November 7th – 21st, 2022
➜ Packing: Packing lightly will make it easier to load up the vans that we use and will also be less of a hassle as we move from place to place. Sometimes, due to the narrow lanes, we’ll have to walk with our luggage for a short while to reach our accommodation.
➜ Immunizations: Apart from the COVID-19 vaccine, India does not currently require any immunizations in order to enter the country. If you are interested in getting other immunizations before you travel for your own comfort and safety, you can find suggestions on the CDC website.
➜ SIM cards – If you do not have an international plan for your phone, you can obtain a local Indian SIM card so that you will have internet on your phone during the trip. Please bring 3 passport headshot photos and a photocopy of the details page of your passport and we can set it up when you arrive. It costs about $10 USD. (The wifi at our hotels ranges from good to okay, which is normal in India. There can be periods where it doesn’t work each day.)
➜ Indian currency: India uses the Indian Rupee as its currency. Currently, $1 USD = 81 INR. Please do not exchange money before arriving in India. India recently discontinued several denominations of bills and replaced them with new ones, making the originals completely worthless. If you exchange money at home, you run the risk of ending up with worthless Indian rupees. ATMs and reliable exchange offices can be found in every town we visit. Once you arrive we’ll help you exchange money without any hassle. Credit cards are also widely accepted in the cities.
➜ Tipping: In India, tips are greatly appreciated but not required. Tips for all included meals, local guides and hotel staff are already included. You would only need to tip at non-included meals and for any activities you do on your own. We also recommend tipping our local drivers $50 per person at the end of the tour.
➜ WhatsApp group: We will be setting up a WhatsApp chat for this tour a few weeks before your trip starts so that the entire can group can communicate with each other. Your tour leader, Derek, will also be in the chat so that he can share important information directly with everyone. This will be the easiest way for everyone to be in touch before and during the trip!
Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Delhi’s International Airport:
➜ Please note: When filling out the Landing Card upon arrival at the Delhi Airport, you will most likely need to enter the name of the hotel where you will be staying. Please enter: Park Inn by Radisson New Delhi Lajpat Nagar (address: Ring Rd, Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar 4, New Delhi 110024).
➜ Important: You MUST print out a copy of your E-Visa approval notice. You will need to show this to the airline staff upon check-in for your flight and again to the immigration officer at the airport in Delhi.
With rules and regulations regarding Covid testing constantly changing, our team will ensure that you have all the information necessary to properly prepare for your entry into India. You can expect communications specific to Covid-19 and travel testing as the tour gets closer.
Currently, the Government of India requires the following from all travelers:
Nov 7th: Delhi (Arrival Day)
Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to our hotel by a private driver and I’ll be there to greet you. The remainder of the day will be yours to rest and recover from jet lag and meet your fellow travelers. We’ll then have a tour orientation in the evening followed by our welcome dinner.
Included: Dinner
Nov 8th: New Delhi
The tour begins with a full morning tour at the bustling Chandni Chowk Market in Old Delhi. From hidden lanes and abandoned villas to markets selling elaborate wedding supplies, sweets, musical instruments and everything else you could imagine, this experience will immediately open your eyes to the wonders of India. After a unique local lunch in a 140-year old eatery, we’ll head over to the gorgeous Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple, a holy shrine where we’ll encounter Sikh pilgrims from around the country and a massive communal kitchen that serves up 5000 free meals per day. As evening rolls around, we’ll head to one of Delhi’s best restaurants for a group dinner.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nov 9th: New Delhi ➜ Agra
Hopping into our van, we’ll make the short 3 hour drive to Agra. Upon arrival, we’ll check in to our family-run guesthouse and enjoy lunch as our rooms are prepared. In the afternoon, we’ll meet our local guide and head to the one and only, Taj Mahal. After spending some time learning about the site with our guide, you’ll have as much time as you wish, just as the light is at its best, to enjoy this wondrous place. From the manicured grounds and fountains to going inside the Mausoleum to soaking up views of the river and distant countryside, it’s bound to be an impressive afternoon. We’ll then have a home cooked dinner back at our guesthouse, prepared by our welcoming hosts.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Nov 10th: Agra ➜ Ranthambore
Leaving Agra after breakfast, our destination will be the quiet, countryside village of Ranthambore. The trip will take approximately 7 hours, including stops for lunch and at a mesmerizing stepwell in a remote village that almost nobody knew about until a few years ago. Once we reach Ranthambore in the evening, we’ll head straight to our peaceful accommodation and well-appointed rooms. Dinner will be served shortly after our arrival.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Nov 11th: Ranthambore
Early this morning, we’ll head straight into Ranthambore National Park for a two-hour tiger safari led by a professional guide and naturalist. Considered one of the best locations in India for tiger spotting, we’ll also be on the lookout for endless varieties of colorful birds and other wildlife. After lunch, you’ll have a chance to visit a wonderful local women’s collective that empowers women from remote villages in the region and to spend time wandering around the historical and expansive Ranthambore fortress perched above the jungle below. We’ll then have a relaxing evening back at our lodge.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nov 12th: Ranthambore ➜ Bundi
After a quick two-and-a-half-hour drive, we’ll arrive in Bundi, where we’ll get situated in our centrally-located heritage hotel. After lunch, we’ll walk up to the ruins of the grand Bundi Palace, towering over this magical blue town. Our walk will take us through narrow lanes, past ancient homes and mansions and bring us into contact with friendly families, shopkeepers and more. We’ll also stop for a special chai demonstration with a local vendor who will serve up some of the most amazing masala tea on the planet. Our day will finish with dinner overlooking the palace and fortress high above this small, little-visited, yet picture perfect, town.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Nov 13th: Bundi
Heading to a local, rural school in the morning, we’ll meet and interact with both teachers and children, giving everyone a chance for a rewarding cultural exchange in a village that generally sees no tourists at all. After lunch back in Bundi, we’ll visit some of the area’s beautiful, ancient stepwells before some free time to wander the peaceful streets on your own or to relax at the hotel, with its sweeping views over the town.
