Day 1 : Delhi
Upon arrival at Delhi airport, you will be greeted by a representative from our local agency or your French-speaking guide who will welcome you to India. They will assist with your transfer to the hotel where you will be staying for 2 nights.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Delhi
This first day is dedicated to discovering Delhi.
Bathed by the holy waters of the Yamuna, Delhi has twice served as an imperial capital, 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, 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 streets. The old city is home to 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, followed by a visit to Rajghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi.
Next, you will visit Humayun's Tomb, a beautiful example of Mughal architecture that inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal, as well as Qutub Minar, the tallest tower in the country standing at 72.5 meters high.
In the late afternoon, you will discover New Delhi by passing through Rajpath, the Royal Road, before admiring India Gate, the Parliament, and the Presidential Palace.
In the evening, you will share a moment of devotion with the Sikh community at the Bangla Sahib temple.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Delhi / Jaipur (270 km / 5h)
After breakfast, you will depart for Jaipur, one of the most pleasant and vibrant cities in India.
The capital of Rajasthan is also known as "The Pink City" in reference to the color of the buildings in the old town, which is surrounded by bare hills topped with forts and crenelated walls. Sacred cows, camels, elephants, and rickshaws coexist here. Built in 1727, Jaipur is one of the most colorful and picturesque cities in all of India.
You will visit the "City Palace" with its fabulous collections of weapons and period costumes, the "Jantar Mantar", an astonishing observatory built by a prince passionate about astronomy, as well as the Hawa Mahal (or Palace of Winds), a slender structure pierced with more than 900 windows and balconies.
In the late afternoon, you will stroll through the bazaars of the old city in a rickshaw to admire the craftsmen in their shops (potters, dyers, jewelers), street vendors, and vegetable sellers.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 : Jaipur
After breakfast, you will go on an excursion to the Amber Fort. This majestic construction is located 9 km north of Jaipur, in the ancient capital of the Rajput empire. You will ascend to the top of its walls by elephant or by 4x4.
The afternoon is free for shopping.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra (240 km / 4h)
After breakfast, you will depart for Agra.
On the way, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, a place remarkable for its artistic and architectural beauty. Built in 1571, Fatehpur Sikri is the former capital of Emperor Akbar. The Imperial City houses buildings in pink sandstone with the most varied architectural forms: palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and pools, mosques, and caravanserais.
Upon arrival, you will check into the hotel.
In the evening, you will visit the mausoleum of Itimad-ud-Daulah, nicknamed the "Baby Taj", the first Mughal building constructed entirely of marble, with particularly delicate shapes and motifs.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 : Agra
After breakfast, you will depart 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 the third wonder of the world.
The afternoon is free for shopping.
At the very end of the day, you will visit the Red Fort of Agra, whose high red sandstone walls overlook the Yamuna River. It marks the birth of the imperial Mughal style and offers you a last chance to gaze at the Taj Mahal.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 : Agra / Jhansi / Orchha (by train 260 km / 3h)
After breakfast, you will board a train to Jhansi for your journey to Orchha.
Former capital of the Bundela kings, Orchha remained the capital of a powerful Rajput kingdom until 1783. Today, it is a small medieval village, situated amidst palaces and temples preserved from the ravages of time.
You can then discover the impressive Jahangir Mahal Palace, the Raj Mahal Palace containing magnificent frescoes, and the Raj Praveen Mahal, a small palace standing in a garden.
In the evening, you will attend a ceremony at the Rama temple.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Orchha / Khajuraho (170 km / 4h30)
After breakfast, you will depart for the Ganges Valley and Khajuraho, once the capital of the Chandela kings from the 6th to the 8th century.
Upon arrival, you will check into the hotel.
In the afternoon, you will discover rural India through a walk in the village where the full tradition of India resonates.
After this delightful discovery, you will attend a colorful dance show representing different regions of India.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Khajuraho / Varanasi (by plane)
After breakfast, you will explore 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 eye of the gods.
Then, you will take a domestic flight to Varanasi where you will check into the hotel upon arrival.
To truly feel the spiritual energy emanating from the city, you will wander the alleys and ghats by rickshaw. People mainly come here to pray, wash, purify themselves, shave (female pilgrims donate their hair to the river), play cricket, wash clothes, beg from sadhus, or practice yoga.
You will have the opportunity to participate in an offering and worship ceremony on the ghats, paying homage to the deities. Watching these illuminated domes float in the night will be a moment filled with wisdom that you will remember for a long time.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 : Varanasi
After breakfast, you will board a boat for a ride on the calm waters of the Ganges, while thousands of pilgrims are already pressing on the banks to pray and purify themselves in the sacred water.
In the afternoon, you will visit Sarnath, the cradle of Buddhist teaching. It is here that Buddha preached his first sermon in 528 BC.
