Southern Asia

• View game unique to India such as one-horned rhino, the Asian elephant, gaur, sloth bear, and the elusive, magnificent Bengal tiger
• Venture out on tiger safaris by jeep or on elephant back, intensifying the safari experience.
• Savor the breathtaking sight of Taj Mahal at sunset
• Delve into Delhi with an insightful city program and behold the ancient temples of Khajuraho 

13 days from $4690; one child under 12 traveling with 2 adults in same room are free, Children under 16 traveling with 2 adults from $2290 per child - Contact us for detailed itinerary

Highlights:

• Special inclusions such as a pottery class in Jaipur and a visit to a local school in Agra have been crafted to interest all ages
• In Delhi, meet an Indian family in their home for a heartwarming cultural encounter
• Experience the Taj Mahal at sunset
• Travel on an elephant up to Amber Fort; ride a camel into the great desert near Samode; and take a rickshaw through the lanes of old Delhi
• Stay in the most luxurious properties in India 

14 days from $4190 - Contact us for detailed itinerary

Highlights:

• Enjoy luxury heritage hotels such as Lake Palace in Udaipur
• Spend a week touring Rajasthan, from princely abodes to remote outposts & the great Thar Desert
• Discover first hand the famous highlights of Delhi, Mumbai & Agra, including sunset at Taj Mahal
• See Ranakpur’s masterpiece Jain temples, the ghats of the Ganges at sunrise & an evening service at Buddhism’s sacred Sarnath
• Meet the people of India – from royal family in Jodhpur to villagers in remote Rajasthan countryside
• Celebrate your adventures at a gala dinner party in a private home 

13 days from $3290 - Contact us for detailed itinerary

Highlights:

• Explore tropical, seaside Madras and ancient shore temples of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram
• Experience Kerala’s renowned backwaters from a houseboat & at heritage resort Coconut Lagoon
• Relish magnificently scenic Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on your boat safari in search of tiger, wild elephant, deer, gaur, monkeys & birdlife
• Learn about Cochin’s eclectic and historic mix of Jewish, Christian, Hindu & Muslim cultures
• Travel India's southernmost state, Tamil Nadu, to the wondrous Dravidian temple cities of Madurai, Mahabalipuram, and Kanchipuram

3 days from $590 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Ellora and Ajanta Caves rank among the wonders of the ancient world.  Today, enter Ellora Caves, 350 A.D.-700 A.D., 34 intricately and exquisitely carved.  They represent Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Journey to the 29 Ajanta Caves, created between 200 B.C. and 650 A.D.  Buddhist monks meticulously carved these temples using simple hand tools. 

3 days from $750

Highlights:  Delhi is a vibrant city of teeming bazaars, stately British boulevards, powerful Mughal palaces and forts, and ethereal towers and tombs.  Big Five’s local host assists you to your luxury hotel in the heart of town.   Explore the many faces of Delhi, India’s colorful and frenetic capital.   Tree-lined streets and stately architecture of British-planned Connaught Place contrast vividly with crowded, winding lanes of Old Delhi. Here, rickshaws offer fun alternatives to navigating throngs of shoppers and vendors clustered around Chandni Chowk, “Moonlight Square.”   Mughal history comes alive at Red Fort and in India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid.  Across Yamuna River is Humayun’s magnificent tomb, a forerunner of the Taj Majal.   See two intriguing pillars intricately carved Qutab Minar, and 1500-year-old Iron Pillar.  Admire Raj Ghat, a touching memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. 

Jaisalmer

3 days from $850 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Drive into the heart of Thar Desert to golden Jaisalmer, founded in 1156. The city and fort rise out of the landscape, an oasis of welcome where you are free to relax or take a walk in the old city to see its preserved mansions.  Enjoy performances of Rajasthan’s famed dances and folk music by campfire under a star-filled sky.  Stroll through the fort, where each step takes you further into the past.  On the western edge of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer was an important caravan stop. Drive through villages, each little more than a sprinkling of huts, to Sam, a desert outpost, to explore the desert on camel back.

Khajuratho and Orcha

3 days from $590 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Khajuraho was once the religious capital of Chandella dynasty, which reached its height between 10th and 14th centuries.  Temple building was a form of religious expression and some 85 temples were erected. Tour some of the remaining 22 temples, world renowned for their sensuous and erotic sculptures and carvings. Enjoy a memorable Sound & Light Show that traces the story of these unique temples from the 10th century to the present day.  Venture off the beaten track to the city of Orcha, in Madhya Pradesh state. Today, this is little more than a sleepy village with a fascinating past. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Bundela rulers build huge palaces and temples along Betwa River, only to abandon the city for unknown reasons. 

