Compare India & Nepal in 18 days - Golden Triangle & Kathmandu Valley - LUXURY by Exoticca vs Magnificent India and Nepal by Payless Tours India
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 18 days | 13 days |
| Price From | $ 4,399 | $ 1,550 |
| Price Per Day | $ 244 | $ 119 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | 17 breakfasts and full board in Chitwan. |
13 Breakfasts |
| Description |
From the bustling streets of Delhi to the pink city of Jaipur and the historic, romantic Agra, your time in India will be awe-inspiring. Head to Nepal and Kathmandu, to discover the ancient history and bustling atmosphere of the capital, before heading to the hills for the breathtaking temples and views of Patan and Pokhara. Finally, explore the wild side of Nepal in Chitwan. |
During this tour, you will have an opportunity to see the most significant and beautiful places and cities in both India and Nepal. The tour is organized by AC car and includes one international flight from Kathmandu to Delhi. You will admire the beauty of North India as well as you will see the most picturesque and interesting towns and cities in Nepal. The tour includes sightseeing of the most significant places on the map of India and Nepal such as the Taj Mahal, The Pink city Jaipur, Varanasi city at Ganges River, and Kathmandu city with its unique architecture, and many other wonderful places. |
Day 1: US - Nignt on board
Arrive at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Delhi. Night on board.
Day 2: Delhi
Arrive in the capital of India and transfer to the hotel. Delhi is a city with an impressive architectural legacy of its Islamic conquerors along with a spectacular historical center. The rest of the day is free to rest or to get to know this lively, fascinating city. Overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 3: Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, visit Old Delhi including the Jama Masjid Royal Mosque and the lively Chandi Chow Street. Ride a tricycle around the Red Fort, the former residence of the Imperial Family and admire the Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. In the afternoon, explore New Delhi, passing through the India Gate, the Mausoleum of Emperor Humayun, the majestic government buildings and the Presidential Palace. Overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 4: Delhi - Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel. Leave by road to Jaipur, the Pink City of India. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur was built in 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Its architecture is a magnificent confluence of Hindu, Jain and Mughal architectural styles. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to get to know this vibrant city. In the evening light, the pink and the orange buildings exude a magical glow, which is complemented by the vibrantly attired Rajasthanis. Camel drawn carts are characteristic of Jaipur's passing street scene. Overnight stay in Jaipur.
Day 5: Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off for the Hawa Mahal, Palace of the Winds, on your way to the Amber Fort. Explore the majestic Amber Fort with a Jeep transfer. In the interior, cross the grounds of the palace Jag Mandir and the famous Sheesh Mahal, a room embedded with beautifully bright pieces of mirror. Continue to tour the city of Jaipur including a visit to the Palace of the Maharaja, former royal residence, have converted parts of the palace into a museum. Also experience the wonder of the Jantar Mantar, the largest observatory in the world, made of marble. Overnight stay in Jaipur.
Day 6: Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
Breakfast at the hotel. Leave for Agra and along the way visit Fatehpur Sikri, an impressive ghost town. Next, pass by Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world. Arrive in Agra and enjoy a world of contrasting edifices of red sandstone and white marble and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. Transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Agra Fort. Inside the fort, discover the picturesque Pearl Mosque. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Agra.
Day 7: Agra - Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, experience the legendary splendor of the Taj Mahal, the ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river and a universal symbol of love. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his beloved wife. Afterward, enjoy an afternoon drive back to Delhi. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 8: Delhi - Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning you will be transfered to the airport to board the flight to Kathmandu. Arrival to the capital of Nepal, transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day is free. The largest urban agglomeration in Nepal, with 2.5 million inhabitants, consists of the core of the metropolitan city of Kathmandu. Its sister cities are Patan, Kirtipur, Thimi and Bhaktapur, including recently the urban areas of Shankhapur, Karyabinayak, Champapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel and Panauti. The capital of the country is located at 1,400 meters in a bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal.
Day 9: Kathmandu - Bhaktapur - Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, visit "the city of the devotees", Bhaktapur, to admire the great architectural beauty of the third of the three royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley. A World Heritage Site and where Durbar Square is the best preserved in the valley. The Royal Palace stands out, whose entrance door is a masterpiece in embossed art, as does the Nyatapola Temple, known as the Temple of the Five Roofs, which is a pagoda of five magnificently sculpted floors and one of the highest in the country. Later, continue to the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, the Changu Narayan Temple located in the Changu village and dedicated to the god Vishnu. From here there is a beautiful view of the surroundings. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 10: Kathmandu - Patan - Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we recommend an optional Mount Everest flight-seeing excursion.* Head to the Kathmandu Valley through Asan Tole, the main street of the capital's oldest shopping area, which offers a vivid display of local Nepalese life. Discover the rich Nepalese culture and everyday life through the bustling and narrow streets and courtyards. Visit Durbar Square in Kathmandu, where you can see the Kumari Temple, which houses the living Goddess and the exteriors of the Taleju Temple and Kala Bhairav. In the afternoon, explore Swayambhunath Stupa, located at the top of a hill, to contemplate the beautiful landscape of the Kathmandu Valley. Later, discover the old city of Patan and visit it's Durbar Square, the oldest of the three in the valley. See the Royal Palace, home to beautiful patios and ornate windows and sanctuaries dedicated to Shiva, Ganesh, and Vishnu. Also visit the Temple of the living goddess Kumari, who looks out onto the balcony to receive the greetings of the devotees. Return to the hotel and overnight stay. * Optional Mount Everest Flight-seeing Excursion: One-hour long sightseeing on a fixed-wing aircraft for an experience of a lifetime. All the spectacular glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and gorges glide below as you fly towards Mt. Everest. Includes a flight certificate awarded at the end of the excursion. Return to Kathmandu to begin the rest of the days sightseeing.
