India is far more than a destination. It's a delightful encounter, one that's overflowing with dazzling color, wafting aromas, zesty flavors, and exhilarating rhythms. Join a Hermes Tours small group in this thrilling part of the world, and we'll reveal cities that pulsate with a heady mix of ancient tradition and modern ambition. We'll venture into the countryside to explore a famed monument to love ... a temple of 1,000 columns ... a tiny village of age-old environmentalists ... and gleaming, hilltop fortresses that recall the days when maharajahs ruled. It's Incredible India!

Highlights

• Old Delhi, including Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid Mosque, and Chandni Chowk
• New Delhi, including India Gate, Presidential Palace, and Parliament House, Qutab Minar, and Humayun's Tomb
• Udaipur, including City Palace and Lake Pichola boat ride
• Ranakpur, including Jain temple
• Jodhpur, including Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, and city bazaar
• Bishnoi Village visit
• Jaipur, including Jantar Mantar Observatory, City Palace, and Hawa Mahal
• Amber Fort, including elephant-back transport, Jag Mandir and Sheesh Mahal
• Fatehpur Sikri, including Jama Masjid Mosque, Panch Mahal, and Salim Chisti's
• Agra, including Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
• Kathmandu, extend your stay and visit this wonderful nation
• Accommodations for 9 nights in 4-star hotels
• Services of a Hermes Tours escort
• Services of an expert, local guide in all cities
• $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!

Itinerary

Day 1 - October 13, 2012, Saturday
Arrive in Delhi.
We arrive in India’s vibrant capital today and transfer to our hotel.
Overnight: Hilton Janakpuri Hotel, New Delhi.
Meal: N/A

Day 2 - October 14, 2012, Sunday
Delhi City Tour
Today we experience Delhi Old and New. This morning's tour of Old Delhi takes us past Raj Ghat, the revered monument to Mahatma Gandhi. We'll continue to Jama Masjid Mosque, India's largest, and the colorful, bustling market place of Chandni Chowk.

On this afternoon's New Delhi tour, we marvel at the impressive arched India Gate with its eternal flame and the Presidential Palace and Parliament House. Then we stop to visit Qutab Minar, the world's tallest brick-and-stone minaret, and Humayun's Tomb, the first of the great Mughal Tomb complexes.

Tonight toast your upcoming discoveries at our Hermes Tours welcome dinner.
Overnight: Hilton Janakpuri Hotel, New Delhi.
Meal: B, D

Day 3 - October 15, 2012, Monday
Delhi / Jodhpur
Early afternoon flight to Jodhpur.

This afternoon, tour Mehrangarh Fort, one of Rajasthan's most stunning forts. Its thick walls seem to emerge from the rocky hill upon which it perches. Inside we'll see some of its grandest rooms: Moti Mahal, Ghana Mahal, Rang Mahal and Phool Mahal.

Later, we stop to admire Jodhpur's Jaswant Thada, a marble cenotaph built in 1899 as memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, and explore the old city bazaar, brimming with locally made tie-dye, puppets and jewellery.
Overnight: The Gateway Hotel, Jodhpur
Meal: B

Day 4 - October 16, 2012, Tuesday
Bishnoi Village / Jodhpur
Morning proceed for a sightseeing tour of Jodhpur. The tour begins from "The Mehrangarh Fort", this formidable hilltop fort is the one of the most impressive in Rajasthan . A series of gates lead into the Fort like "Jayapol", built by Maharaja Man Singh in 1806 and the "Fatehpol" or "Victory Gate", erected by Maharaja Ajit Singh to celebrate his victory over the Mughals. The main gate is the "Lahapol", an iron gate besides which there are 15 hand prints which are the "Sati Marks" of Maharaja Man Singh's widows who threw themselves upon his funeral pyre in 1843.

