India, Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet Experience Tours by Inca Tours

EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

india nepal,bhutan & tibet

r Ove s r yea 0 3 nce e i r e Ex p

IncaTailor-made Travel Individual Tailor-made Tour Packages, Safaris, Treks & Small Group Departures

CONTENTS

welcome to india nepal bhutan tibet INCA TOURS HAS OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE ORGANISING SMALL GROUP TOURS TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS. JUST IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU!

CONTENTS

Page

The Highlights Why Inca Tours? Your Travel Options

3 4 6

Longer Duration Tours Days India, Nepal & Tibet 21 India South to North 28 Nepal, Tibet & Bhutan 14 Gods & Golden Triangle 12 Rajasthan Heritage 14 South India Cultural 14 Himalayas & the North 14

8 12 15 18 20 22 28

Shorter Tours & Safaris India

the taj mahal, agra

South India Highlights

Wildlife & Temples

The Golden Temple

Shimla & the Himalayas

Kolkata & Darjeeling

Exotic Goa

24 26 30 31 32 33

Nepal taj h otel foye r

The Best of Nepal

Nepal Highlights

Nepal Express

34 36 38

Bhutan The Best of Bhutan

Bhutan Cultures

Bhutan Express

40 42 44

Tibet

dia tiger, in

The Best of Tibet

Tibet Highlights

45 47

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Cultural

Southern Sri Lanka

48 49

Treks The Royal Trek

Annapurna Region Trek 14 Everest Base Camp Trek 15

al stiv r fe tige

2 religious festival, the ganges river

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

50 52 54

THE HIGHLIGHTS

The Real Indian Subcontinent India, Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet are culturally rich and exotic places— from India’s often arid “Golden Triangle” in Rajasthan, with its majestic palaces in the West, to the lush backwaters of Kerala in the South; from its monsoon forests, home to the elusive Tiger in the East to the temples of the North. Majestic mountains and tropical seas, red deserts and sacred rivers, old customs and new ways, modern cities and traditional crafts, they all call the region home! Once connected to Africa, India drifted north and collided with Asia and threw up the mighty Himalayas. Here we find the landlocked nation of Nepal, bordering China to the north and India to the south, east and west. Nepal has a rich geography, with its north home to eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including Everest. Bhutan is also small and landlocked. It is located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by India and to the north by China. Its landscape ranges from subtropical plains in the south to the sub-alpine Himalayas in the north. Tibet is a plateau, north-east of the Himalayas. It is also the highest region on earth, with an average elevation of 4,900 metres! This is definitely a part of the world which conjures up images of the exotic, from people and food to palaces and temples, yet India, Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet are excellent value destinations. Why wait!

The Highlights of the Region

China Srinagar Pahalgam Gulmarg Dharamsala a Tibet Shimla Amritsar Pakistan Lhasa Corbett NP New Delhi us Nepal d In Kathmandu Bhutan Agra Pokhara Jaipur Jaisalmer Thimphu Ranthambore NP Dimapur Paro Jodhpur Gan ges Kohima Varanasi Bangladesh Udaipur

Bandhavgarh Kanha Nagpur

Kolkata Sunderbans

Burma

India

Mumbai

Goa Chennai

Bangalore Mysore Cochin Kumarakom

Madurai Thekkady Sri Lanka Kandy

Colombo Bentota

Maldives

The Golden Triangle This is India’s most famous part, made up of the area between Agra, Udaipur and Jaisalmer. It contains one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”, the Taj Mahal! Other highlights in Udaipur are Lake Pichhola, with the Lake Palace located in its middle. There is also the magnificent Palace of Winds in Jaipur, the “Pink City”; Jodhpur, the “Blue City”; and Jaisalmer, overlooked by its 12th Century fort.

The Himalayas, Bhutan & Nepal

The South & West Coast From Mumbai (“Bombay”) in the Northwest to Chennai (“Madras”) in the Southeast and taking in the main cities of Bangalore, Cochin and Madurai, this is the tropical heartland of India. This region has it all, from the wildlife in Periyar National Park, numerous cultural experiences, the comfort of a backwaters cruise on a houseboat, the bustle of Mumbai to the exotic beaches of Goa. If you are looking for a diverse and fulfilling journey, through an area renowned for its wealth, culture and food, you won’t be disappointed.

Shimla, the former Summer Capital of India, is a great springboard for exploring the surrounding mountains and offers a full range of accommodation. There are a number of health spas scattered throughout the ranges, all offering different experiences. The Kingdom of Bhutan offers a most pristine experience, as it was only recently opened up to visitors yet has retained its traditional way of life. Additionally, the Bhutanese have been rated the happiest people in Asia! The Kingdom of Nepal is more developed but a must see as it is home to Everest and many other scenic and cultural treasures.

Tibet

Sri Lanka

Tibet is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan People, as well as other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang and Lhobas. It is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui People. There are over 800 small settlements in Tibet. Lhasa is Tibet’s traditional capital and a city well worth visiting. It contains two World Heritage Sites—the Potala Palace and Norbulingka, which were the residences of the Dalai Lama. Lhasa also boasts a number of beautiful and significant temples and monasteries, including Jokhang and Ramoche Temple.

Legend as well as history record that Sri Lanka (“Ceylon”) has always delighted visitors to its shores. For countless centuries its fragrant spices, beauty, sublime culture and friendly people captivated their attention. Today too, this small tropical island, set in the Indian Ocean, with its elevated central highlands and World Heritage listed sites, has so much to offer. All this natural beauty and history makes it easy to combine prime resort beaches with wildlife encounters and cultural experiences to create a memorable holiday which is both relaxing and adventurous at the same time.

Formed when India broke away from the African Continent and collided with Asia, the Himalaya Mountain Range covers the northern part of India and includes the independent Kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan. Mount Everest, the highest point on earth, is just one of the many high peaks to be found along its length.

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

AN AUSTRALIAN OWNED COMPANY

why inca tours? Value for Money

Destination Knowledge

At Inca Tours we believe our guests should get value for money. Cheap tours normally result in dissatisfaction and a feeling that the experience was a waste of money. The reason is that on cheap tours most of what you wish to do and see is not included and requires extra cost, a cost which you have not taken into account when you booked. This is how they keep the cost of the tour down! Had you taken all the costs into account then the so called “cheap tours” do not turn out to have been the cheapest option. For this reason, everything detailed in our tour itineraries or in your private Tailormade Tour is included in the cost unless it clearly states “optional”.

The current owners of Inca Tours lived for many years in various parts of the world, having organised and lead tours on different continents dating back over twenty five years. All of our India Sales Professionals have actually been to the continent and will therefore be giving you first hand knowledge, not information they have read in brochures or heard about from others. To ensure that you receive the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge of the destinations, we are constantly updating our staff through visits to this vast region.

Planning In planning a visit to a diverse region, one not only has to decide what to see and how much time to spend in each location but just as importantly, what to avoid. Tours must be sensibly organised to satisfy special interests, whether they be the majestic scenery, the dynamic cities of today, the monuments of past civilisations, the colourful people who call it home, meeting new friends or just having a good time! We do all this and more, because our tours are planned and operated by people who know and above all, love India.

Strong Past Client Referral In most cases, regardless whether they travelled on a Tailor-made Tour or on a set departure Group Tour, Inca Tours’ guests return with great memories and an appreciation for the smooth manner in which their holiday was conducted. They are usually so taken with the service that they offer to act as independent referees for us. So if you would like to speak with a person who has travelled with us on a similar itinerary to what you are considering, please let us know and we will put you in contact with one of our valued past clients.

Accommodation

Experience At Inca Tours we have over 30 years experience organising private and small group tours to various parts of the world. This means you can be assured we will suggest the very best private holiday or group tour possible, which results in you returning home having had a great experience. You will remember your holiday for all the right reasons!

Reliability We only use well established operators with a long track record, some for over 25 years. They are not the cheapest but they are the best. We use them because we know what standard of service they deliver and that they will not cut corners to save money.

All Tailor-made Tour hotels and lodges retain the character and charm of India. We avoid where possible, the chrome and glass hotels of major international chains, preferring to experience the culture and lifestyle first hand in properties with local character. All hotels, lodges, vessels and trains are of Standard, Superior or Deluxe-class (3-star, 4-star or 5-star). We only use properties which have been inspected by an Inca Tours’ staff member or one of our representative offices.

Local Representation Inca Tours has representative offices in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Cochin, Bangalore, Goa, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Darjeeling, Madurai and Shimla); Nepal (Kathmandu); Bhutan (Thimphu); Tibet (Lhasa); Sri Lanka (Colombo); and the Maldives (Male). These offices are there to support you during your holiday and to give you peace of mind that help is close at hand should anything come up. This may be something as simple as “where is a good restaurant?” to any major incident that requires immediate assistance. Our representative offices are also the bases from which our expert local guides operate.

From the Managing Director I hope you can join us on one of our very special, private Tailor-made Tours to India, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet or Sri Lanka. I’m certain you will find it an exciting, educational and enjoyable experience to this unique part of the world. Please call me on 1800 024 955 if you have any questions regarding our services in India. Shubh Yatra!

Mike Kuhl Managing Director

4 inca tours: personalised & private services

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

GET THE MOST FROM THIS BROCHURE

your travel options A beautiful buddha

“ This brochure is more about ideas and possibilities than fixed itineraries...” Points to Consider Below are some important issues you need to research well when choosing an itinerary to the Indian subcontinent: • Often descriptions in brochures look the same but vary in time and quality when experienced. • The transfers, city tours and sightseeing tours described in this brochure are mainly run on a “private” basis—unless otherwise requested. The cheaper alternative is the “seat-in-coach” service which we do not usually recommend, as it can involve delays while the transfer vehicle frequents one hotel after another. • We prefer to visit Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks which offer the very best chance of seeing Tiger in the wild. • Road travel times are very different from what you would expect at home. Driving 300 kilometres can take as much as ten hours due to the state of the roads and the congestion. Flying or travelling by express train between places usually offers a better use of your time, although it does add additional cost. • There are many “Palace Hotels” in India, many of which are still owned by the various royal families, offering you the idea of great comfort and style but which, on arrival, turn out to be in various states of disrepair with poor plumbing and substandard furniture. For this reason we only use properties which we have either inspected ourselves or had our local representatives inspect. • The hotel grading system in the India Region does not reflect what many of our guests expect. Many supposed “5-star” hotels turn out to be 3 or 4-star. We therefore grade all hotels used. In addition, we have inspected all of the properties we use. They are all well located, clean, have private facilities and include breakfast. • We don’t use Kerala Backwater Houseboats for Tailor-made Tours which are rated at less than 5-star. The reason for this is that anything less would be considered 3-star or less by our standards.

Comparative Costings We appreciate that you may be seeking comparative costings from other agencies so we wish to stress the importance of “comparing apples with apples.” Our clients often ask us to comment on travel proposals they have obtained elsewhere. Because of our experience in India we are able to identify subtle differences in the standard of services quoted, non-apparent optional extras and hidden exclusions. Having said that, please allow us to make the following points. We do not necessarily contract the cheapest available ground services. However by selecting services on reliability rather than price, we know the quality of our service is second to none. We simply pay more for higher quality, professional and reliable services. This dramatically increases the enjoyment of the tour for our clients.

Costs on the enclosed Price Insert

Most tours in this brochure depart with a minimum of two people. We also quote a single supplement but this is not applicable if there is only one person on the departure. It only relates to where there are two or more people and one or more of them are solo travellers.

Tailor-made Tours & Travel If you do not necessarily want to travel as part of a group or you wish to travel with your own group of friends, then this is where this brochure really comes into its own. Anything you see in the itineraries can be modified and altered to suit what you would like to do. This means you can pick and choose components from the different itineraries and make up your own unique tour to suit exactly what you wish to do. Almost anything is possible at Inca Tours! Inca Tours has a faultless reputation for organising escorted group tours, but what most travellers do not realise is that the majority of guests who travel with us, do so on a private Tailor-made Tour. Just tell us what you have in mind: the standard of accommodation; if you want private or seat-in-coach services; when you wish to depart and when you wish to return. One of our Travel Professionals will do the rest! You will receive a detailed itinerary with everything included that you requested, as well as a clear costing for your tour. All of the Inca Tours’ Travel Professionals who handle the India Region enquiries and bookings have actually been there. This will give you confidence regarding their advice when constructing your itinerary, because their suggestions come from first hand experience, having spent time in the destinations they are recommending to you.

Small Group Tours versus Tailor-made Tours If you are looking to travel on an escorted small group tour, you will need to look at the India, Nepal & Bhutan Gold Tours brochure. These tours (with a maximum of 18 guests) have set departure dates and are therefore not as flexible as the India, Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet Tailor-made Tours detailed in this brochure.

If you are interested in any of our India, Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet Tours, please call us toll free on 1800 024 955 and we will confirm the current prices for you.

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DELHI, UTTAR PRADESH,

21 days: Tibet

india nepal & tibet jama masjid mosque, delhi

Lhasa New Delhi Jaipur Jodhpur

Nepal

Agra

Udaipur Khajuraho

Kathmandu Nagarkot

Varanasi

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Varanasi & Ganges’ Arti Ceremony. Khajuraho & its unique architecture. A tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal. Agra & the Agra Fort. Jaipur “Pink City” & Jodhpur “Blue City”. Udaipur & City Palace Tour. Old & New Delhi City Tour. Kathmandu, Nepal’s ancient capital. Nagarkot & its views of Mount Everest. A flight around Mount Everest. Potala Palace, a well known landmark. Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery. Bharkhor Bazaar, Tibet’s oldest market. Jolkhang Temple, Lhasa’s most sacred. Norbulingkha Palace, the “Jewel Park”.

Dining Experiences • This tour includes many but not all meals, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 36 superb meals included in the tour: 20 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches & 9 Dinners.

Please Note • This tour is comprised of more than

one small group tour, so local guides and guests will change periodically. • This tour includes high altitude areas. • For this tour a Chinese Visa (US$114) must be paid for in Kathmandu. Inca Tours will arrange this in advance.

DAY 1

Sunday Arrive Delhi

On arrival in Delhi you are met and taken to your hotel for the night.

DAY 2

Monday Delhi / Varanasi

After breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. (Cost of this flight is additional.) On arrival you are met and taken on a tour of Sarnath, which symbolises the birth of Buddhism with sculptures dating back as far as the 3rd Century BC. In the evening you visit the Ganges where temples are lit with oil-lamps and candles. This light, combined with the aromas of incense sticks, oil lamps and flowers filling the air, makes the experience magical as you watch hundreds of little lamps float out onto the Ganges River as offerings during the Arti Ceremony (“collective prayer”). After this most spiritual experience you are returned to your hotel for the night. (B)

DAY 3

Tuesday Varanasi / Khajuraho

You witness an incredible scene on an early morning boat ride, as thousands of pilgrims and other devotees immerse themselves in the holy water of the Ganges to pay their homage to the revered Sun God. This is followed by a late breakfast before being taken to the airport for your flight to Khajuraho. (Cost of this flight is additional.) In the realm of architecture, Khajuraho holds a unique position!

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

The temples here were built between 950 and1,050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty, who claims descent from the Moon God and a mortal, Hemavati, with whom the god fell in love. After freshening up at your hotel you have a comprehensive tour of the Eastern and Western Group of Temples. These contain some of the finest examples of Chandela Art to be found. (B)

DAY 4

Wednesday Khajuraho / Agra

You start the day with a final visit to the Khajuraho Temples. Later you are driven to Jhansi visiting Orchha enroute. Once the capital of its own state, Orchha is made up of three joined palaces in the same style as the palace in Udaipur. On arrival in Jhansi you board the Shatabdi Express Train to Agra. On arrival this evening you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. (B)

DAY 5

Thursday Agra Early today you visit what is one of the absolute highlights of the tour: the Taj Mahal, built in memory of his beloved empress, Mumtaz Mahal, by Emperor Shah Jahan. This marble mausoleum is the greatest gesture of love known to mankind. It is breathtakingly beautiful with many precious stones used in its inlays. Timed to correspond with the sunrise, you have ample time to explore this memorial.