Mumbai (Bombay)

3 days from $750 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Cosmopolitan and tropical, Mumbai displays a vibrant, often aggressive, temperament reflecting the affluence and energy of a bustling city of 15 million people.  The most western of India’s cities, it was the main port for British India until 1947, when India gained independence. A warm salty breeze comes in off the Arabian Sea. Weathered Victorian mansions and grand public buildings stand as lingering reminders of the days of the British Raj. During your stay, you discover some of Mumbai’s many landmarks, such as the Gateway to India, an elegant stone archway erected in 1911 to welcome Queen Mary and King George V of England. Explore the terraced hanging gardens on Malabar Hill, with panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. Visit Mahatma Gandhi’s three-story home (1917-1934) and museum also on the hill.

3 days from $1490 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Your host greets you and escorts you to your delightful hotel, where staff pampers you during your stay. Venture into the wild forest in an open-topped vehicle to scout for nocturnal creatures, including the sought-after tiger.  Once a royal hunting ground, this 160-square-mile preserve protects a variety of wildlife. Take part in morning and evening jungle excursions in open top vehicles. Resting on Aravalli and Vindhya Ranges in Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is home to rare Bengal tiger.  Pandam Taloa Lake is the park's favorite water source, attracting a variety of wildlife, including deer, panther, leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, caracal, sloth bear and boar.  This is also a birdwatcher’s haven with Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, great Indian horned owl, grey partridge sandgrouse, quail, tree pie, peafowl, paradise flycatcher and black stork. 

3 days from $550 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Upon arrival, you are welcomed with traditional garlands and transferred to your hotel.  The ancient city of Varnasi dates back to, at least, the 6th century B.C.  Revered by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike, Varanasi is the holiest city in India. As a result, more Indians will make a pilgrimage to this city in their lifetime than any other.  This evening, travel to the Buddhist city of Sarnath, where Buddha preached his first sermons after attaining enlightenment.  You may witness an evening prayer service at the main Buddhist temple.  Synchronized chanting accompanied by traditional temple music is a moving experience. Witness dawn on the Ganges from a boat. Each day, hundreds of pilgrims and worshippers throng the sacred waters. The riverbanks are lined with rows of stone steps – the ghats – that stretch from one end of the city to the other.  As the boat rows gently downstream, witness intimate daily rituals and morning prayers.  After the river float, set off to explore the city along a twisted maze of narrow alleys, past shrines and pilgrim shops. There is a timelessness about Varanasi – where one sees life and its rituals as they have been for centuries. View several prominent local temples and the Hindu University at Benares.  Bharat Mata (temple of Mother India) was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. 

Bangalore and Mysore

4 days from $1250 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Upon arrival, your host welcomes you and transfers you to your hotel. Delve into Bangalore, India’s fastest growing city. Its nickname “India’s Silicon Valley” indicates what you’re likely to see:  Western-style bookstore cafes, trendy boutiques and pubs.  Historical sites include Vidhan Soudha, State Secretariat, built in 1954, blends traditional Dravidian and modern styles; and Government Museum of Banglore is one of India’s oldest museums; Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, 220-acres, holds a number of flower shows. Tipu Sultan's Fort and Palace date from 1789.  Drive with your guide to the towns of Belur and Halebid. The temples here are the finest remaining examples of the most artistically exuberant period of Hindu culture. Every inch of the outside wall and much of the interiors reveal the endless variety of Hindu deities, sages, and scenes from wars, hunting, agriculture, music and dance. Sensual sculptures explicitly portray amorous lifestyles of dancing girls. Outside, pilgrims with bare feet and saffron or black costumes bring offerings. Pavement flower stalls, shops selling religious artifacts, fruit and tea stalls hum with activity. In Hassan, you will check in to your hotel.  Continue on your journey to Shravan Belagola, one of the oldest and most important pilgrimage centers for followers of the Jain religion. Later, drive to Mysore and check into your hotel. Tonight, visit Devaraja fruit and vegetable market and adjoining bazaar. Mysore has been an important center for South Indian culture and learning for centuries. It is a major area for manufacturing incense in scores of family-owned factories. The city is also a center for crafts. The Maharaja’s Palace (1907), in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, boasts a plethora of stained glass, mirrors, carved doors, and mosaic floors. Marvel at the carved mahogany ceilings, solid silver doors, white marble floors and superbly columned Hall of Public Audience.  Shri Chamundeshwari temple, set on top of Chamundi Hills.  Up the hill is famous Nandy (Lord Shiva’s Bull) carved from a single piece of granite and five meters high. Return to Bangalore for your onward connections.

