WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Private arrival/departure transfers
• Private transportation on air-conditioned bus as per itinerary
• 10 nights superior accommodation – 2 nights Delhi, 2 nights Agra, 3 nights Ranthambore, 2 nights Jaipur, 1 night Gurgaon
• Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, 10 dinners
• Sightseeing & entrance fees as per itinerary
• Highlights include rickshaw ride in Delhi, cooking demonstration with a local family, Taj Mahal by moonlight, private game drives in Ranthambore National Park, Amber Fort Jaipur, local village visit, henna painting, walking tours, street photography, and more!
• Pre-tour access to Art of Intuitive Photography Technical Online Course
• Photography Workshops & Instructions by Mindy Veissid
• Services of an English-speaking local guide
• Includes all applicable taxes and service charges
• 24-hour Ellison Travel & Tours emergency contact number while on tour

VARANASI EXTENSION INCLUDES:

• Private arrival/departure transfers
• Private transportation on air-conditioned transportation as per itinerary
• 2 nights superior accommodation in Varanasi
• Daily breakfast, 2 dinners
• Domestic return flights Delhi/Varanasi
• Sightseeing & entrance fees as per itinerary
• Highlights include 2 exclusive boat rides on Ganges River, sightseeing tour in Varanassi, street photography and more!
• Photography Workshops & Instructions by Mindy Veissid
• Services of an English-speaking local guide
• Includes all applicable taxes and service charges

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Insurance has not been included as part of your tour package. Broad Escapes strongly recommends the purchase of Manulife Insurance coverage for Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, Comprehensive Assistance, Health Coverage, Individual Accident Coverage and Baggage and Personal Effects Insurance. Contact us for rates and complete details.
• International airfare
• Passport, visas, government processing fees, vaccinations, COVID tests, if required at time of travel
• Luggage handling
• Beverages
• Meals not mentioned
• Items of personal nature
• Gratuities
• Additional taxes, fuel surcharges or service charges levied by the governments or our suppliers
• Charges by airlines for oversize/overweight luggage

OPTIONS

• Varanasi extension
• Broad Escapes strongly recommends the purchase of Insurance coverage for Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, Comprehensive Assistance, Health Coverage, Individual Accident Coverage and Baggage and Personal Effects Insurance. Since we are in Canada, we are only able to sell Trip Cancellation insurance to American Citizens. For more comprehensive protection we recommend you contact John Hancock Insurance in the USA.

Vaccines and medical precautions may be required for the destination(s) visited.  We recommend you check your government website for information.  For medical advice please check with your local travel health clinic or family physician at least 6 weeks prior to travel for current recommendations.

Day 1 | Sunday, February 9
ARRIVE DELHI
*Independent Arrival in 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. Upon arrival at Delhi International airport, you will be met by a welcome ambassador and escorted to your hotel where you will be assisted with check-in formalities.

Overnight Vivanta New Delhi Dwarka (or similar) – 2 nights

Day 2 | Monday, February 10 (B/D)
DELHI

This morning enjoy a walking tour of Old Delhi, an opportunity to experience a kaleidoscope of diversity and culture.  Here you’ll have many street photo opportunities as you view iconic cultural landmarks of the city, the vegetable market of Old Delhi, the Chawari bazaar and the spice market.  Next enjoy an exhilarating rickshaw ride weaving through the crooked, congested alleys off Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest bazaars, and see the traditional workmanship for which India is well known and still thrives.  This afternoon immerse yourself in the heartwarming and humbling experience at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, where the devoted volunteers serve thousands of complimentary delicious meals daily, creating a sense of unity community.  If time permits, visit Qutub Minar, a stunning 240-foot minaret, the tallest in the world for centuries, and take advantage of the stunning photo opportunities.  In the evening engage in an enriching cultural and culinary experience with a cooking demonstration and family dinner where you’ll relish in Indian food and share a few stories and laughs with a local family.

