Day 1 Delhi You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The day includes sightseeing of New Delhi, the new garden city designed in 1911 by Sir Edward Lutyens. We visit the Birla Mandir (Lakshminarayan Temple), the President's House, Humayun's Tomb (the forerunner of the Taj Mahal), and India Gate.

Days 2 & 3 Shivpuri We travel by Shatabdi Express train to Haridwar where we transfer to our deluxe coach. Haridwar, the spot where the Ganges leaves the mountains and enters the plains, is among the holiest places of pilgrimage in India. This is the place where Brahma greeted Ganga on her descent to earth and where Vishnu left his footprint. Haridwar's waters are doubly sanctified then, and 2 million Hindus visit each year to bathe in the bend of the river known as the Brahmakund, or Brahma's basin. We stop to observe the ritual bathing at Har-ki-Pauri – the sacred ghat that was constructed by King Vikramaditya. It is the most important ghat on the river Ganga, where a holy dip is a must for every devotee. We then proceed to our camp at Shivpuri. The camping facilities in Shivpuri are very comfortable. Each tent is equipped with two single beds with mattresses, complete bedding, towels, etc. The campsite has western flush style toilets and hot bucket showers; this is camping at its most luxurious! From our camp base we embark upon our half-day rafting trip. No previous rafting experience is necessary. Expert guides and top quality equipment are provided. (Those who choose not to raft may relax at the camp). We also explore the flora and fauna of the region on foot, taking a walking tour to nearby small villages. Later in the afternoon we visit the neighboring town of Rishikesh. Rishikesh, a peaceful place, is surrounded by hills and bisected by the Ganges. Often called the "Yoga Capital of the World," Rishikesh gained instant fame as the site where the Beatles came to stay with their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Ashrams line the river for many kilometers. We visit the Shivananda Ashram, and the Bharat temple, before proceeding to the Triveni Ghat where the aarti is performed at the Ganges at dusk. Each evening at sunset priests perform this river worship ceremony – placing leaf boats loaded with flowers and candles into the river.

Days 4 & 5 Mussoorie Today we continue our journey, travelling by coach to Rajaji National Park. This beautiful park, covering 820 square kilometers of forested foothills, is best known for its wild elephants, numbering around 150. As well as elephants, the park contains some rarely seen tigers and leopards, chital (spotted deer) which can be seen in herds of up to 250, sambar, wild boars, sloth bears, and pythons (to name just a few species). We visit the park on elephant back and then continue on to Mussoorie. In Mussoorie we take a walking tour to "cloud's end" point, where we enjoy a picnic lunch. From this vantage point we can best enjoy the fantastic views of this hill station. To the North-East there are the extensive snow-capped Himalayas, while to the south we can see the Doon valley. After lunch we spend a few hours in Mussoorie town itself where people are free to wander about the main bazaar. In colonial times Mussoorie was known as a place to go for an affair – today the tradition is maintained somewhat as it is a favorite honeymoon destination for Indian couples. Although by western standards the main town is rather "Tivoli-esque" Indians love it and it's a fun place to people watch!

Days 6 & 8 Delhi After a morning of relaxing in the pleasant hilly surroundings it's back to the plains! We travel to Dehradun by coach from where we take the train back to Delhi. This time we visit Old Delhi, the ancient city built by Emperor Shah Jahan. We visit the Red Fort, and then take a rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of old Delhi to the Jama Masjid – the largest mosque in India. Finally we visit the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi (Raj Ghat). Last but not least on our itinerary is a day trip to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. We travel to Agra by Shatabdi express train. In Agra we see the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, as well as the magnificent Red Fort. The Taj Mahal was built in 1652 by Emperor Shah Jahan. It took 22 years and 20,000 skilled artisans to complete. The Agra Fort lies across the river Jamuna. It was here that Aurangzeb, the third son of Shah Jahan, kept his father under house arrest. One can get a fantastic view of the Taj from the little octagonal tower in the Fort.