Inside the fort, also visit the palaces Moti Mahal or "Pearl Palace", the Sukh Mahal or "Pleasure Palace" and the Phool Mahal or "Flower Palace". Continue the tour to visit the "Jaswant Thada", a marble cenotaph built in 1899 as a memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.

Afternoon a Jeep safari to the Bishnoi Villages to witness the simple, yet colorful life of the Rajasthani people. Thatched huts, intricate temples, men in colorful turbans (head gear) and women clad in bright outfits liven up these desert villages.
Overnight: The Gateway Hotel, Jodhpur.
Meal: B

Day 5 - October 17, 2012, Wednesday
Ranakpur / Udaipur
We have a 7-8 hour transfer today, driving to Udaipur. Along the way, we stop at the Jain temple in Ranakpur, one of the five holy places of the Jain Community. The scope of this temple complex is astounding; spread over 48,000 square feet, it features 29 halls and 1,444 intricately carved pillars. Its 80 spires supported by 420 columns.
Overnight: Trident Hotel, Udaipur
Meal: B

Day 6 - October 18, 2012, Thursday
Udaipur / City Palace
Start the day with a tour of Udaipur's glorious City Palace, actually a series of majestic, turreted palaces on a hillside. We'll enter through the grand, triple-arched gate, or Tripola, and see the Suraj Gokhada (Balcony of the Sun) and More Chowk, or the Peacock Courtyard, named for its vivid glass mosaics.

This afternoon, enjoy the hotel spa, or embark on a boat ride on lovely Lake Pichola.
Overnight: Trident Hotel, Udaipur
Meal: B

Day 7 - October 19, 2012, Friday
Udaipur to Jaipur
This morning travel from Udaipur to Jaipur. We stop en route and visit Chittorgarh Fort.
Overnight: Country Inn & Suites Hotel by Carlson, Jaipur
Meal: B

Day 8 - October 20, 2012, Saturday
Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar
We start today with a tour of Amber Fort, scenically overlooking Maota Lake. For six centuries, this citadel served as the capital of the Rajasthan, and we'll ascend to its heights in the most thrilling way: by elephant-back!

We visit the Jag Mandir and Sheesh Mahal, or pavilion of mirrors where a single candle's flame reflects into infinity.

Back in Jaipur after lunch, we visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory, the treasurefilled City Palace, and Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) with its remarkable pink façade of 953 windows.

Tonight, we have time to browse the local markets of the city.
Overnight: Country Inn & Suites Hotel by Carlson, Jaipur
Meal: B

Day 9 - October 21, 2012, Sunday
Fatehpur Sikri / Agra
En route to Agra, we stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the 16th-century city that shared duties as the imperial capital with Agra Fort. The city was mysteriously abandoned, likely because its water supply ran dry. Its fortifications, massive gateway, and palaces have been remarkably preserved.

We'll visit the sprawling. Jama Masjid Mosque, the five-story Panch Mahal, and Salim Chisti's Tomb set like a jewel in a courtyard of pink sandstone.

After our visit, we drive 6 or 7 hours to Agra.
Overnight: The Gateway Hotel Fatehabad, Agra
Meal: B, D

Day 10 - October 22, 2012, Monday
Agra / Taj Mahal / Agra Fort / Delhi / Return home
Morning visit the magnificent Taj Mahal this morning. This white marble masterpiece stands as a testament to the power of love, as it was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan as a tribute to his favorite wife. It took 20,000 artisans 17 years to complete.

We'll continue on to Agra Fort, a sprawling city fortified within imposing red walls. From the fort's hillside perch, we have incredible views of the Taj Mahal and Yamuna River from here.

Later depart for Delhi. There, we've reserved a room for you until your departure for home.

Or, join our extension to Kathmandu, Nepal's exotic capital.
Rest Hotel: The Grand New Delhi, Delhi Airport
Meal: B

Extend Your Vacation in Kathmandu, Nepal!

