India: The Land of a Thousand Temples

Day 1: Origin - Delhi

Arrival in Delhi, reception, and transfer to the selected hotel. Check-in from 2:00 PM. The vibrant Delhi is one of the oldest cities in the world. In fact, it is formed by the junction of eight cities, built over several centuries by different emperors. In 1,000 years of history, Delhi has absorbed various aspects of numerous cultures, both local and foreign, and diverse religions, resulting in a city with a unique identity. In the afternoon, you will visit the incredible Lotus Temple, of the Bahá'í Faith, built in 1986. The temple has won numerous architectural awards and serves as a mother temple in the Indian subcontinent.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 2: Delhi

After breakfast, you will visit the Qutub Minar, the Victory Tower. Next, you will drive through the wide avenues of New Delhi, including the Parliament and the India Gate, until you reach the Gandhi Museum, which tells the story of India's most illustrious modern leader. Around lunchtime, you will visit the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara Temple, the largest Sikh temple in Delhi. Part of the visit will be dedicated to exploring the kitchen, which offers 10,000 free meals daily to people of any religion or caste. In the afternoon, you will go to Old Delhi, where you will take a rickshaw ride to uncover the secrets of local life and markets.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Delhi - Varanasi

After breakfast, at the appropriate time, depart for Delhi airport for your flight to Varanasi, a city built on the banks of the Ganges River that has been a pilgrimage site for millennia.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Varanasi

At dawn, you will take a boat ride along the sacred Ganges River, where you will witness Hindu rituals and cremations. Return to the hotel for breakfast, and then visit the majestic Sarnath, a revered site for Buddhists where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, gave his first sermon. In the late afternoon, you will go back to the Ganges to attend the Aarti ceremony in honor of the Hindu goddess Ganga. The ceremony takes place at sunset on the ghats along the Ganges River, where thousands of pilgrims gather daily.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Varanasi - Khajuraho

After breakfast, at the appropriate time, we head to Varanasi airport for our flight to Khajuraho, a city famous for the temples built by the Chandela dynasty warriors between the 10th and 11th centuries. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Khajuraho

After breakfast, you will visit Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its glorious temples that celebrate the sensual nature of human beings through erotic and mystical sculptures, representing the purest expression of Indian art. Afternoon free for independent activities.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Khajuraho - Orchha - Jhansi - Agra

After breakfast, depart for Jhansi (180 km – 4 hours of travel). On the way, visit Orchha, an ancient medieval city. At the appropriate time, depart for Jhansi train station for the train to Agra. Arrival and check-in at the hotel in Agra.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 8: Agra

After breakfast, visit the majestic Taj Mahal. This indescribable monument was built between 1630 and 1652 with the labor of approximately 22,000 men, brought from various cities in the East, to work on the incredible white marble mausoleum that Emperor Shah Jahan built in memory of his favorite wife, Aryumand Banu Begam, whom he called Mumtaz Mahal ("The Jewel of the Palace"). She died after giving birth to their 14th child.

Next, visit Agra Fort, a blend of fort and palace, which was built and embellished by several emperors and gives an insight into the splendor of India. Agra Fort is the most important fort in India, where great Mughal emperors lived and ruled the country. At the end of the day, return to the hotel.

IMPORTANT: The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 9: Agra - Jaipur

After breakfast, depart for Jaipur (240 km – 4/5 hours of travel), the capital of Rajasthan known as the Pink City. Arrival and check-in at the hotel in Jaipur. Rest of the day free.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 10: Jaipur

After breakfast, visit Amber Fort located 15 kilometers from Jaipur. On the way, stop to photograph the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), Jaipur's postcard landmark. After lunch, visit the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century, and the City Palace. At the end of the day, if time permits, take a walk through the old city and its bazaars.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 11: Jaipur - Udaipur

After breakfast, head to Udaipur (405 km, 6/7 hours of travel), a city known as the Venice of the East, considered the most romantic city in India, with its lakes, gardens, temples, and palaces: an oasis in the Thar Desert. Arrival in Udaipur and check-in at the hotel for the night.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 12: Udaipur

After breakfast, tour the city to visit the Udaipur Palace, located on the shores of Lake Pichola. In the palace, you will see the vast collection of paintings and porcelains, the folk museum, and the maidens' garden. You will also visit the Jagdish Temple, dedicated to the god Vishnu. After lunch, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola to appreciate the beauty of the city.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 13: Udaipur - Mumbai

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Mumbai. Transfer to the hotel for check-in. After lunch, visit the main attractions of the city: the Gateway of India; the famous Marine Drive; the hanging gardens of Malabar Hill, where the famous Towers of Silence, a symbol of Zoroastrianism, are located; Mahatma Gandhi's house-museum; and finally, the world-famous Dhobi Ghat, an open-air laundry in the city center.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 14: Mumbai

After breakfast, take a trip to Elephanta Island (1 hour by boat from the Gateway of India), where you will visit the famous caves built in the 6th century as temples of Shiva and other Hindu gods. After the visit, return to Mumbai and you will have the rest of the day free for independent activities.

Accommodation: Hotel

Included: Breakfast

Day 15: Mumbai - Origin

Morning free for last-minute shopping. After hotel check-out at 12:00 PM, at the appropriate time, depart for the airport for your return flight.

Included: Breakfast