Incredible India tour

Incredible India tour

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8 Days From

$1060

Incredible India tour

8 Days Starting and ending in 28.704059,77.102490

Visiting: India

Tour operator:

Encounters Travel

Tour code:

28

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

All Ages / Not applicable

Age range:

8-95

Special diets catered:

Request dietary needs

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

Wildlife Tours

From: $1060

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

This 8-day India tour is the perfect introduction to this fascinating country, covering the iconic 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur with an additional village stop included at the Suroth Mahal.

This India holiday starts in Delhi, taking in both new and old sides to the city. Old Delhi, the home of the Mughal Empire centuries ago, boasts a wealth of fascinating history, beautiful architecture, great street food, and vibrant lifestyle, while New Delhi's architecture, religious sites and modern aspects form an intriguing contrast. We know that no visit to Delhi is complete without an iconic rickshaw ride or a taste of the world famous street food, that's why these experiences have been included at no additional cost!

Moving on to Agra, we'll firstly visit the Sheroes cafe for lunch, a great little NGO, supporting victims of acid attacks which we're proud to support. We'll then join a local villager who will escort us on a Mughal Heritage Walk through villages and farmland on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River to the Taj Mahal. This walking tour supports the local community and provides a fascinating insight into village life in Agra as well as providing great views of the Taj Mahal not normally seen. A sunrise tour of the Taj then follows before we head out into the countryside for a night in a converted palace and explore the village and surroundings, getting a real feel for rural Indian life.

As we move on to Jaipur, we visit the huge Step Well at Abanheri with its 3,500 steps and 13 stories (you might recognise it from the Great Exotic Marigold movie). Whilst in the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, capital of the arid state of Rajasthan, we'll visit the Amber Fort, City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory before exploring the city's famous craft and produce markets on foot and join a block printing workshop.

After returning to Delhi, you have the option of joining an optional tour to the huge Akshardam Temple, for their aweinspiring multi-media show.

The accommodations used on this tour have been carefully selected and include a home-stay style hotel whilst in Delhi, a modern property in Agra and heritage hotels in Jaipur and at Suroth Mahal.

Highlights

  • Old and New Delhi, Taj Mahal, Agra, local village in Suroth Mahal, Pink city of Jaipur, hill top fort, Abhaneri step well

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Day 1: Welcome To Delhi: Transfer To Hotel Included

Once you arrive in Delhi, you'll be met by one of our local staff, who will transfer your hotel. Once you're settled in, we'll run through the tour itinerary for the next few days, brief you on the local area and arrange a time to collect you tomorrow.

Day 2 : Day 2: Exploring Delhi: Rickshaw Ride & Street Food Tasting

Your day starts with a morning tour of India's capital, New Delhi. Built on the banks of the Yamuna river, New Delhi is a beautiful blend of a historical past and a vibrant present.

Day 3 : Day 3: Head To Agra. Sheroes Hangout: Mughal Heritage Walk. First Glimpse Of The Taj Mahal

We head to Agra this morning, home of the famous Taj Mahal. After arriving in Agra we'll make a stop for lunch at the Sheroes Hangout Cafe The cafe was set up by the Chhanv Foundation and is run by victirms of acid attacks. The cafe works to raise awareness of acid attacks in India and to empower those who have sadly been the victims of these heinous crimes. Prior to gaining employment in the cafe, many of the 'Sheroes' led solitary lives, rarely going outside due to shame associated with their scars. At Encounters Travel we're proud to support such an organisation, which has the sole aim of helping these women find acceptance, a supportive community and a means of income. Lunch will be included whilst at the cafe.

Day 4 : Day 4: Taj Mahal Sunrise. Drive To Suroth Mahal: Village Walking Tour

We start today early for our tour of the Taj Mahal. Truly one of the wonders of the world this elaborate monument to love was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and took over twenty-two years to complete. Sunrise is a great time to visit as the light changes gradually with the colours of the Taj changing too.
After breakfast we leave the region's popular tourist areas and head into the heart of rural Rajasthan to the small town of Suroth. The property was a former palace, now welcoming guests as a hotel, but retaining its heritage charm, with rooms painted with murals.
The afternoon sees us exploring the village, interacting with the local villagers, getting invaluable insight into seeing their way of life. Our walking tour will pass by local shops, down narrow streets, we'll visit a small temple and perhaps even visit a local barber shop where you can have a shave or head massage. In the evening we'll have a cooking demonstration before enjoying dinner at the hotels restaurant.

