Tour India and Nepal from the Ganges to the Himalayas
From the sacred River Ganges to the summits of the Himalayas, tour India and Nepal on a trip where adventure and discovery await. From the most exciting places to visit in Delhi to the towering peaks surrounding Kathmandu, discover the spirit, culture and nature of this fascinating region. Visit the Taj Mahal of Agra, experience the chaos and colour of India's villages and marvel at the daily pilgrimage to the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges. Delve into the history and religion of these two fascinating countries as you enjoy the highlights of India and Nepal.
Float among the clouds over Jaipur and watch an Indian sunrise from the basket of a hot air balloon
The Taj Mahal is not only an sumptuous masterpiece of Indian architecture, but also a truly meaningful stop on any traveller’s journey
Overlooking the picturesque scene of Moata Lake, the monumental Amber Fort is one sight that will forever be under India’s protection
Experience authentic Rajasthani luxury with a heritage stay at the lavish Bhanwar Vilas in Karauli
Old and New Delhi fuse to create a city that pays homage to past empires, while wrestling with its modern identity
For those with limited time, long travel days are kept to a minimum, which is perfect for visiting several icons of northern India
Old Delhi can be very busy and crowded. While it’s an exciting place to see local life moving around you, be aware that on the walking tour you’ll need to navigate through people, tight spaces and walkways.
Rajasthan can reach extremely high temperatures in the summer. While we aim to do our walking tours early in the morning when it’s cooler, remember to keep hydrated and to bring a hat, sunscreen, a long-sleeved shirt and anything else that will protect you from the sun.
We visit a number of temples on this trip, which requires a certain level of modesty. Please bring clothes that cover the arms and pants/skirts that go past the knees.
This trip crosses from India to Nepal on day 13
There are several long travel days on this trip incl Agra-Varanasi (approx. 12hrs) and the drive from Varanasi-Lumbini, incl crossing the border (10hours)
Long distance and overnight trains can often be delayed and occasionally cancelled due to heavy fog between Dec-Feb. Please see the transport section of the essential trip information.
1. A single supplement is available for this trip and is applicable for all nights with the exception of the overnight train.
2. Hot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate mornings from September to June and morning and evening from September to March. Morning flights depart around sunrise and evening flights late afternoon and last 60 mins. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your joining meeting on day 1 of your trip. Payment must be made by cash in either INR/AUD/USD/GBP only and is USD$250pp (subject to change). Flights are subject to weather conditions and tickets are fully refundable in case of poor weather.
3. As this is a combination trip, the composition of your group, as well as the group leader, may change on Day 6.
4. Using mud pack therapy the Archaeological Survey of India is planning to clean the four small canopies around the main dome of the Taj Mahal from the start of April 2018. This will be followed by the cleaning of the main dome but that could take some time as ASI is yet to calculate its load bearing capacity. The ASI’s science branch officials have stated that cleaning the four canopies will take approximately 2 months while main dome cleaning will be completed in phases. We will continue to update as information becomes available.
Our Highlights of India & Nepal trips score an average of 4.53 out of 5 based on 17 reviews in the last year.
well organised with a good variety of things to see. make sure you research the time of year that you go....the scenery would be a lot different after the monsoons
Review submitted 11 Apr 2018
India exceeded my expectations! This is a great itinerary which covers many experiences. It was good arriving in Nepal last as it is a lot quieter and more relaxing at the end of a busy trip. I loved the river boat ride and the overnight camp spot was awesome, you would never imagine where you were, not a sole around, beautiful sunset and sunrise and lovely food. This trip is very busy with many early morning starts but well worth it at the end of the day. The overnight train is nothing to worry about. You do visit a couple of cremation sites which i found confronting. This is a combination trip so be ready to change groups on day 5. They need to sort out the tip kitty for people doing the combination trip so they aren't paying for 2 trips at the same time, but that's a minor thing. Check the time of year you travel, it can be very hot, dry and dusty especially with no cover on the boat or jeep in Chitwan. The best time to get to Nepal is October when it is all green, not dusty like when we went. Anuj was an awesome leader. We had a great trip and made a few great new friends. I recommend this trip!
Review submitted 05 Apr 2018