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Flight Inclusive Price from UK
- International Flights from UK
- 11 nights Accommodation
- Meals as Specified
- Private Guided Tour
- Entry Fees
- ATOL Protection
- Travel Trust Protection
- Based on 2023 - 24 Prices
- Agra
- Assam
- Calcutta
- Delhi
- Goa
- Himalayas - Darjeeling
- Himalayas - Leh & Ladakh
- Himalayas - Shimla
- Himalayas - Sikkim
- Himalayas - Uttarakhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Rajasthan - Jaipur
- Rajasthan - Jaisalmer
- Rajasthan - Jodhpur
- Rajasthan - Retreats
- Rajasthan - Udaipur
- Tamil Nadu
- Varanasi
- Wildlife - Bandhavgarh
- Wildlife - Kanha National Park
- Wildlife - Pench
- Wildlife - Ranthambore
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India & Bhutan Highlights
India & Bhutan Highlights
This is the perfect itinerary for those looking to combine two countries in one contrasting trip, crammed with great places to see.
You'll begin with a week in India's Golden Triangle, covering Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
In Delhi you can experience the contrasts of New and Old Delhi, explore the burstling bazaars and discover the magnificent Mughul-era monuments.
For the very best Mughul architecture however you'll be heading to Agra of course, for the unsurpassable Taj Mahal. You'll also visit the Baby Taj, and the Red Fort as well as seeing the Taj at sunrise.
On the way to Jaipur you'll visit Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned city of Akbar the Great. Jaipur, known as the Pink City offers magnificent buildings, the stunning Amber Fort and a great taste of Rajasthan.
You'll head back to Delhi before moving on to Bhutan where you'll visit Paro, Punakha and Thimphu, discovering the unique culture of this Mountain Kingdom, alongside dramatic mountain passes and spectacular temples and monasteries.
The accommodation on this trip is Deluxe throughout and you'll be staying in some of the very best hotels in each destination.
Please bear in mind that all of our India & Bhutan Holidays are tailor made and can be adjusted to suit your interests, time, hotel & airline choice and be tailored to fit your budget.
Inclusions
- International flights from the UK
- Accommodation as specified
- Meals as Specified
- Entry Fees
- ATOL Protection
- Travel Trust Protection
Accommodation
- 3 nights Delhi
- 1 night Agra
- 2 nights Jaipur
- 2 nights Thimphu
- 1 night Punaka
- 2 nights Paro
Activities
- Excursions with Private Car, Driver & Guide
- Delhi
- Agra
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Jaipur
- Paro Valley
- Punakha
- Thimphu
Day 1: Fly UK to Delhi
Fly overnight from Heathrow direct to Delhi with British Airways (or with your preferred airline).
Day 2: Delhi
On arrival in Delhi you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 3: Delhi
After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel for a walking tour through colonial New Delhi.
New Delhi's present-day look owes much to Edwin Lutyens, a man best known for adapting traditional architecture to contemporary styles.
Head towards the India Gate, a monument commemorating the deaths of over 70,000 Indian soldiers in the British Forces during the World War One. Older British buildings here house today’s Parliament and Secretariat.
Head from New to Old Delhi, with a private Rickshaw tour of Old Delhi, a stronghold of the Mughal empire. Head by the Red Fort and Jama Masjid.
Trail through the bustling markets of Chandni Chowk, past monuments of every faith, to experience the sacred yet secular way of life that is so typical of India. You'll also visit Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market.
There will be some time free for lunch and your guide can recommend where to stop.
In the afternoon, drive to Humayun’s Tomb and step back in time, as you visit this 16th Century tomb built for the second Mughal emperor, Humayun.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens, an older tomb of Inayat Khan and a functioning mosque, Humayun’s tomb is a lovely relic from the past and one of the most magnificent Mughal monuments in India.
End the day with a visit the majestic Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, with its eye-catching golden dome glistening in the sun.
A holy place for Sikhs across the world, the holy waters of its pond are believed by Sikhs to have healing properties. The Gurudwara grounds include a community temple, a community kitchen, a school, a library and an art gallery.
You'll be dropped back at your hotel after the excursion.
Day 4: Agra
Today you will be collected from your hotel in Delhi after breakfast and transferred by private car to Agra.
Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna and was once the seat of the Mughal rulers and remains a town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments.
The passion of the Mughals for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world.
In the afternoon, visit Agra Fort, situated on the west bank of the river Yamuna, built by the Mughal King Akbar in the 16th century and completed by his grandson Shah Jahan.
Also visit the so called 'Baby Taj', the beautiful Tomb Of Itmad-Ud-Daulah.
Another under appreciated monument in Agra is the Tomb of Akbhar which is included on your excursion.
Day 5: Jaipur
At sunrise, visit the Taj Mahal (1631-1653), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child.
It took 20,000 workers 22 years to construct this extravagant monument of love, inlaying the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones.
After your visit, head towards Jaipur, the final destination on your Indian Golden Triangle journey.
On the way, visit Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire.
The complex consists of religious, residential and administrative buildings. The Mosque is considered a copy for the Mosque at Mecca and is extremely elegant, containing elements of Hindu and Persian design. Housed here is the Shrine of Sheikh Salim Chisti one of the greatest of Sufi saints of the Muslim world.
Arrive in Jaipur with the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 6: Jaipur
You'll be collected from your hotel for a full day tour of Jaipur.
Visit Amber Fort, which was built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, and is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture in India. It offers extensive views over a deep narrow valley and the wider plains beyond.
