China
and The Far East:
Asian Highlights, 20 Days
"Lets
get away, far away..."
Asian Highlights ranges far and wide to offer you
a program that features a fascinating continent's greatest sights
and cities in a single trip. After a first stop in exhilarating
Bangkok, city of silks and gold-roofed temples, threaded with busy
canals, continue west to Delhi, energetic capital and flourishing
commercial center of India. You'll then visit Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra
and Varanasi to explore the artistic legacy of the former Mughal
empire, highlighted, of course, by the legendary beauty of the Taj
Mahal. Then on to Kathmandu, the Shangri-la of old and still a busy
trade city high in a Himalayan valley. Here you'll tour temples,
winding medieval alleyways and exotic shops before descending to
Chitwan National Park. From your base at the famed Tiger Tops Lodge,
travel the park on elephant-back, in search of one-horned rhino
and other unique species. Your tour then ends with a final stop
in Hong Kong, famous for shopping and fine restaurants.
Day
1: USA or Canada - Bangkok, Thailand
Our Asian Highlights adventure begins today as we
board our flight to Bangkok.
Day 2: Bangkok
On arrival this evening, we are met by A&K staff
and transferred to our hotel.
The Penninsula Hotel
Day 3: Bangkok
Like the Thais, we use Bangkok's waterways to our
best advantage: this morning we tour the Grand Palace by private
boat before visiting the Emerald Buddha Temple. Our afternoon is
at leisure; on our own, we may wish to visit Jim Thompson's House
with its remarkable collection of Oriental antiques. Tonight we
enjoy Thai cuisine at a welcome cocktail and dinner party at our
hotel.
The Penninsula Hotel: B.L.D
Day
4: Bangkok - Delhi, India
The day is at leisure for shopping or exploring
on our own before we transfer to the airport for our afternoon flight
to India's capital, Delhi.
The Taj Mahal Hotel: B.L.D
Day 5: Delhi
Our full-day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi
includes visits to Raj Ghat, memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; the Red
Fort, a Mughal masterpiece built by Shah Jahan; and Jama Mosque.
The Taj Mahal Hotel: B.L.D
Day
6: Delhi - Udaipur
Early this morning we fly to Udaipur and our Lake
Palace Hotel, on an island in the middle of Lake Pichola; here we
are joined by travellers on A&K's Essence of India tour. After a
sightseeing tour this morning, an afternoon cruise on the lake provides
a stunning view of Udaipur city.
Lake Palace Hotel: B.L.D
Day 7: Udaipur
Today we enjoy a full-day excursion to Ranakpur,
a famous Jain Temple dating back to the 15th century. We also visit
two more Jain temples and the Temple of the Sun God, famed for its
erotic sculpture. After lunch in Ranakpur, we return to our hotel.
Lake Palace Hotel: B.L.D
Day
8: Udaipur - Jaipur
Early today we transfer to the airport to board
our flight to Jaipur, the "Pink City of Rajasthan." On arrival we
are met and transferred to our hotel. After-noon sightseeing shows
us the unique Jantar Mantar Observatory; the City Palace and its
museum; and the Hawa Mahal or "Palace of the Winds."
The Rambagh Palace: B.L.D
Day 9: Jaipur
This morning's trip to the strategically-located
Amber Fort outside town sets out on elephant- back, and inside the
citadel we wander among buildings famous for their glittering inlays
and Hall of Mirrors. The afternoon is at leisure.
The Rambagh Palace: B.L.D
Day
10: Jaipur - Agra
This morning we drive to Agra, sightseeing en route
at Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city built by Emperor
Akbar as his capital and palace in the 16th century, and the Bulund
Darwaza, largest gateway in the world. We then continue to Agra,
renowned as the home of the Taj Mahal, arriving in time to watch
the filigreed marble of this "world landmark" warm to pink and amber
in the light of the setting sun.
Amarvilás: B.L.D
Day 11: Agra
We visit the Agra Fort, built on the city's River
Yamuna by Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great; and Sikandra, the impressive
mausoleum of the Emperor Akbar
Amarvilás: B.L.D
Day
12: Agra - Varanasi
We rise early this morning to enjoy the shifting
hues of the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Then, the morning is at leisure
until we board our flight to Varanasi, for centuries one of India's
most revered cities and still an important center for philosophy
and religion.
Hotel Taj Ganges: B.L.D
Day
13: Varanasi - Kathmandu, Nepal
A dawn boat trip takes us along the bathing ghats
on the holy River Ganges to witness 2,000-year-old rites of prayer
and devotion. We then visit the buried city of Sarnath, where Buddha
preached his first sermon. This afternoon we fly north, to Kathmandu,
capital of the Nepalese kingdom. Sightseeing today includes Swayambhunath,
the oldest Buddhist shrine in Nepal.
Dwarika's Kathmandu Village Hotel: B.L.D
Day 14: Kathmandu
On our sightseeing tour in Kathmandu we visit Durbar
Square, the House of the Living Goddess and the Old Royal Palace;
we also drive to Bhaktapur, a 9th-century fortified town. Tonight
we meet for a special cultural performance and dinner.
Dwarika's Kathmandu Village Hotel: B.L.D
Day
15: Kathmandu - Tiger Tops, Chitwan National Park
We leave mountain-ringed Kathmandu on a short flight
to Nepal's Chitwan National Park. Here, after settling into our
comfortable rooms, we set out to explore the park on elephant back,
in search of tiger, leopard, one-horned rhino and other unique species.
Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge: B.L.D
Day 16: Chitwan National Park
An early start this morning helps make the most
of our second day in this fascinating nature and wild-life sanctuary.
Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge: B.L.D
Day
17: Chitwan - Kathmandu
We are transferred to the airport to board a return
flight to Kathmandu.
Soaltee Crowne Plaza: B.L.D
Day
18: Kathmandu - Hong Kong, China
Later today we fly to Hong Kong, via Bangkok, where
we are met by A&K Hong Kong staff and transferred to our hotel.
Mandarin Oriental: B.L.D
Day 19: Hong Kong
After a morning tour of Hong Kong Island and dim
sum at lunch, we gather this evening for a farewell dinner party
hosted by A&K Hong Kong.
Mandarin Oriental: B.L.D
Day
20: Hong Kong - USA or Canada
Today
our Asian Highlights itinerary ends, as we board our flight back
to the USA or Canada.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
**Departures limited to 20 Passengers**
Your Asian Highlights land arrangements include:
- Hotel accommodations as indicated in the itinerary
or similar
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary, ŕ la carte
wherever possible; domestic bottled water with all meals
- Arrival and departure transfers
- All sightseeing as shown, including entrance
fees
- Services of professional escorts (tour will be
locally hosted for groups of less than 6 persons)
- All baggage handling
- All gratuities except to your escort
Not Included:
Personal expenses such as laundry; travel insurance;
excess baggage fees; communication charges; cost of obtaining passport
or visas; meals, beverages or sightseeing not included in the itinerary;
any airfares.
PRICING:
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