Índia & Nepal

Arrival at the airport at least 2 hours in advance. Boarding formalities and departure on a flight to Delhi. Overnight on board.

Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Enjoy a morning discovering Old Delhi and seeing some of the capital's most important historical and cultural attractions. Visit the Great Mosque of Jama Masjid, passing the Red Fort on the way. The mosque, which dates back to the 17th century, is located in Chandi Chowk, Delhi's bustling and rustic old town. Next, a visit to the Raj Ghat, a moving monument commemorating the life of Gandhi. In the afternoon, visit Delhi's most emblematic sights, starting with the medieval Qutub Minar. At 73 meters, it is the tallest brick minaret in the world and is considered one of the most important examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. Continue your visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan district, where all the important government buildings and the national Parliament are located, as well as the Gateway of India, all great examples of the political power of the zenith of the British Empire in India, and the Salt March monument. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Jaipur. On the way, stop at the Shahpura Haveli, located in a rustic village, for lunch in the haveli's elegant restaurant. Continue to Jaipur. You will attend the Aarti ceremony at the Birla Temple. Arrival at the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Amber Fort, perched on top of a hill on the outskirts of the city. Its robust and imposing walls protect a group of impressive palaces, temples and gardens. Climb up to the fort in a typical jeep (without air conditioning). Once inside the complex, discover the stunning palaces of Jagmandir and Jai Mahal, among others, and the temple of Kali and its manicured gardens. In the afternoon, tour Jaipur's main attractions, visiting the City Palace - which contains wonders such as the Chandra Mahal, the Mubarak Mahal and the intricately decorated Peacock Gate - passing by the Palace of the Winds and visiting the historic astrological observatory of Jantar Mantar before returning to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Agra, crossing the arid landscapes of Rajasthan to Fatehpur Sikri, the "ghost town" of the Mughal Empire. Strolling through Fatehpur Sikri is like stepping back five centuries to the zenith of the Mughal Empire - this walled city specially built as a capital by Emperor Akbar the Great looks much the same today as it would have during his reign. This impressive collection of palaces, pavilions and mosques demonstrates the power and wealth of the empire. Visit the Mausoleum of Salim Chisti and the Panch Mahal, and admire the beauty of the Jama Masjid Mosque. Continue to Agra. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Visit to the Taj Mahal, the ode written in marble that has enchanted the world with its beauty. The mausoleum was built by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, after his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died in childbirth. For 22 years, the emperor recruited the best craftsmen, masons and architects from as far away as Persia, Turkey, Italy and France to build this captivating and majestic monument. In the afternoon, visit the Agra Fort, whose red sandstone bastions protect a dozen beautiful Mughal palaces and pavilions. Explore the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audiences), where the emperor sat on his throne and attended to his subjects, and the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences), where he dealt with foreign dignitaries. In contrast to other parts of the fortress, the Mina Masjid's "heavenly mosque" is built in white marble, just like the Taj. Accommodation.

Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the train station to board the train to Jhansi. Arrival. Transfer by road to Khajuraho, stopping en route to visit the monumental city of Orchha. This small town has a huge heritage, with attractions such as the impressive island palace-fortress, cenotaph chhatris and several Hindu temples. Explore the rustic streets of the town, discovering the hidden beauty of the decaying monuments built by the Bundela rajputs over more than four centuries. Continue to your hotel in Khajuraho. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Visit to the erotic temples that have made the city of Khajuraho famous. The complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is made up of around 20 temples with over a thousand years of history. The temples boast thousands of relief sculptures representing various sexual and religious postures. Visit the temples of Chausath Yogini, Kandariya Mahadeva, Chitragupta, Vishwanath, Lakshmana and Vishnu Garuda. Then continue by road to Allahabad, visiting Chitrakoot on the way. Arrival. Accommodation.

Breakfast. In the morning, a visit to the "sangam" (confluence) of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers, followed by a photo stop at the Allah Fort, built by Akbar in 1583, the Anand Bhavan, the ancestral residence of the Nehrus, and the Hanuman Mandir, a statue of the famous god Hanuman in a sleeping position. After visiting this mythical holy city, we continue on to Varanasi. Arrival at the hotel. In the afternoon, Aarti ceremony on the ghats of the River Ganges. Accommodation. 

Early morning boat trip on the River Ganges (boat trip subject to the water level of the River Ganges). Return to the hotel for breakfast. This is followed by a city tour of Varanasi, visiting the temple of Bharat Mata (Mother India), the temple of Vishwanath, popularly known as the Golden Temple (entrance restricted to Hindus only) and the campus of the University of Varanasi. In the afternoon, visit Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, where Buddha preached his first sermon to five disciples, enshrining the principles of his teachings in law. Due to the sanctity of the place, it quickly became the main pilgrimage site for Buddhists in India. The Dhamek stupa marks the location of an ancient monastery, along with a large complex of monastery remains in the area to the north. The first communities of monks probably settled here in the 3rd century B.C. Sarnath also has an interesting archaeological museum that preserves the famous Sarnath Pillar, whose capital with four lions is India's national emblem. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Kathmandu. Arrive and visit Patan, a few kilometers south of Kathmandu, to see its impressive architectural heritage. Explore the splendid old Newar city of Patan, home to the former Royal Palace and the Taleju, Krishna and Vishwanath temples. Admire emblematic attractions such as the "golden gate" and the statue of Yogendra Malla. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. You will enjoy a morning city tour of Kathmandu and Swyambhunath. Kathmandu's Durbar Square is the liveliest tourist attraction, although some of the square's more than 50 monuments date back to the 12th century, most are from the time of the Malla kings. Probably the most famous building is the Kumari Bahal, a richly decorated building with beautiful wood carvings, which is the home of the Royal Kumari, the "Living Goddess", a manifestation of the great goddess Durga. Nearby is the former Royal Palace, a residence of the Mall dynasty. Inside, the Nassal Chowk courtyard, originally dedicated to dramatic dance performances, is now the coronation site of the Shah kings and contains some of the most beautiful wood carvings you'll see anywhere in the kingdom. You'll start your tour from Kathmandu's Durbar Square, passing through the bustling bazaars and market squares to the colorful tourist hub of Thamel, where you can explore the different angles of Nepali lifestyle, the markets and much more. Sit back, relax and let yourself be enchanted as you watch the sunset, the silhouetted temples and Kathmandu's lively nightlife.Swayambhunath is the holiest Buddhist shrine in the Kathmandu Valley and one of the oldest and most enigmatic. Its gold-crowned stupa sits atop a hill. Records of its historical date indicate that it was built in the 5th century, but its origins are believed to be more ancient. In the afternoon, visit Bodhnath, this great stupa is one of Nepal's most characteristic monuments and one of the most important Buddhist sites in Nepal and, with a diameter of over 100 meters, one of the largest in the world. There are a number of legends explaining the construction of the stupa, but it is generally believed to date back to the 5th century. All stupas contain sacred relics and Boudha is said to contain the remains of the ancient Kasyapa Buddha. The Boudha is a special focus for Kathmandu's Tibetan community and throughout the day there is a constant stream of people around the stupa praying and reciting mantras. Around the stupa are six large monasteries and several small stores, as well as cafés, restaurants and stores selling Tibetan carpets and Newari jewelry. Accommodation.

Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport to board the return flight. Boarding formalities and departure for Portugal. Night on board.