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Mountains & Mystics of India
Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: HHSF
Overview
Destination:
India,
Start:Delhi, India
Finish:Delhi, India
Finish:Delhi, India
Duration:13 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Travel Period
March 2025 - November 2026
Intrepid Big Sale: Save 5% Off - Members Save More^Take a tour of India and be introduced to the Mountains and Mystics of this incredible country. This is a journey of the body, mind, and spirit as you travel through the foothills of the world's highest mountains – the Himalayas. These mystical lands look and feel very different from the rest of India – from the food and clothes to the crisp, clean mountain air and spiritual soul of the locals. Discover it all on a 13-day enlightening adventure, and be enchanted by a land in perfect balance between physical and spiritual worlds.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 9 (overnight sleeper train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please note that due to train arrival times there may not be any free time in Delhi at the end of this tour. We advise booking additional accommodation to extend your stay.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
2. Please note that due to train arrival times there may not be any free time in Delhi at the end of this tour. We advise booking additional accommodation to extend your stay.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
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Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 dinners.
- Transport: Overnight sleeper train, Private vehicle, Public bus, Train, Heritage Train, Metro, Cycle rickshaw, Taxi.
- Accommodation: Hotel (10 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night), Heritage Hotel (1 night).
- Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour.
- Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque.
- Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple).
- Shimla - Leader-led walking tour.
- Shimla - Viceregal Lodge.
- Mandi - Leader-led walking tour.
- Dharamsala - Norbulingka Institute.
- Dharamsala - Dalai Lama Temple.
- Amritsar - Golden Temple.
- Amritsar - Jallianwallah Bagh.
- Amritsar - Wagah Border ceremony.
- Rishikesh - Leader-led walking tour.
- Rishikesh - Chaurasi Kutia 'The Beatles Ashram'.
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allDay 1: Delhi
Welcome to India’s capital, Delhi! Join your group and guide for a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you happen to arrive in Delhi early, there are plenty of things to see and do. Perhaps pay a visit to the 12th-century Qutub Minar or the World Heritage-listed Humayun's Tomb. As the former residence of royal families and British soldiers, the Red Fort plays a vital part in Delhi’s history and is a must-see. Sampling spicy street food or trying your hand at haggling in the city’s bazaars are other great introductions to India.
Day 2: Delhi
This morning, join the group for a walking tour around Old Delhi, which has been an important city in India for over 2000 years. Climb aboard a traditional cycle rickshaw and be driven through the colour and chaos of Delhi’s traffic. In the afternoon, learn about the Sikh religion at the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) and visit the Jama Masjid – Delhi's oldest and India’s largest mosque.
Day 3: Shimla
Depart Delhi by train for the 4-5-hour journey across the state of Punjab to Chandigarh. From Chandigarh, you’ll travel by private vehicle to Shimla. On arrival, get your bearings and explore the town's faded charm on an orientation walk with your group leader.
Day 4: Shimla
Wake up early this morning to board the World Heritage-listed 'toy train' for a 30 minute scenic journey offering views of quaint villages and gorgeous mountain passes. Afterward, head out and explore Mall Road – Shimla's most popular shopping stretch. A nearby viewpoint also offers fantastic views of the Himalayas. Visit the Viceregal Lodge to witness where the partition agreement that separated India from Pakistan and Bangladesh was drawn up. If you like, join the hordes of monkeys milling about Jakhu Temple or stock up on souvenirs and specialty wooden crafts at Lakkar Bazaar. Set among rolling hills, Shimla also offers an array of nature walks that range from gentle to challenging. In the evening, you might like to enjoy an optional trip to the cinema and bop along to a Bollywood blockbuster.
Day 5: Mandi
Travel by private transfer to the small town of Mandi. Situated on the Beas River, Mandi has a rich cultural heritage of both historical and theological significance. Once part of the salt route to Tibet, today it's the gateway to the Kullu Valley. Head into town for a walk and explore a huge sunken shopping centre – the only one like it in India and the focal point of entertainment in Mandi. You can also spend time at the bathing ghats along the river or hike to hilltop temples just outside of town. In the evening, enjoy an included dinner and stay in the simply restored former palace of the Raja of Mandi.
Day 6: Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj)
Today’s journey through the mountains today is an adventure in itself. Travel by private vehicle for the 6-hour drive along bumpy, winding roads to Dharamsala, also known as McLeod Ganj. Strung with prayer flags and busy with robed monks strolling between monasteries, this hilltop retreat is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. Spend the afternoon wandering the peaceful streets, which are set to the backdrop of the Himalayas. There’s a lot to gain here from learning about the many facets of Tibetan Buddhism.
