Depart From: Depart from US on overnight flight to Delhi, India.

Afternoon: Upon Arrival at the Delhi Airport, transfer to the hotel an check in.

Dinner: Light dinner at hotel.

Lodging: The Suryaa New Delhi

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Convene with your fellow Participants for a program orientation, then with your expert local guide, drive past Red Fort and Jama Mosque. Then take a Rickshaw Ride & visit Gandhi Memorial.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Early Evening: Participate in a lecture on "Introduction to Indian Religion."

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: The Suryaa New Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Learn about India's more recent history as your expert local guide leads you past India Gate, the Parliament & the President House, and Qutab Minar. Then continue with a visit to Gandhi Smriti. the scared place where Mahatma Gandhi lived. Here you will learn about Gandhi's life and mission.

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Relax and enjoy the afternoon.

Dinner: Home Hosted Dinner at the houses of a typical middle class families in the South of Delhi to give a feel of their culture and traditions. (6-8 pax per house)

Lodging: The Suryaa New Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: 4 hour bus drive with rest stops.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Check out of hotel and coach to Agra. Learn about the pre Mughal period in India en route.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Visit Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra.The design and construction of the tomb was started by Akbar himself and completed by his son Jehangir. The shape of the tomb is a truncated pyramid with five storeys. The first four storeys were constructed with red sandstone and the fifth one with white marble. Afterwards, arrive at the hotel and check in. Early Evening: Depart for sunset eview of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Agra

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Standing required for about 1 to 2 hours at a time.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel after visiting the Taj Mahal.

Morning: Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty as you watch sunrise at the Taj Mahal. The building is unique due to its perfect proportions, distinct femininity, and medium of construction and ornamentation. Its marble exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it's dazzling white during the day. After breakfast, depart for Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as a walled palatial city. The great Mughals Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived here.

Lunch: Enjoy a cooking demonstration and lunch at a private house.

Afternoon: Visit the Tomb of Itmad Ud Daulah, this beautiful mausoleum was the first one to be built on a riverbank, which was normally used only to build pleasure gardens till then. The marble mausoleum is designed like a silver jewel box with stunning and delicate inlay work.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Agra

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Around 4 hour drive from Agra to Kalakho. Time in Kalakho is at a slower pace.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Check out of hotel and depart for Kalakho. On the way, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He had planned this city as his capital but a shortage of water compelled him to abandon it. Continue to Kalakho and upon arrival check into your designated cottage.

Lunch: Lunch at the retreat.

Afternoon: Enjoy a camel safari or camel carts (subject to avilability) into a tribal village and experience life in this rural village by visiting the homes of the local people. Return to the retreat and watch a local folk dance and music performance before dinner.

Dinner: Dinner at the retreat.

Lodging: Dera Village Retreat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the retreat.

Morning: Explore the Abhaneri Stepwells, the unique invention of the natives for harvesting rain water. Then interact with the local school children at their village school.

Lunch: Lunch at the retreat.

Afternoon: Free time to explore Kalakho on your own. Opportunity to learn the game of cricket. Evening: Enjoy a presentation by your GL on the "History, Culture, & People of Rajasthan."

Dinner: Dinner at the retreat.

Lodging: Dera Village Retreat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: It is about a 3 hour drive from Kalakho to Jaipur.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the retreat.

Morning: Check out of the retreat and coach to Jaipur.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: Check into hotel. This afternoon immerse yourself in the people and culture of Jaipur. First, explore the local markets with your expert local guide. Then you may join your Group Leader to see a Bollywood Movie at Jaipur's famous Old Theatre. Finally, enjoy a cup of lassi, Jaipur's well known yogurt drink.

Dinner: Dinner with a traditional noble family.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Jaipur

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: This morning depart for Amber Fort. En route, view Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). This five storied wonder has a spectacular pyramidal facade and overhanging windows with latticed screens, domes and spires. Amber Fort is an example of Rajput arcihtecture with its terraces and ramparts reflected in the Maota Lake below. The interiors of the fort have various royal halls decorated with intricate ivory, mirror and glass work complemented by exquisite wall paintings.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Explore the Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory. It claims the distinction of being the largest stone observatory in the world. The most applaudable feature of the observatory is that even after so many years it still provides accurate information. The observatory has fourteen statistical instruments, which serve the purpose of measuring time, predicting eclipses and ascertaining other astronomical events. Afterwards, proceed to the City Palace built under the patronage of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh and still houses the royal family of Jaipur. Only the ground floor of the City Palace is open for public viewing. The entire palace complex comprises of a number of gardens, courtyards and buildings. The structures inside the palace complex are: Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani's Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to explore local cuisine.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Jaipur

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Long day, which will include an early morning start and a 5 hour drive from Jaipur to Delhi Airport. Total transit and plane ride to Kathmandu will take about 3 hours. Recommend bring some protien bars and some energy drink.

