Easily accessible from Delhi, the states of Himachal Pradesh and the Punjab offer something completely different to the plains and deserts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
This itinerary aims to highlight both the landscapes and cultural sites of this beautiful region including Amritsar’s instantly recognisable Golden Temple. The journey begins with a short internal flight to Manali where three days are set aside to explore the town, local villages and historic temples before driving to Palampur where you will stay in a lodge on a tea estate. The countryside around Palampur is excellent for walking and birdwatching and a day visit to Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama, is also included. From Palampur continue west and cross into the Punjab and Amritsar, a city that serves as the centre of the Sikh religion. Visit the spectacular Golden Temple, explore the city’s old lanes and attend the chaotic border closing ceremony at Wagah. Return to Delhi to see the capital city’s main sights.
Delhi – Manali – Palampur – Dharamsala – Amritsar – Delhi
Trip Highlights
- Manali is a set within beautiful scenery dotted with ancient villages and temples
- Hike picturesque walking trails and go birdwatching at the beautiful Wah Tea Estate
- Attend the Palki Ceremony which occurs each evening in Amritsar’s Golden Temple
- Visit the monastic village in McLeod Ganj, or ‘Little Lhasa’, home to the Dalai Lama
- Attend the boisterous border closing ceremony at the Indo-Pakistan Wagah Border
- A highlight of Old Delhi are the bustling markets and narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK / Arrive Delhi
Today depart the UK and take the day flight to Delhi arriving late in the evening. Once passing immigration and customs formalities you will be met and taken to a nearby airport hotel where you will stay overnight.
JW Marriott Aerocity
Day 2
Delhi to Manali – by air
Early this morning fly north to Manali. Set in the fertile Kullu Valley, Manali, and the surrounding area, is known for its beautiful scenery, numerous ancient villages and as the starting point of an ancient trade route north to Ladakh. Please note that the flight between Delhi and Manali only operates on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
ShivAdya
Day 3-4
Manali
Over the next two days explore Manali and the areas that surround the town. Visits will be made to the attractive old town of Manali, the village of Dhungri with its carved buildings and rustic Hadimba Devi Temple as well as Vashisht which is home to a temple dedicated to Rama and a natural hot water spring. Further afield, visits can also be made to the Solang Valley and the attractive small town of Naggar which has an art gallery displaying the distinctive works of the late Russian artist Nicholas Roerich.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
ShivAdya
Day 5
Manali to Palampur – 190kms
After breakfast leave your hotel and travel by road to The Lodge at Wah, a property set within a160-year-old tea estate. Palampur is located in the beautiful Kangra Valley and surrounded by lush tea estates and forests with good hiking trails which are often used by Gaddis – the nomadic shepherds of the area.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
The Lodge at Wah
Day 6
Palampur – visit Dharamsala
Today visit Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj, or ‘Little Lhasa’, where the Dalai Lama resides. Highlights include the Tsuglagkhang complex, a monastic village home to the Dalai Lama, Namgyal Monastery including its interesting Tibet Museum, the Kalachakra Temple and the Norbulingka Institute which was established to secure and safeguard Tibetan Buddhist cultural traditions. After your visit return to Palampur and your hotel.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
The Lodge at Wah
Day 7
Palampur
Explore the area with your driver. Places of interest include Andretta, a small village and artist community founded in the 1920s by the Irish actress Norah Richards. Today the village is home to the Sobha Singh Art Gallery and the Andretta Pottery and Craft Society. Back at the lodge take a tour of the Wah Tea Estate, hike one of the walking trails, take a nature walk or go birdwatching.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
The Lodge at Wah
Day 8
Palampur to Amritsar – 230kms
After breakfast leave Palampur, cross into the Punjab and continue by road to Amritsar, the state capital. Amritsar is the focal point of the Sikh religion and is a city best known for being the location of the spectacular Golden Temple complex. Three nights will be spent in Amritsar allowing ample time to explore the city and surrounding region.
