Holiday Highlights
- Visit the world famous Taj Mahal in Agra
- Go white water rafting on the River Ganges
- Immerse in local culture with a visit to a local village school, temples, spice markets and more
- Share your experience with other UK families and an expert tour guide
What makes this Family Holiday Special?
A family holiday to India is truly inspirational with its culture, spirituality, history, wildlife, and vibrancy. Our specialist guided family holidays in India give you the opportunity to explore the depths of this exciting country safely in the company of other like-minded families escorted by our expert `in country` guide.
This is the ideal holiday for active families with children age 12+ looking for something a little more adventurous.
Action-packed, fun-filled family holiday
Our 8 day Himalayan Adventure offers families a unique opportunity to immerse in Indian culture and enjoy the most incredible family holiday. The action-packed itinerary is shared with other like-minded families and includes many highlights including exploring Old Delhi by rickshaw, white water rafting on the River Ganges, a day trip to the magnificent Taj Mahal and holy town of Rishikesh, set in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Explore the wonders of Delhi
Delhi is one of the most bustling, vibrant and chaotic places you’ll ever experience and it is a truly remarkable place to visit and explore. Our expert guide will take you to some of the most exciting places including Old Delhi, with its alleyways, markets, rickshaws & temples. You’ll also have time to visit New Delhi to include Gandhi’s Memorial House, India gate, and Dili Haat craft market. There will be opportunities to experience the local cuisine with our guide on hand to recommend the best places to dine.
Visit the Taj Mahal
One of the greatest wonders of the world and top UNESCO sights, no trip to India is complete without a visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a famous masterpiece of architectural style in conception, treatment and execution and has unique aesthetic qualities in balance, symmetry and harmonious blending of various elements.
Adventure & Relaxation in Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a wonderful place for adventure & relaxation, located at the foothills of the Himalayas and on the banks of the holy River Ganges. This spiritual town is home to the holy ceremony of Aarti. Aarti is the Celebration of Lights and is one of the most important Hindu rituals of worship. It is an incredible ceremony to see & be part of. Your time in Rishikesh will be spent exploring, white water rafting, enjoying yoga and visiting a local school and offers a more relaxing contrast to the hustle, bustle and vibrancy of Delhi.
What activities will you be doing?
A holiday to India is truly inspirational with so many sights, smells and wonders to experience. It can be a challenging country to explore independently as a family with children and so our group family tours, with expert in country guide are the ideal way to experience this vibrant and exciting country. This holiday has a lot to offer and includes sightseeing in Delhi, a Rickshaw ride, a day trip to the Taj Mahal, visits to temples, spice markets, a local village school, white water rafting on the River Ganges and so much more. This trip of a lifetime will be one you remember as a family for many years to come.
Sample Family Activity Programme
Arrival Day
Arrive IGI Airport New Delhi (this is the closes airport to your hotel and where the tour begins). We recommend an overnight flight to allow you time to get the most out of your first day of the tour. Please contact us if you’d like us to arrange your flights (for an additional charge).
Complimentary transfer to your accommodation. Your guide leader will meet you at the airport and will transfer you to the Hotel Corus in Connaught Place or equivalent.
Hotel Check-In & Sightseeing Tour- Check in to your hotel and then depending on your arrival time, you’ll be taken for lunch (payable locally) and a tour briefing, followed by sightseeing around New Delhi to include Gandhi’s Memorial House, India gate, and Dili Haat craft market. The sightseeing tour begins at 1pm and so would require you to be at the hotel by this time to join the first day of the tour.
Evening- In the evening, you’ll be taken for an evening meal (included) with time to relax and unwind.
After breakfast (included), your tour guide will take you on a tour of Old Delhi, which is the oldest & most exciting part of Delhi with its bustling ancient streets, alleyways, all kinds of shops and spice markets. From cows in the street to rickshaws and mopeds, there is so much to take in and it really is a must see when you visit Delhi. You’ll certainly never forget it!
