Experience the exotic wonders of three iconic Asian destinations like never before on this 21-day small group tour through India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Adventure seekers will love exploring the magnificent mountainous landscapes, iconic historical landmarks, sacred temples and incredible wildlife that make these countries truly unique.
Your adventure begins in Kathmandu, Nepal, where you’ll enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Dubar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa and more. While in Nepal, you’ll journey to Chitwan National Park, watch the sunrise over the Himalayan range in Nagarkot and marvel at the snow-fed mountains from Dhulikhel. Catch a flight to Delhi, India, where you’ll take part in a fascinating city tour to discover the history of iconic landmarks, including Raj Ghat, Red Fort and Jama Masjid. Head to the pink city of Jaipur, India, to immerse yourself in this bustling city's vibrant collision of colour and energy before visiting the Amber Fort, City Palace and more. Experience the cultural melting pot of Agra, India, as you marvel at the Taj Mahal, Chand Baori Step Well and Agra Fort (Red Fort), which mixes Persian, European and Indian art.
Jet over to Negombo (Colombo), Sri Lanka, where the beauty, culture and picturesque landscapes enchant you. While in Sri Lanka, you can admire the intricate cave paintings at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, take a tour of a local tea plantation to learn about the production process in Nuwara Eliya and witness hundreds of wild elephants at the Udawalawe Transit Home. While exploring charming hilltop villages and centuries-old temples, you’ll be awed by the famous Galle Fort, an incredible fusion of Dutch and Sri Lankan culture and architecture.
Create unforgettable memories with return international full-service flights, two one-way international flights from Nepal and India, 19 nights of 4-star hotel accommodation, 20 delicious meals and more.
Want more? Add extra days to your itinerary with Arrive Early in Kathmandu, Nepal and Stay Behind in Negombo, Sri Lanka packages.
Today you'll depart for Kathmandu, Nepal. On arrival, you'll be be met and transferred to your hotel.
Please note:
• Due to flight scheduling and availability, some departures may occur on day 0. Affected customers will be required to be at the airport the day before.
• Flight times will be indicated on your final documents 4 - 6 weeks prior to departure.
Overnight: Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel, or similar, Kathmandu
Meals included: In-Flight
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Kathmandu where you'll visit Durbar Square which is a complex of palaces, courtyards and temples that were built between the 12th and 18th centuries and used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. While you're at the UNESCO World Heritage Sit, you'll also find the intriguing 17th-century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 different languages. Durbar Square is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city so inside the palace building, you'll also find museums and a temple of the Living Goddess, Kumari. Next, you'll visit the Swayambhunath Stupa which watches over the valley from the top of a hillock on its Western side, the stupa is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. Swayambhu is also known as Sengu and is listed as a World Heritage Site. Afterwards visit Boudhanath Stupa, which lies about 6 kilometres to the East of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the valley, looming at 36 metres high with a fascinating stupa design. Finish the day back at your hotel for an enjoyable evening at leisure.
Overnight: Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel, or similar, Kathmandu
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you’ll depart for the 170 kilometre journey to Chitwan National Park where, upon arrival, you’ll check in to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Chitwan National Park has long been one of the country's treasures of natural wonders. The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 sq. km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner TERAI. The area comprises the Tikauli forest- from Rapti river to the foothills of the Mahabharat-extending over an area of 175 sq. km. was declared Mrigakunja in 1959. In 1963, the area south of Rapti River was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. The area was gazetted as the country's first National Park in 1973.
Enjoy a Tharu Culture Show this evening.
Overnight: Hotel Landmark Forest Resort or similar, Chitwan
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, today is the day for Jungle Activities, a jungle safari in the morning, and Bird watching. You will discover why the National Park holds an important place in preserving the wildlife that is rapidly becoming extinct from this planet. You're almost sure to spot one horn rhino, egrets, woodpeckers, and deer in their natural habitat. The park is also home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild bison, genetic dolphins, 500 birds, butterflies, as well as the near-extinct Gharials crocodiles.