Day 5 : Day 5: To Jaipur Via The Abhaneri Step Well. Optional Bollywood Movie Or Cooking Demo

Today we head to Jaipur, the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan in Western India. Enroute, we'll visit the Abhaneri step well, the largest and deepest step well in the world, which boasts 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. You may recognise this as the place that Sonny tried to express his feelings for Sunaina in the recent movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Day 6 : Day 6: Amber Fort & Jaipur City. Block Printing Workshop

You have an option of going on an early morning hot air balloon ride over Jaipur, flying over its palaces, forts and lakes - a truly mesmerising experience.

Day 7 : Day 7: Return To Delhi (Optional Multimedia Show At The Akshardam Temple)

We leave Jaipur today to head back to Delhi where our tour will end. You can use your remaining time in Delhi for last minute shopping, exploration of join our optional visit to the Swaminarayan Akshardham a Hindu mandir and a spiritual-cultural campus, home to millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture and architecture to witness the mesmerizing Sahaj Anand water show - which makes use of multicoloured lasers, under-water flames, video projection, water jets combine to provide a captivating experience which tells the story of Kena Upanishad - a Vedic Sanskrit text.

Day 8 : Day 8: Bon Voyage! Airport Transfer Included

You have some free time to buy any gifts for your loved ones back home before we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home.

What's Included

What's Not Included

Mode of Transport

A/C minivan/minibus

Accommodation

3 to 4-star hotels and heritage properties

Check out our Q&As

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.

    Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:

    India: Additional vaccinations: Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Yellow fever rules for India are quite complicated and lengthy. Please read the WHO guidance.

    Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. In general the north eastern regions of India including Assam and Orissa are considered high risk,while the rest of India is generally considered low enough risk that anti-malarial tablets are not necessary for most travellers doing relatively short tours.

    Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and to hand if necessary.

    Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.

  • What currency is used in India?

    Rupee (INR; symbol Rs) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rs 2,000, 1000, 500, 200, 50, 20, 10 and 1 Coins are in denominations of Rs 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50 paise (Rs 0.5). Note: The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Sometimes smaller vendors will not take bills larger than Rs 500. It is best to carry a range of rupee notes if you are shopping at bazaars and local markets.



    Note: You must present your passport whenever you change currency or travellers cheques. Commission for foreign exchange is becoming increasingly rare; if it is charged, the fee is nominal.



    Credit cards: In major cities, the full cadre of banks cards are generally accepted including debit cards, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. However, in smaller towns and villages, choice is generally narrowed to cash or MasterCard and Visa.



    ATM: 24 hour ATM machines can be found in all the major cities and most large towns. Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, Maestro and Plus are amongst the most commonly accepted cards.



    Travellers cheques: These are gradually getting less accepted but may still be changed at larger banks and some larger hotels. The most widely accepted currencies include US Dollars and Pounds Sterling. Some banks may refuse to change certain brands of traveller's cheques whilst others may exchange quite happily.

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    The tour price does not include entrance fees to the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. This allows for fluctuations in the prices set by the local authorities, which do change from time to time.

    You should currently allow approx. US$114 per person to cover these entrance fees (this includes one visit to the Taj Mahal). You will also need to cover the cost of entrance to any other extra sites that you may wish to visit that are not listed in the main tour itinerary. Your guide will offer to collect the entrance fee cost from everyone at the start of the tour and pay on your behalf, or you can arrange them yourself as you go along.

  • Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

    Most international airlines restrict you to between 20kg and 23kg per person of luggage to go in the hold of the plane. Domestic flights often have smaller allowances around 15kg. As airline rules vary we recommend that you take no more than 20kg of luggage if your tour just includes international flights, and no more than 15kg if there are any domestic flights included in your itinerary. Please ask us for details if you are unsure about luggage allowances on your tour. Any excess baggage fees will be your responsibility to cover. Most airlines allow between 5kg and 10kg for hand luggage so we suggest that you take no more than 5kg unless you have confirmed that your airline(s) will allow more than this.

