Tuesday 24 November
We’ll check in for international flight to ……
Wednesday 25 November
…Delhi, arriving early morning, where we will take you straight to your hotel. After a morning’s rest, we’ll arrange transport for a visit to the National Railway Museum to see the cream of India’s railway treasures.
Thursday 26 November
We will take the early morning train from New Delhi for an early afternoon arrival at Kalka, the gateway to the famous 2’6” gauge line up to Shimla. On this line, we can make half the journey in one of the Railway’s iconic Railbuses, but accommodation is limited, and this is open to the first 14 applicants only. The rest of the journey will be on the Kalka Shimla Express in first class. We should arrive in Shimla by 6.00p.m.
(B,L, D)
Luggage will be transported by road from Delhi to Shimla.
Friday 27 November
We have requested a steam charter train from Shimla down the line to Kathleeghat but we understand there are problems with the locomotive: if it is steam-able, it may be in steam for us at Shimla if it is unfit for the charter. The rest of the day is free to wander around the pleasant hill station of Shimla. (B,D).
Saturday 28 November
After breakfast, we will set off by minibus for the journey through the Himalayan foothills for a night at Mandi, a lovely town on the banks of the River Beas. It’s a really pleasant place to wander round, full of friendly people. Our hotel tonight is basic but clean, and has an excellent buffet dinner, and strong beer! (B,D).
Sunday 29 November
Our road trip continues to Joginder Nagar, the outer terminus of the Kangra Valley Railway The scenery becomes more impressive and if we have a good run, we shall be able to get our first experience a short ride on the Kangra Valley from there on the 1155 train for the two-hour journey to Baijnath Paprola. From there, it’s a very short ride to our hotel. We are reasonably central, so there is the opportunity to wander round a typical mountain market town. (B,D).
Monday 30 November
We’ll take the 1054 train from Palampur and, after a change in Baijnath Paprola, we’ll arrive in Joginder Nagar, from where the coach will take us for an afternoon visit to the Shanan hydro-electric power station, which has an amazing cable-worked hill railway system to take materials up the ‘top lake’, way up in the Himalayan foothills. We will return to Palampur for the night (B,D).
Tuesday 1 December
We have an excursion to Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, driving through fabulous Himalayan scenery. We visit he famous Dalai Lama Temple, take the mesmerising 'Kora' walk, McLeodganj Market and the St John's Church in the wilderness! (B,D)
Wednesday 2 December
We aim at catching the Palampur to Pathankot via the newly built* Chakki viaduct through wonderful scenery, subject to train timings! We will update in due course. Our coach will run us the short distance to Pathankot where we will be catching a local train down to Amritsar for the night.
*Chakki Viaduct connects Nurpur Road with Panthankot, the last leg of the Kangra Valley Railway (KVR) line and is expected to be completed anytime in 2025 which we’ll get to know well in advance. (B,D)
Thursday 3 December
We will spend our day in Amritsar visiting the Jallianwala Bagh, massacre gardens during the British Raj followed by the breathtaking & calming Golden Temple, where a ‘free canteen’ policy produces many thousands of meals a day – help produce the chapattis if you wish! Then we will visit the border flag ceremony at the Pakistani border, an amazing bit of theatre! (B,D)
Friday 4 December
We will head out to the airport to catch the lunchtime flight down to Delhi. On arrival, transfer to our hotel for the next two nights. (B)
Saturday 5 December
We can offer a choice – spend the day relaxing at the hotel or take a coach tour of the city. We will cover India Gate, the Indian Parliament, a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar, Rajghat – resting place of Mahatama Gandhi and Humayan’s tomb, plus a chance to do ride on the Delhi Metro train (Tube). (B,D)
Sunday 6 December
We’ll take the train for the ninety minute journey to Rewari, the new outpost of the National Railway Museum where they keep their operational steam locomotives. There is the possibility that the train may be steam hauled for the outward journey with a steam locomotive. Sorry, no guarantees! There will be time to look round the National Railway Museum’s outpost here with metre and broad gauge locomotives before continuing to Jaipur, the Pink City, by train, due to arrive at 8 p.m., in time for a late dinner. (B,L,D)
Monday 7 December
In the morning we will pay a visit to Amber Fort & Palace, built high up on a rocky outcrop. Access is via a short 4x4 jeep ride. Rest assured the ride and the Palace is well worth the hassle! We will return to the city for the afternoon, to admire the pink stone buildings, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is maybe the best-known of Jaipur’s buildings and the fascinating Janta Mantar, or Observatory, with a sundial accurate to 20 seconds! (B,D)
Tuesday 8 December
We’ll take a 170 mile ride down the main line south, disembarking at the Rajasthani city of Marwar.