- Breakfast
Ranjit's Svaasa
Taj Swarna, Amritsar
Day 9
Amritsar
Your day today will start with a guided heritage walk in Amritsar’s old town. This 400-year-old warren of streets and narrow lanes has changed little over the centuries and there will be an opportunity to learn about the trades and crafts that continue to be practiced here. Most lanes lead to the Golden Temple and you will have ample time to explore this magnificent complex. In the afternoon visit the 16th century Durgiana Temple and Jallianwala Bagh then return to your hotel to relax until the evening when you will return to the Golden Temple to witness the nightly Palki Ceremony.
- Breakfast
Ranjit's Svaasa
Taj Swarna, Amritsar
Day 10
Amritsar – visit Wagah border
This morning visit the Partition Museum which tells the story of this turbulent period through the eyes of the people who experienced it. In the afternoon drive out to the Indo-Pakistan Wagah Border to experience the daily border closing ceremony. This spectacle has acted as a barometer of Indo-Pakistan relations since partition and, after, return to your hotel in the early evening.
- Breakfast
Ranjit's Svaasa
Taj Swarna, Amritsar
Day 11
Amritsar to Delhi – by air
Today transfer to the airport and fly back to Delhi. On arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel in the city where you will stay for two nights. Capital of India, Delhi is two cities in one – the new city constructed during the early 20th century and which serves as the centre of Indian government and medieval Old Delhi with its grand Mughal sites and atmospheric markets.
- Breakfast
The Claridges New Delhi
The Imperial
Day 12
Delhi
With your local guide experience Old and New Delhi like a local by using the Metro, auto-rickshaw, cycle rickshaw and by foot to get around the city. In Old Delhi explore the colourful bazaars, mosques and temples then head to New Delhi which is noted for its colonial-era architecture, wide tree-lined avenues and open spaces.
- Breakfast
The Claridges New Delhi
The Imperial
Day 13
Delhi to the UK
Today return to Delhi Airport in good time to catch your flight back to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Include a stay in Shimla, developed as the summer capital of the British Raj. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, Shimla is a charming town of well-tended gardens, bungalows, churches and Victorian government buildings. Shimla is reached by road from Manali.
Chandigarh is noted for its post-war modernist architecture designed by renowned architect Le Corbusier during the 1950s and 1960s. Visit the acclaimed UNESCO listed Capitol Complex including the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly and High Court.
Haridwar is a morning’s drive north of Delhi and can also be reached by road from Chandigarh. One of India’s most important pilgrimage towns, discover Haridwar’s ashrams, temples and shrines and also day a day trip to the neighbouring holy town of Rishikesh.
Wildlife could be incorporated into this itinerary with Corbett National Park a good option as it is a morning’s drive from Haridwar. India’s oldest wildlife reserve, Corbett is home to tiger, leopard, elephant and bear and also offers excellent birdwatching.
Guide to Price
13 days from £5300 - £5650 per person
What's Included
- International and domestic flights
- Private car with English speaking driver
- Sightseeing with local English speaking guides
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Cost of visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £5300 - £5650
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways fly direct from London to many Italian cities including Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, Pisa and Verona. They also offer flights to the Italian islands Sardinia and Sicily. Regional flights with British Airways are available with a connection at Heathrow. Budget airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet also have a wide range of flights available between the UK and Italy. Alternatively take the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient Express between London and Venice, or self-drive is also an option.
Flying Times From UK
Flight times take between 2-4 hours depending on where you are flying into in Italy. It takes two and a half hours to fly between the UK and Rome.
Time Zone
Italy is +1 hour ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
British Citizens do not require a visa for travel to Italy. You should ensure that your passport has at least 6 months validity, that you have appropriate travel insurance and correct documentation if planning to drive. Travellers will not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. For more information please visit the UK Government website.
Do’s & Don’ts
When taking photographs, permission should always be asked before taking someone’s picture.
