Head north of Delhi on our Foothills of the Himalayas journey to discover India’s many spiritual sides: from an aarti ceremony on the River Ganges, considered holy by Hindus; to the new Buddhist heartland in Dharamshala, home to the exiled Dalai Lama; and Sikhism’s holiest shrine in Amritsar. Couple this with mountain scenery, a former British hill station, and tea plantations, and this trip offers a varied and fascinating insight.
At a glance
Witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony in Haridwar, one of India’s holiest Hindu cities
Explore India’s first planned city, Chandigarh – a vision in concrete!
Ride the ‘toy train’ up to Shimla, former summer capital of British India
Visit ‘Little Lhasa’ near Dharamshala, home to many Tibetans including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Wonder at the sight of the Golden Temple in the historical Sikh city of Amritsar
Revel in the pageantry of the ‘beating the retreat’ ceremony at the Wagah border with Pakistan
- Bhutan Tours
- Borneo
- Cambodia
- China
- Halong Bay Cruises
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- North Korea
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tibet
- Vietnam
Click to view suggestion list
Highlights
Itinerary idea in detail
Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
-
1
On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met by a Myway representative, who will accompany you to your hotel.
-
2
With your expert local guide, slip behind New Delhi’s majestic boulevards and tree-lined avenues to experience local life in this extraordinary city. On a quiet back street you’ll discover the community of 60 washer-men who scrub laundry for hotels, hospitals and better-off residents – many of their families have done this for generations, but the trade is dying out. Explore a well-preserved ancient step well, and spend time at a prominent Sikh temple, where you’ll have the chance to lend a hand in the community kitchen – a traditional part of Sikh temples, which feed people of all religions in their large dining halls. Take lunch in the hall amongst the other diners, before heading back to your hotel for a rest before your evening streetfood tour of Old Delhi. Feast on treats and sweetmeats, and visit what is allegedly the largest spice market in Asia, before stopping at India’s largest mosque before bedtime.
-
3
Head to Delhi station to board the train to Haridwar. Indian train stations can be a little bewildering, but a Selective Asia representative will accompany you to the correct train carriage and show you to your seats. You’ll be met at the other end by another team member (who’ll know which seats you’re sitting in) and you’ll be transferred to your hotel to check in and freshen up.
In the evening, your guide will collect you to visit the ghats (riverside stepped platforms) to witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony. This devotional ritual is performed every evening at the holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi. During the ceremony, fire is used as an offering to the Goddess Ganga, in the form of candles floated on the river. Chanting and singing typically accompany the lighting of lamps by Hindu priests. It’s a beautiful spiritual sight.
-
4
Today you’ll explore some of Haridwar’s many intriguing temples with your expert guide. You’ll also visit Har-ki-Pauri, the most famous of the bathing ghats in Haridwar. According to legend, this is where the celestial Garuda bird spilled a sacred drop of elixir, prompting both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu to visit the site thereafter. End your day of exploration at the Jhawla Market and Bara Bazaar, known for its Ayurvedic medicines.
-
5
You’ll be driven from Haridwar to Chandigarh, stopping en route to visit the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, a town made famous for its spirituality in the 1960s when the Beatles visited. Arriving during the afternoon, you’ll be taken to your hotel to check in and relax.
-
6
Explore Chandigarh with your expert local guide, stopping at the intriguing Rock Garden. This 40 acre site is filled with over 2,000 sculptures, created primarily from discarded pottery and junk by government official Nek Chand, who’s been doing this for over 18 years. In the afternoon, board the narrow-gauge train (in operation since 1903) for a slow but picturesque trip through the forested Himalayan foothills to the mountain city of Shimla, where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel.
-
7
After breakfast, your guide will collect you for a heritage walking tour of Shimla. Amongst other sites you’ll visit the Viceregal Lodge, which was the official summer residence of the British Viceroy of India from 1888 until World War II. In the lead-up to Independence, the Lodge hosted two historic talks between Indian and British political leaders. You’ll also visit significant buildings such as the Victorian Gaiety Theatre, which was a social hub during the Viceroy era, and the oh-so-English Christ Church, which is one of the oldest churches in northern India.
-
8
Today you’ll be driven through scenic landscape to the picturesque town of Palampur, stopping several times en route to visit local villages, stretch your legs and enjoy the views on what is a long but beautiful trip. Once you reach Palampur, check in to your accommodation in its lush surroundings and unwind in preparation for tomorrow’s forest hike.
-
9
Spend a relaxed morning exploring Palampur and its scenic surroundings. With your guide, you’ll follow a forest trail to the hilltop temple of Birni Devi, where you can enjoy stunning mountain views, before visiting a nearby tea plantation. In the afternoon, you’ll be driven the short distance to Dharamshala, where you’ll check into your hotel and spend the remainder of your day at leisure.
-
10
This morning your guide will take you to Mcleod Ganj to explore the Dalai Lama temple complex and the adjacent Tibet Museum, with its intriguing collection of artefacts and photos. Afterwards, visit the gothic church of St. John in the Wilderness – surrounded by a cedar forest, this tranquil spot is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, the second British Viceroy of India during the 19th century. Once you’ve explored to your satisfaction, you’ll be driven back to town where the rest of your day will be at leisure.
-
11
After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the holy city of Amritsar, which sits close to the border with Pakistan. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel, where there’ll be time to relax before you head out for your first glimpse of Amritsar’s iconic Golden Temple. The site is particularly photogenic when illuminated at night, and devotees flock to lay eyes on, housed in the temple’s inner sanctum) during the daily evening ceremony when the text is ‘put to bed’. Having taken endless photos and soaked up the ambiance, you’ll be driven back to your hotel.
