From the Mountains to the Sea 1 - … Swayambhunath Stupa is situated on the top of a high ... You can see shops that sell wonderful handicraft ... a beautiful structure made out of

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1Your Gateway to Asia

From the Mountains to the Sea

Although the trip officially begins fromKathmandu, the vibrant capital of Nepalit later take you to some of the bestplaces in India. Having seen the bestof Kathmandu which is an interestingcombination of the ancient and themodern, you will be boating in the holyGanges and situated right at its banksis India's most revered cities, Varanasi.Delhi will be the next stop. There are alot of interesting things to see in Delhi.You can visit the India Gate which isactually a war memorial. We will betaking an express train to Agra in themorning and visit the amazing Taj

Mahal. From Agra we will journey intothe heart of India's regal charm,Rajasthan. We will be visiting the AmberFort which is situated at about 11 kmto the North of the main city of Jaipur.An amazing elephant ride will brightenup our day. We will drive to the beautifuloasis town of Pushkar and watch pilgrimrevere the holy lake here. A wonderfulcamel safari and a visit to India's mostromantic city, Udaipur, will mark the endof this exciting trip.

l Trip Duration: 22 days / 21 nightsl Minimum group size: 04l Staffing: The tour leader, local guides

l Transport: Trains, private coach, public bus, camel, internal flight

l Accommodation: 18 nights Modest hotels, 01 night heritage hotel, 01night sleeper train, 01 night camping

l Activities: Camel safari, boat trip , sightseeing tour in India/Nepal

l Meals: No meals. Allow US$10-15 per day

l Flight Surcharge: Due to the unpredictability of road journey, this triptakes an internal flight from Kathmandu to Bhairawa. There will be asurcharge of US$ 90.

Trip

De

tails

Included:All accommodation which is usually

twin shareand sometimes multi share,

All Transportation

Not Included:Most meals, entrance fees

Single Supplement:This is applicable to

single travelers who wish to have their own room.

This is usually available but not compulsory.

Single supplements do not apply on all boats,

overnight train journeys and while camping.

We will begin this trip from the colorfulKathmandu and then move on to thewonderful places in India. We will beboating in the Ganges and spend awonderful night at a serene heritagehotel. We can see the unsurpassedbeauty of the Taj Mahal and the otherhistorical sites of India. We will endour trip in Mumbai.

Underscores




Detailed Itinerary

Day 01, KathmanduOn your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be received at theairport and transferred to your Hotel. We will then have a small briefing aboutthe entire trip. You will be given a lot of practical information about how toutilize your time perfectly in Nepal and also about what to expect and whatnot to.While you are in Kathmandu you will be able to see all its charm in full glory.It is a beautiful city with an exciting harmony of the old and the new. This cityhas a wonderful history that dates back to almost 2500 years back.

Day 02, KathmanduAfter breakfast, you will also be invited to visit Bouddha Nath andSwayambhunath Stupas, held holy by both the Buddhists and the Hindusequally. The Swayambhunath Stupa is situated on the top of a high hill fromwhere the valley of Kathmandu can be seen clearly.You will also be taken to old city of Bhaktapur where the ancient Newari culturestill flourishes in all the magnificence and grandeur. The city is said to havebeen built in the shape of Lord Vishnu’s conch shell. The Durbar square andthe Nyatapola (a five storied temple) are a perfect example of NewariArchitecture. Later you will be taken to Patan in Lalitpur which stands todayas a mark of religion and tradition of Nepal. You will also be able to visit thefamous Durbar Square which was the hub for hippies in the early 70’s. Todaythere is a wonderful museum that might amuse you.

Day 03, Kathmandu/India BorderToday we will take a flight from Kathmandu to the border with India.

Day 04, VaranasiToday we will make a drive for about 8 hours to reach Varanasi. Varanasi istypical India. A vibrant city with a holy air and situated on the banks of theGanges considered holy by the Hindus. You will see a lot of pilgrims aroundthis place who come from all parts of the world. There are also enchantingtemples and a colorful market place. This is arguably the oldest city in theworld.

Day 05, VaranasiToday in the morning we will take a boat trip in the Ganges. You can see thebanks of the Ganges flocked with pilgrims doing their rituals and some takingdips in the water.The rest of the day will be leisure time where you can stroll in the marketplace.You can see shops that sell wonderful handicraft items. You can also get alot of handloom silk, the material that has made this city popular.

