Foothills of Himalayas & Holi Festival

10 March – 22 March, 2025

 Delhi – Amritsar – Farm stay – Dharamshala – Palampur – Shimla – Chandigarh – Delhi

SEE BELOW FOR TOUR DETAILS

Overview

• Delhi ( Novotel Aerocity - 4 star hotel - Standard room )
• Amritsar ( Taj Swarna - 5 star hotel - Deluxe room )
• Hoshiarpur ( Citrus County – High-end farm stay – Deluxe Tent )
• Dharamshala ( Fortune Park Moksha – Deluxe 4 star hotel - Club room )
• Palampur ( Lamrin Norwood Green – Private Villas – Cottage room )
• Shimla ( Oberoi Cecil – Luxury Heritage hotel – Luxury room )
• Chandigarh ( Taj Chandigarh – Deluxe 5 star hotel – Deluxe room )

POST TOUR EXTENSIONS
• Rishikesh ( Taj Resort & Spa – 5 star – Deluxe room )
• Chandigarh Wellness ( Oberoi Shukvilas – Luxury hotel – Premier room )

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival / Delhi VIP meet & greet service at airport. Transfer and arrive at the Novotel Aerocity hotel.

Day 2

Delhi /Amritsar Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at your leisure. Early afternoon flight to Amritsar. Check in to hotel. Free for lunch and afternoon. Visit the legendary Golden Temple for a special night ceremony. Spiritually, the focus is the man-made water body that surrounds the gleaming central shrine, the ‘Amrit Sarovar’, from which Amritsar takes its name. Dinner and overnight at the Taj Swarna hotel.

Day 3

Amritsar Morning revisit to the Golden Temple. Ringed by a marble walkway, the tank is said to have healing powers and pilgrims come from across the world to bathe in its sacred waters. Floating at the end of a long causeway, the Golden Temple itself is a mesmerising blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, with an elegant marble lower level adorned with flower and animal motifs in pietra dura work (as seen on the Taj Mahal). Above this rises a shimmering second level, encased in intricately engraved gold panels, and topped by a dome gilded with 750kg of gold. In the gleaming inner sanctum priests and musicians keep up a continuous chant from the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book). The highlight experiencing the communal kitchen which feeds 50,000 people per day. Later visit Jalianwala and Partition Museum and late afternoon visit the ‘Flag-off Ceremony’ at Wagah Border. Dinner and overnight at the Taj Swarna hotel.

Day 4

Amritsar / Hoshiarpur Breakfast at the hotel. Drive 2hrs to Citrus County your high-end farm stay and where you will celebrate HOLI – festival of colours. This afternoon, after lunch, enjoy a village walk showcasing and authentic rural setting of a typical Punjabi village. Dinner and overnight at Citrus County.

Day 5

Hoshiarpur – Today is Holi – festival of colours! After Breakfast, you have the option to do a nature walk in the nearby forest reserve area. Then it is time to play Holi with the locals, enjoy live Punjabi music, snacks and a special lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at Citrus County.

Day 6

Hoshiarpur / Dharamshala Breakfast at the hotel. Drive 5hrs to hillside Dharamshala and on arrival check in to hotel. Dharamsala has become the best place to learn about Tibet and to be immersed in Tibetan daily life, culture, arts and religion. Afternoon at your leisure to explore and rub shoulders with Tibetan monks. Dinner and overnight at the Fortune Park Moksha.

Day 7

Dharamshala Breakfast at the hotel. Morning sightseeing  (visit Monasteries and Kalchakra temple) and exploring. Tibetan arts and handicrafts, including carpets, thanka (religious paintings), musical instruments, various brass statues and religious artefacts, handbags, clothes and knitwear can be found at various Tibetan centres, shops and street stalls. Lunch at an authentic Tibetan local restaurant. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the Fortune Park Moksha.

Day 8

Dharamshala / Palampur Breakfast at the hotel. Drive 1.5hrs to Palampur and enjoy panoramic enroute sightseeing and visit Norbulinka institute and Sherab ling Monastery. Check in to your private villa accommodation. Afternoon at your leisure. Enjoy the ambience of the surroundings. At the foot of the impressive Dhauladhar mountain range, 35km southeast of Dharamsala, Palampur is surrounded by tea plantations, rice fields and pine woods. Dinner and overnight at Lamrin Norwood Green.

