Highlights of Northern India - Summer itinerary

Experience Overview

Discover the best of northern India on this highlight-packed adventure. Led by an expert tour leader, we marvel at the always-impressive Taj Mahal, a New Wonder of the World, and explore the Pink City of Jaipur. We also have an early morning boat ride along the mist-shrouded ghats of Varanasi, an experience only equalled by wildlife spotting in Sariska National Park. Add to that the everyday wonders – smiling locals, whizzing rickshaws and flavoursome curries – and you will see why North India is such a favourite with our groups. Want to travel outside of summer? Visit our standard Highlights of Northern India page.
Profile
— Accommodation: 8 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by air-conditioned private bus and train — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 8 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by air-conditioned private bus and train — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. It is ideal for culturally curious travellers eager to explore and experience as much as possible. We cover the highlights of northern India in a short time, which means the itinerary is generally fast paced – prepare for some long days and early starts. India can be challenging, while the heat and bustle of some cities can be a little overwhelming. That said, there are peaceful spots and you will undoubtedly return with memories to last a lifetime. Journeys: Departures in summer may experience train delays or cancellations. If a severe delay occurs, the group travels on a private comfortable bus instead between Agra and Varanasi. In the rare event we can’t travel by bus or fly, we have an alternative itinerary in which we visit Bharatpur, Deeg Palace and Mathura instead of Varanasi. Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean that work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published, so it is not possible to warn you when work will be taking place.
Group Description
Our Indian team of leaders has proved very popular with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show you around their country. During the game drives, each vehicle has a local Forest Guard (mandatory by the local authorities). The Forest Guards are part of a national park initiative to generate employment for the local villages. They are skilled spotters and trackers so, though there English is sometimes very limited, they greatly improve the experience.
Eating Drinking
India is famous for its food and there is ample opportunity to try various curries such as the familiar tandoori, biriyani and rogan josh. If you are a vegetarian, India is a great destination. There are wonderful desserts and excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink. Allow at least 1,400-2,400 rupees (US$16-US$28) per day for lunch and dinner. In most towns we visit, there is a good selection of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western food. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approximately 300 rupees (approximately US$4). Mineral water is widely available, but drinking water is provided in a large container in the bus to reduce our use of plastic, so please bring your own refillable water bottle.
Transportation
We use a combination of private minibus and trains for our journey. Road: private minibus, air-conditioned.Train: The train from Varanasi to Delhi will be the Vande Bharat Express booked in the A/C Chair Car, Executive Class.Game drives: In Sariska, we use 4×4 jeeps, which may not all have seat belts available.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Sariska Tiger Camp, Village Dhawala, Alwar - Jaipur Rd, Rajasthan 301001, India Phone: +91 93140 17210 Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately three to four hours’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are: Meet at the airport Your easiest option is to join the group at Indira Gandhi International Airport - you can confirm the meet time with your sales representative. Meet at a named hotel Alternatively, you can meet at Iris Park, Delhi (A 1/23&24, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110029) You should be at the hotel by 9am, where you are met by a local representative and transferred to the airport to join the rest of the group. Please note, this time may change and will be confirmed in your pre-travel Joining Instructions. Catching your return flight Exodus provides free departure transfers from the end hotel to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) for all customers. If you would like further information on joining a transfer, we will require all flight details two weeks prior to departure to secure the transfer. Please speak to your sales representative to arrange.
Weather Information
In July, August and September, expect very hot days and warm nights (28C-40C/82F-104F). Rain is also likely at any time from the end of June until September and can be very heavy. However, it moderates the temperatures and humidity.
Spending Money
Many sites now charge a small fee for video cameras (handy cams) and you should allow another 665 rupees (approximately US$9) for these. Also allow at least 570 rupees (approximately US$8) per day for personal expenditures, such as soft drinks. There are endless shopping opportunities throughout this tour and we suggest you take money for souvenirs; even the most shop-shy travellers often succumb to the tempting selection of handicrafts available. During your trip, it is likely your local guides will take you to emporiums and handicraft workshops. Guides often assume visitors want to shop, it is very much part of the culture, but if you do not wish to go, please make this clear to your guide and Exodus leader at the time. Many people find this a great opportunity to buy local handicrafts, silk, jewellery and carpets. Optional excursions There are plenty of opportunities for local excursions and cultural experiences throughout this trip, some of which are detailed in the daily itinerary. For an overview of the optional extras, please see below: Delhi (start or end of trip): — Half-day city tour: approximately 1,500-5,500 rupees (US$18-US$53) per person (depending on the group size) Tour includes: visit to old Delhi, drive past Red Fort, visit Gandhi memorial and drive past colonial buildings and visit India Gate. Price includes transportation, local guide and tipping. Monument entrances are not included, the sightseeing is for unpaid monuments. — Morning Old Delhi city walk with Salaam Baalak Trust: approximately 3,500-5,500 rupees (US$42-US$53) per person (depending on the group size) Led by ex-street kids of Delhi, this insightful walk starts from Jama Masjid and takes you through the narrow alleys in the heart of the old city. Price includes transportation, local guide and tipping. Entrance to Jama Masjid monument is not included. Tour is subject to availability at time of request. Jaipur: — Cooking class (Day 2): approximately 2,500 rupees (US$30) per person Visit a local home where your host guides you through traditional dishes, such as vegetable pakora, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes such as chicken or mutton curry, matter paneer and chapattis. After devouring your home-cooked meal, finish by preparing a Rajasthani sweet dish called laapsi. Price includes: cookery class with a four-dish meal, rice, rotis and tea/coffee and transportation to/from the home. Varanasi: — Visit to Sarnath: approximately 1,000-3,800 rupees (US$12-US$46) per person (depending on the group size) Price includes monument entrances, local guide, transportation and tipping. — Evening ceremony at Ganges ghats: approximately 1,500- 4,000 rupees (US$18-US$48) per person (depending on the group size) Price includes boat fees, auto ride/rickshaw fees and tipping.
Tipping
Tipping is a part of Indian culture and usually expected. It can often be an awkward affair, especially when in an unfamiliar country where you are not sure when or how much to tip. As such, your tour leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty, which will be used to tip hotel staff, sightseeing guides, bus drivers and other support staff used throughout your trip. Your leader will suggest how much to contribute, depending on group size, but it is usually in the region of 2,200 rupees (approximately US$30) per person based on the maximum group size of 16 passengers. For smaller groups, the leader may ask to collect more than the suggested amount relative to the group size, this is to assist with covering the standard tipping expectations for things like the local guides, drivers, and hotel staff (which, are generally fixed amounts no matter the group size). At any time during the trip, your leader will happily show you an account of how the kitty is being distributed. Please note, for smaller groups the leader may have to collect more than the above amount. Tipping of leaders is not included in the kitty and is at your own discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation a tip of around 475 rupees (US$6) per person per day would be appreciated.

Highlights