-
12
Begin today’s tour of Amritsar by returning to the Golden Temple for some contemplative time, before visiting Jallianwala Bagh. This walled garden contains a flame of remembrance to mark the site where, on 13 April 1919, British troops opened fire on a large Indian crowd who had assembled for a peaceful protest. As you might imagine, the massacre marked a change in the relationship between India and Britain. In the afternoon, head out to witness the famous ‘lowering of the flags’ ceremony, which takes place just before sunset every day at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan. A military ceremony which formally closes the border for the night, the ritual’s sheer pageantry has turned it into quite an event, with competitive cheering between huge crowds from both nations. Enjoy the spectacle of the soldiers’ impressive marching, before the flags are lowered and the border gate is shut, whereupon you’ll be driven back to your hotel.
-
13
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Accommodation options
While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Booking Policy
- English speaking, local guide
- All accommodation listed
- Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
- Any domestic flights listed (unless marked otherwise)
- All admission fees at attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- All meals listedEnglish speaking, local guide
- All accommodation listed
- Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
- Any domestic flights listed (unless marked otherwise)
- All admission fees at attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- All meals listed
- Entry visas
- International airport departure taxes
- Any meals not listed in the itinerary
- Drinks, other than water on activity days
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tip…)
- Travel insurance
- All other services not listed in ‘inclusive’
Please note: During high season periods (such as Christmas and New Year) hotels often levy a surcharge and these are not included in the above prices. Your consultant will be happy to advise you of these.
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
We carefully choose our expert guides and travel concierges to make sure you have an authentic experience. They're passionate about their work and will bring your destination to life with care and enthusiasm.
We design our luxury trips with responsible travel principles in mind. This means we prioritize experiences that benefit both you and the planet.
It is easy to customize your Highlights of Vietnam tours with us
What our clients say about us
Eriberto P
16 March 2024 ★★★★★We did a 10 day private tour of Thailand with Amazing Bike Tours (ABT), including a couple of days of biking in Chiang Mai and a day in Phuket. ABT put together a great mix of biking and classic tours at a reasonable price. They responded quickly to emails and were very easy to deal with. The whole trip was fantastic, from the boat trips to James Bond Island to staying overnight in Bangkok and other towns. Our guide, Tom, was not only knowledgeable but also really friendly - he even became our unofficial photographer and shared all his photos with us. I definitely recommend ABT if you're planning a trip to Asia.
Jeremy
28 April 2024 ★★★★★We had a fabulous time on the cycling tour from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Phuket with Amazing Bike Tours company. Our tour guides TOM in Bangkok and Chiang Mai were fantastic, and I want to thank TUK in Phuket for taking such good care of me. This experience will always be special to me.
Steven
23 April 2024 ★★★★★I booked Cycle Thailand to Cambodia in 2023. Stephen at Amazing Bike Tours was excellent, very helpful, responsive and knowledgeable. In particular, our local tour guide Tom was outstanding. He was essential to connecting with local village people, visit remote villages, and explore exotic food. Can't wait for my next adventure
Naad
16 April 2024 ★★★★★We had a great time biking through the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat. Bob was a fantasic tour guide who took us through Angkor Wat and showed us a different side of the delta in his own way. We visited temples and a floating market many delicious snacks. It was really fun ! A great tour !
Alex Boshoff
19 April 2024 ★★★★★Our Thailand Vietnam Bike Tour was very well managed. The teams took great care of us, they support van was always available when needed. The food was excellent. We loved all the restaurent. The accommodations were great, offering a variety of options from resorts to boutique hotels to city hotels, all of which were comfortable. Biking on and off-road was enjoyable. The people in both countries are warm, welcoming & kind. The experience in the Mekong Delta was fantasic. We definitely recommend this trip.
Tavelshab
6 May 2024 ★★★★★We had a great time biking through the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat. Bob was a fantasic tour guide who took us through Angkor Wat and showed us a different side of the delta in his own way. We visited temples and a floating market many delicious snacks. It was really fun ! A great tour !
Scott
5 May 2024 ★★★★★We spent 12 days with Amazing Bike Tours from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh via Battambang. Our tour was perfectly tailored to our route and physical condition and on the last day, we were safely transported to our beach accommodation in Sihanoukville. The organization was flawless from start to finish. The accommodation was also comfortable, allowing us to rest well after eventful days. The tour provided great value for money. The experiences were unique and could fill two vacation reports! The bikes were perfectly adjusted to our needs, with well-maintained gears and brakes. If there was a minor issue, the guide promptly addressed it. The minivan support was modern and very comfortable. The driver was excellent and we felt safe! Besides the visual impressions, we learned a lot about the country and its people.
Kyle
18 January 2024 ★★★★★We had a custom and private 3-day bike tour in the Mekong Delta with Loc, our expert bike tour guide who organized, coordinated, and led three days of fantastic bike touring. Our tour of the the Mekong Delta included Cai Lay, Cai Be, Can Tho, and My Tho, before catching a luxury Mekong River cruise up to Cambodia. Loc was a great guide who really helped us appreciate the culture of the untouched tourist areas of the delta where we met fantastic people and toured through incredible villages, markets, Khmer temple, and even a local school. Loc did an excellent job of pacing the bike ride to our activity level and we enjoyed some great lunches at some local residences, even picking up some rat at a local market we toured and having it expertly prepared at a local home. Our best, most authentic Vietnamese meals were enjoyed on this biking tour. We had a van w/driver following us throughout the bike rides to ensure we had plenty of water and picked us up when we were ready to be done for the day. Loc also gave us a tour of Saigon as well as the underground Vietnam war tunnels at Cu Chi. I can't say enough about the biking tours and Loc was just a fantastic guide. We hated to say good-bye as we continued our tour of Southeast Asia but will always cherish the bike tour we had with Loc in Vietnam.