Day 01 : Delhi Arrival
You are welcomed at Delhi airport either by the representative of our local agency or by your French-speaking guide to welcome you in India. He assures with you the transfer to the hotel we’ve booked for you for 2 nights.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02 : Exploring The Vibrant Delhi
This first day is dedicated to explore the vibrant 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.
It is on foot that you go through Old Delhi, then you go through the Rajghat, mausoleum of Mahatama Gandhi, you visit Humayum’s tomb, a fine example of the Mughal architecture that would have inspired the construction of the Taj-Mahal, but also Qutub-Minar , 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 stay at the hotel.
Day 03 : Delhi - Jaipur ( 295km - 5 hours)
After having breakfast, you leave for Jaipur, one of the most pleasant and lively cities in India. The vibrant capital of Rajasthan, also called "The Pink City", the color of the old city’s buildings, is surrounded by bare hills topped by fortresses and crenellated ramparts. Sacred cows, camels, elephants and Rickshaws coexist.
Built in 1727, Jaipur is one of the most colorful and picturesque cities in India. You will visit the "City Palace" and its fabulous collections of weapons and period costumes, the "Jantar-Mantar", an astonishing observatory built by a prince passionate by astronomy but also the Hawa-Mahal: The Winds Palace, structure pierced with more than 900 windows and balconies.
At the end of the afternoon, you take a ride through the bazaars of the old town in rickshaw, to admire the craftsmen in their stalls (potters, dyers, and jewelers), street vendors, vegetable marketers...
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 04 : Jaipur : Exploring The Vibrant Pink City
After having breakfast, you take the road for an excursion to the Amber Fort. This majestic building which is located 9 km north to Jaipur which formerly capital of the Great Rajput Empire. You climb to the top of its ramparts on the back of elephant or 4x4.
The afternoon is free and reserved for shopping.
A Bollywood evening awaits you at the mythical Raj-Mandir Cinema to close your day (sometimes subtitled in English)
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 05 : Jaipur - Fathepur Sikri - Agra (240kms - 4 hours)
After having breakfast, you take the road to Agra. On the way, you visit Fatehpur-Sikri, a place of outstanding artistic and architectural significance. Built in 1571, Fatehpur-Sikri is the ancient capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The Imperial City contains buildings in pink sandstone with the most varied architectural forms: palaces, pavilions, courtyards and basins, mosques, caravanserai.
You arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon, before visiting the mausoleum of Itimad-ud-Daulah, nicknamed "Baby Taj", the first Mughal building built entirely of marble, with particularly delicate forms and patterns.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 06 : Agra : Exploring the Seventh Wonder of the World
After having breakfast, you go to discover the Taj-Mahal in "tonga", small carriage. You will discover this amazing place of art and Mughal architecture, luminous mausoleum of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, built by Emperor Shah-Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz, and considered as the third wonder of the world...
The afternoon is free and reserved for shopping.
At the end of the day you will visit Agra’s Red Fort whose high red sandstone walls dominate the Yamouna river.
It marks the birth of the Mughal Imperial style and offers you the opportunity to take a last look at the Taj-Mahal
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 07 : Agra - Jhansi - Orchha (by train 260kms-3h)
After having breakfast, you embark on a train that takes you to Jhansi, on the road to Orchha. Ancient capital of the "Bundella" kings, Orchha remained the capital of a powerful Rajput kingdom until 1783. Today it is a small medieval village located in the middle of palaces and temples rather well preserved.
You can then discover the impressive Jahangir-Mahal(Palace), the Raj-Mahal(Palace) with magnificent frescoes and the Raj Praveen Mahal(palace), a small palace that stands in a garden.
In the evening, you attend a ceremony in the temple of Rama.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 08 : Orccha - Kajuraho (170kms-4h30)
After having breakfast, you take the road to the Ganges valley and Khajuraho, once the capital of the Chandela dynasty kings from the 6th to the 8th century, where you arrive in the early morning.
In the afternoon, you discover rural India through a walk in the village where all the Indian tradition resonates. After this beautiful discovery, you attend a very colorful dance show representing different regions of India.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 09 : Kajuraho - Varanasi (flight)
The sacred power of love to attain the absolute; this is what the sculptures of Khajuraho reveal to you in the morning: scenes of ordinary life in the fields, ladies' toilets, scenes of war and scenes of love, under the benevolent eye of the gods.
Then you take a domestic flight to Varanasi where you will be staying at the hotel upon your arrival.
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 stay at the hotel.
Day 10 : 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 for Buddhists from all over the world. A visit to its museum, which houses remarkable representations of Buddha, is essential.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11 : Varanasi - Kathmandu
After having breakfast, you take a plane to join Kathmandu.
