So just so that you know where I am and when here it is:
Saturday 3rd October - Heathrow to Delhi
Then I start my tour of India:
Day 2 Delhi/ Agra -
Visit Delhi's Jama Masjid, the largest Mosque in India and wander through the Chandni Chowk in old Delhi. View the imposing India Gate and marvel at the splendour of Connaught Place. A late afternoon drive to Agra prepares us for the Taj Mahal at dawn the next day.
Day 3 Agra
Rise before sunrise to get the best light as you enter India's most famous landmark: the Taj Mahal, a white marble masterpiece. In Agra we also ride on one of the ubiquitous cycle rickshaws to visit the Red Fort.
Day 4 Bharatpur/Abhaneri
Abhaneri is an ancient village set in the desert of Rajasthan, known for its beautiful baoris (step wells) and the famous Harshat Mata temple.Enroute we visit Fatehpur Sikri, the now deserted former capital of the Mughals.
Day 5-6 Jaipur
Clothed in pink stucco, Jaipur is home to India’s second most visited site, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. Follow in the footsteps of the royal harem or watch the spectacle of a Bollywood film.
Day 7 Delhi
We return to Delhi in the afternoon for one final opportunity to shop, explore or take more photographs.
Days 8-9 Kochi (Cochin)
Small islands full of Portuguese and Dutch history, all connected by wooden ferries, welcome you to Fort Kochi. The oldest church in India sits near mosques, synagogues and English manor homes. Feast on Keralan food and enjoy a performance of Kathakali dancing.
Day 10 Nilgiri Hills
Climb into the misty Nilgiri, or Blue Mountains, covered in tea plantations, grape gardens and eucalyptus trees. Hike through the plantations, learn how tea is grown and travel on the famous Blue Mountain railway.
Day 11 Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Spend the night at the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary provides one of the most important refuges for the elephant and bison in India.
Day 12-13 Mysore
Mysore is a popular destination for spiritual tourism. Join the pilgrims at Chamundi Hills, with its Chamundeswari Temple on top and Nandi the Bull below.
Day 14-15 Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
Discover another of India’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Explore the 7th centure Shore Temple by bicycle or on foot. Later, relax with a cold Indian beer on the beach.
Day 16 Thanjavur (Tanjore)/Tiruchirapalli (Trichy)
Travel to the famous temple cities of Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli. In Thanjavur, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Brihadeeswara Temple, and discover the architecture of the Chola Empire. In Trichy, climb the Rock Fortress for a view over the city and river or visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam) and gaze over the largest temple complex in the world.
Day 17 Madurai
Today travel to busy and colourful Madurai. Join a guided tour of the temple complex, shop and try one of Madurai’s popular sweet drinks.
Day 18-19 Periyar Tiger Reserve (D)
Travel past plantations of spice, tea, rubber and coffee before entering the realm of one of India’s most enduring symbols, the tiger. Periyar is one of the few habitats remaining for wild tigers in the world.
Day 20 Kerala Backwaters Homestay (L,D)
Slip silently through sleepy canals on a boat, as the timeless landscape of Kerala’s backwaters slides by. Savour this idyllic region where boats are the main transport on our Backwater Homestay - a great chance to meet, talk and eat with the people who live here.
Day 21 Depart Kochi (Cochin) (B)
Travel back to our starting point at Fort Kochi where trip ends upon arrival.
So on 24th October after 3 weeks hiking around India i'm checking to a 4* (albiet an Indian 4*) hotel to chill out and relax for the night!
The next day I catch a flight to Mumbai around lunchtime where I have to kill some time until my flight at half past midnight that night!! I then take a night flight over to Hong Kong!
I'll spend 4 nights exploring Hong Kong and then fly up to Beijing. I'll spend 2 nights on my own in Beijing before joining my next tour.....
On 2nd November i'll be:
Day 2-4 Beijing
From the vast expanses of Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China, Beijing is a city of incredible sights. Don't miss some of the best shopping, food and entertainment in the world.
Day 5-7 Shanghai
Shanghai is China’s largest and most dynamic city where new skyscrapers meet with the traditional architecture of the Bund. Visit the Museum, shop on Nanjing Road or watch a performance of the famous Shanghai Acrobats.
Day 8-9 Xi'an
Visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures – the Terracotta Warriors - and dine on some of the best market food in the country. This ancient capital is a fascinating mix of traditional and modern worlds.
Day 10-11 Chengdu and Leshan
Delight in the successes of the Panda Breeding Sanctuary, discover Chengdu's ancient tea houses and marvel at the giant stone Buddha at Leshan.
Day 12-14 Three Gorges
Three Gorges are both an inspiration to painters and poets and a source of international controversy. It remains one of the world’s natural scenic wonders while the massive Three Gorges Dam is an incredible feat of modern technology.
Day 15-16 Yichang and Wuhan
Cross Wuhan's famous bridges over the Yangtze River and visit the gateway city of Yichang.
Day 17-19 Yangshuo
Surrounded by spectacular limestone karst hills and green paddy fields, Yangshuo is your picture perfect base for exploring the peaks, rivers, caves and outlying villages of Guilin.
Day 20 Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most fascinating, vibrant and impressively situated cities - it boasts an unbeatable array of cultural sites, shopping, fabulous restaurants and atmosphere galore.
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