AEI- 46 India and Sri-Lanka 11N-12D
Expert Rating: Asia Escapes
“This program is one of our gems for travelers seeking absolute diversity . What defines this itinerary is the contrast of sensations : we begin with the vibrant energy and marble palaces of India’s Golden Triangle, and land in the ‘Teardrop of India,’ Sri Lanka, where the pace slows, the landscape becomes greener, and the atmosphere more mystical. It’s exceptional because it covers the two most famous ‘Triangles’ in Asia: the Golden Triangle (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra) and Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya-Polonnaruwa-Kandy). Culminating the journey on the beaches of Kalutara after climbing Lion Rock and seeing the Taj Mahal makes it a truly 360-degree experience.”
Day 1. Arrival-New Delhi
Arrival in Delhi on an international flight. Our Spanish-speaking representative will meet you at the airport, provide assistance, and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 2. New Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to visit Old Delhi. We will stop in front of the Red Fort and take a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Old Delhi. After the tour, we will head to Raj Ghat. This beautiful park is where the cenotaph, a black marble platform marking the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his assassination, is located. Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi were also cremated there. We will continue our visit to New Delhi. We will see the government buildings, India Gate, a 42-meter-high stone triumphal arch inscribed with the names of the 90,000 Indian Army soldiers who died during World War I. We will enjoy a panoramic view of the Parliament area and the President’s residence.
Later, we will visit the Sikh temple: Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, a temple of the Sikh faith, located in Connaught Place. It is the most important Sikh temple in Delhi. Thousands of people of all faiths visit this temple daily.
Finally, we will see the Qutub Minar, one of the oldest monuments in the first city of Delhi, as its construction began in 1199. This complex is characterized by its blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. Its minaret, the tallest in the world, reaches a height of 72.5 meters, arranged in five tiers of decreasing diameter. At the foot of the minaret is the Alai Darwaza Gate, made of red and yellow bricks, which once served as the entrance to the mosque. The tomb of Sultan Iltutamish and the mausoleum of Imam Zami are also located here. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 3. New Delhi-Jaipur (270 km, 4 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by road to Jaipur, arrival and transfer to the hotel. Jaipur, the Pink City, owes its nickname to the color of the sandstone used to construct the buildings of the old city. The city’s pleasing design is thanks to Maharaja Jai Singh II, who began its construction in 1728 and commissioned his architect, Vidyadhar Chakravarty, to skillfully blend diverse styles such as Hindu, Jain, Mughal, and Persian. In the afternoon, visit the Birla Hindu Temple. Overnight stay.
Day 4. Jaipur-Amber-Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Amber Fort, the ascent/descent will be by jeep . The fort was built by the Mughal kings to defend the Citadel. This complex consists of a group of buildings, including a palace and another fortress in a higher position. We continue our visit to the Maharaja’s Palace , residence of the Jaipur royal family, a complex full of palaces, gardens, and other buildings, among which the Chandra Mahal stands out. It has seven stories and houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, where you can see carpets, enameled objects, weapons, miniature paintings, cannons, and the maharajas’ garments. Photo stop at Jal Mahal and the Vietnos Palace, Hawa Mahal (a facade with the structure of a palace) which was used by women to watch processions and street life. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 5. Jaipur-Abhaneri-Well of a Thousand Steps-Agra (240 km - 04 hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure for Agra, visiting Abhaneri en route . Located about 95 km from Jaipur, Abhaneri is home to one of India’s deepest and most spectacular stepwells: Chand Baori . Built in the 9th century, this well served both to collect water and to provide a cool place to rest during the hot desert months. With more than 3,500 symmetrical steps distributed across 13 levels , it descends about 20 meters to the bottom. Opposite the well is the Temple of Harshat Mata , dedicated to the goddess of joy and happiness.
