Northern India & Nepal with Tauck

Enjoy complimentary airport lounge access before your overnight flight from the UK to Delhi, arriving the following day. 

On arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, an included transfer will bring you to your luxury hotel in the heart of New Delhi, within striking distance of several of the city’s most iconic landmarks. After settling into your room, you’ll receive a welcome briefing from your Tauck Director, followed by a guided orientation tour in which you’ll pass by the Secretariat building, Parliament House, the Presidential Palace and India Gate. You’ll also make a stop at the Gandhi Smriti Museum, paying homage to one of India’s most influential political and spiritual leaders, Mahatma Gandhi. In the evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. 

Having gained an initial feel for New Delhi, today you’ll delve into the rich history of Old Delhi, exploring two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Your guided tour begins with a visit to Humayun’s Tomb, constructed for the Mughal Emperor Humayun and his family during the 1570s. This majestic red sandstone structure was the first garden-tomb built on the Indian subcontinent, and later inspired the design of the Taj Mahal. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your sightseeing with a visit to the Qutb Minar Victory Tower, India’s tallest minaret and the tallest brick minaret in the world at 72.5 metres. It’s adorned with intricate carvings and verses from the Quran, forming part of one of the earliest surviving mosque complexes in India. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

This morning, you’ll board a flight from Delhi to Kathmandu, set in a bowl-shaped valley surrounded by the Himalayas. You’ll be spending the next three nights at a luxury heritage hotel which prides itself on authenticity, warm hospitality and sustainability. It houses an extensive collection of carefully preserved woodwork carvings, evoking the ambience of a living museum that offers a genuine insight into Nepalese culture and tradition. Indeed, it comprises a cluster of traditional Newari houses built around secluded courtyards, providing a peaceful oasis hidden away from the bustle of the city streets. This evening, you’ll visit a golden-roofed temple on the banks of the Bagmati River and enjoy a taste of authentic Nepalese cuisine at one of the hotel’s distinguished restaurants.

Prepare for a truly spectacular outing this morning as you take to the skies on a flightseeing tour, soaring high above the snow-draped peaks of the Himalayas, with magnificent views towards Mount Everest. Back on the ground in the Kathmandu Valley, you’ll explore Patan Durbar Square, which hosts a cluster of temples and pagodas clustered around the old royal palace. You may also be tempted by a rickshaw ride, an excellent way to explore the area in greater depth, before heading to a local restaurant for lunch. Back at the hotel, a sherpa who has climbed Mount Everest will give a fascinating talk, including a question and answer session, followed by dinner*.

The following day, begin your explorations at the hilltop Kopan Monastery, where Tibetan Buddhist monks start their day with prayers, meditation and chanting. After witnessing this traditional ceremony, visit the famous stupa of Boudhanath, an enormous spherical temple dating back to the fifth century. Dozens of monasteries surround this immense shrine adorned with prayer flags and prayer wheels. After lunch, make a short stop in the medieval town of Patan before returning to your hotel in Kathmandu. 

* Dinner included on day 5, but not day 6

This morning, fly from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the foothills of the Himalayas, renowned for its extraordinary variety of flora and fauna. It’s home to one of the few remaining populations of one-horned Asiatic rhinos as well as Bengal tigers. Check into your luxury riverside safari lodge and enjoy lunch before setting off on a river safari by boat, accompanied by sundowner drinks. Dinner is then served back at the lodge.

The following day, you’ll head out in an open-topped vehicle for morning and afternoon safaris in Chitwan National Park, a thrilling opportunity to spot a diverse array of wildlife up close. Of course, keep your eyes peeled for rhinos and tigers – but there’s so much else to see, including elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and leopards. Back at base, you’ll hear from an expert naturalist while enjoying cocktails, followed by a special dinner and a traditional dance performance. 

Stay: Meghauli Serai

Catch a flight back to Kathmandu this morning before exploring Bhaktapur, the third-largest city in the Kathmandu Valley. Much of its historic centre is free from traffic, making it a pleasure to explore on foot. As you stroll among its cobbled streets, you’ll discover impressive craftsmanship, ornate temples, bustling courtyards and grand squares. In the afternoon, you’ll continue east to Dhulikel, an ancient Newari hilltop town with wonderful views of the Himalayas. You’ll be spending the next two nights here at an upscale wellness retreat that offers delicious cuisine, yoga sessions and spa treatments rooted in traditional Himalayan wellness philosophies.

