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India from South to North

India: From South to North

Cochin, Cherai Beach, Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park, Taj Mahal, Amritsar, Dharamshala.

February 16 – March 6/2025

Arrival in Cochin (COK) and departure from Delhi (DEL)

Cost:  Final price tba in March 2024, but anticipated at $6500 CAD shared accommodation, $7300 CAD single accommodation (all inclusive in country, includes Canadian taxes)

10 people required to run this tour. Deadline for registration is: Nov. 16/2024. Decision will be made whether the tour will run on Nov. 16.

Travel through various regions of India: Kerala, Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park Tiger Refuge, Agra and the Taj Mahal, the Punjab and Amritsar, and the Himalayan foothills around Dharamsala. Build a community travelling together, learning how the threads of spirituality, culture and history are woven together in the experience of India. Visit temples, historical sites, beaches, experience ayurvedic massage, visit projects that are making a difference to people in India, spend an afternoon on a houseboat in the Kerala backwaters, tour the beauty of the palaces of Jaipur, visit the iconic Taj Mahal, visit artisans and the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala and hear about the struggle of the Tibetan people today.  This tour is an epic 19 night adventure where you will see many interesting sites, visit projects and meet inspiring people like our Indian guides and friends.  India is bold, beautiful, spiritual, open-hearted and a truly inspiring place to visit.  Come join us on our 4th India adventure from South to North.  

Itinerary: 

Sunday, Feb. 16/2025 Arrive in Cochin, Kerala, India (pickups at airport at various times)  You are welcome to arrive earlier and we can help arrange accommodation, but we have built in some low key days on Kothad Island to begin for recuperation from the long journey to India.

Feb. 16, 17, 18  Kothad Island:  Programme in Kerala based on Kothad Island on the backwaters just outside of Cochin. (3 nights)  With our friend Ben Xavier and his family.  Cooking class, ayurvedic massage, relaxing on the backwaters, cruise on a houseboat, visit to the prawn farm and chinese net fishing, visit St. Joseph’s boys home and see their organic gardening project, visit school and the catholic sisters (this is a very catholic area of India).

Feb. 19:  Fort Kochi:  A night in the historical center (1 night)  Visit the old Jewish synagogue and the Jewish Quarter, shopping in the old town, St. Francis Church, historic laundry, Kathakali dance performance, freetime to explore.

Feb. 20, 21:  Cherai Beach:  Back waters, ocean beach, relaxation, ayurvedic massage and treatments (2 nights)  https://www.prakruthi-ayurveda.com/

Feb. 22, 23, 24, 25:  Jaipur: Fly to Jaipur from Cochin. Markets, palaces, projects like the Mother Teresa house, ancient city, palaces, and Rajastani culture (4 nights) With our friend Sher Singh.

Feb. 26:  Ranthambore National Park:  Tiger Reserve, nature, bird watching, beauty.  (1 night)  https://www.ranthamborenationalpark.com/ 

Feb. 27:  Agra:  Drive from Ranthambore to Agra.  Over night in Agra.  Visit to the Agra Fort, freetime (1 night)

Feb. 28, Mar. 1:  Agra – Delhi – Amritsar:   Early morning visit for sunrise at the Taj Mahal.  Breakfast.  Drive to Delhi airport and fly to Amritsar (mid afternoon) and visit the Punjab and the Golden Temple, the home of the Sikh faith.  (2 nights)  With our friend Dalbir Singh.

Mar 2, 3, 4, 5  Dharamsala: exploring mountains and the culture of the Tibetan people in exile.  Tibetan archives and museum, walk through the mountains on a monks trail, visit the home of our guide and share time with the family, Norbulingka Institute to learn about Tibetan art and craft, visit Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, Tibetan children’s village, Tong Len (an orphanage and school) and the Dalai Lama Temple (4 nights)   https://www.dalailama.com/ 

https://tong-lencharitabletrust.org/category/tong-len-school/

https://norbulingka.org/

Mar. 6 Departure:  Morning flight from Dharamsala to Delhi and flight home or continue the journey.

