2 breakfasts, 1 dinner

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Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Vegetarians will be able to find a huge range of different foods – India is vegetarian heaven. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

1. CULTURE

India is a country which is very different to anything you will have experienced before. Although this means it is not the easiest place to travel, this is also what makes it so special. Pollution, poverty and the crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge. During our time here we have come to love this large and wonderfully different country but we know that we should always expect to encounter some difficulties along the way.

In India there are very different attitudes to time keeping, public cleanliness, privacy and service. Trains will sometimes be late, plumbing can sometimes be temperamental and power will often just vanish. Optimistic menus turn out to have only one dish available and everyone, just everyone, will want to know your name. If you are able to travel with a lot of patience and a healthy sense of humour, then we know that you – like all of us – will be captivated by what India has to offer.

2. DRONES IN NEPAL

Please note that drones and the flying of drones are prohibited in Nepal. If you violate these regulations the police may take you into custody.

3. ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

A variety of styles of hotels/guest houses are used in India. These can vary in terms of service, efficiency and cleanliness. In many instances they might not be like what you are used to back home. Power cuts can and are a regular occurrence in many places, especially throughout North and Central India. Although a number of hotels have generators there may be times when these won’t work. It is also recommended when you are in your room to lock the door, as staff will sometime enter without reason.

What you need to bring depends on the trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as your are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 mintues with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10-15kg/22-30lb. Suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures trips! Most travellers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when travelling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile phones. If your trip involves overnights in homestays, villages or camping then you usually have the opportunity to rent sleeping bags if need be instead of bringing them with you.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Head out in a 4×4 to scan sal forests and grasslands for one-horned rhino, sambar deer, and troops of monkeys. Guides read tracks and calls, steering you to wildlife-rich clearings and river edges.

Watch for gharials and mugger crocodiles sunning on sandbanks and vibrant birdlife flitting through canopy and marsh. With luck, you may glimpse the elusive Bengal tiger—a thrilling possibility in Nepal’s oldest national park.

Join a hands-on session to learn traditional block printing with the women of the Anoothi Project. Try stamping natural-dyed motifs using hand-carved wooden blocks, discovering how Rajasthan’s famed textiles come to life.

Hear how this social enterprise opens doors in a traditionally male craft, creating fair work and confidence for artisans. Share snacks with your hosts, ask questions, and admire finished fabrics—an encounter where your visit directly supports women’s livelihoods.

Walk with your CEO through Jaipur’s old quarter to absorb its pink-painted facades and lively bazaars. Navigate laneways lined with turmeric and cardamom, sari shops, and street shrines perfumed with incense.

Discover standout markets like Johari and Bapu Bazaar, where jewellers, lac-bangle makers, and block-print sellers trade beneath Mughal–Rajput architecture. Pick up insider tips on bargaining, safe snacking, and photo-friendly corners to pause for photos and reflection.

Explore the hilltop Amber Fort, its sandstone ramparts guarding mirror-lined halls, frescoed courtyards, and views over Maota Lake. Hear stories of Rajput rulers and Mughal alliances that shaped this desert citadel.

Stop to admire Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), a honeycombed screen of 953 jharokhas built for royal women to watch the streets unseen. Notice cooling breezes channelled through the facade—an ingenious blend of beauty and climate-smart design.

Visit the Taj Mahal as evening light warms its Makrana marble. Trace pietra dura inlay and Quranic calligraphy as your guide decodes symmetry, minarets, and reflections across the long pools.

Learn how Emperor Shah Jahan built this mausoleum in memory of Mumtaz Mahal—an act of devotion echoed in the monument’s serenity by the Yamuna River. Pause to absorb the soaring dome glowing softly at dusk.

Explore Orchha’s palace complex—Raj Mahal’s painted chambers, Jahangir Mahal’s domes and chhatris, and Rai Praveen Mahal in riverside gardens. Murals and vantage terraces narrate Bundela-era power and artistry.

Visit the community-run Tarragram paper project to see cotton rags transformed into eco-friendly sheets. Meet artisans, learn pulping and pressing steps, and discover how small-scale production uplifts households along the Betwa River.

Walk the labyrinth between Dashashwamedh and Manikarnika Ghats, where temple bells, sadhus, and sari-clad pilgrims animate the riverfront. Your CEO introduces sacred sites and calm back lanes away from the bustle.

Gain context for concepts like moksha and cremation rites while weaving past shrines, chai stalls, and silversmiths’ workshops. Learn respectful photo etiquette, key vocabulary, and quiet corners to pause for photos and reflection.

Cruise the River Ganges at dawn to witness ablutions, hymn-chanting, and saffron-robed priests along the ghats as the city wakes. Soft light gilds riverfront palaces and the echoing temple bells carry across the water.

Return at dusk for the aarti ritual when priests raise flaming lamps and thousands of candlelit marigold diyas drift downstream. The cadence of mantras, drumbeats, and conch shells turns the river into a living shrine.

Visit Maya Devi Temple, marking the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, and see the Ashoka Pillar that anchors this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quiet paths lead through monastic zones representing Buddhist traditions worldwide.

Explore the Sacred Garden of prayer flags and reflecting pools, absorbing the contemplative atmosphere. This is a place to consider the Buddha’s journey from prince to teacher and the spiritual legacy that began here.

Stay in a traditional Tharu-style home and share home-cooked dishes made from village produce. Hosts introduce Tharu customs and stories, fostering genuine exchange beyond typical tourism.

Stroll with a local through fields and hamlets to learn about farming cycles and river life bordering Chitwan. Evenings are relaxed and social, often with folk songs or conversations that deepen your connection to this warm community.