Stop for a photo at the Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal) with its 953 windows and niches which were made so that ladies of the royal family could see processions and events below without being visible.
Visit the City Palace & Jantar Mantar. The City Palace occupies the center of Jaipur and now houses the Royal residence and museums with collections of textiles and costumes, armoury, manuscripts and paintings.
Jantar Mantar (the Royal Observatory) was built between 1728 and 1734 by the King astrologer Jai Singh II and features astrological instruments built out of stone with marble facing.
In the evening enjoy an Aarti Ceremony the Birla Mandir. “Aarti” is a very auspicious Hindu ritual in which prayers are offered to the gods.
You'll be dropped back at your hotel after today's excursion.
Day 7: Delhi
Today you will be collected from your hotel in Jaipur after breakfast and transferred to your accommodation in Delhi.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 8: Thimphu
Today you will be collected from your hotel in Delhi and transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Fly to Paro with Druk Air.
On arrival in Paro you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Thimphu by private car.
After lunch, visit Tashichho Dzong, a fortress serving as the office of the King, the government and the central monastic body of Bhutan. Bhutan's spiritual leader Je-Khenpo and the monks of both Thimphu and Punakha reside here during summer. It is also the venue for the autumn Thimphu Festival.
Visit the Memorial Chorten, the tall city landmark, built in 1974 in the memory of third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, regarded as the Father of Modern Bhutan. This four-storey tall white building, houses statues and iconography of deities and serves as an important place of worship.
Afterwards, visit a Paper Factory, where traditional paper is made from the daphne plant, using simple methods.
Finally, visit Sangaygang View Point (the Telecom Tower) where there is a wonderful view of the Thimphu valley.
Day 9: Thimphu
After breakfast, drive towards the northern end of the valley for about 20 minutes to get ready for a great walk to Cheri Gompa.
This is a pleasant rural walk, gently up a valley through paddy fields and woodland via a Tibetan village.
The walk commences at the junction just before the village of Dechencholing from where you'll walk through the village along the track to Pangri Zampa Gompa, by the river.
The route passes a Tibetan village, through paddy fields, past chortens and the village of Choku to Begana (also known as Dodena).
From Dodena, after crossing the cantilevered bridge, it's another 30-45 minutes steep climb up hill.
Cheri Dorji Dhen was constructed in 1620 by Shabdrung, the first ruler of Bhutan, who also established the first order of monks here.
Walk back down to the bottom of the hill, where your transport will be waiting to take you back to Thimphu.
Day 10: Punakha
This morning you will be collected from your hotel and driven to Punakha, an extremely beautiful town, also called the pearl of Bhutan.
You'll be travelling along a winding mountain road and you'll make a stop en-route at the Dochu La Pass, which at just over 3,000 metres, offers views of the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan's highest mountain, Gangkar Punsum.
The road then drops down through varied, ever changing forest, finally emerging into the highly cultivated Punakha valley.
Also visit Chimi Lhakhang, the fertility temple which has a fascinating story around it's inception and provides plenty of striking imagery!
In Punakha, visit the Punakha Dzong, which in the past served as the capital of Bhutan. This remarkable fortress is built between two rivers and has survived many glacial floods and fire.
Every year during the month of February a procession known as the Punakha Serda takes place to commemorate the victory over the Tibetans. If time permits, walk the longest suspension bridge in Punakha, which is a great spot for photography.
Day 11: Paro
After breakfast drive back west via the Dochula pass and continue on to Paro for another 1 hour.
Visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo.
Visit Paro Rinpung Dzong which was consecrated in 1645 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal on the site of smaller fort. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries it served as a bastion against invasion from the north and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture - with intricate wood work, large beams slotted into each other and all held together without nails.
It houses the giant 30m X 45m Thangka (Thongdrol), commissioned in the mid 18th century and displayed on the last day of the Paro Tsechu festival.
Day 12: Paro
In the morning hike to the Tiger’s nest.
Taktshang (Tiger's Nest) is one of the most venerated and famous of Bhutan's monasteries, located on the face of a sheer 900 m cliff above the floor of Paro valley.
It is an impressive and unmissable sight, accessible only by foot or on horseback.
From the trail head (2600m), the walk to the Cafeteria is a steep one hour uphill (about 350 m ascent). The horses go no further than here.
From the cafeteria, the trail continues uphill for another 45 minutes to a high observation point (3140 m) where there is a Chorten (stupa).
After the exhilaration of the Tiger's Nest, visit Drukgyel Dzong, a ruin located 14 km north of Paro town, near the end of the paved road.
Drukgyal Dzong was built around 1644-49 to commemorate the Bhutanese victory over the Tibetan-Mongol forces. It was later burnt in fire accident in 1951.
On a clear day, Mt. Jumolhari, Bhutan's holy peak can be seen against its backdrop.
Day 13: Fly back to the UK
You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport by private car.
Fly from Paro back to the UK via Delhi.
Day 14: Arrive UK
Arrive back in UK.
View Itinerary in Detail
To view a sample holiday, click on one of the links below. This will open the itinerary up in a new window.
All of our India & Bhutan Holidays are completely tailor made and we can combine different hotels and airlines to create your ideal India & Bhutan Holiday.
We have many other options so if you have a particular hotel in mind just let us know and we'll put together a price and itinerary for you.
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Deluxe Hotels
India & Bhutan
3 nights Delhi, 1 night Agra, 2 nights Jaipur, 2 nights Paro, 1 night Punakha, 2 nights Thimphu.
Includes all Flights, Transfers, Privately Guided Touring.