Day 3 | Tuesday, February 11 (B/D)
DELHI – AGRA
After breakfast, continue overland to Agra (200 Kms/approx 4 hrs).  Set on the banks of the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh, Agra is a beautiful city famous for its incredible Taj Mahal building, one of the seven wonders of the world.  Upon arrival and check in, enjoy free time.  Late this afternoon watch the sunset over the Taj Mahal from the quiet Mahtab Bagh, a beautiful restored Mughal garden across the river from the Taj Mahal.  After, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight Jaypee Palace Hotel (or similar) – 2 nights

Day 4 | Wednesday, February 12 (B/D)
AGRA
This morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal at sunrise. Built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jehan to enshrine the mortal remains of Queen Mumtz, construction on this poignant mausoleum started in 1631 and took 20,000 artisans 22 years to complete. Afterwards visit Agra Fort a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Its massive walls stretch for 2½ km and are surrounded by a moat over 10 meters wide. The fort is really a city within a city.  Later, stop for a visit to Sheroes Hangout Café – A rehabilitation center for girls who are surviving the heinous chemical attacks. Here you can support the girls by purchasing beverages or snacks, then interact with them and hear their inspirational stories. This evening, return to the Taj Mahal for a Full Moon visit.  Available on five days each month, including a full moon night and two nights before and after. All these aspects, the dates, and the timings for the night viewing of the Taj are decided by the Archaeological Survey of India. Viewing the Taj Mahal at night takes place between 8:30 pm to 12:30 am in 8 batches of about 50 people for about 30 minutes each. Hence, only 400 people are allowed on a single night.  February 12, 2025 is a full moon so get your cameras ready!

Day 5 | Thursday, February 13  (B/D)
AGRA – FATEPUR SIKRI – BHARATPUR – RANTHAMBORE
After breakfast depart for Ranthambore with stops along the way.  Your first stop will be at the magnificent fortified ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri (40 Kms/1 hr).   Once a capital of the Mughal Empire its grand monuments and stunning architecture still narrate the tales of its glory days.  Continue to Bharatpur (45 min) for a lunch stop (on own) and then on to Ranthambore (224 Kms/approx 4.5 hr), your home for the next 3 nights.

Overnight Jungle Villas (or similar) – 2 nights

Day 6 | Friday, February 14 (B/L/D)
RANTHAMBORE
Rise early with cameras in hand for an exhilarating private game drive into Ranthambhore National Park. The core of the park is one of the finest places in India to witness wild tigers in their natural habitat. Once the hunting ground of the Maharajah of Jaipur, the park became a designated sanctuary in 1955 and a Project Tiger conservation area in 1973 and now boasts a stable population of tigers.  The wildlife that one can see here include tigers, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, marsh crocodiles, a large variety of birds, including an impressive number of waterfowl and birds of prey. The water bodies are home to marsh muggers, turtles, and pythons. The park also has an abundant population of Sambhar and chital as well as nilgai. Return to your hotel for breakfast. Post breakfast visit Ranthambore Fort another incredible site for photography.  Nestled deep inside Ranthambore National Park, Ranthambore Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under “Hill Forts of Rajasthan”. This majestic fort stands atop a hill of 700 ft. and has played a vital role in the history of Rajasthan.  This afternoon, experience another private game drive into Ranthambore National Park.

Day 7 | Saturday, February 15 (B/L/D)
RANTHAMBORE
Today is another day of game viewing with early morning and afternoon private game drives.  If you haven’t yet spotted the tigers, today may be your day!  Mid-day, visit a local cooperative artisan project, initially developed to provide sustainable living to the families who would otherwise rely on poaching to survive.  The project has extended to include many local villagers who live along the border of the park, providing them with a sustainable income through tourism.

Day 8 | Sunday, February 16 (B/D)
RANTHAMBORE – JAIPUR
Depart today to Jaipur (145 Kms/approx 3.5 hrs), offering a dazzling immersion into the riches of traditional India. Since its foundation in 1727, royal family and nobles of Jaipur had been patronizing various craftsmen and artisans in Pink City.  This afternoon enjoy a walking tour in the oldest and busiest of markets in the walled city, a true feast for the senses.  Aromatic spices fill the air, while oxcarts, rickshaws, cows, bejeweled women, and men with shocking pink turbans and Rajasthan moustaches jostle through the labyrinthine streets.

Overnight Alsisar Haveli Heritge Hotel (or similar) – 2 nights

Day 9 | Monday, February 17 (B/pl/D)
JAIPUR
This morning drive a short distance outside of the city to Amer Fort. This is a beautiful and very well preserved structure, built on four levels and surrounded by ruins.  Built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, it is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. It gives extensive views over a deep narrow valley and the wider plains beyond. The Fort was completed in the early 18th century. It was once the capital of the Mina tribes, believed to be the original inhabitants of this region. Return to the city and stop for a photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). This magnificent structure was built to allow the royal ladies of the palace to discreetly watch the grand processions along the main street.  Visit Maharaja’s 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.  Later spend some leisure time in the bazaar adjacent to the Hawa Mahal before returning to your hotel to participate in a private henna experience and learn the history and importance of this ancient tradition.

