Special ISU departure – October 21-November 6, 2021 Mystical India with Ranthambore Tiger Preserve 17 days from $4,787 total price from Boston, New York ($3,995 air & land inclusive plus $792 airline taxes and fees) Mystical and spiritual, chaotic and confounding, India overflows with riches. While staying at excellent hotels, we travel the classic Golden Triangle: bustling Delhi; Agra, home of the sublime Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, great city of the Rajput. We also search for elusive Bengals at Ranthambore Tiger Preserve, and absorb the holiness of Varanasi.
NEPAL Delhi Kathmandu/ Nagarkot
Agra Jaipur Varanasi Gadoli
Ranthambore National Park INDIA Arabian Sea
Destination Air Indian Ocean Motorcoach Extension (air) Entry/Departure On Day 12 we visit the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO site considered one of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Avg. High (°F) Oct Nov Delhi 89 82 Day 1: Depart U.S. for Delhi, India Day 5: Delhi/Jaipur Today we travel by coach to Agra 91 85 the “pink city” of Jaipur, one of the great cities of the Day 2: Arrive Delhi We arrive in India’s hyperactive Rajput, with historic forts, palaces, and gardens. We capital late evening and transfer to our hotel. reach our hotel late afternoon. B,L,D Your Small Group Tour Highlights After a morning at leisure followed by Our first stop is the stunning Hawa Tours of Old and New Delhi • Home-hosted dinner with Day 3: Delhi Day 6: Jaipur Jaipur family • Magnificent Taj Mahal • Two-night stay at a briefing about the journey ahead, we set out to dis- Mahal, the elaborately carved pink sandstone “Palace Ranthambore Tiger Preserve • Meena tribal home visit • cover Old Delhi. Our first stop is Qutb Minar, the of the Winds.” We continue on to Amber Fort, built “Pink City” of Jaipur • Holy city of Varanasi • Pilgrimage 379-step tower dating to 1192. We continue on to by the Kachhawah Rajputs as their capital from 1037 site of Sarnath temple and museum Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to the Indian icon; to 1728; Jantar Mantar, the open-air observatory; and pass by India Gate, the majestic arch honoring and City Palace Museum, housing the magnificent Day Itinerary Hotel Rating the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting along- art collections of the Maharajahs of Jaipur. B,L 1 Depart U.S. for Delhi side the British in World War I. Late this afternoon 2-4 Delhi Taj Palace, New Delhi Deluxe we return to our hotel, where tonight we enjoy a Day 7: Jaipur/Sanganer This morning we visit 5-7 Jaipur Jai Mahal Palace Deluxe welcome dinner together. B,D the village of Sanganer to see traditional block print- ing and handmade paper industries. Later we see 8-9 Ranthambore Vivanta Sawai First Class Madhopur Lodge Day 4: Delhi We encounter more of this pulsating local life up close as we explore an outdoor market. city today, beginning at Raj Ghat, the simple black Tonight we are dinner guests in the home of a multi- 10 Kalakho The Clement Not rated Village Retreat marble slab honoring Mahatma Gandhi. After stop- generational Rajasthan family. B,D 11-12 Agra Courtyard Sup. First ping for photos at Lal Qila, the Red Fort complex of Marriott Agra Class palaces, we visit a Sikh temple followed by lunch at a Day 8: Jaipur/Ranthambore We travel today to 13-15 Varanasi Taj Ganges, Varanasi Sup. First Class local restaurant. This afternoon’s sights include the Ranthambore National Park, the former hunt- red sandstone and marble Jama Masjid, India’s largest ing ground of the Maharajah of Jaipur and now a 16 Delhi Hotel Pullman Deluxe New Delhi Aerocity mosque; and the colorful Chandni Chowk market, 512-square-mile natural preserve that is home to 17 Depart Delhi for U.S. where we ride rickshaws. Then the remainder of the hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, mammals, Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel day is free for further exploration and dinner on our and of course, Bengal tigers. This afternoon we industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too own. B,L take our first game drive through the park. B,L,D small, too new, or too remote to be listed.
