Ain't no Mountain High Enough Trip Notes
Trip code: GINI
Trip valid from: 01/01/2013
Trip valid until: 30/06/2014
Trip length: 19
Trip starts in: Kathmandu
Trip ends in: Delhi
Maximum group size: maximum 16
Highlights
- Delhi
- Off-the-beaten-track In Nimaj Bagh
- The Great Thar Desert Trading Town Of Jodhpur
- The Wildlife Of Chitwan National Park
- Kathmandu’s Hidden Old Town
- Udaipur And Lake Pichola
- UNESCO World Heritage-listed Taj Mahal
- Buddhism's Birthplace In Lumbini
- The Ganges And Varanasi
- Jaipur’s Amber Fort
- Aint' No Mountain High Enough
- Having A (eye)ball In Nepal
- Indian Street Food Is Incredible. Trust Us On This One
- Nothing Beats A Campfire Singalong. These Guys Know What We're Talking About
- When You Absolutey, Positively Have To Sleep
To punish himself for falling aslepp while meditating, Buddha cut off his eyelids. These eyelids then grew into the tea plant, because drinking tea will keep you from falling asleep. We love a good buddha legend.(Was Nepal & India)
Itinerary
Kathmandu
When it comes to whizzing around Kathmandu, auto rickshaws are the only way to go. See the giant Buddhist stupa at Bodhnath and the city's most sacred Hindu site, Pashupatinath.Chitwan National Park
Cross the Rapti River to reach our lodge in the village of Sauraha. Take a jungle safari on elephant-back and hopefully spot rhino, tigers and leopards (oh my).Lumbini
Lumbini was the site of Buddha's birthplace way back in 563BC. See some temples and the Ashoka Pillar.Varanasi
One river, thousands of uses: bathing, praying, cremating the dead, laundromat, notorious hangout for The Beatles. You name it, and someone's done it in the Ganges.Agra - Taj Mahal
Flowers, chocolates, diamonds, mini-breaks - all these gestures will seem lame once she's been to the Taj. You're going to need to think bigger.Tordi Garh
This is a little gem of a village. Explore nearby temples and forts and sleep in a 16th century castle. Warning: your hand will get tired from all the waving and your mouth will ache from all the smiling. The locals here are extremely friendly.Jaipur
The Maharajah's harem was not allowed to be seen, so The Palace of the Winds was built so they could see what was going on outside. It's a big honeycomb-shaped structure, with about 1000 tiny latticed windows for peeking through.Nimaj Bagh
This place has barely changed in centuries and it doesn't get many travellers. It's a real "off the beaten track" experience (slightly off topic, but has anyone actually seen this beaten track?)Jodhpur
Drive to the Blue City of Jodhpur, on the edge of the Thar Desert. Sadar Market is the place for fisherman's pants (handy in India, daggy at home), carpets, incense and tea.Udaipur
Udaipur is often referred to as the Venice of the East. Why? Well here's a hint - it's not because of all the roads. Then it's an overnight train to Delhi. Snorers, you will be named and shamed.Delhi
By now you've had long enough to accept that in India, cows are more important than you. It's just one of the many weird and wonderful things you'll tell your friends when you get home.Itinerary Variation
While the information presented here details our planned itinerary, including routes taken, activities included, accommodation and meeting times, please accept that unforseen changes may occur. We are constantly on the lookout to improve our program and further enhance your experience. Naturally, we will keep you up to date with any last minute amendments to your tour.About The Imaginative Traveller
Our aim has always been to provide exceptional travel experiences. We believe that adventure travel should be stimulating, and that it should give you an authentic experience of a place. We want our travellers to relish the amazing diversity of countries and cultures the world has to offer. Our focus is on innovation, not imitation.
Obsessed with quality
One of our strengths has been our obsession with quality. We've always believed that our commitment to you doesn't end as soon as you've paid for your holiday. On the contrary, it is just beginning. Whilst most operators simply get a local company to handle the day to day operation of their tours, we do it all ourselves. We have managers for each of our key destinations around the world and all our small groups are escorted by our own leaders. Our local teams include guides, drivers, administration staff and contacts in the local community who help us ensure that our adventures are active and involving.
