In the Foothills of the Himalayas

DAY 1 International Flight

Make your way to the airport this evening to begin your holiday to India with an an overnight flight to Delhi. The flight time is around eight-and-a-half hours.

DAY 2 To Dharamshala

Meet your driver in reception this morning as you'll be making your way to the airport for a flight to Dharamsala in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. The flight time is less than two hours and when you land a driver will be waiting to escort you to your lodge in the heart of this charming hill station town. There is a rich Tibetan influence here and you might like to enjoy a gentle stroll through the town this afternoon to see a little of the local lifestyle for yourself. Dinner is then served back at your lodge and we recommend getting an early night before you start properly exploring tomorrow.

DAY 3 To Amritsar

Say goodbye to your first Himalayan base this morning and head onto the next, Amritsar. To get there you'll be driven for about six and a half hours. When you arrive, learn more about the town's Sikh culture and heritage with an evening visit to the Golden Temple for the Palki Sahib ceremony. During the ceremony you can witness and participate in the ceremonial putting to bed of the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib. As the book is carried through the temple the room will be illuminated and highlight the temple's holy water pool, making for a magical sight. Following the ceremony you can then return to your hotel for dinner.

DAY 4 To Shimla

The trip continues today with the long journey to Shimla, once the summer capital of the British Raj. The first leg of the journey will see you travelling for four hours from Amritsar to Ambala by train. When you arrive here a driver will be waiting to meet you and drive you on to Shimla, which will take a further four-and-a-half hours.

You should arrive at your new lodge in Shimla in time for a little stroll before dinner, enjoying the views from nearly 7,000ft above sea level.

DAY 5 To Chandigarh

After a leisurely breakfast, you will be driven to Chandigarh. The drive will take approximately five-and-a-half hours. Chandigarh is the capital city of Punjab and Haryana, and unlike most of the other places on your trip, the city is famous for its modern architecture rather than ancient historical monuments or temples. When you arrive you can start to do some self-guided exploring or simply relax at your new lodge after the journey.

DAY 6 Back to Delhi

Spend this morning at leisure, packing up your bags and enjoying a final few hours in Chandigarh. After lunch you will then meet your driver and be taken to the airport to catch an hour-long flight to Delhi. In Delhi you will be taken to a hotel near to the airport to get some rest before your flight which leaves very early tomorrow.