The afternoon is free for your independent activities that the area has to offer.
Overnight: Hotel Landmark Forest Resort or similar, Chitwan
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you’ll depart on the journey to Nagarkot (approximately 6 ½ hours). Today is a big day of travel, however, you will get to marvel at the beautiful countryside along the way.
Nagarkot is located at an altitude of 2,175m. It thrills visitors with its unobstructed mountain panorama, which extends from Annapurna in the west to Everest in the east. Late this afternoon enjoy a guided nature walk, exploring some of the village’s most beautiful trails. When weather conditions are right, the views of mountain villages and terraced farmlands across the valley is a stunning sight.
Overnight: The Fort Resort, or similar, Nagarkot
Meals included: Breakfast
Early this morning, enjoy watching the sun rise over the majestic Himalayan range which stretches from Dhaulagiri in the West all the way past Everest to Kanchenjunga in the East. After breakfast, you'll depart to Dhulikhel which offers the best views of the north-eastern Himalayas. Dhulikhel is situated at the foothills of the Panchkhal Valley so the snow-fed mountains seen from Dhulikhel provide an amazing panoramic view, when a blue haze covers the lower portion of the mountains, they seem to be floating in the air.
In the afternoon, you'll drive to Kathmandu where you can check into the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel, or similar, Kathmandu
Meals included: Breakfast
Following check-out this morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi, India. Upon arrival in India, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you can check in from 14:00 however, luggage storage will be available if you arrive before then.
Overnight: Radisson Blu Hotel, or similar, Delhi
Meals included: Breakfast
Delhi, the capital of India, is a major gateway city for international visitors so you'll find a fascinating metropolis offering an intriguing mix of ancient sites, modern wonders and Indian politics. After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Old and New Delhi which will take you to the Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, the Red Fort which was made famous by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, and Jama Masjid which is the largest mosque in India with three great gateways, four angle towers and two minarets constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. You'll also enjoy a rickshaw tour through Chandni Chowk, a colourful shopping bazaar in Old Delhi. You'll travel to Laxminarayan Temple, a site dedicated to Lakshmi who is the goddess of prosperity and good fortune before witnessing the India Gate which is a 42-metre war memorial. The tour continues with a visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the palace-like building that is home to the President of India, as well as the beautiful Lotus Temple, known as the Bahai Temple, where adherents of any faith can visit, pray or meditate at this dazzling architectural temple.
Overnight: Radisson Blu Hotel, or similar, Delhi
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll travel approximately 265km to Jaipur which is the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur is instantly recognisable for its pink-washed buildings, a colour associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. This beautiful city, along with Agra and Delhi, forms the Golden Triangle of India’s tourist circuit. Jaipur is a city where royalty still lives in the grandeur of its palaces, where fighting for the honour of the clan has never been a need but a way of life, and where treating guests as gods has been a tradition from time immemorial. There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur’s colourful bazaars, where you can shop for Rajasthani textiles and trinkets.
On arrival in Jaipur, you'll check into the hotel where you will also enjoy dinner this evening.
Overnight: KK Royal Hotel & Convention Centre, or similar, Jaipur
Meals included: Breakfast; Dinner
After breakfast, enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Jaipur which begins with a morning excursion to Amber Fort which was known as the old fort of the Kachwaha clan of Amber. The fort itself is a beautiful sight to behold as it's built with white marble and red sandstone with the Maota Lake in the foreground.
In the afternoon, take part in a city tour visiting the City Palace where the former royal residence is built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. Jantar Mantar is the largest of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh while the Hawa Mahal (or the Palace of Winds) was constructed for the royal ladies to watch royal processions without being seen. Today you'll also enjoy an Indian costume-tying demonstration and visit Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
Overnight: KK Royal Hotel & Convention Centre, or similar, Jaipur
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you will depart for Agra on an approximately 245km travel day. On the way, you'll visit Chand Baori Step Well which is located opposite a temple known as Harshat Mata Temple, it's believed the Chand Baori Step Well has a religious connection which is the reason it was built in front of the temple.
