India—Rajasthan,Tigers &Taj A CULTURAL WALKING ADVENTURE
Watching the sun’s first rays tint theTaj Mahal saffron and coral? Or walking with a goatherd on quiet country lanes? As we look back on India,we never can decide which was morememorable. India is fantastical—and we visit sumptuous palaces and temples for the photogenic proof. India is intensely human too, but visitors who only see the raucous cities miss the point. So wearrange one-of-a-kind countrysidewalks that introduce you to villagers and rural life…as well as descendants of royal families, sari- and turban-tying experts, and eminent naturalists. India is a rush of mind-bending contradic- tions. (Think:“safaris” into the jungle habitat of tigers,New Delhi, and the Thar Desert.) Most of all, our beloved India is epic.And that’s where Classic Journeys comes in with a thoughtful,well-edited itinerary that han- dles the complex logistics, frees you to absorb an amazingly broad wealth of experiences, and pampers you each night in sumptuous hotels ranked among thefinest in theworld.
ITINERARY
We meet in Delhi (1 night). After a walking tour of the Old City, we switch to rickshaws for a ride around India’s largest mosque. We may sample street food in the Chor Bazaar, but save room for tonight’s dinner in a private home. In Agra (1 night), we’re not content just to see the Taj Mahal—our hotel overlooks it for uncrowded access at dusk and dawn.
A hunting lodge (2 nights) is our base for walks and game drives at Ranthambhore National Park, the world’s best-known tiger preserve. Then we take the road to Jaipur (2 nights) through the villages of Rajasthan. On elephant back, we’ll visit the Amber Fort and pause for refreshments at a farmhouse.
After a flight to Jodhpur, we’ll go for a camel ride before returning to our colonial-style lux- ury encampment at Osian (1 night) and an evening with local dancers. From the beauti- ful hamlet of Narlai (1 night), we’ll take a fascinating walk into the Aravalli Hills to meet the native tribespeople at home in their small rural village.
Tour Dates Dec 29, 2010-Jan 8, 2011 February 12-22 March 14-24 October 31-November 10 Dec 29, 2011-Jan 8, 2012
Trip Length: 11 days/10 nights
Price: From $6995 (Includes all breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners and 1 cooking instruction. Internal flights priced sepa- rately at an approximate total cost of $458 to $658.)
Single Supplement: From $2595 Begins & Ends: Delhi
Delhi Rajasthan Jaipur Pushkar
Ranthambhore Udaipur
Mumbai
Tour Dates: Dec 28, 2010-Jan 6, 2011, March 21-30, May 20-29, October 28-November 6, Dec 28, 2011-Jan 6, 2012
Trip Length: 10 days/9 nights
In Udaipur (2 nights), the Venice of the East, we’ll stroll from our gleaming hotel to explore the city’s white marble palace complex. Then we shop the spice and vegetable markets with a chef, followed by a cooking lesson in her kitchen. On our final day, we part company in Delhi.
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Price: From $4095 (Includes all breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners. Internal flights priced separately at an approximate cost of $400.)
Single Supplement: From $985 Begins: Hanoi, Vietnam Ends: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat Siem Reap A Ho Chi Minh City Hue China Beach Agra Vietnam &AngkorWat A CULTURAL WALKING ADVENTURE
Most tourists never see Halong Bay in the morning.They miss the fishing junks sliding past limestone spires that thrust from the turquoise water.Those day-trippers can’t imagine how the scent of fresh coffee hangs in the air as eagles float overhead. It’s an extravagant sensory moment possible only becausewespend thenight on thewater…aboard a traditional junk.And it’s just one unique event we’ll share with you inVietnam and Cambodia. Of course we visit the great cities with their lively culture. But we also visit a simple homestead to learn about the eternal cycle of the rice farmer…and meet the descendants of the Nguyen dynasty who may join us for lunch. The special experiences continue in Cambodia.Here,we wander the jun- gle-clad temples of Angkor in the quiet of the morning, before the groups descend. Join us for a remarkable look into the Asia of old, where heritage and tradition are still strong.
ITINERARY
We meet in Hanoi (2 nights) for a stroll in the atmospheric Old Quarter. Next day, a walk along rice fields and through bamboo-covered villages leads to a colorful pagoda with its lacquer-and-gold Buddha.
On our chartered sailing junk, we’ll cruise emerald Halong Bay…and spend a tranquil night aboard. Then it’s on to our resort on the magnificent stretch of sand known as China Beach (2 nights). We explore the finely preserved town of Hoi An before a walk offers us a special glimpse into rural life as we are welcomed at a small village in the rice fields. In the imperial city of Hue (1 night), we’ll shop the local market and roam the Forbidden Purple City.
We’ll take a brief flight to Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights), where a series of guid- ed walks introduce us to this lively and resurgent city. For our unforgettable finale, another short hop brings us to Angkor Wat (1 night) in Cambodia. We’ve reserved plenty of time for exploring this massive Khmer site—includ- ing a sunrise visit to the largest temple in the world. On our last evening, we part company at the airport.
Hanoi
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