Treasures of Northern India

Take your own spiritual journey through India. Visit romantic Udaipur, the magnificent Taj Mahal and the sacred city of Varanasi.

Day 1 London/Delhi
Depart London Heathrow on your overnight flight to Delhi.

Day 2 Delhi
Delhi is an ideal introduction to colourful and vibrant India. On arrival this morning, transfer to The Taj Mahal Hotel in an exclusive residential area of the city.

Day 3 Delhi
Take a full day to see both Old and New Delhi, including the Red Fort, Jama Masjid mosque and the memorial to Gandhi on the banks of the Yamuna River. After lunch visit Humayun's Tomb - an early example of Mughal architecture.

Day 4 Delhi/Udaipur
You have the opportunity today to visit Deepalaya School. This A&K Philanthropy project educates deprived children from Delhi and aims to provide equal opportunities for girls. Later, fly to the romantic city of Udaipur where you will stay at the Taj Lake Palace, a hotel that appears to float on the waters of Lake Pichola.

Day 5 Udaipur
After exploring the City Palace along the shores of Lake Pichola, enjoy a private visit to the Crystal Gallery in Fateh Prakesh Palace.

Day 6 Udaipur/Jaipur
Take a short flight to Jaipur. See the famous Palace of the Winds that allowed women of the court to watch life in the bazaar from behind stone-carved screens. See also the spectacular outdoor Jantar Mantar Observatory that houses instruments for calculating the Hindu calendar. Stay at the historic Rambagh Palace.

Day 7 Jaipur
Begin the day at the Amber Fort, continuing later to Dera Amer just outside of the city for an elephant ride with a skilled mahout.

Day 8 Jaipur/Agra
Journey through rural India to Agra, stopping en route at Fatehpur Sikri. Enjoy a musical performance of Mohabbat-E-Taj, depicting the epic love story of the Emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Enjoy the view of the Taj Mahal from your room at the Oberoi Amarvilas.

Day 9 Agra
Awake early to watch sunrise over the Taj Mahal, considered the world's finest example of Mughal architecture. After breakfast take a tour of Agra Fort.

Day 10 Agra/Jhansi/Orchha/Khajuraho
Travel by express train to Jhansi, gateway to the abandoned Hindu temples of Orchha. After lunch, continue by road to Khajuraho where you will stay at the Lalit Temple View.

Day 11 Khajuraho
Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in the country. They are famous for their exquisite carving and pay homage in delicate detail to Hindu deities.

Day 12 Khajuraho/Varanasi
Fly this afternoon to the sacred city of Varanasi. See the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery in the buried city of Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon 25 centuries ago. Stay at the beautifully restored intimate Taj Nadesar Palace.

Day 13 Varanasi/Delhi
Take a cruise at sunrise on the sacred River Ganges to view the ghats, the wide stone steps leading down to the water where locals and pilgrims alike cleanse themselves literally and spiritually. Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi this afternoon.

Day 14 Delhi/London
Take your return flight to London. Alternatively, you may like to extend your journey with a few days at the retreat of Ananda in the foothills of the Himalaya.

Extend to the Himalaya
Ananda is a retreat in the foothills of the Himalaya and offers Ayurveda treatments, yoga and nature walks.

Pricing
At A&K all of our journeys are individually tailored to suit your needs and timescale. However, as a guide, a 12 day journey in India will cost from £4,425 per person based on two adults sharing with flights from the UK and subject to availability.