Mystical and spiritual, India is a land of rich contrasts. Explore northern India's multifaceted culture, history, and traditions as you travel through the classic Golden Triangle and east to Varanasi.

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Starting at: $5,887 * Includes airfare, taxes & all fees Make a Reservation Ask Us A Question or Call 855-330-1542

Mystical India

The Golden Triangle and Varanasi With an Optional Extension to Nepal

17 days from $5,887 | includes airfare, taxes and all fees

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Tour Details

TOUR BROCHURE

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WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

Of all the overseas trips we've taken, this trip ranks right at the top. Smithsonian did an outstanding job of balancing sites and activities with learning. We saw and did so much but we learned even more. We'll always remember India.

- Ron Z.

I have wanted to visit India all my life and, therefore, had very high expectations. This trip far exceeded all those expectations. It was everything I hoped for and more!

- Brenda S.

India is not only mystical, but it is memorable, and magic. An initial visit only whets one's desire to return to experience the unique physical and spiritual senses over and over again.

- Kenneth N.

I am so happy I saw India with the Smithsonian. It has such a rich and extraordinary history, and Smithsonian was the way to go!

- Previous Journeys Traveler

JOURNEYS DISPATCHES

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Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

Taj Palace (formerly Taj Diplomatic Enclave)

Delhi, India

Surrounded by six acres of lush greenery in Delhi's Diplomatic Enclave, the Taj Palace Hotel features a contemporary décor accented by marble and brass. The 422-room hotel offers four restaurants, two bars, and a lounge; Fitness Center with Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and spa treatments; outdoor pool; beauty salon; and laundry service. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, Internet access, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 3

Jai Mahal Palace

Jaipur, India

A masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic architecture, the Jai Mahal Palace is certified environmentally-friendly and the former home of maharajahs and three prime ministers of Jaipur. This 270-year-old hotel sits amidst 18 acres of beautifully landscaped Mughal gardens. Amenities include three restaurants, one bar, a bakery, and two lounges; a barber shop and beauty salon; an outdoor pool; fitness center; spa with massage treatments; billiards and game room; complimentary WiFi internet access; and laundry service. Decorated with period furniture and Rajasthani paintings, air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, in-room safe, minibar, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 3

Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge

Ranthambore, India

Built in the 1930s by Indian royalty, the Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge is located just a short distance from Ranthambore National Park. The rustic-style lodge offers a restaurant and bar, croquet, badminton, and outdoor pool. Each of the 30 air-conditioned guest rooms has private bath with hair dryer, mini-bar, in-room safe, Internet access, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 2

The Clement Village Retreat

Kalakho, India

Off the beaten track in rural Rajasthan sits The Clement Village Retreat, a rustic yet comfortable haven of guest cabins set amidst a series of traditional villages. The camp offers a unique opportunity to witness how much of India lives, away from the cities. During our stay we visit a local school, take a camel cart safari, and meet local Meena tribespeople in their homes. Along with a restaurant, gardens and bonfires add to the retreat’s ambience. The 17 air-conditioned guest cabins have private bath with hot and cold running water and hair dryer. This remote location has no telephone service.

Number of nights: 1

Courtyard Marriott Agra

Agra, India

Located on famous Fatehabad Road, Courtyard Agra is a luxury haven near the most celebrated jewels of India. Immerse yourself in 5-star comfort within spacious hotel rooms and suites, featuring resort-style amenities, plush pillowtop bedding and high-speed Wi-Fi. Savor distinctive cuisine, creative cocktails and fine wines at our four unique restaurants. Explore some of the world's most legendary attractions, including the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Celebrate and succeed in 24,000 square feet of elegant outdoor and indoor event space.

Number of nights: 2

Taj Ganges (formerly Taj Gateway Ganges)

Varanasi, India

Set amidst 40 acres of landscaped lawns, Taj Gateway Hotel Ganges offers a host of amenities including a restaurant, coffee shop, and bar; laundry and dry cleaning services; astrologer; outdoor pool, croquet, badminton, and yoga; and spa services. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, coffee- and tea-making facilities, mini-bar, in-room safe, Internet access, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 3

Hotel Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

Delhi, India

The upscale hotel is located adjacent to both international & domestic airport terminals and is well connected through the Airport Express Line which is just 5 minutes away. The Pullman New Delhi Aerocity is near the business hubs of Gurgaon, New Delhi, and Cyber City. It is also located close to Delhi's shopping malls including DLF Promenade, Emporio and Worldmark. A big complex of 670 rooms, Pullman and Novotel New Delhi Aerocity is a preferred destination for both business & leisure travelers.

Number of nights: 1

Tour Extension

Nepal Post-Program Option

Absorb the beauty of the Himalayan kingdom –and the warmth of its people – on this special journey featuring sacred shrines, royal cities, and indigenous lifestyles.

