Highlights:

Day 1: Arrive at Delhi

Welcome to India! Upon arrival, after you collect your luggage, you will be greeted by our travel facilitator at the airport. You will then be taken in a chauffeur-driven vehicle to your hotel and assisted with check-in. After making you comfortable, our travel facilitator will hand over your travel documents and briefly go over the next day’s program.

Day 2: Delhi

Your exploration of India will commence at Old Delhi, which was the citadel of the Mughal Empire between the 17th and 19th centuries. You will visit the impressive Red Fort built in 1648, which was the seat of the Mughal Empire. You will be amazed at the imposing 1.24-mile long red sandstone walls of the fort. Next will be a thrilling experience of a cycle rickshaw ride through the vibrant alleys of Chandni Chowk, past sacred temples, and old houses with fascinating architecture. This will provide you with an insight into the real India. You will also visit India's largest mosque, Jama Masjid, built by Shah Jahan in 1658, an architectural delight as much as a holy place. Later, visit Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, situated on the banks of the river Yamuna. A humble black marble amid lush green lawns marks the cremation spot.

Afternoon: After the Old Delhi tour, you will be driven to New Delhi, which was built by the British as a regal capital. The difference between Old & New Delhi is the division actually between the two capitals – Mughal & British. You will visit the Qutub Minar, the 234-feet high sandstone Victory Tower built in 1193. The tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the 138-feet high stone arch of triumph which bears the names of 90,000 Indian Army soldiers who laid down their lives in various wars across the world. It has an eternal flame in honor of the Unknown Soldier. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, a beautiful Mughal red sandstone structure. After this, you will drive through Lutyen’s New Delhi, including the Diplomatic enclave, various spectacular Government buildings from the Victorian era, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara (a magnificent temple for Sikhs), and the impressive Hindu Birla Temple. Finish your tour of New Delhi at Connaught Place, which is New Delhi’s main shopping, business, and tourist center.

Day 3: Delhi – Agra

Check out from your hotel after breakfast and then you are driven to Agra (about 4 hours) on North India’s newest highway. Arrive in Agra and check in to your hotel.

Afternoon: You will visit the massive red sandstone Agra Fort, built by the famous Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, primarily as a military structure. During Shah Jahan’s reign, it was converted into a palace and later became a prison for Shah Jahan after his son came to power in 1658. The fort has numerous courtyards, private chambers, and a marble mosque. On the opposite side of the Yamuna River is the exquisite Itmad-ud-Daulah, built in 1628 by Mughal Emperor’s queen, Nur Jahan, in memory of her father. The tomb is the first monument constructed entirely of marble inlaid with Pietra Dura.

Late afternoon: Sunset visit to the spectacular white marble mausoleum and one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Tourists come from all over the world throughout the year to gaze at the extravagant monument dedicated to love. This wonder was built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in 1653 AD. It took 22 years and 22,000 craftsmen to build the Taj. The white marble is inlaid with semi-precious stones in beautiful patterns in a process called pietra dura. A minaret at each corner of the Taj gives it a perfectly symmetrical look. The Taj houses in its basement the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

Day 4: Agra – Jaipur

Check out of your hotel by noon and drive to Jaipur. En route, stop to visit the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri. The Chand Baori is one of the oldest, deepest, and largest baoris (stepwells) in Rajasthan. The oldest parts of the structure date back to the 8th century. This colossal stepwell has a depth of 20 meters, with 13 levels. Despite being so huge, the well still has delicate and intricate carvings which are a visual treat. Arrive in Jaipur and check in to your hotel. Jaipur is the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, also known as the ‘Pink City.’

Day 5: Jaipur

After breakfast, drive 7 miles north of Jaipur to visit the Amber Fort and Palace. This was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Mount your caparisoned elephant to ascend (an option to use a jeep is available) to the main gate of the splendid Amber Fort situated on a hillock overlooking a lake. The Fort, completed in the early 18th century, offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the Rajput rulers, a clan famous for its military heroism. In sharp contrast to the rugged exteriors of the soaring fort is the opulent ambiance of the interiors, especially the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Mirrors, which results from the intricate and delicate use of mirrors.

Afternoon: Continue your tour of Jaipur city; visit the City Palace Complex, a fine blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture consisting of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The royal family of Jaipur still resides in a part of the Palace. You will then visit the Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory. Enjoy your visit to the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds. Located in the heart of the old city’s bustling marketplace, the Hawa Mahal is a pink sandstone five-story building with a fascinating façade of numerous intricately designed and embellished windows. It was originally built to enable the royal ladies to observe the bustling city without being seen.

Day 6: Jaipur – Delhi – Colombo – Negombo

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and enjoy the scenic drive to Delhi through the fields, small towns, and villages of Rajasthan. Admire the vibrant turbans and attire of men and women of Rajasthan. Arrive in Delhi and you are driven to the airport in time to board your early evening flight to Colombo. Bid farewell to your India Tour Director here. Arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka in the late evening. You are greeted upon arrival at the airport in Colombo by your chauffeur guide and then driven to your hotel in nearby Negombo for assisted check-in.