As part of your visit you’ll get to explore Chandni Chowk, which is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi and the ideal place to try out your haggling skills. Your guide will recommend places for lunch depending on your preference (payable locally).
A Rickshaw Safari and a visit to a Jain temple and Jain Trust School
A trip to India isn’t complete without a Rickshaw ride so you’ll travel by Rickshaw to visit a Jain Temple and Jain Trust School, which will enable you to really connect with the local culture.
Evening
In the evening, your tour guide will take your group to a local restaurant for dinner (payable locally) and you’ll be briefed on your trip to Agra the following day. Then time to relax and unwind.
Today you’ll visit the magnificent Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world and amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Your Tour Guide will take you to get the 06.00 early train to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. A packed breakfast will be provided (included). The Taj Mahal is a wonderful place to visit and will be one of the highlights of your holiday.
After your visit to the Taj Mahal, you’ll explore Agra, with a visit to the Red Fort and Marble Factory (time permitting and optional extras). Your guide will recommend places for lunch (payable locally).
You’ll catch the 17.40 train from Agra to Delhi, arriving at 19.30 (est). Here you will be taken to a hotel to refresh and have dinner (included). After dinner you’ll travel to the station and board the overnight train to Haridwar (where you’ll travel 2nd class with beds, bedding and air con). The sleeping area has 2 x bunkbeds next to each other with a curtain for privacy.
Today you will arrive in Dehradun and transfer by coach or taxi to the holy city of Rishikesh. Located at the foot of the Himalayas, Rishikesh holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the local Hindus and is a wonderful place to visit. Made famous by the Beatles, they got in touch with their Eastern spiritual side here, writing several songs during a 1968 stint at a local ashram.
Once you’ve checked in to your hotel and had time to relax, you’ll enjoy a leisurely local walk to explore the area and enjoy some free time to enjoy the markets and ghats. Your guide will recommend places for lunch (payable locally).
In the evening you’ll enjoy an evening meal with your group (included) and will be briefed on your white water rafting trip planned for the following day.
In the afternoon you’ll have time for lunch (payable locally) & local sightseeing followed by attending holy ceremony of Aarti. Aarti is the Celebration of Lights and is one of the most important Hindu rituals of worship. It is an incredible ceremony to see & be part of.
In the evening you’ll enjoy an evening meal with your group overlooking the River Ganges (included).
In the afternoon, you’ll travel to Haridwar where you’ll get the 6pm train which arrives back into Delhi at 10.30pm. Dinner will be provided on the train (included). You’ll then transfer to your hotel in Connaught Place, Delhi.
Have a relaxed afternoon of shopping in CP or Khan Market to purchase souvenirs and gifts. Your guide will recommend places for lunch depending on your preferences, payable locally (there is a McDonalds if you want a break from the more traditional food).
Your final evening meal will take place at the Revolving Restaurant (included) where you can enjoy a complete panoramic view of New Delhi. The perfect way to end your holiday.
Where you'll be staying
Accommodation in Delhi
Your accommodation in Delhi will be a mid-range hotel offering your family a comfortable and clean private room with en-suite and in a convenient location with access to local amenities such as shops, restaurants and bars. Breakfast will be included.
Overnight train to Haridwar
The overnight train is exciting but it’s important to approach the experience with an open mind and see it as part of the adventure! We will book a 1st class experience which means you’ll have a bed with bedding but we can’t guarantee peace and quiet (this is India afterall!). Come prepared with an eye mask and ear plugs if you think you’ll need them. Before you get the train, you’ll be taken to a hotel for a refresh, swim and food and there will be the opportunity to get snacks and drinks for the journey.
Accommodation in Rishikesh
Your accommodation in Rishikesh will be mid range offering your family a comfortable and clean private family room with ensuite. Breakfast will be included.
Meals
Breakfast is included each day. Lunch isn’t included but your guide will be able to recommend places you can get lunch each day according to your preferences, timings & budget. Some evening meals are included as shown on the itinerary (where it states included). By not including all meals, we give you the opportunity to explore and choose which is often part of the fun on a holiday!