Day 11: Kathmandu - Chitwan
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off by road to Chitwan, passing by scenic landscapes during the approx. 4-hour journey. Arrive in time for lunch and get settled at the hotel. In the afternoon, head out on a 1-hour nature walk to explore the beautiful surrounding area, scattered with cabins inhabited by the indigenous Tharu tribe, who have lived in the forests surrounding Chitwan for hundreds of years. After a delicious dinner, enjoy a Tharu Stick Dance Show, performed by local farmers, for an insight into Chitwan’s cultural roots. Overnight stay in Chitwan.
Day 12: Chitwan
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off for magical Chitwan National Park, one of the richest national parks in Asia, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Enjoy an exciting photographic jeep safari in the heart of the jungle to discover a lost world of towering prehistoric trees, rhinos, elephants, crocodiles, brightly coloured birds and, of course, the majestic Bengal Tiger. Inside the park, visit the Gavial Crocodile Breeding Centre, dedicated to the breeding of this species in order to boost the local population. Lunch included. Afterwards, enjoy a tranquil boat ride on the river to soak up the views of the sunset. Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight stay in Chitwan.
Day 13: Chitwan - Pokhara
Awake early to enjoy a quiet walk through the village to soak up the sights and watch as the village comes to life in the morning. Return to the hotel for breakfast before setting off for Pokhara, a journey of around 3.5-hours long. En route, visit Bandipur Village, a small hilltop settlement and an amazing example of Newar culture. This charming village is home to precious 18th-century architecture, a number of small cafes and shops. Continue to Pokhara, nestled in a quiet, forest-covered valley. Arrive, get settled at the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, soaking up the fantastic views of the Himalayas and the five Annapurna peaks. Overnight stay in Pokhara.
Day 14: Pokhara
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off for Sarangkot to see the sunrise over the Himalayas if weather conditions permit. Located at 1592 meters high, it is the most popular spot to enjoy the magnificent views of the Pokhara valley and the mountains. Afterwards, take a boat ride on Phewa Lake and see the beautiful Devi Waterfall and explore the Sacred Cave of Gupteshwor, almost 1.8 miles long. Continue to the traditional Old Bazaar of Pokhara, a pleasant traditional place, which is full of merchants of diverse ethnicities that sell fabrics, food and gold among many other products. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 15: Pokhara - Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel. Head back to Kathmandu and enjoy the scenery along the way. Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free to enjoy the city at your leisure. Overnight stay.
Day 16: Kathmandu - Nagarkot
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off for Nagarkot, a village nestled in the beautiful mountains which is famed for its amazing views of the Himalayas. Arrive at the hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Nagarkot.
Day 17: Nagarkot
Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy guided walks through the hills surrounding Nagarkot. It is the best way to explore and experience the spectacular natural landscape, countryside and terraced farmland and also understand the lifestyle of local people. Overnight in Nagarkot.
Day 18: Nagarkot - Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off for Kathmandu. Take a guided tour of Bouddhanath and Pashupatinath. The Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, one of the largest in the world and icon of Nepal, sits on an octagonal base and is surrounded by the houses of the Lamas. Discover Pashupatinath Hindu Temple from the east bank of the river, the most important and oldest of the Kathmandu Valley, which is dedicated to Shiva and built-in an exuberant natural environment. Free afternoon to stroll through the city or make last-minute souvenir purchases. Overnight stay.
Day 19: Kathmandu - Night on board
Breakfast * at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport and check-in for your return flight back to the US overnight flight. (Dependant on the choice of flight, you may arrive back in the US today). * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.
Day 20: US
Arrive back in the US and end of your trip.