Breakfast: Early Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Depart the hotel early and transfer to the Delhi Airport.

Lunch: Box lunch en route to the airport.

Afternoon: Afternoon flight to Kathmandu. It is a panoramic thrill flying into Kathmandu on a clear day with the views of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below. Upon arrival at the airport, transfer to hotel and check in.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Hotel Kathmandu Soaltee

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Must be able to comfortably walk on uneven ground in busy areas. Swayambhunath requires participants to climb at least 75 to 100 steps.

Breakfast: Breakfast Buffet at hotel.

Morning: Begin the morning with a lecture on the impact of Newari art on Asian art. Then discover Hanuman Dhoka (Durbar Square). The Durbar Square, with its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that the kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations solemnized. Interesting things to see here are; Taleju Temple built by King Mahendra Malla, in 1549 A.D. Temple Of Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction, Nautalle Durbar, Coronation Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the statue of king Pratap Malla, the Big Drum and, the Jagannath Temple. Visit Swayambhunath, the oldest Buddhist Stupa established more than 2500 year ago, also known as the “Monkey Temple”. Perched high on a hilltop, it commands a superb view of the entire Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath is also known as Sengu and is listed as a World Heritage Site.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: In the late afternoon, early evening, a lecture by a leading expert from the the Mountain Institute on how the Institute is helping mountain communities adapt and build resilience to the unprecedented changes that are occurring as a result of climate change.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Hotel Kathmandu Soaltee

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Must be able to comfortably walk on uneven ground in busy areas. Must be able to be active enough to sit and stand almost the whole day.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Depart for Bhaktapur situated at an altitude of 1,401 meters. In Bhaktapur's Durbar Square, visit the following: The National Art Gallery containing ancient and medieval paintings belonging to Hindu and Buddhist schools depicting Tantrics of various periods. The Golden Gate, built by King Ranjit Malla, the gate is one of the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind in the entire world. It's embellished with deities and monsters of marvelous intricacy. The Palace with 55 Windows, among the brick walls with their gracious settings and sculptural design, is a wood-carved balcony with 55 windows. Nyatapola Temple stands on five terraced platforms with each terrace containing a pair of figures; two famous wrestlers, two elephants, two lions, two griffins and the Baghini and Singini (the tiger and the lion goddesses).

Lunch: Lunch at a hotel.

Afternoon: Visit Pashupatinath, one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the world. During Shivaratri annual pilgrimage, thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva from all the Hindu communities of the world pay their homage here. Then proceed to Boudhanath the largest Buddhist Stupa in the world. It is built on a flat surface of various levels of terraces. The stupa is painted in pastel colors and adorned with prayer flags. It is set in a Mandala design. Altogether 108 Buddha images and 147 insets of prayer wheels adorn the base of the huge circular edifice. The settlement of Boudhanath has the largest community of Tibetans – twelve thousand in all.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Hotel Kathmandu Soaltee

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Active day. Practicipants are moving from morning to night, visiting site after site. Must be able to stand 1 to 2 hours at a time.

Breakfast: Breakfast Buffet at hotel.

Morning: Morning lecture on the History and Culture of Nepal, followed by a group discussion with students of Tribhuvan University to learn about their goals, aspirations & lives. Depart for Patan City and discover this city of fine arts. Here you will see: Patan Durbar Square full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines noted for their exquisite carvings. Krishna Mandir, the only temple in Nepal having 21 spires and completely made of stone. Mahabouddha, this Buddhist temple is made of clay bricks in which thousands of images of Lord Buddha are engraved. The Patan Museum, displays the sacred art of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. Then learn about the Tibetan refugees in this area at their camp. The Patan Tibetan Refugee Camp was established in 1960 under the initiative of the International Red Cross and the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC), in cooperation with His Majesty's Government of Nepal. Its main objective is to help the Tibetan refugees do something productive and support themselves.

Lunch: Lunch at the Museum.

Afternoon: At a tradional Nepali Village of the Newar clan, see firsthand the traditional way of life which has changed little over the years.

Dinner: Cocktails and farewell dinner at a private home especially hosted to cater Road Scholar guests.

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Hotel Kathmandu Soaltee

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Free morning to explore Kathmandu on own before return flight to the US.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Arrive To: North America