Indian food is delicious but can be spicy so it’s good to come prepared for that. It’s possible to get mild spicy food as Indian curries don’t tend to be as hot (typically) as they are in the UK and there are a range of western places to eat in Delhi.
Useful Information
Transport information
During your tour you’ll travel by taxi, rickshaw, overnight train, train & bus. Your transport to visits in your itinerary including airport transfers in India are included and will be organised for you.
Flights
We don’t include flights in our package price but if you’d a flight quote please let us know and we’d be happy to arrange this for you. We recommend getting an overnight flight from the UK to Delhi that enables you to get to your hotel for lunchtime so you can enjoy the full tour.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is essential that you take out appropriate travel insurance that covers you for all activities and re-patriation where required.
Entry Requirements - IMPORTANT
Visas are required for citizens of the UK and can be obtained in the form of an e-visa. You can apply for a visa here: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa
Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office.
To ensure the smoothest experience, it is very important for you to check all eligibility criteria that can be found on the website.
Kit List- what to pack
Here are some specific items we think you will need for your trip to India:
We recommend luggage that you find easy to get on and off buses and trains, so rucksacks are ideal. NB Check hold luggage allowance
Comfortable clothing for travelling & exploring.
A smart set of clothes suitable for a hotel
Comfortable shoes for walking & exploring
Sandals with ankle strap or old trainers for water activities (flip flops can be worn in tents or bedrooms, not suitable for outside)
1 pair Shoes or smart trainers for hotels
Shirts/ T shirts, ideally long sleeved. Cotton is best (be able to cover up against insects)
Fleece / hoodie (for evenings) & waterproof jacket (in case of rain)
October – make sure you can put on several layers: it can get cold in the evenings
Broad rimmed hat
Swimming trunks/costume
Sheet/sleeping bag liner & pillow case (for the over night train journeys)
Antibacterial gel (wet wipes too if you want)
Insect repellent (recommend something DEET based)
High factor sun cream
Personal medication (e.g. inhalers etc)
Personal First Aid kit, can include, antiseptic wipes, savlon, plasters, blister kit, painkillers, re-hydration sachets (e.g. Dioralyte), antihistamine (cream and/or tablets), lipsalve, iodine based antiseptic, after bite cream, glucose sweets.
Vaccination card
Rucksack for your main luggage (cases not a good idea)
Small day sack for exploring and for travelling (approx 20/25 litres ideal)
Sunglasses
Passport (machine readable).
India visa
2 copies Passport (relevant pages) and visa (aids dealing with lost documents)
Playing cards
A book to donate to school
Etiquette: Please do not bring clothes that expose a lot of skin as this is insulting in most parts of India. Shorts that cover to the knee and shirts with short sleeves that cover the shoulders should be worn.
Clothes are cheap in Delhi and you may have the chance to shop before you leave Delhi. However, quality outdoor gear will not be easy to find.
Vaccinations
We recommend protection against Tetanus, Infectious Hepatitis, Typhoid and Polio. Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus and speak to your GP where required. You can also find out more here
Travel Health Pro website: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/105/india
How to book your family holiday
1. Check below for your dates and availability
2. Click `Book Now` and then complete the online family booking form
3. Pay a deposit of £200 via our online booking system, a secure way to book online
Alternatively please contact us or call 01384 398 870
What’s included?
- Airport transfers in Delhi (please let us know your flight details in advance)
- Mid-range hotel accommodation in your own family room with en-suite
- 1 nights accommodation on overnight train to Dehradun (2nd class air con- with beds/bedding/privacy curtain)
- Entry to visits that are featured in the holiday itinerary
- White Water Rafting on the River Ganges
- Transport as featured in the itinerary
- Expert Guide
- Breakfast each day
- 1 x lunch (day 6)
- 6 x evening meals
Note: Flights and UK airport transfers are not included.