Shimla in the Himalayas

4 days from $1990 - Contact us for more information

Highlights: 

·    Upon arrival from Delhi, check into hotel Wild Flower Hall, for a fairytale holiday experience, where comfort is guaranteed right in the lap of nature. 

·    Situated at 8,350 feet in the magnificent Himalayas, Wildflower Hall is a fairytale luxury resort set in 23 acres of virgin woods of pine and cedar.

·    The former residence of Lord Kitchener, rebuilt to a new magnificence, Wildflower Hall recreates the grand style of the colonial era. 

·    Mashobra is a typical hill station with all the scenery and fresh air and none of the throng of city-life that is more commonplace to Shimla.

·    Days are at leisure to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the Himalayas

·    You may want to enjoy short excursions to the adjoining picturesque town of Chail and Kufri, or a walk down the Mall road to witness several buildings that serve as reminders of the days of the Raj. 

·    Try a trek to Shali Peak, the highest in the region, where the magnificent views override the discomfort of protesting muscles!

·    For tamer holidaying options, take a break from the hectic pace with leisurely strolls down tree-lined avenues or relax with long, cozy naps under the warm winter sun.

·    The accommodation you pay for, but the crisp air is for free and comes tinged with fruity flavors of peaches, cherries and apples along with a taste that can only be called the spirit of the mountains.

·    In Mashobra, life moves slowly so adventure enthusiasts might be disappointed here, even trekking is unhurried and easy! 

Kolkata (Calcutta)

5 days from $1490 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:

·    Kolkata, a powerful mix of East and West, challenges even the most worldly travelers to understand it.  The British fashioned it after grand European capitals, but today it remains one of the poorest and most overpopulated regions of India. A city of sharp contradictions, Kolkata has struggled to come to terms with its colonial legacy in order to find its own identity. It thrives amid seemingly insurmountable economic, social, and political problems.

·    On a guided tour, you explore both sides of this complex city – British-inspired St Paul’s Cathedral, mid- 1800s, and 500-year-old Kalighat temple, from which Kalighata (anglicized to Calcutta) takes its name.  The Indian Museum, built in 1875, ranks among the best in Asia. 

·    Victoria Memorial, a potent symbol of the British Raj, is a blend of classical European architecture with Mughal influences. 

·    The botanical gardens, founded in 1786, are home to a 200-year-old Banyan tree, believed to be the largest in the world. 

·    From the late Mother Teresa’s institution to the Kolkata racetrack, to the Governor’s House, this city is compelling

·    Stroll the bazaars of colorful shops and stores of every description.  Hoards of shoppers argue and bargain – all in a high state animation. 

·    From Lal Bazaar to Rabindra Sarani, you pass through an Islamic world of women in burqas and men sipping strong coffee. 

·    Visit Bowbazar, home to the city’s jewelers.  Each shop has an astrologer to help you find the most auspicious stone for your stars. 

·    Fly to Bhubaneshwar to investigate the distinctive temples: Rajarani Temple, 1100 A.D, noted for its sensual female figures; Parashurameshwara Temple, dating from 650 A.D. is one of the best examples of Orissa-style temple architecture; and Lingaraja Temple, described as "the truest fusion of dream and reality."  This temple is one of the finest examples of a purely Hindu temple in India. 

·    Travel to Udaygiri and Khandgiri to see two of India’s most important archeological sites. Udaygiri’s 15 caves, including Hathigumpha (elephant cave), house a 117-line inscription on the walls about King Kharvela, who ruled Orissa from 168 A.D. to 153 A.D.  Khandgiri’s hilltop caves reveal the Jain influence

·    Enjoy a drive to Pipli, a small village famous throughout India for it brightly colored appliqué crafts.

·    Visit Konark to see its 13th century Sun Temple, in the shape of the sun god’s chariot, with sculptures detailing every aspect of human life and the beautiful beach which is a hub of communal activity.

·    Visit Puri, on the eastern coast, an important Hindu pilgrimage center to see Jaggarnath Temple, one of four pilgrimage sites of Hindu religion, built during the 12th century. 

