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India Solar Eclipse 22 July 2009 - Deserts Palaces & Varanasi Eclipse - 13 day tour
Next Solar Eclipse in India
 "Click to enlarge - Tour Map -")
Day 1: Delhi
Sunday 12th July. Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Delhi, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Delhi
Day 2: Delhi - Old & New
Delhi - breakfast. This morning, our Welcome Meeting takes place. We’ll then enjoy a tour of India’s capital including Old and also New Delhi. Highlights include India Gate, Qutab Minar and Raj Ghat - site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation. Tonight we enjoy a group Namaste Dinner at an Indian restaurant. Dinner and overnight - Delhi
Days 3 & 4: The Pink City of Jaipur
Delhi - Jaipur - breakfast. This morning we drive to Jaipur. Arriving early afternoon, we enjoy a tour of the City Palace and a visit to Jantar Mantar space observatory. On our second day, we enjoy a stately elephant ride to the 16th century Amber Fort, built by Maharaja Man Singh. Overnight (2) - Jaipur
Day 5: Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Jaipur - Perharsar via Bharatpur - breakfast. Today we drive to Keoladeo Ghana National Park, where more than 350 species of birds have been identified. We will enjoy a leisurely bicycle rickshaw ride through the park, before staying nearby at a charming haveli (mansion house) in Perhasar. Dinner and overnight - Perhasar
Day 6: The Taj Mahal
Perharsar - Agra - breakfast. En route to Agra, we visit the deserted Mughal City of Fatehpur Sikri. Abandoned due to lack of water, the vast ruins resemble an elaborate film set. In Agra, we enjoy a horsecart or rickshaw ride to the Taj Mahal. Later, we visit the impressive Agra Fort. Overnight - Agra
Day 7: Bundela Temples - Orchha
Agra - Orchha - breakfast. Today, we travel by express train to Jhansi and drive onward to Orchha. Situated on the banks of the River Betwa, Orchha is set amongst a wonderful complex of well-preserved 16th century temples and palaces. Overnight – Orchha
Day 8: Khajuraho
Orchha - Khajuraho - breakfast. Striking east, we arrive at Khajuraho. Immortalised in stone, the carved temples of Khajuraho display exceedingly artistic aspects of Indian life a millennium ago. Overnight - Khajuraho
Day 9 - Varanasi
Khajuraho - Varanasi - breakfast. We offer a jeep safari in Panna NP this morning, please see our tiger safari Panna National Park bolt on for details. This afternoon we bid farewell to Khajuraho and fly east to Varanasi. Perhaps the holiest city in India; Varanasi, also known as Benares or the city of Shiva, is also one of the oldest cities on earth. Sitting on the banks of the holy River Ganges, it has been a centre of learning and civilisation for more than 2000 years and is a place of Hindu pilgrimage. Overnight – Varanasi
Days 10 - Varanasi
Varanasi - breakfast. This morning, we enjoy a sunrise boat ride on the holy Ganges where we’ll view the ancient religious tradition of ritual cleansing that takes place on the many riverbank ghats (riverside steps). Later, we embark on a tour of the city. At sunset consider re-visiting the ghats for the evening pilgramage, remarkably different from the dawn ritual. Overnight - Varanasi
Day 11 - ECLIPSE on Varanasi
Varanasi - Delhi - breakfast. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2009 - Rising early, we travel in a south east direction to a secluded spot of the Ganges. Here, beyond the city limits the Ganges riverbed is flat and wide with little vegetation allowing uninterrupted viewing of the sky. The absence of artificial lighting is also beneficial. Here we wait in awe, at approximately 05:25am the 1st phase of the Total Solar Eclipse will begin, the sky will turn to a shade of deep red then dark purple, cobolt grey and eventually complete darkness will prevail.
After the event we'll travel back to the city and our hotel for breakfast. The remainder of the day at leisure, take the opportunity to further explore this vibrant city. Early evening we return to Delhi by comfortable overnight train (Flight option available, please see details below). Overnight - sleeper train
Day 12: Explore Delhi
Delhi - breakfast. Breakfast upon arrival and hotel check in. Today is a chance to further explore the city at your leisure or a change to pick up those last minute souvenirs. Overnight - Delhi
Day 13: Delhi
Delhi - breakfast. Hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport.
Varanasi - Delhi by air
Forsaking the included overnight train journey from Varanasi to Delhi, you may opt to upgrade and travel back to Delhi by air. This option includes an economy flight from Varanasi to Delhi on day 11, airport transfers at both ends and one night's accommodation in Delhi (evening of day 11). Please indicate your preference to travel by air at time of booking.
Nature of the Solar Eclipse
Perfect viewing conditions of the eclipse can not be guaranteed as July marks the official start of India’s wet season. Meteorologists suggest that there is a near 25% chance of cloudless, clear skies though there is a greater chance of cloud cover to some degree. On the days prior to the event all efforts will be made to give you with the most up to date meteorology information, based upon this and if possible we may slightly alter the location of our eclipse site for a more favourable viewing platform.
Tour Highlights
- Delhi - Old Delhi - Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat. New Delhi - India Gate, Rajpath, Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar
- Jaipur - Amber Fort
- Jaipur - City Palace & Jantar Mantar (entrance fee included)
- Keoladeo Ghana National Park - UNESCO site
- Peharsar - local village and havali (mansion home)
- Fatehpur Sikri - ancient Mughal city
- Agra - Taj Mahal (entrance fee included) and Agra Fort
- Orchha - temples of the Bundelas (entrance fee included)
- Khajuraho - Chandela dynasty temples & Jain temples
- Varanasi, Mother India site, local temples & mosque, the holy River Ganges
- TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER VARANASI - 22ND JULY 2009
Solar Eclipse Tour includes
- Breakfast daily, 2 dinners (including Namaste Dinner in Delhi)
- 11 nights - 3 - 4 star & heritage hotels (hotel upgrade available in Delhi)
- 1 night overnight train (2nd class air-conditioned, semi - enclosed cabin)
- Horsecart/rickshaw ride to Taj Mahal - Agra
- Elephant ride to Amber Fort - Jaipur (subject to gov't regulations on the day)
- Bicycle rickshaw ride in Keoladeo Ghana National Park
- Sunrise boat cruise on the holy Ganges - Varanasi
- Economy class flight - Khajuraho to Varanasi
- Airport arrival and departure transfer (if arriving day 1 & departing day 13)
- Touring of Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, and Varanasi
- Escorted by an English speaking Indian tour leader
- Specialist guides at local sights
- Selected entrance fees.
- All revelant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles
Solar Eclipse Tour does not include
- International flights, visa and additional entrance fees. For entrance budget approx: USD40
- Tipping kitty - this is an entirely personal gesture
- Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature
For products over £350.00 per person we can take a non refundable deposit balance payable 11 weeks before departure.
This tour is a 'Guaranteed Departure' tour. Have you considered your visa requirements? Tour Dates
Tour Prices
3 Additional Options
Make a ReservationPlease use our online booking reservation service where available - if you need any further assistance or to book please feel free to call or email us with your booking. Until you have received a receipted invoice (by post fax or email) your reservation has been recorded but not been confirmed. This is similar to an airline wait-listing. This may only affect you if we have had major changes to the tour. |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||