A Journey Through India – Exclusively Solos Tour

Depart the UK with Qatar Airways from London Heathrow or Manchester.

After transiting in Doha, we arrive into Delhi and transfer to the delightful  Leela Ambience Hotel. This evening, we enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Manager and fellow travellers to become acquainted and learn more about our forthcoming adventures.

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing as we explore Old and New Delhi. Begin the day with a pleasant rickshaw ride through Old Delhi; travelling via the lavish Red Fort – palace of the Mughal Empire. Visit Jama Masjid, India’s largest and most spectacular mosque, and experience Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colourful market of the old city. It’s an action-packed morning, concluding with a street food walk in Old Delhi, showcasing a range of authentic Dilli food bursting with all sorts of mouth-watering flavours. We continue to New Delhi to visit the iconic India Gate and celebrated Parliament House, and continue to Humayun’s Tomb. Our tour concludes at a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 13th century masterpiece, Qutub Minar – India’s famed red sandstone and white marble minaret.

Tour Highlight
After breakfast, we transfer to New Delhi Railway Station to board our train to Kalka. From Kalka, we board the UNESCO recognised Toy Train on its meandering journey through the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains towards Shimla, famed for being the summer retreat of the British colonial government in the 19th century. This distinctive train offers incomparable views of the surrounding landscapes. We spend our next three nights at the Raddison Jass Hotel, where we can enjoy the breathtaking views of our surroundings.

Following breakfast, we enjoy a leisurely walking tour around Shimla, witnessing heritage buildings including the Gaiety Theatre, a restored Gothic construction extraordinarily adorned with papier-mâché! Our tour also visits the General Post Office, and Viceregal Lodge, the most historically significant colonial building of the region, displaying incredible architecture. The remainder of our day is ours to explore this historic hill station.

Whilst our day has been left free for independent exploring, for those interested we may join our guide to visit Sankat Mochan Temple. Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, this temple is known for its splendid architecture and fabulous views. This afternoon we highly recommend joining the optional Sleeping Beauty Trail. Our walk is on Elysium Hill, the highest, of one of seven hills that surround Shimla. We pass by the famous Lakkar Bazaar, home to numerous stalls selling an array of Himachali handicrafts, followed by visits to several of Shimla’s historic buildings.

Bidding farewell to magical Shimla we journey to Chandigarh in a series of smaller vehicles, which are best suited to the mountainous terrain. At Chandigarh, we board our flight to Jaipur, arriving into the city late afternoon. Upon arrival we transfer to our home for the next two nights, the Marriott Jaipur.

Following breakfast, we travel a short distance to meet our waiting jeeps, which take us to a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the magnificent Amber Fort. Set amidst dramatic pink hills and overlooking Maota Lake, the nostalgic Amber Fort is a fabulous example of Rajput architecture. Later, we embark on a city sightseeing tour, visiting the stunning City Palace; the famed astronomical architecture dating back to 1734, Jantar Mantar; and a drive past the distinctive Hawa Mahal, an extraordinary pink and red sandstone palace, widely known as the ‘Palace of Winds.’ To finish our day, we enjoy a cooking demonstration and dinner at a local family home, providing a unique opportunity to experience traditional local life.

We depart Jaipur this morning bound for Ranthambore National Park. On arrival we check into our accommodation, Tiger Den Resort. Located on the fringe of Ranthambhore National Park, it provides the perfect base for our next adventure. This afternoon, you may choose to relax at our hotel, or take a tour of Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evening, we prepare for the exciting day ahead with a fascinating tiger talk by an expert local naturalist.

We begin the day with an early safari in Ranthambore National Park by shared canter vehicles. Ranthambore is one of the largest national parks in northern India, and renowned for its majestic Bengal tigers. We hope to witness these magnificent and elusive predators roaming in their natural habitat. Later this afternoon we continue exploring the park further. Keep a look out for some of Ranthambore’s other wildlife including crocodiles, sloth bears, monkeys, sambar deer, and over 250 species of bird, whilst taking in the stunning scenery.

Bidding farewell to Ranthambore, this morning, we journey to Abhaneri. Unique to India, Chand Baori at Abhaneri is a 13 storey, 1300-year-old stepwell, constructed with mind-blowing geometry and aesthetics. We visit the hindu temple of Harshat Mata Mandir, before taking lunch at a local restaurant. We continue our journey to Agra and the Grand Mercure hotel, where we spend the next two nights.

