Itinerary
- Day 1
New Delhi
You'll arrive in New Delhi and get settled at your hotel. Your tour leader will meet you at 5pm for a welcome meeting where you'll go over the itinerary and connect with the group. If you've had a smooth journey and aren't too tired, there's an option to head out for dinner together and start getting a feel for the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mahgun Sarovar Portico Suites), Hotel (Mahgun Sarovar Portico Suites (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Dinner with tour group (if arriving in time)
- Day 2
New Delhi and Old Delhi
This day covers both sides of Delhi. In the morning, you'll walk through New Delhi's spacious boulevards to see India Gate, Qutab Minar column, and Humayun's Tomb (a UNESCO World Heritage site). After grabbing lunch, you'll hop into cycle rickshaws to navigate the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk bazaar in Old Delhi, try street food like samosas and jalebi, and check out the Red Fort and Jami Masjid Mosque.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mahgun Sarovar Portico Suites), Hotel (Mahgun Sarovar Portico Suites (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit India Gate
- Visit Qutab Minar
- Visit Humayun's Tomb
- Cycle rickshaw tour of Chandni Chowk bazaar
- Street food tasting (vegetable samosas, pakoras, jalebi)
- View Red Fort
- View Jami Masjid Mosque (from outside)
Landmarks India Gate Qutab Minar Humayun's Tomb Chandni Chowk Red Fort Jami Masjid - Day 3
New Delhi to Haridwar
You'll drive about five hours to Haridwar, a sacred pilgrimage site along the River Ganges. There you'll visit holy temples including Mansa Devi Temple and Kankhal Temple, then head to the Ghats at sunset for the Ganga Aarti ceremony, a nightly ritual performed by Brahmin priests with fire-lit lamps, chanting, and bell-ringing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Godwin Hotel), Hotel (Godwin Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Explore Haridwar's temples and markets
- Witness Ganga Aarti ceremony at sunset
Optional Activities
- Visit Mansa Devi Temple
- Visit Kankhal Temple
Landmarks River Ganges Mansa Devi Temple Kankhal Temple - Day 4
Haridwar to Rishikesh
A short drive takes you to Rishikesh, known as the 'yoga capital of the world' for its many ashrams and spiritual retreats. You'll see the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram where The Beatles studied in 1968, walk through temples on foot, then head to Triveni Ghat in the evening for another Aarti ceremony.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganga Kinare Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram
- Explore temples on foot
- Witness Aarti ceremony at Triveni Ghat
Landmarks Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram Triveni Ghat River Ganges 
- Day 5
Rishikesh
This day is yours to structure however you like in Rishikesh. The town sits right where two rivers meet in the foothills of the Himalayas, so the setting itself is great for just walking around. You can do yoga classes, visit ashrams, try rafting on the river, or simply wander the streets and take in the wellness culture. Several optional activities are available if you want a more organized experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganga Kinare Hotel (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Three-hour safari in Rajaji National Park (wildlife viewing: elephant, deer, peacock, leopard, birdlife)
- Guided walks in surrounding forests of Rishikesh
- Visit to local Ashram for meditation and yoga lesson
Landmarks Rajaji National Park 
- Day 6
Rishikesh to Chandigarh
You'll drive about five hours through the foothills of the Indian Himalayas to Chandigarh, a planned city designed by architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s. Spend time exploring the grand buildings and orderly grid layout, visit the Capital Complex, and check out the Rock Garden, a sculpture created entirely from industrial and household waste.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lords Inn Chandigarh Zirakpur), Hotel (Lords Inn Chandigarh Zirakpur (or similar))
Included Activities
- Explore Chandigarh's Capital Complex
- Visit Rock Garden
Landmarks Capital Complex Rock Garden 
- Day 7
Chandigarh to Shimla via Toy Train