Rise to see sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot—peaks like Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) catching first light above the Pokhara valley. The panorama sweeps from forested ridges to distant glaciers.

Descend on foot through terraced fields and village lanes as daily life unfolds—buffalo being led to pasture, tea steaming in courtyard cups. It’s a serene blend of mountain drama and Nepal’s gentle rural rhythm.

Enjoy a field-side breakfast hosted by the women of Sharing Seeds and sample produce tied to the land. Learn how organic arabica coffee is grown and how community beekeeping supports livelihoods in Tallathar.

Hear about hemp handicrafts and training that reduce rural–urban migration while preserving culture. Your visit directly bolsters this women-led enterprise, making each cup and honey taste even sweeter.

Climb the 365 steps to the hilltop stupa of Swayambhunath, where the Buddha’s all-seeing eyes gaze over the Kathmandu Valley. Spin prayer wheels while prayer flags ripple in the breeze.

Absorb a fusion of Buddhist and Hindu symbolism, spot resident macaques, and circle the white dome clockwise with pilgrims. The complex’s gilded spire and panoramic views make this one of Nepal’s most evocative sacred sites.

Join a CEO-led walk through Thamel and the historic markets of Ason to discover shrines tucked between spice stalls and grocers. Learn how to cross streets, find reliable taxis, and navigate like a local.

Get suggestions for momo houses, rooftop viewpoints, and Newar-heritage courtyards. This grounding stroll helps you read Kathmandu’s layered streetscape and confidently chart your own explorations.

Taste your way through Old Delhi with parathas on Parathewali Gali, syrupy jalebis hot from the cauldron, and frothy lassi in clay cups. Navigate buzzing lanes with a food-savvy guide.

Climb to spice traders’ terraces above Khari Baoli for chili-scented views and learn how masalas shape regional cuisines. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour (subject to availability).

Pedal Jaipur’s quiet morning streets past flower sellers, milkmen, and temple courtyards as the city stirs awake. Stop for steaming chai and snacks while your guide shares local lore.

Cover more ground than on foot and see neighbourhoods visitors often miss, from artisan lanes to early markets. This active outing is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Settle into the neon-lit, Art Deco Raj Mandir Cinema for a high-energy Bollywood screening. Expect cheers, laughter, and audience claps in a uniquely Indian moviegoing ritual.

From plush interiors to interval snacks, it’s pure spectacle and local fun, regardless of language. Tickets and refreshments are at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Witness the evening aarti at Ram Raja Temple, a palace-turned-shrine unique to Orchha. Bells peal, conch shells sound, and lamps flicker as priests offer prayers to the deity.

Feel the town’s devotional heartbeat and observe respectful customs as locals gather for blessings. This spiritual experience is at additional cost/donation and bookable on tour.

Join a local cook to prepare Bundelkhandi flavours—tempered dals, seasonal vegetables, and hand-rolled rotis. Learn spice layering, tawa techniques, and how to balance heat and tang.

Share the meal you helped create and take home practical tips for recreating dishes without specialist gear. This intimate class is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Deepen your understanding of Varanasi on a guided walk focused on philosophy, craft, and daily life away from the main ghats. Trace stories through akharas (wrestling gyms), weavers’ lanes, and quiet temples.

Hear how sacred geography shapes routines and festivals while sampling small bites en route. This add-on is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Travel to Sarnath to see the Dhamek Stupa, monastery ruins, and a museum housing the Ashokan Lion Capital, India’s national emblem. Learn about the Deer Park where the Buddha first taught.

Visit international temples built by Buddhist communities and reflect on teachings that spread across Asia. This half-day excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Ride village tracks skirting Chitwan’s buffer zone with a naturalist, passing mustard fields, ponds, and riverbanks alive with birdsong. Learn about human–wildlife coexistence at the park’s edge.

Frequent stops encourage photos and nature spotting at a relaxed pace. Bicycles and helmets are provided. This outing is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Glide across Phewa on a colourful wooden boat as Annapurna peaks shimmer in the water. Drift toward the forested shore or land at the island shrine of Tal Barahi Temple.

Enjoy tranquil views of prayer flags, paragliders overhead, and lakeside cafés. Boat rental is at additional cost and duration is flexible, bookable on tour.

Take a dawn scenic flight along the Himalaya for close-up views of glaciers and serrated ridgelines. On clear mornings, spot Lhotse, Nuptse, and Mount Everest from your window seat.

Pilots often invite quick cockpit peeks midair, and you’ll receive a flight certificate afterward. This bucket-list experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Attend an evening of Tharu stick dances, drumming, and storytelling in the village square. Learn how performance preserves identity on the park’s fringe and meet the artists afterward.

Enjoy a traditional set dinner made from local produce while supporting community initiatives. This cultural night is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore central Delhi on a CEO-led walk to India Gate, a solemn World War I memorial on the city’s ceremonial boulevard, now called Kartavya Path. Hear how Lutyens’ planning shaped the capital’s grand axis and civic spaces.

Continue into Connaught Place with its whitewashed colonnades, cafés, and bookshops. Experience urban life on the Delhi Metro and learn easy navigation tips. This is a rich, real-world orientation that helps the city click into focus for the days ahead.

Begin your adventure by meeting your CEO and fellow travellers. Get a clear overview of the journey, review practicalities, and hear local tips for traveling in India and Nepal—from temple etiquette to chai-ordering confidence.

Discuss responsible travel, cultural sensitivities, and safety so you can explore with ease. This friendly briefing sets the tone for a small-group experience where you can ask questions, share expectations, and start building the camaraderie that makes this route so rewarding.