Day 1
Delhi
Join the tour this evening in Delhi.

Day 2
Delhi – Kathgodam
After breakfast we will visit the splendours of the new town before going for a walk through the old town, taking a stroll from the Red Fort, down Chandi Chowk – the old town’s main thoroughfare – through the narrow alleyways of Shahjehanabad, to emerge at the beautiful Jama Masjid Mosque, from where we will return to Connaught Place. After early dinner we will transfer to Old Delhi Station for night train to Kathgodam.
 
Day 3
Kathgodam – Mukteshwar
Arrive at Kathgodam around 06.30, where the foothills of the Himalayas rise spectacularly out of the Indian plains and from here drive towards Almora. En route we will stop for breakfast before continuing on to Mukteshwar where we will stay at the charming hotel-cum-home that is Sitla Estate. Sitla comprises a cluster of old British cottages, recently converted into a lovely guesthouse, located 2,000m above sea level with breathtaking views of the high Himalayas, including Nanda Davi. Our host here is Vikram Maira – a bon viveur and excellent cook who over the next two days will take us walking into the hills as the rhododendrons are in full bloom.
 
Day 4
Mukteshwar Sitla Estate is situated in an old apple estate at the top of the village of Mukteshwar. Here you will drink coffee on the roof at dawn watching the sunrise over the Himalayan peak of Nanda Devi. Sitla Estate has a wonderful warmth and simplicity and the walks into the nearby hills are fabulous. Today we will be able to relax, shrug off our let-jag and enjoy this charming place, with walks and visits to local communities.
 
Day 5
Mukteshwar – Corbett Tiger Reserve
After breakfast we drive back down out of the hills towards the famous Corbett Tiger Reserve. Taking lunch en route we should arrive at our accommodation inside the park, at Dhikala Lodge, in time to have a late afternoon jeep safari to spot the famous tiger, as well as a number of other rare and elusive game. Evening and dinner at hotel.
 
Day 6
Corbett Tiger Reserve
Today we will travel farther into the park from where we will take elephants into the forest to hopefully spot the tigers. This is easily the best – and most likely – way to see the tiger, and is also great fun. After this we will return to the lodge and enjoy a nature walk.
 
Day 7
Corbett Tiger Reserve – Rishikesh
After last game drive in jeeps and early breakfast we will move on to Rishkesh. Taking lunch en route we will arrive midafternoon and check into our lovely hotel, and then explore this fascinating town and religious centre. Best seen at one’s own pace we will simply point you in the right direction and help you on your way. We then meet up in time for the colourful arti – or puja – on the ghats as the local people enjoy chanting and prayers and placing candles in banana leaf boats to drift along the river. After this we will have dinner and then return to our hotel. Overnight at Neeraj Bhawan.
 
Day 8
Rishikesh – Lucknow
Today will be very relaxed as we enjoy more wanderings in Rishikesh, take a tour of the nearby Rama and Lakshma temples and explore the local bazaar. Late afternoon we will transfer to Haridwar and have an early dinner before transferring to the train station for the departure to Lucknow. Overnight train.
 
Day 9
Lucknow
Arriving in the fascinating city of Lucknow at 08.00 we will have all day to see where the bloody struggle of 1857 took place, when it was laid siege to by Indian mutineers – and Sakundabarg & Bara Imambara. Last year this wonderful city proved one of the highlights of the trip. Often overlooked on the main tourist trail, Lucknow is well worth a day’s sight seeing. Overnight at Taj Residency Hotel
 
Day 10
Lucknow – Allahabad
Today we will continue our journey along the Ganges to Allahabad – the holy town at the confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges Rivers. This meeting point of the rivers, the Sangam, is believed to have great soulcleansing powers and is a major pilgrimage site. It is even more holy as the invisible Saraswati River is believed to join the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers at this point and every 12 years is the scene of the extraordinary Kumba Mela. Here we will spend the late afternoon soaking up the atmosphere and if time permits visit some of the town’s main attractions, including an excellent museum, Minto Park and Nag Basuki Temples. Overnight at Kanha Shyam Hotel
 
Day 11 & 12
Slowly Down the Ganges
Today the adventure really begins as we spend the next three days and two nights drifting slowly down the Ganges. This will be a peaceful and exotic trip as we pass interesting villages, temples and settlements, many of which we will stop at to see how life is in this most sacred of rural settings. Each evening we will find a suitable place to camp and enjoy the serenity of the flowing river. Taking our own cooks the food will be fabulous, vegetarian to respect the spiritual customs of the river, and the camps will be first class. Overnight Camping
 
Day 13
Varanasi
Arriving by boat into Varanasi in the afternoon will really amaze you… so much better than coming by bus or train. Once here we will check into our hotel on the banks of the river, have a wash and change and then take a stroll down the famous ghats. Here we will witness the evening arti – when the pujas are given and the candles lit and floated on the river – before taking dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Palace on the Ganges
 
Day 14
Varanasi – Calcutta
Early morning we will take a boat ride on the Ganges to see the morning prayers. This is a wonderful time – particularly loved by photographers – as the mellow dawn light washes over the worshipers taking their morning dip. After this we will have free time – with a possible trip to Sarnath nearby where Buddha gave his first teachings – until we take an early dinner and transfer to the station for the night train to Calcutta. (NB – We will keep a couple of rooms at the hotel so those not visiting Sarnath have somewhere to base themselves.)
 
Day 15
Calcutta
Having followed India’s great river, from close to its source to close to its end, we arrive at Calcutta on the banks of the Ganges and transfer to quiet Tollygunj Club – a veritable oasis amid the chaos that is Calcutta. Having checked into our rooms, we will venture back out into this wonderfully manic city to visit the Victoria Memorial, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Writers Building, the Flower Market, the washing ghats and the Howrah Bridge. We will end the afternoon’s wanderings by having a drink in Esplanade, followed by dinner at a West Bengal restaurant. Overnight at Tollygunj Club
 
Day 16
Calcutta – The tour finsihed this morning in Calcutta.
Agra and Taj Mahal extensions available: Please contact the office for details. Climate: Travelling in Uttaranchal at this time of year will be clear and crisp but at 2,000m some warm clothes will be needed. However once onto the plains and the river, it will be beautifully warm and sultry.

Accommodation: on this trip you will experience some fine accommodation, from wonderful and characterful private estates to private clubs and swanky hotels you will not be disappointed. However this is still India and in some places facilities are sometimes not quite up to a Western standard and therefore patience is occasionally required. While camping on the banks of the Ganges we will sleep in two-man domed tents.

We will provide mattresses, pillow and blanket, but if you want to be really snug you should bring your own sleeping bag. All hotels mentioned in the itinerary are subject to availability and if not available substitutes will be of a similar quality.