The next day is free for you to unwind and recharge in these tranquil surroundings. Perhaps enjoy a dip in the pool, indulge in a massage, or join a yoga or meditation class. Later on, enjoy a singing bowl demonstration and a cooking workshop followed by dinner at the hotel. 

Stay: The Dwarika's Himalayan Wellbeing

You’ll bid farewell to Nepal today, taking a flight from Kathmandu back to Delhi, from which you’ll make the drive south to Agra, the capital of the Mughal Empire in the 16th-17th centuries and home to some of India’s most recognisable landmarks. In fact, you’ll be staying just a stone’s throw away from the Taj Mahal. Your base here is the fabulous Oberoi Amarvilas, which draws inspiration from traditional Mughal palace architecture, replete with beautifully landscaped gardens, pools, elegant fountains and graceful pavilions. You’ll be treated to uninterrupted views of the Taj Mahal, just 600 metres away. This evening, enjoy dinner at a choice of two exquisite on-site restaurants.

The following morning, you’ll have the chance to explore the Taj Mahal up close. This resplendent white marble mausoleum was built in the 17th century, commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983 and is included as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. Next up is a visit to Agra Fort, a vast, red sandstone complex of mosques and palaces built during the 16th century. This evening’s Maharajah dinner is a special one; ladies will be shown how to wear their choice of traditional sari while men will be shown how to wear traditional turbans. 

Take the train this morning from Agra to Jhansi, from which you’ll drive to Khajuraho, home to a collection of ancient, UNESCO-listed Hindu and Jain temples and sculptures built between the 9th-10th centuries by the Chandella Dynasty. Built from sandstone, these temples are regarded as some of the finest examples of Indian Nagara-style architecture. 

From Khajuraho, you’ll drive to Bandhavgarh National Park, home to one of the highest concentrations of Bengal tigers in India. While spotting one of these elusive creatures is rare, largely owing to their excellent camouflage and tendency to stay hidden among the thick jungle, there’s always a possibility – so be sure to keep a close eye out. Besides tigers, Bandhavgarh is also home to leopards, deer, sloth bears, wild boars and plenty of other wildlife. After lunch, you’ll embark on the first of a series of jungle safaris in an open-topped Jeep. In the evening, a lecture about India’s tiger conservation practices will take place before dinner.

Over the next couple of days, you’ll head out on additional safaris in the Bandhavgarh Forest, providing further wildlife spotting opportunities. There’s also the option to visit a local village on day 16, which will give you an insight into the traditional way of life in this rural corner of Madhya Pradesh. Throughout your time here, you’ll be staying at one of the region’s finest safari lodges with cosy cottage suites spread across 40 acres of lush greenery. When you’re not out on safari, it’s a delightful environment in which to unwind, with optional wellness treatments and an outdoor pool shaded by Mahua trees.

It’s quite the contrast today as you swap the wilds of Bandhavgarh National Park for the cosmopolitan urban buzz of Mumbai on India’s Arabian Coast. Following your flight, which arrives in the afternoon, you’ll receive a brief guided orientation tour of the city’s key landmarks en route to your seafront hotel in the upscale Nariman Point area. Once you’ve settled in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

The final full day of your trip presents the opportunity to explore Mumbai, India’s economic powerhouse, starting with a visit to the Gateway of India. This grand waterfront monument was built to commemorate the 1911 visit of King George V and Queen Mary during the era of the British Raj. You’ll then explore the city’s Heritage area, including a stop at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, whose fusion of Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture has received UNESCO World Heritage recognition. It’s a masterpiece of Gothic spires, vaulted roofs, stone arches, intricate carvings, flying buttresses and neoclassical sculptures.

Spend the afternoon at leisure before gathering for a farewell cocktail reception at your hotel – a chance to exchange stories, reflect and reminisce about your Northern India and Nepal adventure ahead of your final evening.

Enjoy one final breakfast at your hotel before a transfer brings you to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in time for your flight back home.