Dazzling Dubai & India Express

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Overview

Featuring	Exhilarating and electric Dubai; plus explore the lost empires & current culture of India in Delhi, Agra, the Taj Mahal & the pink city of Jaipur
Style	Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of 15-24 likeminded travelers escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. More of these packages 24 travelers max, tour escorts & guides for some segments
Departures	Scheduled Dates; select from 9 open departures, January – September 2018
Price Includes	Flights Coach Transfers Hotel Meals Guides Round trip flights via Emirates including fuel surcharges, taxes and fees 9 nights accommodations in deluxe and superior first class hotels Breakfast daily plus 1 lunch & 1 dinner All transfers and ground transportation Guided panoramic tour of Dubai Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees in India Professional, English-speaking tour director in India
Optional	Exciting optional excursions in Dubai and India Optional day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
Highlights	Enjoy an independent stay in Dubai Ride by bicycle rickshaw in Delhi Enjoy a sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal in Agra Marvel at the Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri Village See the Amber Fort in Jaipur
Departs	New York Kennedy (JFK); other gateways on request (flight schedule)
Themes	History & Culture
What to Expect	This moderately-paced, partially escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations, sometimes on bumpy unpaved roads and may have limited rest stops.
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Prepare to be dazzled twice on this innovative tour package to Dubai and India. Dubai is home to the world’s tallest building, a man-made island archipelago created for luxury living and vacationing, an indoor ski resort complete with ski lift, plenty of fine dining, and an ancient culture that has leapt from desert tent to skyscraper condo in less than 50 years.

In India, you’ll explore the "Golden Triangle", from fascinating and exotic Delhi, to Agra and the Taj Mahal, the world's most famous and lovely monument to love, to Jaipur, the "pink city," full of lavish mansions and palaces.

But don't wait to reserve your place. Space is definitely limited, and at these prices, it will surely sell out fast!

Dates, Prices & Options

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA

• Check in for your overnight flight to Dubai

Day 2: Dubai

Accommodations: 3 nights JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai.

• Arrive in Dubai, meet our representatives, and transfer to your centrally located hotel
• NOTE: The flight from Washington D.C. Dulles (IAD) arrives early in the morning in Dubai (around 8AM). Check-in at the hotel is at 3PM. If you wish to check-in immediately please add early check-in to your reservation.

Day 3: Dubai

Included meals: Breakfast.

Enjoy a guided panoramic tour of Dubai -- see the highlights of this amazing place

The balance of the day is at leisure in one of the most dazzling cities in the world, or join several exciting optional excursions

Optional Excursion: Half Day Dubai City Tour, $65. Today's exciting optional morning tour will take you to picturesque Dubai Creek, which the Ancient Greeks called the River Zara. The first settlements by the Bani Yas tribe were along its banks, and later it served as a port for ships coming from as far as India and East Africa. Today, this saltwater creek divides the modern city into two parts, Deira on the north and Bur Dubai to the south, and remains a busy waterway both for traditional dhows and sleek luxury yachts. This is your first photo opportunity with a magnificent panorama of the city and its amazing futuristic skyline.

Next stop is the Bastakiya district, where traditional courtyard houses, with characteristic wind towers that cleverly catch the breezes to cool the houses, line the narrow alleys. Many of the houses in this picturesque area of Dubai, previously home to the city's merchants, have been lovingly restored by proud locals who wish to preserve the unique ambience of the district.

Continue to the Dubai Museum, housed in the massive, restored Al Fahidi Fort. Inside, lifelike dioramas offer a fascinating view of life in Dubai before the discovery of oil. You'll learn the importance of the date palm to the desert culture, the maritime traditions of fishing and pearl-diving, boat building and much more. Take a walk through the bustling, exotic souks, where you'll find beautiful and bargain-priced textiles, spices and gold. Another highlight of your city tour is a chance to take one of Dubai's most reliable and inexpensive forms of transportation, the Abra water taxi.

Your coach will bring you back to your hotel.

Optional Excursion: Burj Khalifa, $59. In the afternoon, you may choose to independently visit the Burj Khalifa (formerly known as Burj Dubai), officially opened in 2010 as the tallest building in the world. This miracle of international cooperation and coordination houses a luxury Armani hotel, offices of some of the world's most successful companies, and for a lucky few, homes that are as high as the clouds. Take in sweeping views of the city from the breathtakingly high "At the Top" observation deck.

