(Click on each day to reveal detailed itinerary)

Depart London and fly overnight to Delhi.

On arrival in Delhi you will first check-in at the hotel, once you have had time to freshen up and have some lunch, one of our expert guides will meet you  for an afternoon sightseeing tour of New Delhi .This will include the incredible 73m minaret of Qutab Minar, the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, the Parliament Buildings and the India Gate. At the end of the tour the car will drop you back at the hotel. Overnight in Delhi. (Hotel) Meals: no meals included on day 2.

In the morning you will complete your sightseeing in Delhi with a cycle rickshaw tour through the streets of Old Delhi to include views of the Red Fort and the bustling Chandri Chowk Bazaar. Your guide will take you to a local restaurant for a tasty masalla lunch before you are driven to the train station. Once you have settled into your seats your guide will leave you to enjoy the journey to Jaipur. (it is a direct train and you will be provided with a list of stops so you will know where you are along your journey) Our Jaipur guide will be waiting for you on the platform in Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast, lunch

You have a full day sightseeing in the delightful, pink city of Jaipur today. You’ll set off on foot with your guide, through the colourful bazaars, to the intricate façade of the Palace of the Winds and then onto the Palace complex. Here you will first see the huge stone observatory built by Rajput king Jai Singh 2nd and then visit the City Palace which is home to the current Maharaja of Jaipur. After lunch you will take auto rickshaws (an experience in itself) out to the Amber Palace, the original home of the Rajputs before the building of Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

After breakfast you will set off by car to Agra. On the way you will stop for a tour of the fascinating ghost city of Fatephur Sikri, built by Akbar the Great. You will arrive in Agra in the afternoon and check-in at our hotel. Overnight in Agra. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

Said to be the most beautiful monument ever built for love, the Taj Mahal took 22 years to build and was the work of 22,000 craftsmen. An early start allows you to see this incredible building at its best – at sunrise. After breakfast there will be some free time in Agra and a chance for some gem shopping before leaving for the immense Agra Fort which dominates the city and then on to see the picturesque Baby Taj built by the wife of Emperor Jehangir for her father. After dinner you will drive to the train station at Tundla and board the overnight train to Mirzapore. (our representative in Agra will make sure you are settled into your cabins, you will be told the estimated time of arrival for Mirzapore and also given a list of station stops so that you will know when to get off) Meals: breakfast

Early in the morning you will arrive in Mirzapore, you will be met by your river guide on the platform who will take you to a small hotel in the city for to shower and have breakfast . From here you will proceed to the Ganges to begin your sailing trip. The boats will set sail mid-morning and lunch will be served on the river. Now is the time for total relaxation as you drift down the Ganges watching life go by along its banks. You will be sailing all afternoon until you reach your camping spot on a lovely white sand beach. The crew will set up camp and dinner served.  Overnight on the banks of the Ganges. (Tented Camp) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
The boats used for the sailing trip are small ’Donghi’ boats traditionally used to ferry pilgrims to Puja. 3-4 passengers will travel in each boat and luggage stored at the back of each boat. 2 crew will row/sail each boat. A ‘kitchen boat’ will accompany passenger at all time and provide freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
In the evenings you will stop on the beach for dinner and the crew will put up the tents.
Diverse Earth will provide all tents, sleeping mats, blankets and kitchen equipment.

Today you will be sailing all day until you reach Chunar Fort. The Fort has a long and interesting history having belonged to the Lodi’s, the Mughals and the British. The fort makes for an interesting stop on your trip and a chance to wander through Chunar town before setting sail again. Along this stretch of the river there is an excellent chance of seeing river dolphins. Overnight on the banks of the Ganges. (Tented Camp) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your final day on the river will start peacefully as we sail down stream, around luch time you will pass under the busy pontoon bridges as the boats reach the outskirts of Varanasi. India’s most holy city is an intense and lively place, the heart of Varanasi is the Ganges and the famous ghats where you will see life and death just as it has been happening for hundreds of years. You will disembark at Asi Ghat and say goodbye to your crew and river guide. Ambassador cars and our representative in Varanasit will be waiting to drive you to your hotel. In the evening there is a chance to watch an energetic Kattak performance by local musicians. Overnight in Varanasi. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

This morning you will leave the hotel early and travel down to the river to take a magical sunrise trip along the Ganges, you will pass by the ghats where you can see the local people bathing in the holy waters and watch the sun coming up over the river. After breakfast you will drive out to Sarnath. Sarnath is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world as it was here that Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon having attained enlightenment. You will visit some of the temples built by Buddhist communities around the world and spend time in the peaceful gardens that surround the Ashokan Pillar. Varanasi is a very auspicious place to be cremated in Hindu religion and the cremation ghats burn day and night, in the evening you can take a boat to see the burning ghats and watch the Aarti ceremony being performed by Hindu priests. Overnight in Varanasi. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

This morning you leave Varanasi early and drive up to the Sonauli border where you cross into Nepal. From here you will drive a short distance to Lumbini, the historical birth place of Lord Buddha. Overnight at Lumbini. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

In the morning you will visit the beautiful site of Lumbini before departing to the Royal Chitwan National Park, this drive passes along mountain roads through dense jungle. You’ll arrive in Chitwan for lunch and in the afternoon have a guided tour of the village to learn about the indigenous Tharu people and their way of life. Overnight in Chitwan. (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today you have a full day of activities in the National Park. In the morning you will travel by ox-cart down to the Rapti River for a trip downstream in a dug out canoe, on the river  trip you are likely to see Marsh-mugger crocodiles, an array of bird species and possibly monkeys. In the afternoon you head into the jungle on an elephant safari. One of the many highlights of the tour the safari lasts around an hour, slowly moving through dense jungle on elephant back, there is a good chance of seeing rhino, monkeys, deer and crocodiles. In the evening there is a cultural performance by the local Tharu people. Overnight in Chitwan. (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Early in the morning there is the option of another guided walk along the river before breakfast, after which you have a long drive to Nepal’s capital – Kathmandu. On the way you will stop at the scenic spot known as Manakamana where you can take the cable car up the mountain-side for incredible views. Overnight in Kathmandu. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

In the morning your city guide will meet you at the hotel and take you on a tour of Kathmandu visiting some of the oldest parts of the city, the beautiful Durbar Square and ending in the lively centre of Thamel. Thamel is something of a backpackers haven, packed full of great little bars, fantastic restaurants, net cafes, souvenir shops and more out-door gear stores than you can shake a trekking pole at. In the afternoon you can either wander through Thamel at your leisure or take a taxi out to the second largest city in the Kathmandu valley. Patan is only 20 minutes from Kathmandu and has a huge concentration of ornate architecture which makes for an interesting walking tour. Overnight in Kathmandu. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

This morning there is the chance of doing an exilerating flight to see Everest, the flight lasts one hour and offers fantastic views over the whole mountain range and a chance to see Mount Everest from the cockpit of the plane. After breakfast you will have a full day sightseeing tour of the Kathmandu valley to include the Hindu temple and burning ghats at Pashupatinath, the charming Bodhnath stupa and the wonderful city of Bhaktapur. In the evening you can walk into Thamel for a final slap up meal in one of the fabulous restaurants. Overnight in Kathmandu. (Hotel) Meals: breakfast

Today your tour ends in Kathmandu. Depending on flight times there may be time for some additional sightseeing in Kathmandu before our representative meets you at the hotel and takes you to the airport. Fly from Kathmandu. Meals: breakfast