Spirit of North and South India (Luxury Gold - Summer 2016)
INCLUSIVE LUXURY GOLD SERVICES
- You will be escorted by the crème de la crème of Insight Travelling Concierges - handpicked for every departure. This skilled guide will act as consummate organiser and be your 'friend in a foreign land'.
- Enjoy the unique comfort of Insight's luxury air-conditioned 39 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom. It's business class comfort.
- Baggage handling everywhere, with seamless and prompt delivery to your door at every hotel. Hotel and restaurant tips included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. Plus we include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary hotel WiFi.
- Insight Flourishes - from time to time, your Travelling Concierge will enchant you with local tidbits, each representing authentic food or beverages unique to the destination.
- Included airport transfers between the airport and your Insight tour hotels.
ADDITIONAL INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
- Delhi: Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the lanes of the Chandni Chowk Bazaar. Stop for a photo of the Red Fort. Visit the Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat. See the Qutub Minar tower. Drive along the Rajpath to see the India Gate and Parliament House. Visit the Tomb of the Emperor Humayun.
- Agra: Group picture taken at the Taj Mahal.
- Jaipur: Enjoy a Jaipur city tour including a visit to the City Palace Museum housing traditional Rajasthani and Mughal Art. Visit the Jantar Mantar the Royal observatory built in 1726. See the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds).
- Kochi: City sightseeing.
- Kumarakom: City sightseeing.
- Mumbai: City sightseeing.
- Alleppey: cruise the backwaters.
EPICUREAN DINING
- Delhi: During your Welcome Dinner, your Travelling Concierge will introduce you to a variety of Indian cuisine to prepare your palate for the incredible flavours of India.
- Jaipur: Join a jeep safari through the picturesque Aravali hills. Stop and spend time with the Meena tribe, before continuing on to Dera Amer where your Highlight Dinner awaits.
- Mumbai: Showcasing the best of Indian cuisine, our mouth-watering Gala Dinner with drinks in the nation's largest city is the perfect environment to celebrate your time in India.
- Get to know your Travelling Concierge and fellow guests over a Welcome Reception including drinks and a delicious meal (WD), 14 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 1 Highlight Dinner (HD), 4 Lunches (L), 4 three course dinners with choice (D) and 1 Celebration Dinner (CD).
EXCLUSIVE INSIGHTS
- Delhi: Enjoy a rickshaw ride through the bustling streets.
- Agra: Visit the Taj Mahal, a monument of love, built by a king in memory of his beloved queen.
- Agra: Inside Agra's red sandstone fortress, witness the fairy-tale palaces, audience halls and mosques of the Mughal rulers.
- Fatehpur Sikri: Visit this deserted imperial city, dramatically abandoned a few years after it was built.
- Ranthambore: Venture inside this former royal hunting ground and enjoy three game safaris with a naturalist.
- Amber Fort: Ascend by jeep to stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Enjoy the shimmering mirrored walls and ceilings, the airy rooms that housed queens and concubines, and the wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.
- Kumbalangi: Journey to the small island for a glimpse into the daily lives of the villagers.
- Kochi: Attend a performance of traditional Kathakali dance.
- Kumarakom: Rise early for a fascinating bird watching experience at the Bird Sanctuary.
- Alleppey: Cruise the glorious backwaters and spend the night on a traditional houseboat.
- Mumbai: Cruise to Elephanta Island, the glorious abode of Lord Shiva and visit the complex of ancient cave temples.
OUTSTANDING HOTELS
- Agra: The Trident by Oberoi is the perfect base to experience this city steeped in history. The hotel features tastefully appointed rooms which overlook the central courtyard and gardens and offers a superb range of facilities.
- Ranthambore: The luxurious Nahargarh lies nestled at the foot hills of the Aravalli Ranges neighbouring the Ranthambore National Park. The hotel boasts luxurious rooms, modern facilities and a superb restaurant offering global cuisine.
- Jaipur: Located close to the famous Amber Fort, the Trident by Oberoi offers stunning views of the Mansagar lake and Jal Mahal. The rooms are tastefully appointed and offer all the modern amenities.
- Kumarakom: Winner of the World Travel Award as India's Leading Resort for four years, the Lake Resort exudes the charm of Kerala's true heritage while offering a complete range of New Age amenities for a luxuriously comfortable stay.
Welcome to India! On arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, you are greeted with a traditional floral garland and transferred to your modern five-star hotel. Tonight, join your Travelling Concierge for a Welcome Reception with a delicious meal.
(Relaxed Start) Start the day with a cycle rickshaw ride through Old Delhi including the bustling lanes of Chandni Chowk market. Stop for a photo at the impressive Red Fort, then visit the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat. You can also explore India's largest mosque, the magnificent Jama Masjid, built by Shah Jahan in 1650. Afterwards, tour the wide boulevards of New Delhi. Drive along the ceremonial Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate and Parliament House. Visit the Tomb of Emperor Humayun, one of the best-preserved Mughal monuments in Delhi.
