Wonders of the modern world
India & Jordan

Itinerary

Day 1

Royal Jordanian flight to Amman. Evening arrival and transfer to the Regency Palace Hotel.

Day 2

Drive north to the superb Hellenistic and Roman city of Jerash in northern Jordan. Jerash was created at the end of the 4th Century BC as one of the cities of the Decapolis. It is famous for its colonnaded oval forum, its magnificent theatres, colonnaded Roman streets and restored Precinct of Artemis.  There are impressive early Byzantine remains here too. After lunch, drive south down the Desert Highway to Wadi Musa for dinner and overnight at the Petra Panorama Hotel.

Day 3

Full day sight seeing in the ‘rose-red city’, capital of the Nabatean Arabs. Entering by the narrow defile of the Siq, the rock cut tombs are dominated by Al Khasneh, the Treasury. Visit the rock-cut theatre, colonnaded street, the newly excavated Great Temple and the Nabatean temple of the Qasr el Bint Faroun. Lunch in Petra. Afternoon visit to the Temple of the Winged Lions and the newly discovered Byzantine church, with superb mosaic floors. Overnight at the Petra Panorama Hotel.

Day 4

Drive over the spectacular Ras el Negev to visit Wadi Rum with magnificent desert scenery in the same Nubian Sandstone as Petra. Jeep safari in Wadi Rum, with beautiful rock-scapes before driving up the Desert Highway to Amman Airport for Royal Jordanian flight to Delhi

Day 5

Arrive Delhi and transfer to the Shangrila Hotel. City sightseeing tour of Old Delhi visiting the Raj Ghat, the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Overnight Delhi at Hotel Shangrila.

Day 6

After breakfast drive to Agra and check-in at Jaypee Palace Hotel. Afternoon visit to the the world famous Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal. Also visit Agra Fort. Overnight at the Agra Jaypee Palace.  

Day 7

Drive to Fatehpur Sikri, a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town” which was the abandoned capital of Mughal Emperor Akbar, built in 1569. Afterwards, visit Keoladeo National Park, famous as being one of Asia’s finest birding areas, with over 380 resident and migrant species. Also visit Deeg Palace, a pleasure palace set around formal Mughal gardens. Continue to Jaipur and check-in at the Ramada Hotel.

Day 8

After breakfast visit the Amber Fort with an ascent to the fort by elephant. Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592 where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu architecture finds its ultimate expression. Also visit the City Palace, a blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture; the Jantar Mantar, the largest observatory built by Jai Singh; the ornamental facade of the Palace of Winds, a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Overnight Ramada, Jaipur

Day 9

After breakfast drive to Delhi. Afternoon sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue, the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and ending with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Overnight Delhi at Hotel Shangrila.     

Day 10

Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to London via Amman

Tour Details

DATE:

22 – 31 March 2012

PRICE:

£2495 From London

INCLUDES:

Return airfare from London, twin or double bedded rooms with private bathroom, full board, all excursions with local guides, entrance fees, UK departure tax, transfers, expert leaders.

NOT INCLUDED:

Regional connecting flights if not departing from London, UK ait ticket taxes other than UK departure tax (i.e. passenger service charge, security tax, foreign departure tax fuel surcharges), group visa, travel insurance, drinks, tips to drivers and local guides.

Single supplement £450. May be joined without flights. Ask us for the land-only price.

ACCOMMODATION:

This tour uses comfortable 4-5 star hotels throughout.

In Jordan The Regency Palace in Amman is an older style but very comfortable 5* hotel in the middle of the city. The Petra Panorama Hotel, a 4* hotel, is 10 minutes drive from Petra, but it enjoys outstanding views over the mountains around Petra and is in a quiet location away from Wadi Musa.

In India The New Delhi Shangri La Eros Hotel is one of the city's new high rise 5* hotels with 320 guest rooms.The 5*Jaypee Palace in Agra, built in 1999 comprises a total of 350 rooms only a short drive from the Taj Mahal. In Jaipur, the Ramada is a new 5* hotel with a total of 160 rooms spread over 5 floors

FITNESS LEVEL:

Moderate/Active - We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate, but there are two time changes and the group is ‘on the go’ all the time. This is a full itinerary, with some long days and moderate road journeys. There are no hikes in this tour; however in order to see all the sites some long walks on uneven ground and up and down steps are required, at a moderate pace. Whilst sightseeing we may be on the go for several hours at one time, without the guarantee of somewhere shady to stop and rest. It is important that everyone is able to keep up with the group as some of the sites can be busy. For this reason we feel this tour is unsuitable for the frail or for anyone who routinely uses a walking frame or a wheelchair. If unsure, please check with us.

Trip Lecturer

We do not have a trip scholar on this tour because of the diverse nature of the subject. There will be good local guides and a UK tour manager throughout.

Fast facts

• Sovereignty: India is a democratic Republic, Jordan is a constitutional Monarchy.
• Language: Various and English (India), Arabic (Jordan)
• Currency: Rupee/Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
• Timezone: India is 5 hours ahead of the UK, Jordan is 2 hours ahead of the UK (3 hours in summer)

• Health Jordan: The NHS Fit for Travel website recommends that all travellers to Jordan confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly).

  In addition, the following courses or boosters are usually advised: hepatitis A; diphtheria; tetanus. Vaccines sometimes advised: typhoid; rabies; hepatitis B. Please note that a Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from areas with risk of yellow fever transmission (not required if flying direct from the UK).

  Health India: Local medical facilities are not comparable to those in the UK, especially in more remote areas. In major cities private medical care is available, but expensive.

  Take care with your water and food hygiene. Drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea seek immediate medical attention. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya affect most of India.

  Immunisation: Same as Jordan.

• Visas:

  Most tourists to Jordan DO NOT require a visa. All tourists to India DO.

  JORDAN Most nationalities, including UK and USA passport holders, can get a visa for Jordan on arrival. Citizens of UK and other EU countries travelling as part of an organised group tour will be able to join our own organised group visa free of charge.

  INDIA All foreign nationals require a visa to enter India, normally granted for three or six months effective from the date of issue. Tourist visas are non-extendible and non-convertible. A Letter of undertaking on company letter head paper (example text on applications forms page) is required for company Directors / Executives / Consultants / Police officer / Armed services / Media Industry / Photographers / Actors / Artist/ Social workers/ lecturers/ solicitors/ Barristers/ Accountants/ pilots and crew member’s etc. entering India for tourism. Non UK passport holders are required to provide two Utility bills one dated 2 years old and one recent please send photo copies. In Britain, visas can be obtained from the India House, Aldwych London WC2B 4NA at a current (May 2012) cost of £66. Applications submitted in London will take minimum 2 to 3 working days to get processed. An application form for a visa can be downloaded from the Internet

• Flying time: 5-6 hours direct to Amman from London. From Amman to Delhi is 4 1/2 hours.
• Will my phone work: Jordan and India both use 900 and 1800 MHz bandwidths so almost all UK phones will work there as long as your provider has authorised its use abroad.

Extensions in the Middle East & India

Call us for inspiration on exciting extensions which we can design to fit with the dates of this tour. After all, you're already there!