Later in the day you visit the Agra Fort and Sikandra, a beautiful tomb built for the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. (B)

RAJASTHAN,

DAY 6

camel herder, thar desert

city palace balcony, jaipur

DAY 9

DAY 12 Thursday

Friday Agra / Jaipur

Today you travel by road to Jaipur, the Capital of Rajasthan and often referred to as the “Pink City”. Enroute you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, also known as the “Deserted” or “Ghost City”. It was the capital of the Moghal emperor Akbar. (B)

DAY 7

Saturday Jaipur You undertake a comprehensive full day tour of Jaipur taking in the highlights this interesting city has to offer. They include the Hawa Mahal, or the “Palace of Winds”, the Jantar Mantar (Astronomical Observatory) and the ornately decorated Amber Fort, located just outside the city. This was the seat of power before the City Palace was built, which is visited on your return to the city. (B)

DAY 8

Sunday Jaipur / Jodhpur

After breakfast you are driven to Jodhpur, also called the “Blue City”, which is located on the edge of the Thar Desert. This afternoon your tour takes you to the Mehrangarh Fort. Towering over the city, it contains a number of grand palaces, each of which is an impressive example of architectural excellence. Before returning to the hotel for the evening you visit Jaswant Thada, where a number of cenotaphs erected in 1899 are to be found. (B)

Monday Jodhpur / Udaipur After breakfast you are driven through the rugged, wooded hills of Rajasthan to the Jain Temples of Ranakpur. Noted for the grandiose scale of their architecture, the resident priests are still continuing the construction to this day. After viewing the temples you continue on to Udaipur, also known as the “Lake City” because of its two most beautiful sites, the dream-like Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) and the Jag Mandir marble palaces, which appear to rise from the blue waters of Lake Pichhola. (B)

DAY 10 Tuesday Udaipur This morning you have a tour to Eklingji and Nagda Temples, some of which date from the 16th Century. In the afternoon you visit the famous City Palace. It is actually a collection of palaces surrounded by the royal palace walls, which stretch over a mile on the eastern side of the lake. Following this you undertake a boat ride on the lake. (B)

DAY 11 Wednesday Udaipur / Delhi After breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Delhi. (Cost of this flight is additional.) This afternoon you undertake a comprehensive tour of Old and New Delhi including: India Gate, Houses of Parliament, Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, Red Fort and Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. You also visit Qutab Minar, a 1,500 year old tower. (B) ganges river dweller

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Delhi / Kathmandu Following breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Kathmandu. (Cost of this flight is additional.) On arrival at Kathmandu Airport you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel where you stay for two nights. In the evening you are introduced to the culture of Nepal with a Cultural Dinner & Dance at a local restaurant. Kathmandu the capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal and has the air of a medieval city; a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces. In the background there is often the gentle sound of jangling cymbals and the markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened up to visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and traditional lifestyles help to make Kathmandu one of the world’s most fascinating cities. (BD)

DAY 13 Friday Kathmandu This morning you are taken on a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu visiting amongst others the Temple of Kumari, the residence of the living Goddess with its carved wooden balconies and windows and the fabulous Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, which is said to be over 2,000 years old.

NEPAL patan durbar square, nepal

In the afternoon you visit Patan City or “the City of Fine Arts”, as it is also known. Here you visit Patan Durbar Square situated in the heart of the city. Patan Durbar Square contains a number of Hindu Temples and Buddhist Monuments. It consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Chowk. With the assistance of your expert guide you get to explore this interesting area dating back many hundreds of years. (BLD)

DAY 14 Saturday Kathmandu / Nagarkot Following breakfast you are taken to your hotel in Nagarkot. Nagarkot is a small hill station located to the east of Kathmandu. A good panoramic view of the major peaks of the eastern Nepal Himalayas, including Mt Everest, can be seen from here. You have the day at leisure to enjoy your surroundings. (BLD)

DAY 15 Sunday Nagarkot / Kathmandu You rise early today to watch the sunrise over Mt Everest before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Following breakfast you are returned to your hotel in Kathmandu. In the afternoon you are taken to Bhaktapur City or the “City of Devotees”, as it is also called. It is shaped like a conch shell and was the setting for the major Hollywood production The Little Buddha. Pottery and weavings are its traditional industries.

Here you will also visit other architectural showpieces such as Lion Gate, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Bastille Temple and the Bell of Barking Dogs. You also visit Natyapola Temple before being returned to your hotel for this evening. (BLD)

DAY 16 Monday Kathmandu Early this morning you have the opportunity to undertake a flight around Mt Everest. After breakfast you are taken to Boudhanath, which is possibly the world’s largest Buddhist stupa and a site of great veneration for Buddhists.

Around the stupa a number of monasteries of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism have been established including one that houses an enormous, splendidly adorned, seated statue of Maitreya Buddha. You also visit Pashupatinath, the most sacred of Hindu Temples in Nepal and situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Your afternoon is at leisure. This evening you are taken out for dinner. (BLD)

DAY 17 Tuesday Kathmandu / Lhasa This morning you are taken to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. (Cost of this flight is additional.) On arrival you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. (BD)

10 expert local guides throughout

shiva temple, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

& TIBET mountain village, tibet

DAY 18 Wednesday Lhasa After breakfast you visit Potala Palace; the Drepung Monastery and Bharkhor Bazaar. Potala Palace is probably the best known landmark in Tibet, consisting of 13 stories and 1,000 rooms. Once the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, it is now a museum. It can be seen from everywhere in Lhasa. Drepung (meaning “Rice Heap”) Monastery was the biggest and the richest of all the monasteries in Tibet. Said to be the largest Monastery in the world, at its peak it housed over 10,000 monks and governed 7,700 subsidiary monasteries. Founded in 1416 the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama lived and were entombed here. Today only about 400 monks lived there. Bharkhor Bazaar is the largest and oldest market in Tibet. As you walk through Old Lhasa, with its narrow streets, white stone homes, black window frames and brightly painted woodwork, you will notice that almost everyone is selling something! (BLD)

DAY 19 Thursday Lhasa Today you visit Sera Monastery, Jolkhang Temple and Norbulingkha Palace. Sera Monastery, north of Central Lhasa is Tibet’s second largest monastery. This famous place was named after wild roses growing here when founded in 1419. At its peak it housed 7,000 monks and was famous for its warrior monks, the “Dob-Doa”.

Jokhang Temple is located in the heart of Old Lhasa and is the most sacred and oldest temple in Lhasa. According to tradition the temple was built for the two brides of the king, one from the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the other from Nepal. Both wives are said to have brought important Buddhist Statues and Images from China and Nepal to Tibet as part of their dowries. Norbulinkha Palace or the “Jewel Park”, as it is known in Tibetan, was built in the 18th Century by 7th Dalai Lama and served as the summer palace of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas. The palace is an interesting mixture of religious and modern elements and featured a colourful garden which was the site of picnic and public gatherings.

The palaces are richly decorated, creating an atmosphere of peaceful repose. (BLD)

DAY 20 Friday Lhasa Today’s tour takes you out of the city to the Gandan Monastery. Meaning “Joyful”, Gandan Monastery is located on Wangbur Mountain and has commanding views of the Kich Valley below. Like Sera Monastery, it is one of the three most significant Gelugpa University Monasteries. (BLD)

DAY 21 Saturday Depart Lhasa Following breakfast you are collected from your hotel and taken to the airport where your tour comes to an end. (B)

India, Nepal & Tibet Departs * The 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month as a Small Group Tour, with a minimum of two people. Alternatively and at additional cost, any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to April. Shoulder: Nov to Feb but the higher areas will be cold.

Star rating 3-star only. potala palace, lhasa

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

TAMIL NADU,

28 days:

India South to north meenakshi sundareswarer temple, madurai

New Delhi Mandawa Nepal Bikaner Agra Jaisalmer Jaipur Jodhpur Pushkar Udaipur

India

Chennai Mahabalipuram Trichy Pondicherry Tanjore Cochin Kumarakom Madurai Thekkady

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Chennai City Tour. Mahabalipuram, a World Heritage Site. Pondicherry & the Aurobindo Ashram. Tanjore & the Brihadiswara Temple. Trichy & nearby Srirangam. Madurai, the “Athens of the East”. Thekkady & Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Kerala Backwaters’ Houseboat Cruise. Kumarakom & its famous Bird Park. Cochin Sightseeing Tour. Kathakali Dance Drama Performance. Full day Old & New Delhi City Tour. Mandawa & Bikaner. Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour. Sunset Camel Ride in the Sam Desert. Jodhpur, the “Blue City”. Udaipur & City Palace Tour. Pushkar & Pushkar Lake Tour. Jaipur, the “Pink City”. A tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal. Agra & the Agra Fort.

Dining Experiences • 28 superb meals included in the tour: 27 Breakfasts & 1 Dinner.

Please Note • This tour is comprised of more than 12

one small group tour, so guides and other guests will change periodically.

DAY 1

Sunday Arrive Chennai Your tour begins on arrival in Chennai where you are met and taken to your hotel for a relaxing two night stay.

DAY 4

Chennai is one of the four major metropolitan cities of India and is the capital of Tamil Nadu. Stretched out on the coastline where the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal mingle with golden sand beaches, its forts and palaces remind one of a bygone era.

DAY 5

Thursday Pondicherry / Tanjore Today is a full day drive but you have stops at Chidambaram and Kumbakonam. (B)

DAY 2

After breakfast you undertake a morning tour of Tanjore which includes a stop at the Brihadiswara Temple. The afternoon is at leisure to relax or to further explore. (B)

Monday Chennai

After a leisurely breakfast you undertake a full day city tour of Chennai or “Madras”, as it used to be known during british Colonial times. Although it was the oldest settlement of the British in India, the only remnants of this period are the cathedral and the Fort of St George, which you visit during the tour. (B)

DAY 3

Tuesday Chennai / Mahabalipuram Today you are taken by road to the seaside village of Mahabalipuram. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it showcases several antique sculptural marvels and frescoes. On the way you visit Kanchipuram, known as the “Golden City of a Thousand Temples”, it is one of India’s sacred cities.

This afternoon you are taken on a tour of some of the more significant sites to be found in the area. (B)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Wednesday Mahabalipuram/ Pondicherry Your day starts with a drive to Pondicherry. This afternoon you tour Pondicherry, including the Aurobindo Ashram. (B)

DAY 6

Friday Tanjore

DAY 7

Saturday Tanjore / Trichy You start the day with a relatively short drive to Trichy. In the afternoon you visit the town as well as the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam. This beautifully sculpted temple is the largest in India. (B)

DAY 8

Sunday Trichy / Madurai After breakfast you are driven to Madurai. Known as the “Athens of the East”, Madurai is more than 2,000 years old and is believed to have been built by the Pandyan King Kulasekara in the 6th Century BC. In the afternoon you visit the Meenakshi Temple. Designed in1560, it covers an area of six hectares, has four main entrances, twelve towers and 985 richly carved pillars! (B)

KERALA, RAJASTHAN,

DAY 9

Monday Madurai / Thekkady After enjoying breakfast you are driven to Thekkady. This will provide an insight into the life of the locals as you travel past rice paddies and travel through several small villages. As you climb the escarpment to the village of Thekkady, famous for its spices, you notice a change in climate and vegetation. Kerala, the spice capital of the world, was wholly dependent until recent times on its spice trade and traders came from far and wide to purchase these precious commodities. Later you visit a spice plantation for an afternoon tour. (B)

DAY 10 Tuesday Thekkady / Houseboat This morning you are taken to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, for a walk before being driven to Kumarakom. On arrival you are transferred to your houseboat for a relaxing backwaters cruise and overnight stay. Fringing the coast of Kerala and winding far inland is a vast network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals. Floating through these placid waters, passing palm fringed canals, lakes and villages you will observe the locals. You dine onboard as you leisurely meander through this fascinating area. (BD)

DAY 11 Wednesday Houseboat / Kumarakom Following breakfast you disembark and are taken to your hotel. In the afternoon you visit the Kumarakom Bird Park. (B)

DAY 12 Thursday Kumarakom You have the full day at leisure to relax or to explore in your own time. (B)

DAY 13 Friday Kumarakom â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cochin Today you are driven to Cochin where you undertake an afternoon sightseeing tour. Cochin, with its wealth of historical associations, and its magnificent setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, Cochin is one of the most fascinating cities of coastal South India. It is a city with indelible marks of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Jewish traditions. Of special mention is the older parts of the Fort Cochin area which more or less exists as it used to a 1,000 year ago. This part of the city reflects an unusual blend of medieval Portugal, Dutch and English country life grafted on to the tropical Malabar Coast. A special treat awaits you this evening as you proceed to witness the strength and vigour of Kathakali Dance Drama. The extremely stylised gestures, the elaborate make-up, the masks and the splendid costumes of these all-male dancers, recreates an incomparable sense of pageantry. (B)

DAY 14 Saturday Cochin You have a day at leisure to explore the markets in your own time or simply relax at your hotel. (B)

DAY 15 Sunday Cochin / Delhi Following a leisurely breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Delhi. (Cost of this flight is additional.) On arrival in Delhi you are met and taken to your hotel for a two-night stay. (B)

DAY 16 Monday Delhi Following breakfast you undertake a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi during which you visit the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, the memorial site of the Mahatma Gandhi; Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India; and Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colourful market of the old city. In the afternoon you visit New Delhi which includes visits to Qutab Minar, a 72 metre high iron pillar which has survived the vagaries of weather for over 1,500 years, You also visit the Government buildings, built between 1921 and 1930. (B)

DAY 17 Tuesday Delhi / Mandawa Today you are taken by road to Mandawa where, in the afternoon you tour the forts and palace around town. Mandawa is a small town in the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan. It has a unique medieval charm with each home painted in the Shekhawati style, known for its unique colours. (B)

DAY 18 Wednesday Mandawa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bikaner The day sees you driven to Bikaner with an afternoon tour of the town. Bikaner is a desert fortified city on the ancient caravan routes that linked Africa and West Asia. The fort, founded by Raja Rai Singh, is distinguished by its numerous pavilions and elaborate balconies. (B)

DAY 19 Thursday Bikaner / Jaisalmer After breakfast you depart for Jaisalmer. This drive takes most of the day. (B)

DAY 20 Friday Jaisalmer Today you undertake a half day sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer, which is followed by a sunset camel ride in the Sam Desert, only a short drive from the city. houseboat, kerala backwaters

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

UTTAR PRADESH & DELHI the taj mahal, agra

Jaisalmer, the “Citadel City” as it is often called, was built in the 12th Century from yellow sandstone and lies in the silence of the Thar Desert. The forts, palaces and superbly carved Jain Temples in and around Jaisalmer are all reminiscent of a glorious history. (B)

DAY 21 Saturday Jaisalmer / Jodhpur You set off this morning for Jodhpur, also known as the “Blue City”. In the afternoon you tour the city, as well as the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur was the home of the Rathore Rulers and still has its high stone wall surrounding the city, built to protect it during their rule. Overlooking Jodhpur is the imposing Mehrangarh Fort, which was founded in1459 AD. The fort is intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed windows, designed of exquisite red sandstone. (B)

DAY 22 Sunday Jodhpur / Udaipur Your journey today takes you to Udaipur. Enroute you visit the Jain Temples in Ranakpur. (B)

DAY 23 Monday Udaipur You start the day with a visit to the Sri Eklingji and Nagda Temples. In the afternoon you tour the “Lake City”, as Udaipur is also known, before undertaking a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Udaipur is a cool oasis in the dry heart of Rajasthan and is probably the most romantic city in a state where every city has some romantic or exotic tale to tell. The huge City Palace, towering over the Lake Pichola, is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. (B)

DAY 26 Thursday Jaipur This morning you visit the Amber Fort, the former capital of the Royal Jaipurs. Your guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and water-cooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents. In the afternoon you visit the city of Jaipur. During the tour you see the Hawa Mahal or “Palace of the Winds”, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone overlooking the main street of the old city. You also visit the City Palace in the heart of the old city, with its blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. (B)

Jaipur / Agra After breakfast you are driven to Agra with a visit to Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar as his capital. It was a veritable fairy tale city with its ruins still in a pristine condition. (B)

DAY 28 Saturday Agra / Depart Delhi Today you undertake a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. No matter how many photos of it you have seen, the Taj never disappoints! Besides its perfect symmetry, the inlay of semi-precious stones into marble is simply remarkable. Later you visit the Agra Fort before being taken to Delhi Airport. (B)

India South to North Departs * The 4th Sunday of the month as a Small Group Tour, with a minimum of two people. Alternatively and at additional cost, most days of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

DAY 24 Tuesday Udaipur / Pushkar Following breakfast you are driven to Pushkar where you undertake a tour of the town and Pushkar Lake in the afternoon. Pushkar is a well known Hindu Pilgrim Centre. It is also known for its camel and cattle fair. (B)

Time to visit Best: November to March.

DAY 25 Wednesday

DAY 27 Friday

Star rating

Pushkar / Jaipur Today you travel to Jaipur with a visit to Ajmer on the way. On arrival in Jaipur you have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. (B)

3-star only.

Jaisalmer, thar desert

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

NEPAL,

14 days:

Nepal Tibet & bhutan jewellery from the region

Tibet

Lhasa Nepal

Kathmandu Nagarkot

Paro

Thimphu Bhutan

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Kathmandu, Nepal’s ancient capital. Nagarkot & its views of Mount Everest. A flight around Mount Everest. Potala Palace, a well known landmark. The Drepung Monastery, Tibet’s largest. Bharkhor Bazaar, Tibet’s oldest market. Sera Monastery, Tibet’s second largest. Jolkhang Temple, Lhasa’s most sacred. Norbulingkha Palace, the “Jewel Park”. Paro & its picturesque valley surrounds. Thimphu & its Buddhist Culture.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes almost all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available in the destinations visited. • 36 superb meals included in the tour: 13 Breakfasts,10 Lunches & 13 Dinners.

Please Note • This tour is comprised of more than one small group tour, so local guides and guests will change periodically. • This tour includes high altitude areas. • You may elect to undertake Nepal & Tibet only or alternatively, Tibet & Bhutan only, at a reduced cost. • For this tour a Chinese Visa (US$114) must be paid for in Kathmandu. Inca Tours will arrange this in advance.

