Day 1 – Arrival to Delhi

After your individual arrival in Delhi, you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel. The flight with Swiss International Air Lines arrives in Delhi at midnight, at around 00:45.

Day 2 – Fabulous Taj Mahal

After breakfast, drive to Agra (approx. 3-4 hours drive) and check into your hotel. Before sunset, head to the banks of the Yamuna River , just on time. From here you photograph the fabulous Taj Mahal in the beautiful soft light across the river.

The Great Mogul Shah Jahan had this imposing building built as a mausoleum for himself and his wife. Anyone entering the gardens for the first time is enraptured by the perfect harmony that results from the symmetry and detail executed down to the smallest detail. Both the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal are UNESCO World Heritage monuments.

Return to the hotel and dinner. Overnight stay in Agra.

Day 3 – From Agra to Ranthambhore

In the morning, visit the Taj Mahal to photograph it in the best light for sunrise. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast.

After check-out, the journey continues towards Ranthambhore. The drive takes about 5-6 hours.

Around evening you will reach Ranthambhore and check into your hotel. In the evening there will be a presentation with tips and tricks on wildlife photography. Dinner and overnight at Ranthambhore.

Day 4 – 7 – Ranthambhore National Park

During the following days you will go on game drives in the national park in the morning and afternoon. You will share a safari vehicle with another person. Only 2 persons in a vehicle gives you enough space to take pictures. The enchanting landscape of forests and grasslands offers excellent opportunities for game viewing. With a bit of luck, you will soon see and photograph the first tigers or other wildlife.

Ranthambhore National Park is one of the largest national parks in India. It is known for its regular and spectacular sightings of tigers. Besides, many other species of animals and more than 300 species of birds live in the park. Ranthambhore was a maharaja’s hunting ground until 1970 and has been a protected area ever since. The beautiful nature and landscape peppered with old, dilapidated maharajah palaces combined with the unbelievably diverse wildlife has something fairy-tale like about it and in some places is reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.

Dinner and overnight at Ranthambhore.

Day 8 – From Ranthambhore to Jaipur

After a relaxed breakfast, the journey continues to Jaipur. The journey takes about 3 hours. In the afternoon you reach Jaipur and check into your hotel.

Jaipur is also known as the “Pink City”. On the occasion of a visit by Prince Albert of England in the 19th century, all the houses in the old town had to be painted in the traditional colour of hospitality. Discover this vibrant city with your camera and photograph colourful bazaars, palaces and temples in the best light.

Towards evening, you will be out and about in the old bazaars of Jaipur, taking photos of the colourful and lively goings-on. The next motif is the famous Palace of the Winds, Hawa Mahal. You photograph the extraordinary building in the perfect light of the blue hour. Afterwards dinner and overnight in Jaipur.

Day 9 – Jaipur

Early in the morning, visit the majestic Amber Fort, towering high above Jaipur. Colourfully decorated elephants take tourists up to the fort. The interior of the fort offers numerous corridors and alleys and a magnificent hall of mirrors. The filigree carvings and enchanting wall paintings will delight you. Here you will find countless great motifs to photograph.

After visiting the Amber Fort, you drive to the City Palace. The imposing building is proof of the richness of Indian history. Walk with your camera through the numerous courtyards and discover the rare collection of valuable textiles, carpets, paintings and antique weapons in the museum.

Later, photograph the impressive palace by the lake. Jal Mahal will delight you in the most beautiful evening light. Afterwards, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – From Jaipur to Delhi

In the morning, photograph the colourful happenings at the motley flower market.

After check-out, travel back to Delhi. Dinner and overnight at a hotel near the airport.

Day 11 – Flight from Delhi to Varanasi

After breakfast, drive to the nearby airport and fly to Varanasi. Arrive in Varanasi and transfer to the hotel.

Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and is considered the holiest city in Hinduism. In Hindu mythology, Varanasi is considered the cosmic centre of the universe. No wonder Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India and attracts countless Hindu pilgrims who bathe here in the holy waters of the Ganges and perform funeral rituals. The city’s winding streets are lined with some 2,000 temples, including the “Golden Temple” Kashi Vishwanath, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

The American writer Mark Twain spoke of Varanasi as follows: “Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition, older than legends, and looks twice as old as all these things put together.”
Already this evening you are on your way to the Ganges to photograph the religious ceremonies there.

Afterwards, you will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 – Varanasi

You will spend the whole day in Varanasi photographing the spectacular scenery. You will take a boat tour in the morning to photograph the Hindus at their bathing ritual on the Ganges. You will also be out and about in the narrow streets and alleys of Varanasi, which offer great photo opportunities. At sunset, you will be at the Ganges once again to observe and photograph the exciting religious ceremonies that take place here every day.

Full of impressive experiences and certainly many great photos, you return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 13 – End of the photo tour

In the morning you have the last opportunity to photograph the pilgrims on the Ganges.

Afterwards, you will fly back to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, you will check into a hotel near the airport, where you will be offered a day room including dinner.

Later, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your onward journey home or start your journey individually The flight with Swiss International Airlines to Zurich departs after midnight at approximately 02.00 hrs.

National Parks Tiger Photo Safaris

The number of jeeps in the national parks is very limited. The corresponding permits must be booked well in advance. It is therefore necessary to book early for this trip.

Participants

On this trip you will be travelling with like-minded people who love nature and photography and want to deepen their own photography skills.

Language

The photo tour guide speaks German and English.

Fitness level

The trip does not require any special physical requirements. We will only go on short hikes or walks in the towns.

Climate

Due to India’s large north-south expanse, temperatures vary considerably from region to region. The southwest monsoon brings the necessary rains from June to the end of September, starting in southern India and moving up into the northern areas to Rajasthan. There are three clearly distinguishable seasons. The hot season from March to May, the rainy season from June to October and the temperate season from November to February. The average temperature over the year in Delhi, for example, is around 30 degrees Celsius, but it can reach around 40 degrees in May/June and drops to around 8 degrees in December/January. The months of December to March/early April are ideal for trips to India and tiger safaris.

Health

For travel to certain areas of India, malaria prophylaxis and the usual vaccinations are strongly recommended. Please seek advice from a tropical doctor, institute or your family doctor. In India, you should be careful with food and, for example, drink tap water and avoid ice cream on the streets and in markets. Ice cubes in drinks can also contain infectious germs. The same applies to unpeeled fruit, salad, raw meat and raw fish. The rule of thumb is: “cook it, peel it or leave it”. It is advisable to take an individually compiled first-aid kit (medicines for diarrhoea, pain, fever, stomach upset, cold, ointment, sunburn, disinfectant, mosquito repellent, plasters, bandages, throat tablets).

Use mosquito sprays, especially after dark, to protect yourself from mosquito bites. If you are dependent on certain medicines, you should take a sufficient supply with you from home. Before you leave, check whether your health insurance adequately covers medical treatment abroad.

Power / electricity

The electricity voltage is 220 volts. Power cuts are relatively frequent. In many cases, three-pin sockets are available, but an adapter (plug) is necessary for India.

Half double room

Single travellers can book half of a double room. If there is no other guest who wants to share the room, the single room surcharge will apply.

India Visa

The visa required to enter India must be obtained in advance from the Visa Service in Bern (or for French-speaking areas from the Consulate General in Geneva) or online.

Insurance

We strongly advise you to purchase insurance for cancellation and return journey costs, which will be needed in the event of a secluded region being evacuated, a local hospital stay or return travel costs to your home country.

Travel information FDFA

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) regularly publishes information on countries where there are potential security or other risks. The FDFA’s travel advice is based on its own sources of information that are considered to be trustworthy. This travel advice can be found on the FDFA website: www.eda.admin.ch

The Terms and Conditions

TCs of Amazing Views Adventure Tours apply, as well as all other conditions which are listed in the descriptions for the respective trips.

Prices

We reserve the right to change prices (especially due to exchange rate fluctuations).