Day 1 Depart the UKToday depart the UK on the Virgin Atlantic flight to Delhi. (N)
Day 2 Arrive DelhiDelhi is India's captivating capital. New Delhi, is its modern half with
government buildings, white-washed bungalows and designer shops. It was purpose-
built in the 1930s by the British as a colonial capital. In contrast Old Delhi - the heart of
Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries - is the city's historic district with
many mosques, palaces and bazaars to explore. (N)
Accommodation in Delhi: Maidens Hotel
Upgrade option: Taj Mahal Hotel
Day 3 DelhiAfter breakfast embark on a guided tour of Old Delhi with to explore the
colourful homes, bustling bazaars and elegant mosques in this area. Visit the Chandni
Chowk market, the Red Fort and the beautiful Jama Masjid. Continue to New Delhi in
the afternoon. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, today New Delhi is home to the official
residence of the Indian President, Rashtrapati Bhawan, the imposing India Gate and
Rajpath. (B)
Accommodation in Delhi: Maidens Hotel
Upgrade option: Taj Mahal Hotel
Day 4 Delhi to Lucknow – by airFly from Delhi to Lucknow. Rich in Indian culture and
British colonial history, Lucknow is best known as a centre of India's independence
struggle and for the events surrounding the 1857 mutiny. Capital of Uttar Pradesh,
Lucknow lines the banks of the River Gomti and is home to a wealth of extraordinary
Muslim monuments and grand European architecture. The city is also renowned as a
centre for zari work and chikan embroidery. (B)
Accommodation in Lucknow: Lebua Hotel
Upgrade option: Vivanta by Taj – Gomti Nagar Hotel
Day 5 LucknowToday explore Lucknow with your guide starting at the ruins of the
Residency, site of the dramatic siege and subsequent battles that took place during the
uprising of 1857. Visit the cemetery where Sir Henry Lawrence is buried, Wingfield
Park, Christchurch and, if time, the Kaisarbagh Palace. Later continue to Chowk Market
to experience Muslim Lucknow, where highlights include the Bara Imambara, Rumi
Darwaza and spectacular Hussainabad Imambara with its golden dome and
impressively elaborate calligraphy. (B)
Accommodation in Lucknow: Lebua Hotel
Upgrade option: Vivanta by Taj – Gomti Nagar Hotel
Day 6 Lucknow to Sravasti – 180kmsThis morning leave Lucknow and drive to Sravasti.
It was here in Sravasti that Buddha gave the majority of his teachings and discourses
and where, during the monsoon months, he spent much of his time. Later visit the
nearby remains at Jetavana, a monastic complex containing Buddha's hut, as well as
the caves at Angulimal. (B/L/D)
Accommodation in Sravasti: Lotus Nikko Hotel

Day 7 Sravasti to Lumbini – 190kmsLeaving Sravasti, drive towards the Indo-Nepalese
border and cross into Nepal. From here continue by road to Lumbini. Lumbini is
believed to be the birthplace of Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha, who was born here c.563
BC and who lived at this location for the first twenty-nine years of his life. (B/L/D)
Accommodation in Lumbini: Lumbini Hokke Hotel
Day 8 LumbiniToday visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site with your guide. A series of
different complexes and temples, the most important place of interest here is an area
called the 'Sacred Garden' which contains not only the place where the Buddha is
reputed to have been born but also the 3rd or 4th century BC Maya Devi Temple, an
Ashokan Pillar, the Pushkarni where the infant Buddha was given his first bath and
numerous other interesting archaeological ruins. (B/L/D)
Accommodation in Lumbini: Lumbini Hokke Hotel
Day 9 Lumbini to Kushinagar – 130kmsAfter breakfast leave Lumbini and, crossing
back into India, continue to Kushinagar. Kushinagar is revered as the location of
Buddha's death and subsequent cremation. Rediscovered in the 19th century, later visit
the Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa. (B/L/D)
Accommodation in Kushinagar: Royal Residency Hotel
Day 10 Kushinagar to Patna via Vaishali – 280kmsThis morning leave Kushinagar and
drive to Vaishali where the Buddha preached his last sermon, later continue to Patna.
Capital of Bihar, this state was not only the early home of Buddhism but was also the
birthplace of the Emperor Ashoka. Today Patna is a large city which lines the banks of
the River Ganges. (B/D)
Accommodation in Patna: Maurya Patna Hotel
Day 11 PatnaToday explore Patna with your guide. Places of interest include the
Gulzaribagh, site of the former East India Company's principle opium warehouse, and
the remarkable Golghar 'round house' built of stone slabs in 1786 by Captain John
Garstin as a grain store. Also visit the State Museum and the Chowk area of old Patna.
(B/D)
Accommodation in Patna: Maurya Patna Hotel
Day 12 Patna to Bodh Gaya via Nalanda and Rajgir – 85kmsThis morning leave Patna
and drive south to Bodh Gaya stopping en-route in Nalanda, home to one of the world's
oldest universities and an ancient pilgrimage site visited by both Buddha and Mahavir,
the founder of Jainism. From here drive to Rajgir then continue by road to Bodh Gaya.
One of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centres in the world, it was here under
the Bodhi tree that Gautama, the prince, attained enlightenment to become the Buddha.
(B/L/D)
Accommodation in Bodh Gaya: Royal Residency Hotel
Day 13 Bodh GayaToday explore Bodh Gaya with your guide. This vast area houses
numerous monasteries, temples and statues, however, the focal point of the entire
settlement is the beautiful Mahabodhi Temple and large Bodhi tree. The temple is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and is believed to stand on the site of an earlier 3rd
century BC shrine. Bodh Gaya is also home to temples built by pilgrims from other lands
in their own architectural style, from the traditional Bhutanese temple to its modern
Japanese counterpart. (B/L/D)
Accommodation in Bodh Gaya: Royal Residency Hotel

Day 14 Bodh Gaya to Varanasi – 250kmsLeaving Bodh Gaya, drive to Varanasi.
Situated on the banks of the sacred River Ganges, Varanasi has been a centre of
learning and pilgrimage for over 2,000 years and is one of the oldest surviving cities in
the world. An assault on the senses, few places compare making any visit here an
undoubted highlight of the country. Later this evening make your way to ghats and
watch the beautiful evening aarti religious ceremonies take place. (B)
Accommodation in Varanasi: Ramada Plaza JHV Hotel
Upgrade option: Suryauday Haveli
Alternative upgrade option: Taj Nadesar Palace
Day 15 VaranasiEarly this morning take ride on a small rowing boat on the River
Ganges to silently view the sunrise and witness the pilgrims who gather to perform their
daily religious rituals on the riverbank in the lifting mist. This truly is a magical
experience. As the sun rises, take a guided walk through the heart of the old city lanes
and in the afternoon visit the evocative ruined city of Sarnath where Buddha first
preached his message of enlightenment 2,500 years ago. (B)
Accommodation in Varanasi: Ramada Plaza JHV Hotel
Upgrade option: Suryauday Haveli
Alternative upgrade option: Taj Nadesar Palace
Day 16 Varanasi to Delhi – by airToday transfer to Varanasi Airport in good time to
catch the afternoon flight to Delhi. On your arrival you will be met and transferred to
your accommodation which is ideally located close to the international airport. (B)
Accommodation in Delhi: Radisson Blu Airport Hotel
Day 17 Delhi to the UKToday transfer back to Delhi Airport to catch the Virgin Atlantic
flight non-stop to the UK. (B)