India and Shimla

Fourteen nights from £1,799*

Departing on selected dates up to November 2013

India is not only an incredible, unique country and civilisation, it’s also a dazzling mix of sights, sounds, colours and experiences, as well as a  culture-shock of astonishing contrasts. From the flawless grandeur of the Taj Mahal, to the mighty fortresses of Rajasthan and the reminders of past glories of the Raj in Delhi, to the teeming markets of Jaipur, our India tour encompasses the very best that Northern India has to offer and you will return home with some truly amazing memories.

*Extended tour visits Shimla and stays in the luxurious Oberoi Cecil Hotel

The fully escorted price includes:

• Return scheduled flights from London Heathrow, with regional flights at a supplement, taxes and transfers

• A wonderful tour of northern India’s ‘Golden Triangle’ including visits to see the magnificent tigers of Ranthambore National Park plus a stay at a heritage hotel in Rajasthan

• Nine nights accommodation in hand-picked three, four and five-star hotels

• Daily breakfast, two lunches and two dinners

• Visit all the major sights of Old and New Delhi

• See the breathtaking Taj Mahal and gaze in awe at the simple purity of its white marble and the exquisite craftsmanship of its inlay work

• Spend two nights in the pink city of Jaipur, with a guided tour of its City Palace, astronomical observatory and the Palace of the Winds

• Marvel at the extraordinary location and beauty of Amber Fort

• Two game drives in Ranthambore National Park

• Stay in an original Rajasthani fort, beautifully converted into a stunning Heritage Hotel

• Enjoy a guided tour of the 400-year old deserted Mogul city of  Fatehpur Sikri

• A walking tour of Havelis at Alsisar

• Visit to Shimla travelling on the famous mountain railway, the summer capital of the Raj and ‘Queen of Hill Stations’, set high in the foothills of the Himalayas, staying in the luxurious Oberoi Cecil Hotel

• All local transport by train or coach as described and porterage of one item of luggage per person

• Escorted by our experienced tour manager

• The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room

• Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement (date dependant) of £509 to £709 per person

• India Visa not included

Visas:

All British passport holders require a visa for India. Please ensure that you have at least two empty pages in your passport and that your passport is valid for a minimum of 190 days from the time of submitting your visa application. At the time of departure/return you can travel as long as both the passport and the visa are valid.
Single entry tourist visas cost £30 per person, plus a £9.24 service charge and can be applied for in person or by post. The duration of the visa issued is generally three months and the visa is valid from the date of issue. We therefore recommend applying for the visa approximately two months before departure, to ensure it covers the full duration of your stay in India.
Personal applications: to apply for an Indian visa please visit http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk where you can apply, pay online and schedule an appointment to submit your application in person at your nearest centre, dependant on your home address.
Postal applications: you must either apply and pay online, print off the completed application form, payment confirmation and submit by post; or alternatively, you may apply online, print off the completed application and submit along with payment by postal order. Personal cheques are NOT accepted. In both cases you must submit your passport along with a self addressed stamped envelope and two 2"x2" photos to: Indian Visa application Centre, 1-3 Canalside, Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0JN.
Please note handwritten applications are no longer accepted. Full details of costs, application form and addresses can be found on http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk, email: info.in@vfshelpline.com or tel: 0905 7570045 (premium rate line). Visa fees are subject to change without notice and non-refundable.

Health Matters:

Whilst the travelling schedule shall pose no problems for people of any age in normal physical health, we would point out that in visiting a number of historical sites, paths may be uneven and uphill and we often enjoy walking tours of the main sights. Therefore this holiday may not be suitable for clients of greatly impaired mobility. In the tropics temperatures and humidity levels will also be quite high for most of the year. Please consult your GP regarding the appropriate inoculations required for India at least a month before departure. To make the most of your trip, we recommend you check the Foreign Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel

Terms and conditions:

The code must be quoted at time of booking to receive offer prices

Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to availability. Operated by Riviera Travel Atol 3430 protected, Abta V4744, a company independent of Independent Print Ltd. Single rooms are subject to availability and at a supplement. Optional insurance available at a supplement. When you respond to offers we may use your information to contact you with offers/services that we believe will be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive offers by sms or email. We will not give your data to other companies without your permission; please let us know if you are happy for us to to so. Prices are correct at the time of publishing. Please call or email for details. 0844 calls charged at 5ppm from BT landlines

Supplier info: Riviera Travel

Since their inception 25 years ago, Riviera Travel have endeavoured to exceed the expectations of the discerning traveller, on their fascinating and innovative European and Worldwide escorted tours.

They have passion for quality and looking after all their guests in the most personal manner possible and really ‘go the extra mile'. Over the years they have received many commendations from many household names in the publishing industry. They have recently been voted by the members of one of the country's most respected consumer organisations in their biannual survey of travel companies, as one of the UK's top two Tour Operators and the most outstanding of all in terms of value for money - by some considerable margin.

Riviera Travel offers European and Worldwide Escorted Tours by Eurostar and by Air.

This supplier's reviews:

Call: 0844 571 1980

Offer Code: The Independent website

The code must be quoted at time of booking to receive offer prices

independent@rivieratravel.co.uk