Your Tour Price Includes

Air transportation Varanasi/Kathmandu inclusive of airline taxes and fees
4 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in Kathmandu at Crowne Plaza Soaltee (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Nagarkot at Club Himalaya Nagarkot (Superior First Class)
8 meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Extensive sightseeing, including Pashupatinath shrine (UNESCO site); Boudhanath monument; colorful Bhaktapur, “city of Devotees;” Swayambhunath Temple; royal city of Patan; and Kathmandu and environs
Services of a professional Tour Director
Private motorcoach transportation
Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Please note that guests on this extension will leave the India tour on Day 16 at the conclusion of the Varanasi stay.

Crowne Plaza Hotel Kathmandu-Soaltee
The 282-room Crown Plaza Hotel Kathmandu-Soaltee stands amidst 12 acres of gardens in the shadow of the Himalayas. The hotel offers several restaurants, bar, and lounge; Wi-Fi internet access (for a fee); safe-deposit boxes; gift shop; beauty salon; fitness center; spa with sauna and steam bath; outdoor pool; and laundry and dry cleaning services. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.

Club Himalaya Nagarkot
Club Himalaya Nagarkot sits at 7,200 feet and commands spectacular panoramic views of the valley and of the snowcapped Himalayans, particularly at sunrise or sunset. The hotel offers several restaurants and bar, rooftop observatory, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, spa with sauna and massage treatments, and library. Each of the 52 air-conditioned guest rooms features private bath with hair dryer, private balcony, TV, and phone.

Activity Level

Activity Level 3: Moderate / Active

Expectations: Most trips will feature long touring days, many full-day excursions, and a full and active itinerary with a faster pace and longer distances. Some tours may have activities with higher intensity and more active choices/options. Excursions require standing and walking for extended periods of time over more difficult terrain (cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, limited or no access to elevators, muddy/slippery walking/hiking trails), and walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited. Specific itineraries may feature hiking, use of local transportation, extended overnight train travel, extensive use of Zodiac crafts or other smaller ship conveyances, or multiple internal plane rides. Some itineraries may require early morning departures and later evening returns. Travelers may be in remote and/or rugged regions, and may be touring at higher altitudes with steep ascents/descents. Leisure time may be limited (sometimes only in the later evenings). Certain tours feature more active excursions (such as moderate hiking, swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, bicycling, rafting, or kayaking), though another choice may be offered for an alternate skill level. Walking/hiking tours may feature up to six-mile walks/hikes.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities, and expect some physical exertion.

Testimonials

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

Of all the overseas trips we've taken, this trip ranks right at the top. Smithsonian did an outstanding job of balancing sites and activities with learning. We saw and did so much but we learned even more. We'll always remember India.

- Ron Z.

I have wanted to visit India all my life and, therefore, had very high expectations. This trip far exceeded all those expectations. It was everything I hoped for and more!

- Brenda S.

India is not only mystical, but it is memorable, and magic. An initial visit only whets one's desire to return to experience the unique physical and spiritual senses over and over again.

- Kenneth N.

I am so happy I saw India with the Smithsonian. It has such a rich and extraordinary history, and Smithsonian was the way to go!

- Previous Journeys Traveler

Reading List

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Highly Recommended

India

By: Stanley Wolpert

This new edition brings Stanley Wolpert's brilliantly succinct and accessible introduction to India completely up to date for a new generation of readers, travelers, and students. In crisp detail, Wolpert gives a panoramic overview of the continent on which the world's most fascinating ancient civilization gave birth to one of its most complex modern democratic nations. India now includes new sections on the country's current global economic development, the recent national elections, and on its international relations, including those with Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, and the United States, India's new strategic global partner.

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Mirrorwork: 50 Years of Indian Writing 1947-1997

By: Brand: Picador

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Taj Mahal (Wonders of the World)

By: Giles Tillotson

An enduring monument of haunting beauty, the Taj Mahal seems a symbol of stability itself. The familiar view of the glowing marble mausoleum from the gateway entrance offers the very picture of permanence. And yet this extraordinary edifice presents a shifting image to observers across time and cultures. The meaning of the Taj Mahal, the perceptions and responses it prompts, ideas about the building and the history that shape them: these form the subject of Giles Tillotson’s book. More than a richly illustrated history―though it is that as well―this book is an eloquent meditation on the place of the Taj Mahal in the cultural imagination of India and the wider world.Since its completion in 1648, the mausoleum commissioned by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, has come to symbolize many things: the undying love of a man for his wife, the perfection of Mughal architecture, the ideal synthesis of various strands of subcontinental aesthetics, even an icon of modern India itself. Exploring different perspectives brought to the magnificent structure―by a Mughal court poet, an English Romantic traveler, a colonial administrator, an architectural historian, or a contemporary Bollywood filmmaker―this book is an incomparable guide through the varied and changing ideas inspired by the Taj Mahal, from its construction to our day. In Tillotson’s expert hands, the story of a seventeenth-century structure in the city of Agra reveals itself as a story about our own place and time.

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Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Travel Guard provides an on-tour Insurance Plan. On-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only). It also includes up to $25,000 medical and up to $500 dental expense coverage, and 24-hour worldwide travel and medical assistance. Please click here to view complete coverage details.

Please visit www.TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys or call Travel Guard at 1-800-208-6142 to learn about additional (optional) coverage.