Day 01 : Delhi
You are welcomed at Delhi airport either by the representative of our local agency or by your French speaking guide. He insures your transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 : Delhi
This first day is dedicated to the discovery of Delhi.
Bathed in the holy waters of the Yamuna, Delhi was twice capital of empire, first with the Mughals, then in 1911, with the British. The city is divided into two very contrasting parts, New Delhi, the Victorian city with great avenues, with its business district and the parliament gathered around Connaught Place, and Old Delhi, the old city, the capital of Muslim India. Streets lined with bustling bazaars, and home to the Red Fort, witness to the power of the Mughal emperors as well as the Jama Masjid Mosque, the largest in the country.
You take a walk through Old Delhi, before discovering the Rajghat, mausoleum of Mahatama Gandhi. You will then visit Humayum’s tomb, a fine example of the Mughal architecture that would have inspired the construction of the TajMahal, but also QutubMinar, the highest tower in the country with its 72.5m high. In the late afternoon, you will discover New Delhi via Rajpath, the Royal Way, before admiring the Indian Gate, the Parliament and the Presidential Palace.
In evening, you share a moment of fervor with the Sikh community at the Bangla Sahib temple.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 : Delhi / Varanasi (flight 1h20)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will take a flight to Varanasi. When arriving, you will visit the city of Shiva, famous for its Ghats on the most sacred river of Hinduism, the Ganges.
In order to feel the spiritual energy that emanates from the city, you go on a ride through the streets and the Ghats in rickshaw.They come mainly to pray, wash, purify, shave (pilgrims donate their hair to the river), play cricket, wash clothes, give alms to sadhus, practice yoga.
You have the opportunity to participate in an offering and worship ceremony on the Ghats paying tribute to the deities. Seeing these illuminated cupolas floating in the night will remain for a moment imprinted with wisdom of which you will long remember.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 : Varanasi:
Early in the morning, with the first rays of sunshine, you take place in a boat for a stroll on Ganges calm waters, while on the shores thousands of pilgrims are already pressing to pray and purify themselves in sacred water...
Your afternoon is dedicated to the visit of Sharnarth, Buddhist teaching’s birthplace. It is here that Buddha preached his first sermon in 528 BC. Sharnarth is one of the most important sacred places forBuddhists from all over the world. A visit to its museum, which houses remarkable representations of Buddha, is essential.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 : Varanasi / Gaya / Bodhgaya (220km - 05 h)
After a heavy breakfast, you take the road to Gaya, the sacred city of the Hindus just as Bodhgaya is for the Buddhists.
Visited by Vishnu who gave her the power to absolve sins, many pilgrims make offerings on the Ghats along the Falga River. Ou continue with the visit ofVishnupad temple where the imprint of Vishnu would still be visible (the entrance is reserved for Hindus only).
We then leave for Bodhgaya where Buddha reached the Awakening after 40 days of asceticism. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06 : Bodhgaya
After breakfast, you leave for a visit to Mahabodhi temple, the place of "Great Illumination", where Prince Siddhartha Gautama reached the Awakening. A 50m high brick pyramid restored several times dominates the site; Place of major pilgrimage, it contains a golden statue of Buddha.
It is one of the holiest places in the Buddhist world where pilgrims from all over the world come to gather. Later, you discover several Tibetan, Thai and Burmese monasteries built by the pilgrims in the original architectural style of their country.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 : Bodhgaya / Nalanda / Rajgir (110km - 04 h)
After breakfast, we take the road to reach Nalanda, a teaching of the Great Vehicle doctrine major center, where up to 10,000 monks lived in the 7th century, the period of its apogee. Nalanda University was a major center of Indian thought whose influence extended over Asia: Central Asia, Himalayas, Southeast Asia, China and Japan.
We discover ruins which still evoke the glorious past of this city, as well as the daily life of then. You then proceed to Rajgir, the city of five hills, where Buddha loved to preach and retreat. He would have spent several years there.
You then explore the first Buddhist "council" cave after the master's death, as well as the Jain and Shivaite temples.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 : Rajgir / Patna / Delhi (flight)
After breakfast and on the way to Patna, you stop at Bihar-Sharif, where there is another center of Buddhism teaching, Odantapuri University. The city was the former capital of the Pala dynasty in the 10th century.
Once you arrive in Patna, ancient capital of Maghada’s kingdom, you visit the city museum which contains beautiful sculptures representative of the Maurya and Gupta styles, painted banners, tangka, paintings and terracotta and you take a tour of the National Library, which contains many Arabic and Persian manuscripts. You are then transferred to the airport to take a flight to Delhi. Arriving in Delhi, you are directly transferred to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 : Delhi - Rishikesh: (242kms-6h)
After breakfast, we take the road towards Rishikesh where you will be transferred to your campsite as soon as you arrive.
In the afternoon you visit the Ramjhula Bridge and the LaxmanJhula Bridge before discovering ParmarthNiketan Ashram and GeetaBhawan Ashram.
Overnight at camping.
Day 10 : Rishikesh - Haridwar - Rishikesh:
Early in the morning, you participate in a yoga session near the bank of the Ganges. Then, after having breakfast at the hotel, we take the road to Haridwar where you visit, on board of a cable car, the famous temples Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi.Later, you visit other important temples of Haridwar like the Emma temple, Maya Devi temple, PawanDham&ParadShivling.You are then transferred to Rishikesh and your hotel before visiting TriveniGhat to admire the Ganga Aarti. Overnight at camping.
Day 11 : Rishikesh - Rudraprayag (163 km - 6/7 hours)
After breakfast, you leave for Rudraprayag. On the way, you stop to admire the crossing of the rivers Deoprayag (Bhagirthi and Alaknanda), the city in which you visit the temples. Later, you stop again to see another crossing of rivers at Rudraprayag (Mandakini and Alaknanda).
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Rudrprayag - Joshimath (189 km) (Trek-3 km - 10 hrs)
After breakfast, you go for a 3 km hike and climb to the top to see the Karthik Swami temple located at 2545m above sea level. Along the way, you enjoy the magnificent view of the confluence of the rivers Karanprayag (Pindari&Alaknanda) &Nandaprayag (Nandakini&Alaknanda).
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Joshimath - Bhavisyabadri - Joshimath (34 km) (Trek - 6 km - 5 hours)
After breakfast, you leave for a 6 km trek to Bhavisyabadri (3641m) one of the PanhBadri and sacred place in the Hindu religion. Later, after visiting Auli, located at 3010m altitude and well-known for skiing, you take a cable car through the forests of conifers and oaks. On the top you can see the peaks of the snow-capped mountains. In the evening, you will go sightseeing near Joshimath-Shankaraycharya math, where you will discover various temples Narsingh, Kalpavriksha and Bhavisyakedar. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 : Joshimath - Rudraprayag (189 km - 6/7 hours)
After breakfast, you take the departure to reach Rudraprayag where you visit the temple of Mahadev Camille. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 : Rudrapayag - Rishikesh: (139 km)
Early in the morning you leave for Rishikesh. There you will visit the Dhari Devi temple and the Vasisth cave. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16 : Rishikesh - Delhi
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi before taking your return flight.