A short drive brings you to Dharampur Station where you'll board the iconic Toy Train for a three hour journey ascending 62 kilometres and over 1000 metres to Shimla. The narrow-gauge train winds through 103 tunnels with spectacular mountain landscapes, eventually reaching Shimla stretched across a crescent-shaped ridge beneath dense fir forests.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ashiana Clarks Inn), Hotel (Hotel Zion (or similar))
Included Activities
- Ride on Toy Train from Dharampur to Shimla
Landmarks Dharampur Station Kalka-Shimla Railway 
- Day 8
Shimla
You'll spend the day exploring Shimla's colonial charm. A four hour orientation walk takes you through town visiting the Christ Church and Scandal Point with its mock Tudor architecture, and the Viceregal Lodge, the former British viceroy's residence where important independence negotiations took place. The afternoon is free for further exploration or forest walks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ashiana Clarks Inn), Hotel (Hotel Zion (or similar))
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Shimla
- Visit Christ Church
- Visit Scandal Point
- Visit Viceregal Lodge
Optional Activities
- Walks in surrounding forests
Landmarks Christ Church Scandal Point Viceregal Lodge - Day 9
Dharamsala
You'll spend the full day driving toward Dharamsala, a hill town tucked into the lower Himalayas. The drive takes about ten hours, so you're looking at arriving in the late afternoon. Once you get there, you'll take an orientation walk through McLeodganj, the upper section of town where you'll notice the strong Tibetan culture and presence. Along the way, you'll stop by the Church of St John in the Wilderness, then head to the Buddhist Namgyal Monastery (locals call it Little Lhasa), and after that, check out the Kalachakra Temple.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Quality Inn Bhagsu Heritage), Hotel (Hotel Infinitea Centrix Dharamshala (or similar))
Included Activities
- Orientation walk in McLeodganj
- Visit Church of St John in the Wilderness
- Visit Buddhist Namgyal Monastery (Little Lhasa)
- Visit Kalachakra Temple
Landmarks Church of St John in the Wilderness Namgyal Monastery Kalachakra Temple 
- Day 10
Dharamsala
You'll spend the morning walking through McLeodganj. If the Dalai Lama has a public audience scheduled during your visit, you may have the opportunity to attend. In the afternoon, you'll drive down to Lower Dharamsala to visit the Norbulingka Institute, which preserves Tibetan heritage and culture through education, arts, and crafts.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Quality Inn Bhagsu Heritage), Hotel (Hotel Infinitea Centrix Dharamshala (or similar))
Included Activities
- Explore McLeodganj on foot
- Visit Norbulingka Institute
Optional Activities
- Attend public audience with Dalai Lama (if available)
Landmarks Norbulingka Institute 
- Day 11
Dharamsala to Amritsar
You'll head down from the cool hill station into the plains of Punjab, then drive roughly five hours to reach Amritsar. Once you arrive this afternoon, you'll visit the Partition Museum housed in an impressive 19th-century Town Hall building. From there you'll check out the Hindu Durgiana Temple, and later head to the Golden Temple to see it lit up beautifully after dark.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Ritz Plaza), Hotel (Hotel Ritz Plaza (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit to Partition Museum
- Visit to Hindu Durgiana Temple
Landmarks Partition Museum Hindu Durgiana Temple Golden Temple - Day 12
Amritsar
Today focuses on the Golden Temple, where you'll remove your shoes, cover your head, and wash your feet before entering. Inside, you'll experience the peaceful setting and hear the continuous melodic recitation from the Guru Granth Sahib. The architecture itself blends Hindu and Islamic styles with over 700kg of pure gold covering the structure. After spending time there, you'll visit Jalianwala Bagh, a historically significant site that played an important role in India's independence movement.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Ritz Plaza), Hotel (Hotel Ritz Plaza (or similar))
Included Activities
- Full visit to Golden Temple
- Visit to Jalianwala Bagh
Optional Activities
- Shopping in local markets (afternoon free time)
Landmarks Golden Temple Jalianwala Bagh - Day 13
Departure from Amritsar
The tour ends after breakfast. There are no planned activities, so you're free to depart whenever you like. The hotel can store your luggage if your flight leaves later in the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
