14D Sacred India & Nepal Tour

Drive / Flight: Airport transfer – approx. 16 km / 45 min | Overnight: Delhi (216 m) | Meals: –

Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where our representative meets you after customs and transfers you to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to recover from your journey.

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 45 km city driving | Overnight: Delhi (216 m) | Meals: B

Begin in Old Delhi, the Mughal capital of Shahjahanabad. Visit Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, then take a cycle-rickshaw ride through the spice markets and silver lanes of Chandni Chowk, with a photo stop at the Red Fort (UNESCO). Continue to Raj Ghat, the memorial where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.

In the afternoon explore New Delhi: Humayun's Tomb (UNESCO), the garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal; Qutub Minar (UNESCO), the 73 m victory tower of 1193; and drive past India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the government buildings designed by Lutyens. Visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the Sikh temple where volunteers serve free meals to thousands every day.

Today's highlights:

• Jama Masjid & rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk
• Red Fort (photo stop) & Raj Ghat
• Humayun's Tomb & Qutub Minar
• India Gate & Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 230 km / 4 hrs via Yamuna Expressway | Overnight: Agra (170 m) | Meals: B

Drive to Agra along the Yamuna Expressway. After check-in visit Agra Fort (UNESCO), the red-sandstone Mughal citadel where Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last years imprisoned, gazing at the Taj Mahal across the river.

In the late afternoon visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays), the white-marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Watch its marble change colour with the setting sun, or view it from Mehtab Bagh across the Yamuna.

Today's highlights:

• Agra Fort
• Taj Mahal at sunset
• Mehtab Bagh viewpoint

Drive / Flight: Drive Agra–Delhi airport approx. 230 km / 4 hrs; flight approx. 1¼ hrs | Overnight: Varanasi (81 m) | Meals: B

Optional sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, then drive back to Delhi airport for the afternoon flight to Varanasi. In the evening take a cycle-rickshaw to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the Ganga Aarti, the nightly ceremony of fire, bells and chants offered to the river.

Today's highlights:

• Taj Mahal at sunrise (optional)
• Ganga Aarti in Varanasi

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle & boat – approx. 30 km | Overnight: Varanasi (81 m) | Meals: B

Before dawn, take a rowing boat along the Ganges past the ghats as pilgrims bathe, pray and practise yoga, with views of the burning ghats at Manikarnika. Walk through the maze of old-city lanes to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple area.

After breakfast drive 10 km to Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment. Visit the Dhamek Stupa, the ruins of ancient monasteries, the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and the Sarnath Archaeological Museum, home of the Lion Capital of Ashoka – India's national emblem (museum closed on Fridays). Afternoon free; optional visit to a silk-weaving workshop.

Today's highlights:

• Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges
• Sarnath – Dhamek Stupa & museum
• Old Varanasi lanes

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 250 km / 6–7 hrs | Overnight: Kushinagar (95 m) | Meals: B

Drive north across the Gangetic plain to Kushinagar, where the Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (final passing) at the age of 80. In the late afternoon visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple with its 6 m reclining Buddha, and the Ramabhar Stupa, built over the site of his cremation.

Today's highlights:

• Mahaparinirvana Temple
• Ramabhar Stupa

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 170 km / 4–5 hrs | Overnight: Lumbini (100 m) | Meals: B

Drive to the India–Nepal border at Sunauli–Belahiya; complete Indian exit and Nepal visa formalities and meet our Nepali guide. Continue 30 km to Lumbini, birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama (UNESCO).

In the afternoon visit the Sacred Garden: the Maya Devi Temple built over the exact spot of the Buddha's birth, the Ashoka Pillar erected in 249 BC by the Emperor Ashoka, and the Puskarini pond where Queen Maya Devi bathed.

Today's highlights:

• Maya Devi Temple
• Ashoka Pillar
• Sacred Garden

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 170 km / 5 hrs | Overnight: Chitwan (150 m) | Meals: B, L, D

Morning visit to the Lumbini Monastic Zone, where Buddhist nations have built temples in their own styles – the Thai Royal Monastery, Myanmar Golden Temple, German, Chinese and Korean monasteries and the World Peace Pagoda – connected by a long canal.

Drive east along the Mahendra Highway to Sauraha at Chitwan National Park. Evening Tharu cultural dance.

Today's highlights:

• Lumbini Monastic Zone
• Tharu cultural program

Drive / Flight: Jungle activities inside the park | Overnight: Chitwan (150 m) | Meals: B, L, D

An early start for a dugout canoe ride on the Rapti or Budhi Rapti River – drift silently past marsh mugger crocodiles, the rare fish-eating gharial and kingfishers, herons and storks – followed by a guided jungle walk with naturalists and a visit to the Elephant Breeding Centre.

After lunch, set off on a 3–4 hour jeep safari deep into the park looking for the one-horned rhinoceros, spotted, sambar and barking deer, wild boar, sloth bear, monkeys and, with luck, the elusive Royal Bengal tiger or leopard. Some 540 bird species have been recorded in Chitwan – keep binoculars ready.

Evening at leisure; dinner at the resort.

Today's highlights:

• Canoe ride on the Rapti River
• Guided jungle walk & Elephant Breeding Centre
• Jeep safari in Chitwan National Park

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 150 km / 5 hrs | Overnight: Pokhara (822 m) | Meals: B

Drive through the Mahabharat hills along the Trishuli and Seti river valleys to Pokhara. In the afternoon take a boat across Phewa Lake to Tal Barahi Temple and visit Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave. Evening on Lakeside.

Today's highlights:

• Phewa Lake & Tal Barahi Temple
• Davis Falls

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle 40 km; flight approx. 25 min | Overnight: Kathmandu (1,400 m) | Meals: B

Sunrise from Sarangkot over the Annapurna range, then breakfast and a visit to the World Peace Pagoda. Afternoon flight to Kathmandu; in the late afternoon join the pilgrims' kora around Boudhanath Stupa.

Today's highlights:

• Sarangkot sunrise
• World Peace Pagoda
• Boudhanath at dusk

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 40 km | Overnight: Kathmandu (1,400 m) | Meals: B

Full-day guided sightseeing: Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Kumari Ghar, Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River, and Patan Durbar Square with the Patan Museum. Farewell dinner with Nepali cultural show (own expense).

Today's highlights:

• Swayambhunath
• Kathmandu Durbar Square
• Pashupatinath
• Patan Durbar Square

Drive / Flight: Private vehicle – approx. 50 km | Overnight: Kathmandu (1,400 m) | Meals: B

Visit Bhaktapur, the medieval city of Newar art, with its Durbar Square, Nyatapola Temple and Pottery Square, then continue up to Nagarkot (2,175 m) on the valley rim for sunset views over the Himalaya from Langtang to Everest on a clear day. Return to Kathmandu.

Today's highlights:

• Bhaktapur
• Nagarkot sunset

Drive / Flight: Airport transfer – approx. 6 km / 30 min | Meals: B

Free time until your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport, about three hours before your international flight. Our representative sees you off – thank you for travelling with Pigeon Travel & Tours! (End of services.)