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    Most nationalities (including UK, USA, European, Australian, Canadian) will need to arrange their Indian tourist visa in advance. A new online e-visa system is available which makes the process more straightforward than before. You can make your application online at indiavisaonline.

    Visa requirements for India can and do change regularly and we suggest that you arrange your Indian visa early and re-check your specific visa requirements prior to travel for any changes.

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    The tour price includes a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in New Delhi airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers.

  • Is travel insurance compulsory?

    Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.

  • When is my balance payment due?

    60 days prior to departure

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s

  • Can I transfer my booking to someone else?

    Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

EdinburghBlair  

Tailor made tour of India

February 2017

This is our fifth trip orgainsed by Encounters and the very efficicient and thougtful Anthony Horrobin and his colleages in India. We travelled in Rajastan and the Punjab. All the key sites eg Taj Mahal, Amber Foort etc are amazing of course but sometimes people do not go further afield. You should! Johdpur and Udaipur have beautiful sites and very attractive hotels and restaurants. They are also excelllent for shopping! Udaipur's lake setting is utterly beautiful. The Amet Haveli on its shores is one of the lovelies hotels I have every stayed in Amritsar and the Golden Temple are too little visited. They are extraordinary and so full of history. The Encounters arrangements went without a hitch. Two of the gudes were quite outstanding but all were good. The cars and drivers superb and attentive.

Hector C  

Incredible India!

March 2022

Just finished up the Incredible India tour, what an amazing experience! If you’re expecting every modern comfort and can’t be in the heat too long, this might not be for you. However, you would miss out on the experience to taste the most flavorful, colorful, and energetic culture that exists in this world. I would describe this tour as a Golden Triangle+ (it goes to a couple more towns/villages) On most stops a local tour guide would join your group and give you a thorough explanation and interesting facts of the monuments, palaces, forts, etc. They were all fantastic. Not only they taught you the history but also made sure you visited markets, small villages, and mingled with the locals that were going about their daily lives. For this trip, we made sure we picked a date that included Holi festival. This was very special as we celebrated Holi in a very small village (Tordi). We got to play with the colors in a small village full of wonderful kids and people that were just as curious of us as we were of them. We had a blast with the colors. Our driver, Mr. Singh will always be a friend. In typical Sikh manner he was always there to save the day whenever anything went wrong. He did it always with a huge smile and would throw in a joke or two. The accommodations were very well selected. As the tour description states, the heritage hotels were the absolute best. The hospitality was in the true Indian way. Both the Khandela Haveli and the Tordi Garh were great. I wish all hotels were in that style. Booking this trip had its major challenges caused by India entry restrictions related to COVID-19. Encounters Travel did an excellent job recognizing these challenges and modifying their policies. I feel like they were more than fair in recognizing the uncertainties of traveling during a pandemic. Ant Horrobin took us by the hand throughout the entire process and kept us up to date with all the changes. Thanks to him we decided to go on with the trip and we could not be any happier! Highly recommend.

ccollins2015  

India express tour with ranthambore extension

November 2014

My husband and I went on this tour in November 2014. It was an amazing experience. We had never been to India before and I think this was the perfect introduction to the country. Everyone involved with the tour were friendly, informative and helpful. Our driver throughout the nine day india express portion was a consummate professional and lovely person. Everyone has their own idea of what they want in a hotel and in my opinion all the hotels were great and very different from each other. I would say the Jaipur hotel we stayed in was the winner for charm and the Churu hotel the winner for quirkiness. It was certainly a whirlwind nine days and I loved that the company gave us the option to see rural life as well as the more tourist heavy areas( or touristic as the locals called it). The Ranthambore extension gave us another view of the country. We travelled by train and and although we were most interested in seeing tigers, they did not cooperate with us. Everyone said this was a sign that we had to return....and we agreed! We will return to India and it will definitely be through Encounters. We had only ever travelled in Europe and North america before and were nervous about how well organized this trip would be but it ran like clockwork and we quickly relaxed into enjoying the experience. This was the best trip we've ever been on.

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Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.

    Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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