Day 10 - October 22, 2012, Monday
Arrive in Kathmandu
Upon arrival in Delhi, fly to Kathmandu – in the heart of the Himalayas.
Overnight: Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kathmandu
Meal: B

Day 11 - October 23, 2012, Tuesday
Kathmandu
Weather permitting, join our optional flightseeing tour over the soaring Himalaya range this morning, perhaps seeing the peak of Mt. Everest.

Then, discover the exotic warrens and squares of the city during our tour. In Durbar Square, we visit the shrine of Kumari Devi, or the Living Goddess.

We venture west of the city to the famed Swayambhunath stupa, complex.

After lunch we visit Patan, known for its fine woodworking and metallurgy. We'll marvel at its fascinating wooden temples and pause at local craftsmen's shops to watch blacksmiths shaping pots and statues.
Overnight: Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kathmandu
Meal: B

Day 12 - October 19, 2011, Wednesday
Kathmandu
This morning we stop to view Pashupatinath Temple (non-Hindus cannot go inside) and witness some rituals to the Lord Shiva along the sacred Bagmati River.

We also visit Bodhnath, one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal, and car-free Bhaktapur, a fascinating medieval-era fortified hamlet in the Kathmandu Valley. It has changed little since the days when it served as a stop on the trade route between Tibet and India. We'll see the statue of King Bhupendra Malla and the pagoda-style, five-story temple of Nytapole.

Back in Kathmandu, the rest of your day is free.
Overnight: Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kathmandu
Meal: B

Day 13 - October 20, 2011, Thursday
Kathmandu / Return Home
This morning marks the end of our tour. You are free to make your return flight for any time.
Meal: B

Tour Hotels

Delhi:
Hilton New Delhi / Janakpuri Hotel, 2 nights, 4*
Just 30 minutes' drive from central Delhi, the Hilton New Delhi/Janakpuri hotel is only 20 minutes from Delhi's international and domestic airports. With the Metro station on the doorstep of this New Delhi hotel, access is easy to the central business district, Gurgaon, and the International exhibition center, Pragati Maidan.

All of the contemporary, air-conditioned New Delhi hotel guest rooms are between 33m²/355sq.ft to 67m²/721sq.ft and are some of the largest New Delhi hotel rooms in the city.

Enjoy a range of dining options with on-site bar Malt & Co., Italian restaurant Pomodoro, Zune Authentic Indian restaurant offering Kashmiri specialties, and the all-day dining venue Twenty-9.

Keep fit while you travel in the fitness center by Precor® at this New Delhi hotel. Spoil yourself with a treatment in the Urban Spa, which features a sauna, steam room and outdoor swimming pool.

Unwind in this contemporary Guest Rooms with a comfortable king bed and an LCD TV. Bright and airy, our rooms feature a mini bar, coffee/tea maker, iron and ironing board and an electronic safe. Work in comfort at the large desk with ergonomic chair or surf the web with high-speed internet access (charges apply). Refresh in the spacious marble bathroom which benefits from a powerful rain shower. Special touches include fluffy bathrobes and mineral water.

Jodhpur:
The Gateway Hotel Jodhpur, 2 nights, 4*
Situated in Jodhpur, The Gateway Hotel is a business-friendly hotel in the historical district and area attractions include Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mandore Gardens. Additional regional attractions include Jaswant Thada and Meherangarh Fort.

The Gateway Hotel has a health club, an outdoor pool, a fitness facility, and tennis courts. Wireless Internet access is available in public areas (surcharges apply). Business amenities at this 4.0-star property include a business center, small meeting rooms, and a technology helpdesk. The hotel offers 3 restaurants along with a coffee shop/café and a bar/lounge. Guests are offered a complimentary reception. Guests have complimentary access to a train station pick-up service. Guest parking is complimentary.

Event space measuring 3200 square feet consists of a ballroom, exhibit space, conference/meeting rooms, and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange tour/ticket assistance, wedding services, event catering, and business services. Additional amenities at this Art Deco property include spa services, a coffee shop/cafÉ, and valet parking. The property may provide extended parking privileges to guests after check-out (surcharge). This is a smoke-free property.

