TREASURES OF INDIA TOUR DAYS: 10 DAYS TOUR TYPE: SMALL GROUP TOUR (minimum of 2 guests/maximum of 22 guests)

Transcription

1 TREASURES OF INDIA TOUR DAYS: 10 DAYS TOUR TYPE: SMALL GROUP TOUR (minimum of 2 guests/maximum of 22 guests) CANADA/USA - DELHI - AGRA - RANTHAMBORE JAIPUR DELHI CANADA/USA TOUR SUMMARY: This amazing tour offers guests the opportunity to experience the Treasures of India on a carefully designed itinerary. Visit the highlights of Northern India, travel from Delhi, the bustling National Capital to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, explore Ranthambore, where you may have the chance to spot Royal Bengal Tigers roaming wild and free. Continue to Jaipur, the imperial pink city before returning to Delhi where the tour ends. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Visit the must-see monument of Taj Mahal at sunrise Explore Ranthambhore National Park in search of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger Climb up to the Amber Fort on the back of an elephant

2 TOUR DEPARTURES & PRICE: NOV 24, 2015 JAN 26, 2016 FEB 9, 2016 MAR 8, 2016 EX- NEW YORK EX- VANCOUVER Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- CHICAGO EX- CALGARY Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- LOS ANGELES EX- TORONTO Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- HOUSTON EX- MONTREAL Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD DEC 26, 2015 (New Year) EX- NEW YORK EX- VANCOUVER Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- CHICAGO EX- CALGARY Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- LOS ANGELES EX- TORONTO Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- HOUSTON EX- MONTREAL Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD Single Supplement: USD 390 / CAD 440 APR 5, 2016 APR 12, 2016 MAY 3, 2016 SEP 13, 2016 EX- NEW YORK EX- VANCOUVER Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- CHICAGO EX- CALGARY Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- LOS ANGELES EX- TORONTO Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD EX- HOUSTON EX- MONTREAL Per person on twin sharing basis: USD Per person on twin sharing basis: CAD TOUR LODGING INFO: 07 Nights Hotels Accommodation is provided on a twin sharing basis CITIES NIGHTS DELUXE HOTELS Delhi 02 Nights Taj Surajkund Agra 01 Night Gateway Hotel Ranthambore 02 Nights Tree House Jaipur 02 Nights Radisson Blu/Trident Jaipur

3 TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES: 07 Nights accommodation at listed hotels or similar On arrival meeting & assistance by our representative Indian Traditional welcome Daily buffet breakfast Transportation/Transfers in an air-conditioned deluxe coach Sightseeing & entrance fees as per the itinerary Rickshaw ride in old Delhi Shoe Covers at the Taj Mahal Tonga (Horse Cart) Ride at Agra Elephant ride at Amber Fort, Jaipur Shopping tour in Jaipur 2 Canter Safaris at Ranthambore National Park Services of English speaking guides International airfare and Taxes TOUR PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Meals not mentioned as being included Items of a personal nature Items not mentioned as being included Visa fees Travel Insurance Tips & gratuities TOUR ITINERARY DAY 01: DEPART NORTH AMERICA Today make your own way to the airport to depart on your overnight flight to India. Enjoy in-flight meals and services DAY 02: DELHI Welcome to Delhi, India! a monumental city with a vibrant mix of old and new teeming bazaars, stately British boulevards, powerful Mughal palaces and forts, and intricate, ethereal towers, temples and tombs. On arrival at Delhi International Airport you will be met and assisted by our company executive and transferred to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Delhi DAY 03: DELHI Our adventure begins in Old Delhi, the Mughal capital established by Shah Jahan in At the famous Red Fort, where Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the flag of newly-independent India on August 15, 1947, we trade our modern transport for bicycle rickshaws. Weaving through the warren of crooked, congested alleys off Chandni Chowk, one of India s oldest and busiest bazaars, we will see that the traditional workmanship for which India is well known still thrives. We will also visit Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi s serene and evocative cremation site, and the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Then visit the Qutab Minar, a stunning 240-foot minaret the tallest in the world surrounded by an elaborate complex built in the Indo- Islamic architectural tradition. Overnight in Delhi For those interested continue touring and enjoy a Metro ride with a heritage walk in Old Delhi. Explore the Shahjahanabad as you go on a heritage walk, to experience the daily lifestyle of over 300 years of history of the Chandni Chowk area via its Haveli, Mosque, Gurudwara and other landmarks that make up the history of the seventh planned city of Delhi. DAY 04: DELHI AGRA (232 KMS / 05 HRS) After breakfast we will travel overland to the medieval city of Agra. On arrival; check in to the hotel. For those interested make a short visit to the Mother Teresa Home Missionaries of Charity to meet the nuns at the orphanage who devote their lives to the homeless children of India. Most of the orphans are girls who are more frequently abandoned at birth. The dire poverty of these unwanted children is heartbreaking, and this visit is therefore optional. No one at the missionary will ask you for a cash donation however if you wish to contribute something of value, a simple set of sheets that you pack in your luggage would be greatly appreciated. Overnight in Agra