When you arrive in Agra, you'll check into the hotel before enjoying a visit to the fascinating site of Agra Fort (Red Fort) which showcases a high level of ornamentation with the Kohinoor diamond reportedly part of the furnishings. Here you'll find the fort mixes Persian, European and Indian art which results in a unique Shahjahani style rich in form, expression and colour. Red Fort is one of the building complexes of India encapsulating a long period of history, arts and innovative architectural style, including its garden design which influenced later buildings and gardens in Delhi. In 2007, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Red Fort Complex.
Agra is the quintessential Mughal City where the world marvels at the epitome of love, beauty and sacrifice, otherwise known as the Taj Mahal, one of the Wonders of the World. It's so awe-inspiring that Agra has been immortalised as the City Of The Taj. As visitors walk down the narrow bustling streets, they cannot help but wonder, if a man they see contentedly smoking a hookah, is a direct descendent of some bygone Mughal.
Overnight: Howard Plaza - The Fern, or similar, Agra
Meals included: Breakfast
Today you will have the option to rise early and visit the Taj Mahal just after sunrise (at approximately 06:00) and return to the hotel for breakfast (approximately 1350 rupees and only available for purchase on tour), or you can visit just after breakfast at 09:00 (included in the package). The world-famous Taj Mahal is where you will see the undeniable beauty that incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian and earlier Mughal architecture. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1631, to be built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and the principal mausoleum was completed in 1643 with the surrounding buildings and garden finished about five years later.
Early in the afternoon, you'll check out of the hotel and travel approximately 210km back to Delhi where, upon arrival, you'll check into the hotel.
Overnight: Radisson Blu Hotel, or similar, Delhi
Meals included: Breakfast
Today you'll depart for Negombo (Colombo), Sri Lanka where, upon arrival, you will be met by a tour representative and transferred to your hotel in the nearby beach town of Negombo.
Overnight: Earls Regent Hotel, or similar, Negombo
Meals included: Breakfast
Upon arrival in Sigiriya, you'll check into your hotel before visiting the Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the afternoon. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sigiriya is the fifth-century rock citadel of King Kasyapa. To comprehend the splendour that once dominated this rock fortress, step through the gigantic 'Lion Paws’ that are set overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens. Surrounded by ramparts and moats, the Lion Rock is coated by frescoes that relate to Gupta-style paintings found in the Ajanta caves of India. Wander into the museum downstairs for an insight into how the citadel floated above citizens, and learn about the advanced ponds and irrigation that pumped water right onto its summit through an ingenious hydraulic system.
Please note:
Overnight: Tropical Life Resort & Spa Dambulla, or similar, Dambulla
Meals included: Breakfast
Today enjoy the day at leisure, or join one or both of the following optional tours:
Optional Activity: Morning Polonnaruwa City Tour - $80 per person
Rising with the decline of Anuradhapura, the city of Polonnaruwa (which is the medieval capital and crown jewel of King Parakramabahu I) remains superior proof of ancient culture and heritage blended with religious beliefs. Walk among the scattered walls of this World Heritage Site that is dotted with stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and fantastically carved Hindu sculptures. While you're here you can also observe the relic house of Watadage which boasts impressive stone carvings, look closely and you will notice a subtle Hindu influence to the architecture and statues found in Polonnaruwa.
Optional Activity: Jeep safari in Minneriya National Park - $110 per person
If you're up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then a safari experience at Minneriya National Park is the place to go! Spread over 8800 hectares, it’s a sanctuary for elephants and home to herds of deer and ample birdlife however, its spotlight remains between swaying trunks and flapping ears. Park your jeep on the bank of the reservoir and switch off its engine where you can marvel at herds of elephants as they roll onto the grass-covered banks and feed on tender shoots. This is the largest elephant gathering in the world (over 300 at a time) so it’s an absolute must-do for wildlife enthusiasts.