For comparability, all prices in this dossier are quoted in one currency. We use the US Dollar since that is familiar to most. However, once on tour you will need to pay for all goods and services in the local currency. See your Country Dossier for details of exchange rates.
Trip Grade
Culture
Whether you’re taking in man’s greatest works at places like Petra or Angkor Wat, experiencing grand set-pieces like the Trans-Mongolian Railway or trying your hand at regional specialities like tango in Buenos Aires, getting to grips with local cultures is what travel’s all about. A few tips from a guide and a sense of adventure are pretty much all you need.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get the lowdown on high Tibet among Lhasa’s magisterial temples; follow up Delhi’s eye-popping bustle with a fix of its fiery food; and mix manic markets and Incan masterpieces in Peru.
Wildlife
Take your pick: hunt for tigers in northern India, listen to monkey chatter and birdsong in the jungles of Costa Rica and Peru or gawp at the Galapagos’ diversity.
And of course, there's the big one: Africa. The names alone evoke images of wildlife: the Serengeti, Masai Mara, Kruger. And the reality’s even better. Africa’s got the lot, so go beyond the Big Five by hiking to close encounters with gorillas in Uganda’s forests, walking with lions at Zimbabwe’s Antelope Park, or canoeing past crocs on the Okavango Delta.
From the Cape’s loveable penguins to Egypt’s loping camels, Africa’s animals await.
Fitness
No particular level of fitness is required for this holiday. You need only to be in good health. The camel trek in western Rajasthan does not require any great physical exertion; however the trotting momentum of the camels can cause some discomfort after a few hours!
Included
- Gecko’s expert English-speaking local tour guides throughout the tour, and local site guides at some sites. - Sightseeing (including entrance fees where applicable): Kathmandu including Bodhnath Stupa and Pashupatinath; Lumbini including temple complexes, Ashoka Pillar and Maya Devi Temple; Varanasi's back lanes and crowded alleyways; Agra including the Taj Mahal; Jaipur including Amber Fort, Old Bazaar and The Palace of the Winds; Jodhpur including Meharangarh Fort and Sardar Market; Udaipur including City Palace and Jagdish Temple; and Delhi including Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place. - Morning boat ride on the Ganges to witness the rituals on the ghats. - Royal Chitwan National Park – elephant ride with wildlife guide, lodge accommodation and entrance fees. - Off-the-beaten-track experience in Tordi Garh – village walk, visit to ruined temples and a fortress, and a jeep safari. - Overnight accommodation in 16th Century Tordi Palace. - Stay at Nimaj Bagh and a village walk to meet the locals. - Free time to explore Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Delhi. - Overnight train from Varanasi to Agra and Udaipur to Delhi. Accommodation in air-conditioned sleeper class with three-tier sleeping berths (two sheets, a blanket and a pillow provided per person).
Not included
International flights, arrival and departure transfers, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre or post tour accommodation, meals, optional tours sightseeing or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature, laundry and flights unless specified. Some places that we visit charge additional fees if you are entering with a camera or camcorder - your city guide will advise on these and they can be paid for locally.
Meals
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Accommodation
Sleeper train,Jungle lodge,Hotels/guesthouses
Single room supplement
Most of our travellers like the thought of travelling with a few like-minded souls. There are NO compulsory single supplements on most tours as we simply arrange twin shared accommodation for you and another tour member of the same sex. But don't worry if that doesn't appeal. We do understand there are times when you just want a bit of privacy and 'me' time so we are more than happy to arrange a private room upon request when you book.Transport
Boat,Elephant,Jeep,Local bus,Sleeper train,Taxi
The itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and does not form part of a contract between the client and The Imaginative Traveller.Responsible Travel - Travellers' Guidelines
At Imaginative Traveller we love helping our clients experience the beauty and cultures of the destinations we visit. However, hand in hand with this we have always been aware that we have a responsibility to minimise any negative impacts that tourism can bring.
Responsible Travel is twofold. It’s about taking people to the places they want to go in a safe and responsible manner but also about respecting and maintaining the natural and often delicate balance of the destination. Economic gain from tourism is often fundamental to a country, but should never be at the expense of its culture or the environment.
