A Passage to India

Fly into Delhi. We'll meet you at the airport and whisk you to our hotel, the impeccably designed 5-star Lodhi in the heart of New Delhi. Settle into your garden terrace room and relax. 

For most of us, it's a long trip to India, so consider arriving a day (or more) early to rest, relax, and get acclimated to the local time. There's an option to arrive a day early in the Add-On section.

Regardless of your arrival day, take a moment to pamper yourself. Book a spa treatment to shake off your jetlag, or sit by the pool and soak in some sunlight to help your body adjust to the new timezone.

We’ll meet in the late afternoon for a briefing with Clara, your guide. She’ll start with one of her daily talks to help you get into the Indian mindset.

Welcome cocktails in the lounge are on us. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a tasting menu dinner at one of the restaurants in our hotel, Indian Accent. It's one of Asia’s best!

Let’s call it an early night so we can rest before our adventures tomorrow. 

After a spectacular breakfast and optional yoga & meditation on the roof with Clara, we’ll head out for a big day of sightseeing. You’ll meet Monika, your guide for the week, who you'll definitely fall in love with by the end of the day because of her infectious energy and smile. 

We’ll begin with the Qutub Minar, a giant brick minaret built in 1199 by Muslim conquerors and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Next, we’ll walk through Gandhi Smirti, Gandhi’s residence at the end of his life. You can see where he slept and even his signature round glasses. Rewatch Gandhi (the movie with Ben Kingsley) before you arrive so you can recall his remarkable story. 

Now, it’s time to go to Old Delhi. Before touring the markets, we’ll duck into the ancient Haveli, an old Indian mansion, to enjoy a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we’ll take a rickshaw ride through the Old Delhi market, pausing for pictures. We'll stop at shops to discover the many Indian spices, sweet tastes, and natural fragrances. You can also buy Indian bangles or other jewelry.

Tonight, we’ll dine at Bukhara, a famous tandoori restaurant. The menu has remained virtually the same for the past 40 years, and, surprise, tonight you’ll eat with your hands. Don’t worry. Many celebrities and tourists have done it – you can too!

We'll check out and start our four hour drive to Agra after savoring breakfast. We’ll make a pit stop along the way to refresh before enjoying lunch al fresco in the garden at the Public in Agra, the city renowned for the Taj Mahal.

Next, we’ll hit the market to buy saris so we can dress appropriately for our upcoming big visit to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

Once we're kitted up, we’ll check into the 5-star Taj Agra Convention Hotel. Why not refresh in the pool or hit the fitness center for a quick workout?

After an early evening chat with Clara while we get our henna done, we’ll head up to the hotel's Sky Lounge to take in a view of the famous palace, followed by dinner at Daawat e Nawab, one of Agra's best restaurants that's conveniently in our hotel. 

Today, we’ll wake up bright and early to see the Taj in the early morning light, but first, we’ll dress in our saris.

A visit to the Taj Mahal is on everyone’s bucket list, so it will feel like a dream come true. Better yet, getting there early means we can watch the building change colors as the sun rises. These are once-in-a-lifetime photographic opportunities.

After hearing the love story that led to the construction of the Taj (and taking hundreds of pictures, of course), we’ll visit our guide Monika's home for breakfast and a lesson in how to make authentic Chai.

After breakfast, we’ll return to the hotel for a quick snooze or a dip in the pool. We can have lunch at our own pace before heading back out for the afternoon. 

We’re off to visit a very special inlaid marble atelier whose best works are found in museums. Plus, we’ll have the opportunity to see some of the best embroidery in the region at Zardozi’s.

Tonight, you can relax in your room and order room service after a long day or dine with friends in one of the hotel restaurants.

After fueling up with the hotel breakfast, we're off to Jaipur, the pink city. 

Along the journey, we will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the city of the Mughal Kings and the former capital of the Mughal Empire, which dates back to the 16th century. After our tour and a quick history lesson, we’ll take time for a local lunch to fuel the rest of our journey.

We'll then continue to Abaneri, the largest and one of the oldest stepwells in the world. Stepwells were historic irrigation systems developed in India to address fluctuating weather conditions. 

We’ll finally arrive in Jaipur around 6 pm and check into the Raj Palace Hotel, a 5-star hotel in a former palace built in 1727.

After a long journey, we’ll relax and unpack, then meet for dinner at Swapna Mahal, one of the restaurants at the Raj Palace that serves a variety of cuisines. 

Today, after a rich breakfast, we’ll head out to the Amber Fort, one of the most impressive buildings in all of India and a fantastic example of Rajput architecture.

Next, we’ll visit the Royal City Palace with its gorgeous mirrored blue rooms. Don’t miss the small but absolutely magical gift shop. To round out the morning, we’ll visit the Observatory, a scientific feat of its time.

It’s time for lunch at the enchanting Baradari. Then, we’ll drive by the much-instagrammed Hawa Mahal (aka the Pink Palace) for a photo in front of its distinctive windows.

The afternoon is set aside for shopping, as Jaipur is known worldwide for its textiles, fabrics, and carpets. Many designers from the US, England, and elsewhere create and craft their products here.

We’ll visit a textile shop for a handmade jacket overnight, then an exemplary carpet shop for an entertaining rug show. Finally, we’ll stop at a place for exceptional handmade bedding, scarves, and shawls. If time allows, we may also visit Hot Pink, the most renowned jeweler in town.