Optional Excursion: Desert Safari & BBQ Dinner, $90. For those in the mood for adventure, in the late afternoon, set out on an optional desert safari tour, where you'll discover the vastness and stark beauty of the sand dunes that surround Dubai. You'll also enjoy a BBQ dinner and live belly dancing entertainment on this exciting optional tour.

Day 4: Dubai

Included meals: Breakfast.

• Relax and explore on your own, or join an optional excursion to Abu Dhabi

Optional Excursion: Full Day Abu Dhabi, $120. Today, see another sophisticated city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Enjoy a panoramic view of Jebel Ali, the largest man-made port, en route to the iconic symbol of Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Later, drive along the sweeping curve of the Corniche, replete with parks and fountains, from which you'll enjoy a contrast of modern skyscrapers against the sparkling waters of the Persian Gulf. Visit the Heritage Village, and learn about the history of Abu Dhabi in a reconstructed oasis. Walk through the open-air museum and see craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills. Later, visit the Zayed House, home of the late Sheikh Zayed, the founder and first president of the UAE. Stop at Yas Island, where the Ferrari World theme park and Formula 1 race track are located. Return to Dubai.

Optional Excursion: Dhow Dinner Cruise, $85 (purchased locally). This evening, we recommend an optional dinner cruise by dhow boat on the Dubai Creek. A magnificent view of both sides of Dubai Creek illuminated by night adds to the charm of this wonderful way to experience Dubai.

Day 5: Dubai & Delhi

Accommodations: 2 nights Shangri-La Eros Hotel, Delhi. Included meals: Breakfast.

• Transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi
• Upon arrival, you'll be met and escorted to your hotel

Day 6: Old & New Delhi

Included meals: Breakfast.

• Full day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi
• Ride by bicycle rickshaw to Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque

Full Day Itinerary: After buffet breakfast at the hotel, board your coach to explore Old and New Delhi. Sprawling on the banks of the river Yamuna, bustling Delhi typifies the soul of India, where many layers of civilizations have flourished for more than 3,000 years.

Begin at the modern Laxmi Narayan Temple, built in honor of the Hindu goddess of wealth, Laxmi, and of her consort, Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu Trinity. Popularly known as the Birla Temple for the noted industrialist family which built it, Laxmi Naryan Temple was one of the first major Hindu places of worship open to the lower caste Harijans (untouchables). Continue to Raj Ghat, the memorial to Gandhi, built at the site of his cremation on the banks of the Yamuna River. Drive past the magnificent Red Fort, built in 1648 as a symbol of Mughal's power.

Later, ride by bicycle rickshaw to the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, it was completed in 1656 after six years of work by 5,000 laborers. The impressive marble and red sandstone edifice is considered one of the loveliest houses of worship in the world and contains a collection of important relics. It can accommodate 25,000 worshipers and still serves as one of the primary mosques in Old Delhi.

Next, you'll marvel at the Qutab Minar, the world's tallest free standing minaret at 72.5 m (238 ft), and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Qutab Minar's origins are shrouded in mystery; some say it was erected as a victory tower to indicate Islamic rule over the country, while others believe it is simply an ornate minaret used to call the faithful to prayer. Whatever the reason, the five-story tower was exquisitely constructed of sandstones and marble obtained from the destruction of 27 Hindu Temples. Here you'll also find the Iron Pillar, a curiosity thought to date from 5th century A.D., which has never rusted.

Sightseeing continues in New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind. You'll see the India Gate, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The 42 meter high structure is a war memorial for the Indian soldiers who died in World War I and the Afghan Wars. Burning in a shrine under the arch is the Amar Jawan Jyoti (the flame of the immortal warrior), which marks the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Proceed to the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President's residence.

Day 7: Delhi & Agra

Accommodations: 2 nights Trident Agra. Included meals: Breakfast.

• Drive to Agra
• Remainder of the day at leisure in Agra

Full Day Itinerary: After a good night's sleep and breakfast, drive to Agra, an ancient city that came into prominence in Medieval times under the Mughal rulers and was once the capital of a sprawling Mughal kingdom covering much of southeast Asia. Check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 8: Agra

Included meals: Breakfast.

• Sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal
• Remainder of the day at leisure, or join optional excursions

Full Day Itinerary: This morning you'll rise early to enjoy an awesome sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal, truly one of the wonders of the world. Built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj took 22 years and 20,000 men to build, its white marble quarried 200 miles away and transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Though the Taj is known for its stunning symmetry and balance, it is the close-up marble inlay work which is really astounding. You'll have ample time to explore this outstanding piece of architecture, and to wander the pristine gardens that surround it.

Optional Excursion: Agra Fort, $25. Visit the splendid Agra Fort, built by and inhabited by six successive generations of Mughal emperors—Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Though often eclipsed by the Taj Mahal, this sprawling fortress, more accurately described as a massive walled palatial city, is magnificent in its own right, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was here that Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb, and from the Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony, Jahan watched the continuing construction of his Taj Mahal until his death.

Optional Excursion: Itmad-Ud-Daulah & Sikandra, $25. This tour takes you to Itmad-Ud-Daulah, known as the "Baby Taj," the first Mughal structure totally built from marble. In addition, visit the Sikandra, the sandstone and marble tomb of Akbar which blends Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Christian motifs and styles, and other interesting sites.

Day 9: Agra, Abhaneri Village & Jaipur

Accommodations: 2 nights Trident Jaipur. Included meals: Breakfast & lunch.

• Visit Abhaneri Village and see the Chand Baori stepwell
• Continue to Jaipur and check into your hotel

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, depart for Abhaneri Village, a popular stop along the Agra-Jaipur road for the impressive Chand Baori stepwell and the Harshat Mata Temple. The Chand Baori is perhaps the region’s most visited stepwell and is one of the largest and deepest in all of India. These stepwells were created to harvest rain water and also provided the locals a place to cool off during the hottest summer months as the temperature is a few degrees cooler at the bottom of the well than at its surface. After some exploration, continue to Jaipur, stopping en route at the Umaid Lake Resort for an included lunch. Arrive in Jaipur and check into your hotel.

Day 10: Jaipur

Included meals: Breakfast.

• Morning tour of Jaipur, including the Hawa Mahal and the Amber Fort
• Afternoon at leisure

Full Day Itinerary: This morning's tour starts with a stop at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). Its beehive-like structure is an interplay of red and pink sand stone, painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs. Behind this elaborate latticed facade, the cloistered ladies of the court could watch the daily goings-on in the street below.

Then, continue to the imposing Amber Fort, ancient capital of Rajasthan. The fort was begun in the 17th century by Maharaja Mansingh, Emperor Akbar's most successful general. Perched atop the Aravalli hills overlooking the Moat Lake, the fort's fortified battlements and crenellated walls spread over many acres. Ascend to the fortress by jeep or elephant (if available) to view the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls, many of them hung with magnificent paintings and inlaid with precious stones.

This afternoon, explore the markets and lanes of Jaipur on your own. Known as the Pink City, Jaipur is India's first and perhaps best planned city, full of beauty and color. Here you find magnificent palaces and gardens, serene lakes, and wide tree-lined streets. Except for the busy traffic of bicycles, cars and buses, little seems to have changed since 1727, when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II designed and built the city.

Optional Excursion: Jaipur City Tour including the City Palace & Jantar Mantar Observatory, $30. Take an optional excursion to some of the city's famous pink sandstone buildings, including the City Palace Museum, housing the magnificent art collections of the Maharajas of Jaiputo. At the entrance to the City Palace is Jantar Mantar, the largest of five observatories founded by classical astronomer Sawai Jai Singh II nearly three centuries ago. Its 14 massive masonry instruments are extraordinarily precise and were used for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars' location as the earth orbits around the sun ascertaining the declinations of planets, and more.

Day 11: Jaipur & Delhi

Included meals: Breakfast & dinner.

• Enjoy some free time in Jaipur for last minute shopping
• In the afternoon, drive to Delhi and transfer to the airport
• Enjoy an included dinner, then board your return flight home via Dubai

Day 12: Delhi/USA

• Your adventure ends today as you arrive in the USA

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In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

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