Oberoi MV Vrinda Kerala Backwaters Cruise

5 days – Contact us for more information
Highlights:

·    Sail Kerala's famous backwaters cruise aboard Oberoi's luxurious MV Vrinda

·    Delve into Cochin’s vibrant and eclectic life: classical Kathakali dances and rich mix of Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim cultures

·    Enjoy a spirited performance aboard your vessel during recital of Mohiniattam, also called the "Dance of the Enchantress."

·    Take an excursion on a traditional rice boat up narrow canal of Pamba River to witness village life

Ladakh

6 days from $790 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:

·    A representative will greets you at Leh Airport and transfer you to your hotel, where you enjoy lunch and relax the remainder of the day to acclimatize to the altitude of 11,482 feet 

·    Journey to the area’s famous monasteries. An early morning visit to Thiksey Monastery allows you to witness a prayer ceremony.  Hemis Monastery is one of the most famous of the Ladakh region.

·    Visit Shey Palace

·    Journey over a 13,479-foot pass with unparalleled scenic views to Lamayuru Monastery, the oldest in the area, founded in the 10th century. 

·    Meet and interact with villagers who have little contact with the rest of the world. 

·    Visit historic Lamayuru Gompa, an ancient Buddhist monastery.

·    Set out for Khardongla Pass, the highest drivable pass in the world at 18,372 feet, or 3.48 miles!  At the top, enjoy the breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains. 

·    Visit Pangong Lake through Changla Pass, at 19,998 feet you will enjoy panoramic views of villages below. 

·    Enjoy a picnic lunch at Tsoltak, summer pastureland for yaks. 

·    Drive through Durbuk on the way to the western shore of Pangong Lake, a famous, blue brackish lake that lies on the Indochina border and boasts great natural beauty. 

7 days from $1790 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:

• Arrive in Delhi where you are met by your host and accompanied you to your hotel, superbly located in the heart of town.
• Explore the many faces of Delhi, old and new.  See ancient Qutab Minar and Humayun’s Tomb, British-era Embassy District, Presidential Palace, and Connaught Place. 
• Admire India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid, and visit Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
• Get caught up in the hectic street life of Old Delhi on a charming rickshaw taxi ride.  Tour magnificent Red Fort. 
• Celebrate your adventures at a gala dinner party in a private home.
• Enjoy a guided walk through one of India’s most colorful cities, Jaipur, a vast open-air museum of bazaars, gardens and fanciful architecture where camels, elephants, and free-roaming cows are part of the traffic.
• Amber Palace rises in rose-colored splendor over the desert.  On elephant back, travel the route of rajahs up ramparts to the palace and the grand walled city of Mughal courtyards, gardens, and royal apartments.  Back in the city, visit City Palace and its prized glass works and figurines.  The Palace of the Winds features a delicate, pink honeycombed wall designed as a privacy screen for royal harems.  See 17th century Royal Observatory.
• Your time in Rajasthan concludes. Travel to Agra stopping at Fatehpur Sikri. This 16th-century city was abandoned after just 18 years, but its  stone palaces remain largely intact.  Cap off the day in Agra with sunset at the Taj Mahal.  You will long remember this scene as the Taj changes color and mood, its marble walls reflecting the pinks and mauves of the receding sun.
• Following a leisurely breakfast, ride to the massive Agra Fort. The elegant buildings inside reflect an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. Built by Emperor Akbar, the maze of the courtyards, mosques & private chambers of the fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire. The Moti Masjid & other magnificent buildings reflect the skill of the ancient Indian architects. This afternoon, drive back to Delhi where the balance of the day is at leisure. 

8 days from $1890 - Contact us for more information

8 days – Contact us for more information

9 days from $850 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:

