Real Delhi to Kathmandu
Tour Description
Day 1: Delhi
Head from bustling Delhi to remote Tordi on this 13-day adventure through India and Nepal. Get down and dirty with the best street food, gape at one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Taj Mahal – cruise down the holy Ganges in Varanasi, hang in Buddha’s hometown (Lumbini), search for sloth bears and rhinos at Chitwan National Park and finish up in colourful Kathmandu. With incredibly delicious food (naan bread, anyone?), spiritual significance and culture that’s waiting to be explored, what’s your excuse for not taking the adventure of a lifetime.
Itinerary
Day 1: Delhi
Namaste! Welcome to India. This Himalayan adventure kicks off in Delhi – the capital territory of India’s north. Meet your trip leader and new travel buddies at a 6 pm welcome meeting tonight. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to do in this wonderfully chaotic city. Maybe wander the streets, sip on your first chai or practice haggling in one of the many markets. Tonight, ask your leader for the best nightlife spots and perhaps grab a drink with your group.
Day 2: Tordi
Your next destination takes a bit of work to get to, but that’s because it’s a secret, tucked away haven away from the prying eyes of the everyday tourist. You’ll journey through picturesque countryside by train to a unique stay in Tordi – this remote and rarely visited village offers a glimpse into the real Rajasthan. Tonight, sleep in an 18th-century palace with its owner as your host. There’s a ruined temple and fortress nearby that you can explore, and then you can settle in and savour the delicious local flavours with a home-cooked dinner.
Day 3: Jaipur
Kick on to Jaipur – India’s Pink City. You’ll have plenty of free time here to haggle to your heart’s content at the bazaars and backstreets, where vendors sell a variety of textiles, precious and semi-precious gems and blue pottery. Drop by one of India’s finest palaces – the Royal City Palace – where the guards’ moustaches are almost as impressive as the building itself. Foodies will want to hit the streets for raj kachori chaat (a big fluffy chaat served with chutney, yoghurt, chilli and potato). Then, maybe cool off with a lassi from Lassiwala on MI road – Jaipur’s oldest and most famous lassi shop. Tonight, cinema buffs won’t want to miss a Bollywood blockbuster at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema.
Day 4: Jaipur
If you’re keen on a different view of the Pink City, an optional early morning hot air balloon ride is a trip highlight for many visitors. Later in the morning, you’ll drop by Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) – the impressive five-storey facade with pink and honeycombed windows is the most photographed building in the country after the Taj Mahal. After, it’s out to the old capital of Amber where you’ll explore the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort. The rest of the day is free – maybe ask your leader for the best spot for dinner and pick up a biryani or a tasty plate of chicken tikka masala.
Day 5: Agra
Take advantage of the chance to rub shoulders with the locals today on a public bus ride to Agra. When you arrive, you’ve made it to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – India’s most enduring symbol and an epic monument to love and loss. For some reason, local families find it more interesting to take photos of you than the actual Taj Mahal! But you’ll be too busy standing there with your mouth gaping open to notice. Take your time taking in the delight of this gorgeous monument and make sure you grab a great pic– you won’t want to forget this.
Day 6: Agra – Overnight train
Today is free to explore at your leisure. Agra Fort is a popular option where you can stroll the palatial gardens of the red sandstone stronghold and get some great views of the Taj Mahal from afar. For a meal that makes a difference while in Agra, consider visiting Sheroes Hangout – a social enterprise that supports survivors of acid attacks. Then, it’s on to the next stop – Varanasi. Tonight, it’s time for a unique slice of Indian life aboard an overnight train.
Day 7: Varanasi
Arrive in one of the holiest cities in the country this morning. Varanasi is the ultimate destination for Hindu pilgrims who travel far and wide to experience the spirituality of this city. Overflowing with temples, shrines and devotees, this is an interesting place to explore. Maybe take the chance to perfect your yoga in one of the epic chakra-balancing spots. Or just chill out and soak in the meditative surroundings, ready for your early start tomorrow.
Day 8: Varanasi
Today’s an early start, but it’s worth it – you’ll take a sunrise boat ride along the sacred Ganges. Even if you’re not spiritual, you can’t help but get goosebumps during this experience. Pass the many ghats (stairs leading to the water) and temples along the river and watch thousands of Hindu pilgrims cleanse their sins in the holy water as the sun bathes the surrounds in shades of amber and orange. After, maybe hop on an auto rickshaw to the oldest part of the city to explore its maze of narrow alleyways packed full of small shops, stalls and lumbering cows. See pilgrims performing rituals unchanged for hundreds of years and pass chiming temples as wafts of incense fill the air.
Day 9: India/Nepal border crossing – Lumbini
Wave goodbye to India as you travel to the border (Sunauli border crossing) and enter Nepal. Make sure to charge up your music and fish out your book, as it’s a long day of travel today. Arrive in Lumbini. No ordinary border town, this is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha – the founder of Buddhism and one of his four holy places of pilgrimage. Check out the beautiful Ashoka Pillars and hop on cycle rickshaws to the Maya Devi Temple – the actual site where Buddha is thought to have been born.
