroidery workshop to experience Chamba's rich cultural heritage.

Included Experiences

• Morning Yoga and Meditation: Join one of the family members of the Himalayan Farm-stay for a peaceful morning yoga and meditation.
• Chamba Town Tour: Take a tour of Chamba Town to learn of its rich culture, ancient temples and traditional embroidery. Visit the 400-year old Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir Temple, Bhuri Singh Museum, 10th-century stone Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
• Embroidery Workshop: Learn the art of embroidery at a workshop on Chamba rumal and Chamba painting. Watch as artists demonstrate their skills at traditional embroidery and painting as we hear the cultural and historical significance of these art styles. Feel welcome to try your hand at embroidery or painting, once practiced by the queens of the royal family.

Spend the morning on an beautiful hike accessible for all levels of hikers. Make sure to bring your camera to take in the incredible beauty of the Himalayas along the way. This evening, join your farm-stay host family for a well deserved feast! Together we'll learn to cook local favorites and then sit down together to dig in!

Included Experiences

• Chamba Half Day Hike: Trek through Chamba's unique farms and villages on this easy loop hike. Admire the stunning views of Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar mountains in the distance.
• Himalayan Farm Stay Cooking Demonstration: India is a huge country, and cuisine varies between different states. Together with our farm-stay hosts, learn about the traditional meals consumed in the Himalayan region of Himachal. Use of black cardamom, indigenous vegetables and hearty meats are common, so come hungry and enjoy the time to learn (and try!) the delicious local cuisine.

Say goodbye to our amazing Himalayan farm-stay hosts and drive toward Dharamshala, where the exiled Tibetan government has lived since 1960. Stop in the town of Jia for an amazing experience with G Adventures-supported Tenacious Honey Bee Collective - a chance to learn about ethical honeybee keeping in the Himalayas. After some honey sampling and an apidomik experience, finish the drive to Dharamshala. Visit the Mcleodganj Market and feel the strong connection this town has to Tibet. Then visit the Tsuglagkhang Complex, also known as the Dalai Lama Temple. This temple was built shortly after the Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet and now serves as the political centre of Tibet for the community-in-exile. Take time to explore the temple and visit the Tibet Museum as well. The rest of the day is yours to wander the markets and Dharamshala as you wish.

Included Experiences

• Tenacious Honey Bee Collective: Take a walking tour through the Himalayan countryside to understand ethical bee keeping. Learn directly from the local youth and women who are part of the team that make products out of bees wax. Enjoy a honey tasting, and a visit to an apidomik room - a place with healing properties full of aromas from honey, wax, pollen and more.
• Orientation Walk at Mcleodganj Market: Known for its Tibetan influence, the market offers a variety of goods including handicrafts, jewelry, clothes, and delicious Tibetan cuisine. It's a perfect place to soak in the local culture and pick up unique souvenirs.
• Dalai Lama Temple & Tsuglagkhang Complex: The Dalai Lama Temple, officially known as Tsuglagkhang Complex, is a repository of Tibetan culture. The temple was built in 1959, following the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet. Today, it serves as the spiritual and political center of the Tibetan community in exile.

Today is yours to see the incredible town of Dharamshala how you'd like. Feel free to relax or get out and visit the Norbulingka Institute or see the Bhagsu Nag Waterfall.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend the afternoon free in Dharamshala.

Optional Experiences

• Norbulingka Institute Visit: Explore a treasure trove of Tibetan culture in exile at the Norbulingka Institute. Many books, precious statues, and monasteries in Tibet were destroyed following the Chinese invasion in 1950, making the Norbulingka Institute one of the best places to learn about Tibetan culture and art anywhere in the world.
• Bhagsu Nag Waterfall: Enjoy the short and easy hike from the village to the beautiful waterfall. This hike is suitable for all hiking abilities. It takes most about 45 minutes to an hour to hike and it is 4km round trip.

Depart for Amritsar early this morning to make the nearby evening Wagah Border Ceremony. Every night, just before the sun sets on the border of Pakistan and India, the two sides simultaneously lower their flags as a sign of peace, discipline and hope for the future between these two countries with a long history of rivalry. Afterwards, head to the Golden Temple-arguably the most important Sikh temple in the world-in hopes to witness the palaki ceremony, which symbolizes putting the holy book to rest for the night.

Included Experiences

• Wagah Border Ceremony: Every evening, hundreds of people gather to watch the famous parade and the ceremonial lowering of their national flags by the Indian and Pakistani armies at sunset. Witness this event in the stands and cheer on as the two countries showcase their cooperation.
• Golden Temple Visit: Enjoy a visit to this gorgeous temple, the most sacred shrine in the Sikh religion. Sitting in the center of a sacred lake, and accessible by a marble causeway, it is absolutely stunning. Watch the nightly ritual of moving the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book) from the temple to the neighboring Akal Takht building in a gold palki (palanquin) preceded by the spectacular fanfare of religious leaders blowing long horns or beating drums. As the procession moves, people chanting wait for their chance to shoulder the sacred palki. The Golden Temple kitchen serves a free meal called a "langar" to more than 40,000 visitors daily, and no matter how old or young, whether rich or poor, everyone eats together while sitting on the floor.

Return to the Golden Temple early this morning for a chance to admire this incredible pilgrimage destination in the daylight. Afterwards, return to the hotel. Your tour concludes upon return to the hotel. Please book onward travel no earlier than 12:00 pm on your departure day to ensure you have ample time after the Golden Temple Visit.

Included Experiences

• Morning Visit to the Golden Temple: Enjoy a morning visit to the Golden Temple. The temple's upper floors are covered in 750 kilos of pure gold. Its golden dome, exquisite architecture, and serene surroundings attract millions of visitors worldwide every year, making it one of the most visited religious sites in the world.