On arrival to Agra, witness the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you make your way through the city to Agra Fort, a powerful fortress of red sandstone. After your tour through the palatial Royal Pavilions and gardens, there is free time to relax. Later, you could choose to attend an optional spectacular stage musical production which follows the ‘Saga of Love' that inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal.
In the morning, admire the lustrous Taj Mahal, bathed by the first rays of dawn. Then head west to the ancient Mughul capital of Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted city full of architectural wonder. Imagine court life in the 16th century as you enter the Agra Gate into the huge rectangular courtyard where ambassadors were received. Stop in the historic city of Bharatpur for lunch, before continuing to the station for the rail journey to Ranthambore. On arrival, transfer to your luxurious hotel, built in the style of a traditional Rajput hunting palace, nestled in the foot hills of the Aravalli Ranges, near the Ranthambore National Park.
Early morning journey into the former private hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur, in search of the elusive tiger. More commonly seen in the dry, deciduous forest are the wild boars, monkeys, spotted deers and antelopes but if you are ever going to witness tigers in their natural habitat, this is the place. Return to your resort for breakfast and the day at leisure. At dusk, enjoy another foray into the national park with an expert naturalist. Besides the wildlife, there are also lake palaces, ‘chhatris', old fortifications and a majestic 1,000-year-old fort within the park.
Early in the morning, embark on another exciting game adventure into the territory of the majestic tiger — every wildlife enthusiast and photographer's dream. After lunch, drive through the rural countryside where flat, green fields are punctuated with the bright blossom of women at work. Your destination is the stunning Rajasthan capital of Jaipur. Later, join a jeep safari through the picturesque Aravalli hills. Stop and spend time with the Meena tribe, learning about their way of life and farming rituals before continuing on past village hamlets and fields to Dera Amer where dinner is served.
(Relaxed Start) Enjoy a unique experience, as you ascend by jeep to the Amber Fort, a superb example of Rajput architecture, with its terraces and ramparts reflected in the Maota Lake below. Inside, the royal halls are decorated with intricate ivory, mirrors and glass, complemented by exquisite wall paintings. Back in Jaipur, see the famous ‘Hawa Mahal' (The Palace of Winds) and visit the City Palace, now a museum housing a fabulous collection of Rajasthani and Mughal Art. A final stop is made at the famous Jantar Mantar, the observatory, constructed between 1727 and 1734 by Maharajah Jai Singh II. Back at the hotel you are at leisure.
In the morning, board your flight to Mumbai and onto Kochi. On arrival, transfer to your sophisticated hotel offering panoramic views of the backwaters and the city.
In the morning, journey to the small island of Kumbalangi for a glimpse into the daily lives of the villagers. Walk through the village, join the fishermen as they raise their Chinese nets or farmers working in the fields. Return to Kochi and for an afternoon at leisure. In the evening you are invited to attend a performance of traditional Kathakali dance, characterised by elaborate makeup, colourful costumes, and some of the most intense facial expressions you'll ever see.
(Relaxed Start) Sightseeing of Kochi shows you the oldest Jewish synagogue in the commonwealth. Next witness the renowned mythological murals of Mattancherry Palace, built in 1557 by the Portuguese. Stop by India's oldest European built Church of St. Francis to see the tombstone of Vasco de Gama, interred here before his remains were returned back to Lisbon. Next, witness glorious scenery enroute to Kumarakom. On arrival, the rest of the day is free to explore.
(Relaxed Start) For those who want to rise early in the morning there is an included bird watching tour at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Set within lush acres of woodland, become acquainted with the vast variety of migratory birds , that flock to the Himalayas. Return to the hotel for breakfast. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the beautiful backwater environment. Perhaps enjoy an Ayurveda treatment, for which Kerala is renowned.
(Relaxed Start) Transfer to the local jetty to board your delux houseboat for a cruise on the backwaters of Alleppey. Journey through waterways that traverse past picturesque villages, fields brimming with ripe paddy and rows of swaying coconut palms. Relax, enjoy the tranquil setting and prepare for a luxurious night on-board.
(Relaxed Start) Journey to Kochi for your flight to the vibrant city of Mumbai. Transfer to your hotel for leisure time, perhaps relax and enjoy the comforts and facilities of your deluxe hotel.
Enjoy the view of the city skyline on your cruise to Elephanta Island, the glorious abode of Lord Shiva. Visit the complex of ancient cave temples listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The massive entrance hall, supported by large pillars, houses the Mahesamurti, an enormous three-faced statue of Shiva. In the afternoon, embark on a sightseeing tour visiting the Gateway of India, commemorating the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Admire the collection of Indian paintings and sculptures at the Prince of Wales Museum, visit Jehangir Art Gallery, Crawford Market and see the meticulous Hanging Gardens on top of Malabar Hill. In the evening, enjoy a Celebration dinner with drinks.
Your magical journey comes to an end with transfers to the International Airport for your onward flights. Perhaps extend your stay with an Mini Trip?
