<h1>A Journey to India - April 2014</h1>
<strong>April 2</strong>: Depart Cape Town at 1:25 pm on Emirates airlines.

<strong>April 3</strong>: Arrive Delhi via Dubai at 9:30am. Met, garlanded and transferred to our hotel Bajaj Indian Homestay.

Rest, relax and shower. At 3:30 we are picked up and taken for a Rickshaw ride through Chandi Chowk, in Old Delhi. After our tour we are dropped at the train station to connect to our onward train to Udaipur departing at 7pm.

<em><em>Overnight</em></em>: 1st class A/C overnight train.

<strong>April 4</strong>: Arrive Udaipur at 7:20am. On arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure.

<em><em>Overnight</em></em>: Udai Kothi hotel

<strong>April 5</strong>: At 9am we are picked up for our ½ day tour of Udaipur. We will visit the City Palace, Sajjan Niwas Garden, and the Jagdish Temple. Remainder of the day at leisure.

<em><em>Overnight</em></em>: Udai Kothi hotel

<strong>April 6</strong>: Full day free to explore Udaipur. At 4:30 we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Delhi

<em>Overnight</em> : Bajaj Homestay

<strong>April 7</strong>: Depart on a 6:30am train to Haridwar. Free day to
explore the banks of the Holy Ganges. Festival of Light at 7pm

<em>Overnight</em> Hari Ganga hotel

<strong>April 8</strong>: After breakfast a day trip to Rishakesh. Festival of Light at 7pm.

<em>Overnight</em>: Hari Ganga Hotel

<strong>April 9</strong>: After breakfast a tour of the city.

<em>Overnight</em>: Hari Ganga

<strong>April 10</strong>: After breakfast we drive back to Delhi

<em>Overnight</em>: Bajaj Indian Homestay

<strong>April 11</strong>: We are transferred at 7am to the airport for our 9:55 flight
to Srinigar. Arriving at 12:15pm. On arrival we will be met by my good
friend Rasool and taken to his houseboats on Dal Lake for lunch.
Free afternoon to relax.

<em>Overnight</em> Houseboats...3 meals per day included

<strong>April 12</strong>: A visit to the Mugal Gardens and the local carpet weaving.
Shakara rides on the lake.

<em>Overnight</em> Houseboats

<strong>April 13</strong>: A drive into the Himalayas to visit Gulmarg. A golf
course in summer and a ski resort in winter.

<em>Overnight</em> Houseboats

<strong>April 14</strong>: A visit to the old town of Srinigar. Floating gardens of
Dal Lake in a Shakara. A visit to the paper mache` man.

<em>Overnight</em> Houseboats

<strong>April 15</strong>: At 7am we will be picked up and driven in 4X4’s through
the Himalayas to Dharamsala and the home of the Dalai Lama
in McCloudganj. This drive takes 12 hours and travels through
scenic mountains and villages. We share the road with nomads,
their families, dogs, herds of sheep, goat, and horses.

<em>Overnight</em>: Chonor House which is owned and run by the Dalai Lamas organization.

<strong>April 16</strong>: There will be little structure here so you may do as you like
in this mountain village called “Little Tibet”. There are massages,
Reiki, traditional Tibetan massage, great shopping and so much
more to explore. We will check on times to visit the Karmapa today
down in Dharamsala. A visit to the workshops run by the Dalai Lama’s
organization to preserve the crafts of Tibet.

<em>Overnight</em>: Chonor House

<strong>April 17</strong>: Continue your exploration of McCloudganj. Visiting the Dalai
Lama’s monastery, temple etc.

<em>Overnight</em>: Chonor House

<strong>April 18</strong> : Today at 2:30pm we will be picked up and transferred to
the train station in Chakki Bank. We depart at 9:30pm

<em>Overnight</em>: 1st class A/C overnight train

<strong>April 19</strong>: Arrive Delhi at 5:00 am. We are met and transferred to
our hotel. Afternoon tour of Delhi visiting the Lotus Temple,
India Gate, Houses of Parliment, Old English Raj area.

<em>Overnight</em>: Bajaj Indian Homestay

<strong>April 20 </strong>: At 5:15am we are picked up and taken to the train for a
journey to Agra and the majestic Taj Mahal. Met and taken on a
tour of the Taj,Mahal, Red Fort, and the marble factory. You will
be driven back to Delhi.

<em>Overnight</em>: Bajaj Indian Homestay

<strong>April 21</strong> : Depart Delhi at 9:25pm... Free time until airport departure at 6:30pm.

<strong>April 22</strong> : Arrive Cape Town 11:40am

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Optional 5 day extension into the mountains to Darjeeling.
3 meals a day included

<strong>April 22</strong>: Free time until our overnight Rajani Express 1stclass A/C train
to Darjeeling. Three meals served on the train.

<em>Overnight</em> on the train.

<strong>April 23</strong>: Arrive New Jalpaguri and driven to the old British Hill Station
of Darjeeling and one of the best teas growing areas in India.
Remainder of the day to relax.

<em>Overnight</em>: Elgin Hotel

<strong>April 24</strong>: Free day to wander and explore this wonderful area. A ride
on the single gauge railway is an option.

<em>Overnight</em> Elgin Hotel

<strong>April 25</strong>: Before dawn we are picked up at 4am to view the sunrise
over Tiger Hill and a view of Everest if it is clear. Back for
breakfast and a visit to a tea plantation.
After this a tea tasting is in order. Black, green and white teas...
There is a difference.

<em>Overnight</em> Elgin Hotel

<strong>April 26</strong>: Free morning before we drive down the mountain to catch our flight to Delhi. Picked up and transferred to Bajaj Homestay. Free afternoon to relax or go shopping for those last minute things you MUST have.

<em>Overnight</em> Bajaj Homestay

<strong>April 27</strong>: Free day until our 9:30pm flight home.

<strong>April 28</strong>: Arrival in Cape Town via Dubai

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<em>***A R4,000 deposit holds your place on this tour ~~~~ Single supplement applies</em>

<strong>The tour price includes:</strong>
Airfares to and from India
Two domestic flights
All hotels with breakfast
All tours with English speaking guides
All trains, transport, transfers, entrances
3 meals per day in Srinigar
3 meals per day in Darjeeling
Not included:
Items of a personal nature
Meals
Visas
Tipping