India: Spiritual Splendors

Connections: Authentic travel at a great value.

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Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVE IN DELHI

Arrive in Delhi, where an A&K representative is on hand to greet you.

The Taj Palace Hotel

Day 2: DELHI / India’s Capital

This morning, visit the A&K Philanthropy-supported Deepalaya School, which supports the education of local underprivileged children, before starting your tour of New Delhi. Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Humayun’s Tomb, a red-sandstone predecessor to the Taj Mahal, and 13th-century Qutub Minar. Meet your fellow guests tonight for a welcome dinner.

The Taj Palace Hotel   |   Meals: B D

Day 3: DELHI / Treasures of Old Delhi

Tour Old Delhi for a glimpse into some of India’s most historic sites, including the 17th-century Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Take a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar. Continue to the Red Fort, with its red sandstone walls extending for more than a mile. Afterward, visit Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. The afternoon is at leisure.

The Taj Palace Hotel   |   Meals: B L

Day 4: VARANASI / The Holy City

Fly to Varanasi, located on the Ganges River. Millions of pilgrims flock to Varanasi’s ghats (steps leading into the river), where the devout wash away their sins. This afternoon, visit Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism. Explore the ruins of a once-flourishing Buddhist monastery and a Buddhist art and sculpture museum. This evening, visit the ghats during the Aarti ceremony, as worshippers pray near the water by the light of candles and lanterns.

The Gateway Hotel Ganges Varanasi   |   Meals: B D

Day 5: KHAJURAHO / Medieval Temples

Discover India’s spirituality from another perspective — by taking an unforgettable sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, floating past ghats as worshippers begin to appear on the banks. Afterward, fly to Khajuraho, where you spend the afternoon discovering its exquisitely carved temples.

Hotel Chandela, Khajuraho   |   Meals: B L

Day 6: JHANSI / On the Road to the Taj Mahal

Travel from Khajuraho to Jhansi, stopping en route at Orchha. Pass by small villages and fields plowed by ox carts, in time arriving at the 17th-century Orchha Palace and its group of Hindu temples. Enjoy lunch near the temples, and then board a train to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal; your luxury hotel offers private views of this monument from every room.

The Oberoi Amarvilás   |   Meals: B L

Day 7: AGRA / The Greatest Monument to Love

Visit the Taj Mahal early this morning to watch as the sunrise decorates its sheer white surface in rosy pinks. Afterward, visit the Agra Fort before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Return to the Taj Mahal at sunset to watch as the light dances off the crisp white marble.

The Oberoi Amarvilás   |   Meals: B D

Day 8: JAIPUR / The Pink City

Drive to Jaipur, stopping en route at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch in Bharatpur, continue to the “pink city,” as Jaipur is often known, for its pink-hued sandstone buildings.

Rambagh Palace   |   Meals: B L

Day 9: JAIPUR / Mughal Treasures

Visit the Amber Fort, with its distinct Mughal architecture, and then set off for a local village to ride an elephant through the countryside. After lunch, make a photo stop at Hawa Mahal (or Palace of the Winds), and visit the City Palace. You also stop at the Jantar Mantar Observatory, which houses the world’s largest sundial. This evening, join your fellow guests for a farewell dinner.

Rambagh Palace   |   Meals: B L D

Day 10: DELHI / Return to the Capital

Fly back to Delhi, where the remainder of day is at leisure.

Trident Gurgaon   |   Meals: B

Day 11: DEPART DELHI

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: B