India Encompassed
Experience Overview
From the white marble of the Taj Mahal to the unforgettable backwaters of Kerala, your camera's shutter will be snapping nonstop throughout this comprehensive Indian journey. Sail along the sacred Ganges River in Varanasi and explore Abhaneri’s carved stepwells in the North before flying south to search for tigers in the wild and exotic spices in relaxed hill stations. With an intriguing combination of included activities and free time, city streets, and rural spirit, you're sure to gain an understanding of the people and some insight into this fascinating land.
Highlights
- Discover ancient forts and temples
- Revel in the beauty of Agra's Taj Mahal
- Sail the Ganges in venerable Varanasi
- Stay with the locals in the Kerala backwaters
- Smell spices at a plantation in the Cardamom Hills
Trip Details
Product Code: 1523
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Train, local bus, private vehicle, auto-rickshaw, boat, plane.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: AHHE
Starts: Delhi, India
Finishes: Kochi, India
Duration: 28 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Women With Wheels Transfer, Indira Gandhi International Airport Your G for Good Moment: City Walk, Delhi Your G for Good Moment: Anoothi Block Printing Experience, Jaipur Your G for Good Moment: Lunch at Theruvarom Women Empowerment Project, Alleppey Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Kerala Backwaters Homestay, Alleppey
- Old Delhi walk
- Amber Fort tour
- Rajasthani rural village stay
- Dhula Village cycling excursion
- Taj Mahal, Baby Taj and Agra Fort tour
- Orchha Palace complex visit
- Western Temple complex visit
- Ganges River boat trips at sunrise and sunset, including candle flower ceremony
- Fort Kochi orientation walk
- Wayanad Tea Plantation and Factory visit
- Chaumundi Temple and Mysore Palace visit
- Mamallapuram Shore Temple visit
- Pondicherry orientation walk
- Madurai cycle-rickshaw ride and Sri Meenakshi temple visit
- Cardamom Hills spice plantation tour
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels/guesthouses (24 nts), comfortable tented camp (1 nts), sleeper train (1 nt), homestay (1 nt, multi-share).
- 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
- Train, local bus, private vehicle, auto-rickshaw, boat, plane.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,924 ($104 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Delhi
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included through the G Adventures-supported Women With Wheels project.
Day 2: Delhi
Enjoy a youth-led morning walk through Delhi by G Adventures-supported City Walk project offering a unique perspective of Delhi while supporting at-risk youth. Later, visit Delhi's famous Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) and climb the minaret for a bird's eye view of Old City. Walk through Chandni Chowk, one of India's oldest and busiest markets, and learn the history of the Sikh religion at Gurdwara. Stop for photos at the colourful market before finishing at Connaught Place, one of the most prominent architectural remnants of British rule.
Day 3: Delhi/Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, to start exploring the Pink City. Along the way, try your hand at block printing with the women of the Anoothi Project. Later, opt to visit the Jantar Mantar, or Royal Observatory. Don't miss the opportunity to see a Bollywood film at the famous Art Deco Raj Mandir cinema.
Day 4: Jaipur
Stop and admire the intricate architecture of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) before venturing to the ruined city of Amber to explore the famous Fort.
Opt to see the city on bicycle by pre-booking the Jaipur Cycle Tour.
Day 5: Jaipur/Dhula Village
Travel to Dhula Village and get a closer look at rural life in Rajasthan during a cycling excursion. Tonight, settle in to your cozy tent, relax by the fire, and take in the starry night sky.
Before saying farewell to the Pink City, admire it from above by pre-booking the Jaipur Balloon Ride when booking your tour.
Tonight's accommodation is in spacious and comfortable tents outfitted with beds, lamps, and simple en suite bathrooms.
Day 6: Dhula Village/Āgra
Stop by the impressive Abhaneri stepwell en route to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.
Day 7: Āgra
Visit the sparkling, iconic Taj Mahal for sunrise with time to explore the picturesque grounds. Afterward, take a ride to the walled city of Agra Fort and Baby Taj.