Our Aims
- It is our aim to provide journeys that have minimal negative and maximum positive impact on the places we visit.
- We do not believe that, as visitors, we should impose our own cultures on others; rather that we should experience foreign cultures and appreciate them for what they are.
- Whilst it is our aim to show destinations and cultures in a positive light, we do not believe in papering over the cracks or shielding visitors from the realities of life. This does not mean, however, that we condone or endorse certain situations or regimes that may be in place.
Our guidelines are meant not as rigid instructions but rather as suggestions to make our holidays more enjoyable – for everybody. As cultural and environmental sensitivities vary from country to country more specific guidelines can be found in our individual country and trip dossiers.
Travellers' Guidelines
Before you depart try to spend some time familiarising yourself with the destination you will be travelling to – their culture and customs. The country dossiers on our website offer detailed information about all the regions we visit. They also include some useful phrases in the local language for you to use on your trip! A few words of the local language can open up many more opportunities for you to interact with the people you will meet.
Although it is tempting to give out pens, sweets and money to people begging, and particularly tempting to give to children, we feel that this encourages a begging mentality and has a long-term negative impact on communities. If someone begging earns more than someone in the same community who works this can discourage local employment. If children regularly bring home money it may discourage their parents from sending them to school. It is of course your own personal choice but you could consider giving to registered charities or contributing to our Responsible Travel fund instead. Money donated through our fund to our worldwide projects is matched pound for pound by Imaginative Traveller and used to help local grassroots projects.
Always ask permission to photograph local people and respect their decision if they would prefer not to have their picture taken.
Respect local dress codes, especially at religious sites. Our tour leaders are always on hand to give you advice about this.
In many of the countries we visit you might see examples of animal cruelty (for example dancing bears, performing monkeys and snake charmers). Please do not take photographs of this or offer money as it encourages the activity.
Respect the environment you are in. It sounds obvious but do not throw litter, take it with you or use rubbish bins! You may see locals throwing rubbish on the street but do not follow their example!
When shopping in countries where haggling is the norm – enjoy it and only pay what you feel is a fair price for the goods you are purchasing. However, remember that the shopkeeper does have to make a living so do stop once you have reached a price you are happy with. Bargaining should be fun but always remember that a small amount can mean much more to the vendor than to you.
Endeavor to take home souvenirs made locally; the money you spend can be very important to the local communities. However, do use your common sense and don’t buy anything that you think might be made out of endangered animals or plants.
To help keep as much money as possible in the host country - try to eat in locally owned restaurants and order local drinks and produce rather than international brands.
In hotels do be conscious of how much water you are using. Many of the areas we visit regularly have shortages; try not to have hour long showers! Don’t leave lights, air conditioners or fans on when you leave the room – you wouldn’t at home!
Respect the environment you are in, especially when in national parks or reserves. Pay attention to rules about keeping on paths, keeping a distance from animals and not removing any of the natural habitat.
Relax and immerse yourself in the differences of the culture you are in – you’ll be back home in the familiar soon enough (and wishing you were still on holiday!). These cultural differences are part of what makes your experience special.
If you would like to offset the carbon dioxide that will be produced on your flights you can do this on our website (on our Responsible travel page). We work with climatecare, who will reduce the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide that you produce in another part of the World through their emission reduction projects. These projects are low carbon efficient technologies in developing countries and not only serve to reduce emissions but also help to spread the adoption of low carbon technologies and improve the quality of life for local communities. Details of climatecare’s projects can be found on their website.
If you would like to contribute to our Worldwide projects, helping communities all over the World, you can also do this on our website or with a sales consultant. Please refer to our responsible travel page on the website for details of our current projects. Any donation you make will be matched £ for £ by Imaginative Traveller (up to a maximum of £1000).
Have a great trip!
Please do let us know if you have any comments about responsible travel at rto@imtrav.net
The Imaginative Traveller & Gecko's Adventures This trip is operated by our partner company, Gecko's Adventures. Gecko's is an Australia based company with more than 10 years experience in adventure travel and they share our ethos for offering unique holiday adventures. As this is a code shared departure you can expect there to be both Imaginative Traveller and Gecko's travellers on your trip.Last updated: 05/02/2013
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