Holidays in North India, from tailor made to super luxury - we are the India specialist tour operator from the UK.

ONE OF INDIA’S MOST TRADITIONAL STATES, RAJASTHAN - ‘The Land of Kings’ - fiercely resisted conquest by various waves of invaders who swept over the sub-continent from earliest times. As a result it has preserved a unique cultural integrity. A wild and beautiful desert land, it rejoices in a romantic history of often warring princely states whose deeds are embellished by tales of chivalry and romance. Yet Rajasthan is also celebrated for its ancient and vibrant spiritual tradition, a living heritage passed down through saints and shrines of the Hindu, Jain and Islamic faiths, and its vibrant artistic creativity. Thus a visit here makes an ideal introduction to the magic that is India, and gives a glimpse of the fascinating variety of a country that is like no-where else on earth.

Our accommodation will be in keeping with the spirit of Princely India. We shall be staying in Heritage hotels - palaces and guest-houses that, once the homes of maharajahs and local rulers, will provide us with a gratifying and memorable balance of comfort and character, elegance and atmosphere.

Itinerary at Glance: Delhi-Agra-Ranthambore-
Jaipur-Bikaner-Jaisalmer--Khuri-
Jodhpur - Udaipur- Delhi.

Highlights:
Camel Safari in Thar Desert.
Taj Mahal.
Tigers of Ranthambore.
People, culture, Forts, palaces and havelies.

Day-by-day Itinerary
Day 1: In-flight to Delhi
Day 2: Arrive Delhi, assistance on arrival and transfer to ‘Hotel Nikko’ ( 5* with garden and swimming pool). Morning free to relax. Afternoon - guided tour of Old Delhi, including the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk market.
Day 3: Fly to Srinagar, Kashmir.
After early breakfast transfer to the airport for 1 hour flight to Srinagar over the Pir Panjal range of mountains. Arrive Srinagar, and transfer to your houseboat. Afternoon free to relax.
Day 4: After breakfast take a shikara ride through the lotus lakes, returning to houseboat for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the Mughal gardens of Nishat and Shalimar. (Breakfast, lunch , dinner and overnight in houseboat)
Day 5: Very early morning visit, by shikara, to the floating Vegetable Market, with breakfast served in your shikara, then return to the houseboat. After lunch we visit the claimed tomb of Jesus Christ in Srinagar Old Town. Overnight in houseboat.
Day 6: After breakfast drive to Gulmarg (the meadow of flowers) . Afternoon time for horse riding and gentle walks through the forest. In the early evening we return to houseboat.
Day 7: After breakfast visit to Shankarachayara temple and Kashmir Museum, with lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch drive to Dachigam for safari though the park, to, hopefully, see Hangul (Kashmir Stag), Himalayan Brown and Black Bear and birds. Dinner at the Park and return to houseboat.
Day 8: A day to relax, Shikara ride, or, for shopping. Overnight in houseboat. All meals and overnight in houseboat.
Day 9: After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi and onward to your home country.

Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow for Delhi.
Day 2 Arrive Delhi. Afternoon sightseeing tour of old Delhi. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3 Delhi - Amritsar (Train)
Morning train to Amritsar. Afternoon sightseeing tour to Golden Temple. We will also be visiting Jallianwalla Bagh, which played a major role in India’s struggle for Independance. Overnight in hotel.
Day 4 Amritsar - Dharamsala (by road)
After breakfast drive to Dharamsala, a very scenic drive after Pathankot. Evening free. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 5 Dharamsala (Rest/Explore)
Today explore and enjoy Dharamsala and the surrounding area. The Dalai Lama Residence and monastery at McLeodganj, Tibetan Handicraft centre, museum and a visit to a mountain view point for a panoramic view of the Dhauladhar Mountain Range is a must. Overnight in hotel.
Day 6 Dharamsala - Kangra (by road)
Leisurely and beautiful drive to Kangra Valley. Arrive and transfer to hotel, surrounded by tea gardens. The Palace was built in 1930 as a Summer retreat. The old colonial style furniture, teak panelled lobby and wide verandas give the hotel a graceful and elegant look. Overnight in hotel.
Day 7 Kangra (Rest/Explore)
At leisure to visit tea gardens, Tashigang monastery with a birdseye view of Kangra Valley and Bajeshwari Devi temple. Overnight in hotel.
Day 8 Kangra - Manali (by road)
After breakfast drive to Manali, via Kullu, noted for colourful town and scenery. A very beautiful drive along River Beas. Arrive Manali and transfer to the hotel.
Day 9 Manali - Rothang - Manali (by road)
Today if weather permits we will drive to the 3978 metre high Rothang pass for a view of Himalayas. OR, Visit to Naggar Castle, from where there are some fine view of Kullu Valley. Hidamba Temple and Vashist hot water springs and stroll around the colourfull bazaar.
Day 10 Manali - Shimla (by road)
Today’s drive is long but rewarding, taking you to Shimla the former summer capital of the British Raj from 1864 to 1947.
Day 11 Shimla (Rest/Sightseeing)
Today visit Wildflower Hall at 2593 mts, the former residence of Indian Commander-in-chief Lord Kitchener. From here there are superb views back to Shimla and out to mountain peaks of the Pir Panjal and Badrinath ranges. Also visit the Mall, Christ Church and Viceregal Lodge, and museum.
Day 12 Shimla - Chandigarh - Delhi (road & train)
A very beautiful drive to Chandigarh to join the Shatabdi Express for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to the hotel.
Day 13 Morning free. Afternoon visit New Delhi and the formal splendour of Sir Edwin Lutyen’s architecture with its wide tree lined avenues and imposing government buildings - there will be time for shopping, too! After dinner we will drive you back to the international airport for your flight to home.
Day 14 Early morning flight back to the UK.

Your first day will be spent in the exciting atmosphere of India’s capital city, Delhi, where you can recover from your international flight.
The following day, your trip to “the hidden kingdom” begins with a flight to Leh, the capital of the Tibetan influenced kingdom of Ladakh, flying over the Himalayas, watching as they increase in size and majesty passing below the wings of the aircraft.
Here you will spend time acclimatising and visiting the local bazaar, quite different from the others you will see in India, with the Tibetan traders and locals in colourful traditional costumes surrounded by their wares; huge white chortens (stupas); massive prayer wheels, turned by passers-by to send prayers to the heavens and further away in the Indus valley, huge Tibetan Tantric Gompas (monasteries) clinging precariously to the mountain sides. Happy, smiling monks in their red ochre robes, praying before golden images of the Buddha and other ‘saints’ lit by the light of flickering butter lamps, deep sounding gongs, bells and cymbals creating an atmosphere which has to be experienced to be believed.
Bargain with the Tibetan and Kashmiri traders in the bazaar for exotic clothing, wonderful locally made jewellery, or simple pieces of Tibetan turquoise and red coral, gathered from the high plains of the Tibetan plateau.
And a high point of this tour, which consists of so many, will be a visit to a Tibetan noble family to spend an hour or so in their home, where they will be happy to offer you Tibetan butter tea, chang (a beer made from fermented barley) and their staple foodstuff, tsampa, which is roasted barley flour mixed with the butter tea.