Itinerary in brief:
- 1 night Delhi
- 2 nights Amritsar
- 2 nights Dharamsala
- 2 nights Shimla
- 1 night Delhi
- 5 nights Mauritius
- 3 nights Cape Town
- 2 nights Stellenbosch
- 2 nights Franschhoek
Day 1: Depart UK
Depart the UK from your chosen airport.
Included: International flights
Day 2: Arrive Delhi
On arrival in Delhi, you will be met and taken to your hotel, where you will check in for one night.
Included: Transfers, 3* guesthouse
Day 3: Train to Amritsar
Board the early morning express train to Amritsar today; this journey takes around 6 hours as it winds north-west into the heart of the Punjab. On arrival in the city, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will check in for 2 nights.
You will spend the rest of the afternoon taking a guided tour of the Golden Temple, the heart of the city and home to the Sikh religion. The complex was built in the 16th Century; aside from the temple itself, there is an emerald moat surrounding it (‘Pool of Nectar’), a kitchen and dining room that feeds between 60,000 – 80,000 pilgrims per day, and a place where those pilgrims can stay as well as areas that refer to previous gurus and their legend. The Sikh holy book moves from its place of rest to an area where it is read from throughout the day; this ceremony happens twice daily and is great to see.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, 3* guesthouse, train tickets, touring
Day 4: Amritsar
The morning is free for further exploration; get lost in the maze of alleys outside of the temple or return for sunrise. There are several other temples in the city worth a visit too. In the afternoon, you’ll join a tour to the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan to watch the lowering of the flags in a ceremony full of show with lots of noise and spectators.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, 3* guesthouse, touring
Day 5: Amritsar to Dharamsala
Today, you will set off with your driver across a spur of the mighty Dhauladar Mountain Range; through forests of pine, beautiful hills and tea gardens, this journey takes you north-east to Dharamsala, the residence of the Dalai Lama in exhile. The journey takes around 3 ½ hours and takes you through some stunning scenery – enjoy the ride into the foothills of the Himalayas.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, 3* guesthouse, touring
Day 6: Dharamsala
This morning you will take a tour to Upper Dharamsala – to McLeod Ganj, home to the HQ of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The area has become a centre for studying Buddhism and Tibetan culture and has an interesting mix of Tibetans, travellers, monks and volunteers. Make sure you take an umbrella if you’re there in monsoon (June-Aug), and have plenty of layers to hand from Nov-March when the temperatures drop.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, 3* guesthouse, touring
Day 7: Dharamsala to Shimla
The trip continues today – you will be driven 4½ hours south-east to the hill station of Shimla. This is the most famous of all the hill stations, as it was made very popular by the British in the 19th Century as the summer capital of India.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, 3* guesthouse, touring
Day 8: Shimla
After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of the area, where you can choose to take the car or walk part or most of the way. The tour covers the Jakhu temple, the Mall, the Viceregal Lodge via the Museum, Oberoi Cecil and a bird sanctuary.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, 3* guesthouse, touring
Day 9: Train to Delhi
Enjoy a ride on the famous ‘toy train’ through stunning mountain scenery along the narrow gauge line from Shimla to Kalka. Connect with the Himalayan Queen service from Kalka back to Delhi for your final night – you will be transferred from the station to your hotel.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, 3* guesthouse, touring, train tickets
Day 10: Fly to Mauritius
After breakfast, you’ll be met and taken to the airport for your flight to Mauritius. On arrival, you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, where you will check in for five nights.
Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flights, 4* hotel
Days 11 & 12: Mauritius
Your first two days in Mauritius are yours to spend at leisure, from strolling along the dreamy Indian Ocean shores to enjoying some downtime by the pool. Finish each day with a bowl of fresh local seafood and a glass of wine as you watch the sunset - these few days are purely for relaxation before getting out and exploring the island later in your trip.
Included: Breakfast, 4* hotel
Day 13: Island tour
After breakfast, you’ll embark on a full-day tour of the island. First, you’ll climb to the Trou Aux Cerfs volcano crater, before visiting at the Grand Bassin; a place of worship for Mauritian Hindus, who consider the lake an extension of the Ganges.
Next, you’ll visit the pretty waterfalls and lush mountains of the Black River Gorges National Park where you’ll discover an amazing variety of indigenous plants and birds. After lunch at the Avalon Estate, you’ll visit the Rhumerie de Chamarel where you can see how rum is made from yellow and red Mauritian sugar cane that thrives in the hills. Nearby you’ll stop in to see the ‘Coloured Earth of Chamarel’, where basaltic lava has turned into red, violet, pink and purple dunes – a must-see for any visitor to Mauritius. In the afternoon, you’ll return to the hotel.
Included: Breakfast, 4* hotel, touring
Day 14: Frederica Nature Reserve hike
Today you’ll go on a half-day hike through the Frederica Nature Reserve. You’ll trek from the Frederica Old Chimney through the river reserve until you come to a waterfall where you can dive into the pool below and enjoy the cooling waters of this natural wonder! We’ve included lunch after your hike, then you’ll return to the hotel and the rest of the day at leisure.
Included: Breakfast, 4* hotel, touring
Day 15: Fly to Cape Town
After breakfast, you will be driven back to the airport in time for your flight to Cape Town.
Included: International flight, breakfast, 3* guesthouse
Days 16 & 17: Cape Town
With 2 more full days to explore Cape Town, you’ll find plenty to entertain. Head over to Robben Island to see the place where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated and learn about South Africa’s recent history at the Apartheid museum. If you’re yearning for some downtime on the beach, be sure to visit Camps Bay; you’ll find great beaches, plenty of restaurants and bars for a quick glass of wine as you look out over the spectacular ocean views.
Your rental car will be delivered to your hotel on your second day here, giving you the freedom to explore even further afield if you wish.
Included: 3* guesthouse, breakfast, car hire
Days 18 & 19: Drive to Stellenbosch
After breakfast, you’ll begin your drive from Cape Town into the wine region and the town of Stellenbosch. A student town full of funky art galleries, boutique gift shops and unique restaurants and bars, Stellenbosch is a great place to stroll around and enjoy a spot of lunch. A trip to the wine lands wouldn’t be complete without some wine tasting, so be sure to book yourself onto a local tour. Speak to your consultant who will be happy to add this in for you.
Included: Breakfast, 3* guesthouse, car hire
Days 20 & 21: Drive to Franschhoek
After 2 nights in Stellenbosch, it’s time to move on to your next stop, Franschhoek. This town is known for its fine dining and restaurants that are home to some of the best chefs in South Africa. Be sure to check out ‘Babylonstoren’, a working Cape Dutch farm. Here you can learn about wine and cheese making, stroll through the lush gardens and enjoy a delicious lunch in their greenhouse restaurant.
Included: Breakfast, 3* guesthouse, car hire
Day 22: Depart Cape Town
After breakfast, you’ll drive back to the airport in time for your flight to the UK.
Included: International flights, car hire
Day 23: Arrive UK
