AEI-23 Triangle with Varanasi and Kathmandu 10N-11D
Expert Rating: Asia Escapes
“This 11-day program is a true cultural and spiritual odyssey . What makes it exceptional is its ability to showcase the three faces of the subcontinent: Mughal grandeur in Agra and Delhi, the devotional fervor of Hinduism on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, and the Buddhist and Hindu mysticism of the Kathmandu Valley. The inclusion of the Vande Bharat high-speed train adds a touch of modernity and efficiency, optimizing time for unforgettable experiences such as the Aarti ceremony or a visit to the Living Goddess in Nepal. It is the ideal trip for the traveler who seeks not only to see monuments but to feel the soul of Asia . “
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, 5 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, we will 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
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you 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. The rest of the time is free, and accommodation is available.
Day 7. Agra-Varanasi by high-speed train (Departure 6:00 AM and arrival 1:00 PM) - Except Wednesday
Box breakfast. Transfer to the train station for departure by train from Bharat Mata to Varanasi. Upon arrival in Varanasi, transfer to the hotel. Varanasi, also known as Benares or Varanasi, is known as the “Eternal City” and remains the most important pilgrimage site in all of India, as well as a symbol of Hindu rebirth. Varanasi’s main attraction is the Ghats, the steps from which pilgrims descend to the sacred Ganges River . This afternoon , we will take a boat trip on the Ganges (subject to water level), visit the Bharat Mata Temple, stroll through the streets of Varanasi, and enjoy a rickshaw ride . Finally, we will witness the Aarti ceremony at the Ghats of Varanasi. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 8. Varanasi-Delhi-Kathmandu (Flight)
Breakfast at the hotel.
At the agreed time, transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi or a direct flight, and connecting flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.
Overnight stay.
Day 9. Kathmandu-Swambhunath-Durbar Square-Patan
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit the ancient city of Kathmandu and Swambhunath Temple , a stupa said to be 2,000 years old. The main structure is composed of a brick and earth hemisphere supporting a conical spiral with a copper pinnacle. It is one of the best places to admire the entire city of Kathmandu. Afterward, we will visit Patan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Patan Durbar boasts many tourist attractions and unique architecture. Krishna Mandi, Bhimsen Temple, and Hiranya Varna Mahabhihar are just a few of the temples that offer a breathtaking array of paintings, wood carvings, and metalwork. The Temple of the Living Goddess, from which Kathmandu takes its name (believed to have been built from the wood of a single tree trunk), is another highlight. The Durbar Square , with its cluster of temples, is dominated by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace (the former palace of Nepalese royalty). Overnight stay.
Day 10. Kathmandu-Pasupatinath-Bhadgaon / Baktapur
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Bhadgaon, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath. Pashupatinath is one of the holiest temples in Hinduism, dedicated to the god Shiva. This temple is built in the pagoda style. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, behind which are the cremation grounds. Bhadgaon, also known as Bhaktapur, meaning “city of devotees,” is a showcase of medieval art and architecture. Located 14 km east of Kathmandu, this city was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a seashell. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 11. Kathmandu - Next Destination
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Arrival and layover for your connection to Europe. (Our services end with your departure transfer in Kathmandu)
Our Prices Include
- 10 nights accommodation with breakfast.
- 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 in vehicle.
- Transfers, visits in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- Train ticket from Agra to Varanasi (except Wednesdays)
- Ascent/Descent in Fuerte Amber by Jeep
- Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi
- Rickshaw ride in Varanasi.
- Boat trip on the Ganges River (subject to water level)
- Tickets to the monuments mentioned in the program
- The rates applicable at this time.
Our price does not include
- Tips for porters, waiters, drivers, guides, etc.
- Camera fees at monuments.
- Extra expenses at the hotel such as phone calls, laundry, etc.
- Any other service not specified in “the price includes”.
City / Site | Highlights |
New Delhi | Historical: The contrast between the vibrant chaos of Old Delhi by Rickshaw and the majesty of the Qutub Minar and the Sikh Temple. |
Jaipur | Rajput Splendor: The Jeep ride up to Amber Fort and the Maharaja’s Palace, where the luxury of the ancient kingdoms lives on. |
Abhaneri | Ancient Engineering: The Chand Baori stepwell , a 13-level geometric marvel that looks like an Escher painting. |
Agra | The Eternal Symbol: The Taj Mahal , visited with enough time to appreciate its perfect symmetry in white marble. |
Varanasi | The Eternal City: The Vande Bharat (high-speed train) experience, the boat trip on the Ganges , and the magical Aarti Ceremony at sunset. |
Kathmandu | Valley of the Gods: The Durbar Square and the Temple of the Living Goddess (Kumari) , along with the Swayambhunath Stupa and its panoramic views. |
Patan and Bhaktapur | Medieval Art: Museum cities that preserve the best wood and metal architecture in the entire Himalayas. |
CITY / NIGHTS | CAT. C 4* | CAT. B 5* STANDARD CAT. | A 5* LUXURY |
Delhi / Gurugram | Hotel LA / Quality Inn | Radisson Dwarka / ITC Welcome Dwarka | The Leela Ambience Shahdara / Crowne Plaza Okhla |
Jaipur | Regenta Place / Park Ocean | Royal Orchid Jaipur / Fern Ecotel | Hilton / Marriott |
Agra | Fern Howard / Regal Vista | Clark Shiraz / Doubletree by Hilton | Jaypee Palace / Marriott |
Varanasi | The Amayaa / Meraden Grand | Madin / Radisson | Taj Ganges / Suryauday Haveli |
Kathmandu | Pabera | Radisson / Mercure | Grand Hyatt / Hilton |