Day 7: Negombo – Anuradhapura – Habarana

Check out of your hotel and join your chauffeur guide for a drive to Anuradhapura, the first Sinhalese capital from the 4th century BC to the 10th century and the center of the island's Buddhist civilization. The island's oldest Buddhist shrines, some dating back to the 3rd century BC, are found here. The ruins of Anuradhapura are one of South Asia’s most evocative sights. The sprawling complex contains a rich collection of archaeological and architectural wonders: enormous dagobas (brick stupas), ancient pools, and crumbling temples built during Anuradhapura’s thousand years of rule over Sri Lanka. You will also visit the mountain of Mihintale, which is purported to be the ancient site where Buddhism was founded in Sri Lanka. There are several historical ruins and religious edifices to enjoy here. After your tour, you are driven to Habarana and check in to your hotel.

Day 8: Habarana – Polonnaruwa – Sigiriya – Habarana
After breakfast, proceed to another ancient city on the island, Polonnaruwa. This fascinating 11th-century city is home to many interesting ruins and famous monuments, including the Royal Palace and Gal Vihara. Polonnaruwa was once the capital and is also the second most ancient city in Sri Lanka. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Afternoon: Proceed for a visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, known as “The Fortress in the Sky.” Built over 1500 years ago, this beautiful citadel stands 200 meters high in the middle of a verdant jungle and was an important stronghold of the 70-hectare fortified town. It can be viewed from miles around and is definitely one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and famous sites. King Kashyapa selected this site for his new capital and built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock, he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure — Sinhagiri, the Lion Rock. The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site.

Day 9: Habarana – Kandy
After breakfast, check out from your hotel and join your chauffeur guide for the journey to Kandy. Drive through the scenic landscape until you arrive at Matale. You may choose to stop here as there are dozens of visitor-friendly spice plantations where vanilla, rubber, cinchona, jackfruit, cocoa, and cardamom thrive. The area is also famous for kohila (a type of watercress) and small, mild chilies. Since ancient times, traders from all over the world who came to Sri Lanka brought their native cuisines to the island, resulting in a rich diversity of cooking styles and techniques. Sri Lankan people use spices liberally in their dishes and typically do not follow an exact recipe.

Arrive at Kandy in the early afternoon and check in to your hotel. Kandy is the picturesque capital of the hill country and is built around a peaceful lake in a valley surrounded by lush hills. It is Sri Lanka’s current center of Buddhism, arts, crafts, and culture.

Afternoon: Visit the most important religious monument of Sri Lanka, the Temple Of The Tooth Relic. This famous temple is the abode of a tooth relic from the Buddha. Since the 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha's Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess's hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka's most prized possession. Wander around the exterior walls before heading inside to see the elaborately decorated halls and visit the room where the revered relic is hidden away in a lavishly adorned golden casket.

Evening: Attend a cultural show – Sri Lanka, a country rich with culture & tradition, offers a very vibrant and unique show of Sri Lankan traditional dances in the form of the Kandy cultural show. The dances are accompanied by ceremonial drums and the drum orchestra rising and falling to the lively tempo.

Day 10: Kandy
Enjoy a guided tour of Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, which is a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions, and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and bazaar, the arts & crafts center, a gem museum, and a lapidary. After the tour, you will return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Day 11: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
Check out after breakfast, and you will enjoy the scenic drive to Nuwara Eliya. On this journey, you will stop at Ramboda Falls for a photo opportunity and then again for a tea break at a tea factory. The incredible plantation views are a visual treat as you enjoy the delicious fresh tea. Upon your arrival at Nuwara Eliya, you will check in at your hotel.

Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort, Nuwara Eliya, is known as “Little England.” It is nestled in the middle of lush, beautiful mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and tea plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island but is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the ‘seasons’ when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea-level heat and humidity. You have the option of enjoying a city tour this afternoon, which includes a stroll through scenic Victoria Park.

Day 12: Nuwara Eliya
In the morning, depart for Horton Plains. The highest plateau at 7000ft (2134 meters) is a National Park visited by both domestic and international tourists. The Patnas in the lower parts, rising from the marshes and streams extend up to the tree-line. The trees, stunted by the wind and mist, covered with ‘Sphagnum moss’ or old man’s beard, and the jungle is full of rare and endemic plants. The red-flowered Rhododendrons, or the ‘Niloos’ that bloom once in 12 years, and the butterflies, birds found only in the hill areas, the ‘Bear Monkey,’ large herds of Sambhur, leopard, and other animals are found in the plains. The ‘World End’ and ‘Little World End” with sheer drops of 3000ft to the plantation below and the beautiful scenery are not found anywhere else in the country. This can be the total three-hour roundtrip trek to World’s End, which is an amazing experience. You can make the trek shorter and you can also hike up to the Baker’s Falls, a gorgeous symphony of water as it cascades down the rocky mountain outcrop. An iconic temple of Hinduism is nearby and well worth a visit. Located where Ravana imprisoned Goddess Sita, the massive imbedded footprints created by Lord Hanuman’s landing are awe-inspiring.

