The Wandering Earl "Welcome to India" Tour 2012

The Wandering Earl "Welcome to India" Tour 2012

2012-07-23 13:19:25-04

Wandering Earl

The time has come to announce my new Wandering Earl Tours project!

The overall idea is to offer something that does not resemble a typical group tour. These tours will be informal, small group excursions with a strong focus on independent travel.

We won’t be using private buses and we won’t be sleeping in four- or five-star hotels. We’ll be going local. We’ll use public transportation, we’ll stay in good budget hotels and guesthouses. We’ll eat at some of the best food stalls and local eateries around and we’ll visit places that aren’t always written about in guidebooks.

The core focus of a Wandering Earl Tour will always be on gaining a first-hand education, interacting with local people and of course, visiting as many fascinating locations as possible.

And the most rewarding part is that our small group will share the entire experience together, supporting each other as we not only discover an interesting destination, but as we discover the confidence to push ourselves beyond our usual comfort zones.

So, I’m happy to announce the first Wandering Earl Tour which will take place this coming November…

The “Welcome to India” Tour!

Join me on November 1st as we begin to explore one of the most fascinating countries on the planet, a country I have personally spent over 2 years traveling, living and volunteering in over the past decade. It’s my favorite country for a reason and now I want to show you exactly why this land continues to provide life-changing experience after life-changing experience to those who choose to visit.

On this tour we’ll travel around the North of India, exploring some of India’s most well-known and lesser-known sights, from chaotic and energetic cities to holy sites of several religions to peaceful Himalayan villages to the colorful Indian desert to everything in between…

“Welcome to India” Tour Itinerary

Part 1 (November 1st 13th, 2012):

Day 1 3: Delhi two full days of wandering around this complex city with visits to religious and historical sights all over both Old and New Delhi as well as markets and restaurants that allow you to sample a variety of delicious meals from all over India

Day 3 6: Haridwar/Rishikesh experience the contrast of these two holy sites along the Ganges River, one full of ashrams, tourists and a laid-back atmosphere and the other full of worshiping locals, evening ceremonies and Hindu pilgrims

Day: 6 7: Mandi – an overnight break in this relaxing town of 300 temples before continuing on further into the mountains the next day

Day 7 11: McLeod Ganj & region learn about Tibetan Buddhism, hike through the monkey-filled forest, join local Tibetans on their daily walk around the Dalai Lama’s temple, take a cooking class and just enjoy the peaceful setting of this village set in the foothills of the Himalayas

Day 11 – 13: Amritsar roam around the beautiful Golden Temple, eat a meal alongside hundreds of Sikh pilgrims in the pilgrimage dining hall, visit a Hindu temple of fertility located inside of a cave and witness a bizarre India/Pakistan border ceremony at the small town of Wagah

Part 2 (November 14th – 19th, 2012):

Day 13 15: Agra time to soak in the wonder of the Taj Mahal, along with several other highlights of the Mughal Empire, including the village of Fatehpur Sikri

Day 15 18: Bundi visit this magical community that is home to an incredible palace and mountaintop fortress that overlook the beautiful bright blue town below (most of the homes are painted blue), with sacred caves and interesting villages to explore nearby

Day 18 19: Udaipur from the massive palaces of maharajas to the narrow lanes that wind along the lake to the colorful markets to the rooftop terraces to the elephants walking the streets and to the addictive powers of Rajasthani cuisine, you’ll discover exactly why visitors have a hard time leaving this town

*The above is not a complete list of locations and activities that will be included on this tour. As is the case with everything in India, nothing is ever as it seems (in a good way!).

Tour Cost:

Part 1 "13 days / 12 nights – $575 USD
Part 1 & 2 – 19 days/18 nights – $875 USD

Included: Airport pick-up in Delhi / Comfortable, budget accommodation every night / All ground transportation (trains, buses, taxis, etc.) / Entrance fees to all sights / Guided sightseeing at some locations / Some meals / Additional activities / Welcome package (very cool items!)

Not included: Airfare to/from India, travel visa, travel/health insurance, extra spending money (You will receive my personal assistance with all of these items)

“Welcome to India” TOUR BOOKINGS!

In order to keep the booking process as simple as possible, just send me an email using the form below in order to confirm your space and I’ll forward you all the remaining details! I do recommend booking as early as possible simply because space is naturally quite limited (10 persons maximum).

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Of course, if you have any questions about the tour, please let me know and I’ll be more than happy to answer them.

And on that note, as I’ve mentioned before a few weeks ago, this project is something that I have been extremely excited about and I can’t even explain how much I am looking forward to experiencing India with some of you!