India North to South

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi, India

You will be met on arrival at Delhi Airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 2: Delhi

Today you will enjoy a full day exploring Old and New Delhi on a sightseeing tour. This fascinating city has been around since the 6th century BC.  You will visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India that can hold approximately 25,000 worshippers. Your rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, which is the busiest market in Old Delhi is noisy, chaotic and uniquely Indian.

Your tour also takes you past the Red Fort, that was constructed during the rule of Emperor Shah Jahan and was the residence for the Mughal royal family. Then you will drive past President House and other government buildings in Delhi before heading towards Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. This simple memorial is in the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, the first garden tomb built in India where the Persian architect used red sandstone on a large scale and then on to Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3: Delhi to Agra

Travel from Delhi to Agra. After checking into your hotel, enjoy a half day city tour of Agra. You will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Red Fort, a 16th-century fortress of red sandstone located on the Yamuna River in the historic city of Agra. Within the 2.5km long walls, this fort encompasses palaces, audience halls and mosques.

Then proceed to the world-famous Taj Mahal, one of the original seven wonders of the world.  This incredible mausoleum and unique architectural marvel built as one man’s devotion to his wife took over 21 years to complete. It is widely revered as the greatest architectural accomplishment of the Mughan Empire. Distance travelled: 210kms / Approx. 4.5 hours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4: Agra to Fatehpur Sikri and Jaipur

Travel by road to Jaipur and enroute visit World Heritage listed site Fatehpur Sikri, home to many historical buildings. This was built by Akbar to use as his headquarters but had to be abandoned due to lack of water. Continue to Jaipur, gateway to the magnificent and vibrant state of Rajasthan. The evening is at your leisure to explore the markets of Jaipur. Distance travelled: 230kms / Approx. 5 hours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5: Jaipur

Today, enjoy a full-day sightseeing trip of Jaipur, also known as the ‘Pink City’.  Jaipur is famous for its colorful culture, opulent palaces, magnificent forts and lakes. Your sightseeing includes Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal the “Palace of the Winds”, City Palace, Jantar Mantar Observatory and Albert Hall.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Jaipur to Cochin, Kerala

After breakfast, proceed to Jaipur Airport for a flight to Cochin (not included in price). On arrival in Cochin (Kochi) in Kerala you will be transferred to your hotel.  The rest of your day is at your leisure. Cochin is located on an estuary and has attracted travelers, explorers and traders for over 600 years.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7: Cochin

Today you will explore Cochin, the tropical southern Malabar Coast town that feels a world away from Delhi and northern India. Here you will find an incredible blend of influences from medieval Portugal, Holland, and England eras as well as ancient mosques and so much more.

Visit St. Francis Church, built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars where Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before being moved to Lisbon. Nearby is the Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) featuring the coronation hall of the rajas of Cochin and murals depicting scenes from legends connected with Hindu gods. You will also see the picturesque cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that line the entrance to the harbour, Jewish City and Jewish Synagogue from 1568 with hand-painted willow-pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th century by a Rabbi. 

Tonight you are in for a treat, the Kathakali Dance Show which is one of India’s most spectacular dances. The dancers wear elaborate make up, costumes and masks.   

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8: Cochin to Munnar

The drive to Munnar today is through a part of the country with beautiful vistas, cardamom and spice plantations, aromatic oil factories, endangered species and the purple-blue of the Neelakurinji flowers that bloom every 12 years. ON arrival, the remainder of your day is at your leisure. Distance travelled: 130km / Approx. 4.5 hours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9: Munnar & Eravikulam National Park

Today you will explore more of the countryside including Eravikulam National Park, home to various rare and endangered species. This area was formerly a hunting reserve of the British planters, declared a sanctuary in 1975.  Sitting 7000 ft. above sea level, today Eravikalum has a breathtaking diversity of flora and fauna. This is a great place to enjoy incredible views of the tea plantations. You will visit the Tea Museum (closed on Mondays), for an insight to the history of tea plantations of this region. Later visit Mattupetty Dam, Eco Point and Flower Garden.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10: Munnar to Periyar (Thekkady)

Leave Munnar and travel to Periyar where you will enjoy boat ride on Lake Periyar, visiting the sanctuary situated in the Thekkady district of Tamil Nadu bordering with Kerala. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important and frequently visited in India where you may see elephants, wild boar, sambar.  Later today you will also visit a local spice plantation. Distance travelled: 110km / Approx. 3 hours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 11: Periyar to Alleppey

Travel by road to Alleppey where your adventure continues for an overnight on a houseboat. Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, Alappuzha (or Alleppey) is best known for houseboat cruises along the Kerala backwaters. These cruises in a traditional houseboat (also known as a Kettuvallom) is a relaxing way to spend a night as you sail the tranquil backwaters past villages, fishermen, lush paddy fields, temples, coconut groves and much more. Distance travelled: 130km / Approx. 4 hours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 12: Departure from Cochin, India

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Cochin Airport for your onward flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

We have a number of other suggested India vacations, or we can also tailor a trip for you. Here are some more ideas:

The Golden Triangle – 6 Days  Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

Ancient India – 10 Days  Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Taj Mahal, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi

Forts and Palaces of India – 10 Days  Delhi, Agra, Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur and Udaipur

Highlights of India – 11 Days  Delhi, Agra, Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Goa, Mumbai

India Culture & Wildlife – 8 Days  Delhi, Agra, Taj Mahal, Ranthambore National Park, Jaipur