Day 10 | Tuesday, February 18 (B/D)
JAIPUR – GURGAGON (DELHI)
Visiting a traditional local village is an excellent way to experience rural cultural traditions and lifestyles in Rajasthan.  It’s also a way to give back to the communities you visit.  Today we have local village visit for you to learn about the rich cultural heritage of the region.  We’ve also arranged an opportunity for you to photograph the iconic Rajasthan moustaches!  Later this afternoon transfer by road to Gurgaon (approximately 4 hours) for an overnight stay.

Overnight Heritage Village Resort & Spa Manesar (or similar) – 1 night

Day 11 | Wednesday, February 19 (B/D)
DEPART DELHI
Now that you’ve had a chance to hone your photography skills it’s time to visit the Museum of Camera Centre for the Photographic Arts.  The journey of Museo Camera began in 2009 in the basement of Photographer, Historian, Archivist, Aditya Arya as a personal collection of photographic equipment. Today it is the largest not-for-profit crowd funded Centre for Photographic Arts in South East Asia.  A unique public – private partnership between India Photo Archive Foundation and The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram – it is one of a kind in India with 18,000 sq. ft. of space dedicated to the art of Photography.  Spend your time enjoying this phenomenal collection of cameras, photography equipment and impressive art venue.  Later, transfer to Delhi International Airport to board your international flight home.

Optional Varanasi Extension

An ancient and deeply sacred city, Varanasi rests along the banks of the holy River Ganges and encompasses a wealth of beautiful riverside temples, stately old forts, and vibrant markets.  It’s considered the spiritual capital of Hinduism, and it’s widely believed that dying here will bring salvation. As a result, the city is home to a multitude of ghats – stone steps leading to the river – some of which are used for bathing rituals and others as cremation sites, and an extraordinary place to capture amazing photos.  An early morning boat ride along the Ganges offers an excellent way to take in the ghats and the bustling activity centered on them.

Day 11 | Wednesday, February 19 (D)
DELHI – VARANASI
After the morning visit to the Museum of Camera Centre, transfer to the Delhi airport to board a domestic flight to Varanasi.  Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight Madin Hotel (or similar) – 2 nights

Day 12 | Thursday, February 20 (B)
VARANASI
Early this morning, before sunrise, drive to the Ghats on the Ganges to take a private boat ride on the river.  Witness the fascinating early morning rituals performed by Hindu devotees along the river bank which includes morning bathing rituals and the cremation Ghats.  Later in the morning, enjoy a city sightseeing tour including a visit to Banaras Hindu University.  Continue to Sarnath, a major Buddhist centre, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon.  Here you’ll visit the Dhamekh Stupa, an imposing cylindrical structure (43.5m high) of the Gupta age, the Buddhist Temple, and the Archaeological Museum.  This evening, at sunset, visit the ghats (bathing steps) on the Ganges by private boat and witness the intriguing ‘Aarti’ Ceremony. Here you’ll observe the mystical scene of the many ghats lit with oil-lamp lights, Brahmans chanting hymns and numerous floating oil lamps, all part of the daily, evening ceremonies along the Ganges.

Day 13 | Friday, February 21 (B)
VARANASI – DELHI
After breakfast, proceed for a walking tour through the ghats, to capture unique photos of this spiritual city.  For centuries, Varanasi has been home to Indian philosophy, mysticism, and spiritualism. Therefore Varanasi has numerous Muths and Ashrams. Each of the city’s different religious Hindu sects have their own Ashram. Many of these Ashrams have survived for centuries and remain centres of spiritualism and religious activities. This walking tour will familiarize you with different Ashrams in this city.  This afternoon transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Delhi.  Transfer to an airport hotel where you can relax (day room use until 9:00pm) prior to transferring to the Delhi Airport for your onward flight home.

Lemon Tree Hotel Aerocity (or similar) – day room only

B – Breakfast / L – Lunch / D – Dinner
denotes meals included in tour cost

**While it is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described above, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the tour. Due to traffic or other circumstances beyond our control, it may be necessary or desirable to make alterations. Broad Escapes reserves the right to change the itinerary when deemed necessary.**

$4425 USD – twin occupancy

$780 USD – single supplement

Based on a maximum of 10 passengers

Varanasi Extension

$1500 USD – twin occupancy

$200 USD – single supplement

Based on a maximum of 10 passengers

Deposit $700 USD per person
Balance due: November 8, 2024