• Arrive to Cochin, sometimes called “Queen of the Arabian Sea” where you will be met by your and escorted to your waterfront hotel
• Explore the legendary eclecticism of Cochin, a cluster of islands and peninsulas where ancient Phoenician, Arab, Jewish, Chinese and European traders came in search of prized spices, tea, and hardwoods. The blending of these customs with traditional culture created a Hindu Renaissance, which is reflected in fine local architecture as well as the distinctive regional art and dance forms.
• Discover ancient Jewish Town, historic Mattanchery “Dutch Palace,” and Fort Cochin, the oldest European settlement in India.
• Photograph cantilevered Chinese fishing nets and other indelible marks of early traders.
• Begin your South India sojourn at a classic performance of Kathakali, Kerala’s elaborate storytelling dance drama.
• Travel to Munnar, a hill station on the Western Ghats surrounded by lakes, forests and tea estates.  The serene, lush landscapes makes this a nature enthusiast’s haven. 
• Venture out into Munnar and its surrounding tea gardens. Tea estates are situated at elevations from 4,000 to 6,000 feet, mostly on the inner slopes of this basin-like plateau. 
• Move on to the scenic area around Mattupetty Dam and lake of the same name.
• Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary near Munnar is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, a rare mountain goat. Half the world population of this threatened species is concentrated in this region.
• Journey to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s first Project Tiger Reserves.  This is an excellent backdrop for an afternoon of wildlife viewing by boat on Lake Periyar.
• Get close to wild elephants as they drink, bathe and play at water’s edge.  Be on the lookout for statuesque sambar deer, giant wild oxen or gaur browsing in the marshes.  Search green, wooded shores for wild boar, busy monkeys, and if you are very lucky, a rare sighting of tiger. 
• Spend a night in splendid isolation at your choice of either a comfortable jungle cottage, raised on stilts among the trees or at a garden retreat.
• The modern world seems a million miles away as you embark on a remarkable journey through Kerala’s famed scenic backwaters.  Sail from the market town of Alleppey aboard a small, traditional houseboat for an overnight voyage.  Enjoy a hot meal on deck served by your private staff while drifting through green panoramas dotted with snake boat docks, fishermen, coir-making villages and paddy fields. Share the glassy waterways with hand-poled canoes and cargo-laden flat boats.
• Your houseboat journey ends in the heart of Kerala’s balmy, coconut-fringed backwaters. Arrive at your lavish heritage resort on a shady private island on Lake Vembanad.
• Dream the day away in this idyllic locale, conceived in the finest Keralan architectural traditions.  Enjoy a spa treatment at the Ayurvedic massage center. 
• Prefer something a bit more active?  Remote villages and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary are a short boat ride away. 

Luxury Tours:
Kerala: Enchanting Backwaters

Exceptionally beautiful and tranquil, the South Indian state of Kerala is characterized by meandering rivers, rice fields, spice plantations, and an interesting mix of European colonial architecture. This gently paced tour takes in the most enchanting areas of this region including the charming port city of Cochin and the backwaters—a maze of lagoons and canals.  Cochin is the historic center of India’s spice trade. Here you will stay at a harbor-side hotel with impressive views of the Port of Cochin. Explore Old Fort Cochin with its interesting mix of Portuguese, Dutch and Anglican architectural gems. Take time to visit the Synagogue, located at the end of a series of narrow cobbled streets. Built in 1568 its floors are paved with hand-painted Chinese tiles, each with a different design.

An idyllic backwaters retreat, formerly known as Baker’s Bungalow, is your home for three days. Relax at the resort amidst swaying palms and lush tropical gardens or enjoy their Ayurvedic spa center.
From $2295 per person Contact us for detailed itinerary

From the spectacle of snow-clad Himalayas to forests of rhododendrons to magnificent monasteries, Nepal has few equals. Nepal has long been known as a mountain climber’s paradise. But this small nation delivers far more. In addition to inspiring panoramas of some of the highest mountains in the world, you encounter isolated hamlets, Buddhist stupas draped with prayer flags, ancient monasteries, and cultures still relatively untouched by outside influences. Journey into Royal Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for the chance to see the endangered Bengal tiger or rare one-horned rhinoceros or golden monitor lizard.  Explore Bhadgaon, Nepal’s most perfectly preserved medieval city, or wander Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, packed with extraordinary temples and monuments.  Nepal is a wondrous place where legend and adventure meet.