Sarnath is one of the most important sacred places for Buddhists worldwide. A visit to its museum, which houses remarkable representations of Buddha, is a must.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Varanasi / Kathmandu (by plane)
Kathmandu, the capital and largest city of Nepal, is located in the heart of the country. Long considered the fabulous and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is now a rapidly growing holiday destination for all budgets.
According to legend, the Kathmandu Valley was once a turquoise lake on which a lotus flower floated. Manjushree (Padmasambhava), a saintly Chinese patriarch, cut the wall of the valley with his flaming sword of wisdom at Chovar to let the dry land appear. The lotus flower remained on the ground where Manjushree built the great stupa of Swayambhunath.
The Kathmandu Valley includes the three ancient royal cities: Patan, Bhaktapur, and Kathmandu. Each has its own palace, and all are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
You will see streets adorned with beautiful cobblestones, a fascinating labyrinth of temples, shrines, and bustling markets.
The rest of the day is free.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Kathmandu
After breakfast, your day is dedicated to visiting Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, and Patan Durbar Square.
Kathmandu Durbar Square is located in the heart of the old city of Kathmandu, with the foundation of the Durbar (Royal Palace) dating back to the Licchavi period. Thanks to considerable renovations undertaken by the Malla rulers and later by the Ranas, the construction progressed over several centuries. There are no less than 50 temples in the vicinity.
You will visit the Durbar complex dating from the 17th century, then Hanuman Dhoka, the Paravati temple, the Great Bell and Drum, Bhairav, the Taleju temple, and other surrounding temples. A bit further is the temple of the living goddess, where you will surely take a photo of the Kumari from one of the windows overlooking the inner courtyard. Around the area, you will have the opportunity to admire the splendor of the historical monuments in the lively market square. Vegetable vendors, flute trees, and souvenir sellers are there to offer their goods. Nestled in a quiet corner is the sparkling pearl market where you can buy custom pearl necklaces.
At the top of a green hill to the west of Kathmandu stands the great stupa of Swayambhunath, a site over 2500 years old, marking the point where the legendary patriarch Manjushree is said to have discovered the lotus of the ancient lake of the Valley. Swayambhunath offers a splendid view of the city of Kathmandu. This enormous stupa is one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists in Nepal and is closely linked to the creation of Kathmandu.
Patan, also known as Lalitpur or the "city of fine arts," is the oldest city in the valley and is said to have been founded by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Patan, the cradle of arts and architecture in the valley, is both a major center of Newari Buddhist religion and traditional arts and crafts. The city has no less than 136 bahals and 55 major temples. The most famous are Krishna Mandir and Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (The Golden Temple).
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Kathmandu
After breakfast, you will visit the Pashupatinath temple and Bodnath Stupa.
The Pashupatinath temple is considered one of the holiest of all Hindu temples worldwide, while the temple of Lord Shiva, with its golden roof and silver doors, is known for its superb architecture. Entrance to the temple is reserved for Hindus, but you can see it from the east bank of the Bagmati River overlooking the cremation grounds.
This magnificent golden temple with its four silver doors is a unique example of Nepalese architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temples in South Asia, containing hundreds of Shiva Lingons, shrines enclosing icons of multiple Hindu gods and goddesses.
Bodnath, the largest Stupa in Nepal, is surrounded by vast houses & monasteries where Rinpoches reside. The town is also nicknamed ‘Little Tibet’ for the unique atmosphere of the old Barkhor market square. This is a place that many Tibetans visit as it is an important place for pilgrimage and trade.
You will visit the monasteries in the vicinity to spend some time with the monks and receive their blessings.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Kathmandu / Nagarkot
After breakfast, you will visit the Pashupatinath Temple and Bodnath Stupa.
The Pashupatinath Temple is considered one of the holiest places among all Hindu temples worldwide, while the Lord Shiva temple, with its golden roof and silver doors, is known for its superb architecture. Entry into the temple is reserved for Hindus, but you can view it from the east bank of the Bagmati River overlooking the cremation sites.
This magnificent golden temple with four silver doors is a unique example of Nepalese architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temples in South Asia, containing hundreds of Shiva lingams, sanctuaries housing icons of various Hindu gods and goddesses.
Bodnath, the largest stupa in Nepal, is surrounded by vast houses and monasteries where Rinpoches reside. The town is also nicknamed "Little Tibet" for the unique atmosphere of the old Barkhor market square. It is a place visited by many Tibetans as it is an important site for pilgrimage and commerce.
You will visit the surrounding monasteries to spend time with the monks and receive blessings.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15: Nagarkot / Kathmandu / Flight back
Early in the morning, you can witness the magnificent sunrise over the mountains.
After breakfast, you will return to Kathmandu before being transferred to the airport for your return flight.