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Grand Tour of India & Nepal

3.0/5 Based on 1 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Travel Advisor
Fully Guided Coach Group Rail Scenic
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 Trip Length
19 Days
 Trip Starts
Amritsar
 Trip Finishes
Kathmandu
19 Day Grand Tour of India & Nepal Itinerary (Travelmarvel)
Countries Explored: India
Trip Style
Rail Journey
Accommodation
4 Star
Max. Group Size
40
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
RJTKTJ19

Overview

Read reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Travelmarvel's 19 Day Grand Tour of India & Nepal. Discover the wonders of India and Nepal via rail on this 19 day journey. Embrace the spiritual Varanasi, laid back Pokhara & the jungle of Chitwan.

Itinerary

Arrive in the Indian city of Amritsar and transfer to your hotel. The city is home to the gilded Golden Temple, the holiest gurdwara (religious complex) of the Sikh religion. Stay Two Nights: Amritsar, Hyatt Regency

Enjoy a leisurely start to the morning before you gather with fellow travellers for a Welcome Briefing. This afternoon visit the Wagah Border to witness the ceremony marking the lowering of both countries' flags. (B/D)

Set off on a guided tour of Amritsar including Jallianwala Bagh Gardens, an important memorial site. Later this afternoon, travel on the Shatabdi Express train to Delhi. Stay Two Nights: Delhi, Taj Palace (B/D)

Insider Experience: Visit the stunning Golden Temple, a Sikh holy shrine and one of India's most beautiful sights.

Today you'll take a tour through the historic streets and colourful markets of Old Delhi before moving on to New Delhi to see India Gate, Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar. (B/D)

Insider Experience: Set off on a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi's lively bazaar.

After breakfast, board the early Gatimaan Express train to Agra. Enjoy an Insider Experience and later, cross the city to see the iconic Taj Mahal in all its mesmerising beauty. Stay: Agra, Tajview Hotel (B/D)

Insider Experience: Explore one of the finest Mughal forts in India, Agra Fort.

Today, you will travel by coach to the city of Lucknow. Check in to your hotel where you'll enjoy dinner this evening. Stay Two Nights: Lucknow, Taj Mahal Hotel (B/D)

Today, set off on a sightseeing tour of Lucknow. Afterwards, visit the famous La Martiniere Boys' School, founded by an endowment from Major-General Claude Martin. Later, proceed to the moving British Residency, which is the site of the tragic siege of 1857. (B/D)

Your final train journey of the tour takes you to Varanasi, the Hindu sacred city. It attracts millions of pilgrims a year. Tonight, watch a spectacular Aarti fire ceremony at the ghats (steps) on the banks of the River Ganges. Stay: Varanasi, Taj Ganges (B/D)

This morning, a special Insider Experience awaits on the River Ganges. Hindus flock to the river at sunrise to cleanse themselves of their sins, creating one of the most spectacular sights in India. Later, take an excursion to Sarnath, now considered to be the place where Buddhism began. This afternoon, board your included flight to Kolkata. Stay Two Nights: Kolkata, Taj Bengal (B/L)

Insider Experience: Experience sunrise during a boat ride on the River Ganges.

After an Insider Experience, visit Kolkata's Victoria Memorial. This afternoon, visit the fascinating Heritage Railway Museum, then continue to the ‘Potter's Village' where locals sculpt statues to sacrifice at the nearby temples. (B/D)

Insider Experience: Visit Kolkata's lively flower market and Mother Teresa's House.

It's time to say goodbye to India and transfer to the airport for the next leg of the journey to Nepal. Stay Two Nights: Vivanta Kathmandu (B/D)

Begin with a sightseeing tour of Patan and witness the magic of singing bowls performed by Za master. Later, hear tales from a Sherpa about their time climbing Mt Everest. Tonight, go for dinner at Rum Doodle restaurant. (B/L/D)

Insider Experience: Explore Kathmandu's Durbar Squares and Swayambhunath Stupa followed by a rickshaw ride.