A coach will take us for the two-hour journey to the small town of Jojawar, where there is a hidden gem of a palace hotel, our home for the night. In the evening, turn right out of the hotel gate, and you are in the middle of this small town’s commercial area. Exploring on foot with one of the staff guides is a great way to experience life here as it unfolds before your eyes. (B,D)
Wednesday 9 December
The coach will take us for an hour’s run to Kambli Ghat station for one of our favourite excursions – the daily metre gauge train from the highest station in the Aravalli mountains, Kambli Ghat, to Phulad, running through beautiful forests and hills in Rajasthan. You will find plenty of interaction with the locals on the train with plenty of conversation, but beware of some of the monkeys who will visit some of the stations aggressively begging for banana skins – or the bananas themselves! From Phulad, the coach will take us for the three hour ride to the city of Udaipur, our base for the night. (B,D)
Thursday 10 December
Udaipur is a lovely city, and we’ll have a morning tour of the city and enviirons. Afterwards, we have arrranged a late afternoon cruise on Lake Pichola, with the Lake Palace Hotel on an island in the middle, made famous by James Bond’s ‘Octopussy’, a vision in white marble. (B,D)
Friday 11 December
After breakfast, we will check in for a small hours flight to Delhi for further connection back to the UK. (B)
You may like to extend your stay in Udaipur or choose from the list of extension tours we have.
What’s included?
The tour
This tour involves travelling on Indian trains in airconditioned carriage with variety of classes, combination of Executive Class travel with armchair seats on some sectors and on other journeys, two-tier or three-tier berths which are used for sitting during the day travels. Luggage at all stations will be carried by the porters up to your carriage.
Prices
Ground only price (international flights excluded) £ 3,975
Single supplement: £ 980
We’ll check in for international flight to ……
Wednesday 25 November
…Delhi, arriving early morning, where we will take you straight to your hotel. After a morning’s rest, we’ll arrange transport for a visit to the National Railway Museum to see the cream of India’s railway treasures.
Thursday 26 November
We will take the early morning train from New Delhi for an early afternoon arrival at Kalka, the gateway to the famous 2’6” gauge line up to Shimla. On this line, we can make half the journey in one of the Railway’s iconic Railbuses, but accommodation is limited, and this is open to the first 14 applicants only. The rest of the journey will be on the Kalka Shimla Express in first class. We should arrive in Shimla by 6.00p.m.
(B,L, D)
Luggage will be transported by road from Delhi to Shimla.
Friday 27 November
We have requested a steam charter train from Shimla down the line to Kathleeghat but we understand there are problems with the locomotive: if it is steam-able, it may be in steam for us at Shimla if it is unfit for the charter. The rest of the day is free to wander around the pleasant hill station of Shimla. (B,D).
Saturday 28 November
After breakfast, we will set off by minibus for the journey through the Himalayan foothills for a night at Mandi, a lovely town on the banks of the River Beas. It’s a really pleasant place to wander round, full of friendly people. Our hotel tonight is basic but clean, and has an excellent buffet dinner, and strong beer! (B,D).
Sunday 29 November
Our road trip continues to Joginder Nagar, the outer terminus of the Kangra Valley Railway The scenery becomes more impressive and if we have a good run, we shall be able to get our first experience a short ride on the Kangra Valley from there on the 1155 train for the two-hour journey to Baijnath Paprola. From there, it’s a very short ride to our hotel. We are reasonably central, so there is the opportunity to wander round a typical mountain market town. (B,D).
Monday 30 November
We’ll take the 1054 train from Palampur and, after a change in Baijnath Paprola, we’ll arrive in Joginder Nagar, from where the coach will take us for an afternoon visit to the Shanan hydro-electric power station, which has an amazing cable-worked hill railway system to take materials up the ‘top lake’, way up in the Himalayan foothills. We will return to Palampur for the night (B,D).
Tuesday 1 December
We have an excursion to Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, driving through fabulous Himalayan scenery. We visit he famous Dalai Lama Temple, take the mesmerising 'Kora' walk, McLeodganj Market and the St John's Church in the wilderness! (B,D)
Wednesday 2 December
We aim at catching the Palampur to Pathankot via the newly built* Chakki viaduct through wonderful scenery, subject to train timings! We will update in due course. Our coach will run us the short distance to Pathankot where we will be catching a local train down to Amritsar for the night.
