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Dates and prices are subject to change. For booking, availability, and detailed itineraries, consult your travel agent or check online. India Encompassed CLASSIC Highlights › › Discover ancient forts and temples › › Revel in the beauty of Agra's Taj Mahal › › Sail the Ganges in venerable Varanasi › › Stay with the locals in the Kerala backwaters › › Smell spices at a plantation in the Cardamom HIlls What's Included Arrival transfer included through the G Adventures-supported Women on Wheels project. Walking tour with a guide from the G Adventures- supported New Delhi Streetkids Project. Old Delhi walk with stops at the Jama Masjid, Gurduwara, Chandni Chowk, spice markets, and Connaught Place. Camel Cart ride (Tordi). Taj Mahal and I'timad-ud- Daulah (Baby Taj) entrance. Agra Fort entrance and guided tour. Amber Fort tour (Jaipur). Orchha Palace complex visit. Western Temple complex visit. River Ganges boat trips at sunrise and sunset, including candle flower ceremony. Fort Kochi orientation walk. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary walk. Mudumalai National Park safari. Chaumundi Temple and Mysore Palace visit. Mamallapuram Shore Temple visit. Pondicherry orientation walk. Madurai cycle-rickshaw ride and Sri Meenakshi temple visit. Cardamom Hills spice plantation tour. Kerala backwaters homestay with guide. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. ACCOMMODATIONS Hotels/guesthouses (25 nts), sleeper train (1 nt), homestay (1 nt, multi-share) TRANSPORT Train, local bus, private vehicle, auto-rickshaw, camel cart, boat, plane GROUP LEADER CEO throughout, local guides MEALS 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners. Allow USD610-795 for meals not included. ITINERARY From the beautiful symmetry of the Taj Mahal to the unforgettable backwaters of Kerala, this comprehensive Indian journey is a photographer's delight. Sail along the sacred Ganges River in Varanasi and explore Abhaneri's carved stepwells in the North before flying south to search for tigers in the wild and exotic spices in relaxed hill stations. With an intriguing combination of included activities and free time, city streets and rural spirit, you're sure to gain an understanding of the people and some insight into this fascinating land. DAY 1 DELHI Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included through the G Adventures-supported Women on Wheels project. DAY 2 DELHI Take a morning walk through the city with a young adult from the G Adventures- supported New Delhi Streetkids Project. Later, visit Old Delhi, explore the spice markets, and visit Jama Masjid and Connaught Place. DAYS 3-4 JAIPUR Take a photo opportunity at Hawa Mahal ("Palace of the Winds") and visit the Amber Fort. Opt to watch a Bollywood movie in the classic art deco Raj Mandir cinema. DAY 5 TORDI SAGAR Visit this Rajasthani rural village in the beautiful countryside with a close tie to the land. ( 1L, 1D ) DAYS 6-7 ABHANERI/AGRA Stop by the Abhaneri stepwells on the way to Agra. Visit to the famous Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Red Fort. ( 1B ) DAY 8 ALIPURA Travel to Alipura and stay in a heritage property in the village. DAYS 9-11 ALIPURA/KHAJURAHO/ORCHHA Visit the Western Temple complex in Khajuraho. The next day, travel to rural Orchha visiting a unique paper-making plant en route. Explore the Orchha Palace complex and enjoy a puja ceremony. Board an overnight train to Varanasi on Day 11. DAYS 12-13 VARANASI Take an orientation walk along ghats and old city with River Ganges boat trips at sunrise and sunset. DAY 14 VARANASI/DELHI Cut out the travel time with an afternoon flight back to Delhi. DAYS 15-16 KOCHI Fly to Kochi. An orientation walk includes the Dutch Palace, Jewish synagogue, and town. See a kathakali performance. ( 1B ) DAYS 17-18 WAYANAD Take a morning train, then a scenic drive, to Wayanad. Walk the nature trails in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Eddakal prehistoric caves. DAY 19 MUDUMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Spend the night at the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary provides one of the most important refuges for elephants and bison in India. DAY 20 MYSORE Visit the Chamundi Temple and Mysore Palace. DAYS 21-22 MAMALLAPURAM Take an afternoon train to Chennai and a short bus ride to Mamallapuram to visit the Shore Temple. DAY 23 PONDICHERRY Continue to Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry) and learn about Sri Aurobindo Ghose at the ashram. DAYS 24-25 MADURAI Drive to Madurai and enjoy a cycle- rickshaw tour of the city and Sri Meenakshi Temple. DAY 26 THEKKADY Drive to Thekkady. Take a guided tour of spice plantations in the Cardamom Hills. ( 1D ) DAY 27 KERALA BACKWATERS Take a private bus to Alleppey followed by a riverboat to a homestay. Experience local life and a guided walk along the lagoon. ( 1L, 1D ) DAY 28 KOCHI Travel back to Kochi where the trip ends upon arrival. ( 1B ) ADD TO YOUR EXPERIENCE CULTURAL SRI LANKA: Head a little further south to the island nation of Sri Lanka. See tour ASSL on page 36. Guaranteed Departures Number of IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING | departures / month. 7 3 2 1 2 3 1 1 4 2 4 ■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■ J F M A M J J A S O N D 28 DAYS—DELHI TO KOCHI FROM $ 2899 OPTIONAL MY OWN ROOM: $ 1048 TOUR CODE: AHHE IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? See back foldout. TYPE: SMALL GROUP – MAX 15, AVG 10 SERVICE LEVEL: STANDARD PHYSICAL DEMAND: LIGHT Mysore Wayanad Mamallapuram Chennai Alleppey Thekkady Madurai Pondicherry Kochi I N D I A Delhi Orchha Alipura Khajuraho Varanasi Jaipur Agra Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary THIS TOUR VISITS A G ADVENTURES FOR GOOD PROJECT SEE PAGE 8 ASIA›› INDIA 22