Ultimate India - In Style
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Trip Highlights
• Volunteering in deprived parts of Delhi - either teaching or repair work
• Old Delhi
• Taj Mahal
• Chambal Nature Safari
• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
• Deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri
• Pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan
• Ultimate luxury throughout
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
Your Volunteer Project will be one of the following:
- with a charity associated with Tear Fund where you will be working in impoverished areas, helping renovate and beautify the slums, thus vastly improving sanitation and living conditions; or
- with a charity dedicated to improving the lives of India’s poorest children - where you will help teach, or renovate the buildings, and generally help relieve the permanent teachers’ workloads.
Trip Summary
This deluxe tour takes you to some of the best of India. Your adventure begins with a tour of the vibrant city of Delhi, taking in such sights as Gandhi’s memorial, Parliament, Old Delhi and its oriental bazaar.
After two days of this, we move straight into your Volunteer Project on Day 3, going through to Day 6. This is likely to be a highlight of your stay, as you get to interact in a meaningful way and make a positive difference in an impoverished community.
You accommodation is in a luxurious hotel throughout, including during your volunteering. You will thus experience two extremes of India.
On Day 7 we travel to Chambal Lodge - an oasis of calm and tranquillity nestling in the midst of a sprawling 35 acre heritage plantation, surrounded by farmland. The plantation is part of a much larger area that was used by the Zamindars (feudal Chieftains) of Jarar to conduct their annual cattle fair (Mela). After decades of neglect, the Mela Kothi and its grounds have now been lovingly restored.
Accompanied by experienced local guides and naturalists, the Chambal Safari helps you explore the Chambal Valley at your own pace; on boats, camels, jeeps or on foot.
The calm and gentle Chambal of the winter is a raging beast in the monsoon months. The monsoon waters eventually recede to expose dazzling white sands. The Chambal Safari Base Camp is set up every season on one of these beautiful river beaches. The Chambal Safari motorboats are stationed at the base camp, from where the river safaris commence. The base camp is also the starting point for the nature walks, as well as the camel and jeep safaris.
After two absorbing days at Chambal Lodge, our next stop is Agra, the ancient capital of India, and the famed monument to love - the Taj Mahal - described as the most beautiful building ever constructed. We also visit the impressive Agra Fort. Your accommodation is in one of India’s finest hotels, with superb views of the Taj Mahal.
On Day 10 we travel to the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri and on to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Here we go in search of the spectacular, endangered Bengal tiger, as well as the ever-elusive leopard. Your accommodation is in a fabulous luxury tent, cottage or room, with a strong commitment to sustainable development.
After an afternoon and a morning game drive in Ranthambore, the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is our next stop, where you can stroll through the many jewellery and textile bazaars. We include a visit by elephant-ride to the nearby fort palace of Amber, which was the ancient capital of the Jaipur state. We also explore the Maharajah’s City Palace, and museum. We finish the day with a rickshaw ride through Jaipur’s colourful markets. Your accommodation in Jaipur is in a luxury fort.
If you choose Extension Trip 1 or 2 to explore Rajasthan more fully, you will commence this from Jaipur, but if not, you will return to Delhi on Day 13, where you can extend your adventure into Goa, Varanasi, Kerala, or Nepal if you wish.
If not, your trip will end on Day 14 with a transfer to the airport in Delhi in time for your onward flight.
Note:
Your accommodation is in a luxury 5* heritage hotel in Delhi (7 nights), boutique eco-lodge in Chambal (2 nights), a luxury tent/cottage/room in Ranthambore (1 night), 5* hotel in Agra (1 night) and Jaipur (2 nights).
For a full trip description in PDF format, click here (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Extension Trips
India - Extension 1: Colours of Rajasthan
India - Extension 2: Rajasthan Adventure
India - Extension 3: Ganges & Temples
India - Extension 4: Chillin in Goa
India - Extension 5: Kerala Kruising
India - Extension 6: Nepalese Encounter
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
China - Along the Silk Road
India - Taste of India
Indonesia - Way of the Dragon
