Northern India

Fly to Delhi, India ; Meet Edutrips Representative at baggage claim & our coach bus will transfer you to your hotel. Later today you’ll visit the impressive Qutab Minar complex and Humayun’s Tomb, both World Heritage Sites. The Qutab Minar has a 5-storey, 72-metre victory tower of red sandstone. Humayun’s Tomb is a grand sandstone mausoleum in proper Mughal style.

Today you will drive to Jaipur, the ‘pink city and colourful capital of Rajasthan. There is so much to see in this elegant and astonishing city that you could spend days here without getting bored. Jaipur centre is a colourful mix of saris, sadhus, holy cows, spice markets, street vendors, camel carts, elephants, beggars, traffic, temples, forts and palaces. You’ll take a guided tour of this remarkable city, visiting the City Palace, the Observatory and the fairy-tale Palace of the Winds. Visit the imposing Amber Fort that lies just outside the city limits. From the battlements of the Amber Fort, you’ll have a wonderful view of the rocky hills and the smaller walls and forts constructed by the Rajputs and the Mughals in the area.

Today you’ll visit the stunning Fatehpur Sikri. The great ruler Akbar set up his capital here, and built a grand city, but after only 40 years the water supply became too difficult to maintain in this dry area, so all of the inhabitants packed up and moved on. They left behind a phenomenal collection of grand temples and palaces, with the ruins of old houses standing between them. Now it is an atmospheric ghost city, full of green parrots and monkeys. After visiting Fatehpur Sikri we will continue on to our hotel in Agra.

After and early breakfast we will depart for the Taj Mahal for an early sunrise visit. The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan as a token of his love for his deceased wife, and is undoubtedly the most romantic mausoleum in the world. After this, you’ll head for Agra Fort. This huge but restrained structure seems to be immersed in a dreamy atmosphere when it’s bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, which slants through the pillars and galleries. From its majestic walls and through its arches, you can see the Taj Mahal, just as Shah Jahan would have done centuries ago, when he was imprisoned here by his son.

Today you depart for Orchha, renowned for its breathtaking Temples. You will spend the day exploring the village along with the Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple and Lakshmi Narayan Temple.

Today you continueto another tranquil town that is much better known and famous for a series of impressive temples; Khajuraho. You’ll visit the western temples of Khajuraho accompanied by a local guide. The Khajuraho temples are about 1000 years old and they are still in incredibly good condition, even though there are only 22 of the original 85 temples still left. The many intricate carvings that cover the Khajuraho temples depict all kinds of scenes from daily life and your guide will explain the history that surrounds.

Today you will continue onward to Varanasi. Upon arrival to Varanasi you will have free time to do as you wish. You can walk down to the ghats and take an atmospheric evening stroll along the Ganges or relax at the hotel.

Today you will get up early in the morning for your private Ganges boat trip. At dawn this a particularly atmospheric experience. The Ganges is flanked by a series of ghats – broad stone staircases leading down to the water – that stretch for many miles along the river's edge. You can stroll along the traffic-free ghats, and attend the evening prayer ceremony on the main ghat where flower candles are set afloat on the river. This ‘puja’ ceremony, as well as ritual bathing, takes place at dawn too and you can take this all in from your boat trip. After your boat trip a local guide will take you on a heritage walk of the old city.

After breakfast you will depart for the airport and board your flight for home.