The 80 air-conditioned guestrooms at The Gateway Hotel include laptop-compatible safes and washers/dryers. Rooms feature balconies with garden or courtyard views. 32-inch LCD televisions are equipped with premium cable channels and free movie channels. All accommodations provide desks, complimentary newspapers, and direct-dial phones. Wireless high-speed Internet access (surcharge) is provided.

Beds have Select Comfort mattresses, down comforters, down blankets, and premium bedding. Each unit is individually decorated and furnished. In-room minibars and coffee/tea makers are provided. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations, phones, hair dryers, and slippers. Additional amenities include welcome amenities and complimentary toiletries. In addition, a turndown service is offered nightly, housekeeping is available daily, and amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards.

Udaipur:
Trident Hotel Udaipur, 2 nights, 4+*
Situated in Udaipur's Lake Pichola neighborhood, Trident, Udaipur is a business-friendly hotel close to Jag Mandir, Lake Pichola, and Jag Niwas. Also nearby are Lake Palace and City Palace.

Trident, Udaipur has an outdoor pool and a fitness facility. Business amenities at this 4.5-star property include small meeting rooms, secretarial services, and audio-visual equipment. This luxury hotel offers a restaurant and a bar/lounge. Guest parking is complimentary. Event facilities consist of a ballroom, conference/meeting rooms, and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange business services, tour assistance, currency exchange, and cell phone/mobile rentals. Additional amenities include a children's club, a concierge desk, and multilingual staff.

Amenities in air-conditioned guestrooms at Trident, Udaipur include minibars and safes. Rooms open to balconies. Televisions are equipped with premium satellite channels and pay movies. All accommodations provide desks, complimentary weekday newspapers, and direct-dial phones with voice mail. Rooms have high-speed Internet access. Bathrooms offer phones, hair dryers, and complimentary toiletries. Additional amenities include coffee/tea makers and clock radios. In addition, a turndown service is provided nightly and amenities available on request include wake-up calls.

Jaipur:
Country Inn & Suites Hotel by Carlson, Jaipur, 2 nights, 4*
Situated in Jaipur's M.I. Road neighborhood, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Jaipur is close to Ram Niwas Gardens, Central Museum, and Bapu Bazaar. Also nearby are Nahargarh Fort and Museum of Indology.

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Jaipur has a full-service spa, a health club, an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a steam room. Business amenities at this 4-star property include a business center, small meeting rooms, and secretarial services. This Jaipur hotel offers a restaurant, a coffee shop/café, and a bar/lounge. Guests are served a complimentary breakfast. Event facilities consist of exhibit space, conference/meeting rooms, and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange event catering, business services, tour assistance, and currency exchange. Additional amenities include a nightclub, a sauna, and valet parking.

The 100 air-conditioned guestrooms at Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Jaipur include complimentary newspapers and coffee/tea makers. Guests can channel-surf the cable television. All accommodations provide direct-dial phones with voice mail. Rooms have wireless Internet access. All units feature refrigerators and complimentary bottled water. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations with handheld showerheads, phones, scales, and bathrobes. Additional amenities include slippers and hair dryers. In addition, a turndown service is offered nightly, housekeeping is available daily, and amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards.

Agra:
The Gateway Hotel Fatehabad, Agra, 1 night, 4*
Situated in Agra, The Gateway Hotel Fatehabad is a business-friendly hotel close to Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Jami Masjid. Also nearby are Itmad-ud-Daulah and Chini-ka-Rauza.