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu On arrival into Kathmandu you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel for two nights. This evening you are introduced to the culture of Nepal with a Cultural Dinner & Dance at a local restaurant. Kathmandu the capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal and has the air of a medieval city. It is a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces. In the background there is often the gentle sound of jangling cymbals and the markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened up to visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and traditional lifestyles help to make Kathmandu one of the world’s most fascinating cities. (BD)

DAY 2

Kathmandu This morning you are taken on a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu, visiting among others the Temple of Kumari, the residence of the Living Goddess with its carved wooden balconies and windows. You also visit the fabulous Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, which is said to be over 2,000 years old. In the afternoon you visit Patan City or “the City of Fine Arts”, as it is also known. Here you visit Patan Durbar Square, situated in the heart of the city and boasting many Hindu Temples and Buddhist Monuments. It consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Chowk. With the assistance of your guide, you will explore this interesting area dating back many hundreds of years. (BLD)

DAY 3

Kathmandu / Nagarkot Following breakfast you are taken to your hotel in Nagarkot. Nagarkot is a small hill station located to the east of Kathmandu. A good panoramic view of the major peaks of the eastern Nepal Himalayas, including Mt Everest, can be seen from here. You have the day at leisure to enjoy your surroundings. (BLD)

DAY 4

Nagarkot / Kathmandu You rise early today to watch the sunrise over Mt Everest before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Following breakfast you are taken to your hotel in Kathmandu. This afternoon you are taken to Bhaktapur City or the “City of Devotees”, as it is also called. It is shaped like a conch shell and was the setting for the major Hollywood production The Little Buddha. Pottery and weavings are its traditional industries. Here you also visit other architectural showpieces such as Lion Gate, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Bastille Temple and the Bell of Barking Dogs. You also visit Natyapola Temple before returning to your hotel. (BLD)

DAY 5

Kathmandu Early this morning you have the chance to undertake a flight around Mt Everest.

TIBET bodhnath stupa, nepal

Following breakfast you are taken to Boudhanath, which is possibly the world’s largest Buddhist Stupa and a site of great veneration for Buddhists. Around the stupa a number of monasteries of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism have grown up including one that houses an enormous, splendidly adorned, seated statue of Maitreya Buddha. You also visit Pashupatinath, the most sacred of Hindu Temples in Nepal and situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. You have the remainder of the day at leisure until you are taken out to dinner. (BLD)

DAY 6

Kathmandu / Lhasa After breakfast you are taken to Kathmandu Airport for your flight to Lhasa, Tibet. (Cost of this flight is additional.) On arrival at Lhasa Airport you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. (BD)

DAY 7

peak it housed over 10,000 monks and governed 7,700 subsidiary monasteries. Founded in 1416 the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama lived and were entombed here. Today only about 400 monks lived there.

Potala Palace is probably the best known landmark in Tibet. It consists of 13 stories and 1,000 rooms and was previously the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Now a museum, it can be seen and photographed from any part of Lhasa.

Bharkhor Bazaar is the largest and oldest market in Tibet. As you walk through the heart of old Lhasa, with its narrow streets white-washed stone homes, windows framed in black and brightly painted woodwork, you will notice that almost everyone has something to sell! (BLD)

Lhasa Following breakfast today you visit Potala Palace, the Drepung Monastery and Bharkhor Bazaar.

Drepung (meaning “Rice Heap”) Monastery was the biggest and the richest of all the monasteries in Tibet. Said to be the largest Monastery in the world, at its

DAY 8

Lhasa

Today you visit the Sera Monastery, Jolkhang Temple and Norbulingkha Palace.

Sera Monastery is situated to the north of Central Lhasa and is Tibet’s second largest monastery. This famous place was named after the wild roses growing around it when it was founded in 1419. At its peak it housed over 7,000 monks and was known for its warrior monks known as the “Dob-Doa”. Jokhang Temple is located in the heart of old Lhasa and is the most sacred and oldest temple in Lhasa. According to tradition, it was built for the two brides of the king, one from the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the other from Nepal. Both are said to have brought to Tibet important Buddhist Statues and images from China and Nepal as part of their dowries and they were housed here. Norbulinkha Palace or the “Jewel Park”, as it is known in Tibetan, was built in the 18th Century by 7th Dalai Lama and served as the summer palace of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas. The palace is an interesting mixture of religious and modern elements and featured a colourful garden landscape which was the site of picnic and public gatherings. The palaces are richly decorated, creating an atmosphere of peaceful repose. (BLD)

DAY 9

Lhasa Your tour today takes you out of the city to the Gandan Monastery. Meaning “Joyful”, Gandan Monastery is located on Wangbur Mountain and has commanding views of the Kich Valley down below. Like Sera Monastery, it is one of the three most significant Gelugpa University Monasteries. (BLD)

16 mountain landscape, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

& BHUTAN paro, bhutan

memorial chorten, bhutan

DAY 12 Thimphu

DAY 13 Thimphu / Paro

You start with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten with its finely executed wall paintings and statues. This provides an insight into the Kingdom’s Buddhist Culture. On your return you drive past Tashi Chhoe Dzong (“Fortress of the Glorious Religion”), a fortress-monastery erected in 1641. This afternoon you visit the National Library, established in the1960s to conserve Bhutan’s literary treasures, which form a significant part of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. You then visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum, known as the “Painting School”, where students spend six years training in 13 traditional arts and crafts. You also visit the folk Heritage and National Textile Museums. (BLD)

After breakfast you drive up the Dochu-la Pass, where you stop briefly to admire the 108 Chorten (spiritual Stupas), Mani Wall (prayer slate covered stone wall) and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If skies are clear you will be able to see many of the high peaks which surround the area including Gangkar Puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497 metres. From here you return to Paro where you visit the Paro Bazaar to witness the day-to-day life of the locals. (BLD)

DAY 10 Lhasa / Paro This morning you are taken to the airport to fly to Paro in Bhutan, via Kathmandu where you change planes. (Cost of these flights is additional.) On arrival you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. Paro is located in a beautiful valley encapsulating a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends. It is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport and the National Museum. Mt Chomolhari (7,300 metres) reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley, its glacial waters plunging down to form the Pa Chu (“Paro River”). (BD)

DAY 11 Paro / Thimphu After breakfast you walk to the Taktsang Monastery, the most famous in Bhutan and perched on a cliff 900 metres above the Paro Valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this place, hence the monastery is also called “Tiger’s Nest”. This site is a place of pilgrimage which Bhutanese try to visit at least once in a lifetime. The excursion up to the viewing area located on a rocky outcrop across a ravine from the monastery takes about five hours round trip. Though the climb is steep, the journey is worthwhile on account of the superb views enroute. After lunch you are taken to your hotel in Thimphu, the capital. Exquisitely beautiful and boasting traditional Bhutanese art, architecture and culture, this tiny capital city is nothing less than Shangri-La. (BLD)

DAY 14 Depart Paro Following breakfast you are taken to the airport where your tour ends. (B)

Nepal, Tibet & Bhutan Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: Mar to April & Sept to Oct. Shoulder: May & November.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

Flights & Visas Flight schedules & visa conditions for Tibet & Bhutan can change. Please contact us for further info. 17 picturesque valley, bhutan

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DELHI, RAJASTHAN

12 days:

gods & goldenTriangle the taj mahal, agra

New Delhi Jaipur Jodhpur Udaipur

Nepal

Agra

Khajuraho

Varanasi

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Varanasi & a Ganges’ Arti Ceremony. Khajuraho & its unique architecture. A tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal. Agra & the Agra Fort. The state of Rajasthan. Jaipur, the “Pink City”. Jodhpur, the “Blue City”. Udaipur & City Palace Tour. Old & New Delhi City Tour.

Dining Experiences • This tour includes breakfast daily, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 11 superb Breakfasts are included.

DAY 1

On arrival in Delhi you are met and taken to your hotel for the night.

DAY 2

Monday Delhi / Varanasi Following breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Varanasi (Cost of this flight is additional.) On arrival you are met and taken on a tour of Sarnath which symbolises the birth of Buddhism with sculptures dating back to the 3rd Century BC. This evening you visit the Ganges where temples will be lit with oil-lamps and candles. This light, combined with the aromas of incense sticks, oil lamps and flowers filling the air, makes the experience magical as you watch hundreds of little lamps float on to the Ganges as offerings during the Arti Ceremony (“collective prayer”). After this spiritual experience you return to your hotel for the night. (B)

DAY 3

Sunday Arrive Delhi

Tuesday Varanasi / Khajuraho

You witness an incredible scene on your early morning boat ride, as thousands of pilgrims and other devotees immerse themselves in the holy water of the Ganges River to pay their homage to the revered sun god. This is followed by a late breakfast at your hotel before being taken to the airport for your flight to Khajuraho (Cost of this flight is additional.) In the realm of architecture, Khajuraho holds a unique position! The temples here were built

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

between 950 and1,050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty, who claims descent from the Moon God and a mortal, Hemavati, with whom the god fell in love. After freshening up at your hotel you have a comprehensive tour of the Eastern and Western Group of Temples containing some of the finest examples of Chandela Art to be found. (B)

DAY 4

Wednesday Khajuraho / Agra

You start the day with a final visit to the Khajuraho Temples. Later you are driven to Jhansi with a visit to Orchha enroute. Once the capital of its own state, Orchha is made up of three joined palaces in the same style as the palace in Udaipur. On arrival in Jhansi you board the Shatabdi Express Train to Agra. On arrival this evening you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. (B)

DAY 5

Thursday Agra

Early today you visit what is one of the absolute highlights of the tour: the Taj Mahal, built in memory of his beloved empress, Mumtaz Mahal, by Emperor Shah Jahan. This marble mausoleum is the greatest gesture of love known to mankind. It is breathtakingly beautiful with many precious stones used in its inlays. Timed to correspond with the sunrise, you have ample time to explore this memorial. Later in the day you visit the Agra Fort and Sikandra, a beautiful tomb built for the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. (B)

& UTTAR PRADESH the “lake palace”, udaipur

DAY 6

Friday Agra / Jaipur

Today you travel by road to Jaipur, the Capital of Rajasthan and often referred to as the “Pink City”. Enroute you visit Fatehpur Sikri, also known as the “Deserted City” or the “Ghost City”. It was previously the capital of the Moghal Emperor Akbar. (B)

DAY 7

Saturday Jaipur You undertake a comprehensive full day tour of Jaipur taking in the highlights this interesting city has to offer. They include the Hawa Mahal, or the “Palace of Winds”, the Jantar Mantar (Astronomical Observatory) and the ornately decorated Amber Fort, located just outside of the city. This was the seat of power before the City Palace was built, which is also visited on your return to the city. (B)

DAY 8

Sunday Jaipur / Jodhpur

After breakfast you are driven to Jodhpur, also known as the “Blue City”. Jodhpur is located on the edge of the Thar Desert. This afternoon your tour takes you to the Mehrangarh Fort. Towering over the city, it contains a number of grand palaces, each of which is an impressive example of architectural excellence. Before returning to the hotel you visit Jaswant Thada where a number of cenotaphs erected in 1899 are to be found. (B)

DAY 9

Monday Jodhpur / Udaipur

After breakfast you are driven through the rugged, wooded hills of Rajasthan to the Jain Temples of Ranakpur. Noted for the grandiose scale of their architecture, the resident priests are still continuing the construction to this day. After viewing the temples you continuing on to Udaipur, also known as the “Lake City” because of its two most beautiful sites, the dream-like Jag Niwas (“Lake Palace”) and the Jag Mandir marble palaces, which appear to rise from the blue waters of Lake Pichhola. (B)

DAY 10 Tuesday

This afternoon you will undertake a comprehensive tour of Old and New Delhi in which you see India Gate, the Houses of Parliament, the Raj Ghat, the Memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. Your also visit Qutab Minar, a 1,500 year old tower which is still standing. (B)

DAY 12 Thursday Depart Delhi Following breakfast you are collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Your tour comes to an end on arrival at the airport. (B)

Udaipur Today you undertake a morning excursion to the Eklingji and Nagda Temples, some of which date from the 16th Century. In the afternoon you visit the famous City Palace. It is actually a collection of palaces all surrounded by the Royal Palace walls, which stretch over a mile on the eastern side of the lake. Following your tour of the palace you undertake a short boat ride on the lake. (B)

DAY 11 Wednesday Udaipur / Delhi Following breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Delhi. (Cost of this flight is additional.) On arrival you are met and taken to your Delhi hotel. jodhpur, the “blue city”

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

The Golden Triangle Departs * The 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month as a Small Group Tour, with a minimum of two people. Alternatively and at additional cost, any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: November to March.

Star rating 3-star only. 19

RAJASTHAN

14 days:

Rajasthan Heritage “bollywood” billboard & the taj mahal

New Delhi Mandawa Nepal Bikaner Agra Jaisalmer Jaipur Jodhpur Pushkar Udaipur

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Full day Old & New Delhi City Tour. Mandawa & Bikaner. Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour. Jodhpur, the “Blue City”. Udaipur & City Palace Tour. Pushkar & Pushkar Lake Tour. Jaipur, the “Pink City”. Agra & the Agra Fort. A tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal.

Dining Experiences • This tour includes breakfast daily, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 13 superb Breakfasts are included.

DAY 1

Sunday Arrive Delhi On arrival in Delhi you are met and taken to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Thursday Bikaner / Jaisalmer Following breakfast you depart for Jaisalmer. The drive takes most of the day. (B)

DAY 2

Monday Delhi After breakfast you undertake a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi during which you visit the Red Fort; Raj Ghat, the memorial site of the Mahatma Gandhi; Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India; and Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colourful market of the old city. This afternoon you visit New Delhi, including a visit to Qutab Minar, a 72 metre high iron pillar which has survived the vagaries of weather for 1,500 years. (B)

DAY 6

DAY 3

DAY 7

Tuesday Delhi / Mandawa

Today you are taken by road to Mandawa where, in the afternoon you tour the forts and palace around the town. Mandawa is a small town in the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan. It has a unique medieval charm with each home painted in the Shekhawati style, known for its rich use of colours. (B)

DAY 4

Wednesday Mandawa – Bikaner Today you are driven to Bikaner with an afternoon city tour on arrival. Bikaner is a desert fortified city on the ancient caravan routes that linked Africa and West Asia. The fort, founded by Raja Rai Singh, is distinguished by its numerous pavilions and balconies. (B)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 5

Friday Jaisalmer Today you undertake a half day sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer which is followed by a sunset camel ride in the Sam Desert, a short drive from the city. Jaiselmere, the Citadel City as it is often called, was built in the 12th Century from yellow sandstone and lies in the silence of the Thar Desert. The forts, palaces and superbly carved Jain Temples in and around Jaisalmer are all reminiscent of a glorious history. (B) Saturday Jaisalmer / Jodhpur

You set off this morning for Jodhpur, also known as the “Blue City”. In the afternoon you tour the city, as well as the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur was the home of the Rathore Rulers and still has its high stone wall around the city, built to protect it during their rule. Overlooking Jodhpur is the imposing Mehrangarh Fort, founded in1459 AD. The fort is intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed windows, designed of exquisite Red Sandstone. (B)

DAY 8

Sunday Jodhpur / Udaipur Your journey today takes you to Udaipur. Enroute you visit the Jain Temples in Ranakpur. (B)

DAY 9

local of jaipur, the “pink city”

traditional indian dance

In the afternoon you visit the city. During the tour you see the Hawa Mahal or “Palace of the Winds”, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone overlooking the main street of the old city. You also visit the City Palace in the heart of the old city with its blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. (B)

DAY 14 Saturday

Monday Udaipur

You start the day with a visit to the Sri Eklingji and Nagda Temples. In the afternoon you tour the “Lake City”, as Udaipur is also known, before undertaking a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Udaipur is a cool oasis in the dry heart of Rajasthan and is probably the most romantic city in a state where every city has some romantic or exotic tale to tell. The huge City Palace, towering over the Lake Pichola, is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. (B)

DAY 10 Tuesday Udaipur / Pushkar After breakfast you are driven to Pushkar where in the afternoon, you undertake a tour of the town and Pushkar Lake. Pushkar is a well known Hindu pilgrim centre and famous for its camel and cattle fair. (B)

DAY 11 Wednesday Pushkar / Jaipur Today you travel to Jaipur with a visit to Ajmer enroute. On arrival in Jaipur, the “Pink City”, your afternoon is at leisure. (B)

DAY 12 Thursday Jaipur This morning you visit the Amber Fort, the former capital of the Royal Jaipurs. Your guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirrorstudded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and watercooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents.

DAY 13 Friday Jaipur / Agra Following breakfast you are driven to Agra with a visit to Fatehpur Sikri on the way. Fatehpur Sikri, today a ghost town, was built by Emperor Akbar as his capital. It was a veritable fairy tale city with its ruins still in a pristine condition. (B)

Agra / Depart Delhi Early this morning you undertake a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, one of the most photographed monument in the world. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved Empress, Mumtaz Mahal. This marble mausoleum is the greatest gesture of love known to mankind. No matter how many pictures you have seen of it, the Taj never lets you down! Besides its perfect symmetry, the inlay work of semi-precious stones into marble in the Pietra Dura style is absolutely remarkable. Later you are taken to visit Agra Fort before being transferred to Delhi Airport. (B)

Rajasthan Heritage Departs * The 2nd Sunday of the month as a Small Group Tour, with a minimum of two people. Alternatively and at additional cost, any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: November to March.