Day 8: Āgra/Alīpura
Board a morning train then transfer to a private vehicle for a ride across rough Indian roads to Alipura. This friendly village will be our base for two days where you'll stay in a heritage property with time to wander the town and interact with local people.
Day 9: Alīpura
Enjoy a day trip to Khajuraho, where India's largest group of medieval temples reside, known for their Kama Sutra statues. Learn the history of these world-famous temples on a guided tour and enjoy a taste of a little erotica from the Middle Ages. After, opt to visit a nearby waterfall or watch an evening dance performance.
Day 10: Alīpura/Orchha
En route to Orchha, visit a unique paper making plant, set up to assist tribal women from the area. All the paper is made from recycled clothing and wood pulp. Continue on to Orchha and embark on an orientation tour of this small town. Set on the banks of the Betwa River, it is the perfect antidote to the chaos of India's cities. Later, attend an evening puja ceremony at the Ram Raja Temple.
Day 11: Orchha/Varanasi
Visit the Orchha Palace complex and enjoy free time before the overnight train to Varanasi.
Opt to sharpen your culinary skills by pre-booking the Orchha Cooking School extra when booking your tour.
Day 12: Varanasi
Disembark the train in legendary Varanasi - the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindus visit for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn, or to die. Take an orientation walk through the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. There is time here to shop, wander, and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city. Marvel at the ghats from the River Ganges as you enjoy an evening boat trip to witness a mesmerizing candle-lit flower ceremony.
Pre-book the Varanasi Heritage Walk and enjoy a guided tour that focuses more on the local life in Varanasi and its philosophical and cultural values. Witness pilgrims singing and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of Varanasi in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Day 13: Varanasi
Watch the sunrise from a boat along the Ganges. Spend the rest of the day getting to know this holy city. Opt to visit the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, the site of the Buddha's first sermon.
Day 14: Varanasi/Delhi
Soak up some free time this morning and continue exploring Varanasi. Later, cut out the travel time with a flight back to bustling Delhi.
Day 15: Delhi/Kochi
Fly to the port city of Kochi. Settle into your hotel and enjoy free time to relax the rest of the day. Opt to catch the sunset over the Arabian Sea, framed by hundreds of boats and fishing nets.
In the evening, there will be a welcome meeting for new travellers joining the group.
Day 16: Kochi/Sultan Bathery
Take a morning train followed by a scenic drive to reach Sultan Bathery, in the Wayanad district.
Day 17: Sultan Bathery
Walk the nature trails through the farm area in Wayanad. Also take a tour of a tea factory and plantation to learn about tea production in the area from a guide.
Wayanad region of the western Ghats in Kerala is renowned for its sprawling tea plantations and is known to produce some of the finest teas.
Day 18: Sultan Bathery/Mysore
Settle in for the drive to the ancient city of Mysore.
Travel to Mysore (formally Mysuru) located in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947.
Day 19: Mysore
Explore the vibrant city of Mysore including visits to Chamundi Temple and Mysore Palace. After enjoy free time and opt to visit the Devaraja market or join a yoga class.
Imagine life as a Maharaja on a guided tour of the Mysore Palace. Later, join the throngs of pilgrims at Chamundi Hills, with its temple on top, and Nandi the Bull (ridden by the Hindu god Shiva) a short walk below.
In your free time, visit the Devaraja fruit and vegetable market or join a yoga class at one of the many local institutes.
Opt to drive to Somnathpur, home to one of the most famous Hoysala Temples in India.
Day 20: Mysore/Māmallapuram
Enjoy a full day of train travel to Chennai before a short bus ride to Mamallapuram.
Arrive by train to Chennai before continuing south for a short ride to the small village of Mamallapuram.
Day 21: Māmallapuram
Visit the Shore Temple. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Mamallapuram.