While in Jaipur, we’ll set aside time on both afternoons for a 60-minute spa service, which is included. Try an Indian aromatherapy massage or perhaps an Ayurvedic foot or head treatment.

Tonight’s meal is on your own. There are several restaurants to try at the hotel, or you can always opt for room service if you prefer a quiet night.

This morning is a relaxing one. Sleep in and savor the experience of slowly waking up in India. It’s time to relax and recuperate after much sightseeing. Let’s ground ourselves in the garden and practice meditation, breathwork, and yoga with Clara.

In lieu of lunch, we’ll take a home cooking class to discover essential spices and flavors in Indian cooking. Then, we’ll feast on our creations!

In the afternoon, we’ll head out of town to an Elephant Conservation Sanctuary, where we’ll learn about the plight of the Indian Elephant and get up close and personal with them. We want to support the work of this conservation group, which has worked to protect elephants and other creatures from poaching in 12 rescue centers throughout India since 1995.

Tonight, you're in for a treat. After some time back at the hotel, we’ll depart for the Palladio Restaurant and Bar. The setting is pure fantasy, and the Italian food is delightful. It’s the ideal place to celebrate our time in Rajasthan and prepare for our next stop.

This morning, we'll head to Jaipur International Airport together. Those ending their trip in Jaipur will fly to Delhi to connect with their return flight home. (See our FAQ's for more information about flight times). 

For those continuing on the Rishikesh trip extension, we'll fly north to Dehra Dun. Onwards! 

After an early breakfast, we’ll depart Jaipur on a 9:05 am flight, arriving at the Jolly Grant airport at 10:30 am, where our private driver will pick us up.

Together, we’ll drive into Rishikesh, stopping along the way to see the Beatles’ Ashram and the Pujya Swamis' Ashram. 

We’ll stop for a nutritious lunch at Jal & Jaleb to sample authentic Northern Indian food, including Thalis and Garhwali dishes. Enjoy views of the Ganges River. 

Next, we’ll experience a guided ritual with Clara at the Ganges to begin our "Ayurvedic transformation". You can even dip your toes in the Holy Ganges River.

Our hotel for the next four nights is the Yog Niketan Ayurvedic Retreat with a Ganges River view. This retreat hotel touts itself as the intersection of many spiritual Indian practices, and is the perfect place to center yourself and rejuvenate. 

We have time to rest before meeting for our first Satsang to receive instructions on how to meditate using the TM process.

We’ll stick to a Satvik diet while at the retreat. Tonight, we’ll savor our first meal in this spiritual place together. Rest will come easily as the sun sets.

After a healthy breakfast, each person will meet with an Ayurvedic consultant to determine their dosha and the treatments they’ll receive over the next two days.

Yoga for all levels, including absolute beginners, will happen daily. Your treatment over the next several days is designed to help balance the mind, body, & soul and detoxify the body. This 5000-year-old medicinal practice is beneficial for everyone working toward achieving perfect health.

Based on your consultation, your day might include:

Abhyanga - a full-body massage using warmed herbal oils to increase blood circulation, relieve stress & inflammation, and draw toxins out of the body.

Elakizhi therapy - helps one perspire, flushing out the toxins by massaging the body with an herb bundle soaked in warm oil. This, in turn, relieves stress, sore muscles, and body aches.

Shirodara - the process of pouring warm medicated oil slowly over the forehead. It includes a gentle head massage that relieves stress and anxiety.

Swedan - simply sweating through steaming. As many cultures recognize, a steam bath helps remove toxins from the body and prolongs your life.

Between treatments, we’ll meet for tea, lunch, and dinner. 

Tonight, we’ll participate in an Aarti ceremony, a 1000-year-old ritual by the river meaning “removal of sorrows.” Performed by a Hindu monk at sunset, it uses hymns to praise God and clear our minds. This ancient tradition is a ceremony of light, and many will join us.

Today is a relaxing one as we move slowly from a treatment to a meal to time set aside to rest, read, or do yoga. Beautiful Clara guides us, both individually and as a group, throughout our spiritual journey. She will engage with us one-on-one and collectively, instructing us in the Mudras and assisting us in enhancing our breathing, meditation, and mindfulness practices. 

Our daily routine will consist of a private yoga class in the morning for our group, as well as a 30-minute evening Yoga Nidra class in the afternoon. Additionally, a private meditation practice will take place each evening, and one Ayurvedic treatment is included per day. You can opt for more than one treatment at an additional charge. Your meal plan will be tailored to your individual dosha. 

By tonight, you'll be well into the groove and feeling healthy and refreshed. 

For our final day, we'll arise early and participate in Yoga as well as a Dharma talk, led by Clara. You'll enjoy soaking in your views of the Ganges River from your room as you journal and rest. 

Your final Ayurvedic treatment will occur, and you'll walk home with suggestions on how to take this new way of thinking about your body and spirit home with you. 

Tonight we'll enjoy a special celebratory meal, thanking ourselves and those around us for going on this journey together. 

Sadly our time together has come to an end. It's time to bid farewell to new friends and the sights and sounds of the past week’s adventures.

After our final breakfast we'll make our way to Dehra Dun for our flight back to Delhi. We'll aim to take a morning flight back to Delhi so you'll have more flexibility with your return flight home. (See our FAQ's for more information about flight times).