Star rating 3-star only. 21 taj umaid bhawan palace & hotel, jodhpur

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

TAMIL NADU

14 days:

South india Cultural local craft, india

Nepal

India

Chennai Mahabalipuram Trichy Pondicherry Tanjore Cochin Kumarakom Madurai Thekkady

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dining Experiences • This tour includes mainly breakfasts, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 14 superb meals included in the tour: 13 Breakfasts & 1 Dinner.

DAY 1

Sunday Arrive Chennai Your tour begins on arrival in Chennai where you are met and taken to your hotel for a two nights. Chennai is one of the four major metropolitan cities of India and the capital of Tamil Nadu. Stretched out on the coastline where the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal mingle with golden sand beaches, its forts and palaces are like a bygone era.

DAY 2

Monday Chennai After breakfast you undertake a full day tour of Chennai or “Madras”, as it was known. Although it was the oldest settlement of the British in India, the only British remains are the Fort of St George and the cathedral, which you visit during today’s tour. (B)

DAY 3

Tuesday Chennai / Mahabalipuram Today you are driven to the seaside village of Mahabalipuram. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it showcases antique frescoes and sculptural marvels. On the way you visit Kanchipuram, known as the “Golden City of a Thousand Temples” and one of India’s sacred cities. In the afternoon you tour more significant sites in the area. (B)

DAY 4

Wednesday Mahabalipuram/ Pondicherry Your day starts with a drive to Pondicherry. In the afternoon you undertake a tour of Pondicherry which includes a visit to the Aurobindo Ashram. (B)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 5

Thursday Pondicherry / Tanjore

Today is quite a long driving day but you do stop to visit Chidambaram and Kumbakonam along the way. (B)

DAY 6

Friday Tanjore

Following breakfast you undertake a morning tour of Tanjore which includes a stop at the Brihadiswara Temple. The afternoon is at leisure to relax or to explore in your own time. (B)

DAY 7

Saturday Tanjore / Trichy

You start the day with a relatively short drive to Trichy. In the afternoon you visit the town as well as the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam. This beautifully sculpted temple is the largest in India. (B)

DAY 8

Sunday Trichy / Madurai

After breakfast you are taken to Madurai by road. Known as the “Athens of the East”, Madurai is more than 2,000 years old and is believed to have been built by the Pandyan King Kulasekara in the 6th Century BC. In the afternoon you will visit the Meenakshi Temple. Designed in 1560 it covers an area of six hectares and has four main entrances, twelve towers and 985 richly carved pillars. (B)

& KERALA

DAY 9

pristine backwaters, kerala

traditional indian drama

DAY 12 Thursday

This part of the city reflects an unusual mix of medieval Portugal, Dutch and English country life grafted onto the beautiful Malabar Coast.

Monday Madurai / Thekkady

After breakfast you are driven to Thekkady. This will provide an insight into the life of the locals as you travel past rice paddies and through several small villages. As you climb up the escarpment to the village of Thekkady, famous for its spices, you notice a change in climate and vegetation. Kerala, the “World’s Spice Capital” was dependent, until recent times, on its spice trade. Traders came from far and wide to purchase these precious commodities. This afternoon you tour a spice plantation. (B)

DAY 10 Tuesday Thekkady / Houseboat This morning you are taken to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary for a morning walk before being driven to Kumarakom. On arrival you transfer to your houseboat for a relaxing backwaters cruise and overnight stay. Fringing the coast of Kerala and winding far inland is a vast network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals. Floating through these placid waters, passing palm fringed canals, lakes and villages you will observe the locals going about their daily lives. You have your meals on board as you leisurely meander through this area. (BD)

DAY 11 Wednesday Houseboat / Kumarakom Following breakfast you disembark and are taken to your hotel. In the afternoon you visit the Kumarakom Bird Park (B)

Kumarakom You have the day completely at leisure. (B)

DAY 13 Friday Kumarakom – Cochin Today you are driven to Cochin where on arrival, you undertake a sightseeing tour. Cochin, with its history and magnificent setting on a cluster of islands and peninsulas is one of South India’s most fascinating cities. It is a city with indelible marks of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Jewish traditions. Of special mention are the older parts of the Fort Cochin area, which more or less exist as they did 1,000 years ago.

A special treat awaits this evening when you witness the strength and vigour of Kathakali dramatic dance. The stylised gestures, elaborate make-up, masks and splendid costumes of the all-male dancers, recreates an incomparable sense of pageantry. (B)

DAY 14 Saturday Depart Cochin Following breakfast you are collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport where your tour comes to an end. (B)

South India Cultural Departs * The 4th Sunday of the month as a Small Group Tour, with a minimum of two people. Alternatively and at additional cost, any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: December to April.

Star rating 3-star only. 23 meenakshi temples, madurai

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

TAMIL NADU

9 days:

South India Highlights mahabalipuram, a unesco world heritage site

Nepal

India

Bangalore Chennai Mysore Mahabalipuram Ooty Coonoor

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Mahabalipuram, a World Heritage Site. Chennai City Tour. The Shatabdi Express Train. Mysore, famous for silk & sandalwood. The beautiful Mysore Palace. Srirangapatnam, made mainly of wood. Ooty, a picturesque mountain village. The ‘Toy Train’ to Coonoor. Coonoor, a popular hill resort town. Bangalore & Cubbon Park Gardens. The Mughal-style Tipu’s Palace & Fort.

Dining Experiences • This tour includes breakfast daily, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 8 superb Breakfasts are included.

DAY 1

Monday Arrive Chennai / Mahabalipuram Your tour begins on arrival in Chennai where you are met and driven to your hotel in Mahabalipuram for a two-night stay.

DAY 2

Tuesday Mahabalipuram This morning you tour Mahabalipuram. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it showcases antique sculptural marvels and frescoes. Your afternoon is at leisure. (B)

DAY 3

Wednesday Mahabalipuram / Chennai After a leisurely breakfast you are taken by road to Chennai or “Madras”, as it used to be known. Although it was the oldest settlement of the British in India, the only remnants of this period are the cathedral and the Fort of St George. Chennai is one of the four major metropolitan cities of India and is the capital of Tamil Nadu. Stretched out on the coastline where the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal mingle with golden sand beaches, its forts and palaces remind one of a bygone era. This afternoon you undertake a city tour. (B)

DAY 5

Friday Mysore

Today’s full day tour takes you to Srirangapatnam, as well as Mysore. Srirangapatnam is constructed mainly of wood with the murals on the outer walls depicting scenes from Tipu’s wars, while the interior walls are ornately painted with abstract designs and floral motifs. Mysore is famous for its silk, sandalwood and incense and is steeped in history. Mysore Palace, built in Indo-Saracenic style, is one of India’s largest and most brilliant palaces. It is a kaleidoscope of stained glass, mirror, gilt and colour with beautifully carved wooden doors and mosaic floors. (B)

DAY 4

Thursday Chennai / Mysore This morning you are taken to the railway station to board the Shatabdi Express bound for Mysore. On arrival early this afternoon you are met and taken to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. (B) street markets, mysore

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

& KARNATAKA hindu temple, chennai

gargoyle, fort of st george

bangalore palace

DAY 6

DAY 7

DAY 8

Saturday Mysore / Ooty

Following breakfast you are driven to Ooty. This afternoon you undertake a comprehensive tour of the area. Ooty is a picturesque town nestling in an amphitheatre created by four majestic hills which are part of the Nilgiri Ranges, the meeting points for the Western and the Eastern Ghats. The name Nilgiri or the “Blue Mountains” may have been derived from when the funnel-shaped lavenderblue flowers blossom. When this occurs the picturesque mountain range is covered with the colour of the blue lavender, making the entire mountain appear a beautiful blue. (B)

Sunday Ooty – Coonoor

This morning you are taken to Ooty Train Station where, subject to its operation, you board the Toy Train to Coonoor. On arrival you undertake a tour of the area before being driven back to Ooty by road. Coonoor, situated at an altitude of 610 metres, is a small town with an equable climate that has made it popular as a hill resort in its own right. The main attraction is the Sim’s Park, a small well-maintained botanical garden that has several varieties of plants not to be found in any other hilly areas of this particular part of India. (B)

Monday Ooty / Bangalore

Your journey today takes you to Bangalore, where in the afternoon you are taken on a sightseeing tour. You also visit the Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park Gardens. The name Lal Bagh was given to these gardens because of the wonderful red roses which bloom all year round. The final visit is to Tipu’s Palace and Fort. The architecture and layout of this palace is in the Mughal-style and provides an insight into a past era. (B)

DAY 9

Tuesday Depart Bangalore

After breakfast you are met and transferred to the airport where your tour ends. (B)

South India Highlights Departs * The 2nd and 4th Monday of the month as a Small Group Tour, with a minimum of two people. Alternatively and at additional cost, any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: November to March.

Star rating 3-star only. 25 dance & drama performers, south india

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

MAHARASHTRA, MADHYA PRADESH

8 days:

wildlife & temples a watchful tiger, india

Nepal

India Khajuraho

Varanasi Bandhavgarh NP

Kanha NP

Raipur

Tailor-made Tour Highlights

DAY 1

• • • • • • • • •

On arrival at Raipur Airport this morning you are met and driven to your lodge located near the Kanha Tiger Reserve. You have two nights here. One of the largest National Parks in India, Kanha offers the best chance of seeing tiger in the wild. With its plateaus, hills and grasslands, it is also one of the country’s most scenic parks. (D)

Expert local guides in each location. Two of India’s best Tiger Reserves. Two-night stay at Kanha Tiger Reserve. Two-night stay at Bandhavgarh NP. Morning & evening Jeep Safaris. A Sound & Light Show at Khajuraho. Khajuraho’s Western Group of Temples. Arti Ceremony, Ganges River, Varanasi. A morning Ganges River Cruise.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes most but not all meals, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 16 superb meals included in the tour: 7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 5 Dinners.

DAY 2

Arrive Raipur / Kanha Reserve

Kanha Tiger Reserve

Both in the morning and afternoon you undertake safaris to track tiger. While looking for these elusive cats, you should also see a selection of other animals, birds and plants. During the heat of the day you have the opportunity to relax. (BLD)

26 a chital deer stag, india

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 3

Kanha Tiger Reserve / Bandhavgarh National Park

Following a final game drive and breakfast you are taken by road to your lodge conveniently located near the Bandhavgarh National Park for a another fabulous twonight wildlife encounter. Bandhavgarh National Park has been a centre of human activity for 2,000 years and previously belonged to the Maharaja of Rewa. It is famous for its tigers but it also has a wide variety of other game. (BLD)

DAY 4

Bandhavgarh National Park

During your stay at Bandhavgarh National Park you undertake morning and evening safaris to track tiger. (BLD)

& UTTAR PRADESH the western group of temples, khajuraho

DAY 5

Bandhavgarh / Khajuraho After your final game drive you are driven to Khajuraho for a two-night stay. (B)

DAY 6

Khajuraho In the realm of architecture, Khajuraho holds a unique position! The temples here were built between 950 and 1,050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty, who claims descent from the Moon God and a mortal, Hemavati, with whom the God fell in love. This morning you have a comprehensive tour of the Western Group of Temples featuring some of the finest examples of Chandela Art to be found. This evening (if operating) you attend a spectacular Sound & Light Show at the temples! (BL)

DAY 7

a beautiful tiger, india

Khajuraho / Varanasi

sticks, oil lamps and flowers filling the air, makes the experience magical as you watch hundreds of little lamps float out onto the Ganges River as offerings during the Arti Ceremony (â&#x20AC;&#x153;collective prayerâ&#x20AC;?). After this spiritual experience you return to your hotel for the night. (BD)

After a morning at leisure you are taken to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Located on the west side of the Holy Ganges, it has been the centre of the Hindu Religion, learning and civilisation for over 3,000 years, thus making it one of the oldest living cities in India.

DAY 8

This afternoon you have time to visit a silk emporium and see fine hand weaving taking place. In the evening you are taken by bicycle rickshaws through the colourful, chaotic, vibrant market area to reach the banks of the Ganges where the temples will be lit with oil-lamps and candles. This light, combined with the aromas of incense

You will witness an incredible scene on your early morning boat ride, as thousands of pilgrims and other devotees immerse themselves in the holy water of the Ganges River to pay their homage to the revered Sun God. This is followed by a late breakfast at your hotel before being taken to the airport where your tour ends. (B)

Depart Varanasi

Wildlife & Temples Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: November to March.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

27 the ganges river, varanasi

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DELHI, UTTAR PRADESH, UTTARANCHAL,

14 days: Amritsar

Dharamasala Shimla Haridwar

New Delhi

Himalayas & The North a holy man, haridwar

Corbett NP Nepal

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights

DAY 1

• • • • • • • • • •

Your tour starts on arrival into Delhi, where you are met and taken to your hotel for tonight.

You again undertake an early morning and a late afternoon safari into Corbett National Park. (BLD)

DAY 2

DAY 5

• • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Three nights at Corbett National Park. Morning & evening Tiger Safaris. Arti Ritual, Ganges River, Haridwar. Haridwar City Tour. Visit to Rishikesh, India’s Yoga Capital. Spectacular Himalaya Scenery. Shimla & Surroundings Tour. Dharamsala & McLeodganji Tour. A view of Tsuglagkhang Complex, the official residence of the Dalai Lama. Amritsar City Tour. Visit to the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Wagah Border Crossing Excursion. The Shatabdi Express Train to Delhi.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes many but not all meals, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 24 superb meals included in the tour: 13 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches & 9 Dinners.

Arrive Delhi

Delhi / Corbett NP

Following breakfast you are collected from the hotel and driven by road to the Corbett National Park in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. On arrival at your lodge in the early afternoon, you check in for an exciting three-night stay. You have the remainder of the day to relax and explore our surroundings. (BD)

DAY 3

Corbett National Park

DAY 4

Corbett National Park

Corbett NP / Haridwar

This morning you are driven to Haridwar, one of India’s most spiritual places, located on the Ganges River where it leaves the Himalaya Mountain Range. On arrival in the afternoon you check into your hotel for a two-night experience. In the evening you will be taken to the Ganges River to witness the Arti Ritual which has been taking place here for thousands of years. (BD)

Corbett National Park was India’s first national park and tiger reserve, founded in1936. It has a diverse topography with savannah grasslands, deep gorges, rolling hills and thick forest cover. The park provides an opportunity to see a large variety of animals, which includes the elusive Tiger. There are also a substantial number of bird species to be found, over 600. As you drive through the reserve in your safari vehicles you may be surprised to hear the crowing of roosters and see them running around until you realise that these are the wild ancestors of the common chicken. Chital Deer and Wild Boar are also relatively common.

Today you are taken on a full day tour of Haridwar and Rishikesh. Haridwar is one of the holiest cities in India for Hindu pilgrims and consequently has many temples and places of worship. Rishikesh, the “Yoga Capital of the World”, is located 24 kilometres upstream on the banks of the Ganges. Its bazaars and narrow lanes are vibrant with shops selling religious artifacts and as the evening descends the ringing of temple bells fills the air. Your evening is at leisure to further soak up the atmosphere of this spiritual place. (BD)

You undertake an early morning and an afternoon safari into the park to spot the various live treasures the park holds. (BLD)

You are driven to Chandigarh in the Lower Himalayas. This evening you are taken to the Rock Gardens and Pinjore. (BD)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 6

DAY 7

Haridwar

Haridwar / Chandigarh

HIMACHAL PRADESH & PUNJAB shimla from a distance

amrit sarovar lake, amritsar

DAY 8

DAY 11 Dharamsala

Chandigarh / Shimla

Following breakfast you are driven through spectacular scenery to Shimla, the Old Summer Capital of India in Colonial times. On arrival in the afternoon you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax. (B)

DAY 9

Shimla

This morning you are taken on a drive to the Naldhera Region. Your drive includes a stop at the Pine and Oak Woods at Mashobra and the opportunity to experience spectacular views of the Himalaya Mountain Range from Kufri. You return to Shimla before lunch time. In the afternoon you undertake a half day tour of Shimla which includes the Mall (an old English-style village with numerous shops selling all sorts of wares) and the Jakhu Temple, which sits atop Jakhu Hill. This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, also known as the “Monkey God”. Other places of interest include the State Museum and St Michael’s Cathedral. (B)

DAY 10 Shimla / Dharamsala Your drive today takes you through the Himalayas to the town of Dharamsala. Dharamsala is close to the home of the exiled Dalai Lama in McLeodganji or “Upper Dharamsala”, which is the town’s alternative name. Dharamsala has largely come to be associated with the Tibetan Government in exile. On arrival you check into your hotel for two nights. (BD)

Today you are taken on a full day tour of Dharamsala and McLeodganji. Included in the tour is a visit to the Kangra Art Museum. This museum displays artifacts that date back to the 5th Century and is also famous for its miniature paintings. McLeodganji bears a distinct ambiance with Tibetan children running in the streets along with monks in their robes. You will be taken on a short walk to view the Tsuglagkhang Complex which houses the official residence of the Dalai Lama. You then have some free time to explore the town and its shops selling Tibetan wares. Following the visit you are driven back to your hotel in Dharamsala for tonight. (BD)

In the afternoon you undertake a guided tour to the Wagah Border Crossing which forms a crossing between India and Pakistan. It is famous for its Changing of the Guards and Flag Lowering Ceremony which is accomplished with great pomp and ceremony by the security forces of both countries each morning and evening. Later you are taken to Amritsar Railway Station, where you board the Shatabdi Express Train to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi late this evening you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. (B)

DAY 14 Depart Delhi Your tour comes to an end this morning as you check out of your hotel. (B)

DAY 12 Dharamsala / Amritsar You continue your drive through the mountains to the spiritually significant town of Amritsar. On arrival you have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. (BD)

DAY 13 Amritsar / Delhi Amritsar was originally built around the Golden Temple and the Amrit Sarovar Lake from which it derives its name. The complex is surrounded by a fortified wall with eighteen gates. The temple consists of three stories, the lower in white marble and the upper two in pure gold leaf. The Akal Takht, located next to The Golden Temple, is the seat of the religious governing body of the Sikhs. This morning you are taken on an escorted city tour of Amritsar including a visit to the Golden Temple.