In the morning, visit the 7th century Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 22: Māmallapuram/Puducherry
Continue to Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry) and learn about Sri Aurobindo Ghose at the ashram.
In the morning, drive to Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry), formerly the the largest French Colony in India and an important trading town. There is a strong French influence in the city's layout, with wide boulevards and French-style houses, but the city is undoubtedly Indian.
Day 23: Puducherry/Madurai
Travel inland to Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Day 24: Madurai
Hop on a cycle rickshaw for a tour of the city before visiting the famous Meenakshi Temple.
After visiting the temple complex, opt to visit the handicraft shops or duck into the cool shade of the covered, stone tailor's market where, for a few rupees, rows of expert tailors will whip you up a custom shirt in minutes, all done on antique foot-pump sewing machines. In the late evening, opt to visit the Meenakshi Temple again for a glimpse of the nighttime rituals.
Day 25: Madurai/Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady. Take a guided tour of spice plantations in the Cardamom Hills.
Thekkady, adjacent to Periyar National Park, is the spice capital of India. On arrival, enjoy a guided tour of the spice plantations and a tea factory.
Opt for a boat ride on the Periyar Lake.
Day 26: Thekkady/Kerala Backwaters
Travel to Alleppey for a local homestay. Experience local life and a guided walk along the lagoon.
Travel down to the backwaters from Thekkady to catch a private boat for the short journey to the village homestay.
In the afternoon, explore the island with a local person to observe the different facets of local life — it's a great opportunity to meet and talk with the people who live in this unique location.
Just before sunset, hop on a small country boat and journey along with the locals to enjoy sunset on the winding backwaters.
Day 27: Kerala Backwaters/Kochi
Spend the morning enjoying last moments with your host family. Learn to cook some local food, watch the toddy tappers at work, or wander around the village. Travel to a Planeterra project for lunch before returning to Kochi. Head out for an orientation walk, then enjoy an evening performance of kathakali, a form of traditional dancing from Kerala.
Day 28: Kochi
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Cinders K - Traveled, November 2023
I'm giving G Adventures a score of 10 because the trip I went on exceeded my expectations, with wonderful groups of people and fantastic leaders (CEO) and great organisation.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Hans Petter H - Traveled, November 2023
Easy and comfortable
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Lindsay K - Traveled, December 2023
I am of the opinion that G Adventures are well organised and diverse trips for all age groups and people. It is value for money and have great staff members.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Peirong X - Traveled, December 2023
Interesting itinerary, great guides.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Sharon G - Traveled, November 2023
Poor app-nothing on it and very unuser friendly . Persistent poor hotels on whole of trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Karin N - Traveled, November 2023
Well organized and excellent guide
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Susan O - Traveled, November 2023
Though we love G, we felt G missed the mark with India Encompassed. In general: First, the itinerary was not as thought out, especially in the South. I was very, very disappointed, especially when I estimated that 6 of the last 14 days were travel days with another in the North. Second, the hotels were something YOLO might experience, not a classic tour. Most of the rooms were dirty, often there was not hot water or air conditioning, there were bedbugs, and you had to ask to have your room serviced rather than assume it. Third, the distances that we traveled did not always offer us a 'wow' reason to go that far to see that ?event.? Fourth, the jarring and jerking of the bus transportation was ridiculous. I've never had back issues until that trip and it was so bad in the South that I thought I had an appendicitis.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Ronald O - Traveled, November 2023
For nearly 10 years, our primary outfitter has been G Adventures. We had been awed by many experiences over the years of travel with G. This was our first Classic Tour post-COVID (we did the Quest for the Antarctic Circle tour earlier this year) and my disappointment in the India Encompassed tour has set in motion a need to reassess our outfitter selection and travel spend going forward. This tour was so disappointing that I went looking for G Adventures? Mission Statement, searching for ?what has changed? in the overall planning and delivery of your tours. I never found a Mission Statement but I did find your Core Values and Media Kit. And it leaves me wondering, is G Adventures? primary mission a travel outfitter, trying to provide unique experiences for their guests, or is G Adventures a wealth redistribution company, leveraging the spend of their guests to opaquely