20 Visit us at www.isualum.org/travel B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D – Dinner Tour membership limited to 24 total alumni and friends
Day 9: Ranthambore We take both morning I am a-thirst and afternoon game drives today to see not only for faraway things.” game (though tiger and leopard sightings are not guaranteed), but also picturesque ruins of forts – Rabindranath Tagore and palaces. B,L,D Day 14: Varanasi/Sarnath Before breakfast today, We depart early for Day 10: Ranthambore/Kalakho those who wish can join in a private yoga session. Then Kalakho, where we set out on a village walk to meet we visit nearby Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught local Meena tribespeople in their homes. Tonight we after achieving enlightenment. One of Buddhism’s enjoy a traditional folk dance performance. B,L,D four holiest sites, Sarnath draws pilgrims from the world over. We see some of the temples and stupas En route to Agra, we stop Day 11: Kalakho/Agra then tour Sarnath Museum, housing a superb col- in the ancient village of Abhaneri to see the fortified lection of Buddhist artifacts from excavations here. Chand Baori step well (c. 800 ce), whose 3,500 steps Late afternoon we attend a traditional aarti ceremony: descend some 13 stories into the ground. Continuing as we cruise along the Ganges, we watch as devout on, we reach the ancient Mughal stronghold of Agra, Hindus offer their lit lamps to the deities. B,D where this afternoon we visit Itimad-ud-Daulah, the two-story marble Day 15: Varanasi Early this morning we return to “Baby Taj” that the Ganges where Hindu pilgrims perform their rituals inspired the Taj along the ghats (steps) leading to the river. We visit Mahal. B,D several ghats by boat as we experience for ourselves the spiritual aura of the hallowed Ganges waters. This Day 12: Agra Then we return to our hotel with time to rest before morning we visit the this afternoon’s walking tour and private performance Taj Mahal, the mag- of classical sitar. Tonight we celebrate our journey at nificent tomb built by a farewell dinner at our hotel. B,D Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his be- Day 16: Varanasi/Delhi We fly this afternoon to loved wife Mumtaz. Delhi, where the evening is at leisure. B Then we take an On Day 6, we visit Jaipur’s Amber Fort, a UNESCO site. Indian cuisine cooking Day 17: Return to U.S. Very early this morning we Bengal tiger, Ranthambore lesson and enjoy the transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S. Tour Departs: October 21, 2021 results for lunch. Later: imposing Agra Fort. B,L Prices include international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees Boston, New York $4,787 Day 13: Agra/Delhi/Varanasi We depart by coach this morning for Delhi, where we board a late after- FPO Chicago, Dallas, Houston, noon flight to Varanasi, Hinduism’s holiest city. B,L,D Los Angeles, San Francisco, $4,987 Seattle, Washington, DC Post-Tour Extension Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, November 6-11, 2021 Cleveland, Miami, $5,187 Minneapolis, Orlando, Nepal Philadelphia, Tampa 6 days/4 nights for $1,295 total price Denver, Detroit, Single Supplement: $245 $5,287 Phoenix, Portland (OR) Absorb the beauty of the Himalayan Cedar Rapids, Des Moines $5,387 kingdom – and the warmth of its people – on this special journey featuring sacred shrines, royal cities, and Land Only (transfers not included) $3,795 indigenous lifestyles. Nepal’s majestic Himalayas Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, Your Tour Price Includes Your Tour Price Includes surcharges, and fees of $792, which are subject to change until final payment is made. • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights • Round-trip air transportation Delhi/Kathmandu, inclusive of Single travelers please add $1,495. Your $500 deposit is airline taxes and fees within India fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All 2021 • 4 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in Nagarkot at Club Himalaya • 15 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and Nagarkot (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Kathmandu at First Class, and unrated hotels fees) are guaranteed. Crowne Plaza Soaltee (Superior First Class); day room in Delhi • 32 meals: 14 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 10 dinners • 8 meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees Business Class upgrade on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: • Extensive sightseeing, including Pashupatinath shrine (UNESCO site); Boudhanath monument; colorful Bhaktapur, • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director $4,195 per person (upgrade is subject to availability and “City of Devotees;” Swayambhunath Temple; royal city of • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip pricing is subject to change). Upgrade cost is in addition Patan; and Kathmandu and environs • Luggage handling for one bag per person to the costs above. • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director • Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and Please note: This trip involves considerable walking, • Private motorcoach transportation hotel porters, and all drivers • Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, as well as some lengthy coach rides. You should be in and all drivers • We are pleased to share this departure with alumni from good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest. Georgia Tech
For reservations, call the ISU Alumni Association at (515) 294-9310 or fax (515) 294-9402 21