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Himalayas & the North Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: Nov & March to April. Shoulder: Dec to Feb but the higher areas will be cold.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

DELHI & AMRITSAR

5 days:

the golden Temple the golden temple, amritsar

Amritsar

Punjab

India

Delhi

New Delhi

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Shatabdi Express Train to Amritsar. An intriguing 3-night stay in Amritsar. Amritsar City & Golden Temple Tour. Wagah Border Crossing Excursion.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes breakfast daily, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 4 superb Breakfasts are included.

DAY 1

Arrive Delhi On arrival in Delhi you are met and taken to your hotel for tonight.

DAY 2

Delhi / Amritsar This morning you are taken to New Delhi Railway Station where you are assisted in boarding the Shatabdi Express to Amritsar. On arrival in Amritsar you are met and taken to your hotel for an intriguing threenight stay. You have the afternoon at leisure to explore your surroundings or to relax in the hotel. This evening you are taken to experience the beauty and wonder of the Golden Temple superbly lit up at night. (B)

DAY 3

Amritsar Amritsar is built around the Golden Temple and the Amrit Sarovar Lake from which it derives its name. The complex is surrounded by a fortified wall with eighteen gates. The temple consists of three stories, the lower in white marble and the upper two in pure gold leaf. The Akal Takht, located next to The Golden Temple, is the seat of the religious governing body of the Sikhs.

This morning you are taken on a City Tour of Amritsar, including a visit to the Golden Temple. In the afternoon you undertake a guided tour to the Wagah Border Crossing, which forms a crossing between India and Pakistan. Famous for its Changing of the Guards and Flag Lowering Ceremony which is accomplished with great pomp and ceremony by the border security forces of both countries each morning and each evening. (B)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 4

Amritsar / Delhi You have the morning at leisure to further explore Amritsar. This afternoon you are taken back to Amritsar Railway Station where you are assisted to board the Shatabdi Express Train to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi late this evening you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. (B)

DAY 5

Depart Delhi Your tour comes to an end this morning as you check out of your hotel. (B) It is possible to fly to Amritsar from Delhi thus making a return flight or a combined flight one way and the train in the other direction option possible. Flights are an additional cost.

The Golden Temple Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: October to March.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

DELHI & HIMACHAL PRADESH

7 days:

Shimla & The Himalayas

Himachal Pradesh

typical buildings, shimla

the clear himalayan air

DAY 1

DAY 5

Shimla

Punjab Uttaranchal Haryana Delhi

New Delhi

Uttar Pradesh

India Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Shatabdi Express Train, Delhi to Kalka. Narrow Gauge Rail, Kalka to Shimla. A relaxing 4-night stay in Shimla. Excursion to the Naldhera Region. Spectacular views of the Himalayas. Shimla Tour, including Jakhu Temple. An optional Round of Golf at Naldhera. Shimla’s clear, clean mountain air!

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes breakfast daily, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 6 superb Breakfasts are included.

Arrive Delhi On arrival into Delhi you are met and taken to your hotel for tonight.

You have another day at leisure to relax and soak up Shimla’s clear mountain air! (B)

DAY 2

DAY 6

Delhi / Shimla This morning you are taken to New Delhi Railway Station where you are assisted to board the Shatabdi Express to Kalka. Here you transfer to the narrow gauge hill train (if operating), which takes you through spectacular scenery as you climb the Himalayas to Shimla. On arrival in Shimla you are met and taken to your hotel for a refreshing four nights. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore your surroundings. (B)

DAY 3

Shimla After breakfast you are taken on a drive to the Naldhera Region. This includes a stop at the Pine and Oak Woods at Mashobra and the opportunity to experience spectacular views of the Himalaya Mountain Range from Kufri. You return to Shimla before lunch. In the afternoon you undertake a half day tour of Shimla, which includes the Mall (an old English style village with numerous shops selling all sorts of wares) and the Jakhu Temple, which sits atop Jakhu Hill. This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, also known as the “Monkey God”. Other places of interest include the State Museum and St Michael’s Cathedral. (B)

Shimla

Shimla / Delhi

This morning you are driven to Kalka, where you connect with the Shatabdi Express to New Delhi. On arrival you are met and taken to your hotel for tonight. (B)

DAY 7

Depart Delhi

Your tour comes to an end this morning as you check out of your hotel. (B) It is possible to fly to Shimla from Delhi, thus making a return flight or a combined flight one way and the train in the other direction. Flights are an additional cost.

Shimla & the Himalayas Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to May. Shoulder: October to Feb but the higher areas will be cold.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

DAY 4

Shimla You have today at leisure to further explore. You may wish to play an optional round of golf at Naldhera, located near Shimla. (B)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

WEST BENGAL & SIKKIM

8 days:

Kolkata & Darjeeling tea plantation, darjeeling

DAY 5

Sikkim Darjeeling Bagdogra

West Bengal

India West Bengal Kolkata

Tailor-made Tour Highlights

DAY 1

• • • • • • • • • • •

On arrival in Kolkata, once the capital of India, you are met and taken to your hotel for a fabulous three-night stay.

Expert local guides in each location. A fabulous 3-night stay in Kolkata. Full day Kolkata City Tour. Hooghly River Sunset Cruise. A fantastic 4-night stay in Darjeeling. Early morning Tiger Hill Excursion. Sunrise over the Himalaya Mountains. Darjeeling & Surrounding City Tour. The ‘Toy Train’, Darjeeling to Ghoom. The Himalaya Zoological Park. Tour of a Darjeeling Tea Estate.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes mainly breakfasts, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 9 superb meals are included in the tour: 7 Breakfasts & 2 Lunches.

DAY 2

Arrive Kolkata

Kolkata

Following breakfast you are taken on a full day city tour of Kolkata. The tour includes a visit to the Victoria Memorial, built in memory of Queen Victoria. It is one of Kolkata’s most fascinating landmarks, made of white marble with a harmonious blend of European and Mughal architectural styles. You also visit the Marble Palace, built by one of Bengal’s richest landlords. The name Marble Palace was probably given to it due to the fact the entire palace was built using an astounding 126 varieties of marble procured from various parts of India. Another important landmark visited is the cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River. In the evening you return to the Hooghly River for a sunset cruise on the river. (BL)

DAY 3

Kolkata

You have the full day at leisure to relax or further explore this interesting city. (B)

DAY 4

Kolkata / Darjeeling

Today you are taken to the airport for your flight to Bagdogra, where you are met and taken by road to your hotel located in Darjeeling, the “Tea Capital”, for a fantastic four-night stay. You have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to relax. (B)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Darjeeling

Early this morning you are taken to Tiger Hill to view the magnificent sunrise over the Himalaya Mountains. Following breakfast you undertake a half day city tour of Darjeeling and surroundings. This tour includes a trip on the ‘Toy Train’ to Ghoom. This hillock is dominated by the famous Yiga Choeling Monastery. The monastery contains many ancient palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Tibetan script. The Museum of Natural History has a collection of Himalaya animals, reptiles, birds and insects and the Llyod Botanic Gardens has a marvellous collection of alpine flora and orchids. You also visit the Padmaja Naidu Himalaya Zoological Park, the only centre in India for the breeding of the rare snow leopard. Other attractions are the Ussurian Tiger and the Himalaya Black Bear. (BL)

DAY 6

Darjeeling

Today is entirely at leisure in Darjeeling. (B)

DAY 7

Darjeeling

Renowned for its tea, Darjeeling is known the world over. This morning you visit a working tea estate for a tour to see how this renowned product is grown. (B)

DAY 8

Darjeeling / Depart Bagdogra

After breakfast you are collected from your hotel and driven to Bagdogra Airport where your tour ends. There are convenient flights from here to Delhi, Kolkata and other airports in North East India. (B)

Kolkata & Darjeeling Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: October to March.

Star rating 3-star & 4-star only.

GOA

5 days:

Exotic Goa palm-fringed beach, goa

Goa

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. An exotic 4-night beach stay in Goa. Old Goa Historical Tour. The 16th Century Basilica of Bom Jesus. Fort Aguada, built in1612. Ample time at leisure to explore Goa.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes breakfast daily, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 4 superb Breakfasts are included.

India’s premier beach destination has more to it than just sea and sand. The kilometres of palm-fringed white sand beaches, offering the opportunity to laze on the sand or take a dip in the warm waters is a major attraction for some but for those seeking more, Goa provides it.

After the tour you return to your resort to relax and enjoy your surroundings. (B)

You could take a ride along its roads as they wind through beautiful villages with whitewashed churches and exuberantly coloured temples. Visit some of the night clubs and pubs. Have a refreshing coconut drink from a local vendor or experience gourmet options with the amazing array of exotic cuisine available.

DAY 4

Goa has so much more to offer, regardless of whether you are travelling on a budget or on a luxury 5-star Tailor-made Tour.

DAY 1

Arrive Goa On arrival in Goa you are met and taken to your beachside resort for an exotic four-night stay.

DAY 2

Goa After breakfast you are taken on an Old Goa Historical Tour. Old Goa is now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and has some magnificent Portuguese Cathedrals. The most famous of these is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, built in the 16th Century. This church houses the body of St Francis Xavier in an ornate silver casket. You also visit Fort Aguada, built in1612 by the Portuguese and one of the main bastions at the entrance into the Mandovi River.

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 3

Goa Today is entirely at leisure. You can sample the local spice shops and restaurants, have a cool drink at the bar or soak up the sun. (B) Goa You have another day at leisure to enjoy the many pleasures and hidden secrets which Goa has to offer. (B)

DAY 5

Depart Goa Following breakfast you check out of your hotel and are taken to the airport where your tour ends. It is possible to add extra nights at additional cost. (B)

Exotic Goa Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: October to April.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star & 5-star.

NEPAL

12 days:

the best of Nepal stag deer, wildlife sanctuary, nepal

Nepal Pokhara Tansen Lumbini

Kathmandu

Royal Chitwan NP

Nagarkot

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. 4 nights in fascinating Kathmandu. Nepalese Cultural Dinner & Dance. Sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu. Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath. Patan City,“the City of Fine Arts”. 2-night stay in Royal Chitwan NP. Jungle Safari on Elephant back. Lumbini, birthplace of Lord Buddha. Tansen, in the Mid-western Region. Pokhara and its serene Peace Stupa. Boat ride on beautiful Lake Phewa. Nagarkot, with its Himalayas’ Views. Sunrise over Mount Everest! Bhaktapur City, the “City of Devotees”. The beautiful Natyapola Temple. A flight around Mount Everest. Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist Stupa. Pashupatinath, a sacred Hindu Temple.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available in the destinations visited. • 32 superb meals included in the tour: 11Breakfasts,10 Lunches & 11Dinners.

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu On arrival at Kathmandu airport you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel. In the evening you are introduced to the culture of Nepal with a Cultural Dinner & Dance at a local restaurant. Kathmandu the capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal and has the air of a medieval city; a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces. In the background there is often the gentle sound of jangling cymbals and the markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened up to visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and traditional lifestyles help to make Kathmandu one of the world’s most fascinating cities. (D)

Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Chowk. With the assistance of your guide, you will explore this interesting area dating back many hundreds of years. (BLD)

DAY 3

Kathmandu / Chitwan NP Following breakfast you are taken by road to Bharatpur. On arrival the naturalist guides meet you and assist in crossing the river by boat. You are then taken to your jungle lodge located in the heart of the Royal Chitwan National Park. This park is home to among others, the One-horned Rhinoceros, Sloth Bear, Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, various deers, monkeys and crocodiles as well as a selection of birds. In the late afternoon you undertake your first jungle activity. (BLD)

DAY 4

Kathmandu This morning you are taken on a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu visiting amongst others the Temple of Kumari, the residence of the living Goddess with its carved wooden balconies and windows and the fabulous Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, which is said to be over 2,000 years old.

Chitwan National Park Early today you are taken into the jungle for a safari on elephant back, penetrating through dense grasslands to view the wildlife. This grass, commonly known as elephant grass, grows to a height of six metres and is the favourite habitat of the rhinoceros and other mammals. Later you are taken to the elephant stables where the naturalist guides provide an explanation about the habits of the elephants.

In the afternoon you visit Patan City or “the City of Fine Arts”, as it is also known. Here you visit Patan Durbar Square, situated in the heart of the city and boasting many Hindu Temples and Buddhist Monuments. It consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central

In the afternoon you may relax around the camp or undertake a jungle safari in Landrovers followed by a dugout canoe ride down the Narayani River. Here there is a good chance of seeing the Gharial and Mugger Crocodiles, fresh water dolphins, otters and varieties of water birds. (BLD)

DAY 2

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

buddhist stupa, nepal

mountain village, nepal

In the afternoon you are taken to Bhaktapur City or the “City of Devotees”, as it is also known. It is shaped like a conch shell and was the setting for the major Hollywood production The Little Buddha. Pottery and weavings are its industries. Here you also visit other architectural showpieces such as Lion Gate, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Bastille Temple and the Bell of Barking Dogs. You visit Natyapola Temple before returning to your hotel for the night. (BLD)

After breakfast you are taken to Boudhanath, which is possibly the world’s largest Buddhist Stupa and a site of great veneration for Buddhists. Around the stupa a number of monasteries of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism have been established which include one that houses an enormous, splendidly adorned, seated statue of Maitreya Buddha. You also visit Pashupatinath, the most sacred of Hindu Temples in Nepal and situated on the banks of the Bagmati River. The remainder of your day is at leisure to further explore Kathmandu. (BLD)

DAY 11 Kathmandu

DAY 12 Depart Kathmandu

This morning you have the opportunity to take a flight around Mt Everest.

This morning is at leisure. Later today you are taken to Kathmandu Airport. (B)

DAY 5

Chitwan NP / Lumbini This morning you are driven to Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha. On arrival you are taken to explore the area. (BLD)

DAY 6

Lumbini / Tansen Today you set out for Tansen, a Newar hill town in the mid-western region. In the late afternoon you undertake a walk around Shrinagar Hill, which can offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. (BLD)

DAY 7

Tansen / Pokhara After breakfast you are driven to Pokhara. Here your afternoon is at leisure. (BLD)

DAY 8

Pokhara This morning you are taken on a tour of Pokhara, which includes a visit to the Peace Stupa. In the afternoon you undertake a boat ride on Lake Phewa. (BLD)

DAY 9

Pokhara / Nagarkot This morning you are taken to the airport where you board your flight to Kathmandu. On arrival you are met and taken to your hotel in Nagarkot. Nagarkot is a small hill station located to the east of Kathmandu. A good panoramic view of the major peaks of the Eastern Nepal Himalayas, including Mt Everest, can be seen from here. (BLD)

DAY 10 Nagarkot / Kathmandu You rise early to watch the sunrise over Mt Everest before returning to your hotel. Later you are taken to your hotel in Kathmandu.

The Best of Nepal Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to May & September to November.

Star rating 3-star & 4-star only.

35 picturesque lake phewa, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

NEPAL

9 days:

Nepal Highlights patan durbar square, nepal (interior)

Nepal Pokhara

Kathmandu

Royal Chitwan NP

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. 4 nights in fascinating Kathmandu. Nepalese Cultural Dinner & Dance. Sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu. Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath. Patan City,“the City of Fine Arts”. 2-night stay in Royal Chitwan NP. Jungle Safari on Elephant back. Pokhara and its serene Peace Stupa. Boat ride on beautiful Lake Phewa. Bhaktapur City, the “City of Devotees”. A flight around Mount Everest. Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist Stupa. Pashupatinath, a sacred Hindu Temple.

DAY 1

DAY 2

Kathmandu, the Capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal has the air of a medieval city; a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces. In the background there is often the sound of jangling cymbals. The markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened to visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and tradition help make Kathmandu a fascinating city. (D)

In the afternoon you visit Patan City or “the City of Fine Arts”, as it is known. Here you visit Patan Durbar Square in the heart of the city, boasting many Hindu Temples and Buddhist Monuments. It consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Chowk. With the assistance of your guide, you will explore this historic area. (BLD)

Arrive Kathmandu On arrival at Kathmandu Airport you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel. In the evening you are introduced to the culture of Nepal with a Cultural Dinner & Dance at a local restaurant.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available in the destinations visited. • 23 superb meals included in the tour: 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches & 8 Dinners.