promote causes they'deem worthy. It is impossible to say you do both in a Mission Statement ? it has to be one or the other. Now don't get me wrong, I am all for the raising the quality of life for all people. My wife and I have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to causes we believe in, but that is our prerogative to find and choose those causes. We travel to view and understand the world as it is, in it's beauty and it's unpleasantness. That keeps us grounded. We know there are inequalities, and have been since the beginning of human existence. But we travel the world to see what mankind has accomplished over time, not to try to force change upon the places we visit. That is the responsibility of sovereign governments, hopefully representative of their people. NGOs can also try to affect change, but are limited in their reach, have their own preconceived idea of what is right, and fail more often than not. This tour seemed to focus less on what has been accomplished in India in the past, and more on what your NGO affiliates are doing to effect change as you deem it should be. This tour was out of balance from the beginning ? inadequate lodging, poorly designed daily logistics: travel to destinations and meal times, and an overall out of sync itinerary that left me wondering if we were a trial run, rather than a vetted tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Asenath N - Traveled, November 2023
First off I would like to say that I love and breathed G since I found you when you were GAP. I highly recommended you to everyone who was in ear shot. I browsed your website like it was my job and dreamed about endless adventures I would have especially after my first trip I was hooked like a drug. My first CEO said welcome to your family for the next 3 weeks we were and it hooked me in further. I had numerous adventures and dream vacations. And always gave you a 10. This is truly gut wrenching and heartbreaking for me to say as I'm typing I have a lump in my throat. But when the moment I landed in Delhi I knew this was not a G trip. As soon as I got to the hotel. But I still had high hopes that crashed and burned through this trip. I sit here and think was that really a G trip. Someone just asked me about this trip as soon as I was done. And asked who I went with and this time I couldn't recommend G. And it hurt as I loved this company. After 14 or more I lost count this last trip left such a bad taste in my mouth. I still can not believe it was a G trip. I have never not given a G trip a 10. I'm still hoping and praying this is just India and not everywhere as I did have a good time in Nepal.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Susan A - Traveled, October 2023
Organised, safe travel , excellent CEOs who know their country and genuinely care for their group members
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Gary B - Traveled, October 2023
Well planned and organized tour. We enjoyed the small group size and the CEOs were excellent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Leslie P - Traveled, October 2023
Excellent itinerary. Stellar CEOs. Perfect style of travel for us.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Torsten S - Traveled, October 2023
I gave a high rating because this trip to India was a great experience and combined everything that, in my opinion, a trip should be: culture, history, great food, getting to know the country and it's people, active relaxation, etc.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Susan A - Traveled, October 2023
Organised, safe travel , excellent CEOs who know their country and genuinely care for their group members
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
David H - Traveled, September 2023
Good customer service. Excellent CEOs
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2023
Antonia D - Traveled, August 2023
Guides have been great and this tour in specific we did showed the real India - you get involved in the true spirit of the country not just the glossy parts
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2023
Shana D - Traveled, August 2023
Overall, I was somewhat satisfied. However, the accommodation left much to be desired and I thought, particularly in South India, there could be changes to the itinerary. This was my first G trip since COVID and I was left with the impression that G is trying to recoup losses since COVID by banking more customer',s money by scrimping on hotels. Also, my impression from fellow travelers from customer service is that they'do not care about customers.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2023
Philippa D - Traveled, August 2023
Well organised, good range of experiences and sights
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2023
Jennifer H - Traveled, August 2023
We have travelled with G before and didn't have any problems at all. However, we found this trip full on, with little time to enjoy the places we visited
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2023
Philip H - Traveled, September 2023
A great experience of visiting a lot of culturally important places in a short period of time with great company and excellent CEOs
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/28/2023
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