Leave the city today and drive to Boudhanath Stupa en route to Chitwan National Park. Later this afternoon, head to the village of Tharu on an ox cart and take part in an interesting discussion with local naturalists. Tonight, enjoy a Tharu cultural dance performance. Stay Two Nights: Chitwan, Jungle Villa Resort (B/L/D)

Rise early for a visit to the Gharial Breeding Centre for crocodiles, before a jungle walk through the National Park. After, head to Rapti River to witness elephants bathing. (B/L/D)

Insider Experience: Take a Jeep safari through Chitwan National Park for a chance to spot rhino and the Bengal tiger.

Drive to Pokhara. Set on the shores of Lake Phewa, Pokhara is undoubtedly one of the world's most scenic places. Stay for three nights at the Fish Tail Lodge, set on a peaceful island in Lake Phewa and accessible only by boat. Stay Three Nights: Pokhara, Fish Tail Lodge (B/D)

With a free day in Pokhara, explore at your own pace. (B/D)

Early today, enjoy a special Inside Experience. After breakfast, explore Pokhara and visit the Old Bazaar and the Gurkha Museum among other sites. Then, cruise on Lake Phewa with views over Fish Tail Peak. (B/D)

Insider Experience: Drive up to Sarangkot, a mountain viewpoint that offers the experience of witnessing a breathtaking sunrise over the Himalayas.

Leave Pokhara after breakfast for a full day's travelling back to Kathmandu. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner. Stay: Vivanta Kathmandu (B/L/D)

This morning, transfer to the airport where your journey ends. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Visit the stunning Golden Temple in Amritsar and take a rickshaw tour in Delhi
  • Experience a magical sunrise during a boat ride on the River Ganges in Varanasi
  • Enjoy a Jeep safari in Chitwan National Park
  • Be amazed by views of the sun rising over the Himalayas in Sarangkot

  • 18 nights in premium accommodation
  • Services of a Great Rail Journeys Tour Escort
  • Transfers, tipping, internal flights and porterage

  • 39 meals – 18 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 16 dinner included throughout this tour

  • Itinerary operated by Travelmarvel's partner Great Rail Journeys
  • Itinerary and inclusions may be subject to change
  • Prices are for land/rail and internal flights as specified only

Trip Reviews (1) Most Recent 'Grand Tour of India & Nepal' Reviews

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AVG. RATING 3.0 / 5
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Some organisational worries   3 , VIC, Australia, Oct 2018
All did not however go as smoothly as expected with this October India and Nepal tour which was run by Great Railway Journeys in conjunction with APT/Travelmarvel in Australia. We finished up only doing two train journeys. When one 7.00am train which we were booked on did not turn up after an hour they got the bus which had all our luggage to take us ...read more to Varanasi. It had waited just in case, since our efficient English tour leader had experienced such delays in the past! The excellent Indian tour leader later found out that the train ran well over 4 hours late. Apparently that is common; a fact which Great Rail Journeys in York should have known.

I’ve done 34 organised tours and the company really didn’t give sufficiently detailed information which I consider was deliberate. The final tour booklet given to the Australians when the tour leader arrived was not the same as what we received in Australia. They misled us on the timing of much travel giving the impression that we would reach places in time to do certain things or have free time. It would have been good to know in advance that a journey of just over 200km from Kathmandu to Pokhara [a very pleasant location] would take 9.5 hours and another 9 hours to return three days later! Fortunately the hotels were all excellent and the English tour director was a gem. A previous tour I did in India a few years ago - mainly in Rajasthan - was much better.

Due to a flight change about 3 weeks before the tour I did not have sufficient time [85 mins] at Delhi airport to go through Immigration, collect my case and get to domestic check-in which closed 45 minutes prior to the flight to Amritsar. A flight later in the day was full however I was prepared to wait at the airport for the first flight the next day [Monday]. I rang APT/Travelmarvel and was told by a lady that I had to be there on Sunday since the tour started early on Monday. The airline had met their requirements by offering to send me on the next day so I had had no option but to completely forget about that booking and look for new flights. I finished up booking with Thai Airways however finished up $1400 out of pocket. As it happened, getting to Amritsar, it was discovered that the English Tour Director and the UK tour members were not due to arrive in Amritsa until Monday afternoon so I would have been OK. Travelmarvel's information was totally incorrect. [It actually took two and a half hours to get through the formalities at Delhi airport; something that is well worth knowing!]
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Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Travelmarvel. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Travelmarvel. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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