Day 1: Delhi
Meet our representative at Delhi Airport and transfer to hotel at arrival in Delhi. After breakfast and some relaxation, discover Delhi. Morning visit to the 400-years-old Jama Mosque (the largest in India) and local market. Later visit Red Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). In the afternoon enjoy driving through Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's Palace) and India Gate (a war memorial arch built in honor of Indian soldiers who lost their lives in World War –I). Explore the famous Humayun's Tomb (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Qutub Minar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site- the tallest brick minaret in the world, at 238 feet). Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: Jaipur
After breakfast, travel to the Pink City called Jaipur. Check-in the hotel. Local sightseeing of Jaipur. Visit Galta Ji - monkey temple beautifully situated among the hills. You will be taking cooking classes to learn how to cook Indian food. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Jaipur
After breakfast meets the guide and does local sightseeing in the city. Visit places like Amber fort - a magnificent fort and palace complex situated among hills, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar - Astronomic Observatory, Gaitor tombs - Royal tombs of the Jaipur Kings, Jal Mahal - the Water palace and Hawa Mahal - the most characteristic and amazing Pink Wall in Jaipur with 1000 small windows. Shopping at the local market. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Agra with Fatehpur Sikri
After breakfast journey to Agra. On the way stop at Fatehpur Sikri – sightseeing of an amazing city complex.
Later on travel to Agra, which is home to one of the seven wonders of the world the symbol of eternal love-The Taj Mahal. The monument was built by the emperor Shahjahan in loving memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is located on the banks of Yamuna and brings huge tourism to Agra. Meet the guide and do local sightseeing in Agra. First, you will do sightseeing at the monument on the UNESCO list - Agra Fort which is one of the most wonderful forts in India. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Delhi to Varanasi by air
Visit the symbol of love Taj Mahal with the guide down. After breakfast drive to Delhi – the domestic airport to catch a plane from Delhi to Varanasi. Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Varanasi. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Varanasi
After breakfast a boat ride on the Ganges River with a great opportunity to see all the ghats and cremation places. Come back to the hotel for breakfast. Leave for Sarnath (6 km away). Sarnath in the northeast of Varanasi is where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. A highly sacred Buddhist religious place, Sarnath lies at two rivers-Ganga and Gomati. Popular attractions here are Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath Museum, and Chaukhandi Stupa. Post that return back to Varanasi. In Varanasi, you would be visiting the Alamgir mosque, Dashashwamedh Ghat, and Bharat Mata temple. In the evening enjoy a boat cruise on the Ganga River watching "Aarti" - a spectacular ceremony of offering fire to the Gods. Overnight stay at Varanasi.
Day 7: Lumbini
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Lumbini. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Chitwan
After breakfast visit the site where Buddha was born and many temples. Later on, travel to Chitwan national park which is the biggest in Asia. Chitwan National Park is the most famous national park in Nepal which offers 450 species of birds including four species of deer, leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, and many other wildlife. This park is well known for one-horned Rhinoceros and it is a shelter for a few Royal Bengal Tigers. Besides this Chitwan also supports a great variety of flora and fauna. Overnight at the Lodge at Chitwan.
Day 9: Pokhara
Morning safari in the park, you can choose an elephant ride or a jeep safari. Admire the beauty of nature and animal species. Later on breakfast in the hotel. Travel to Pokhara. Pokhara is the gateway to the Himalayas. The Pokhara valley is the second biggest valley in the central hilly region of Nepal after Kathmandu. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Pokhara - Kathmandu
Leisure time in Pokhara which you can spend having a boat ride on the Phewa lake with a stopover at Varahi temple, do some shopping and sightseeing - local temples and the Devi waterfall. You will also see the Bindhyabasini Temple is the oldest temple in the city of Pokhara. It regularly attracts a large number of locals, Nepalis from across the country, and foreigners alike. The main temple is devoted to the goddess Bindhyabasini, a Bhagawati who is the incarnation of Kali.
On your request, early morning trekking to the viewpoint of Sarangkot can be organized. You can also try helicopter flight or paragliding in the valley. After all the leisure activities and sightseeing drive to Kathmandu. The evening is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Kathmandu
In the morning we start our sightseeing by visiting Durbar Square. Durbar Square is the spiritual heart of Kathmandu. The old royal palace at the center of the city was surrounded by temples and other important buildings. After Durbar Square we will visit Swayambhunath. The stupa at Swayambhunath is the most important and oldest site of Buddhist worship in Nepal. Swayambhunath Stupa is famous for the eyes of Buddha which seem to observe the world from all 4 directions. After Swayambhunath we visit Boudhanath. Boudhanath is the largest Stupa in Nepal. Now we proceed to the temple city of Pashupatinath which is Nepal's most important Hindu pilgrim site on the banks of the Bagmati River. The temple of Pashupatinath is dedicated to the god Shiva. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Kathmandu
Morning flight over the Himalayas on request (200 USD per person). After breakfast travel to Patan. Patan was the second largest town in the valley. The famous King Ashoka built the Stupas at four corners in 250 BC. The temple architecture here gave this city fame to be unique and most beautiful. After Patan, we proceed to Bhaktapur, the third biggest city in the valley. Bhaktapur has preserved its medieval character better than Patan. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Delhi
Transfer to the airport to catch an international flight to Delhi. Transfer to the hotel or another location in Delhi.
