Grand Tour of India, Nepal and the Himalayas

We fly to Amritsar via Doha.

We arrive in Amritsar and transfer to our hotel for the night. After time to freshen up, we visit the Wagah Border, which separates Pakistan and India, to witness the Beating Retreat Ceremony, a unique and unusual military concert and lowering of flags held every day at sunset.

We enjoy a guided tour of Amritsar, exploring with a local guide to see the Golden Temple, a resplendent building with a gilded façade and ornate carvings decking its inner walls. We also visit the poignant Jallianwala Bagh Gardens and memorial site, which commemorates the 1919 massacre of residents by British troops. Committed on the festival of Baisakhi, there's a museum on the site that teaches us more about the history of this atrocity. Afterwards, we board the train to Delhi, arriving in the evening for a two-night stay.

Today includes a full-day sightseeing tour of both the old and new parts of the Indian capital. We begin exploring the colourful and aromatic market streets of Old Delhi before taking a traditional rickshaw ride through the vibrant bazaar for a better insight into local life here. Continuing to New Delhi, we discover impressive colonial architecture, leafy avenues and government buildings, a distinct contrast to the traditional atmosphere of Old Delhi. We make stops at the President's House, Parliament House and India Gate, as well as visiting Qutab Minar and the tomb of Humayun.

We join the Gatimaan Express bound for Agra this morning. On arrival, we visit the imposing Agra Fort, built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. Built on a hill above Agra, its centrepiece is a tower with a marble balcony where Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last days imprisoned. Inside the fort are some of the most exquisite specimens of Mughal architecture, including the Moti Masjid. Later, we travel across the city to the spectacular Taj Mahal, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Built by Shah Jahan in 1653 in memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, this famous white marble building is a true monument to undying love and is considered to be the world's finest example of Mughal and Persian architecture.

Boarding our coach this morning, we drive to Lucknow for two nights, a historic city that played an important role both during the Mughal and colonial periods. This sprawling yet exhilarating metropolis has long been regarded as the cultural and artistic heart of northern India. Lucknow and the state of Uttar Pradesh are the origins of elaborate Mughal cuisine, including varieties of tikkas, biriyanis and kebabs that are now popular across the world. You may like to sample the original and best at Aminabad market in the old part of the city. This is also a good spot to find examples of the Chikan embroidery for which Lucknow is famous. Chowk, also in the old city, is another ancient market and specialises in handicrafts, ornaments, toys, clothes and shoes.

Today, we visit the famous La Martiniere Boys' School, founded by an endowment from Major General Claude Martin of the British Empire. We also see the magnificent Bada Imambara, home to both a mosque and a labyrinth said to have 1000 different passageways, as well as the British Residency. Built in 1800 to house the British Resident General, following the annexation of the former Indian state of Awadh by the British East India Company in 1857, it became the site of a bloody siege following an Indian rebellion. The Residency's buildings and gardens have been preserved as they were at the time of the siege, with the bullet holes, cannon damage and other battle scars remain untouched.

Our final long-distance train journey takes us to Varanasi, a sacred city to the Hindus that attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. After checking into our hotel, this evening we watch a spectacular Aarti fire ceremony, an elaborate Hindu ritual. Priests carry tiered metal lamps, moving rhythmically to the sounds of sacred Hindu songs as the flames sway in unison creating an entrancing ambience.

Early this morning, we take to the water for a cruise along the holy River Ganges, admiring the sun as it spreads its first orange hues on the slate-coloured water. We then take an excursion to Sarnath, where Buddha is said to have given his first sermon and which now, understandably, holds great significance for Buddhists. This afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Delhi.

Returning to the airport, we board our flight to Kathmandu in Nepal, checking into our hotel for two nights on arrival.

Visiting the neighbouring town of Patan, we listen to a master create music with singing bowls, an experience that has deep spiritual connotations in Buddhist culture. Later, we return to Kathmandu for a sightseeing tour, exploring its multiple city squares, where locals gather throughout the day, the erstwhile royal square and Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world, before taking a rickshaw ride to Thamel, a lively part of the city. Tonight, we dine at the well-known Rum Doodle restaurant. Once a hangout for brave mountaineers, here we chat to a local Sherpa as they relive their experiences of climbing Mount Everest.

This morning we visit the Swayambhunath Stupa ahead of our journey to Chitwan National Park. After checking into our hotel for two nights, we enjoy a talk from a local naturalist about the wildlife that we might see over the next couple of days. Next, we walk to a nearby village populated by the Tharu People. Here, we learn about their unique way of life and culture. Most Tharu practice agriculture, raise cattle, hunt, fish and collect forest products, although the five higher status clans claim to be of royal descent. Although they are Hindu, the Tharu practice their own unique rituals, with each village being governed by a council and a headman.

We visit a gharial, or Indian crocodile breeding centre, a site where this endangered species is bred and monitored to prevent extinction. After lunch, we take a wonderful Jeep safari through the jungles and grasslands of Chitwan National Park. Famous for its biodiversity, we may spot the Indian Rhino stalking its way through the wetlands and grassy plains, Bengal tigers, leopards, hyenas and even a sloth bear or two. Asian elephants and golden jackals also call this savanna home, and our expert guide will be able to follow animal trails and use their local knowledge to try and get us the best possible chances of a sighting.

We drive into the Himalayas today, passing glacial rapids and jungle-covered mountains on our way to Pokhara for three nights. With staggering views of Fishtail Peak, also known as Machapuchare, this is one of the world's most scenic and sacred destinations.

With a free day, you may like to experience a little of what this region is famous for - mountain hiking. While there are plenty of advanced treks in the area, for something a little more easy going, you could visit the World Peace Pagoda at the top of Anadu Hill. Begin by taking a local boat across Phewa Lake, where you can pick up the trail to the summit for a walk through beautiful woodland which takes around one hour to complete. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Pokhara straight to the top. Built in 1973 by Japanese Buddhist monks, once you reach the World Peace Pagoda, you can drink in views across the Annapurna Massif, Pokhara and Phewa Lake.

We drive up to Sarangkot, a mountain viewpoint that offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience - witnessing the sunrise over snow-clad Annapurna, one of the highest mountain ranges in the world. After breakfast back at our hotel, we explore Pokhara on a guided tour, visiting the Gorkha Museum, the Old Bazaar and a Tibetan settlement where we experience some of the country's ancient cultural traditions. In the afternoon, we enjoy a cruise across the tranquil waters of Lake Phewa, admiring the panoramic scenery of lofty mountains and the forested slopes of Anadu Hill which encircle us.

We return to the Nepalese capital for a final night's stay.

We transfer to the airport for our flight back to the UK, travelling via Doha.