Make sure you pack suitable clothing so that you can dress respectfully for visits to religious venues.
Knees and shoulders should be covered when entering Catholic Churches such as St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City or St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
If you manage to learn a few words in Italian it will be greatly appreciated.
Money
The local currency is the Euro which is easily exchanged before you leave the UK or once in Italy. ATMs are reliable and commonplace throughout the country and nearly all major credit cards are accepted. Some restaurants may include an extra service fee for payments made with a credit or debit card so this is always worth checking first. Changing foreign currency is an easy process in Italy which is possible at banks, hotels and post offices.
Tipping
There is no set rule for tipping in Italy, but 10% for good service is appreciated. In some restaurants service charge is added to your bill automatically so ensure you check this. Tips in cash are preferred.
Food & Drink
Italian food is one of the world’s most loved and accessible cuisines and is very much focused on simplicity, flavours and local produce. Like many destinations, food is very regional in Italy, and each area has its own speciality, many boasting recipes that have been passed from generation to generation. Renowned for its incredible pizza and pasta, Italy also offers dishes which use some of the continent’s best ingredients including Tuscan truffles, fresh seafood from Liguria, cured meat from Parma, Sicilian lemons, buffalo mozzarella from Campania and Modena’s famous balsamic vinegar. Italy is also known for its excellent coffee, and the culture surrounding this, which is ingrained into daily life. Other popular drinks include limoncello, a lemon-based liqueur, the strong spirit of grappa and, of course, wine.
Accommodation
There is an excellent variety of accommodation in Italy ranging from luxurious heritage properties and modern international resorts to boutique city hotels and secluded villas. Throughout all Italian cities there is a huge range of international chain or boutique hotels as well as apartments available, all of which follow European standards. Tuscany and Umbria offer villas with pools in the stunning countryside perfect for family or group holidays. There an abundance of lakeside hotels and apartments in the Italian Lakes whereas Sardinia and Sicily have a wonderful range of beach resorts. There is also specialist accommodation available throughout the country including mountain monasteries, rural farmhouses, ski lodges and local campsites.
Shopping
The Italians are renowned for their fashion and high-end clothes, shoes and bags. Florence, Milan and Rome are excellent places to shop for both Italian and international designers. Traditional craft items such as pottery, jewellery, ornaments and leatherwork can be found at local markets and craft shops throughout the country in both the big cities and more rural villages.Food markets are an excellent way to sample Italian street food and also buy produce including olive oil, truffles, fresh seafood and meat, cheese and vegetables, whereas local wine or spirts can be shipped back to the UK.
Suggested Reading
Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and DK Eyewitness have excellent guide books on Italy and also offer regional or city variations. For books on the history of Italy try ‘The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, Its Regions, and Their Peoples’ by Sir David Gilmore, ‘House of Medici’ by Christopher Hibbert and ‘Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ by Edward Gibbon. ‘The Italians’ by Luigi Barzini deeply explores the Italian character and psyche and for a brilliantly comprehensive A-Z guide on Italian food, try ‘The Oxford Companion to Italian Food’ by Gillian Riley. There are also a number of excellent biographies and fictional reads set in Italy that include:
‘The Merchant of Prato’ by Iris Origo
'Christ Stopped At Eboli' by Carlo Levi
‘The Borgias: Power and Fortune’ by Paul Strathern
‘The Leopard’ by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
‘Death in Venice’ by Thomas Mann
‘A Farewell to Arms’ by Ernest Hemmingway
‘The Land Where Lemons Grow’ by Helena Atlee
‘A Room With a View’ by E. M. Forster
‘Pompei’ by Rober Lustrum
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on Italy the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice)which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly.We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (https://safertourism.org.uk/) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime
CM - India - March 2024
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime thanks to the exceptional guides and drivers we met along our trip in Northern India. The itinerary had the perfect balance of tours, travel days and rest days for us and was meticulously planned and executed. We'd love to use Pettitts Travel again in the future and will absolutely be returning to India.
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