All accommodations in Nepal and India The services of the local guide and drivertours with English-speaking guide. For the Transport by public bus. For the entryfees for activities as described. For Airporttransfers as noted.

Visa CostEntrance FeesInternational airfareFor meals not specified in the itineraryFor alcohols or soft drinks, alternative activities,airport departure taxes, on optional tipping forguide,For the restaurant services, porterage andbaggage handling and for room serviceFor extra hotel nights due to airline schedulechanges or other factors, pre-trip expenses suchas medical immunizations (if required), travelinsurance, or passports and visas; and otherexpenses of a personal nature like laundry.

All Land Costs includes:

Land Cost does not Include

Air Transportation

We will help you with all your domestic air travelpreparations. We will readily provide you withan Arrival & Departure Logistics memo for eachprogram.

Nepal Single Entry

A single entry tourist visa for Nepal is valid for30 days and they are available on arrival at theIndia / Nepal border. You need US$30 in cashwhich is also payable in any major currency and2 passport photos. If you want to leave and re-enter Nepal, you'll need to pay supplementaryfees. US$25 for Single Re-entry, US $40 forDouble Re-entry and US $60 for Multiple Re-entry.

Border Taxes

INDIAThere are no entry or exit taxes payable whenleaving India by air or land.NEPALEntry by land nilExit by air NR1130 plus Tourism Service Fee ofNR565 (total approx. US$ 25). For flights toIndia, the exit taxes NR791 plus Tourism ServiceFee of NR565 (total approx. US$ 20)

Entrance Fees

Entrance fees are included for all sites listed aspart of the itinerary. Nepal also has a lot ofhistorical sights and monuments which you canvisit. If you intend visiting a wide range of differentsights you should allow US$20 for this.




About 10 km away from here there is Sarnath which is an important pilgrimagecentre for the Buddhists. This is a place where Gautama the Buddha preachedhis first sermon about 2,500 years ago. You can visit the ArchaeologicalMuseum is well worth a visit to see the most unique of Buddha masterpieces.

Day 06, VaranasiThis will be a leisure day at Varanasi. Later we will board on an overnight trainto Delhi. The journey will take us about 13 hours.

Day 07, DelhiDelhi is the capital of India and is divided into two parts, the old and the new.While New Delhi is the present day capital of India, the Old Delhi was thecapital during the times of the Mughal Empire. While New Delhi has all theaspects of a modern cosmopolitan city, it also has a lot of things that you canrelate to the ancient past.

There are a lot of interesting things to see in Delhi. You can visit the IndiaGate which is actually a war memorial. You can also see the magnificentParliament house, the Rastrapati Bhawan, where the President of India resides.Later you can also make a visit to the Raj Ghat which is a memorial built forMahatma Gandhi.

Day 8, AgraWe will be taking an express train to Agra in the morning. The train journeywill take us about 3 hours. In the afternoon we will take a guided tour of theTaj Mahal.The Taj as all of us know is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This isa beautiful structure made out of while marble. There are intricate designs onits walls. It was built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorialto his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The beauty of the Taj Mahal cannot bedescribed in words. But it will surely leave you spell bound for a moment ortwo.

Day 9, JaipurWe will drive for 5 hours to reach Jaipur. But on the way we will stop at FatehpurSikri. Fatehpur Sikri is situated at a distance of about 35 km to the south eastof Agra. This was the capital of Emperor Akbar for about 12 years. FatehpurSikri is a deserted place but its architecture has been perfectly preserved.There are a lot of palaces and mosques here. There is also the tomb of SaintSalim Chisti which is the reason that makes this place holy for Muslims allover the world.Unlike other cities in India, Jaipur has been carefully planned. The Old Cityof Jaipur is a fantastic place to visit.

Day 10, JaipurWe will be visiting the Amber Fort which is situated at about 11 km to the North

Please consult with a medical doctor for travelimmunizations. You may require vaccination likethe hepatitis vaccine and tetanus or typhoidboosters. Entry necessities and global physicalconditions are very likely to alter. Please checkit out from the Centers for Disease Control forthe latest updates.

The tours that we make could be situated athigh altitudes. A headache is common and canbe treated with aspirin and other minormedication. If you have a heart problem it isnecessary that you confer with your doctor onthe suitability of such trips.

