Classical India and Goa

Assistance on arrival and transport to the chosen hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast, departure for a visit to the city that combines Old Delhi and New Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and a brief visit to Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in Asia. Then depart by rickshaw for a journey through impossibly narrow alleys and alleys in the area around Chandni Chowk (Silver Street), one of India's oldest markets and certainly one of the busiest. After lunch in a typical restaurant, departure for a visit to the new part of Delhi, which includes the India Gate, the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (most prominent Sikh temple), the community kitchen, which receives thousands of people every day, regardless of caste, creed, religion or race, offering them a free meal and the last stop is at the Qutub Minar (the tallest stone tower in India). Dinner and accommodation. (Full Board)

At a time to be agreed locally, departure to Agra (204 Km). Agra, in terms of environment, is still associated with its Mughal period. The city has numerous wonderful monuments, with the Taj Mahal being a masterpiece of Mughal architecture and its Ex-libris. Other important monuments are the Agra Fort, the delicate tomb art of Itimad-ud-daulah, and Akbar's abandoned capital, Fatehpur Sikri.

Arrival at the end of the morning and transfer to the hotel for check in. After lunch, departure for a tour of the city of Agra, which starts at the Taj Mahal. This iconic mausoleum took 22 years and 20,000 men to build. It was ordered to be built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal in the mid-17th century. Return to the hotel, accommodation and dinner. (Full Board)

After breakfast, departure to Jaipur (240 Km) with stop in Fatehpur Sikri. The red-sandstone desert city – Fatehpur Sikri – was built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century and its complex is home to numerous perfectly preserved palaces and mosques. Lunch in a typical restaurant and continuation of the journey to Jaipur.

The kingdoms of Rajasthan are a lasting legacy to the history of India. A land endowed with invincible fortresses, magnificent palaces, waves of sand dunes and serene lakes. The "pink city" Jaipur, presides over the fascinating desert state and its people: surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by an imposing fortress; and beautiful palaces, mansions, and gardens scattered throughout its territory. Arrival and transfer to the hotel for check in. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. (Full Board)

After breakfast you will be driven to the outskirts of Jaipur to visit the ancient capital of Amber and its fabulous Amber Fort, making a brief stop for a photo session at the "Palace of the Winds", also known as Hawa Mahal. Lunch at a local specialized restaurant. In the afternoon, continuation of the visit of the city of Jaipur, highlighting the City Palace, which consists of an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens, courtyards, decorative art and carved doors. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armor, costumes, carpets, and miniature paintings. Return to the hotel, accommodation and dinner. (Full Board)

At a time to be arranged locally, depart for Delhi, passing by the Neemrana Fort-Palace, a medieval fort from the 15th century.

This splendid ruin has been restored into an exquisite resort near Delhi and is now a prominent heritage hotel in India. Lunch at Neemrana Fort Palace and continuation of the trip. Arrival in the late afternoon, transfer to the airport. Boarding and departure formalities to Varanasi. Assistance on arrival and transport to the chosen hotel. Dinner at the hotel and accommodation. (Full Board)

The day starts at dawn to visit the ghats and witness the Hindu rituals according to the centuries-old tradition and belief. The visit includes a boat ride down the Ganges River, passing through all the ghats which provides a spiritually inspiring sight. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After some rest, departure to visit the Bharat Mata Mandir, inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, a unique temple dedicated to Mother India. Visit to the Durga Temple (18th century), also known as the Monkey Temple, due to the numerous primates present. The next stop will be the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), a former public university that has been operating since 1919 and the Shri Vishwanath Temple (also known as Birla Temple) – located in the center of the university and consisting of seven temples. Lunch at a local specialized restaurant. In the afternoon, departure to visit Sarnath, an important Buddhist center in the world. At dusk, depart by rickshaw to witness the spectacular Ganga Aarti ceremonies, which consist of offerings of lamps and flowers to the Ganges River. Return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation. (Full Board)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in time to board your flight to Delhi. Assistance on arrival and departure for a visit to Akshardham Temple. This complex of pink sandstone and white marble built on the banks of the Yamuna River is filled with shrines, sculptures, parks, lakes, and promenades. Lunch at a local specialized restaurant. Visit to a local bazaar for shopping. Then, transfer to the hotel for dinner and accommodation. (Full Board)

Delhi / Goa

At a time to be arranged locally, airport transfer, boarding formalities and departure on flight to Goa. Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Goa is gifted with numerous gifts: picturesque landscapes, sunny beaches, historical monuments, pleasant climate, culinary expertise, and above all, hospitable people. (Breakfast)

At a time to be arranged locally, airport transfer, boarding formalities and departure on flight to Goa. Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Goa is gifted with numerous gifts: picturesque landscapes, sunny beaches, historical monuments, pleasant climate, culinary expertise, and above all, hospitable people. (Breakfast)

After breakfast, start the visit to Old Goa, famous for its churches and cathedrals, where some of the old buildings have been converted into museums. Old Goa, the spiritual heart of Goan Christians, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its extraordinarily grand churches and convents. During the tour, visit the famous Basilica of Bom Jesus, a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Hindus who come to pay homage to the embalmed remains of St. Francis Xavier, preserved in a silver coffin since 1553. Then visit the imposing Cathedral of St. Catherine, the largest church in Asia, which has 14 altars, a long corridor of 80 meters and 5 bells, including the Golden Bell, which is said to be one of the best in the world, the Church of St. Cajetan, which is a replica of St. Peter's Square in Rome and the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception,  one of the first to be built in Goa in the XVI century. Continuation with a walking tour through the neighborhood of Fontaínhas, an area where you can still appreciate the influence of Portuguese architecture and also visit the area of São Tomé, "Altinho", Rua Natal and the area of Dona Paula. Also visit to the Archaeological Museum, inaugurated in 1964 and reorganized in 1981-82 and installed in the convent of the church of St. Francis of Assisi. Return to the hotel and accommodation. (Breakfast)

Free day in Goa to rest on the beach or to make optional visits. (Breakfast)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Mumbai, India's economic capital. Tour of the city, starting from Dhobi Ghats, Mumbai's huge open-air laundromat. Continue to Mani Bhawan where Mahatma Gandhi lived. The tour then proceeds to Malabar Hill, via the Tower of Silence and the hanging gardens. Continue along Marine Drive, with a short stop at the Vitoria Terminus train station now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Also passing by car by the Rajabai tower which is basically a clock tower that rises to a height of 85 m and houses the University Library. Then visit the India Gate, whose arch is the symbol of the city. It was built in honour of King George's visit in 1911 and was the port of arrival for ships to India. Next, visit the Crawford Market named after the city's municipal commissioner, Arthur Crawford, built in the Norman Gothic style, where you can buy fruits, vegetables and meat. After these visits, transfer to the airport. Boarding and departure formalities on a flight back to Portugal. (Breakfast)