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Classical India & Nepal
25 days India & Nepal incl. 5-day Poon Hill trek Led by Kapil
The journey
From the Pink City to the foot of the Himalayas
This is the big one — the journey I love guiding most. We start in chaotic, wonderful Delhi and wind through Rajasthan’s Pink City of Jaipur, stand before the Taj Mahal at sunset, and take the night train to Varanasi to watch the Ganga Aarti light up the river at dusk.
Then we cross into Nepal: the jungle of Chitwan, lakeside Pokhara, and a five-day trek up to Poon Hill for a Himalayan sunrise you’ll never forget — before finishing among the temples of the Kathmandu Valley.
“Three weeks, two countries, and one guide the whole way. By the end, we’re not a tour group anymore — we’re friends.”
KapilKapil Raj Singh · your guide for all 25 days
€1635 per person, sharing a room
Single room supplement+€450
Meals & pocket moneyOwn cost (~€250/wk)
Duration25 days
Group sizeMin 4, max 12
GuideKapil, in person
Trek5-day Poon Hill
Departures: ask for next dates.
No middlemen · you talk directly to Kapil
The route
Delhi → Kathmandu, overland
Nine destinations across two countries — every leg guided in person. Gold marks the Nepal leg.
1DelhiIndia
2JaipurIndia
3RanthamboreIndia
4AgraIndia
5VaranasiIndia
6LumbiniNepal
7ChitwanNepal
8PokharaNepal
9Poon HillTrek
10KathmanduNepal
Why you’ll remember it
The moments that define this trip
Agra
The Taj at sunset
Arrive just in time to watch the light soften behind Shah Jahan’s monument to love.
Varanasi
Ganga Aarti by firelight
The evening fire ceremony on the world’s oldest living city’s ghats.
The people
Faces & encounters
Sadhus, potters, Gurung villagers — the human side that stays with you.
Ranthambore
Tigers of Ranthambore
Two safaris in Rajasthan’s famous park — home of the majestic Bengal tiger.
Kathmandu
Valley of temples
Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and the timeless old town of the valley.
Poon Hill
Sunrise over the Annapurnas
The reward for five days on the trail — dawn over the highest peaks on earth.
“
I would highly recommend booking your trip to India and Nepal with Kapil — it will be guaranteed an unforgettable experience.
Iris Van de Voort
See it for yourself
A glimpse of the journey, on film
What’s included — and what’s not
✓ Included
All transport by (mini)bus
Night train Agra – Varanasi
Accommodation in budget hotels
English-speaking tour leader (Kapil)
Airport & fuel taxes
Private transport to/from the trek start (Birethanti / Nayapul)
All teahouse lodge accommodation during the trek
Experienced English-speaking trekking guide & crew (salary, insurance, food, lodging)
Annapurna Conservation Area permit & TIMS
Free trekking maps
Company service charges, VAT & local tax
✕ Not included
International flights & checked baggage
Meals
Optional excursions & other entrance fees
Visa
Travel, cancellation & rescue insurance
Tips for guides & porters
Booking fees
Personal expenses (laundry, drinks, phone, etc.)
Extra porter during the trek (if needed)
Any extra activities after the trek
From the road — our travellers’ own photos
Glimpses from the journey
Ready when you are
Let’s plan your India & Nepal
Want this exact route, or your own version with more time here and less there? Message me directly — no middlemen, no call centre, just Kapil.
Start the conversation →Day by day
Your 25 days, one at a time
Tap any day to open it. This is the classic route — the pace and stops can always be tailored to you.
Day1Arrival in DelhiIndia’s capital
Your journey begins. You fly into Delhi and are met for a transfer to your hotel, set near a lively market area. Settle in and rest after the flight — tomorrow the adventure starts.
Day2Delhi, in & aroundOld & New Delhi
A day in India’s chaotic, three-thousand-year-old capital. Feel the contrast between spacious New Delhi and the colourful oriental anthill of Old Delhi — its alleys, temples and mosques, the Red Fort and the magnificent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in the country.
Day3Delhi → Jaipur, the Pink City268 km5–7 hrs
We drive to Jaipur for a three-night stay. The Pink City is ringed by hills dotted with forts and palaces — among them the elegant Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). Roam streets full of turbans, moustaches and the most colourful saris in India.
Day4Jaipur city tourAmber Fort & old city
The walled old city is a feat of town planning, still loosely divided into traditional artisans’ quarters. Climb to the hilltop Amber Fort for its marble work and sweeping views. In the evening, taste Rajasthani specialities — Dal Baati, Churma, Mawa Kachori and Ghewar.
Day5Jaipur & the Monkey TempleGalta Ji
Our last day in Jaipur. Visit the Galta Ji monkey temple tucked into the hills, and any palaces or forts you’ve yet to discover — or simply take it easy with free time.
Day6Jaipur → Ranthambore National Park Tigersby roadafternoon safari
We head to Ranthambore, one of Rajasthan’s most renowned wildlife parks — famous for its majestic Bengal tigers and dramatic landscape of lakes, cliffs and crumbling forts. In the afternoon, our first safari into the park.