Immunizations

Caution

Trips Cancellations Insurance

We recommend that you get trip annulmentinsurance. You will be provided a travel insuranceapplication in your confirmation packet. All thepremium of the insurance must be paid on time

Cancelled Trips

Discover Asia Tours reserves the right to call offany trip preceding any departure for any reasonwhatsoever, which includes all rational troublesthat may obstruct the operation of any trip. Therefund of all land payments received shall releaseDiscover Asia Tours from any further liability.

Travel Documents

You will be requiring a valid passport for the trip.All citizens of U.S.A require a visa for Tibet. Wewill assist you while arranging your visa for Tibet.If you are of any other nationality, please checkout with a local consulate or tourist office forentry necessities.




of the main city. The climb is quite steep and we must take an elephant toenter the fort. As you enter you will notice that there are many beautiful palacesand gardens. Each ruler has been contributing some architectural piece hereand there and this legacy continued for over 125 years until India became arepublic.In the afternoon, we will return to Jaipur and visit the Surabhi Turban Museum.The museum is a wonderful place and you can see next to it some carpetweavers weaving in the traditional way. This method has been used forcenturies and has continued till today.

We will visit the City Palace, which is the residence of the Royal Family. Righthere you can also see the museum of textiles and carpets. There is also asection where there are arms and soldiers' armor for display.There is the Jantar Mantar nearby. This structure was built out of plain curiosityto know more about time and the entire astronomy and the science behindit. This was built in the 18th century.We will also have time to take a look at the Hawa Mahal (the palace of winds)which has been made out of pink sandstone. The palace has numerouswindows to let the cool breeze flow in.

Day 11, PushkarFrom Jaipur we will be taking a three hour drive to Pushkar. This is a placesituated on an oasis in the desert. Pushkar is a wonderfully set small place.It is situated by a lake considered holy by the locals and dedicated to LordBrahma, the creator of the universe.You will have a good time ambling across the market place which is vibrantand colorful.

Day 12, PushkarWe will use this day for exploring Pushkar and the places around it. We cansee a lot of holy men and pilgrims close to the temples. You can also makean optional hike to the hills nearby from where you can have amazing viewsat a distance.

Day 13, ChandelaoToday we will drive towards the heritage hotel in Chandelao. This drive willtake us about 4 hours. Chandelao Garh is actually a medieval fortress whichwas originally built by the landlords of this region. The present owner adescendant of this family is a very cordial host who has refurbished this placeand turned it into a hotel. There is a beautiful courtyard built by red sand stone.There are lovely views from the hotel and you will like the air around this place.

Later we will take a jeep safari to the nearby villages. This safari is howeveroptional. In these neighboring villages we can see craftsmen at work. Chandelaois situated at about 40km from Jodhpur. Adorned by three beautiful lakes thisplace becomes amazingly beautiful due to the visit made here by cranes andother water birds.

Day 14, JaisalmerToday we will drive towards the ancient fortress city of Jaisalmer. This cityagain has a glorious ancient history that dates back to centuries for Rajasthan'sbravest rulers and warriors. This city is situated on the top of a hill and issurrounded by the desert. There is a big city within the fort and has lots ofstreets, palaces, temples and havelis (merchant houses). All of these dateback to the 15th century.

Day 15, Camel SafariIn the morning we will walk around the streets of Jaisalmer.The fortress which stands in the 80mt high hill commends an air of ancientregal splendor. This was founded in the 12th century and is encircled by a 10mt high wall.

We will take a jeep in the afternoon and move right into the Thar Desert fora nice Camel Safari. A Camel is the most excellent means to travel aroundthe desert around Jaisalmer. This will be an experience to remember. We willbe camping in the middle of the desert.

Day 16, JaisalmerToday we will return back to Jaisalmer. The rest of the day will be leisure timein the city. You can visit the colorful market here and check out the stuff thatyou can buy here. Jaisalmer is also famous for its embroidery. There are a

Public/Local Bus, Train

We will be using public / local bus and train totravel between cities by road. In some journeythe road conditions are generally not good andthe journey at times could become quite slow.For the comfort of all the other travelers movingwith us there is a NO SMOKING policy on allour tour vehicles. Since there are a lot of teaand toilet breaks this notice will not be difficult.The only exemption from the rule is for the driver.

Public CoachWe will also be using an inter-city coach servicebetween Mumbai and Udaipur. There are busesthat are specially licensed on this route. Howeversince this is a public coach, some services vary.

