Foothills & Faiths
12 days
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Group Tour
Explore the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, see off the beaten track villages, ride the Himalayan Queen 'toy train' and visit important Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu religious pilgrimage sites at Amritsar, Mcleodganj and Haridwar
From$2,515
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Overview
Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
What's this trip about?
Explore the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, see off the beaten track villages, ride the Himalayan Queen 'toy train' and visit important Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu religious pilgrimage sites at Amritsar, Mcleodganj and Haridwar
Compare to similar trips
Details
Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 1 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityMcleodganj
End CityRishikesh
Destinations
Min Group Size
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- All accommodation in mid-range hotels and heritage properties
- 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
- Transport and transfers in AC vehicles
- Himalayan Queen toy train to Shimla
- Train from Kalka to Haridwar and Haridwar to Delhi (2nd class AC)
- Sightseeing tours and activities as per the itinerary
- Services of a local tour leader and specialist local guides
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner)
View Similar Trips
Itinerary
Day 1, Your Indian adventure begins in Amritsar, airport to hotel transfer included
After touching down in the holy city of Amritsar, you’ll be greeted by one of our staff members at the airport, who will transport you to your hotel. Once you've settled in, we'll explain what you can expect to experience on this India tour over the next few days, before arranging a time to collect you in the morning.
| OVERNIGHT:
Amritsar hotel
| EXTRAS:
Single Room Supplement, Extra day in Amritsar - pre-tour
Day 2, Exploring the Golden Temple
Our morning starts with a visit to the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. The entire top of the temple is made of pure gold and its interior is beautifully inlaid with jewels and covered with gold leaf. There's a serene and peaceful atmosphere and re...
| OVERNIGHT:
Amritsar hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3, A free day in McLeod Ganj
Today we’ll drive up into the foothills of the Himalayas to Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj. Once we arrive, you have the day free to do some exploring. Mcleodganj is known for its Buddhist monasteries, museums, temples, waterfalls, lakes, and Tibetan settlements and is home...
| OVERNIGHT:
McLeod Ganj hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 4, A visit to the Dalai Lama Monastery and a trip to a waterfall
Today, we’ll visit the Dalai Lama Monastery, where we’ll attend a puja, a prayer session, that includes chanting mantras, bowing and making offerings. We’ll offer lamps and Khagat religious cloth, made of silk and worn around our necks as a show of respect.
We’ll also v...
| OVERNIGHT:
McLeod Ganj hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 5, Exploring the Heritage Villages of Pragpur & Garli
Our day starts with a visit to the Norbulingka Institute, which is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture in its literary and artistic forms.
We’ll then drive to the little visited Heritage Village of Pragpur, which was founded in the late 16th century by ...
| OVERNIGHT:
Garli hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6, Ride the Toy Train to Shimla
Today we’ll drive to Dharampur Himanchal to board the 'toy' train to Shimla - the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Shimla was once the summer capital of British India, and it remains the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Ra...
| OVERNIGHT:
Shimla hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 7, Exploring Shimla
Today, you have the morning free to explore Shimla, but as an option, you can also choose to trek towards the Tara Devi Temple which is positioned amongst a thick forest of oak and rhododendron and offers scenic views of the lofty Himalayas surrounding the town.
This af...
| OVERNIGHT:
Shimla hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 8, Shimla to Haridwar
We have some free time this morning to finish looking around Shimla before we descend out of the hills again to catch a fast train from Chandigarh to Haridwar.
Haridwar is an ancient city on the banks of the River Ganges, and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site with t...
| OVERNIGHT:
Haridwar hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 9, From Haridwar to Rishikesh
We’ll start the day with a trip to the River Ganges in Haridwar, as we watch the pilgrims bathe in the river at the main Har Ki Paudi ghat. We’ll also make our way to the Shanti Kunj ashram, the Chandi Devi temple via cable car and the Pawan Dham temple which houses uniq...
| OVERNIGHT:
Rishikesh hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 10, A walking tour of Rishikesh
Today we’ll explore Rishikesh on foot, as we make our way along the River Ganges, passing various temples and the Shivananda, Parmarth Niketanj, Geeta Bhawan and Swarg Ashrams. We’ll also learn about the importance of yoga and meditation to the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and other religions. The rest of the day is free to explore this fascinating town further.
| OVERNIGHT:
Rishikesh hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
Day 11, Leisure time and optional activities in Rishikesh. Train to Delhi
We have another free day in Rishikesh and you can choose to arrange some activities for yourself or take one of our optional activities, which includes a safari to the nearby Rajaji National Park to search for tigers and wild elephants, try a cooking class with a local f...
| OVERNIGHT:
Delhi hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfas
| EXTRAS:
Rishikesh white-water rafting tour, Wildlife safari at Rajaji National Park, Indian cooking class with dinner
Day 12, Back to Delhi. Transfer to airport included
All good things must come to an end. We have the morning free to explore the city, or try one of our optional half day tours available before being transferred to the airport to board your flight back home.
We can arrange longer extensions to visit the holy city of Varanasi or to do some safaris in search of tigers and other wildlife at Ranthambore National Park.
| OVERNIGHT:
N/A
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Goa beach extension, Ranthambore National Park Safari, Extra day in Delhi - post-tour, Spinmonkey cycling tour, Varanasi extension, New Delhi half day by car, Old Delhi half-day walking tour, Salam Balak Trust walk
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Dates & Availability
Price From $2,515
Price per day$210
Last Updated: 2/23/2024
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Encounters Travel.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights (available on request)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
- Tips for drivers and guides
- Entrance fees (budget USD 52, payable in Amritsar)
- Any other items not mentioned above
Accommodation
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against
unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies.
It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before
or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination.
It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements.
For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements,
please visit this link
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
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