Included in the fee:  accommodation for 18 nights, all meals and non alcoholic drinks, guided tour by 2 Canadian guides and connections and guiding with four local friends who will be with us for portions of the tour, all in-country transportation including 3 flights, from Cochin to Jaipur, from Delhi to Amritsar, from Dharamsala to Delhi, all entrance fees to sites, museums, parks etc, tips, donations to the organizations and projects we will visit.  

Not included in the fee: extra Ayurvedic massages and treatments, visa costs, immunizations, alcohol during the trip. The flight costs to India is also your own responsibility; however, we will let you know which flight we recommend or you can use your own travel agent.  Cancellation insurance is recommended.  

You will fly into Cochin by Feb. 16 and fly out of Delhi at the earliest by the afternoon of March 6. This trip is designed for those aged 18 and up.  

Hotels:  All accommodation has AC.

Cochin:  A beautiful place to rest and begin the journey:  Bens Homestay  www.benshomestay.com  Staying at Bens home and surrounding homes on a Kothad island close to Cochin, peaceful and beautiful on the backwaters.   Walk around the island and visit families, boat trip on the backwaters, visit the Catholic Church and the Senior’s project, St. Joseph’s Boys Home, ayurvedic massage, enjoy meals with the family in the south Indian style.  (3 nights)  

Fort Kochi:  the old city of Kochi blends the influences of the Portuguese, Dutch and French who occupied it during colonial times and has a European laid back feel.  Drive from Ben’s to Cochin, visit the historic Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church, Chinese fishing nets, spice market, Jain Temple, freetime to explore, lunch out, evening presentation of Katakali Dance.  Dinner together.  We will stay at Tissa’s Inn: (1 night) https://tissasinn.in/

Cherai Beach:  Set in beautiful Cherai Beach you enjoy a few peaceful days at the ocean and backwaters, eating incredible seafood, optional ayurvedic treatments, ocean walks & sunset, rest.  https://sealagoonhealthresort.com/ (2 nights)  

Jaipur:  We will stay at the Alsisar Haveli Heritage Hotel, beautiful historic mansion in the heart of Jaipur. Visits to Hawa Mahal, 16th Century Step Well, Amber Fort Lunch, visit to artisans of Jaipur, textile block printers and carpet cooperative, visit with a local family for cooking demonstrations & dinner, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, walking tour of the pink city with local food tasting, visit to Birla Mandir (Hindu Temple), Mother Teresa House and visit to a Spice Market https://www.alsisarhaveli.com/ (4 nights)

Ranthambore National Park:  Drive from Jaipur to Ranthambore and enjoy this natural park and Tiger Safari.  Ranthambore Heritage Haveli Hotel:  https://rhhaveli.com/

Agra:  We will stay 1 night in a homestay close to the Taj Mahal.  Red Fort and sunrise at the Taj Mahal.   https://coralcourthomestay.com/   Drive from Agra to Delhi and fly directly to Amritsar.  

Amritsar:   Explore the Golden Temple, the most holy place in the Sikh faith with our guide Dalbir Singh.  Visit the largest Langar Hall in the world, feeding hundreds of thousands each day.  Enjoy the old city of Amritsar and learn about the Sikh faith.  https://hotelsapphire.in/  2 nights  

Dharamasala:  Norling House:  Tibetian style accommodation on the grounds of the Norbulingka Institute, the centre of Tibetian Arts and Culture.  (4 nights)  https://norbulingka.org/pages/norbulingka-accommodation

For more information contact:  Doris at worldpilgrims@gmail.com 604.341.2724

This is World Pilgrims fourth journey to India! Doris is the founder of World Pilgrim and has been travelling with groups since 1997 when she took a group of Youth to Guatemala for the first time. She speaks English, German and Spanish and her great passion is helping people experience the world as it really is and make connections globally. Julio is a Maya Quiche from Guatemala and has been travelling and guiding with World Pilgrim for the last 7 years. He is a human right activist working with the women in his community to help them and himself overcome the trauma of the civil war. This will be his third trip to India. World Pilgrim has been building up networks of friends in countries like India, Thailand, Europe, Guatemala and Cuba where they work to create meaningful travel that makes a difference to the communities visited and for the travelers themselves. Come join us!


Some highlights from previous tours to India.