Overnight TrainThe Indian Railway system being one of themost extensive in the world normally has a largenumber of passengers on board. Thereforedelays to occur at times. We have complied ouritineraries to meet with such delays. We will betraveling in air-conditioned sleeper carriageswith r two or three level of berths.

Day TrainFor short journeys we will be using express daytrains. These are air-conditioned and meals areusually available.

For all travelers

All the important details about the meeting pointhotel will be printed and issued on the tripvouchers that we will be providing just one monthprior to your departure.

Transport

Meeting Points

Free Arrivals / Departure

If you have reserved your flights disjointedlyfrom your tour please make sure that you informyour tour booking agent of your flight detailsimmediately.

Preparing to Travel

Before you plan to travel or book this trip weadvice you the carefully scrutinize all theinformation that we have provided on this tripwhich includes the country fact file and otherdocuments.




lot of other things like mirror works, blankets and rugs, and dyed fabrics.

Day 17, JodhpurFrom Jaisalmer we will drive for about 6 hours and move towards Jodhpur.Situated right at the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the subsequent largestcity in Rajasthan after Jaipur. The city is famous for the colossal MeherangarhFort that is perched on the top of a rocky ridge at the centre of the town. Theold city is encircled by a 10km long wall, built around the 16th century by theRao Jodha. The most popular structure of the city is the clock tower. Thereare narrow alleyways that lead to bazaars where there are textiles, silver andhandicrafts for sale.

Day 18, UdaipurWe will be driving towards the lake city of Udaipur. We will take the route thepasses through Ranakpur. We will visit the beautiful Jain temples at Ranakpur.Ranakpur is a place that has a big fortified temple complex supposed to havebeen built by the Jains who were at service in the courts of Udaipur. This isjust one of the major as well as a vital assemblage of Jain temples in India.The Chaumukha temple which directly translates into the Four Faced Templeis the chief place of worship in the whole complex and is supposed to havebeen built in the 15th century. The structure is made out of marble and thetemple has 29 halls which have been altogether supported by more than 1,400pillars and all of them are designed differently.

We will then move towards Udaipur. Set around the vast Pichola Lake anddominated by dramatic palaces, Udaipur is surely Rajasthan's most charmingand romantic city. There is an aura of medieval charm here.

Day 19, UdaipurWe will tour the city in the morning. We will go to visit the City Palace whichhas been made out of yellow sandstone and is located on the banks of theLake Pichola. You can see the Lake Palace hotel situated over the lake.The main part of this palace has been given the form of a museum. Themuseum has a lot of things kept for display. You can see everything rangingfrom the glass and porcelain figures to paintings.You can also stroll around the narrow alleys of the old city where almost allbuildings are whitewashed. There is a temple nearby which is devoted to LordVishnu, the preserver of the universe.

Day 20, AhmedabadToday we will be taking the local bus to Ahmedabad. The drive will take usabout 7 hours. Ahmedabad is an interesting city. The city may have come tolimelight due to all the religious tensions but beyond that you will see a livelycity full of gracious people who are not used to tourists. There are antiquemonuments which are a perfect example of both Hindu and Muslim architecture.You can also visit the Ashram which was for many years the home of MahatmaGandhi, and is now has been turned into a museum.

Day 21, Mumbai (Bombay)From Ahmedabad we will be taking the express train to Mumbai. The journeywill take us about 9 hours and as soon as we reach Mumbai we will transferto our hotel.Mumbai is the financial capital of India. What once started as a town offishermen is now the commercial hub of India. There are some interestingplaces that you can visit while in Mumbai. The downtown Fort region hasnumerous excellent old colonial structures and the caves at Elephanta Islandwhich are just a short boat ride away are a perfect example. You can also visitthe famed Gateway of India and stroll around the place which has a flow ofthe cool sea breeze all the time.

Day 22, Mumbai (Bombay)

Tour ends here.

To avoid embarrassment and save you moneyall tours operate a tipping kitty. Please allowUS$15-18 per week

Tipping:

Flight Surcharge

Due to the unreliability of road travel, this tripnow takes internal flights on certain routes.There will be a surcharge of US$ 90.

The itinerary and additional travel information provided have been composedfor your benefit. They could be changed at any given time and should in no casebecome a part of a contract between the client and Discover Asia Tours.

Note:

Local Payment

This must be paid to the Tour Leaderin US Dollars cash on arrival of the tour.