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inDia
Bikaner Jaisalmer Jodhpur Delhi
NEPAL
Agra Jaipur Bharatpur Nimaj Udaipur
INDIA
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Mumbai (Bombay)
India Encompassed
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Kochi Alleppey Periyar National Park Varkala
25 Days
India Encompassed
This all-encompassing journey through India gives you the lot! Bustling cities, a camel trek in the Thar Desert, the colourful splendour of the temples and palaces of Rajasthan, remote village lifestyle, peaceful southern backwaters, amazing wildlife sanctuaries and beautiful beaches. This Geckos journey really has India covered!
n delhi n agra & taj Mahal n bharatpur n jaipur n deSert CaMel treK n biKaner n jaiSalMer n jodhpur n niMaj bagh n udaipur n KoChi n fort CoChin n vaiKoM n Kerala baCKWaterS CruiSe n periyar Wildlife SanCtuary n varKala
Fort, built of red sandstone and white marble. Theres also plenty of time to visit the Old City, the beautiful Palace of the Winds and the Johari Jewellery Bazaar. We then board an overnight sleeper train to Bikaner. Days 7-8/Bikaner - Camel Safari From Bikaner we drive to Himmatasar, the starting point of our camel safari. We head out into the desert, riding to the main dunes of Raisar to witness a beautiful sunset. We make ourselves at home at our desert camp and there is a chance to sleep out under a star-filled sky. Next morning we ride to Raisar, where we say goodbye to our camels and return to Bikaner and visit Junagarh Fort. Days 9-0/Jaisalmer We take the train to Jaisalmer, an ancient caravan trading town that resembles a scene from A Thousand and One Nights. People still live along the narrow, paved streets and alleyways of the towns ancient fort and the best way to discover this magnificent city is to take the time to wander through these backroads and explore the hidden corners. Day /Jodhpur We take the morning bus to the blue city of Jodhpur, located on the edge of the Thar Desert. Jodhpur is dominated by the imposing Meherangarh Fort, which sits atop a sheer rocky ridge that overlooks the town. We visit the fort, explore the walled city and wander around bustling Sadar Market. Day 2/Nimaj Bagh The real India is best discovered away from the big cities and popular monuments. In the morning we travel by jeep to visit the Bishnoi (protectors of trees and animals) and Meghwa (weavers and potters) villagers. We then travel to Nimaj Bagh, where the villagers carry on their traditional lifestyle as if time has stood still. Days 3-4/Udaipur We spend the morning in Nimaj before heading to Udaipur, the Venice of the East. This beautiful city, built around the shores of Lake Pichola, is full of temples, palaces and havelis. The exquisite setting of the Lake Palace on Jagwinas Island is unforgettable and other highlights include the Jagdish Temple and the City Palace. Days 5-7/Kochi - Vaikom This morning we fly to historic Kochi (Cochin), via Mumbai. From our base at Fort Cochin we visit the remains of St Francis Church, the oldest in India, as well as the famous Mattancherry Jewish Synagogue and look out for unique Chinese fishing nets. We also enjoy a day trip to Vaikom and explore the small backwaters, giving us an insight into rural Keralan life. Day 8/Kerala Backwater Cruise - Alleppy Today we board a kettavallum (traditional rice barge) and sail among the beautiful backwaters of Kerala. Sit back, relax and absorb the peaceful way of life on these amazing waterways. We stay overnight in the pretty town of Alleppey.
Days 9-20/Periyar National Park Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar is one of Indias most popular wildlife reserves home to buffalo, wild boar, sambar deer, monkey, wild elephant and blackbuck antelope. An early morning cruise on the lake is a great way to start the day, whilst in the afternoon we can take an optional jungle walk with a local guide. Days 2-23/Varkala Time to chill out, as we head to the magnificent cliff top hideaway of Varkala. The beaches are unspoilt and the laid-back atmosphere here is condusive to doing nothing in particular! Varkala has some great cafes and restaurants and is famous for the Ayurvedic massage centres, as well as a place to see traditional Kathakali dances. Days 24-25/Kochi After breakfast we take the day train back to Kochi, arriving around noon. We have the rest of the day free to explore various shopping options. Our trip ends on the morning of Day 25.
Trip info
Prices: See inside cover.
Group size: Maximum 15. Grade: Moderate. Transport: bicycle rickshaw, bus, camel, elephant, jeep, local bus, on foot, plane, sleeper train, taxi, train. Accommodation: 1 night camping, 1 night overnight train, 22 nights hotels/guesthouses. Meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner. Local payment: Your tour leader will collect US$350 from each person on Day 1. Tour Code: GIIE. Further Info & Trip Notes: www.geckosadventures.co.uk/trips/giie
Starts Sat 2007 06-Oct 20-Oct 03-Nov 17-Nov 8-Dec Finishes Tue 30-Oct 13-Nov 27-Nov 11-Dec 01-Jan 29-Dec 2008 12-Jan 26-Jan 09-Feb 23-Feb 08-Mar 22-Mar 22-Jan 05-Feb 19-Feb 04-Mar 18-Mar 1-Apr 15-Apr 20-Sep 04-Oct 18-Oct 01-Nov 15-Nov 06-Dec 27-Dec 14-Oct 28-Oct 11-Nov 25-Nov 09-Dec 30-Dec 20-Jan 2009 10-Jan 24-Jan 07-Feb 21-Feb 07-Mar 21-Mar
Day /Delhi Our trip starts today in Delhi. No activities are planned but arrive early if you can, as theres plenty to see. Day 2/Agra - Taj Mahal An early morning train trip brings us to Agra, home to Indias most famous site the majestic Taj Mahal. We explore this amazing 17th-century marble mausoleum with our specialist local guide. It is an awe-inspiring building and the detailed craftmanship will take our breath away. Day 3/Bharatpur We travel to Bharatpur to experience local rural village life far removed from the hustle and bustle of Indias busy cities. Bharatpur is home to the World Heritage-listed Keoladeo Ghana National Park bird sanctuary and it is worthwhile taking an optional bicycle rickshaw ride through the reserve. Days 4-6/Jaipur The beautiful city of Jaipur is known as the pink city because of the colour of many of its buildings. We visit the stunning medieval Amber
03-Feb 17-Feb 03-Mar 17-Mar 31-Mar 14-Apr
DiD yoU know?
The Taj Mahal is decorated with sapphires from Sri Lanka, jade from China, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, turquoise from Tibet and carnelian from Arabia.
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