Diwali, Festival of Lights - 8 days
Diwali, Festival of Lights - 8 days
Diwali, Festival of Lights - 8 days
8 Days Starting and ending in Delhi
Visiting: Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Karauli, Jaipur
Tour operator:
Tour code:
883/DIWA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 24
Age range:
16 + if accompanied by an adult.
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Every year in November, firecrackers announce the celebration of India’s favourite festival. Homes are decorated, gifts are given, sweets are shared and thousands of lamps are lit. Join us this year for Diwali – the Festival of Light on a tour of India’s famed Golden Triangle.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Location: Delhi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jaypee Siddharth Hotel, Delhi
Tuesday 02 November 2021. Namaste! Welcome to India for the festival of Diwali! On arrival at the airport you’ll be transferred to our hotel where the rest of the day is free to explore or relax at the hotel before meeting the group and guide at the hotel at 18:00 for a Welcome meeting.
Day 2 : Old Delhi
Location: Old Delhi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Vivanta by Taj Dwarka, Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we enjoy a full day of sightseeing in India’s capital city. In Old Delhi we enjoy an exhilarating rickshaw ride around Chandni Chowk bazaar and visit the UNESCO-listed Humayun’s Tomb. We also explore the giant Jama Masjid mosque and Raj Ghat, the site of Gandhi’s cremation. An eternal flame now burns at the memorial in his honour. In New Delhi we stroll down the ceremonial Rajpath and see the India Gate monument, a memorial to those Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. This evening we enjoy a Namaste dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 : Agra
Location: Agra
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mandawa Haveli, Jaipur
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Delhi - Jaipur. Today we celebrate Diwali! Leave Delhi this morning as we drive to the UNESCO-listed Pink City of Jaipur for an afternoon at leisure. This evening we visit the famous Birla Temple, located at the foot of the Moti Doongri fortress. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the goddess Lakshmi but also houses many smaller shrines to Hindu gods and goddesses. During the Diwali celebrations the gardens surrounding the temple are beautifully lit up and decorated with garlands of flowers. The temple also gets very busy as locals come to give their offerings to the deities. This is all part of the Diwali experience and you should soak it up and celebrate with the locals.
After our visit we enjoy a traditional Indian dinner at a local restaurant and watch as firecrackers light up the darkening sky. Spend the evening celebrating this wonderful Festival of Light with the locals.
Day 4 : Karauli
Location: Karauli
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mandawa Haveli, Jaipur
Enjoy an optional hot air balloon ride this morning with our Balloon Over Jaipur add-on. Sail with the wind over hill-top forts, temples and palaces before we return to land and enjoy a jeep ride to Amber Fort. This impressive 16th century fortress is laid out over four levels and sits beside the glistening Maota Lake. We return to Jaipur, stopping en route at a local cotton weaving house. Enjoy a visit to the beautiful City Palace and the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar space observatory, which is home to 19 separate astrological instruments.
Day 5 : Jaipur
Location: Jaipur, Karauli
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Udai Vilas Palace, Bharatpur
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Jaipur - Abhaneri - Bharatpur. Say goodbye to the Pink City this morning as we travel to Abhaneri, home to the famous Chand Baori step well. This incredible well is 13 stories deep and features 3,500 steps, which climb down to the waters edge. It also starred in the famous film ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Rises’.
After our visit we continue to a local school (if open) to meet the teachers and pupils. The school is part of our Change for Children programme and you may like to bring some educational items on your tour to donate to the school (see trip notes). These will be greatly appreciated. We continue to our hotel in Bharatpur and then visit the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Enjoy a bicycle rickshaw ride around this important wetland reserve, home to numerous bird species.
Day 6 : Diwali
Location: Jaipur
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Seven Hills Tower, Agra
Meals Included: Breakfast
Jaipur. This is what you've been waiting for - the Festival of Lights, Diwali. What better way to kick off the day with an optional hot air balloon ride over the bustling city of Jaipur?
Afterwards, enjoy a breezy jeep ride to Amber Fort, a 16th century fortress laid out over four levels, and overlooking the glistening Maota Lake.
Later, we'll have time to explore the walled city of Jaipur. Diiwali is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, so you can be sure to see every market and building adorned with colourful lights and lanterns. There's plenty to do here - from perusing the markets, to visiting the nearby temple, where locals will be offering prayers to their deities.
After our visit we enjoy a traditional Indian dinner at a local restaurant or at the hotel, and watch as vibrant firecrackers light up the darkening sky.
Day 7 : Delhi
Location: Delhi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Jivitesh, Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Jaipur - Delhi. Return to Delhi today where the rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps visit the impressive Akshardham - the world’s largest Hindu temple.
Day 8 : Delhi
Location: Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tuesday 09 November 2021. Our tour comes to an end today with an included departure transfer to the airport
What's Included
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Accommodation
3 - 4 star & heritage hotels
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7 nights 3-4 star and heritage hotels
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Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 3 dinners
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Diwali - Visit to City Palace and Ancient Astronomy Observatory Jaipur, Birla Temple, fireworks and a gala dinner
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Guided sightseeing - Delhi, Jaipur and Agra
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All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles
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Travel by jeep to beautiful Amber Fort in Jaipur
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Rickshaw ride through Keoladeo Ghana National Park
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Escorted by an English-speaking Indian tour guide (for groups of 6 or more)
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Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 8
What's Not Included
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International flights and visa
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Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$4-7 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture
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Entrance Fees: USD$70-80pp, paid in local currency
Age Policy
16 + if accompanied by an adult.
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 8
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
3 - 4 star & heritage hotels
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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What is the maximum group size?
24
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Cancellation Policy
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Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
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