Sunrise on the Ganges River in Varanasi

India is full of mystery and magic, and nowhere is this more evident than in the holy city of Varanasi. Western visitors have come here since the Middle Ages to marvel at the scene of devotees, seekers, pilgrims, and cremations along the river.

Photo by Moustafellou/IML / ageFotostock

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Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $11,495   see pricing
Length: 24 days
Arrive: Calcutta, India
Depart: Mumbai, India
Lodging: 23 nights in deluxe hotels and lodges
Meals: All meals included
Activity: Cultural Adventures
Trip Level: Overland travel and cultural exploration
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Highlights

  • Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Udaipur, Rajasthan’s medieval fortress-cities
  • Holy city of Varanasi, with boat rides at dawn and sunset
  • Ajanta and Ellora, with their treasury of Buddhist cave art
  • Legendary Taj Mahal

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

Repertory Trip

This is one of our special Repertory Trips offered only every two to five years. It will be several years before this journey is offered again. Now is the time to go!

This journey carves a full arc across northern India, taking in thousands of years of history and a myriad of fascinating cultures along the way. We explore the tranquil pilgrimage town of Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha gained enlightenment, and discover the Hindu holy city of Varanasi as we boat along the Ganges at dawn, watching spectacular Hindu prayer rituals. Heading to the desert cities of Rajasthan—Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Udaipur—we visit medieval forts, airy palaces of marble and onyx, and vibrant bazaars. The erotic 10th century temples of Khajuraho are also on our journey as well as the Taj Mahal in Agra at full moon and sunrise. For our grand finale, we savor Ajanta and Ellora, two World Heritage Sites that preserve a treasury of art in monumental cave sanctuaries dating to the 5th century. Join us to encounter an array of peoples of different faiths, watch temple rituals dating back thousands of years, sample tangy cuisines, listen to local music, watch folk dances, and experience the wonder that is Mother India.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-8
Calcutta / Bodh Gaya / Varanasi / Khajuraho

We fly from Calcutta to explore the ancient Buddhist pilgrim town of Bodh Gaya then take the train to Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities in the world, to explore along the Ganges. At Khajuraho, we view magnificent temples that are among the most creative examples of Indian architecture.

Days 9-12
Taj Mahal / Ramthambore National Park

With both moonlight and sunrise excursions, we take in the glory of the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, then explore Ranthambore, former hunting preserve of the maharajahs of Jaipur, where we set out for a day of gameviewing, on the lookout for wild boar, grey langur, and marsh crocodiles.

Days 13-18
Jodhpur / Jaisalmer / Udaipur

Ancient Jodhpur, dubbed the Blue City for the indigo color-wash of its old town houses, brings us the vibrancy of Rajasthan on a princely scale. In Jaisalmer, a romantic and unspoiled gem of a city that dates to 1156 AD, we visit mansions of golden sandstone decorated with intricately carved wood. Our last stop in Rajasthan is Udaipur, a dream of India come true with its marble palaces rising from a deep blue lake.

Days 19-24
Ellora and Ajanta

We visit Ellora, with its amazing wealth of rock-cut caves full of 7th century religious art and sculptures, and the marvelous Ajanta caves to see the full spectrum of Buddhist development in India in a swirling profusion of murals, among the finest works of religious art in existence. Our last stop is the World Heritage Site of Elephanta, inspired by the worship of Shiva. We depart from Mumbai on Day 24.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

 

Departures & Leaders

This is one of our special Repertory Trips offered only every two to five years. This journey will not be offered again for several years. Now is the Time to Go!

Nov 20-Dec 13, 2011  Roger Williams

Tour Costs

Prices are for 2011
$11495 (11-14 members)
$11995 (9-10 members)
$12695 (7-8 members)
Single supplement: $2995
Internal airfare: $1250 (subject to change)

more on pricing

Tour Cost Includes:

  • expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
  • accommodations in hotels as noted
  • welcome and farewell dinners, and all meals as noted in the Full Trip Brochure
  • all land and boat transportation, airport transfers as noted
  • excursions and entrances to sites described in the itinerary

Tour Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare to and from India or flights within India, individual airport transfers, India visa, meals not specified in this printed itinerary, airport departure taxes, optional gratuities to leaders and staff, additional hotel nights made necessary by airline schedule changes or other factors, expenses such as immunizations (if any), travel insurance, and other items of a personal nature (liquor, laundry, bottled water and so on).

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
120 days prior to departure: 20% of tour cost
60 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation Fee Schedule*

Minimum fee: $250
46-90 days prior to departure: 25% of tour cost
45 days or less: 100% of tour cost

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.

Roger Williams

Roger Williams has led Wilderness Travel trips for over 20 years. He is a Tibetologist who lived in Nepal for eight years, studying Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist iconographics, Himalayan languages, and woodblock art. He lived in Kyoto for two years studying Japanese woodblock art, Japanese language, and Shingon Shu, an esoteric sect of Japanese Buddhism. Roger has led many trips for us through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, along the Silk Road, in Southeast Asia, to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Iran, Mongolia, and into remote corners of the Russian Far East. Since 2002, Roger has been working as a technical advisor with USAID consulting in tourism development projects in Mongolia, Armenia and Croatia. In July, 2010, he returned from his third The Great Game journey, a special WT Expedition that included visits to the Wakhan Valley as well as Mazar i-Sharif and Balk (formally Bactria) in northern Afghanistan. When not leading trips, Roger is the director of Snow Lion Graphics/SLG Books in Berkeley, California, a publishing house specializing in books and calendars relating to Asian cultures.

Upcoming Trips:

Central Asia Explorer, September 2-20, 2010
The Andaman Islands and South India, October 9-27, 2010
Treasures of Southeast Asia, January 18-February 7, 2011
The Great Game, May 20-June 14, 2011
The Great Game, June 17-July 12, 2011
The Four Corners of Mongolia, August 5-31, 2011
Armenia and Beyond, September 23-October 16, 2011
Passage to India, November 20-December 13, 2011
The Burma Road, January 2012
India's Wild Northeast Frontier, February 24-March 17, 2012

Client Testimonials:


Tibet is a place like no other on the planet! Roger’s language skills and knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism opened many doors. Connie Diernisse, Alamo CA
Heart of Tibet Exceedingly knowledgeable, very caring. Priscilla and Franklin Osgood, Malvern PA
Mystical Bhutan Roger knows how to run a trip. He’s very organized and clearly communicates the daily plan. Also, he's a lot of fun and I was impressed with his expertise on Buddhist iconography. Fran Mueller, Mill Valley, CA
Hidden Himalayas
Roger is remarkable. This trip showed him at his best. We could never have traveled across the roof of the world without his preparation and energy. Thanks for a grand experience! Ruth and Frank Harold, Edmonds WA
In the Footsteps of the Great Game Roger takes good care of his travelers and we learned a lot about the people, their culture, and history. His love for this part of the world is infectious. Ruth Gibbons, Del Mar CA
In the Footsteps of the Great Game Roger is great! Hard working, knowledgeable, personable. He really makes a difference. Bill Rowland, Walnut Creek, CA
Passage to India