Highlights of India & Nepal

(13 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Delhi, Varanasi, Kathmandu & Kathmandu Valley, Agra, Jaipur

This private tour combines the best of India and Nepal, two incredibly beautiful and endlessly fascinating destinations. Enjoy private touring of the many cultural highlights in Delhi, Kathmandu and Jaipur, as well as unique experiences such as visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise, watching ceremonies on the Ganges River and seeing Mount Everest during a scenic flight.

Begin in Delhi, the vibrant capital of India. During private touring with your expert local guide, experience the best of Old and New Delhi: ride a rickshaw through bustling markets and bazaars overflowing with spices, bangles and saris; browse fashionable districts filled with galleries and boutiques selling beautiful Indian crafts and decorative items; tour historic attractions and UNESCO sites such as the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar and Jama Masjid; and visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum, Crafts Museum or other specialty museums. Other options include culinary touring, personalized shopping tours, visiting the Lodhi Gardens and more.

Next, visit Varanasi (Benares), one of the oldest cities in the world, and, as the spiritual center of the Hindu world, a major Indian pilgrimage site. Enjoy a private boat ride on the Ganges River to see daily rituals along the ghats (stone steps), and watch a fascinating aarti religious ceremony involving fire, incense and chanting along the river. Also visit renowned silk shops in Varanasi’s old town, and take an excursion to Sarnath, where the faithful believe the Buddha gave his first sermon. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange visits to master silk weavers.

Continue to Kathmandu, the endlessly fascinating capital of Nepal. During private touring with your expert guide and driver, walk through the lively backstreets of Old Kathmandu to see artisans’ workshops, traditional markets, and active Buddhist and Hindu temples. Explore the cultural highlights in the numerous UNESCO World Heritage-listed monument zones around the city and in the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Tour the beautiful courtyards, palaces and historic monuments of Kathmandu’s Durbar Square. Circumambulate the mammoth white stupa at Boudhanath, the most important Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet, with throngs of pilgrims and worshippers, and perhaps duck into one of the smaller temple buildings to light a candle or spin a giant prayer wheel among the faithful. Venture to the hilltop Swayambhunath, another important and photogenic Buddhist temple with an iconic white stupa, flapping prayer flags, and panoramic views of Kathmandu and the foothills of the Himalayas. Observe ceremonies at Pashupatinath, a sprawling Hindu temple complex that’s the oldest and most revered Hindu site in Kathmandu. Other highlights include seeing the Kumari Devi—a living goddess—and relaxing in the Garden of Dreams, a soothing green oasis. One morning, if desired, enjoy a fixed-wing scenic flight to see Mount Everest and other snow-capped high Himalayan peaks, a truly memorable experience.

In the Kathmandu Valley, tour the extensive palace districts in the former royal capitals of Patan and Bhaktapur. See beautiful traditional brick buildings with finely carved wooden windows. Visit the Patan Museum, a former palace and one of the best museums of traditional Nepalese art in the country. Peruse fine metal crafts such as singing bowls, brass tableware and gold-leafed religious icons produced in the small workshops of Patan. Browse for woodwork and ceramics created by artisans in Bhaktapur. Find the perfect shawl made of the finest Nepalese pashmina (cashmere). Learn about the iconography in Buddhist thangka paintings and perhaps select one to take home. You will have ample time to shop for these and other typical Nepalese products, such as handmade paper and prayer wheels during your tour. Also sample local foods such as juju dhau, Bhaktapur’s unique “king yogurt.” On your last evening in Nepal, dine at a local restaurant while enjoying a cultural performance.

Upon request, we can arrange additional activities such as taking part in cooking class in a private home, interacting with monks at a local temple, watching a thangka being made, meeting local artisans, visiting a traditional farm, participating in philanthropic experiences, and more.

Fly to Delhi and continue to Agra to visit the spellbinding Taj Mahal, the world’s greatest monument to love. During a private tour, learn about the history of the ornate marble mausoleum, and admire the incredible craftsmanship of inlaid stone decorations and carved marble screens. Also visit local marble studios, markets and Agra Fort. Stay at the beautiful Oberoi Amarvilas in a room with an open view of the Taj, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue to Jaipur, the famed Pink City of Rajasthan. During private touring see the highlights of the vast City Palace, admire the beautiful carved sandstone facade of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Wind), and walk around the sculpture-like structures of the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One day, visit Amber Fort, an impressive hilltop fortress and UNESCO site, and see its spectacular Sheesh Mahal, a room covered in dazzling mirror mosaics. Jaipur is also known for bazaars, shops and decorative arts, and there will be time to experience the top boutiques, woodblock print studios, jewelry stores, markets and museums. If desired, also experience the city’s beautiful cafes and other architectural highlights. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange visits to local philanthropic projects. One evening, enjoy a fascinating aarti religious ceremony at a white marble Hindu temple.

Conclude in Delhi with time for last-minute shopping and sightseeing before your flight.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world