Into India's Soul Extension – Rishikesh, Varanasi & Khajuraho

Day 1
Depart Vana and transfer to Rishikesh to stay for two nights on a bed & breakfast basis at the Taj Rishikesh Resort and Spa, a superior riverside hotel tucked away outside the town in the quiet village of Singthali.

Sitting on the banks of the mighty Ganges, Rishikesh is a holy town and spiritual centre which welcomes visitors to a relaxing, reviving and spiritual environment. Labelled the World Capital of Yoga, ashrams, yoga centres and temples abound, with the revered Parmarth Niketan Ashram taking centre stage.

Day 2
Enjoy a half day tour of the city, first visiting the ashram of the late Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, also known as the Beatles Ashram as this was where the Fab Four attended sessions of transcendental meditation and composed over 50 songs during their stay in 1968. Continue to the city’s most famous landmark - the Laxman Jhula suspension bridge - . which spans 450 feet over the sacred Ganges, connects the Jonk village to the Tapovan village and offers stunning views of the river, the city and the nearby mountains.

In the evening enjoy the intoxicating Ganga Satri ritual, which is performed on the steps of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram overlooking the river at the sun sets.

Day 3
Fly from Dehradun via Lucknow to Varanasi and transfer to stay for two nights on a bed & breakfast basis at the Taj Ganges, a luxury hotel nestled amidst 40 acres of lush gardens outside the busy city.

The ‘eternal city’, Varanasi is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India, and the Ganges, which flows through the city, is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals. For Hindus the city has always been considered a particularly auspicious place to die, ensuring an instant routing to Heaven.

Day 4
Enjoy a full day tour of Varanasi, starting with an unforgettable sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, floating past ghats as worshippers begin to appear on the banks.

Continue with a visit to the city's principle shrine, the Vishwanath temple, which is dedicated to Shiva, before taking an excursion to Sarnath, the place where Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon, and which is as holy to Buddhists as Varanasi is to Hindus.

This evening watch the illuminated Aarti ceremony, where presiding priests stand on a platform in the water and, to the chant of Sanskrit mantras, the river is worshipped with flowers, incense, sandalwood and milk.

Day 5
Fly from Varanasi to Khajuraho and transfer to stay for two nights on a bed & breakfast basis at the Lalit Temple View Khajuraho, a stunningly sighted hotel which overlooks the Western Group of Temples.

Considered one of India’s seven wonders and listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, Khajuraho encompasses almost 100 sacred and medieval Hindu and Jain temples, decorated with intricately-detailed erotic sculptures and reliefs.

Day 6
Enjoy a full day tour of Khajuraho, with the first stop the Eastern Group of Temples, a complex of 22 historic temples which include Parsvanath, Adinath, Ghantai, Brahma, Vamana and Hanuman.

Continue to the Western Group of Temples, a complex protected by a surrounding boundary wall which is home to temples such as Devi Manda, Varaha Mandap, Lakshman, Kandariya Mahadev and Devi Jagdambi.

Day 7 Transfer to Khajuraho airport for onward flight.

Total Cost – from £1,995.00 per person sharing, with £1,490.00 single supplement

Included: domestic flights and transfers as detailed; accommodation and meals as specified; private sightseeing with English-speaking guide; departure taxes; entrance fees; morning Ganges boat ride.

Not included: international flights; meals and activities where not detailed; items of a personal nature; gratuities; travel insurance; visas; souvenirs.