Day 13: Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Yala
Check out after breakfast and proceed on yet another incredibly scenic drive to Yala National Park. This park is Sri Lanka’s most popular wildlife park and is considered one of the best places in the world for spotting leopards. The scenery is amazing, and you will see lots of wild elephants, including herds with their young, crocodiles, wild boar, deer, monkeys, sloth bears, aquatic birds, and many more. You will stop at Rawana Falls and Ella Gap for photo opportunities before arriving in Yala, where you will check in to your jungle lodge.

Afternoon: You are at leisure to enjoy the facilities and surroundings of your lodge this afternoon.

Day 14: Yala
Enjoy morning and afternoon safaris into the park on this day.

Day 15: Yala – Galle
Check out in the morning and proceed on the drive to Galle. You will pass many interesting sights, including beautiful beaches and the area where the dying tradition of Sri Lankan Stilt Fishing is practiced just off the coast. Technology has now allowed them to catch fish in easier ways, but the fishermen will perform the unique activity for you for a fee, upon request. Arrive at Galle and check in to the hotel.

Afternoon: Enjoy a guided excursion to the historic fort city. Explore the Dutch architecture and various monuments, much of it still the same as it was centuries ago. The Galle Fort is now a designated World Heritage Site. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the Natural Harbor, the National Maritime Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, and the Clock Tower.

Day 16: Galle – Balapitiya – Colombo – International Flight
Check out after breakfast and join your chauffeur guide for the trip to the capital city of Colombo. En route, stop at Balapitiya for a river cruise on the Madu River. The river flows through a terrain that creates a large number of islands, and the ecosystem creates a beautiful wetland rich in biodiversity. It may be one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. A boat trip is a wonderful way to see some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals. There are numerous islands and lagoons in the river, from a tiny speck housing a deserted shrine to one housing 250 families connected to the mainland with a very long footbridge.

Afternoon: Enjoy a city tour of Colombo, the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Located on the west coast, it is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern and colonial impressions. Architecture in Colombo is a mixed affair, with remnants from the bygone colonial era co-existing with tall skyscrapers and other large buildings that dot the skyline. You will be given an insider’s view of the bustling metropolis and discover the many layers that form its colorful character. You will be driven to the airport at the appropriate time to board your international flight. Our services end at Colombo airport.

Luxury Level Lodging

• Delhi – The Oberoi New Delhi - Premier Plus Room
• Agra – Oberoi Amarvilas – Premier Room
• Jaipur – Oberoi Rajvilas – Premier Room
• Negombo – The Wallawwa – Wallawwa Bedroom
• Habarana – Water Gardens – Deluxe Villa
• Kandy – Kings Pavilion – Standard Room
• Nuwara Eliya – Amaya Oliphant Bungalow – Luxury Room
• Yala – Leopard Trails Tented Safari – Classic Room
• Galle – Fort Bazaar – Bazaar Room
  
  

Deluxe Level Lodging

• Delhi – Taj Palace – Superior Room / Lalit – View Room
• Agra – Taj Gateway - Taj View Room / The Trident - Garden View Room
• Jaipur – The Trident - Lake View Room / Rajputana Sheraton – COE
• Negombo – Pledge Scape – Deluxe Room
• Habarana – Aliya Resort – Deluxe Room
• Kandy – Mahaweli Reach – Deluxe Room
• Nuwara Eliya – The Grand – Deluxe Room
• Yala – Jetwing Yala – Superior Room
• Galle – Fort Printers – Deluxe Room
  
  

Inclusions

• 15 nights stay at the hotels on the entire trip
• Breakfast at all the hotels
• All transfers and sightseeing by your personal A/C SUV
• Hotel check-in time is 2 pm and checkout is at noon for almost all the hotels
• One cycle-rickshaw ride to explore the famous Chandni Chowk market in Delhi
• One elephant ride (per couple) at Amber Fort, Jaipur
• Entrance fees to the monuments as per the itinerary
• Services of an accompanying Tour Director in India
• Services of one of Sri Lanka’s best English-speaking accompanying chauffeur guides
• Representative for assistance on all arrivals and departures transfers
• All safari-related costs at Yala, including park entry, naturalists, vehicle fees, etc.
• River Cruise on the Madu
• Bottled water during sightseeing/excursions and long drives
• All currently applicable taxes
  
  

Not Included

• Any personal expenses such as tips, laundry, and drinks
• Any meals other than those specified above
• Personal travel insurance, visa, etc.
• Camera fees (both still and video)
• International flight tickets except Delhi to Colombo
• Miscellaneous