4 DAY 05: AGRA - RANTHAMBORE (280 KMS / 06 HRS) Early this morning visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). Often considered the pinnacle of Mughal art in India, the Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. When declaring it a world heritage site, UNESCO described it as the jewel of Muslim art in India. There are few words that can describe the magnificence of this monument. Marvel as light and colors transform this stunning monument in the beautiful rising suns rays. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards we set out to explore Agra Fort, built and added to between the 16th and 17th centuries by successive rulers of the Mughal Dynasty. The fort was built primarily as a military structure, but Shah Jahan upgraded it to a palace and later it became his gilded prison for 8 years after his son Aurangzeb seized power. Continue overland to Ranthambore. We will stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the eerily abandoned capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and Akbar built this city to celebrate the birth of his son and future heir to the throne, Emperor Jahangir. While Akbar is believed to have been illiterate, he took great interest in the arts and architecture; Fatehpur Sikri is one of his masterworks. Sadly, it served as a capital for little more than a decade, eventually abandoned for lack of accessible water. Dinner and an overnight at Ranthambore DAY 06: RANTHAMBORE Ranthambore National Park, at 150 square miles, is one of India s smallest tiger reserves, but it boasts one of the country s largest tiger populations and an impressive array of other animal and bird life (over 270 species of birds have been documented). It is situated between the Aravalli and Vindhya mountain ranges, forested with deciduous trees and dotted with natural and manmade lakes and spectacular ancient ruins. Wildlife including leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, langur nilgai, sambar and chital inhabit the park in abundance. Crocodiles are found in some of these lakes, which are also seasonally rich in water birds. Our day will begin with pre-dawn coffee and biscuits before setting off on an early morning game drive with a park guide in search of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. After lunch back at the hotel, return to the park for an afternoon game drive. Overnight in Ranthambore DAY 07: RANTHAMBORE/SAMODE JAIPUR (180 KMS / 04 HRS) This morning depart for the Pink City of Jaipur - Rajasthan s capital, the origin of Jaipur s nickname becomes immediately apparent as we enter the old city walls and greet the pink-colored buildings that rise at every turn. Jaipur is an excellent place to enjoy unparalleled shopping and people watching. Spend time in the oldest and busiest of markets in the walled city, Johori Bazaar, a true feast for the senses. Aromatic spices fill the air, while oxcarts, rickshaws, cows, bejeweled women and men with shocking pink turbans jostle through the labyrinthine streets. For those that want to really experience something special take in a Bollywood Movie at the Raj Mandir Cinema tonight. The Raj Mandir Movie Theatre is widely acclaimed as the largest cinema in Rajasthan, and one of the best in the country. The lobby is stunning with chandeliers, pink walls and balcony lighting, reminding you of fantasy palaces. The theater also burns incense of different blends at different points in the film. The exterior of the theater is adorned with asymmetrical curves and shapes with stars, illuminated by hidden lights at night. The top of the building has the theatre s name, shouting out proudly The Showplace of the Nation - Experience the Excellence Overnight in Jaipur Optional USD 35 / 40 CAD per person: Enjoy dinner at a local authentic Rajasthani restaurant. DAY 08: JAIPUR After breakfast your tour starts with an exhilarating excursion to Amber Fort perched on top of a hill. Enjoy a royal ride on elephant up the hill to the fort like the Maharajas of past times to visit the Jagmandir (the hall of victory). Perched on a hillside on the outskirts of town, the palace was constructed in the 1590s by Maharaja Man Singh, the commander of Akbar s army, and was largely motivated by the highly defensible location. This is a beautiful and very well preserved structure, built on four levels and surrounded by ruins, which served as the backdrop for the Mira Nair movie Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure or perhaps take an optional tour. Overnight in Jaipur Optional USD 35 / CAD40 per person: Take a look at the grand Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). This magnificent structure was built to allow the royal ladies of the palace to discretely watch the grand processions along the main street, then visit the City Palace and the impressive Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built in the early 1700s by Maharaja Jai Sing II, the great warrior-astronomer to which this city owes its name.