36 eyes of buddha on stupa, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Kathmandu This morning you are taken on a tour of Kathmandu visiting among others, the Temple of Kumari, the residence of the Living Goddess, with its carved wooden balconies and windows. You also visit the Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, which is said to be over 2,000 years old.

patan temples, nepal

DAY 3

Kathmandu / Chitwan NP This morning you are driven to Bharatpur. On arrival your naturalist guide assists you crossing the river by boat. You are then taken to your jungle lodge located in the Royal Chitwan National Park. This park is home to among others, One-horned Rhinoceros, Sloth Bear, Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, deers, monkeys, crocodiles, as well as a selection of birds. In the late afternoon you undertake your first jungle activity. (BLD)

DAY 4

Chitwan National Park Early today you are taken into the jungle for a safari on elephant back, penetrating through dense grasslands to view wildlife. This grass, commonly known as elephant grass, grows to a height of six metres and is the favourite habitat of the rhinoceros and other mammals. Later you are taken to the elephant stables where the naturalist guides provide an explanation about their habits. After lunch you may relax around the camp or undertake a Landrover safari, followed by a dugout canoe ride on the Narayani River. Here there is a good chance of seeing crocodiles, dolphins and otters. (BLD)

DAY 5

Chitwan NP / Pokhara This morning you are driven to Pokhara. Your afternoon it at leisure there. (BLD)

DAY 6

Pokhara This morning you tour Pokhara, including a visit to the Peace Stupa. After lunch you take a boat ride on Lake Phewa. (BLD)

DAY 7

Pokhara / Kathmandu This morning you are taken to the airport where you board your flight to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel. This afternoon you are taken to Bhaktapur City or the “City of Devotees”, as it is also called. It is shaped like a conch shell and was the setting for the major Hollywood production The Little Buddha. Pottery and weavings are its traditional industries. (BLD)

DAY 8

Kathmandu Early this morning you have the opportunity to undertake a flight around Mt Everest. After breakfast you are taken to Boudhanath, which is possibly the world’s

largest Buddhist Stupa and a site of great veneration for Buddhists. Around the stupa a number of monasteries of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism have been established which include one that houses an enormous, splendidly adorned, seated statue of Maitreya Buddha. You also visit Pashupatinath, the most sacred of Hindu Temples in Nepal and situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. You have the remainder of the day at leisure to further explore Kathmandu or to simply relax. (BLD)

DAY 9

Depart Kathmandu

This morning is at leisure until you are taken to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Nepal Highlights Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to May & September to November.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

37 sunrise over the himalayas, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

NEPAL

6 days:

Nepal Express the mighty himalayas, nepal

Nepal

Kathmandu Nagarkot

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. 4 nights in fascinating Kathmandu. Nepalese Cultural Dinner & Dance. Sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu. Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath. Patan City,“the City of Fine Arts”. Nagarkot, with its Himalayas’ Views. Sunrise over Mount Everest! Bhaktapur City, the “City of Devotees”. The beautiful Natyapola Temple. A flight around Mount Everest. Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist Stupa. Pashupatinath, a sacred Hindu Temple.

Dining Experiences

DAY 1

DAY 2

Kathmandu, the Capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal has the air of a medieval city; a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautiful palaces. In the background there is often the sound of jangling cymbals. The markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened up visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and tradition help to make Kathmandu a most fascinating city. (D)

This afternoon you visit Patan City or “the City of Fine Arts”, as it is known. Here you visit Patan Durbar Square situated in the heart of the city and full of Hindu Temples and Buddhist monuments. It consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Chowk. With the assistance of your guide you will explore this interesting area dating back many hundreds of years. (BLD)

• This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available in the destinations visited. • 14 superb meals included in the tour: 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 5 Dinners.

38 mountain village, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Kathmandu This morning you are taken on a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu visiting the Temple of Kumari, the residence of the living Goddess with its carved wooden balconies and windows and the fabulous Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, said to be 2,000 years old.

Kali Gandaki (“Gandaki River”), nepal

DAY 3

DAY 4

eyes of buddha on stupa, nepal

Bhaktapur City is shaped like a conch shell and was the setting for the major Hollywood production The Little Buddha. Pottery and weavings are its industries. Here you also visit other architectural showpieces such as Lion Gate, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Bastille Temple and the Bell of Barking Dogs. You visit Natyapola Temple before returning to your hotel for the night. (BLD)

DAY 5

Kathmandu

Early this morning you have the opportunity to undertake a flight around Mt Everest. After breakfast you are taken to Boudhanath, which is possibly the world’s

DAY 6

Depart Kathmandu

This morning is at leisure until being taken to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Nepal Express Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to May & September to November.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

39 bodhnath stupa, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

BHUTAN

11 days:

The Best of Bhutan a very young monk, bhutan

Punakha Paro

Bhutan Bumthang

Thimphu

Trongsa

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Thimpu, the Capital of Bhutan. The National Memorial Chorten. Full day of sightseeing in Thimpu Valley. Mahayana Buddhism Monastery. The National Library of Bhutan. Bhutan’s Arts & Crafts Painting School. Crossing of Dochula & Pele-la Passes. Trongsa & the Trongsa Dzong. Bumthang & Surroundings Tour. Punakha & Surroundings Tour. Wangdue Phodrang, 400 year old town. A fabulous 3-night stay in Paro. “Fortress of the Heap of Jewels”, Paro. Visit to Drukgyel Dzong, from 1646. Walk to the “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery. Blue Pine & Rhododendron Forests. Lhakhang Karpo (“White”) Monastery. Lhakhang Nagpo (“Black”) Monastery.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are few other dining options available in the destinations visited. • 30 superb meals included in the tour: 10 Breakfasts,10 Lunches & 10 Dinners.

Please Note • Flight schedules & visa conditions for 40

Bhutan & Tibet can change, so please contact Inca Tours for up-to-date info.

DAY 1

Arrive Paro / Thimpu On arrival at Paro Airport you are met and taken for lunch before being taken by road to Thimpu, the capital. Exquisitely beautiful and brimming with traditional Bhutanese art, architecture, and culture, this tiny capital of Bhutan is nothing less than Shangri-La. In the afternoon you visit the National Memorial Chorten with its finely executed wall paintings and delicately fashioned statues giving us a deep insight into the kingdom’s Buddhist Culture. On your return you drive past the Trashi Chhoe Dzong (“Fortress of the Glorious Religion”), a distinctively Bhutanese fortress monastery erected in 1641. (LD)

DAY 2

Thimpu Today’s full day of sightseeing in Thimpu Valley will be your first introduction to the way of life in this peaceful part of the world. You start the day with a walk to Tango Goemba, a monastery of the Mahayana school of Buddhism located outside the city. Here we are given the opportunity to witness how the young monks are trained in the Buddhist way of life. In the afternoon you visit the National Library which was established in the late 1960s to conserve the country’s literary treasures, which form a significant part of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. While in the area you visit the nearby Institute for Zorig Chusum, commonly known as the “Painting School”, where students spend six years training in

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

the 13 arts and crafts of Bhutan. You also visit the folk Heritage and National Textile Museums, a fascinating testimony to Bhutan’s living traditions. (BLD)

DAY 3

Thimpu / Tongsa After breakfast you are driven up the Dochula Pass, where you stop briefly to admire the 108 Chorten (spiritual stupa), mani wall (prayer slate covered stone wall), and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If skies are clear you will see many of the high peaks surrounding the area including Gangkar Puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497 metres. You continue down the winding pass to the town of Wangduephodrang, where you have lunch. Following lunch you continue on to Tongsa across the Pele-la Pass, the traditional boundary between east and west. The pass is marked by a large white chorten and prayer flags. There is also an abrupt change in vegetation at this point, with mountain forest being replaced by high altitude Dwarf Bamboo. On arrival in Tongsa you check into our hotel and have the remainder of the day to relax. (BLD)

DAY 4

Trongsa / Bumthang This morning you undertake a walk to the Tongsa Dzong, built by Shabdrung in 1647. Following lunch, you drive to Bumthang via the Yutong-la Pass. The road winds steeply up the pass then down through a Coniferous Forest into a wide, open cultivated valley known as the Chumey Valley. (BLD)

DAY 5

Bumthang

Bumthang is the general name given to the combination of four valleys: Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura whose altitude varies between 2,600 metres and 4,000 metres. It is home to many prominent Buddhist Temples and Monasteries. Today you visit the Kurje Lhakhang, where Saint Padmasambhava subdued a local demon and left his bodily imprint on a rock; the 7th Century Temple of Jambey Lhakhang, the Tamshing Lhakhang, which houses some of the oldest wall paintings in Bhutan and Jakar Dzong, the administrative centre of the region. Later you have time for a stroll in the village to visit the handicrafts shop and to just take in the atmosphere of the region. (BLD)

Paro is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport and the National Museum. Mt Chomolhari (7,300 metres) reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley, its glacial waters plunging through gorges to form the Pa Chu (“Paro River”). Today you visit Rinpung Dzong or the “Fortress of the Heap of Jewels”, which was built in 1646. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge (called the “Nemi Zam”) and then up a paved stone path running alongside the imposing outer walls.

Today you are driven to Punakha, with a number of stops along the way to stretch your legs. On arrival you check into your hotel for a two night-stay. (BLD)

In addition, you visit Ta Dzong which is located on a ridge immediately overlooking Rinpung Dzong and was originally built as a watchtower to protect the dzong. It is now the National Museum and holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious Thangkha paintings, Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps, coins and handicrafts, together with a small natural history collection. (BLD)

DAY 7

DAY 9

DAY 6

Bumthang / Punakha

Punakha

Following breakfast you tour Punakha, the Kingdom’s Capital until 1955 and the winter home for the country’s central body of monks. The local dzong has a golddomed six story tower where your guide will take you inside to view its courtyards and religious statuary, while explaining the depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here. You also visit the newly built Khamsum Yuley Namgyal Chorten.

Paro

This morning you are driven to see the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong, perched in the mountains, at the departure point for many long-distance mountain treks. This dzong, with a picturesque village nestling below its ramparts, was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate his famous victory over the Tibetan invaders.

Later in the day you are taken on an excursion to Wangdue Phodrang, a 400 year old town whose dzong is located on a ridge with a commanding view of the valleys below. As you enjoy a guided tour to the dzong you will be fully immersed in Bhutan’s spectacular Himalaya scenery, where the workings of a long isolated culture exhibit a dignity and spirituality to match the loftiness of their natural surroundings. Following the visit you return to your hotel in Punakha. (BLD)

DAY 8

Following the visit you undertake a walk to the Taktshang Monastery, the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, which is perched on the side of a cliff 900 metres above the Paro Valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this place, hence the monastery is also called “Tiger’s Nest”. This site is a place of pilgrimage which Bhutanese try to visit at least once in a lifetime. The excursion up to the viewing area, located on a rocky outcrop across a ravine from the monastery, takes about five hours round trip. Though the climb is quite steep, the journey is most worthwhile on account of the superb views enroute. (BLD)

DAY 10 Paro Today you undertake a full day excursion to Haa. You drive to Haa via the Chele-la Pass with its Blue Pine and Rhododendron Forest. From the top of the pass if the weather is clear, you have superb views of Mt Chomolhari and Jichu Drakey. The Haa Dzong is presently occupied by the Indian Military but the view from the outside is stunning! After a picnic lunch you visit the famous Lhakhang Karpo Monastery (“White Temple”) and Lhakhang Nagpo Monastery (“Black Temple”). The central shrine in Lhakhang Nagpo is said to be identical to that in Lhasa Jowo, Tibet. (BLD)

DAY 11 Depart Paro Following breakfast you are taken to the airport where your tour ends. (B)

The Best of Bhutan Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to early May & late September to November.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

Punakha / Paro

After breakfast you are driven to Paro. It is located in a beautiful valley which encapsulates a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends.

41 Punakha Djong, bhutan

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

BHUTAN

8 days:

Bhutan Cultures taktshang monastery (“Tiger’s nest”), bhutan

Punakha Paro

Bhutan

Thimphu

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. A fabulous 3-night stay in Paro. “Fortress of the Heap of Jewels”, Paro. The National Museum. Visit to Drukgyel Dzong, from 1646. Walk to the “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery. Thimpu, the Capital of Bhutan. The National Memorial Chorten. The National Library of Bhutan. Bhutan’s Arts & Crafts Painting School. Crossing of Dochula Pass. Punakha & Surroundings Tour. Wangdue Phodrang, 400 year old town. The long established Paro Bazaar.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available in the destinations visited. • 20 superb meals included in the tour: 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners.

Please Note • Flight schedules & visa conditions for Bhutan & Tibet can change, so please contact Inca Tours for up-to-date info.

DAY 1

Arrive Paro On arrival at Paro Airport you are met and taken to your hotel for two nights. Paro is located in a beautiful valley which encapsulates a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends. It is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport and the National Museum. Mt Chomolhari (7,300 metres) reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley, its glacial waters plunging through deep gorges to form the Pa Chu (“Paro River”). (D)

DAY 2

Paro This morning you are driven to see the ruins of the Drugyel Dzong, perched in the mountains, at the departure point for many long-distance mountain treks. This dzong, with a picturesque village nestling below its ramparts, was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate his famous victory over the Tibetan invaders. On your return you visit a typical Bhutanese farmhouse. After lunch you visit Ta Dzong, which is located on a ridge immediately overlooking Rinpung Dzong and was originally built as a watchtower to protect the dzong. It is now the National Museum and holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious thangkha paintings, Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps, coins and handicrafts, together with a small natural history collection. (BLD)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 3

Paro / Thimpu Following breakfast you undertake a walk to the Taktsang Monastery, the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, which is perched on the side of a cliff 900 metres above the Paro Valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this place, hence the monastery is also called “Tiger’s Nest”. This site is a place of pilgrimage which Bhutanese try to visit at least once in a lifetime. The excursion to the viewing area located on a rocky outcrop across a ravine from the monastery, takes five hours round trip. Though the climb is steep, the journey is worthwhile on account of the views. After lunch you are taken to your hotel in Thimpu. Exquisitely beautiful and brimming with traditional Bhutanese art, architecture and culture, this tiny capital is nothing less than Shangri-La! (BLD)

DAY 4

Thimphu You start the day with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, with its finely executed wall paintings and delicate statues, each of which provide an insight into the Kingdom’s Buddhist Culture. On your return you pass the Tashi Chhoe Dzong (“Fortress of the Glorious Religion”), a distinctively Bhutanese fortress monastery from1641. In the afternoon you visit the National Library, established in the late 1960s to conserve the country’s literary treasures, which form a significant part of Bhutan’s cultural heritage.

paro valley, bhutan

buddha point, thimpu, bhutan

While in the area you visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum or “Painting School”, where students spend six years training in the 13 arts and crafts of Bhutan. You also visit the Heritage and National Textile Museums, a testimony to Bhutan’s live traditions. (BLD)

You continue down the winding pass to Wangduephodrang, where you have lunch. After lunch you continue on to Punakha. On arrival you check into your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure. (BLD)

DAY 5

Thimphu / Punakha

After breakfast you are driven up the Dochula Pass, where you stop briefly to admire the 108 Chortens (spiritual Stupa), mani wall (prayer slate covered stone wall) and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If the sky is clear you will see many of the high peaks which surround the area, including Gangkar Puensum, Bhutan’s highest peak at 7,497 metres.

DAY 6

Punakha

Following breakfast you tour Punakha, the Kingdom’s Capital until 1955 and the winter home for the country’s central body of monks. The local dzong has a golddomed six-story tower into which your guide will take you to view its courtyards and religious statues, while explaining the history and spiritual tradition embodied here. You also visit the newly built Khamsum Yuley Namgyal Chorten.

Later you are taken to Wangdue Phodrang, a 400 year old town whose dzong is located on a ridge with a commanding view of the valleys. During a tour to the dzong, you will be fully immersed in Bhutan’s spectacular Himalaya scenery, where the workings of a long isolated culture exhibit a dignity and spirituality to match the loftiness of their natural surroundings. Following the visit you return to your hotel in Punakha. (BLD)

DAY 7

Punakha / Paro After breakfast you are driven back to Paro where you visit the Paro Bazaar. (BLD)

DAY 8 Depart Paro Following breakfast you are taken to the airport where your tour ends. (B)

Bhutan Cultures Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to early May & late September to November.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

43 national memorial chorten, thimpu

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

BHUTAN

5 days:

Bhutan Express buddhist dzong, paro valley

DAY 3

Thimphu You start the day with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, with its finely executed wall paintings and delicate statues which provide a deep insight into the Kingdom’s Buddhist Culture. On your return you pass the Tashi Chhoe Dzong (“Fortress of the Glorious Religion”), a distinctively Bhutanese fortress monastery from 1641.

Bhutan Paro

Thimphu

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights

DAY 1

• • • • • • • • •

On arrival at Paro Airport you are met and taken to your hotel for the night. Paro is located in a beautiful valley encapsulating a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends. It is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport and the National Museum. Mt Chomolhari (7,300 metres) reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley, its glacial waters plunging through gorges to form Pa Chu (“Paro River”). (D)

Expert local guides in each location. A fabulous 2-night stay in Paro. An eventful 2-night stay in Thimpu. Walk to the “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery. The National Memorial Chorten. The National Library of Bhutan. Bhutan’s Arts & Crafts Painting School. The spectacular Dochula Pass. The long established Paro Bazaar.

Dining Experiences

DAY 2

• This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available in the destinations visited. • 11 superb meals included in the tour: 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 4 Dinners.

Please Note • Flight schedules & visa conditions for Bhutan & Tibet can change, so please contact Inca Tours for up-to-date info.

