Highlights

Travel on foot and by cycle rickshaw to the heart of Old Delhi, where ancient temples stand against billboards advertising Bollywood blockbusters.

Bigger and more beautiful than any photo can capture, the Taj Mahal is a triumph of Mughal architecture that promises to inspire even the weariest travellers.

Learn to whip up some central Indian staples during a cooking demonstration at home with our friends in Orchha, the perfect opportunity to experience an authentic slice of Indian family life.

Learn about the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist religions as you're immersed in the culture, sights and smells of India and Nepal.

Spend an evening ‘glamping’ in a cool and comfortable permanent tented camp in Orchha, a peaceful contrast to the chaotic overnight train.

See pilgrims praying and bathing along the ghats of the sacred Ganges River during an unforgettable sunrise cruise in Varanasi, one of India's holiest cities.

Rise in the cool half-light of dawn and watch the sunrise while you glide over the River Ganges on a small riverboat.

Join pilgrims during a visit to the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, where evidence of a shrine dated before 550 BC was uncovered in 2013.

Stay in a lodge and wake to the calls of the jungle in Chitwan National Park, then embark on a jeep or canoe safari (season depending) in search of rhino, deer, monkeys and a wide array of bird life.

From flamboyant, hidden temples and colourful prayer flags to rich cultural heritage and delicious cuisine, you'll soon discover that Kathmandu is so much more than just a stopover town.

See more of what to expect on your Delhi to Kathmandu trip here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/india-nepal-group-trip/

You will visit the following places:

Varanasi

Varanasi is a historical city in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Once known as Benares or Banaras and Kashi, the city is sacred to Hindus and Jains and also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with settlements dating back to the 11th century BC. Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi brings salvation/nirvana and so they make the trip to the city when they realize that they are close to death. For some, the culture shock of the burning corpses in plain view and the feces overflowing from the Ganges can be a bit overwhelming. However, the scene of pilgrims doing their devotions in the River Ganga at sunrise set against the backdrop of the centuries old temples is probably one of the most impressive sights in the world.

Agra

Agra is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at the banks of river Yamuna, 363 kilometres (226 mi) west of state capital, Lucknow and 200 kilometres (124 mi) south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 (2010 est.), it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most populous in India. Because 80 percent of the city's sewage flows into Yamuna River, it is 20th most polluted city in India. The city is a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Jaipur. The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj!