Delhi to Kathmandu tour
Late availability on these dates: 02 Jan, 09 Jan, 06 Feb, 13 Feb, 20 Feb, 11 Mar, 20 Mar, 23 Mar
Description of Delhi to Kathmandu tour
Spend 15 days travelling from India to Nepal overland, beginning in Delhi and ending in Kathmandu, taking in the sacred sites, holy cities and Mughal architecture of India, before heading into Nepal to discover wildlife in its wetland reserves, and soak up the hustle and bustle of its capital.
Begin you journey in Delhi, where colour and contrast are everywhere. Explore on foot and by cycle rickshaw, seeing ancient temples standing against vibrant billboards advertising Bollywood films. Travel on to Agra, one of the prettiest cities in the world and home to the beautiful Red Fort, then to temple-filled Orchha. You will also take a sunrise sail along the Ganges, camping by its shores overnight. Of course, a visit to the Taj Mahal and the holy city of Varanasi are essential, too, before arriving in Nepal. Here, visit sacred Lumbini and its Maya Devi Temple, the site where Lord Buddha is thought to have been born. Then you have the chance to come face-to-face with black-horned rhinos in Chitwan National Park before exploring the crowded temples, markets and bazaars of Kathmandu.
You’ll be travelling in a small group (max 12 people) with a tour leader and staying in a range of accommodation, including hotels, lodges and guesthouses, with a night camping and an overnight sleeper train. Travel is via a mix of transport, from auto rickshaw and canoe, through to jeep, van and private vehicle. You’ll come face-to-face with pilgrims, villagers, holy men and shopkeepers, getting to know the people and customs of these two countries as you go. For those wanting to travel by land between these two very different neighbours, this is the perfect journey.
Map
Price information
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Holiday information
Reviews
2 Reviews of Delhi to Kathmandu tour
Reviewed on 12 Jul 2019 by Kevin Minski
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Because the constantly changing landscape and places visited are so varied, and so stunning, no day stood out more than the others. I completely enjoyed
every one.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take into account the seasonal variations and level of accommodation when packing. I went in winter and on reflection decided to take clothes for an English autumn plus a pair of shorts, lightweight down jacket, baseball cap and beanie. Given that the lodges and hotels used on the comfort trip are truly excellent, and have battery charging sockets and laundry services at reasonable prices, there is no need to overpack. During the two night stays, you'll get what laundry you need, sorted out. Also I decided (for the first time!) not to do a lot of guide book reading beforehand. As was pointed out to me, this can be a good thing! Because of the travelling there is plenty of time to sit back, absorb and learn as the journey unfolds. There really were numerous occasions when we all just looked and shook our heads in wonder.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, but to what extent is hard to say. Certainly we're there and contributing to the local economies. And since we're sharing transport, it's an efficient way
to travel. Also by being there we are showing interest in the local places of interest, parks and landscapes that has to raise their profile and hopefully be seen as an asset by those positively affected by tourism. However the needs of tourism, should not hold back local economies to the detriment of the majority.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Brilliant! Beautiful, interesting and educational.
Reviewed on 10 Jun 2015 by Lindsey Lavaysse
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Each day was packed with memorable moments, but if I had to pick one day it would be when we went to a very small town to stay in a fort/castle overnight. We went walking through the small village in the afternoon and the people were so lovely and friendly, very excited to see us. It was a really fantastic afternoon. Then in the evening we could hear and watch as two wedding happened in the
village, so we asked many questions and learned a lot about Indian weddings from our guide.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It does get very hot during the summer months, but you still need to stay more covered up. So I would suggest people bring really thin light clothes.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, definitely.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was fantastic. I can't wait to go back one day.
Responsible Travel
Planet
TransportationWhere possible we will travel on local bus or on the Indian Railways minimizing our demand for special tourist vehicles and fuel while giving you plenty of opportunity to meet and interact with local people/communities.
India Responsible Travel Bags
We give our passengers a simple cotton bag that reads "Say no to plastic" in English and local regional dialect depending on where you're traveling. These bags in the north are made by Karm Marg, an organisation who helps the less privileged children by providing vocational training. Our south Indian bags are made by Nesamani Women self-help groups - a group of widows who primarily stitch bags and do embroidery.
© Copyright images: Angela Canterford; Jennifer Broomhall; Jean Shaw; Hamish Cattell; Jan Kostal; Yayne Chen Xinneng
People
Local LeadersYou will be accompanied by local leaders on this trip who will take you into temples, mosques, shrines and Gurudwaras where appropriate, and are able to teach the group about the etiquette and customs specific to the places visited, enabling a deeper understanding of the communities and cultures encountered in India. In a country where so many ethnic communities live together, it’s important to respect individual religious beliefs. Our company wants to promote this understanding through insight into religious and cultural practices. Local leaders are the cultural ambassadors, know multiple dialects of the sub-continent and can easily facilitate local interaction giving enriching experience to the passengers.
Accommodation
We try and utilise local hotel owners and small businesses through our trips. We help locals set up home stays, hotels or small lodges and try and motivate them to cater to our groups. This mutual support is beneficial in the form of economic support from our passengers and a great way to witness and interact with real local people.
Local cooking demonstration
In Orchha, one of our included activities is the local cooking demonstration by a person named Vandhana - we call this Vandhana's cooking class, a local housewife who conducts cooking classes for our groups. Local Project Visit
One of our included activities is to visit a local project called "Taragram" that works towards empowerment of the local tribal women by training and employing them in their workshop that makes hand-made paper. We offer our passengers the chance to visit the workshop and meet the local women.
Sailing on the Ganges
This activity is unique to our itinerary; we are supporting the local boat men by employing them every week when operating this trip. Through a rotational program, every man gets the chance to sail our boat and interact with the group.
Popular similar holidays
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
From £1514 - £1629 10 days excluding flights
India´s best experiences including the Taj Mahal & Tigers
Kerala tailor made holiday, 11 days
From £1472 11 days excluding flights
Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip
Kerala budget holiday, tailor made
From £1895 14 days including UK flights
Budget tailor-made holiday in Kerala