Day 7: Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj)
Today, visit the fascinating Norbulingka Institute, developed to train Tibetan refugees in skills needed to preserve the traditional arts and crafts of Tibet. Its grounds feature a beautiful temple and several workshops where you can see woodcarving, painting, and needlework in action. Then make your way to the Tsuglag Khang complex to see the Dalai Lama’s temple. You may also like to visit the Losel Doll Museum, which is a great way to learn about the daily lives and customs of people all over Tibet.
Day 8: Amritsar
Today, travel down the mountains to Amritsar, situated in the heart of the fertile plain known as India's ‘breadbasket’ and the centre of Sikhism in India. Tour the sights and wander through the rambling streets and bazaars of the Old City by foot. Explore the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), which sits in the middle of a sacred lake. Listen to the soothing sounds of the devout chanting verses from the Sikh holy book – the Guru Granth Sahib.
Day 9: Amritsar – Overnight train
Visit Jallianwala Bagh – the site of the tragic 1919 massacre that played a vital role in India's independence. Then head out to the India–Pakistan border to witness the pomp and circumstance of the daily flag ceremony – a military practice that the security forces of India and Pakistan have followed since 1959. Tonight, take an overnight sleeper train from Amritsar to Haridwar.
Day 10: Rishikesh
After pulling into Haridwar in the morning, there’s a 1-hour drive to Rishikesh. Check in to your hotel before going on an orientation walk with your leader. Pay a visit to the faded but mural-lined walls of Chaurasi Kutia – the ashram made internationally famous (long with Rishikesh by association) when the Beatles visited in the 1960s. Explore the crumbling beauty of the former ashram, now covered in graffiti related to the band and counterculture. In the evening, take a stroll along the holy Ganges River as temple bells ring and the nightly fire ritual of Ganga Aarti begins.
Day 11: Rishikesh – River Ganges
The morning is yours to roam around Rishikesh. Perhaps tuck into a masala dosa for breakfast before walking it off on one of the trails along the Ganges. Aptly named the 'Yoga Capital of the World', Rishikesh is a great place to relax and seek a little enlightenment with your own yoga class, if you’d like. For something more adventurous, there is the option to white-water raft down the Ganges. In the afternoon, reunite with your group for a walk through the jungle nearby.
Day 12: Delhi
Bid farewell to Rishikesh and take the train back to Delhi (approximately 7-9 hours). The train arrives back into Delhi around 11 pm from where you’ll be transferred to your hotel on arrival.
Day 13: Delhi
There are no activities planned for today, so you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time. Don't forget to check out the great range of Urban Adventures if you have extra time in Delhi, including Hidden Gems of Delhi. Head to urbanadventures.com/destination/delhi-tours for more information. If you would like to spend some more time in Delhi, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
^Intrepid Big Sale Save 5% Off: Terms & Conditions
Save 5% on this Intrepid adventure as part of their Big Sale - Members save more. Book by 12 February 2025.
Savings reflected in the prices shown.
Conditions apply.
1. Big Sale offers apply to new bookings made and deposited between 12:01am AEDT 13 January 2025 to 11:59pm AEDT 12 February 2025. Offer applies to selected trips departing between 13 January 2025 – 14 December 2025 unless otherwise specified.
2. The following discounts apply to trips departing between 13 January 2025 – 14 December 2025:
20% off: YXOR, TVZKC, TVKB, TVXA, KFSR, BMXH, ERKT, ETFT, ERXL, TTZF, TTST, TTSK, YGOT, YGPT, YKXA, YKXM, YGOMC, YKXCC, YXORC, BMSMC, ZMSH, ZMSI, ZMSJC, ZMZZ, ZMZLC, UBOH, UBOSC, YBOP, ZMXL, ZMXV, ZMZP, GGKPC, GGXI, GGXSC, HQXP, ZMZSC, PHXC, PHXF, PHXQ, HNXL, HNXS, HNSW, HNXR, UBKEC, UBKN, UBPN, YXOAC, YXOF, XMSS, XMZF, ZMSQC, XMRW, XMSB, XMXC, QVRQC, QVRXC, QVRZC, QBSY, ZKZM, CJFK, YGFAC, YGFK, YGOCC, YGOK, YXOBC, EEPJ, EESJ, EEXC, ELKD, ERFJ, CJRB, CJSD, CJSO, CJXC, CJZF, ZMFI, ZMSK, ZMSKC, ZMXT, ZMZB, ZSRA, ZMKF, ZMSS, TISW, TIFA, TIXB, HHZM, HHFI, HHSW, HHXC, HHPR, BIKH, ZMXD, QVRPC, ZMSAC, ZMSEC, ZMSM, ZMSW, KFZG, AMXC, AMXL, XEKJC, XEPDC, XEPE, XEPJC, XESB, XESPC, XEFJC, GMDA, GMDB, GMDC, GMDD, GMDE, GMDP, GLFB, AMSB, ZMXDC, ZMXP, AMSNC, QUKA, QUKP, WMSK, WMSLC, ZMZC, ZSRT, ZSRU, ZSRUC, QCFB, QVRJ, QVSR, GGSS, GGSSC, GGSC, CBFA, CBST, TKZP, UBKF, WBSE, PJXB, PJXE, PJXF, PJXT, PJXU, PZKK, PZKS, PZRC, PZRK, GPXU, GGTA.