Arrive Paro

Paro / Thimpu

After breakfast you undertake a walk to the Taktsang Monastery, the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, which is perched on the side of a cliff 900 metres above the Paro Valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this place, hence the monastery is also called “Tiger’s Nest”. This site is a place of pilgrimage which Bhutanese try to visit at least once in a lifetime. The excursion up to the viewing area located on a rocky outcrop across a ravine from the monastery, takes about five hours round trip. Though the climb is quite steep, the journey is most worthwhile on account of the superb views. Following lunch you are taken to your hotel in Thimpu, the capital. Exquisitely beautiful and brimming with traditional Bhutanese art, architecture, and culture, this tiny capital of Bhutan is nothing less than Shangri-La! (BLD)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

In the afternoon you visit the National Library, established in the late 1960s to conserve the country’s literary treasures, which form a significant part of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. You also visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum, commonly known as the “Painting School”, where students spend six years training in the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. You then visit the Heritage and National Textile Museums, a fascinating testimony to Bhutan’s live traditions. (BLD)

DAY 4

Thimphu / Paro After breakfast you drive to the Dochula Pass, where you stop briefly to admire the 108 Chorten (spiritual Stupas), mani wall (prayer slate covered stone wall) and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If the sky is clear you will see many of the peaks surrounding the area including Gangkar Puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497 metres. You then return to Paro where you visit the Paro Bazaar. (BLD)

DAY 5

Depart Paro Following breakfast you are taken to the airport where your tour ends. (B)

Bhutan Express Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: March to early May & late September to November.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

TIBET

10 days:

the best of Tibet mountain hotel, tibet

Tibet Lhasa Nepal Shigatse Zangmu Gyangtse Xegar Bhutan Kathmandu India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. “Friendship Bridge”, Nepal & Tibet. Zangmu, 2,500 metres above sea level. Spectacular views of Mount Everest. Xegar, at 4,350 metres above sea level. The Gvatso la Pass, at 5,252 metres asl! Shigatse, at 3,900 metres above sea level. The Tashilhunpo Monastery, from1447. The Palkhur Choide Monastery. The 15th Century Kumbum Stupa. Gyangtse, at 3,950 metres above sea level. The picturesque “Turquoise Lake”. Lhasa, at 3,650 metres asl, for 3 nights. Potala Palace, a well known landmark. The Drepung Monastery, Tibet’s largest. Bharkhor Bazaar, Tibet’s oldest market. Sera Monastery, Tibet’s second largest. Jolkhang Temple, Lhasa’s most sacred. Norbulingkha Palace, the “Jewel Park”.

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu On arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal, you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel for two nights. Today is at leisure.

DAY 2

Kathmandu This morning you are taken on a tour of Kathmandu and the Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath. This afternoon you visit Patan City or “the City of Fine Arts”. (B)

DAY 3

Kathmandu / Zangmu This morning you are driven to Kodari where the “Friendship Bridge” is located. Once you reach the Friendship Bridge you are assisted with Nepal’s immigration formalities before walking across the bridge where you clear Chinese Immigration and meet your Tibetan Guide. Once through you are driven to Zangmu which is located at 2,500 metres above sea level. On arrival you check into your hotel for the night and have the remainder of the day at leisure. (D)

as there are few other dining options available in the destinations visited. • 20 superb meals included in the tour: 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners.

Please Note

DAY 5

• This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals,

• This tour includes high altitude areas. • For this tour a Chinese Visa (US$114) must be paid for in Kathmandu. Inca Tours will arrange this in advance.

DAY 6

Shigatse / Gyangtse

This morning you visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery (“Heap of Glory”), founded by the first Dalai Lama in 1447 in honour of his teacher Kadrub. It is believed that all fortunes and happiness are gathered here. In the afternoon you are driven to Gyangtse, at 3,950 metres, where you visit the Palkhur Choide Monastery and the Kumbum Stupa, built in the 15th Century solely for worship. No monks lived there. (BLD)

DAY 4

Zangmu / Xegar Today you travel by road to Xegar located at 4,350 metres above sea level. During the drive you cross the Nyalam and Lalung-La Pass (5,050 metres) which offers spectacular views of the Himalayas and includes views of Mt Everest if the weather is clear. (BLD)

Dining Experiences

Cho-Oyu, Makalu and other lofty peaks jutting out of the skyline toward the blue sky above. This should be a great day for photography. During the drive you also cross the Gvatso La Pass (5,252 metres). (BLD)

Xegar / Shigatse Following breakfast you depart for Shigatse, located at 3,900 metres above sea level. The first part of the drive across plains should provide panoramic views of Mt Everest,

45 roof of norbulinkha monastery

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

& NEPAL potala palace, lhasa

DAY 7

Gyangtse / Lhasa Today you complete the drive to Lhasa, located at 3,650 metres. Although not far, the drive takes most of the day. You cross the Karo La Pass (5,010 metres) and then travel around the edge of the picturesque Yamdrok Lake, also known as the “Turquoise Lake”. You then cross Khamba La Pass (4,794 metres) and travel through several valleys before reaching Lhasa. On arrival you check in to your hotel for three nights. (BLD)

DAY 8

Lhasa After breakfast you visit Potala Palace; the Drepung Monastery and Bharkhor Bazaar. Potala Palace is the best known landmark in Tibet, consisting of 13 stories and 1,000 rooms. Originally it was the winter palace of the Dalai Lama but it is now a museum. It can be seen from any part of Lhasa. Drepung (meaning “Rice Heap”) Monastery was the largest and richest of all the Tibetan Monasteries. Said to be the largest monastery in the world, at its peak it housed over 10,000 monks and governed 7,700 subsidiary monasteries. Founded in 1416 the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama lived and were entombed here. Today only about 400 monks lived there. Bharkhor Bazaar is the largest and oldest market in Tibet. When you walk through Old Lhasa’s narrow streets, white-washed stone homes, black window frames and brightly painted woodwork, you will notice that everyone is selling something! (BLD)

DAY 9

Lhasa

Today you visit the Sera Monastery, Jolkhang Temple and Norbulingkha Palace. Sera Monastery is situated to the north of Central Lhasa and is Tibet’s second largest monastery. This famous place was named after the wild roses growing around it when it was founded in 1419. At its peak it housed over 7,000 monks and was famous for its warrior monks known as the “Dob-Doa”. Jokhang Temple is located in the heart of Old Lhasa and is the most sacred and oldest temple in Lhasa. According to tradition, the temple was built for the two brides of the king, one from the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the other from Nepal.

Both are said to have brought to Tibet important Buddhist Statues and images from China and Nepal as part of their dowries. Norbulinkha Palace or “Jewel Park”, as it is known, was built in the 18th Century by the 7th Dalai Lama and served as the summer palace of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas. The palace is a very interesting mixture of religious and modern elements and featured a colourful garden landscape which was the site of picnic and public gatherings. The palaces are richly decorated, creating an atmosphere of quiet, peaceful repose. (BLD)

DAY 10 Depart Lhasa This morning you are taken to Lhasa Airport where your tour ends. (B)

The Best of Tibet Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: March to October.

Star rating 3-star only.

Flights In November & December flights only operate on Tuesdays & Saturdays. 46 view from roof of potala palace, Lhasa

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

TIBET

5 days:

Tibet Highlights norbulinkha monastery, lhasa

it was founded in 1419. At its peak it housed over 7,000 monks and was famous for its warrior monks known as the “Dob-Doa”. Jokhang Temple is located in the heart of Old Lhasa and is the most sacred and oldest temple in Lhasa. According to tradition the temple was built for the two brides of the king, one from the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the other from Nepal. Both wives are said to have brought important Buddhist statues and images from China and Nepal to Tibet as part of their dowries and they were housed here.

Tibet Lhasa Nepal

Bhutan

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. 4 nights in Lhasa, at 3,650 metres asl. Potala Palace, a well known landmark. The Drepung Monastery, Tibet’s largest. Bharkhor Bazaar, Tibet’s oldest market. Sera Monastery, Tibet’s second largest. Jolkhang Temple, Lhasa’s most sacred. Norbulingkha Palace, the “Jewel Park”. Gandan Monastery, meaning “Joyful”. Commanding views of the Kich Valley.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available in the destinations visited. • 11 superb meals included in the tour: 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 4 Dinners.

Please Note • This tour includes high altitude areas. • For this tour a Chinese Visa (US$114) must be paid for in Kathmandu. Inca Tours will arrange this in advance. • Flight schedules & visa conditions for Tibet & Bhutan can change, so please contact Inca Tours for up-to-date info.

DAY 1

Arrive Lhasa On arrival at Lhasa Airport you are met and taken to your hotel for four nights. (D)

DAY 2

Lhasa After breakfast you visit Potala Palace, the Drepung Monastery and Bharkhor Bazaar. Potala Palace is probably the best known landmark in Tibet, consisting of 13 stories and 1,000 rooms. Previously it was the winter palace of the Dalai Lama but is now a museum. It can be seen and photographed from any parts of Lhasa. Drepung (meaning “Rice Heap”) Monastery was the biggest and the richest of all the monasteries in Tibet. Said to be the largest Monastery in the world, at its peak it housed over 10,000 monks and governed 7,700 subsidiary monasteries. Founded in 1416 the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama lived and were entombed here. Today only about 400 monks live there. Bharkhor Bazaar is the largest and oldest of Tibet’s markets. When you walk through Old Lhasa with its narrow streets, whitewashed stone homes, black window frames and brightly painted timber, you notice that almost everyone is selling something! (BLD)

DAY 3

Lhasa Today you visit the Sera Monastery, Jolkhang Temple and Norbulingkha Palace. Sera Monastery is situated to the north of Central Lhasa and is Tibet’s second largest monastery. This famous place was named after the wild roses growing around it when

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Norbulinkha Palace or the “Jewel Park”, as it is known in Tibetan, was built in the 18th Century by the 7th Dalai Lama and served as the summer palace of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas. The palace is an interesting mixture of religious and modern elements and featured a most colourful garden which was the site of picnic and public gatherings. The palaces are richly decorated, creating an atmosphere of peaceful repose. (BLD)

DAY 4

Lhasa Today’s tour takes you out of the city to the Gandan Monastery. Meaning “Joyful”, Gandan Monastery is located on Wangbur Mountain and has commanding views of the Kich Valley below. Like Sera Monastery, Gandan is one of the three most significant Gelugpa University Monasteries. (BLD)

DAY 5 Depart Lhasa Following breakfast your tour comes to an end as you are taken to the airport. (B)

Tibet Highlights Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: March to October.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

Flights In November & December flights only operate on Tuesdays & Saturdays. 47

SRI LANKA

7 days:

Sri lanka Cultural tea plantation, sri lanka

produce markets

DAY 1

DAY 6

DAY 2

Today you have a half day city tour which includes a visit to the Botanical Gardens, as well as the “Temple of the Tooth”, so named as it contains a sacred relic tooth of the Lord Buddha. Your afternoon is at leisure. (BL)

Sri Lanka Anuradhapura Dambulla

Sigiriya Polonnaruwa Kandy

Colombo

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert local guides in each location. Colombo, the Sri Lankan Capital. A fascinating 3-nights in Dambulla. The “Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle”. Excursion to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa. Anuradhapura, a World Heritage Site. A Spice Garden & a Tea Plantation. A fabulous 2-night stay in Kandy. The Kandy Botanical Gardens. “Temple of the (Lord Buddha) Tooth”. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes most but not all meals, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 15 superb meals included in the tour: 6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 4 Dinners.

Arrive Colombo On arrival in Colombo you will be met and taken to your hotel for the night. Colombo / Dambulla After breakfast you are driven to your hotel in Dambulla for a fascinating three-night stay. Dambulla is a great location from which to explore the “Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle”. This afternoon is at leisure to experience your new surroundings. (BLD)

DAY 3

Dambulla – Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa Today you undertake a full day excursion to Sigiriya (also known as “Lion Rock”) and Polonnaruwa. Sigiriya, listed as the 8th Wonder of the World, is a large stone fortress dating from around AD 480. Polonnaruwa became Sri Lanka’s Capital in the 10th Century, boasting a water storage and irrigation system that was well ahead of its time and still partly in use today. (BLD)

DAY 4

Dambulla – Anuradhapura Today’s tour takes you to Anuradhapura, a World Heritage Site and Sri Lanka’s first capital, dating from the 4th Century BC. It is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and renowned for its wellpreserved, ancient Sri Lankan Ruins. (BLD)

DAY 5

Dambulla / Kandy Following breakfast you farewell this area as you are driven to Kandy. Enroute you visit a spice garden and a tea plantation to see how familiar spices and tea are grown. (BLD)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 7

Kandy

Kandy / Depart Colombo

After breakfast you are taken to Colombo Airport where your tour ends. Enroute you visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, a home for about 60 elephants found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared for, fed and trained by the wildlife authority. The best to visit is in the morning, when you have the opportunity of seeing these ‘babes’ being bottle-fed. (B)

Sri Lanka Cultural Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: April to September.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

Combines well with The Southern Sri Lanka Tour to form a comprehensive 13 day tour of Sri Lanka.

SRI LANKA

8 days:

Southern Sri lanka asiatic elephants, sri lanka

Sri Lanka Colombo Bentota Galle

Tangelle

Tailor-made Tour Highlights

DAY 1

• • • • • • • • •

On arrival in Colombo you are met and taken to your hotel for the night.

Expert local guides in each location. Colombo, the Sri Lankan Capital. A unique Turtle Breeding Hatchery. Galle, a 17 th Century Dutch Fortress. A Walking Tour of Old Galle. Two relaxing nights in Tangalle. A full day at leisure in Tangalle. Bentota, renowned for water activities. The Brief Gardens, near Kalawila.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes breakfast daily, allowing you to do what you want and eat where you like in your free time. • 7 superb Breakfasts are included.

DAY 2

Arrive Colombo

Colombo / Galle

Following breakfast you are taken by road to Galle. On the way you stop to visit a turtle breeding hatchery. On arrival in Galle you check in to your hotel for a two-night stay. You have the afternoon completely at leisure to relax or to explore your new surroundings. (B)

DAY 3

Galle

Old Galle, a fine example of a 17th Century Dutch Colonial Fortress, is a UNESCO Listed World Heritage Site. It still houses a bustling community with narrow streets, pillared verandas and framework facades. This morning you undertake a short walking tour of the area before being left to explore in your own time or alternatively, being taken back to the hotel. (B)

DAY 4

Galle / Tangalle

You enjoy another leisurely start to the day before being taken by road to Tangalle. On arrival you check in to your hotel for two relaxing nights. Well renowned for some of the very best beaches in Sri Lanka, you have time this afternoon to explore the area or to simply relax. (B)

DAY 5

Tangalle

You have a full day at leisure in Tangalle to further explore your surroundings. (B)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 6

Tangalle / Bentota

Following breakfast you start your return journey towards Bentota. Renowned for its water activities, on arrival you have the afternoon to relax or to explore. (B)

DAY 7

Bentota

This morning you are taken to the Brief Gardens, near Kalawila. Spread over three hectares, they provide the opportunity for a stroll, as well as a visit to the gardens’ private museum. Following this you return to your hotel and have the afternoon at leisure. (B)

DAY 8

Bentota / Depart Colombo

This morning you are taken back to Colombo Airport where your tour ends. (B)

Southern Sri Lanka Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: December to March.

Star rating 3-star, 4-star or 5-star.

Combines well with The Sri Lankan Cultural Tour to form a comprehensive 13 day tour of Sri Lanka. 49

NEPAL

9 days:

The Royal Trek beautiful lake begnas, nepal

Nepal Pokhara Kalikathan Chisopani

Kathmandu Shaklung

India

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert trekking guide throughout. 3 nights in fascinating Kathmandu. Nepalese Cultural Dinner & Dance. Sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu. Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath. Patan City,“the City of Fine Arts”. Pokhara, in Nepal’s most Scenic Valley. Picturesque paddy fields. Overnight at lodge in Kalikasthan. Annapurna & Lamjung Himal Views. Local Villages & Rhododendron Forests. Overnight at Local Lodge in Shaklung. Local “Gurkhas” Villages. The best views of Himalaya Panorama. Overnight at Guesthouse in Chisopani. Boat ride on the beautiful Lake Begnas. Overnight at Guesthouse in Pokhara. Bhaktapur City, the “City of Devotees”. An optional flight around Mount Everest.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available on the trek. • 23 superb meals included in the tour: 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches 8 Dinners.

This trek is named in honour of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who trekked the route many years ago. Due to it being fairly easy going, short yet offering some excellent views, it is quite popular. On the trek you get to see Mustang, the Annapurna Range, Manaslu, as well as Begnas Lake.

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu On arrival at Kathmandu Airport you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel. In the evening you are introduced to Nepal with a Cultural Dinner & Dance at a local restaurant. Kathmandu the capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal and has the air of a medieval city. It is a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces. In the background there is often the gentle sound of jangling cymbals and the markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened up to visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and traditional lifestyles help to make Kathmandu one of the world’s most fascinating cities. (D)

DAY 2

Kathmandu This morning you are taken on a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu visiting among others, the Temple of Kumari, the residence of the Living Goddess, with its carved wooden balconies and windows. You also visit the fabulous Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, which is said to be over 2,000 years old.