Day 9

Palampur / Shimla Breakfast time. Drive 7 hrs up to picturesque Shimla. Check into hotel and rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure to explore Shimla, decked with antiques and heirlooms with lovely valley, hill and forest views. Dinner and overnight at the Oberoi Cecil lodge.

Day 10

Shimla Breakfast at the hotel. Heritage walk with an expert local guide exploring the hillside region. Drive to a nearby forest and enjoy a special lunch with local resident ‘Dhami’, including a nature walk in the surrounding forest. Return to Shimla and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Overnight at the Oberoi Cecil lodge.

Day 11

Shimla Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at your leisure to explore the historic town and lunch on its long, winding main street, The Mall. Spread along a 12km ridge, with steep forested hillsides falling away in all directions, the Himachal capital is one of India's most popular hill resorts, once the summer capital of British India. Below The Mall, exist the maze-like alleys and stairways of the bustling bazaar. Free for lunch. Dinner and overnight at the Oberoi Cecil lodge.

Day 12

Shimla / Chandigarh Breakfast time. Transfer to Kandhaghat railway station for your ride on the famous Toy train, the ‘Himalayan Queen’ to Barog railway station. The train passes tthrough many tunnels and scenic bends. Packed lunch and refreshments. Drive 4hrs to Chandigarh and check in to hotel. Swiss architect Le Corbusier designed much of the city in1950, using his favourite material: reinforced concrete. Seventy years on and the parks, monuments and civic squares are all still here, although architecturally may not be everyone’s cup of chai, but it is very comfortable and cosmopolitan. Free for dinner. Overnight at the Taj Chandigarh hotel.

Day 13

Chandigarh / Delhi Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit to Nek Chand’s Rock Garden, one of the region’s most intriguing attractions Drive 4hrs to Delhi. Transfer to International Airport for your departure home.

CHANDIGARH WELLNESS post tour EXTENSION
5 Days /4 Nights

Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa is a luxury spa resort surrounded by over 8000 acres of natural forest. It has an aesthetically landscaped garden to find your zen. The Oberoi Spa is a tranquil, light-filled space, created carefully to promote a sense of well being through Ayurvedic, Eastern & Western therapies. Hydrotherapy pools, aromatic steam, infrared sauna and heated tepidariums enhance the efficacy of your treatments.

Day 1

Chandigarh Transfer from Taj Chandigarh to Oberoi Shukvilas. Check-in time 2 pm. Unwind with the rest of your day and evening at leisure to enjoy the Luxury Resort Health & Spa facilities. Overnight at the Oberoi Shukvilas.

Day 2

Chandigarh Breakfast time. Entire day and evening at leisure to enjoy the Luxury Resort Health & Spa facilities. Overnight at the Oberoi Shukvilas.

Day 3

Chandigarh Breakfast time. Entire day and evening at leisure to enjoy the Luxury Resort Health & Spa facilities. Overnight at the Oberoi Shukvilas.

Day 4

Chandigarh / Delhi Breakfast time After breakfast, drive 4hrs to Delhi. On arrival check in to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Free for dinner. Overnight at the Novotel Aerocity hotel.

Day 5

Delhi Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at your leisure. Transfer to airport for international flight and departure.

RISHIKESH WELLNESS post tour EXTENSION
5 Days /4 Nights

Taj Resort & Spa is a 5 star resort which sits by the banks of the majestic Ganges River and is placed right in the foothills of the Himalayas. 30 kilometres away from the world renowned spiritual & yoga capital of Rishikesh. Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. You can take advantage of recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool, a sauna, and a fitness centre.

Day 1

Chandigarh / Rishikesh Transfer from Taj Chandigarh to Rishikesh on a 6hr scenic drive. Check-in time 2 pm. Unwind with the rest of your day and evening at leisure to enjoy the Luxury Resort Health & Spa facilities. Overnight at the Taj Resort & Spa.

Day 2

Rishikesh Breakfast time. Excursion to Rishikesh to explore this fascinating, spiritual town and visit an Ashram. Return to resort. Rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure to enjoy the Luxury Resort Health & Spa facilities. Overnight at the Taj Resort & Spa.

Day 3

Rishikesh Breakfast time. Excursion to either Rishikesh or Devprayag to see the confluence of the two great local rivers. Return to resort. Rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure to enjoy the Luxury Resort Health & Spa facilities. Overnight at the Taj Resort & Spa.