5 DAY 09: JAIPUR DELHI (260 KMS/06 HRS) After a leisurely breakfast we will continue back overland to Delhi. On arrive in the city you will be transferred to Delhi International airport for your onward flight. Optional USD 100 / CAD 120per person: Depending on the flight schedule you may have time to visit the Kingdom of Delhi bringing to life a blend of India's art, culture, heritage, craft, cuisine and performing art. Take in a performance of Zangoora the Gypsy Prince. It is India's answer to Broadway; it is the biggest Bollywood musical ever. Introducing a brand new genre of entertainment where storytelling & Bollywood style song & dance meet stagecraft and technical wizardry like never seen before. DAY 10: DELHI NORTH AMERICA Early this am you will depart back to North America END OF OUR SERVICES Why Indus Travels for India? We know how to take you off the beaten path, from special access to local festivals and unique experiences to allowing you to get deeper into India. Well over 70% of our clients have travelled with us in the past or have had Indus recommended by friends and family. Repeat business and recommendations are an essential part of our business. When you book with us you are assured of quality arrangements if only for the fact that we simply cannot afford to risk our excellent reputation. Our Travel Consultants possess the most extensive first-hand regional knowledge of any North American based travel company. No other company offers such expertise in the Indian Sub Continent. We are India s Ministry of Tourism 2007, 2008 & 2010 recipient of the Best Tour Operator to India from the America s. Indus has been voted among the top 20 Best Adventure Tour Operators in Canada by retail travel agents in Canada. We re in constant contact with our in-country partners while you re traveling. If anything should go wrong with your health, well being or arrangements, we re on it. Our tour directors & guides are among the most knowledgeable, charming and fun people you will meet in India. We worked hard to find them so that you don t have to. We donate a portion of every individual tour payment to our favourite project, Street Children in India. This project helps create an environment conducive to the holistic development of disadvantaged children to enable them to become a part of mainstream society. This is being done in close collaboration with the SALAAM BAALAK TRUST which runs five 24-hour full care shelters for children, one devoted solely to girls. These shelters provide children with security, a sense of home and an opportunity to enjoy their childhood. Their aim is to restore the childhood in children as well as instilling values of independence, decision-making, education, social values and financial independence to become mature, caring and responsible members of their society. If you are also interested in being a sponsor please let us know. TOUR CANCELLATION POLICY: You may cancel your booking at any time prior to commencement of the tour by notifying us in writing, which must be signed by the person that signed the Reservation Form. If you cancel on or before 45 days before the first day of the tour, we will retain your deposit to cover our costs. In addition, if the cancellation notification is received less than 45 days prior to the first day of the tour, additional cancellation charges shall be as follows:

6 Amount of Cancellation Charges: à 100% non refundable CHANGES BY YOU: If you request any changes to your travel arrangements once we have confirmed a booking, all out of pocket charges, including charges imposed by our suppliers, will be payable by you, plus an amendment fee of $ per revision per booking. If after the commencement of your tour you request any changes to your travel arrangements, we will do our best to implement them, but we cannot guarantee that it will be possible. In the event of such change(s) being made, you will be liable for any cancellation charges that may be levied for the previously booked service and for any costs incurred by us and our suppliers in attempting to secure any revised arrangements. Any name changes must be provided to us in writing and are subject to any airline fees or penalties. HOW TO BOOK: If you are happy with the arrangements outlined within this itinerary and would like to book, please forward your completed booking form and the deposit. If you would like to revise the itinerary, feel free to contact us and we can prepare another version which will hopefully match your requirements. The deposit is 25% of the total cost, plus any applicable insurance premiums and can be paid by cheque, bank transfer or credit card. PASSPORTS & VISA FEES: All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Passports are required; in addition travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding Visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is sole responsibility of the traveler.