Tour Highlight

We start our day with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, India’s most iconic monument, carved from stunning ivory-white marble and a must-see UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mughals were at the peak of their power and wealth during Shah Jahan’s reign and it is believed that over 20,000 stone carvers, masons and artists were employed to build this monument to love and it is now one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Later, we continue to Agra Fort, a commanding 16th-century red sandstone fortress. The remainder of the day is at leisure, to relax or explore Agra’s many other delights. You may wish to join us on a visit to the gardens of Mehtab Bagh, for a picture-perfect view of the Taj Mahal at sunset.

Following a leisurely breakfast, we head to the airport for our flight to Mumbai. On arrival we transfer to the five-star Trident Hotel Nariman Point, which will be our home for the next two nights.

This morning, we take a short tour of Mumbai, visiting Mani Bhawan, a museum dedicated to Ghandi; the Prince of Wales Museum; Victoria Terminus, open-air Laundromat; Dhobi Ghat and the iconic Gateway of India. This afternoon has been left at our leisure. Why not join an optional tour across the Bay of Mumbai to visit the Elephanta Caves, an intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva.

It’s good-bye Mumbai and hello Madurai today! On arrival into Madurai, we transfer to the centrally-located Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. Madurai is a lively and ancient city on the Vaigai River, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As the sun sets, we take to the lively streets and immerse ourselves in the colourful and vibrant markets aboard a rickshaw.

Tour Highlight

Meenakshi Temple dominates the Madurai skyline, the towering gopurams covered with colourful stucco images. It is a fascinating place to absorb Hinduism where up to 15,000 devotees visit daily. During our tour of this majestic temple, we experience traditional ceremonies, devotions and its animated markets. Visit Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahall, a dazzling 17th-century palace erected in 1636 AD by King Tirumala Nayaka. This afternoon is reserved for leisure, whether it be furthering your adventures through Madurai or relaxing by the hotel pool. For those interested, there is an opportunity to return to Meenakshi Temple this evening to experience the unforgettable ‘Going to Bed Ceremony’.

Our journey south continues this morning as we make our way towards Thekkady. As we traverse the mountainous countryside of thick jungle and vast carpets of tea bushes, the aroma of spices fills the air. Later we arrive at our hotel, the delightful Cardamom County Hotel, where we stay for the next two nights. As the remainder of the day has been left to enjoy the surroundings of our hotel, why not treat yourself to an ayurvedic therapeutic treatment?

Following breakfast, we explore a spice plantation, where the mystery and history of the Indian tea and spice industry will be revealed. Later, enjoy a tranquil cruise on Periyar Lake (subject to water levels) through the scenic Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, where the surrounding forests are thriving with a range of colourful birdlife and wildlife, including elephants and sambars. We complete our day experiencing a 2,000 year old traditional Kathakali dance.

Tour Highlight

After breakfast, we journey towards the backwater canals of Kerala. We transfer to Alleppey Jetty for another of our tour’s many incredible highlights. Here we board a traditional, thatch-roofed ‘kettuvallam’ houseboat for a lazy day cruise through a labyrinth of canals, waterways, coconut groves, rice fields, hidden temples and tiny islands. Enjoy the unique experience of a night aboard, enjoying lunch and dinner, and indulging ourselves in the soothing sights of the slowly passing, and distinctly beautiful, Keralan backwaters. This once in a lifetime experience is something we’ll be reminiscing about for many years to come.

We awake to the tranquillity of the Keralan backwaters, where we enjoy breakfast onboard our houseboat. Disembarking, we begin our journey to the coastal village of Mararikulam. Known for its palm-lined beaches and stretches of golden sand it’s an ideal spot to relax and rejuvenate. On arrival we transfer to the charming Marari Beach Resort. Set amid 30 acres of coconut groves and organic farmland and with direct access to the beach, settle into our individual thatched villa and prepare to relax.

Our day is at leisure to spend as we please. Maybe take a morning stroll with one of the resident naturalists or enjoy a walk through the hotel’s organic gardens. Ayurvedic medicine is rooted at the heart of Indian culture and at Marari Beach Resort you can learn more about this ancient treatment and perhaps enjoy a traditional Ayurvedic massage. Other activities include an early morning yoga session, or you could enjoy your last day taking a cooling dip in the green waters of the hotel’s saltwater pool and a stroll along the golden sandy beach.

Following breakfast, we travel to the colourful port city of Cochin. On arrival, we first visit Mattancherry Palace, also known as the ‘Dutch Palace’, to admire its exquisite murals, before continuing on to enchanting Fort Cochin, where Chinese fishing nets line the shore. We overnight at the Courtyard by Marriott.

Early morning, we travel to Cochin Airport for our flight with Qatar Airways, which travels via Doha. We arrive into our chosen airport later today, bringing to a close our magical adventure around India.