After the visit, departure for Agra and a visit to the Red Fort , declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The fort, dating from 1565, is designed as a walled palace surrounded by a deep moat. The fortress, accessed through an imposing gate called Amar Singh, contains numerous palaces and stately buildings constructed by the Mughal emperor Akbar and used by successive Mughal governments as a base of operations for Mughal power. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 6. Agra-Delhi (200 km, 4 hours by land)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the Taj Mahal (closed every Friday throughout the year), the monument that has brought worldwide fame to Agra and become the symbol of India. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum that Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned in 1631 in honor of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Lady of the Taj, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child in 1629. Construction, which involved 20,000 people, was not completed until 1653. It is the most representative example of Mughal architecture. The chief architect, Isa Khan, designed this complex within a rectangle measuring 508 by 304 meters, with a central garden flanked on all four sides by octagonal pavilions. The mausoleum, built entirely of white marble, stands on a marble base with a minaret, also white, at each corner, each reaching 41 meters in height. The central section consists of four small domes surrounding a larger one in the middle. The remains of this couple rest in the crypt of this two-story building. While the architectural ensemble is impressive in itself, the decoration known as pietra dura, featuring intricate details such as floral arabesques and geometric motifs in semi-relief with precious stones, is truly remarkable . After the visit, departure for Delhi, arrival, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay.
Day 7. Delhi-Colombo-Dambulla-Habarana (flight + 4 hours by land)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Colombo. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Habarana. En route, you will visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, a temple carved into a mola rock face with an extraordinary number of images, statues, carvings, and paintings. The reclining Buddha statue is truly magnificent, measuring 14 meters in length and carved directly into the rock. These cave temples date back to the 1st century BC, and some of the paintings are ancient, while others date from the 19th century. After the visit, transfer to the hotel. Check-in, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 8. Habarana-Polonnaruwa-Minneriya (Safari)-Habarana
Breakfast at the hotel. We will visit the city of Polonnaruwa. This city is located southeast of Anuradhapura, in an area of ponds built centuries ago by the kings of Sri Lanka. Incredibly, these ponds continue to function today. The impressive fortified complex of Parakrama Samudra, covering approximately 2,400 hectares, is a highlight. It was built in the 11th century to defend against Indian invaders. Next, we will visit the impressive ruins of Polonnaruwa, the medieval jewel and second capital of Sri Lanka, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Located southeast of Anuradhapura, in an area of ponds built centuries ago by the kings of Sri Lanka, it is famous for its artistic beauty, and we will see, among other things, the four giant statues carved into the rock of Gal Vihara.
In the afternoon, we will enjoy a safari in Minneriya National Park. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9. Habarana-Sigiriya-Habarana
Breakfast at the hotel. We will visit Sigiriya Fort and climb Lion Rock, known for its frescoes of the Golden Maidens. We will visit the Royal Leisure Gardens, believed to be among the earliest landscaped gardens in Asia. The Mirror Wall, another of Sigiriya’s distinctive features, is located right next to the paintings; its surface is polished and covered with the writing known as “Sigiri graffiti,” which is written in the form of a poem. We will also see the Lion Staircase, which leads to the summit and is distinguished by the enormous lion’s paw carved at the base of the ascent. Free time to relax. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10. Habarana-Matale-Kandy (3 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Kandy, en route visiting the spice garden in Matale. Matale is very famous for its spices. At the beginning of Sri Lanka’s discovery, it was known as the “island of spices.” Sri Lankan cuisine is very rich and healthy due to its use of spices. In Kandy, you’ll find the precious relic, the Tooth Relic of the Buddha. First housed in Anuradhapura, then in Polonnaruwa, and finally in the beautiful, unforgettable, and endearing city of Kandy. The Perahera festival, in July and August, also takes place here in its full splendor. In 1590, the rulers of Kotte made Kandy their capital. For more than two centuries, Kandy was an independent kingdom, resisting the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the English. Only in 1815 did the British finally conquer this beautiful city in the land of mountains. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic – built between 1678 and 1782, during the reigns of several monarchs. There is a beautiful octagonal building, built during the time of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, which houses an impressive library. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11. Kandy-Kalutara (4 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Klutara, arrival and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the beach. Free time, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12. Kalutara-Colombo-airport-return or next destination.