Day 10: Chitwan National Park
Put on your safari hat this morning, as you’ll drive to Chitwan National Park – UNESCO declared this park a World Heritage Site in 1984 and it offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Asia. Think the Jungle Book coming to life with rhinos, deer, monkeys and a wide array of birds, including Nepalese wild chickens. Tonight, you’ll stay in a lodge near the park, listening out for the roars of tigers as you fall asleep to the sounds of nature
Day 11: Chitwan National Park
This morning you’ll hop aboard a jeep, meet your local guide and take a fun safari drive through Chitwan National Park. Look out for elephants and rhinos and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one of the 100-or-so Bengal Tigers that call the park home. There are also a number of optional activities available through your accommodation this afternoon, including biking, bird watching, cultural performances, canoe rides and village tours. Whatever you choose, whether it’s an active cycle through the park or a leisurely float along the river, you’re sure to have a great afternoon.
Day 12: Kathmandu
Today, you’ll travel to your final destination – the Nepalese patchouli–scented capital of Kathmandu. Maybe book in for a massage or a yoga session when you arrive to ease those body kinks and settle into a meditative state. With the rest of your free time, you can visit the giant Buddhist Stupa at Bodnath or head out into the narrow streets – home to holy men, monks, bicycles and sacred cows. Got a sweet tooth? Take one soft, fluffy ball of buffalo milk dough, deep fried until it’s the texture of a doughnut, dropped into sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom powder, rose essence and saffron and eat! Your leader will know where to grab these delicacies. If you like, just chill out with a cool drink or grab some dinner with your group tonight. Kathmandu has some great spots for nightlife too, so you might want to say cheers to an epic trip and celebrate your last night together.
Day 13: Kathmandu
With no further activities planned, your adventure ends this morning. Since you’re already here, why not stay an extra day or two and dig a little deeper into Kathmandu. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent and maybe get to know the city better through an Urban Adventures day tour (or two).
Departure Dates
| Start Date | End Date | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2024 | Sep 13, 2024 | $1,088.00 | |
| Sep 8, 2024 | Sep 20, 2024 | $1,007.00 | |
| Sep 22, 2024 | Oct 4, 2024 | $1,075.00 | |
| Sep 29, 2024 | Oct 11, 2024 | $1,075.00 | |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Oct 18, 2024 | $1,130.00 | |
| Oct 20, 2024 | Nov 1, 2024 | $1,220.00 | |
| Oct 28, 2024 | Nov 9, 2024 | $1,088.00 | |
| Nov 3, 2024 | Nov 15, 2024 | $1,088.00 | |
| Nov 9, 2024 | Nov 21, 2024 | $1,088.00 | |
| Nov 24, 2024 | Dec 6, 2024 | $1,101.00 | |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Dec 20, 2024 | $1,088.00 | |
| Dec 22, 2024 | Jan 3, 2025 | $1,295.00 | |
| Jan 5, 2025 | Jan 17, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Jan 12, 2025 | Jan 24, 2025 | $1,410.00 | |
| Jan 26, 2025 | Feb 7, 2025 | $1,242.00 | |
| Feb 2, 2025 | Feb 14, 2025 | $1,161.00 | |
| Feb 9, 2025 | Feb 21, 2025 | $1,161.00 | |
| Feb 16, 2025 | Feb 28, 2025 | $1,161.00 | |
| Feb 23, 2025 | Mar 7, 2025 | $1,210.00 | |
| Mar 2, 2025 | Mar 14, 2025 | $1,210.00 | |
| Mar 9, 2025 | Mar 21, 2025 | $1,210.00 | |
| Mar 16, 2025 | Mar 28, 2025 | $1,161.00 | |
| Mar 23, 2025 | Apr 4, 2025 | $1,161.00 | |
| Apr 6, 2025 | Apr 18, 2025 | $1,161.00 | |
| Apr 20, 2025 | May 2, 2025 | $1,290.00 | |
| May 11, 2025 | May 23, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Jul 13, 2025 | Jul 25, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Sep 7, 2025 | Sep 19, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Sep 14, 2025 | Sep 26, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Sep 21, 2025 | Oct 3, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Sep 28, 2025 | Oct 10, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Oct 5, 2025 | Oct 17, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Oct 12, 2025 | Oct 24, 2025 | $1,380.00 | |
| Oct 19, 2025 | Oct 31, 2025 | $1,290.00 | |
| Oct 26, 2025 | Nov 7, 2025 | $1,290.00 | |
| Nov 2, 2025 | Nov 14, 2025 | $1,345.00 | |
| Nov 9, 2025 | Nov 21, 2025 | $1,345.00 | |
| Nov 16, 2025 | Nov 28, 2025 | $1,345.00 | |
| Nov 23, 2025 | Dec 5, 2025 | $1,345.00 | |
| Nov 30, 2025 | Dec 12, 2025 | $1,345.00 | |
| Dec 7, 2025 | Dec 19, 2025 | $1,290.00 | |
| Dec 14, 2025 | Dec 26, 2025 | $1,290.00 | |
| Dec 28, 2025 | Jan 9, 2026 | $1,290.00 | |
| Jan 4, 2026 | Jan 16, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Jan 11, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Jan 25, 2026 | Feb 6, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Feb 1, 2026 | Feb 13, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Feb 8, 2026 | Feb 20, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Feb 15, 2026 | Feb 27, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Mar 6, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Mar 1, 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Mar 8, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Mar 22, 2026 | Apr 3, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Apr 19, 2026 | May 1, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| May 10, 2026 | May 22, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Jul 12, 2026 | Jul 24, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Sep 6, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Sep 13, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Sep 20, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | $1,440.00 | |
| Dec 27, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | $1,440.00 |