Visit north India: hill stations and golden temples

Itinerary in brief: 

• 1 night Delhi
• 1 night Agra
• 1 night Delhi
• 2 nights Shimla
• 1 night Paragpur 
• 2 nights Dharamshala 
• 2 nights Amritsar
• 1 night Delhi

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights 

Day 2: Arrive Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, checking in for the night. In the afternoon you’ll head out for a rickshaw tour to taste some of Delhi’s best local food. Immerse yourself in this charismatic city’s intoxicating and chaotic charm on one of these light, three-wheeled vehicles driven by an expert who understands how to negotiate what can appear to be non-navigable streets – it’s quite an art! You’ll visit Asia’s largest Spice Market and taste some delicious street food, including jalebis, a deep fried Indian desert and of course some sensational samosas. 

Included: Transfers, guiding, 4* hotel  

Day 3: Delhi to Agra

Spend the morning in New Delhi, an area designed by the British in the 1920s - it’s home to government buildings set along wide boulevards and green parks and gardens. Visit monuments including the Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb, and drive past the impressive India Gate, a popular hangout for locals. After lunch, you’ll be driven to Agra, arriving by early evening and checking into your hotel for one night.  

Included: Breakfast, guiding, transfers, 4* hotel                

Day 4: Agra to Delhi

This morning you’ll head out to the Taj for sunrise, spending the morning exploring this mighty building. Learn about the history of the mausoleum before wandering through the complex alone and really soaking up this awe-inspiring wonder of the world. Built by an emperor in memory of his beloved queen, it took 18 years to complete, with craftsmen working around the clock on the intricate and romantic design. With perfect proportions and distinct femininity, legend says that once the construction was completed, Shan Jehan ordered the architect’s hands cut off, and blinded, so he would never be able to duplicate the structure.

Later today, you’ll take a tour of Agra Fort, where you’ll wander through the chambers of this ancient royal residence. The country was once governed from here, as well as containing the largest treasury and mint. Dignitaries and ambassadors from far off lands would be brought here, each one participating in the history of India. After this, you’ll be driven back to Delhi, checking into your hotel again for the night. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, transfers, 4* hotel                

Day 5: Train to Shimla

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to Delhi train station, ready to catch the train to Kalka. On arrival there, you’ll be met and shown where to board the Toy Train., arriving in Shimla at around 2.30pm. Check into your hotel for two nights and enjoy an afternoon soaking up the views. 

Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, discovered by the British in 1819 when it was part of the Nepalese Kingdom. The cool hills, snow-capped peaks and green pastures lead to it being declared the summer capital of India, with natural beauty and colonial heritage aplenty. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, train tickets, 4* hotel       

Day 6: Shimla

This morning you’ll head out on a morning tour of Shimla to explore the town. Start on Mall Road, the heart of Shimla, where the streets are lined with shops, and you’ll find the Christ Church, one of the oldest in northern India. You’ll also visit Tara Devi Temple, where the goddess Tara is known as a prominent deity of Tibetan Buddhism. The history of this temple dates to more than 250 years. It is believed that Goddess Tara was brought here from eastern state of Bengal by a king from the Sen Dynasty and to honour this in later years Raja Bhupendra Sen established this temple with a wooden idol of Tara Devi in Vaishnav style and traditions.

A pleasant walk further west will lead you to the most imposing edifice of Shimla – the Vice Regal Lodge. Located on the Observatory Hill, it is a majestic, sprawling, grey-tinted structure surrounded by tall pines. Now called Rashtrapati Niwas, the Lodge houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and is the only building in Shimla that occupies a hill by itself.

The afternoon is yours to relax in the hotel or enjoy exploring more at your own leisure. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 4* hotel    

Day 7: Shimla to Pragpur

Today you’ll be drive to Pragpur in the Kangra Valley, around a 6 hours drive. This picturesque village offers a unique blend of culture, history and natural beauty. Nestled in the valley at an altitude of around 2,000ft, it is completely surrounded by the Dhauladhar mountain range. Famous for it’s weaving, pottery and metalwork, it’s a fascinating place to meet the locals and learn about traditional life in the Kangra Valley. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 4* hotel    

Day 8: Pragpur to Dharamshala

After breakfast, you’ll enjoy the winding two hour drive to Dharamshala, watchg as the terrain changes from the fertile riverbeds of Punjab to the rocky terrain of the Himalayan foothills. Dharamshala is a hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range, surrounded by oak and conifer trees with snow-capped mountains enclosing three sides of the town and the Kangra valley stretching in front. The town is divided into two distinct areas – Lower Dharamshala and Upper Dharamshala is famous as the ‘Little Lhasa in India’ after Mcleodganj became the temporary headquarter of the Dalai Lama. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, guiding, 4* hotel  

Day 9: Dharamshala 

Today you’ll head off to explore Dharamshala. You’ll start at McLeod Ganj – the home of the Dalai Lama since 1959 when he fled Tibet with thousands of other refugees. As Dharamshala became the headquarter of the Tibetan Government in exile, headed by Dalai Lama, it gained prominence all over the world & prominent personalities started arriving here. Mcleodganj emerged as a major Buddhist centre. 

Afterwards you’ll visit the War Memorial, situated in Dharamshala town. The memorial is situated near the entry point to Dharamshala and commemorates the memory of those who fought valiantly in the war. The place is in a peaceful location in the pine forest and offers a very enjoyable walk-through the trees to get there. The rest of your day is yours to explore the town and enjoy the spectacular views of the Himalayas.

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 4* hotel    

Day 10: Dharamshala to Amritsar 

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to Amritsar, around 6 hours away. Amritsar has long been famous as a centre for the Sikh religion – according to legend, when the fourth Guru of the Sikhs Guru Ram Das heard about the healing powers of the pool, he ordered his son Guru Arjan Dev to erect a temple at the site. In 1588, the foundations of a city were laid which later became an emblem of Sikh culture and history. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, 4* hotel                  

Day 11: Amritsar

This morning you’ll start the day with a visit to the Golden Temple. You’ll walk through the old city and the bazaars, visiting the Jallianwala Bagh and the site of the 1919 civilian massacre, before arriving at Sri Harminder Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple. With gold leaf covering the entire structure, this is the Mecca of the Sikh religion. Unlike any religious structures, it is open from all sides and all religions are welcome to enter, meditate or just listen to the scriptures. Soaking up the atmosphere of such a special place is sure to be a highlight of your trip. 

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Wagah Border, the only crossing between India and Pakistan. The army outpost is around 30km from Amritsar and is a complex of buildings, roads and barriers separating the two countries. Here you’ll witness the ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony performed by the soldiers each evening. Soldiers from both India and Pakistan perform a flag march – the flags from both countries are brought down before the gates are opened and drills are performed. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 4* hotel     

Day 12: Amritsar to Delhi train 

This morning you’ll be driven to the railway station in Amritsar to catch your train to Delhi. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel – why not head out for a delicious dinner to enjoy your final night in India. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, train tickets, 4* hotel       

Day 13: Depart Delhi

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airport for your flight home.           

Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flights         

Day 14: Arrive UK