North India Discovery

Upon your arrival at the Delhi Airport, our representative will pick you up and escort you to the hotel in our private car with chauffeur. After settling in, you can have a god rest in the hotel to recover from the jet lag and get fully prepared for the following India family holiday package.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini

Today we will begin with the iconic Raj Ghat, the resting place of Gandhi - the Father of India. Then we will move to the Jama Masjid which is the biggest mosque in India, built by King Shah Jahan (1592 - 1666). Afterwards, we will drive by the Red Fort for you to take some great photos, and get a glimpse of Chandni Chowk, the busiest shopping center in Delhi, by a special rickshaw ride through the crisscrossing lanes.

In the afternoon, we will delve into Indian Sikhism by a visit to the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Next, we will marvel at the grandeur of the Humayun’s Tomb and stand in awe of India’s highest brick tower, the Qutub Minar. Finally, we will visit the India Gate to capture memorable pictures, and then drive by the splendid Parliament House, President’s House and other government secretarial buildings on the way back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini

In the early morning, take a train to Amritsar. The train Swarna Shatabdi Express leaves New Delhi Railway at 7:20 and arrives at Amritsar at 13:30. Check into the hotel after arrival and our guide will take you out for sightseeing after a break.

★ Special Experience: Attari-Wagah Border Ceremony
Late in the afternoon, our guide will take you to the Attari-Wagah Border to watch the interesting flag-lowering ceremony, a lively daily military practice jointly conducted by the border security forces of India and Pakistan since 1959. You will see the dance-like military drill, with soldiers lifting their legs very high. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn, Amritsar

After breakfast, we will start the discovery of Amritsar from the renowned Golden Temple, characterized by a huge golden dome. It is a sacred pilgrimage site that every Sikh is expected to visit at least once in his or her life. Before entry, visitors are required to remove their shoes and cover their heads with turbans. Our guide will lead you to see the Community Kitchen inside, where free food is offered to over 100,000 devotees every day. 

Afterwards, we will move to another historical site, the Jallianwala Bagh, which witnessed one of the most remarkable freedom movements of India in 1919. Next, we will visit the beautiful Ram Bagh Garden and end the day with a view of the nearby Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama. Finally, our guide and the driver will escort you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn, Amritsar

After breakfast, we will start a road trip to Shimla by private car. During the long ride deep into the mountains, you can enjoy the stunning scenery on the way.

► Tip: Shimla is known as a British Himalayan town located on a ridge at the foothills of the Himalayas. It is an amazing hill station endowed with lush plants, cozy climate, and snow-capped mountains, and famous for snow sports, trekking, and bazaars.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Clarke, Shimla

We will spend a full day to explore Shimla, with the first stop to the Jakhoo Temple, home to the world’s tallest statue of Lord Hanuman, the Hindu god of monkey, with a height of 33 meters (108 feet). Next, we will head to the Himachal State Museum & Library, a Victorian building with a large collection of paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, and jewellery. Afterwards, the guide will take you to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) where you will learn about the colonial history of India. In the afternoon, we will proceed to a landmark - the Christ Church, a neo-Gothic style church built in 1857, and then take a walk at the nearby Scandal Corner, a popular meeting place. Finally, we will return to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Clarke, Shimla

Today, we will travel by private car to Manali, another hill station further north. We will arrive before dark and check into a local hotel.

► Tip: Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush forests, Manali is a wonderful destination for family holiday in India. Popular among thrill seekers, Manali offers many adventurous activities including paragliding, trekking, climbing, skiing and rafting.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Manu Allaya, Manali

Manali is blessed with an array of time-honored temples and relaxing hot springs. After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to visit the Hidimba Devi Temple, a 16th-century cave temple located beneath the Himalayas. Next, we will head to Old Manali to see the ruined forts and Pahari-style local residences. 

★ Special Arrangement: Hot Spring Time
In the afternoon, you will be taken to the Hot Sulphur Springs to enjoy your relaxing moment. The springs are said to have magical powers to heal skin and joint ailments.

