19 Days | Charming chaos and perfect quiet from Ganges to Himalayas
From the sacred River Ganges to the summits of the Himalayas, tour India and Nepal on a trip where adventure and discovery await. From the most exciting places to visit in Delhi to the towering peaks surrounding Kathmandu, discover the spirit, culture, and nature of this fascinating region. Visit the Taj Mahal of Agra, experience the chaos and colour of India's villages, and marvel at the daily pilgrimage to the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges. Delve into the history and religion of these two fascinating countries as you enjoy the highlights of India and Nepal.
Trip overview
- Start
- Delhi, India
- Finish
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Nepal, India
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- HHSEC
- Rise in the cool half-light of dawn and watch the sunrise while you glide over the River Ganges on a small riverboat.
- Stay in a riverside jungle lodge in Chitwan National Park, then embark on a safari in search of rhinos, Bengal tigers, monkeys, and more.
- Join pilgrims during a visit to the birthplace of Gautama Buddha in Lumbini, where evidence of a shrine dated before 550 BC was uncovered in 2013.
- Enjoy a relaxing evening at a community homestay in the Madi Valley, a lush Nepalese valley bordered by forest and river.
- Immerse yourself in the holy city of Varanasi, exploring the Old City by day and soaking up the atmosphere of a candle flower ceremony as the sunsets.
- Old Delhi is an exciting place encounter local life, but be aware it will be busy, and during the walking tour you’ll need to navigate people, tight spaces, and crowded walkways.
- Rajasthan can reach extremely high temperatures in the summer. While we aim to do our walking tours early in the morning when it’s cooler, remember to keep hydrated and to bring a hat, sunscreen, a long-sleeved shirt, and anything else that will protect you from the sun.
- Part of travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. We visit a number of temples on this trip and you will need to have clothes that cover the arms and pants/skirts that go past the knees in order to enter them.
- In order to see as much as possible in the time allotted, this trip involves some long journeys by both private vehicles and public trains. Please read the itinerary carefully for estimates.
- From December to February, delays are more common, especially in the north of the country due to fog. It’s not uncommon for trains to be delayed for up to 12 hours. On occasion, your trip will may to be rerouted to allow for these delays. Please see the ‘Transport’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more information on train travel in India.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Inclusions
5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
Auto rickshaw, Canoe, Cycle rickshaw, Jeep, Metro, Overnight sleeper train, Private vehicle, Shuttle Bus, Train, Van
Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night), Heritage Property (3 night), Hotel (10 nights), Lodge (2 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night), Homestay (1 night)
- Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
- Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
- Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking tour
- Jaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour
- Jaipur - Amber Fort
- Lotwara - Village Walk
- Fatehpur Sikri - Guided tour
- Agra - Taj Mahal
- Agra - Agra Fort
- Orchha - Cooking demonstration
- River Ganges - Boat trip & camping
- Varanasi - Sunset candle flower ceremony
- Varanasi - Leader-led Old City walking tour
- Varanasi - Sunrise Ganges boat trip
- Lumbini - Heritage Park
- Chitwan - Village Bike Tour
- Chitwan National Park - Park Entry
- Chitwan - Canoe trip
- Chitwan - Canoe safari, Bird Watching walk or Jeep safari
- Chitwan NP - Tharu cultural performance
- Kathmandu - Swayambhunath Temple
- Kathmandu - Bodhnath Stupa
- Kathmandu - Pashupatinath Temple
- Delhi - Humayun's Tomb - INR600
- Delhi - Delhi Food Walk Urban Adventure - INR3750
- Delhi - Red Fort - INR600
- Delhi - Gandhi's Delhi Urban Adventure - INR3350
- Jaipur - City Palace - INR1000
- Jaipur - Jantar Mantar Observatory - INR200
- Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema - INR400
- Jaipur - Balloon Safari - USD280
- Agra - Additional entries to Taj Mahal - INR1300
- Delhi - Home-Cooked Delhi Urban Adventure - INR4000
- Delhi - Culture Vulture Delhi Urban Adventure - INR2500
- Varanasi - Ram Nagar Fort - INR250
- Varanasi - Sarnath - INR315
- Kathmandu - Durbar Square - NPR1000
- Kathmandu - Everest Scenic Flight (Including transfers) - USD240
- Kathmandu - Rickshaw Night Explorer Urban Adventure - USD49
- Kathmandu - Panorama Hike Urban Adventure - USD76
- Kathmandu - Kathmandu Living Urban Adventure - USD66
- Kathmandu - Explore Patan & Bhaktapur Urban Adventure - USD108
- Kathmandu - Home Cooking Class Urban Adventure - USD60
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Day 9 (Sleeper Train), Day 10 (Camping) and Day 14 (Homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Hot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate from September 1st to April 30th and last approximately 60 mins. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments, and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your joining meeting on day 1 of your trip. Payment must be made by cash in either INR/AUD/USD/GBP only and is USD$280pp (subject to change). Flights are subject to availability and weather conditions (tickets are fully refundable in case of bad weather).
3. As this is a combination trip, the composition of your group, as well as the group leader, may change on Day 7.
4. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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