16 days from $7495 - Contact us for more information

Highlights

• Explore three Himalayan countries to experience the traditional lifestyles and dramatic landscapes of this wonderfully off-the-beaten-track area
• Discover different forms and interpretations of Buddhism
• Enjoy an in-depth look at Lhasa, the famed “City of Sun.”
• Savor a variety of cultural encounters; from a visit to a typical Tibetan family to Nepalese children learning the ancient techniques of Thangka painting.
• Relish wildlife viewing in Chitwan National Park from the gently swaying back of an elephant, and by jeep and even canoe 

3 days from $390 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Your local host meets you and takes you to your hotel in the heart of town.  Explore Durbar Square, the center of the city, packed with extraordinary temples and monuments. View ornate multi-tiered pagodas, and Nepalese bronzes in the former Royal Palace. Visit the Temple of the Living Goddess. Wander old, cobbled lanes, and bazaars buzzing with activity.  Snow-capped mountains and green terraced hills form a striking backdrop for today’s tour of Kathmandu Valley. Delve into Nepal’s cultural and artistic capital, ancient Patan, famous for its skilled craftspeople. Bhadgaon, is Nepal’s most perfectly preserved medieval city. Also, visit Tibetan Refugee Camp to see its carpet weavers, and take in the panoramas from Dhulikhel Hill. 

3 days from $1090 - Contact us for more information

Highlights:  Fly to Royal Chitwan National Park, which UNESCO designated a World Heritage site. This vital ecosystem is home to endangered Bengal tiger, rare greater one-horned rhinoceros, wild Asian elephant, golden monitor lizard, and Gharial crocodile. Scout for animals on the way to your lodge in the heart of the wilderness.  Relish the uncommon adventure of riding an elephant on safari through tall grasses searching for wildlife.  Expand your exploration of the park’s diverse habitats on a naturalist-guided walk or elephant safari.  Enjoy an afternoon elephant safari through the park at prime game-viewing time.  This is also a bird watcher’s delight. Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region.

7 days from $1090 - Contact us for more information

Highlights: 

·    The short flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Upon arrival, meet your guide and drive to Naya Pool, 3723 feet.  Begin your trek with a three-hour walk toward the town of Birethanti, 3494 feet.  The trail climbs steadily up the valley to reach Tirkhedunga, 5003 feet. 

• Trek to Ghorepani which takes about six hours. After crossing Burungdi River, the trail immediately climbs steeply to Magar village of Uller, 6824 feet. As you climb, the tops of Annapurna South, 23,684, and Hiunchuli, 21,1131, begin to emerge from behind the hills. After Ulleri, climb gently through pastures and cultivated fields that soon give way to deep forest as you walk to Banthati, 7,545 feet, where you stop for lunch. Beyond the village of Banthati, there is a magnificent oak and rhododendron forest. Pass sparkling streams to Deurali Pass, 9,360 feet, which has spectacular panoramas.
• Take an early morning climb of about an hour to Poon Hill, 10,531 feet. Enjoy splendid views before return to Ghorepani for breakfast. Rest of day free.
• Hike about five hours to Tadapani, 8661 feet. The trail climbs to a stone staircase a ridge, before it descends into the village of Banthati through dense forest of oak, rhododendron and fir.  Stop for lunch in the village. Beyond  Banthati, the trail climbs out of mountain forests to a field of cane. After a series of ups and downs, the trail climbs steeply before reaching Tadapani. 
• The trek to Ghandruk. 6,404 feet, takes about four hours.  It descends steeply through thick forest to Deurali. A short, steep descent leads out on a ridge towards Ghandruk, with views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Ganga Purna and Machhapuchhre.
• Begin the trek back to Naya Pool, about five hours.  The trail drops to a stone staircase, then traverses high above the river on a wide stone lane.
• Trek to Kilu, 1300 feet, and a suspension bridge over Sadhu Khola. 

Relaxed pace, excellent diving, lush mountain tea plantations and historic ruins offer ultimate island getaway. Sri Lanka, off the southeast coast of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, feels like a priceless impressionist painting with swirls of warm tropical light, a colorful patchwork of rice paddies, and water that is a hundred shades of blue.  Savor fragrant frangipani, verdant mountain tea plantations, sheltered coves, tumbling waterfalls and radiant ancient cities. Venture into Habrana Jungle on elephant back. Deep in this pristine ecosystem, search undisturbed terrain for local wildlife, abundant bird life and occasional herds of wild elephants.  From scuba diving adventures to bird watching forays to quiet beaches retreats, Sri Lanka is a perfect choice for island lovers.

10 days - Contact us for more information

Highlights:

·    Explore ancient fortresses, Dutch churches and cave temples.

·    Visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela and a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda.

·    Journey by local train through brilliant mountain scenery, past tea plantations and waterfalls.

·    Discover Kandy, center for the island’s arts and crafts, and Colombo’s busy shopping areas

3 days – Contact us for more information
Highlights:

• Sri Lanka is a tantalizing island getaway destination with an abundance of natural beauty.  Transfer to your h