Berge & Mystiken

1. Tag: Delhi

Welcome to India’s capital. Join your group and guide for a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. If you arrive into Delhi early, there are plenty of things to see and do. Perhaps pay a visit to the 12th-century Qutub Minar or the World Heritage-listed Humayun's Tomb. As the former residence of royal families and British soldiers, the Red Fort plays a vital part in Delhi’s history and is a must-see. Sampling spicy street food or trying your hand at haggling in the city’s bazaars are other great introductions to India.

Special Information: It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Optional Activities:
Delhi - Qutub Minar - INR500
Delhi - Humayun's Tomb - INR500
Delhi - Gandhi's Delhi Urban Adventure - INR2700
Delhi - Home-Cooked Experience Urban Adventure - INR4000
Delhi - City Food Crawl Urban Adventure - INR3500

2. Tag: Delhi

This morning, join the group for a walking tour around Old Delhi, which has been an important city in India for over 2,000 years. Climb aboard a traditional cycle rickshaw and be driven through the colour and chaos of Delhi’s traffic. In the afternoon learn about the Sikh religion at the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) and visit the Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest and India’s largest mosque.

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Delhi - Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
Delhi - Jama Masjid
Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)

3. Tag: Shimla

Depart Delhi by train for the 4-5 hour journey across the state of Punjab to Chandigarh. From Chandigarh we will travel by private vehicle to Shimla where on arrival we will explore the town's faded colonial charm on an orientation walk.

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Shimla - Walking tour

4. Tag: Shimla

Wake up early this morning to board the World Heritage-listed 'toy train' for a two-hour scenic journey offering views of quaint villages and gorgeous mountain passes. Afterwards, head out and explore Mall Road, Shimla's most popular shopping stretch. A nearby viewpoint also offers fantastic views of the Himalayas. Visit the Viceregal Lodge to witness where the partition agreement that separated India from Pakistan and Bangladesh was drawn up. If you like, join the hoards of monkeys milling about Jakhu Temple or stock up on souvenirs and specialty wooden crafts at Lakkar Bazaar. Set among rolling hills, Shimla also offers an array of nature walks that range from gentle to challenging. In the evening, enjoy an optional trip to the cinema and bop along to a Bollywood blockbuster.

Optional Activities:
Shimla - Cinema - INR100
Shimla - Jakhu Temple - Free
Shimla - Lakkhar Bazar - Free

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Shimla - Viceregal Lodge

5. Tag: Mandi

Travel by jeep to the small town of Mandi. Situated on the Beas River, Mandi has a rich cultural heritage of both historical and theological significance. Once part of the salt route to Tibet, today it's the gateway to the Kullu Valley. Head into town for a walk and explore a huge sunken shopping centre - the only one like it in India and the focal point of entertainment in Mandi. You can also spend time at the bathing ghats along the river or hike to hilltop temples just outside of town. In the evening, enjoy and included dinner and stay in the simply restored former palace of the Raja of Mandi.

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Mandi - Walking tour

6. Tag: Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj)

The journey through the mountains today is an adventure in itself. Travel by private vehicle for the six-hour drive along bumpy, winding roads to Dharamsala, also known as McLeod Ganj. Strung with prayer flags and busy with robed monks strolling between monasteries, this hilltop retreat is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. Spend the afternoon wandering the peaceful streets, which are set to the backdrop of the Himalayas. There’s a lot to gain here from learning about the many facets of Tibetan Buddhism.

7. Tag: Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj)

Today visit the fascinating Norbulingka Institute, developed to train Tibetan refugees in skills needed to preserve the traditional arts and crafts of Tibet. Its grounds feature a beautiful temple and several workshops where you can witness woodcarving, painting and needlework in action. Then make your way to the Tsuglag Khang complex to see the Dalai Lama’s temple. You may also like to visit the Losel Doll Museum, which is a great way to learn about the daily lives and customs of people all over Tibet.

Optional Activities:
Dharamsala - Losel Doll Museum - INR50
Dharamsala - Cooking Class - INR400

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Dharamsala - Norbulingka Institute
Dharamsala - Dalai Lama Temple

8. Tag: Amritsar

Today travel down the mountains to Amritsar, situated in the heart of the fertile plain known as India's ‘breadbasket’ and the centre of Sikhism in India. Tour the sights and wonder through the rambling streets and bazaars of the Old City by foot. Explore the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), which sits in the middle of a sacred lake. Listen to the soothing sounds of the devout chanting verses from the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Amritsar - Golden Temple

9. Tag: Amritsar - Nachtzug nach Haridwar

Visit Jallianwala Bagh, the site of the tragic 1919 massacre that played a vital role in India's independence. Then head out to the India-Pakistan border to witness the pomp and circumstance of the daily flag ceremony, a military practice that the security forces of India and Pakistan have followed since 1959. Tonight take an overnight sleeper train from Amritsar to Haridwar.

Special Information: Sleeper trains are clean and air-conditioned, and beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow and blanket provided (although some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet). Please note that you may be sharing with locals of the same or opposite gender.

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Amritsar - Jallianwallah Bagh
Amritsar - Wagah Border ceremony

10. Tag: Rishikesh

After pulling into Haridwar in the morning, there’s a 1-hour drive to Rishikesh. Check in to your hotel before going on an orientation walk with your leader. Pay a visit to the faded but mural-lined walls of Chaurasi Kutia – the ashram made internationally famous (long with Rishikesh by association) when the Beatles visited in the 1960s. Explore the crumbling beauty of the former ashram, now covered in graffiti related to the band and counterculture. In the evening, take a stroll along the holy Ganges River as temple bells ring and the nightly fire ritual of Ganga Aarti begins.

Special Information: Being sacred, Rishikesh is a dry town and alcohol is prohibited.

Optional Activities:
Rishikesh - Yoga Class - INR600

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Rishikesh - City walk
Rishikesh - Chaurasi Kutia 'The Beatles Ashram'

11. Tag: Rishikesh - Ganges Fluss

The morning is yours to roam around Rishikesh. Perhaps tuck into a masala dosa for breakfast before walking or riding it off on one of the trails along the Ganges. Aptly named the 'Yoga Capital of the World', Rishikesh is a great place to relax and seek a little enlightenment with your own yoga class, if you’d like. For something more adventurous, there is the option to white-water raft down the Ganges. In the afternoon, reunite with your group for a walk through the jungle nearby. Tonight, experience sleeping under the stars just outside of Rishikesh; you’ll be staying in a fixed campsite with twin-shared tents and western-style toilets.

Optional Activities:
Rishikesh - Bike hire - INR300
Rishikesh - White Water Rafting - INR1200

12. Tag: Delhi

Bid farewell to Rishikesh and take the train back to Delhi (approximately 7-9 hours). The train arrives back into Delhi around 11 pm from where you’ll be transferred to your hotel on arrival.

13. Tag: Delhi

There are no activities planned for today, so you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time. Don't forget to check out the great range of Urban Adventures if you have extra time in Delhi, including Culture Vulture Delhi – visiting the chaotic lanes, historic sites and streetside food stalls of the capital. Head to urbanadventures.com/destination/delhi-tours for more information. If you would like to spend some more time in Delhi, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Optional Activities
Delhi - Culture Vulture Urban Adventure - INR2500