Itinerary
- Day 1
Delhi
Delhi- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at one of Delhi's oldest restaurants, a historic establishment that introduced India to ice cream and fine dining)
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting with local leader and fellow travelers
- Welcome dinner at historic Delhi restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore Delhi's historical landmarks at your own pace
- Visit museums and galleries
- Browse endless bazaars
- Day 2
Delhi
DelhiIncluded Activities
- Old Delhi city tour with leader
- Metro navigation assistance
- Mughal architecture exploration on foot
- Traditional rickshaw ride around Chandi Chowk
- Visit to Jama Masjid (Shoe Keeper)
- Visit to Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
Landmarks Chandi Chowk Jama Masjid Sheeshganj Gurudwara - Day 3
Delhi to Jaipur
Delhi to Jaipur- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked dinner in local family home)
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walking tour in Jaipur
- Bazaar exploration - handcrafted textiles, folk art and semi-precious stones
- Home-cooked dinner at local family's home
Landmarks Hotel Narain Niwas Palace - Day 4
Jaipur
Jaipur- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Amber Fort guided tour
- City Palace tour and grounds
Optional Activities
- Visit Jantar Mantar Observatory (1729 pre-modern observatory)
- Hot air balloon ride over the city
- Sample Rajasthani street food including pyaaz kachori
Landmarks Amber Fort City Palace Jantar Mantar - Day 5
Jaipur to Agra
Jaipur to Agra- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Taj Mahal visit with guide
- Sunset exploration of Taj Mahal grounds
Optional Activities
- Dinner at local restaurant with authentic curries (leader recommended)
Landmarks Taj Mahal - Day 6
Agra to Lucknow
Agra to Lucknow- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at restaurant supporting acid attack survivors (Sheroes Cafe))
Included Activities
- Agra Fort visit
- Lucknow orientation walk with leader
- Dinner at restaurant supporting acid attack survivors
Landmarks Agra Fort - Day 7
Lucknow
LucknowIncluded Activities
- Lucknow city tour with leader
- Bara Imambara visit
- Awadhi cooking class
Landmarks Bara Imambara - Day 8
Lucknow to Varanasi
Lucknow to Varanasi- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Train journey to Varanasi
- Varanasi orientation walking tour
- Sunset cruise on Ganges with musicians
- Ganges flower and candle ceremony
Landmarks Ganges River - Day 9
Varanasi
Varanasi- Meals
- Lunch (Street food lunch including chaat, samosas, jalebi, lassi and sweet paan)
Included Activities
- Sunrise Ganges boat trip with musicians
- Rickshaw food tour through Varanasi
- Street food lunch experience
- Sarnath visit
- Stupa visit at Sarnath
- Sarnath museum visit
Landmarks Sarnath - Day 10
Varanasi to Delhi
Varanasi to Delhi- Meals
- Dinner (Feast of Mughlai cuisine, street food dishes and kebabs at Haveli Dharampura (1887 heritage building))
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner at Haveli Dharampura
Optional Activities
- Visit Humayun's Tomb
- Visit Qutb Minar
- Explore other sites missed on first visit to Delhi
Landmarks Humayun's Tomb Qutb Minar Haveli Dharampura - Day 11
Delhi to Chennai
Delhi to Chennai- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner featuring south Indian vegetarian dishes including idly, dosa and poori)
Included Activities
- Second welcome meeting with new leader and group
- Welcome dinner with south Indian vegetarian dishes
Optional Activities
- Visit Georgetown Bazaar market stalls (if arriving early)
Landmarks Georgetown Bazaar - Day 12
Chennai to Puducherry
Chennai to PuducherryIncluded Activities
- Drive along scenic East Coast Road
- Mamallapuram Shore Temple guided tour
Optional Activities
- Explore Puducherry's food scene (traditional Indian and French influences)
Landmarks Mamallapuram Shore Temple - Day 13
Puducherry
PuducherryIncluded Activities
- Leader-led French Quarter walking tour
- Visit to local temples
- Visit to Church of Notre Dame
- Snack stop at local cafe in White Town
Landmarks Church of Notre Dame - Day 14
Puducherry to Madurai
Puducherry to Madurai- Meals
- Lunch (Leader-led street food tour including mutton dosa, fish gravy, and Jigarthanda dessert)
Included Activities
- Orientation walk in Madurai
- Leader-led street food tour of Tamil cuisine
- Street food lunch experience with mutton dosa, fish gravy and Jigarthanda dessert
Optional Activities
- Chai stops along the drive
- Day 15
Madurai
Madurai- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional home-cooked Tamil dinner with local family including chettinad chicken, egg paratha and vegetable korma)
Included Activities
- Tailor's Market visit
- Local bazaar exploration
- Sri Meenakshi Temple visit
- National Gandhi Museum visit
- Thirumalai Nayak Palace visit
- Traditional home-cooked Tamil dinner with local family
Landmarks Sri Meenakshi Temple National Gandhi Museum Thirumalai Nayak Palace - Day 16
Madurai to Thekkady
Madurai to Thekkady- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch made with spices from the plantation)
Included Activities
- Spice plantation visit with expert guidance
- Spice tasting, smelling and learning
- Lunch made with plantation spices
Optional Activities
- Browse shops selling spices and organic tea
- Relax in palm-fringed resort pool
Landmarks Periyar National Park - Day 17
Thekkady - Periyar National Park
Thekkady - Periyar National ParkIncluded Activities
- Guided nature walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kalarippayattu martial arts demonstration
Optional Activities
- Ayurvedic massage
Landmarks Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kadathanadan Kalari Centre - Day 18
Thekkady to Munnar
Thekkady to MunnarIncluded Activities
- Tea plantation tour and expert guidance
- Tea-making process demonstration
- Tea leaf picking area visit
- Tea variety sampling
- Tea museum visit (when available)
Landmarks Munnar Tea Plantation 
- Day 19
Munnar
MunnarIncluded Activities
- Leader-led guided walk around Munnar hills
Optional Activities
- Motorboat ride around Mattupetty Dam lake
Landmarks Mattupetty Dam - Day 20
Munnar to Kerala Backwaters
Munnar to Kerala BackwatersIncluded Activities
- Houseboat cruise through Kerala Backwaters
Landmarks Kerala Backwaters Alleppey - Day 21
Alleppey to Kochi
Alleppey to KochiIncluded Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Kochi
- Kathakali classical dance performance
Optional Activities
- Visit Princess Street and enjoy coffee
Landmarks Princess Street 
- Day 22
Kochi
Kochi- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Shantilal S. Mithaiwala sweet shop with famous sweets), Dinner (Ayurvedic dinner using Satvik Bhojan methods and recipes demonstrated by ayurvedic doctor)
Included Activities
- Tuk-tuk tour of Fort Kochi
- Antique shops and spice bazaar exploration
- Chinese fishing nets visit
- Mattancherry Palace visit
- Paradesi Synagogue visit
- Lunch at Shantilal S. Mithaiwala sweet shop (open since 1953)
- Ayurvedic doctor consultation on Satvik Bhojan diet
- Ayurvedic cooking demonstration and dinner
Landmarks Fort Kochi Chinese Fishing Nets Mattancherry Palace Paradesi Synagogue - Day 23
Kochi
Kochi- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend stay in India with additional accommodation or transfers (arrange ahead with booking agent)