15% off: UBKHC, YXOS, YXOSC, YXOWC, TKPJC, TKSKC, TVSKC, TLSXC, TTSVC, TVFA, TVKT, TVPV, TVSF, TVZY, TVST, TESFC, TESV, KFSRC, SSEM, SSSO, SLKZ, SSFP, SSKX, BMSF, BWSL, BWSO, YGPRC, YGPU, KFSM, ERPCC, ERPMC, ERKB, ERKF, ERPT, TEST, TTFAC, TTFS, TTSN, TTSLC, YGFA, YXOQ, YXOHC, YXOIC, YXOQC, AMSAC, HPXC, ZMPVC, ZMPS, ZMSG, ZMSN, UBKK, UBOE, UBPC, UBPK, ZMZMC, TESS, TESSC, ZMSZ, ZMXG, TOSN, GGKP, GGBL, GGBNC, GGBTC, GGBZC, GGPP, GGPPC, GGXM, GGKY, GGKIC, TESD, QVRC, BMSH, PHRN, PHRO, PHRS, PHRWC, PHRXC, PHSQ, PHSQC, PHSW, HNPN, HNXAC, HNSC, HNXV, UBPDC, UXOGC, YXOEC, XMFB, XMFK, XMKC, XMSC, XMSF, XMSQC, XMXM, ZSRM, QVRRC, QVRYC, QVZA, QBSI, QVRM, HPSM, TMPB, TMSC, YBSN, TLSV, CJXS, YXOVC, YGPCC, YGPEC, YGPKC, KFSK, KFSKC, EERJ, EEXA, CJFP, CJKJ, CJSTC, ZGXT, ZMFDC, ZMPL, ZMSFC, ZMSL, ZMSQ, ZMSSC, ZMSV, ZMXI, ZSRS, ZGXA, ZMFD, ZMSC, BMSA, TISK, HHRS, HHFK, HHKS, BMSI, BIFI, BIKW, BMSW, ZMRVC, QVRA, QVSB, ZMZG, ZLSA, ZMSE, ZSRK, ZSRV, ZSRZ, ZVPI, KMPC, BMSP, ZFXM, ZFXB, BMFF, TESF, AMKG, XEFG, XEKBC, XEKI, XEPN, GMQA, GMQB, GMQC, GMQD, GMQE, GMQF, GMQG, GMQH, GMQI, GMQJ, GMQK, GGRR, GGRX, GGSH, AMRA, AMRBC, AMRC, AMSCC, AMKB, QUSH, ZMPY, WMSJC, ZMPJC, ZMPUC, ZMRC, ZMRI, ZMSF, ZMSUC, ZMSY, ZMXB, ZMXBC, ZMZEC, ZMZJ, ZSDS, ZSSD, QVSS, QVXC, GGXS, CBSD, GPXW, GGPC, SWKW, TKFB, TKPC, TKRR, TKSD, TKSE, GGSR, UBOQC, ZMXY, GGBJ, GGSV, QVSE, PZKNC, PJXG, PJXK, PJXL, PJXO, PJXP, PJXR, PJXV, PJXW, PKBB, PKFK, PKOW, PTXC, PZFR, PZKAC, PZKM, PZKQ, PZRY, PZSA, PZSK, PZSR, PZXR, GGBS, GPKB, WMKK.
