Day 1 UK to Delhi

Our VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your overnight flight to Delhi.

Day 2 Delhi

Arrive in Delhi, with some time at leisure.

You stay at Roseate House Delhi Aerocity (4*) or Novotel New Delhi Aerocity (4*).

Day 3 - 4 Amritsar

We fly to Amritsar, and transfer to our hotel for some time at leisure to relax. After dinner, we experience one of the great traditions of the city, the ‘putting to bed’ (Palki) ceremony. Twice a day, the holy book of the Sikh faith, the Granth Sahib, is moved in a grand procession from a dedicated chamber in the Sikh Parliament to the Golden Temple, and back again. This daily ritual is really something to behold, hinting at the tremendous spirituality of Amritsar.

In the morning, we return to the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism. At its heart, set within a sacred pool, is the Hari Mandir (Divine Temple). This gold-plated architectural jewel is topped with intricate spires and cupolas, and decorated inside and out with verses from the Granth Sahib. We’ll explore the vast temple complex, including community kitchens which provide free meals to 10,000 pilgrims every day.

Afterwards, we head out to walk the busy bazaars of the city and visit the historic Jallianwala Bagh. We also take some time to admire the Durgiana Hindu temple, which takes its inspiration from the Golden Temple. An afternoon excursion to the India/Pakistan border town of Wagah showcases the pomp and pageantry of the Lowering of the Flag ceremony.

Day 5 - 6 Dharamshala

From Amritsar, we drive the 130-odd miles to Dharamshala, a small hill station surrounded on three sides by snow-capped peaks. This delightful town owes its fame to one particular resident, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who chose it as a place of spiritual exile in 1960.

A morning sightseeing tour of Dharamshala includes the residence of the Dalai Lama and the Norbulingka Institute, a registered trust dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture in art and literature.

We visit also the nearby Tibetan Children’s Village, a boarding school at which orphans are provided with a Tibetan education, clothes, food and healthcare.

Day 7 Pragpur

A morning’s drive takes us to the ornamental heritage village of Pragpur by way of a tea plantation and tea factory, where we learn about the plucking and processing of Kangra tea.

In the afternoon, a walking tour of Pragpur’s cobbled streets, lined with richly decorated buildings, offers a glimpse of the village’s regal past. Our hotel, a splendid country mansion surrounded by orchards, is also a delight to explore.

Day 8 - 10 Shimla

Our next destination is Shimla, the summer capital during British rule in India (temperatures here averaged 15-20 degrees cooler than Delhi and the baking hot plains).

It’s an idyllic retreat, surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests and criss-crossed by mountain streams - and all set against a backdrop of the snow-capped Himalayas.

Echoes of empire still abound in Shimla, in its churches, libraries and grand colonial edifices. Our first full day here begins with a walking tour, including a visit to the Jakhu Temple dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey god.

The following day is at leisure for you to explore and enjoy Shimla.

You stay at Radisson Jass (4*) or Oberoi Clarkes Hotel (4*).

Day 11 Kalka to Delhi

A scenic rail journey aboard the Himalayan ‘Toy Train’ transports us from Shimla through the Shivalik ranges to the delightful hill town of Kandaghat, where we stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

We then drive to Kalka railway station to board the Shatabdi Express, bound for Delhi.

You stay at Crowne Plaza Okhla (4*) or The Suryaa New Delhi (4*).

Day 12 Delhi

We’ll take in the best of Delhi, ‘Old’ and ‘New’, from the hand-carved 12th-century Qutab Minar minaret and the garden-tomb of Emperor Humayun, to the Hindu Birla Temple and the grand avenues and government buildings of Lutyens’ New Delhi.

We also visit Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and the 17th-century Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

Day 13 Delhi to UK

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.