13 Day India North & South
This tour includes return international airfares. See the Fine Print section for further details.
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
✓ Includes return international airfares
✓ Small group experience, with no more than 20 people
✓ Incredible sightseeing including Old and New Delhi, the unforgettable UNESCO-listed Taj Mahal, awe-inspiring Amber Fort, charming Fort Kochi, tea & spice plantations of Thekkady and experience the romance of cruising the Kerala backwaters
✓ 10 nights in 3 to 5 star accommodation
✓ 1 night in a deluxe houseboat
✓ Flight Jaipur to Kochi
✓ All airport transfers
✓ Luxury A/C vehicles
✓ Daily breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
✓ The services of a professional English-speaking guide throughout.
✓ Sightseeing & all entry fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Delhi. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, our representative will meet you as you exit the arrivals terminal building, after which you will be transferred to your hotel. Check-in time is 1500 hours.
Rest of the day is at leisure to unwind and relax in the comforts of your hotel.
Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.
Please note: if you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel.
Some flights may depart the night before and fly overnight, to arrive on Day 1.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and proceed on a guided tour of Old and New Delhi.
Arriving in Old Delhi, drive past the Red Fort; visit Raj Ghat, the simple but moving memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. A short walk in the narrow bylanes is full of legends and unfolds many historic tales of Shahjahanabad. Visit quaint shops with incredible wares from food stalls to jewelry.
Later in the afternoon, get ready to explore imperial Delhi. Drive past the imposing India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Parliament buildings and Rashtrapati Bhawan (the President’s residence). End the tour with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage listed tomb of Emperor Humayun. The tomb was the first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent, a wonderful example of early Mughal architecture.
After breakfast, drive to the Mughal city of Agra (205 Kms / approx. 5 hours). On arrival in Agra, check into your hotel to freshen up before enjoying a guided tour of Agra. No visit is complete without the Taj Mahal (closed on Friday), built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, a masterpiece in marble and one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
Enjoy a buffet breakfast and proceed to the royal city of Jaipur (260 Kms / approx. 7 hours) en- route stop at the ancient town of Abhaneri to visit a spectacular step-well and take a short walk around the village before you continue your drive to Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur, check into the hotel for 2 nights. This evening is free for individual activities and further exploration of Jaipur.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. This morning: Excursion to the fabulous hilltop citadel of Amber Fort, en-route halt for a photo stop at the intriguing red sandstone Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) - a five-storied wonder with an incredible pyramidal façade, overhanging windows with lattice screens, domes and spires.
Crowning the crest of a hill, the Fort offers a view of Maota Lake and the historic old town located at the base of the hill, which formed the early seat of the Amber kings before the fort was made their capital.
Following your sightseeing tour, return back to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before check-out and before proceeding to Jaipur airport for the flight to Kochi. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you as you exit the arrival terminal building, after which you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to unwind and relax in the comforts of this lovely little city
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and proceed on a guided tour of Cochin. Visit Portuguese-built Mattancherry Dutch Palace and Fort Cochin area. Later visit, St Francis Church, which holds the palm-leafed title deed that the Raja handed to the occupying Portuguese in 1503. Also marvel at the intricate beauty of Cochins legendary Chinese fishing nets, unique to this part of Kerala and the testament to the Oriental influences that infuse this spice-trading coastline. En-route try your luck by helping the fisherman pull the catch of the day at Chinese fishing net.
Following sightseeing tour, return back to hotel
This evening: Witness Kathakali classical dance performance at a local theater. Kathakali represents a synthesis of all that is best in dance, drama and music and has been recognized by connoisseurs of art, the world over as a `total art form of immense sophistication and power'. It is the impression created by make-up and the costumes that make Kathakali a visual par excellence
Buffet breakfast at the hotel before embarking to the green forests of Periyar in the Thekkady region (approx 160 Kms / 4 hrs). Thekkady -The heart of God's own country! Thekkady is located about 4 km from Kumili in Idukki district. The very sound of the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations.
Later this afternoon witness a Kalaripayattu Performance at a local theater. It is believed to be perhaps the most ancient martial art form & is derived from the words Kalari which means "place, threshing floor, or battlefield” and payattu which means to "exercise in arms, or practice.
After a delicious buffet breakfast enjoy a walking tour of a local plantation, allowing you to gain a first hand experience of the cultivation, growth and processing of spices. To witness the region’s pivotal role in the global spice market, one must get a glimpse of the Kumily spice market of Thekkady. This afternoon enjoy a Green Walk (subject to weather conditions.) with a forest guide exploring the flora and fauna of this region. With many species of birds spotted here, the region is also an ornithologist's favourite.
This morning continue the drive to mesmerizing Kumarakom (approx 140 Kms / 4 hrs). Kumarakom is a stunning paradise. The blue backwaters and a surface of Vembanad Lake reflect the azure sky. The amazing shades of green of the vegetation that include mangroves, coconut palms and paddy fields cover the verdant countryside. This afternoon proceed on a guided tour of the Kumarakom bird sanctuary, home to numerous species of migrating and local birds. In the evening, embark on a leisure walk to explore town or visit the local market to get your hands on some wonderful handicrafts.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and drive to Alleppey. Upon arrival, board your houseboat for the night. While cruising, observe and experience local villagers’ lifestyles and the slower pace of this part of India. Sail through the exotic backwaters on a traditional rice boat.
This evening enjoy a tasty dinner prepared by your private chef onboard.
After a delicious breakfast overlooking the backwaters, disembark at Alleppey jetty.
Check-out and proceed on your drive to Kochi (60 Kms / approx. 1 1⁄2 hours). Upon Arrival in Kochi you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
Welcome home, we hope you have been truly inspired
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This package is a flight inclusive package
This package includes international airfares and flights will be added to your booking at no additional cost. Select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’.
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
For the services of your guide, it is suggested that you budget for AUD$6-$10 per person, per day. Tipping of your driver is also appreciated and we would suggest AUD$3-$5 per person, per day.
As this particular tour does not collect a ‘kitty’, it is entirely up to the individual whether or not you would like to tip locals for the services of things like taxis or when dining at restaurants. In these cases, we suggest you allow 10-20% of the value of the service as a tip. Again, it is not compulsory and entirely up to the individual.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $991.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent on land.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while travelling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Group Size
Minimum of 2 people
Maximum of 16 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
Click HERE for more information on weather in India.
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