“Sailing on the Ganges”

Highlights

Sailing from Allahabad to Varanasi, visiting Agra, Taj Mahal, Khajuraho, Tiger Spotting in the Jungle, Delhi.

Itinerary

Day 1 DELHI.

Arrive into Delhi by air. Airport transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 2 DELHI.

Full day sightseeing of Old & New Delhi. Overnight at hotel

Day 3 DELHI – BHARATPUR by surface.

After breakfast, start your drive to Bharatpur, which is 143Kms from Delhi and should take between 2-3 hours. In the afternoon visit the Bharatpur Sanctuary which is a delight for bird watchers. Bharatpur today is famous for the Kaoladeo Ghana National Bird Sanctuary. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4 BHARATPUR – FATEHPUR SIKRI – AGRA by surface.

After breakfast, drive to Fatehpur Sikri, which is 23Kms away. This should take half an hour. Visit the Fatehpur Sikri perched atop a rocky ridge. Afternoon drive to Agra which is 37Kms away and should take one hour. Visit the famous Taj Mahal and other sites. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5 AGRA-JHANSI by train and drive to ORCHA.

After an early breakfast transfer to Agra railway station to connect with the Shatabdi train to Jhansi. This departs at 08:15 and arrives at 10:40. Thereafter drive 16Kms to Orcha, a medieval city. Visit several palaces and temples. Overnight at Orcha Resort.

Day 6 ORCHA – KHAJURAHO by surface.

After breakfast, drive to Khajuraho, which is 181Kms away and takes 5 hours. Afternoon visit to the Eastern & Western group of temples and museum. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7 KHAJURAHO – BANDHAVGARH by surface.

After breakfast drive to Bandhavgarh which is 222Kms away and takes approximately 5 or 6 hours. Enroute, stop to visit the Sharda temple at Maihar. Then continue your drive to Bandhavgarh. Evening visit to the National Park. Overnight in camp.

Day 8 BANDHAVGARH.

Early morning visit to the park to explore the wildlife of Bandhavgarh National Park. Return to the Camp for late breakfast. In the evening there will be another late night visit to the National Park.

Day 9 BANDHAVGARH – REWA by surface.

Early morning jeep safari trip to Bandhavgarh National Park, then back to the camp for late breakfast. After breakfast, drive to Rewa, which is approximately 122Kms away and takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. Enroute halt at Govindgarh Lake Palace, which is approximately 100Kms from Bandhavgarh for lunch, rest and relax and then continue your drive to Rewa. Overnight at Rewa Palace/Camp.

Day 10 REWA-ALLAHABAD by surface.

After early breakfast drive to Allahabad 17Kms away (5 – 6 hours) which is known as one of the sacred cities of Hinduism and also one of the oldest cities in India. Formerly called Prayag, Allahabad stands at the confluence of two holy rivers – Ganga and the Yamuna. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 ALLAHABAD – SIRSA –MIRZAPUR (Sail).

Early departure to the Ghat to start your sail and enroute visit Sangam at the confluence of the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarawati. The waters of the two rivers are of different colours and their meeting point is visible. Continue sailing for nearly 45Kms and then stop sailing to visit the ancient temples at Sirsa, which are nearly 5000 years old. Then at Vindhyachal, visit the famous temples of Vindhyavasini devi, Ashtabhuja devi and Kalikhohare. After your visit to Vindhyachal temple drive to Mirzapur. Overnight in hotel/camp.

Day 12 MIRZAPUR-CHUNAR (Sail).

After breakfast start your sail to Chunar which is 35 Kms away and should take 5-6 hours. Afternoon visit the Chunar Fort overlooking the Ganga. Overnight at Chunar Fort/Camp.

Day 13 CHUNAR-VARANASI (Sail).

After breakfast visit the Jargo Dam Lake and then return to Ghat to continue your last days sail to Varanasi the oldest living city of the world. After 10Kms you pass the Ramnagar Fort and then slowly sail to Varanasi to view the grand sunset over the Ghats. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14 VARANASI.

In the morning there will be a half-day city tour to view the temples and markets. Afternoon visit to Sarnath which is 9 Kms away. Visit to the Deer Park and evening transfer to a hotel in Varanasi. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 VARANASI-DELHI.

Morning free to explore the downtown of Varanasi. Afternoon transfer to the airport to connect with your flight to Delhi. Overnight in a hotel in Delhi.

Day 16 DELHI.

Transfer to the airport for return flight home.