Please note: If Minneriya National Park is flooded during the rainy season, you will visit Kaudulla or Eco National Parks as alternative options.
Overnight: Tropical Life Resort & Spa Dambulla, or similar, Dambulla
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, travel to Dambulla and stop at the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple which has been treasured by many kings since the first century BC. An icon of Sri Lanka, Dambulla Rock Cave Temple features five magnificently constructed cave temples flanking the golden temple of Dambulla. While you're here you can observe the exquisite cave paintings along walls that shelter 150 statues of Lord Buddha as well as the gigantic Buddha statue glittering in gold, which today houses an important junction in the country's economic and cultural uplifting.
On completion of the tour, travel to the hill city of Kandy and commence a guided city tour. Last ruled by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (before it was brought under British rule in 1815), the city is a World Heritage Site and is the last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings which crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe. A stroll across this small lakeside town that's cradled among the misty hills will feature the Kandy City Centre which is bustling with the latest and world-class brands, a bazaar, an arts and crafts centre, a gem museum and more.
Fine-tune your evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music and drumming, amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder Of Asia.
Overnight: Radisson Hotel Kandy, or similar, Kandy
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you'll depart for Nuwara Eliya which is Sri Lanka’s highest town and the heart of the country’s most beautiful region. Known as the southern hill country, Nuwara Eliya sits beneath the towering Pidurutalagala mountain in a bowl of verdant, tea-covered hills. Although the region was once occupied by the Kandyan kingdom, the town itself is very much a British creation as it was established in the mid-19th century as a retreat by Sir Edward Barnes and touted as Sri Lanka’s ‘Little England’ for the way this Victorian relic resembles a quaint English country village.
Upon arrival in the afternoon, take a tour of a local tea plantation and learn about the tea production process of the prestigious Ceylon Tea brand where you will observe a rich tradition kept alive. As you observe the hissing and swishing of machines, inhaling the heavenly scent arising from these facilities, make sure to end your tour in style over a perfectly blended cup of pure Ceylon tea. Afterwards, enjoy some time to explore the plantation at leisure before continuing onwards to enjoy a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya before finishing the day at your hotel where you can check in and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Galway Heights Hotel, or similar, Nuwara Eliya
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast leave for Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home (also known as Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage), a rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephant calves. The primary purpose of the Elephant Transit Home is to rehabilitate and release isolated baby elephants into the wild. The Ministry of Wildlife Conservation took an essential step in the welfare and protection of orphan elephants in 1995 and as a result, Elephant Transit Home was established at the Udawalawe National Park. There are normally 40-60 orphaned elephants and visitors can watch them being fed from the safety of a viewing platform at one of the four daily feeding sessions held every three hours from 09:00 to 18:00. You'll notice the elephants are never chained so they are free to roam around and play as they wish which is why human contact is kept to a minimum in order to maximise their chance of survival when they are returned to the wild.
Afterwards, continue to the Galle area on the southern coast of Sri Lanka where you will enjoy a tour of the fort area on arrival. The tour will begin at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Galle Fort which is the largest intact Dutch fort in Asia and one of the best-preserved examples of 17th-century colonial fortifications in the world. Once your tour has concluded, you will be transferred to your hotel accommodation.
Overnight: The Beach Cabanas Retreat & Spa, or similar, Galle Area
Meals included: Breakfast
Today is free at leisure to explore the Galle and Koggala area.
Overnight: The Beach Cabanas Retreat & Spa, or similar, Galle Area
Meals included: Breakfast
Today check out of the hotel in Galle and travel back to Negombo on an approximately 160km travel day for your return flight home. If your flight does not depart until late evening, dinner and access to common areas including a pool at a hotel in nearby Negombo will be provided so you may relax before transferring to the airport for your departure flight home.
Please note: Some travellers may be required to depart shortly after midnight (technically Day 21). Affected customers will still arrive home on Day 21.
Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight
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