Included: Breakfast
Nov 14th: Bundi ➜ Udaipur
Today we’ll drive approximately six hours to Udaipur across the vast plains of Rajasthan. We’ll pass the imposing fortress of Chittogarh, and stop to take in the vistas and eat lunch along the way. Once in Udaipur, we’ll check into our hotel near the edge of stunning Lake Pichola. After a rest, we’ll go for an afternoon wander to watch the sunset over the lake. We’ll have dinner on the roof of our hotel, with a stunning view over the water and of several sprawling palaces dotting the landscape. You’ll quickly see why Udaipur is considered India’s most romantic city.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nov 15th: Udaipur
The day begins with a guided visit to the famous City Palace, one of the best preserved in the entire country, where we’ll wander through the courtyards, audience halls, bedrooms, antique textile exhibitions and more. From here, we’ll stop by the city’s most impressive Hindu temple with its carved tower depicting infinite gods and religious scenes. After our tour, you’ll have free time to explore the rest of the old town, partake in some shopping (this is a shopping mecca with a local style of painting, marble carving and textiles), enjoy an ayurvedic massage or visit one of the famous local tailors who can quickly create custom-made garments to your specifications. (Udaipur is the best place in India for excellent tailor-made clothes at very affordable prices.) We’ll then all meet up in the evening for a fantastic meal along the waterfront.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nov 16th: Udaipur
Today the animal lovers among us will hop into our vans for a short drive into the countryside to visit Animal Aid Unlimited, the groundbreaking organization caring for Udaipur’s sick and injured animals. After a tour of the grounds, that includes interaction with the animals, we’ll stop by the beautiful Saheliyon ki Badi Royal Gardens that was designed specifically for the royal ladies of this prestigious city. Later in the day there will be an optional cooking class scheduled with a local family for those who wish to learn about the ingredients and cooking styles required to create India’s vast and complex cuisine.
Included: Breakfast
Nov 17th: Udaipur ➜ Varanasi
Departing Udaipur, we’ll take a flight across northern India to the city of Varanasi. From the airport, it will be a 1 hour ride to the old city in Varanasi where we’ll settle in to our hotel, right near the holy Ganges River. Known as the spiritual capital of this country, you will instantly encounter an atmosphere that is intense yet calming, strange yet mesmerizing, shocking yet invigorating. As the sun sets and we eat dinner, you’ll be left eagerly wondering what awaits us the following day.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Nov 18th: Varanasi
With a full tour of the Old City, we’ll walk along the various ghats, observing pilgrims engaged in rituals and prayers, as the city vibrates with activity. We’ll stroll through the winding lanes of the largest market, enjoy a glass of the city’s famous lassis and spend time at the burning ghats. You won’t even want to blink as the mystery and allure of this city unfolds all around you. Following lunch, we’ll have some free time before meeting up for a surprise evening event!
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nov 19th: Varanasi
Starting bright and early, we’ll board a typical wooden row boat for a sunrise boat trip along the Ganges River. This experience will allow us to witness the city come to life as holy men make their offerings, bells are rung and chanting fills the air, laundry is washed in the river, cows roam the ghats and meditators and yogis begin their daily routines. In the afternoon, we’ll walk down to Assi Ghat, the last ghat along the river in order to soak up a different vibe and visit an excellent local organization. After sunset, we’ll then witness the evening Aarti (Hindu religious ceremony) that takes place every night on the main ghat along the river.
Included: Breakfast
Nov 20th: Varanasi ➜ Delhi
In the morning, we’ll have time for one more wander through this eye-opening city, with several optional excursions available as well. We can arrange half day trips to the village of Sarnath (where the Buddha gave his first teachings) or to the little-visited Ramnagar Fort and Museum that sits semi-abandoned on the banks of the river. We’ll then catch an afternoon flight, which only takes 1 hour, back to Delhi. After checking into our hotel, we’ll all gather for our farewell dinner as the tour comes to an end.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Nov 21st: Delhi (Departure Day)
Depending on the time of your flight, you’ll be transferred to the airport by private driver.
Included: Breakfast
What’s Included?
What’s Not Included?
Please note that in the event of any interruption to your tour experience as a result of your testing positive for Covid-19, our staff will be on hand to assist with making any arrangements that need to be made. This could include accommodation booking, transportation, scheduling additional Covid-19 tests, etc. However, it is important to understand that you would be fully responsible for all expenses incurred related to interruptions to the trip and/or medical treatment needed as a result of a positive Covid-19 test before, during or after the trip. We highly recommend having a travel/health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 related situations. By participating in the tour, you are confirming your understanding of the above.
That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.