Day7Ranthambore National Parktwo safaris
A full day of wildlife. We set out early for a morning safari (around 7:00–11:30), then head back into the park in the afternoon (around 14:00–18:00) — hoping for a glimpse of the elusive Bengal tiger, alongside deer, crocodiles and a wealth of birdlife.
Day8Ranthambore → Agraby trainTaj at sunset
A midday train carries us to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. We arrive in the afternoon, just in time to watch the sun set behind the world’s most famous monument to love.
Day9Agra & night train to Varanasiovernight train ~10 hrs
The whole day to discover Agra — the Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan out of love for his wife, plus the Red Fort and the bazaars. In the evening we board the night train (second-class A/C) to Varanasi. A train journey through India is an experience in itself.
Day10Varanasi & the Ganga AartiThe holiest city
Said to be the oldest city in the world and the city of Shiva. Narrow alleys lead to the soul of India — Mother Ganges — where thousands come to wash away their sins, candles float as offerings, and at dusk the fire of the Ganga Aarti lights up the ghats.
Day11Varanasi sunrise boat & SarnathDawn on the Ganges
A dawn boat ride along the river is unforgettable. Later, visit Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught his eightfold path — with monasteries and temples built by pilgrims from many countries, and a fine collection of Buddhist and Hindu art. (Boating depends on the season and Ganges water levels.)
Day12Varanasi → Lumbini Nepal356 km8–10 hrs
We leave India and cross the border into Nepal to Lumbini — the birthplace of the Buddha — where we stay overnight before continuing to Chitwan.
Day13Lumbini → Chitwan National Park175 km4–5 hrs
On to Nepal’s most popular nature reserve. Forests, grassy plains and rivers shelter more than 40 mammal species — most famously the powerful Indian rhinoceros, plus bison, wild oxen and deer. Explore by canoe or on foot.
Day14Chitwan: wildlife & local life400+ bird species
A second day to enjoy the park a different way. Chitwan is a paradise for birdwatchers — herons, cranes, storks, ibis and, if you’re lucky, the rare hornbill. Time too for the local Tharu culture around the park.
Day15Chitwan → Pokhara161 km3–4 hrs
Winding roads through spectacular scenery bring us to Pokhara, set on a mountain lake where peaks rise straight to the highest summits on earth — including the sacred fish-tail mountain, Machapuchare. Enjoy the panorama from the Peace Stupa.
Day16Trek begins: Pokhara → Tikhedhunga Trek 11,495 m
The Poon Hill trek starts. A scenic drive to Nayapul, then a walk across streams and hillocks to Tikhedhunga, a small village of traditional tea houses. An evening stroll through the local market, and a night in a cosy lodge.
Day17Tikhedhunga → Ghorepani Trek 22,850 m
We climb the stone steps of Ulleri and continue through rhododendron and oak forest, past small cascades, to the mountain village of Ghorepani — known for its splendid peaks, warm tea houses and even warmer hospitality.
Day18Poon Hill sunrise → Tadapani Trek 33,210 m at viewpoint
The morning everything builds towards: a pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill for sunrise over the Annapurnas, the mountains and sky turning orange — worth every step of the five days. We descend for breakfast and continue down to Tadapani through orchards where we taste oranges straight from the trees.
Day19Tadapani → Ghandruk Trek 42,010 m
A scenic descent to Ghandruk, a beautiful Gurung village with fantastic views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna I. We meet locals, see traditional tools and crafts, and spend the evening immersed in Gurung culture.
Day20Ghandruk → Nayapul → Pokhara Trek 5End of the trek
The final morning on the trail, with splendid views and a last wander through local markets for a memento. We trek down to Nayapul and drive back to Pokhara — plenty of the day left to relax as our five-day Poon Hill trek comes to a close.
Day21In & around PokharaLakeside & Sarangkot
A relaxed day. Browse the shops and Tibetan handicrafts of Lakeside, or walk up to the Sarangkot viewpoint and back down through forests and rice fields, meeting the friendly mountain people along the way.
Day22Pokhara → Kathmandu200 km7–8 hrs
We drive to the Kathmandu Valley, whose temples were built between the 16th and 19th centuries during an architectural rivalry between the three royal cities — Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan — each trying to outdo the other.
Day23In & around KathmanduMonkey Temple & stupas
Visit the beautiful Swayambhunath stupa — the ‘Monkey Temple’ — and the great stupa of Boudhanath, passing the sacred Hindu site of Pashupatinath on the Bagmati River. Much of daily life here feels gloriously timeless.
Day24Kathmandu & Durbar SquareOld town
Another day in the capital — ancient buildings, vibrant streets and the temple-lined Durbar Square, where you can simply sit on the steps and watch the city go by.
Day25DepartureJourney home
The last day of the tour. Enjoy your room until checkout, then we wish you a comfortable journey home — with a head full of memories of India and Nepal, and, we hope, a new friend in Kapil.