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Colombo, arrival and panoramic tour of the city of Colombo. COLOMBO – The country’s commercial capital. Like many capitals of developing countries, it is changing rapidly. It was an important trading settlement for the Portuguese in the early 17th century, and a century and a half later was used by the Dutch, who had to cede it to the British in 1976. We will enjoy a panoramic tour of the 100-year-old clock tower and several colonial buildings constructed by the British. Other points of interest include the Pettah Bazaar, where you can haggle, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, and residential areas.
After the panoramic tour, transfer to the airport for your return flight or onward journey.
Our price includes
- India 6 nights bed and breakfast
- Sri Lanka 4 nights half board
- Local guide service in the client’s language: English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, French and Turkish.
- Assistance at airports and train stations by an English-speaking representative.
- 1 bottle of water per person per day on vehicle transfers.
- Transfers and visits in air-conditioned vehicles.
- Ascent to Amber Fort on elephant backs (subject to availability) and descent by Jeep.
- Safari in Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka
- Tickets to the monuments mentioned in the program in India and Sri Lanka
- The rates applicable at this time.
Our price does not include
- Tips for porters, waiters, drivers, guides, etc.
- Fees for accessing monuments with cameras or videos.
- Extra expenses at the hotel such as phone calls, laundry, etc.
- Drinks are not included in the program (in the case of optional drinks) at any lunch or dinner .
- Any other service not specified in “the price includes”.
Cities | Highlights |
New Delhi | The Heart of India: The Rickshaw ride through Old Delhi, the spirituality of the Sikh Temple (Gurdwara Bangla Sahib) and the imposing height of the Qutub Minar . |
Jaipur | The Pink City: The exciting Jeep ride up to Amber Fort and the photo stop at the Hawa Mahal , the iconic Palace of Winds. |
Abhaneri | Sacred Geometry: The Chand Baori stepwell , one of India’s most photogenic and ancient structures with its 3,500 symmetrical steps. |
Agra | The Marble Dream: The Taj Mahal (one of the Seven Wonders) and the robust Red Fort, symbol of the power of the Mongol Empire. |
Dambulla (Sri Lanka) | Rock Art: The Cave Temple, with its impressive 14-meter reclining Buddha and frescoes dating back more than 2,000 years. |
Polonnaruwa | Medieval Splendor: The giant statues of Gal Vihara carved directly into the rock, in an environment of ancient ponds of serene beauty. |
Minneriya | Nature in its Purest Form: A Jeep safari to observe the large herds of wild elephants in their natural habitat. |
Sigiriya | Lion Rock: One of the wonders of Asia. The climb between the enormous lion paws to see the frescoes of the ‘Golden Maidens’ and the views from the top. |
Kandy | The Sacred Heart: The Temple of the Tooth of Buddha , the most sacred place for Buddhists in Sri Lanka, surrounded by hills and spice gardens. |
Kalutara and Colombo | Disconnect and Contrast: A well-deserved rest on the beaches of the Indian Ocean and a panoramic view of the capital, where the colonial past mixes with modernity |
CITY / NIGHTS | CAT. A 5* STANDARD OR SIMILAR | CAT. B 4* OR SIMILAR |
Delhi / Gurugram | Hotel LA / Quality Inn | Radisson Dwarka / ITC Welcome Dwarka |
Jaipur | Regenta Place / Park Ocean | Royal Orchid Jaipur / Fern Ecotel |
Agra | Fern Howard / Regal Vista | Clark Shiraz / Doubletree by Hilton |
Delhi / Gurugram | Hotel LA / Quality Inn | Radisson Dwarka / ITC Welcome Dwarka |
Habarana | Cinnamon Lodge | Havana Villa by Cinnamon |
Kandy | Golden Crown | Cinnamon Citadel |
Kalutara | Royal Palms | Tangerine |