Kathmandu, capital and largest city of Nepal, is located in the heart of the country. Long considered the fabulous and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is today a holiday destination in development and this has all budgets. According to legend, the valley of Kathmandu was once a turquoise lake on which a lotus flower floated.
Manjushree (Padmasambav), a Chinese holy patriarch would have cut the wall of the valley with his sword of flamboyant wisdom in Chovar in order to let dry land appear. The lotus flower would have remained on the ground where Manjushree was building the great stupa of Swayambhunath. The Kathmandu Valley includes the three ancient royal cities: Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, each with their own Palaces and all are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You will see in this palace, alleys adorned with magnificent cobblestones, a fascinating labyrinth or temples and sanctuaries and markets full of life.
One of our representatives will be there to greet you at the airport and you will be transferred directly to your hotel.
The rest of the day is free.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12 : Kathmandu
Your day is devoted to visit Kathmandu Square, Swoyambhunath Stupa & Patan Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square is located in the heart of Kathmandu’s old town and the founding of Durbar (Royal Palace) dates back to Licchavi times. Thanks to considerable renovations undertaken by Malla rules and later by the Ranas, construction was gradually completed over several centuries. There are more than 50 temples in the Vincity.
You visit the 17th century Durbar Complex, Hanuman Dhoka, The Paravati Temple, Great Bell and Drum, Bhairav, Taleju Temple and other temples that encircle it. A little further on is the temple of the living goddess, where you will probably take a picture of the Kumari from one of the open windows overlooking the inner courtyard. In the surroundings you will have the opportunity to admire the splendor of historical monuments in the lively market place. Sellers of vegetables, flute trees, sellers and their merchandise, street vendors, and street shops selling imported goods. Nestled in a quiet corner, the market of sparkling pearls to buy customized pearl necklaces.
On the top of a green hill to the west of Kathmandu stands the great stupa of Swoyambhunath, a site of more than 2500 years marking the point where the legendary Patriarch Manjushree discovered the lotus of the ancient Lake of the Valley. Swoyambhunath offers a splendid view of the city. This huge stupa is one of Buddhists most sacred sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of Kathmandu.
Patan, also known as Lalitpur or the "City of Fine Arts" is the oldest town in the valley and was founded by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. JC. Patan, the cradle of art and architecture of the valley, is both a great center of the Newari Buddhist religion and traditional arts and crafts which number no fewer than 136 bahals and 55 major temples of which the best known are the Krishna Mandir And Hiranya-Varna Mahavihar (The Golden Temple).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 13 : Kathmandu
After having breakfast, the visit of Pashupatinath temple, Boudhanath Stupa & Bhaktapur Durbar Square are scheduled for today.
The Pashupatinath Temple is considered as one of the holiest places of all Hindu temples in the world, while the Shiva Temple, Pashupatinath, with its golden roof and silver doors is known for its superb architecture. The entrance to the temple is reserved for Hindus but you can see it from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River overlooking the cremation sites.
These two magnificent golden temples with four silver doors is a unique example of Nepalese temple architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temples in South Asia containing hundreds of Shiva Lingons, sanctuaries enclosing icons of multiple Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
Boudhanath, the largest Stupa in Nepal, is encircled by vast houses and monasteries, where Rinpoches resides. Also known as "Little Tibet" by its unique atmosphere from the old market square of Barkhor in Lhasa, it is a place that many Tibetans visit as it is a place of pilgrimage and commerce.
You have the opportunity to visit the surrounding monasteries and spend some time with the monks and be blessed.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 14 : Kathmandu - Nagarkote
In the morning after having breakfast, you visit Bhaktapur-Durbar Square.
Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon, is the home of medieval art and architecture and recognized for pottery and weaving. It is the most charming and best preserved village in the valley of the three cities. You will visit the ancient gateway, Durbar Square, the Royal Residential Quarter of Bhupatindra-Malla, Batsala temple, Bhairavnath temple, Duttatraya, Pujari Math and a palace with 55 windows. You will walk to the famous Nyatapole temple, the five-storey temple built in pagoda style, the largest temple in the country guarded by a series of mythical animals and divinities as well as the Bhairav temple dedicated to the Deity of Bhairav.
Later, you set off to join the Nagarkote hill
Nagarkote, hill located at 2175m above sea level, is one of the most popular destinations in Nepal especially for its famous mountain views. The country has five of the 10 highest mountains in the world: Everest (8848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Makalu (8463 m) and Manaslu (8,163 m) and more at a lower altitude. You walk through the village of Nagarkote, surrounded by terraced hills and beautiful landscapes before being transferred to the hotel where you settle.
If the weather allows it, you will have the possibility to witness the splendid sunset view on the mountains.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 15 : Nagarkote - Kathmandu
Early in the morning, you can witness the magnificent sunrise seen on the mountains
After having breakfast, you return to Kathmandu before being transferred to the airport for your international flight.