Day 1 : Delhi
You are welcomed at Delhi airport by a representative from our local agency or your French-speaking guide to greet you to India. They will assist you with the transfer to the hotel we have reserved for you for 2 nights.
Your afternoon is dedicated to discovering Delhi.
Bathed by the sacred waters of the Yamuna, Delhi has twice been the capital of an empire, first with the Mughals, and then in 1911, with the British. The city is divided into two very contrasting parts: New Delhi, the Victorian city with wide avenues, with its business district and parliament grouped around Connaught Place; and Old Delhi, the old city and capital of Muslim India, with its bustling bazaar-lined alleys. The old city houses the Red Fort, a testament to the power of the Mughal emperors, as well as the largest mosque in the country: Jama Masjid.
You will explore Old Delhi on foot, then visit Raj Ghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi.
Next, you will visit Humayun's Tomb, a beautiful example of Mughal architecture that is said to have inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal, and Qutub Minar, the tallest tower in the country at 72.5 meters high.
In the late afternoon, you will discover New Delhi by passing through Raj Path, the Royal Avenue, before admiring India Gate, the Parliament, and the Presidential Palace.
In the evening, you will share a moment of fervor with the Sikh community at the Bangla Sahib temple.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 : Delhi / Agra (4h / 230 km)
After breakfast, depart for Agra to discover the Taj Mahal.
You will then explore this pinnacle of Mughal art and architecture, a luminous white marble mausoleum inlaid with semi-precious stones, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
The afternoon is free for shopping.
In the evening, you will visit Agra Fort, whose high red sandstone walls dominate the Yamuna River. It marks the birth of the imperial Mughal style and offers you a final glimpse of the Taj Mahal.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 : Agra / Gwalior (2h30 / 119 km)
After breakfast, depart for Gwalior.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
Then, you will visit the vertiginous fort, the Man Singh palace with its colorful ceramics, and the archaeological museum (closed on Wednesdays). You will also discover the Baroque palace decorated with unusual European objects and still inhabited by the Maharaja and his family.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Gwalior / Datia / Orchha (3h30 / 200km)
After breakfast, you will head towards the town of Datia, the former capital of a Rajput principality. You will visit Govind Palace, a fine example of 17th-century Mughal and Rajput architecture. You will then continue your journey towards romantic Orchha, a jewel of Madhya Pradesh, a medieval city located on the banks of the Betwa River.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Orchha / Khajuraho (4h30 / 200km)
After breakfast, you will head to Khajuraho to discover its prestigious archaeological site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Upon arrival in Khajuraho, you will check in at the hotel.
In the afternoon, you will walk through the village and experience rural India. The village resonates with the traditions of India that are still alive today.
In the evening, you will have the chance to attend a dance performance representing different regions of India, with dancers dressed in their finest costumes.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Khajuraho / Varanasi (8h /414 km)
After breakfast, you will visit the western part of the Khajuraho site and its sculpted temples, where huge frescoes of intertwined human figures practice the arts of love.
Then, you will discover the sacred force of love to reach the absolute, as revealed by the sculptures of Khajuraho. You will admire scenes of everyday life in the fields, scenes of war, and scenes of love, under the benevolent gaze of the gods.
To fully understand them and realize the purity of divinity, one must leave their sexual desires outside the temple. In theory, of course!
Return to the hotel and transfer to the airport according to the flight schedule for Varanasi.
Upon arrival in Varanasi, you will be directly transferred to the hotel where you will check in. You will then visit the holy city and spiritual capital of India before strolling along the Ghats where you can observe a variety of scenes. You will feel both the religious Hindu atmosphere, the homage that pilgrims pay to the gods and the sacred river, and the joyful carefreeness that reigns there. You will attend the Ganga Aarti, a moving daily ceremony at sunset, a Hindu ritual in honor of the goddess Ganges.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Varanasi / Delhi (by plane)
Early in the morning, you will go for a boat ride on the sacred river. It is an opportunity to witness the awakening of the city and the devotions of countless pilgrims, accompanied by the first light of dawn.
You will then get lost in the grand bazaar and the maze of the old city's alleys, where the scents of incense and sacred cow dung mingle. You will discover the 17th-century mosque of Aurangzeb, the Golden Temple (entrance reserved for Hindus), and the Durga Temple.
In the afternoon, you will visit Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhist teaching. It was here that Buddha preached his first sermon in 528 BC.
Sarnath is one of the most important sacred places for Buddhists worldwide. Its museum, which houses remarkable representations of Buddha, will conclude your day.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Delhi / Leh (by plane 1h20)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Delhi airport for a flight to Leh.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
You will have the entire day to rest and acclimate to the altitude (the city is situated at 3500m).
In the evening, you will take a short walk through the city and its colorful bazaars.
Leh was once an important trading center on the Silk Road. The city is dominated by the nine-story palace: Namgyal, whose architecture is similar to that of the Potala in Lhasa.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Leh / Lamayuru/ Nurla (3h / 146 km)
After breakfast, you will head to Nurla. On the way, you will visit the Liker Monastery, the magnetic hill, and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel by late morning.
In the afternoon, you will head to Lamayuru where you will discover hypnotizing lunar landscapes and the Lamayuru Monastery, one of the largest and oldest monasteries in Ladakh: 400 monks once lived there.
Its frescoes, a beautiful statue of Buddha Vairocana, and the exceptional surrounding landscapes make Lamayuru a magnificent excursion.
Return to Nurla.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Nurla / Leh (85 km / 1h45)
After breakfast, you will head to Leh and visit, on the way, the Alchi Monastery and the pantheon.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel by late afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Leh / Turtuk Valley (via Khardung) (205 km / 5h30)
After breakfast, you will head to Turtuk Valley.
On the way, you will pass through Khardung La, recorded in the Guinness World Records as it is at an altitude of 5,602 meters.
It is the highest motorable pass in the world. After catching your breath, you will continue to Turtuk Valley.
Upon arrival, you will check into the camp.
In the evening, you will head to Zero Point, the last outpost of civilization at an altitude of 3,490 meters, the point where the snow never melts, offering you a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains and picturesque surroundings.
Dinner and overnight in a tent.
Day 12: Turtuk valley / Diskit monastery / Leh (209 km / 5h30)
After breakfast, you will explore the Diskit Monastery which houses an impressive statue of Maitreya.
You will then return to Leh.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Leh / Pangong lake (147 km / 3h)
After breakfast in this magnificent place, you will head to Pangong Lake. With an area of 700 square meters and a depth of 100 meters at an altitude of 4,350 meters, Pangong Lake is also called the "long, narrow, and enchanted lake" by the Tibetans. Being saline, the lake freezes entirely in winter.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Pangong lake / Leh / Thiksey monastery / Shey monastery (170 km / 3h50)
Early in the morning, you will have the chance to witness the sunrise over the lake.
After breakfast, you will head to discover Shey Monastery (the former residence of the Ladakh royal family, with its highlight being a huge gilded copper statue of Buddha Shakyamuni) and the Indus River.
Your evening is free so you can fully enjoy your last night.
Return to the hotel in Leh.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 : Leh / Delhi / Return flight
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Leh airport to catch a flight to Delhi before taking your return flight.