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

This afternoon you visit Patan City or “the City of Fine Arts”, as it is known. Here you visit Patan Durbar Square, situated in the heart of the city and boasting many Hindu Temples and Buddhist Monuments. It consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Chowk. With the assistance of your guide, you will explore this interesting area, dating back hundreds of years. (BLD)

DAY 3

Kathmandu / Pokhara 210 kilometres, 5 hours Following breakfast you are taken by road to Pokhara, where you have the afternoon at leisure. Pokhara is located in one of the most scenic valleys in Nepal, with excellent views (when the weather is clear) of the Mt Annapurna Range. Pokhara also has a lake which is well worth visiting. (BLD)

DAY 4

Pokhara / Kalikathan 1,500 metres, 4 hours Today starts with a short drive to Bijayapur Khola, where you begin your trek. Initially the trek takes you through paddy fields, before you begin the ascent to Kalikasthan. Tonight is spent at a local lodge. (BLD)

DAY 5

Kalikathan / Shaklung 1,730 metres, 6 hours After breakfast you commence walking through villages along the hill ridge. This walk offers mountain views of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal. Today you trek for about six hours visiting many local villages, as well as rhododendron forests enroute. Overnight is at another local lodge. (BLD)

trek trail crossing, nepal

local shop on trek trail, nepal

DAY 6

Here you undertake a boat ride of about one hour, before meeting up with your driver who will take you to your Pokhara guesthouse for the final trek night. (BLD)

Shaklung / Chisopani 2,000 metres, 6 hours

Today you walk through Gurung (“Gurkhas”) Villages, where you observe the locals. Today’s trek has many up and down sections, as you walk through Sal and Rhododendron Forests. You trek for six hours, during which you experience the best views of the Himalaya Panorama including Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Annapurna. Tonight is spent at a local guesthouse. (BLD)

DAY 7

Chisopani/ Pokhara 950 metres, 3 hours

Today starts with a descent to Rupatal, before a final climb to Sundare Danda. From here your final decent is to Lake Begnas.

Please note: Begnas Lake Resort overlooking Begnas Lake is very comfortable. You may choose to upgrade and stay here as opposed to staying in the Pokhara guesthouse.

Pottery and weavings are its traditional industries. Here you also visit other architectural showpieces such as Lion Gate, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Bastille Temple and the Bell of Barking Dogs. Later in the day you visit the Natyapola Temple before being returned to your hotel for the night. (BLD)

DAY 8 Pokhara / Kathmandu This morning you are taken to the airport where you board your flight to Kathmandu.

DAY 9

In the afternoon you are taken to Bhaktapur City or the “City of Devotees”, as it is also called. It is shaped like a conch shell and was the setting for the major Hollywood production The Little Buddha.

Early this morning you will have the opportunity to undertake an optional flight around Mt Everest. After breakfast you are taken to Kathmandu Airport where your trekking tour comes to an end. (B)

Depart Kathmandu

The Royal Trek Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: Late September to November. Shoulder: March to May but there will be more cloud.

Star rating 2-star to 3-star only.

51 local trekkers’ lodge, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

NEPAL

14 days:

Annapurna region Trek annapurna base camp, nepal

Nepal Annapurna I

Annapurna III

Annapurna BC Machapuchhare BC Annapurna South Machapuchhare Dovan Chomrong Bamboo Jhinuwa Ghorepani Tadapani Pokhara Ulleri To Kathmandu

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert trekking guide throughout. 2 nights in fascinating Kathmandu. Nepalese Cultural Dinner & Dance. Pokhara, in Nepal’s most Scenic Valley. Local Villages & Subtropical Forests. Overnight at a lodge in Hille or Ulleri. Overnight in the Village of Ghorepani. Sunrise over the Annapurna Range. Incredible Views of the Himalayas. Rhododendrons, Waterfalls & Rivers. Overnight at lodge in Tadapani. The West Bank of the Modi Khola. The Gurung & Magar Communities. Overnight at beautiful Chhomrong. Wild Boar, Deer & Snow Leopard. A night at Machhapuchre Base Camp. Vast pasture lands of wild flowers. One night at Annapurna Base Camp. A Guesthouse in a “Bamboo”Village. Jhinuwa Danda’s Natural Hot Springs. Bhaktapur City, the “City of Devotees”. An optional flight around Mount Everest.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes all meals, as there are very few alternative dining options available on the trek. • 38 superb meals included in the tour: 13 Breakfasts,12 Lunches & 13 Dinners. 52

This is one of the most popular mid length treks. The diverse terrain and cultures of the region make each day’s walk unique.Walking through the wild but friendly nature is amazing and although fairly challenging, reaching Machapuchre and Annapurna Base Camps is greatly rewarding. The maximum altitude reached is 4,234 metres.

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu On arrival at Kathmandu Airport you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel. In the evening you are introduced to Nepal with a Cultural Dinner & Dance at a local restaurant. Kathmandu the capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal and has the air of a medieval city. It contains a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces. In the background there is often the gentle sound of jangling cymbals and the markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened up to visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and traditional lifestyles help to make Kathmandu one of the world’s most fascinating cities. (D)

DAY 2

Kathmandu / Pokhara 210 kilometres, 5 hours After breakfast you are driven to Pokhara, where your afternoon is at leisure. Pokhara is located in one of the most scenic valleys in Nepal, with excellent views of the Mt Annapurna Range on clear days. It also has a lake which is well worth visiting. (BLD)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 3

Pokhara / Hille or Ulleri 1,500 metres or 2,070 metres After breakfast you drive to Naya Pool, the starting point for your trek. From here you walk along the river bank before having lunch at a riverside restaurant. You then trek through local villages and subtropical forests for about four hours before reaching Hille. Once there, your guide will decide whether to continue to Ulleri (a 40 minute tough walk up hill) or stay overnight in Hille. Trekkers usually choose to complete this last leg before stopping for the night, so they do not have to start with it the next day. Overnight is spent at a local lodge. (BLD)

DAY 4

Hille or Ulleri / Ghorepani 2850 metres, 5 hours Today you trek through more jungle before reaching Ghorepani, a small village with shops, restaurants and tourist lodges. Here you will feel the fresh air of frequent weather changes. Tonight is spent at a lodge. (BLD)

DAY 5

Ghorepani/Poon Hill/Tadapani 2,660 metres, 6 hours You start with a trek up to Poon Hill (3,200 metres), a perfect viewpoint to see the sunrise over the Annapurna Range. The climb is a bit tough but worth it for the spectacular views. Following the sunrise you return to your lodge in Ghorepani for breakfast. You later head east, experiencing incredible views of the Himalayas, Rhododendron Forests, waterfall and rivers. After trekking for about six hours you arrive in Tadapani. Overnight at a lodge. (BLD)

rhododendron, annapurna trail

trekker, annapurna trail, nepal

DAY 10 Annapurna BC / Bamboo

setting for the major Hollywood production The Little Buddha. Pottery and weavings are its traditional industries. Here you also visit other architectural showpieces such as Lion Gate, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Bastille Temple and the Bell of Barking Dogs. Finally, you visit Natyapola Temple before being returned to your hotel for the night. (BLD)

DAY 6

Tadapani / Chomrong 2,030 metres, 5 hours Today you descend through the thick forest with your route taking you along the West Bank of the Modi Khola. You then pass through the village of Chuile before reaching Kimrong Khola. Here you have lunch before continuing your climb to Chhomrong, a beautiful village dominated by the Gurung and Magar Communities, Tonight you stay in a local lodge, with the mountain towering above you! (BLD)

DAY 7

Chomrong / Dovan 2,580 metres, 6 hours Following breakfast you head down from Chhomrong and cross the suspension bridge. You then commence the assent up Sinuwa Hill. The trail passes through dense Rhododendron Forests as far as Khuldighar. From there the trail passes through thick Bamboo Forests until you reach the village of Dovan. You will spend the night here at a local lodge. (BLD)

DAY 8

Dovan / Machapuchhare Base Camp 3,720 metres, 6 hours + Today you follow the trail above the river, through a thick Bamboo, Oak and Rhododendron Forests. After crossing various streams, the trail passes through an area where monkeys, wild boars, deers, birds and Snow Leopard have been seen. Following lunch you continue trekking along the river bank to Machhapuchre Base Camp (MBC). The last one and a half hours of the walk is quite challenging but you will forget the challenge after seeing the river, the mountains and the colourful flora. Tonight is spent at a lodge at MBC. (BLD)

DAY 9

Machapuchhare Base Camp / Annapurna Base Camp 4,130 metres, 3 hours You continue trekking to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), the dream of a lifetime for many! You trek through vast pasture lands with wild flowers enroute. On the horizon you will see snow-covered hills, melting to form many small rivers. Ahead appear the mighty Machhapuchre, Annapurna South, Annapurna One and Hiuchuli Peaks. On arrival at ABC you are at leisure to admire the beauty of the Himalayas, the climax of your trek! Overnight at a local lodge. (BLD)

2,300 metres, 7 hours

You have breakfast while enjoying the magnificent sunrise before heading down to Machhapuchre Base Camp, Deurali, Dovan and finally, to the place known as “Bamboo”. Here you stay tonight in a local lodge or guesthouse. (BLD)

DAY 11 Bamboo / Jhinuwa 1,400 metres, 6 hours

Today’s trek takes you up many stone steps to Chhomrong, before the steep descent to Jhinuwa Danda. Blessed with natural hot springs just10 minutes from your lodge, you have the chance to rest and soak your wary bones! Overnight in the local lodge. (BLD)

DAY 14 Depart Kathmandu Early this morning you have the opportunity to undertake an optional flight around Mt Everest. Following breakfast you are taken to the airport where your trekking tour ends. (B)

DAY 12 Jhinuwa / Pokhara 6 hours + 1 hour drive

With time to once again enjoy the hot springs following breakfast, you trek from Jhinuwa to Naya Pool and then to Kyumi Village. After lunch you trek to Syauli Bazaar, Birethanti and finally, to Naya Pool where your trek ends. Here you are met by your driver and taken to Pokhara for the evening. (BLD)

DAY 13 Pokhara / Kathmandu This morning you are taken to Pokhara Airport to board your flight to Kathmandu. On arrival you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel for the night. In the afternoon you visit Bhaktapur City or the “City of Devotees”, as it is called. It is shaped like a conch shell and was the

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Annapurna Region Trek Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Times to visit Best: Late September to November. Shoulder: March to May but there is more rain and cloud.

Star rating 2-star to 3-star only.

NEPAL

15 days:

Everest Base Camp Trek namche bazaar, nepal

Tibet Pumori Kala Pattar Gorak Shep Lobuche Pheriche Tengboche Namche Bazaar To Kathmandu

Everest BC Mt Everest Island Peak Nuptse Lhotse Dingboche Ama Dablam Phakding Lukla

Nepal

Tailor-made Tour Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Expert trekking guide throughout. 3 nights in fascinating Kathmandu. Nepalese Cultural Dinner & Dance. The most spectacular flight to Lukla! Sagarmatha National Park. 2 relaxing nights in Namche Bazaar. Superb views of Mount Everest! Deer, Himalaya Thar & Pheasant. Tengboche’s magnificent Monastery. Overnight at a Lodge in Tengboche. A night in Dingboche, a Sherpa Village. High Altitude Farmlands & Meadows. The Moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. An overnight at a Lodge in Lobuche. Gorak Shep & nearby Mount Everest! The Trail to Everest Base Camp (EBC). Sunrise over Mount Everest. Breathtaking Views from Kala Patthar. Bhaktapur City, the “City of Devotees”. A full day at leisure in Kathmandu. An optional flight around Mount Everest.

Dining Experiences • This Tailor-made Tour includes almost all meals, as there are few alternative dining options available on the trek. • 39 superb meals included in the tour: 14 Breakfasts,12 Lunches &13 Dinners.

The route to Everest Base Camp is probably the most famous mountain trek in the world. Each spring and autumn many walkers make the journey through the friendly Sherpa Villages to the base camp. With eight of the world’s highest peaks, Nepal is second to none for mountain scenery. This trek takes you into some spectacular areas.

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu On arrival at Kathmandu Airport you are met and taken to your centrally located hotel. In the evening you are introduced to Nepal with a Cultural Dinner & Dance at a local restaurant. Kathmandu is the capital of the ancient mountain Kingdom of Nepal and has the air of a medieval city. It boasts a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and decorated palaces. In the background there is often the gentle sound of jangling cymbals and its markets are a rich blend of colours and aromas. Only in the 1950s was Nepal opened to visitors and today the contrast between 21st Century technology and tradition help make Kathmandu one of the world’s most fascinating cities. (D)

DAY 2

Kathmandu/Lukla/Phakding 2,800 metres, 6 hours Today you are taken to the airport for your flight to Lukla, where your trek begins. This is possibly one of the most spectacular flights in the world. Time permitting you may visit the nearby monastery. Tonight you stay at a local lodge. (BLD)

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

DAY 3

Phakding / Namche Bazaar 3,500 metres, 6 hours Today you trek through Pine Forests, along the Dudh Koshi River and over a number of suspension bridges. You have glittering views of Mt Thamserku (6,618 metres). After entering Sagarmatha NP you pass the village of Josralle, before reaching Namche Bazaar. Here you spend two nights. (BLD)

DAY 4

Namche Bazaar 3,500 metres, optional walks This is the very important acclimatisation day. You may take optional walks to Thame or Kunde or just explore your surroundings. Namche Bazaar is the main trading centre for the region. (BLD)

DAY 5

Namche/ Tengboche 3,860 metres, 5 hours Today you trek to Tengboche, enjoying superb views of Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and a close up of Thamserku enroute. During the walk you may see Musk Deer, Himalaya Thar and Pheasant. Tengboche has a magnificent monastery, the oldest in the Khumbu Region. On arrival you visit some local Chortens. Overnight is spent at a lodge in Tengboche. (BLD)

DAY 6

Tengboche / Dingboche 4,360 metres, 6 hours Today is another exciting day of trekking as the trail drops to Debuche. You then cross the suspension bridge over Imja Khola, before climbing to Pangboche. Your uphill trek continues to the quaint Sherpa Village

trekkers & locals, everest base camp trek, nepal

of Dingboche in the Chukhung Valley. It is a popular stop for trekkers and climbers heading to Mt Everest, Ama Dablam or Imja Tse (“Island Peak”). (BLD)

DAY 7

Dingboche / Lobuche 4,910 metres, 7 hours After breakfast you start along the trail which passes through farmlands, meadows and along the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Later you arrive at Lobuche and your camp located just below the terminal moraine of the glacier. Lobuche is a small settlement and a popular stop for trekkers in the area. From here trekkers continue on to Everest Base Camp (EBC) or opt to climb the nearby and more modest peak of Kala Patthar (5,545 metres), for a fantastic view of Mt Everest. (BLD)

DAY 8

Lobuche / Gorak Shep 5,140 metres, 10 hours This is your last major uphill day as you follow the trail to Gorak Shep. On reaching Gorak Shep, you are surrounded by mountains including the mighty Mt Everest (8,848 metres), the world’s highest mountain! After lunch you take the trail to Everest Base Camp (EBC) where you see tents belonging to those attempting to climb Everest itself. You find yourself in a spectacular setting, surrounded by mountains such as Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori Peaks but interestingly enough, you can’t see Everest from EBC! Reaching EBC is a dream for any trekker. Later you return to your lodge in Gorak Shep. (BLD)

DAY 9

Gorak Shep / Pheriche 4,240 metres, 8 hours Today is probably the highlight of your trek, as you rise very early, braving the cold to view the sunrise over the Himalayas and especially Mt Everest. After a 3 hours ascent you reach Kala Patthar (5,545 metres) where you have truly breathtaking views. The most spectacular photos of Mt Everest are taken from here! You then return to your lodge in Gorak Shep, before beginning the descent to Pheriche where you stay tonight. (BLD)

DAY 10 Pheriche / Tengboche 3,860 metres, 5 hours

Following breakfast you continue the walk back down the valley, re-tracing the trail to Tengboche, where you stay tonight. (BLD)

for the Hollywood production The Little Buddha. Here you visit other architectural showpieces such as Lion Gate, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Bastille Temple and the Bell of Barking Dogs. You also visit Natyapola Temple before returning to your hotel. (BLD)

DAY 14 Kathmandu Today is at leisure and is included in the event of delays on the trek or the flight. (B)

DAY 15 Depart Kathmandu Early this morning you have the chance to undertake an optional flight around Mt Everest. After breakfast you are taken to the airport where your trekking tour ends. (B)

DAY 11 Tengboche / Namche 3,450 metres, 6 hours

Your trek today takes you as far as Namche Bazaar, where you spend the night. (BLD)

DAY 12 Namche / Lukla 2,850 metres, 7 hours

Today is the last day of trekking as you complete the sometimes steep decent to Lukla, where your adventure started. (BLD)

DAY 13 Lukla / Kathmandu This morning you are taken to the airport to fly to Kathmandu. On arrival you are met and taken to you centrally located hotel. This afternoon you visit Bhaktapur City or the “City of Devotees”, as it is known. It is shaped like a conch shell and was the setting himalayas at dawn, nepal

INCA TOURS ~ EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

Everest Base Camp Trek Departs Any day of the week as a private Tailor-made Tour, with private guides and vehicles.

Time to visit Best: Late September to November. Shoulder: March to May but there is more rain and cloud.

Star rating 2-star to 3-star only.

EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL

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