At last, we will visit a Tibetan Buddhist temple before driving back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Manu Allaya, Manali

Today we will enjoy a full day tour of the Hampta Village, a tranquil village characterized by breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas. Walking on the boundless green land and embraced by the azure sky dotted with puffy clouds, you will be immersed in the enchanting beauty of the unspoiled nature and gain inner peace.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Manu Allaya, Manali

Today, we will extend our journey to Chandigarh, a beautiful well-planned city. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and have a short break. In the evening, our driver will bring you to the Sukhna Lake, a large artificial reservoir offering a tranquil view. Walking by the lake, you will feel the freshness of the breeze and be attracted by the golden sunset over the mirror-like water.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lemon Tree, Chandigarh

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the Rock Garden, a famous sculpture garden full of creative works. Next, we will visit the largest rose garden in Asia, the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, which has thousands of rose varieties and countless trees distributed in an artistic layout. After enjoying a leisurely walk and taking some photos, we will set off to the next city Rishikesh by private car.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Divine Resort, Rishikesh

Rishikesh is a peaceful small town perfect for pilgrimage, meditation and yoga. Today, our guided tour of Rishikesh will begin with a visit to the Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula, two magnificent suspension bridges spanning the Ganges. Next, we will head to the Sivananda Ashram, a famous yoga center with a history of more than 80 years, and then the Triveni Ghat, a holy ghat considered the largest in Rishikesh. Afterwards, we’ll spend some time in the Beatles Ashram, a serene ashram that used to be the International Academy of Meditation; the Geeta Bhawan, a large complex of buildings where devotees live freely; and finally the Parmarth Niketan, the largest ashram in Rishikesh with more than 1,000 rooms. 

★ Special Experience: Ganga Aarti Ceremony
In the evening, our guide will take you to the riverside ghat to watch the sacred ceremony. The head of the ashram sings bhajans, accompanied by tunes of all devotees. People pray together, like a mystical spiritual connection. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Divine Resort, Rishikesh

After breakfast, we will drive one hour to Haridwar, one of the seven holiest places in India. Our stops here include the 200-year-old Daksha Mahadev Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the peaceful Saptrishi Ashram, the Hindu pilgrim site - Pawan Dham, Haridwar’s holiest ghat - Kushavarta Ghat, and two Hindu temples - Mansa Devi Temple and Chandi Devi Temple. At last, we will watch the splendid Ganga Aarti at the Hari-Ki-Pauri Ghat. If you want to take nice photos to the Ganges River, Haridwar would be the best choice.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Haveli Hari Ganga

Take an early morning train to Agra. The train Kalinga Utkal Express leaves Haridwar Railway Station at 6:52 and arrives at Agra at 14:45. Upon arrival, our guide will escort you to the hotel for check-in and then lead you to visit the Agra Fort, a landmark 16th-century stronghold of the Mughal Dynasty.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson, Agra

★ Sunrise at Taj Mahal: As an icon of India, the Taj Mahal is a must-see for everyone. Unlike the traditional visits offered by other travel agencies, we will specially arrange an early entry to the Taj Mahal for you to to watch the sunrise, which would be the experience of a lifetime.

Later, we will take our private car to Jaipur. On the way, we will visit the Fatehpur Sikri, a 16th-century town that was once the capital of the Mughal Dynasty. Before dark, we will arrive in Jaipur and check into the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton

Today our guide will accompany you to visit the highlights of Jaipur, including the Amber Fort (with Mirror Palace inside), Jantar Mantar and the City Palace. We will also pass by the Jal Mahal and the famous Hawa Mahal, where you will have enough time to admire their appearances and take nice photos.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton

After breakfast, our driver will escort you to the Delhi Airport for your departure flight. We will arrive at the airport in the afternoon, so please book an evening flight to allow enough time for transfer. Wish you a happy journey home! Please feel free to let us know if you have further travel plan in India or elsewhere in the world.

Meals: Breakfast