The Gateway Hotel Fatehabad has an outdoor pool, a steam room, and a fitness facility. Wireless Internet access is available in public areas (surcharges apply). Business amenities at this 4.0-star property include small meeting rooms, limo/town car service, and secretarial services. This business-friendly hotel offers a restaurant, a coffee shop/café, and a bar/lounge. For a surcharge, guests have access to a roundtrip airport shuttle. Guest parking is complimentary. Event facilities consist of conference/meeting rooms and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange concierge services, wedding services, event catering, and business services. Additional amenities include a library, an arcade/game room, and gift shops/newsstands.

The 95 air-conditioned guestrooms at The Gateway Hotel Fatehabad include minibars and safes. Guests can channel-surf the premium cable/satellite television. All accommodations provide desks, complimentary newspapers, and multi-line phones with voice mail. Wireless high-speed Internet access (surcharge) is provided. In-room refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, and complimentary bottled water are provided. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations with handheld showerheads, phones, bathrobes, and makeup/shaving mirrors. Additional amenities include slippers and hair dryers. In addition, amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards and wake-up calls. Turndown service is offered nightly and housekeeping is available daily.

Delhi Airport:
The Grand New Delhi Hotel
The Grand New Delhiis close to AMBI Mall, Qutub Minar, and DLF Promenade Vasant Kunj. Additional attractions near this luxury hotel include DLF Emporio Vasant Kunj and Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The Grand New Delhi has a full-service spa, 2 outdoor swimming pools, a health club, and a steam room. Wireless Internet access is available in public areas (surcharges apply). Business amenities at this 5-star property include a 24-hour business center, small meeting rooms, and a technology helpdesk. The hotel offers 4 restaurants along with a coffee shop/café, a poolside bar, and a bar/lounge. Guests are served a complimentary breakfast. Guest parking is complimentary. Event space measuring 6500 square feet consists of a ballroom, exhibit space, conference/meeting rooms, and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange concierge services, tour/ticket assistance, wedding services, and event catering. Additional amenities include a children's pool, spa services, and a fitness facility. The property has designated areas for smoking.

The 390 air-conditioned guestrooms at The Grand New Delhi include laptop-compatible safes and minibars. Rooms have city, pool, or garden views. 40-inch plasma televisions are equipped with premium digital channels. All accommodations provide desks, complimentary newspapers, and direct-dial phones with voice mail. For a surcharge, guests can use the in-room wireless high-speed Internet access. Beds have pillowtop mattresses. Bathrooms offer separate bathtubs and showers, phones, scales, and bathrobes. Additional amenities include welcome amenities and espresso makers. All rooms are accessible via exterior corridors. In addition, amenities available on request include extra towels/bedding and wake-up calls. Turndown service is offered nightly and housekeeping is available daily. All guestrooms at The Grand New Delhi are non-smoking.

Kathmandu, Nepal:
Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kathmandu , 4*
Experience the natural beauty of Nepal and strive for business success at the pioneering 5-star Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee hotel.

The preferred hotel for heads of states visiting Kathmandu, 12 acres of landscaped grounds echo the mountainous beauty of the Kathmandu Valley, with vibrant gardens surrounding our open veranda. You can stroll the grounds in peace and absorb the mountain view that surrounds Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee, then drop into Rodi Bar for a celebratory drink.

Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee is in peaceful Tahachal, 4km from the palaces and temples of Durbar Square in the city centre. You're 6km from Pashupatinath Temple and 3km to Swayambhunath Stupa shrine. Tribhuvan International Airport is 8km away.

You can host stylish banquets, conventions and conferences in one of 7 elegant meeting rooms with space for 20-1,200 people. Gaze up at the mountains while you float in the pool or wind down with one of our rejuvenating therapies. You'll find Italian food at Al Fresco, Chinese at China Garden and Awadhi cuisine at our speciality Indian restaurant, Kakori.

Ask Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee's Concierge to arrange hiking trips into the mountains and villages of Kathmandu Valley that will open up Himalayan panoramas or give you an insight into Nepali culture. When you return from your inspiring adventure, sink into your bedroom's inviting luxury sheets.