Embrace the soul of intoxicating India on a wellness-inspired cultural journey connecting you to the unique spirit and cultures of the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan and Varanasi. Experiences include guided meditation and bicycling in Udaipur, a private consultation with an ayurvedic doctor and a spa treatment in Rajasthan, visit to a residential school and partaking in an ancestor’s ceremony on the sacred Ganges River.
Highlights:
- Discover extraordinary monuments spanning India’s rich spiritual heritage, from the temples of Delhi and Udaipur to the breathtaking Taj Mahal, which you visit at both sunrise and sunset
- Enjoy three rejuvenating nights in Udaipur complete with a guided meditation, bike ride through the countryside and a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola
- Privately consult with an ayurvedic doctor and learn about the importance of one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems during a stay at Amanbagh, a retreat in the heart of Rajasthan
- Design Your Day in the magical countryside of Rajasthan, with options that include visiting local artisans in their workshops or setting off on a photogenic tour of rural village life at dusk
- Spend two awe-inspiring nights in Varanasi, a city sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, where you stay along the banks of the Ganges in a former palace and partake in an evening aarti ceremony
- Experience the benefits of giving back when you visit the special communities through our travel partner Abercrombie & Kent’s program to empower lasting change. On this journey you will visit a residential school for young girls
Full Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Delhi, India
Arrive in Delhi, a home to diverse cultural and spiritual traditions. This is where you are met and transferred to your elegant hotel.
Accommodation: The Oberoi, New Delhi for 2 nights
Day 2: DELHI | SIKH & HINDU TRADITIONS
After breakfast, experience your first foray into India’s rich spiritual heritage with guided visits to both a Hindu and Sikh temple. While Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest and most varied faiths, Sikhism is among the youngest, stressing honesty, selflessness and service; it is in the massive kitchens of the historic Sikh temple you visit that thousands of free meals are prepared for the community daily. Later, drive past iconic sites, such as the Parliament House and India Gate. At night, gather for a welcome dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included in day 2
Day 3: UDAIPUR | INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION
Depart Delhi for Udaipur and transfer to your luxurious hotel on the tranquil banks of Lake Pichola. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Before dinner, contemplate your intentions with a guided meditation, led by an expert who offers tips for establishing a daily practice. At night, dinner is accompanied by local music and traditional dancing.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner is included in day 3
Accommodation: The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur for 2 nights
Day 4: UDAIPUR | SUNSET CRUISE & INDIAN HOSPITALITY
Visit the opulent City Palace on Lake Pichola. Fusing Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, the site is actually a complex of several palaces and structures linked by expansive courtyards. Be inspired by a visit at Hansraj Children’s Home, which provides underprivileged girls with food, shelter and educational opportunities. Then enjoy a refreshing outing when you bike ride through the surrounding countryside, stopping for a picnic lunch. Come late afternoon, embark on a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola followed by dinner at a local family’s home.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included in day 4
Day 5: UDAIPUR | TEMPLES OF SHIVA & VISHNU
Choose to rise early for a yoga session before breakfast. Then, explore two lavishly carved and decorated temple complexes: Eklingji, dedicated to Shiva, and deserted Nagda, built to honor Lord Vishnu. Following lunch, choose to partake in a guided heritage walking tour or to relish a relaxing afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch included in day 5
Day 6: JAIPUR & AJABGARH | A GUIDE TO AYURVEDA
Fly to Jaipur and explore Amber Fort, an imposing edifice of red sandstone perched on a hilltop. After lunch, journey two hours to extraordinary Amanbagh, set in the beautiful Rajasthani countryside. Enjoy an introductory talk on the importance of ayurveda in India and how it impacts all aspects of health and wellness. You also have the opportunity to meet privately with an ayurvedic doctor, who provides personalized recommendations based on your dosha (body type).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included in day 6
Accommodations: Amanbagh for 3 nights
Day 7: AJABGARH | DESIGN YOUR DAY
On this day, Design Your Day by choosing one of three curated excursions. Explore the remnants of historic Bhangarh, an abandoned city rumored to be haunted; visit the workshops of local craftspeople, including sandal makers, carpet weavers and sculptors; or take part in a late afternoon cow dust tour, observing local farmers and villagers leaving the fields after a day’s work in an inspiring, photogenic light.
Meals: Breakfast included in day 7
Day 8: AJABGARH | AYURVEDIC CULINARY LESSON
Relish a restorative day at leisure. Perhaps enjoy your hotel’s wellness amenities, such as yoga; schedule your included treatment at its soothing holistic spa; or return to Jaipur for more exploration. At tonight’s dinner, enjoy a hands-on opportunity to learn about the ayurvedic healing properties in key foods.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner included in day 8
Day 9: AGRA | THE TAJ MAHAL
The “Crown of Palaces,” the incomparable Taj Mahal was designed to represent eternal paradise. Today, you will drive four hours to Agra to visit this immortal gesture of love, viewing it just as the setting sun bathes it in deep hues of pink and orange.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner included in day 9
Accommodation: The Oberoi Amarvillas, Agra
Day 10: AGRA & VARANASI | HOLY CITY
Rise early to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise, its glowing surface suffused in a gentle morning mist. Return to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon at leisure. This evening, fly to the spiritual heart of India: Varanasi. Settle into your superbly located heritage hotel right on the banks of the Ganges River.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner included in day 10
Accommodation: Brijrama Palace for 2 nights
Day 11: VARANASI | THE SACRED GANGES
Rise early for a private sunrise cruise on the Ganges River to observe life along the ghats (stone steps leading down to the river), as locals and pilgrims come to cleanse themselves, literally and spiritually, in the sacred waters. After breakfast, rest at the hotel or pay an optional visit to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon more than 3,000 years ago. Take an evening boat ride and experience the pitru tarpana, an ancestor ceremony in which you may light a candle to release in the river in memory of a loved one who has passed on; this is one of the most moving local customs you can experience. End the night witnessing the aarti ceremony, when chanted prayers and rhythmic drumming fill the air as lantern-bearing priests bid the gods and goddesses a restful slumber.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner included in Day 11
Day 12: DELHI | AN AFTERNOON TO REFLECT
Fly to Delhi and then gather with your fellow guests for a farewell brunch. Your afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the amenities of your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch included in day 12
Accommodation: The Oberoi, Gurgaon
Day 13: DEPART DELHI
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast included in day 13
Enrich the mind, body, and spirit on this wellness-inspired journey. Limited to 18 guests only, contact us today to find out about availability and pricing.
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