Secrets of India with Varanasi

Flight from Montreal to Delhi in economy class via Istanbul.

Arrival at Istanbul International Airport, change of aircraft and flight to Delhi.

Arrive early in the morning. Transfer to your hotel and facility. Breakfast and free morning for individual activities. Afternoon visit of the statue of Shiva and the Botanical Garden of Lodhi, one of the most beautiful garden located in the south of the city. Great and overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, you will explore Old Delhi, including the ramparts of the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid Mosque and the colorful Chandni Chowk district. Continuation with a pedicab ride through the alleys of the city. Lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit India Gate, Humayun's Tomb and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib before returning home. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Depart for Mandawa with dinner en route. On arrival, visit the city, its extraordinary small palaces, typical of the region, and the frescoes that retrace the life of the city. Installation then dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Road to Bikaner, located in the Thar Desert. On arrival, lunch at a local restaurant followed by a tour of the city and the Junagarh Fort, which is made up of palaces and temples. Afterwards, stroll through the heart of the vegetable market while tasting local pastries. Then, visit a camel breeding farm. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Departure for Jaisalmer, nicknamed the "Golden City" of the desert because of its yellow sandstone constructions. Dinner in the heart of the old palace of Pokhran. After dinner, visit the museum located in the old part of the palace, then discover Bara Bagh, a former imperial garden. Supper with the locals who will make you discover the secrets of Rajasthan cuisine. Night at the hotel.

You will start the day with the discovery of Jaisalmer starting with a walk around the lake Gadi Sagar. Afterwards, visit to the Maharawal Palace. Free time will give you the opportunity to stroll through the alleys of the city. Departure for the Thar region. Late lunch . In the afternoon, 4x4 outing to discover the Bishnois villages. This is where you will witness the opium ceremony performed by the sages. Departure for camp, then installation and free time or possibility of optional activities below. In the evening, you can enjoy a dinner with traditional entertainment. Night in the tent. Optional: camel ride - $ 16 / person. To be paid and reserved in advance.

Departure for Jodhpur, nicknamed the "blue city". On arrival, you will visit the remarkable Mehrangarh Fortress, one of the largest in India, and the Jaswant Thada Memorial. Lunch in a local restaurant. At the end of the day, transfer to Luni and installation for the night in a palace transformed into a charming hotel. Dinner and overnight at the palace.

Departure to Udaipur with, on the way, a visit to the Jain temples of Ranakpur. They are located on a majestic complex, nestled in the heart of the Aravalli mountain range. Lunch in Ranakpur, then on to Udaipur, one of India's most romantic cities. Upon arrival, installation, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Visit Udaipur with its City Palace, a majestic white fortified palace, and its Sahelion Ki Bari garden, which houses many fountains and swimming pools. Lunch in a local restaurant. Continue with a cruise on Lake Pichola, from where you will enjoy a superb view of the palace and the city. End your day with a visit to the Jagdish Temple. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Departure to Pushkar with a stop for dinner on the way. On arrival, you will take a panoramic city tour before settling into the hotel. Rest of the day free or possibility of optional activities below. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Optional: ascent by cable car to Savitri temple, then site visit - $ 19 / person. To be paid and reserved in advance. Optional: visit accompanied by a French speaking guide of the temple of Brahma - $ 8 / person. To be paid and reserved in advance.

In the morning, you will take the road to Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, also called the "pink city". Lunch planned along the way. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and explore the city. You can see the famous Palace of the Winds, the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Then, demonstration of the wearing of sari. Afterwards, you will discover the city with a rickshaw ride through the small alleys, where you can admire the work of local artisans. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

You will start the day with a visit to Amber Fort and then, on the back of an elephant, you will climb the city walls *. You will continue with a lunch at a local Jaipur's home, who will introduce you to the secrets of the local cuisine. Free afternoon or possibility of optional activities below. In the evening, Bollywood cinema screening in the iconic Raj Mandir Theater. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. * Possibility of doing it in 4x4. Optional: Bollywood dance class with homestay dinner - $ 65 / person. Book and pay in advance. Optional: visit to the Monkey Temple including a tuk-tuk ride - $ 25 / person. Book and pay in advance.

Departure for Agra with, en route, the visit of Fatehpur-Sikri. This city denotes by its unusual mixture of architectures. Arrival in Agra, then lunch. After the meal, you will be transferred to the famous Taj Mahal for a visit to this iconic monument, moving white marble mausoleum, erected by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his wife. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. The day dedicated to the visit of Fort d'Agra and Itmad d'aulah - Le Petit TajMahal. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. then depart for Delhi. On arrival, transfer to the airport and fly to Varanasi. Reception at the airport then transfer to the hotel. This eternal city is a major pilgrimage site for India and attracts thousands of Hindus who come to purify themselves in the sacred waters of the Ganges. Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Excursion to Sarnath, one of the high places of Buddhism, where Buddha came to express his first sermon, then visit the museum. Return to Varanasi and explore the city on foot including the Durga temple, called the monkey temple because of the animals that inhabit the enclosure and then the Hindu University famous for its spiritual meditation center. In the evening, attend a ceremony among the locals. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Boat ride on the Ganges at sunrise and then through the alleys to the temple of Shiva. Return to hotel for breakfast, then transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Arrive, transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Arrival at Montreal airport.