*Chakki Viaduct connects Nurpur Road with Panthankot, the last leg of the Kangra Valley Railway (KVR) line and is expected to be completed anytime in 2025 which we’ll get to know well in advance. (B,D)
Thursday 3 December
We will spend our day in Amritsar visiting the Jallianwala Bagh, massacre gardens during the British Raj followed by the breathtaking & calming Golden Temple, where a ‘free canteen’ policy produces many thousands of meals a day – help produce the chapattis if you wish! Then we will visit the border flag ceremony at the Pakistani border, an amazing bit of theatre! (B,D)
Friday 4 December
We will head out to the airport to catch the lunchtime flight down to Delhi. On arrival, transfer to our hotel for the next two nights. (B)
Saturday 5 December
We can offer a choice – spend the day relaxing at the hotel or take a coach tour of the city. We will cover India Gate, the Indian Parliament, a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar, Rajghat – resting place of Mahatama Gandhi and Humayan’s tomb, plus a chance to do ride on the Delhi Metro train (Tube). (B,D)
Sunday 6 December
We’ll take the train for the ninety minute journey to Rewari, the new outpost of the National Railway Museum where they keep their operational steam locomotives. There is the possibility that the train may be steam hauled for the outward journey with a steam locomotive. Sorry, no guarantees! There will be time to look round the National Railway Museum’s outpost here with metre and broad gauge locomotives before continuing to Jaipur, the Pink City, by train, due to arrive at 8 p.m., in time for a late dinner. (B,L,D)
Monday 7 December
In the morning we will pay a visit to Amber Fort & Palace, built high up on a rocky outcrop. Access is via a short 4x4 jeep ride. Rest assured the ride and the Palace is well worth the hassle! We will return to the city for the afternoon, to admire the pink stone buildings, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is maybe the best-known of Jaipur’s buildings and the fascinating Janta Mantar, or Observatory, with a sundial accurate to 20 seconds! (B,D)
Tuesday 8 December
We’ll take a 170 mile ride down the main line south, disembarking at the Rajasthani city of Marwar.
A coach will take us for the two-hour journey to the small town of Jojawar, where there is a hidden gem of a palace hotel, our home for the night. In the evening, turn right out of the hotel gate, and you are in the middle of this small town’s commercial area. Exploring on foot with one of the staff guides is a great way to experience life here as it unfolds before your eyes. (B,D)
Wednesday 9 December
The coach will take us for an hour’s run to Kambli Ghat station for one of our favourite excursions – the daily metre gauge train from the highest station in the Aravalli mountains, Kambli Ghat, to Phulad, running through beautiful forests and hills in Rajasthan. You will find plenty of interaction with the locals on the train with plenty of conversation, but beware of some of the monkeys who will visit some of the stations aggressively begging for banana skins – or the bananas themselves! From Phulad, the coach will take us for the three hour ride to the city of Udaipur, our base for the night. (B,D)
Thursday 10 December
Udaipur is a lovely city, and we’ll have a morning tour of the city and enviirons. Afterwards, we have arrranged a late afternoon cruise on Lake Pichola, with the Lake Palace Hotel on an island in the middle, made famous by James Bond’s ‘Octopussy’, a vision in white marble. (B,D)
Friday 11 December
After breakfast, we will check in for a small hours flight to Delhi for further connection back to the UK. (B)
You may like to extend your stay in Udaipur or choose from the list of extension tours we have.
What’s included?
- Accommodation in 4-5 star hotels.
- Daily buffet breakfast and dinner and two lunches. (Dinner in Delhi is not included).
- All transport by deluxe airconditioned vehicles with experienced drivers.
- Train travel in Executive Class or best available as set out in the itinerary.
- Chartered Vintage Railbus on the Kalka – Shimla Railway.
- Steam ride on the mainline from Delhi to Rewari.
- Jeep ride up to Amer Fort in Jaipur.
- Boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur.
- Porterage at railway stations on arrival/departure.
- Entrances to places of interest as listed in the itinerary.
- Services of a Darjeeling Tours Limited Tour Manager.
- Licensed tour guide appointed for city sightseeing.
- All tips throughout the tour (except for the Tour Manager) are included and will be dealt with on your behalf.
- Unending authentic Indian experiences to relish!
- Personal and incidental expenses are not included.
The tour
This tour involves travelling on Indian trains in airconditioned carriage with variety of classes, combination of Executive Class travel with armchair seats on some sectors and on other journeys, two-tier or three-tier berths which are used for sitting during the day travels. Luggage at all stations will be carried by the porters up to your carriage.
Prices
Ground only price (international flights excluded) £ 3,975
Single supplement: £ 980