10% off: UBOAC, TKKHC, TKRNC, TTPVC, TVSLC, TVSQ, TVAN, TVFB, TVFK, TVPS, TVSR, TVXB, TVXS, KFSA, KFSAC, KFPUK, SKXI, SKXS, SKXU, GPXOSASO, SIXY, SKTC, SSEP, SSKT, SSKU, SSRG, SSRH, SSSG, SSSGC, SSSOC, SSXL, SSXZ, SSEAC, SSEPC, SSKYC, SSRVC, BMSUC, BWPS, BWSS, YXOG, ERPI, ERSF, ERSI, ERSZC, ERYC, ERYOC, ERYT, TTFA, TMSM, TSSX, TSSY, TSSZC, TTKK, TTZEC, TTYB, TTZBC, YXOP, YGSA, YXOCC, YXOFC, YXOGC, AMSOC, HHFL, ZMKS, ZMPSC, ZMXJ, UWFS, ZMPB, EYKS, WMPB, WMSB, WMSEC, WMSH, ZMPBC, ZMPDC, WMSIC, ZLSI, ZMPP, TOSH, TOSNC, GGSA, GGFB, GGPEC, GGPRC, GGSAC, GGSD, GGSDC, GGSFC, GGSGC, GGSQ, GGSUC, GGSEC, GGTBC, HQSW, ELSO, AMSSC, BMSN, PHPN, PHPS, PHKN, PHKO, PHKR, PHKRC, PHKS, PHKYC, PHKZC, PHPZC, HHPHC, HNPEC, HNXE, UBOBC, UBODC, UBPKC, UXOAC, UXOBC, UXODC, XMPSC, XMPM, XMPHC, XMPE, XMFE, XMXO, XMXOW, CBSF, CBSM, CBSOS, QBKPC, QBPM, QMFA, QVKD, ZLSM, TMSA, TMKB, TMSPC, TMSW, TMSXC, TMXS, YBSCC, BMSE, TLYS, ZMSX, CJYK, CJZK, YXODC, YGSZC, YGKA, YGPK, YGPSC, KFPK, EEYJ, CJFS, CJPH, CJPJ, CJSHC, CJST, CJXH, ZLSW, ZMPAC, ZMPCC, ZMPEC, ZMPI, ZMPLC, ZMPM, ZMRDC, ZMRR, ZMRRC, ZMYR, AMYCC, TIPI, TISE, TISSC, TIST, TTSIC, HHKR, HHPG, HHPS, HHPWC, HHRCC, HHRG, HHRR, HHSC, HHSEC, HHSK, HHSL, HHYJ, HHKZC, HHXL, HPPGC, BIPI, BIPK, BMRI, BIYS, QBSGC, QBYA, ERPIC, ZMYG, ZSRP, ZSRR, ZVPCC, ZVPG, AMRRC, KFSG, KFSGC, BMSR, ZMRE, ZMRFC, ZMRXC, BMXF, QVSBC, EERCC, XEKE, XERA, XEYJC, GGSYC, GGTF, GGSIC, GGSJC, GGTG, GGTWC, AMSD, ZMRGC, QBXC, QBXE, QBXCC, ZMPD, ZMPFC, ZMPXC, ZMXH, QBKR, QCFM, GGYS, CBKS, CBRF, CBSDC, GGPBC, GGPU, SEKW, SESR, SSKK, SSOR, SSYA, TKKCC, , TKXC, TTPEC, TVPHC, WMSI, GGBR, UBOO, UBPB, UWFB, GGBLC, GGYRC, ZMRG, PJXN, PKOB, PKOD, PKODC, PKOP, PKOPC, PKOR, PKRB, PZKR, PZKT, PZKU, PZKVC, PZSB, PZSC, PZSD, PZSG, PZSI, PZSJC, PZSPC, PZST, PZSUC, PZSVC, PZYB, PZYS, PZYSC, GGBDC, GGPA, GGSW, GGYF, AAFP, AAXS, WBSL, LLPZSD.
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3. The following exclusions apply:
- Polar trips in Antarctica and the Arctic;
- Short-Break Adventures (excluding XMHA and TVAN);
- Tailor-Made Experiences;
- Urban Adventures.
4. A black-out travel period of 14 December 2025 – 14 January 2026 applies.
5. All offers apply to the trip price only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.
6. Offer prices have been discounted from the lowest price available for each individual departure online in the 19 days prior to 13 January 2025.
7. Credit Holders can use any valid discounts or promotions, except where we are honouring their original price. For more information about how to redeem your credit visit our Credit Redemption page.
8. All offers apply to land element of trip only and cannot be redeemed against flights, additional accommodation, transfers, travel insurance or local payments/kittys.
9. This sale is applicable only in the following currencies: AUD and NZD. All other currencies are not eligible.
10. Our trips are subject to availability and confirmation by Intrepid Travel at time of booking.
11. If you wish to cancel and rebook your trip or change dates outside the promotional period, you will be required to pay the full cost towards the new trip.
12. Travel documents & vaccination requirements are the responsibility of the individual traveller.
13. Except as set out expressly above, Intrepid Travel’s Booking Conditions apply.
For full terms and conditions, please ask your travel consultant.
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