Day 4

Rishikesh / Delhi Breakfast time After breakfast, transfer to Dehradun airport for local flight to Delhi. On arrival check in to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Free for dinner. Overnight at the Novotel Aerocity hotel.

Day 5

Delhi Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at your leisure. Transfer to airport for international flight and departure.

VARANASI post tour EXTENSION
3 Days /2 Nights

Varanasi Extension Three days in the holy city of Varanasi are a must for any Indian neophyte. Take a sunrise stroll along the river to see the morning fire ceremonies or a wooden boat ride at sunset. Arrive in Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India. This sacred, soulful, spectacular city is one of the most colourful and fascinating places on earth. Your journey here will live within your soul forever. This extension will take in the highlights of the sacred river Ganges and the life which surrounds it in this captivating, timeless and magical city. Visit ‘Sarnath Stupa’ museum, the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma – Buddha's 'School of Smile' and in the evening time witness the Aarti Ganges Ceremony. Dawn boat ride along the historic River Ganges. Then explore the city on a ghat and bazaar tour.

Day 1

Delhi / Varanasi Transfer to Delhi Airport to board flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi airport, transfer to your luxury heritage hotel. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore this ancient city. Witness evening ‘Aarti Fire Ceremony’ at the famous ghat. Overnight at the Hotel Brijrama Palace.

Day 2

Varanasi Early morning boat ride along the river from a Ghat. Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges. The city has 88 ghats. Most of the ghats are bathing and puja ceremony ghats, while two ghats, Manikarnika and Harishchandra, are used exclusively as cremation sites. Later visit Sarnath Stupa. Lunch at Local café and then explore local markets. Overnight at the Hotel Brijrama Palace.

Day 3

Varanasi / Delhi Breakfast time. Morning at your leisure. Around noon transfer to Varanasi Airport to board flight to Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi airport, pickup and transfer to Hotel Maidens to join the TOUR.

Prepare for your trip

 India is everything, and more, all at once.

It's a sensory potpourri; a visual explosion of bright saris, lumbering cows, marigolds, incense, spices and bursts of sunlight - where you're guaranteed to craft your very own Darjeeling Limited experience.

As for the language, Hindi isn't spoken by everyone in India - in fact there are more than 20 languages spoken throughout the country and English tends to serve as a common one.

A few Hindi phrases will definitely help along the way: "Namaskar" (hello), "shukriya" (thank you), "aap kaise hai" (how are you), "kitna hai" (how much) and "naam kya hai" (what's your name), may come in handy on your trip.

As for money, you'll be dealing in Indian rupees - there are about 55 rupees to each Aussie dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted, but make sure you know all your pin codes as signing has been phased out around the country.

TIBET IN EXILE

The Tibetan settlement of Dharamshala began in 1959, when the Dalai Lama had to flee Tibet and the Prime Minister of India allowed him and his followers to settle in McLeodGanj (in Upper Dharmshala), a former colonial British summer picnic spot.

In 1970, The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, opened the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives which houses over 80,000 manuscripts and other important resources related to Tibetan history, politics and culture. It is considered one of the most important institutions for Tibetology in the world, the new director is Geshe Lahkdor, the old translator of the Dalai Lama.

Several thousand Tibetan exiles have now settled in the area, where they have built monasteries, temples and schools.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All tours include domestic flights, accommodation, transport, air conditioned mini coach with refreshments, sightseeing entrance fees, special tour events and activities, local guides, most meals and tipping (includes: baggage at airport, bell boys at hotel, any activities, paid meals, driver and his assistant and accompanying local guide). Prices may be subject to currency fluctuation or surcharges.

As part of a conscious initiative to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles, TIKKA TOURS ground operator now provides alternatives to plastic bottled water. Re-usable metal water bottles with re-filling facility are part of our guest’s vehicles.

TOUR PRICE

13 Days /12 Nights
On request ( twin share per person )
On request ( single supplement )
Locally escorted small group tour
( Based on 8–12 passengers )

CHANDIGARH WELLNESS post tour EXTENSION
5 Days /4 Nights
On request ( twin share per person )
On request ( single supplement )
Private tour ( Based on min 2 passengers )

RISHIKESH WELLNESS post tour EXTENSION
5 Days /4 Nights
On request ( twin share per person )
On request ( single supplement )
Private tour ( Based on min 2 passengers )

VARANASI post tour EXTENSION
3 Days /2 Nights
On request ( twin share per person )
On request ( single supplement )
Private tour ( Based on min 2 passengers )