2020 GeoEx Catalog

DAVID LAZAR

FromTaj toTiger TOURING | 12 DAYS, OR 14 WITH OPTIONAL VARANASI EXTENSION · GROUP AND CUSTOM

We delve into the wilds of Ranthambore National Park, haven for a quickly multiplying congregation of Royal Bengal tigers (among other elegant creatures), while savoring tented luxury at the award-winning Oberoi Vanyavilas. Finally it’s on to Agra for an uncrowded look at the ineffable Taj. “The gem of man’s handiworks,” Lord Curzon called it, “without aw or blem- ish, exquisite, irresistible, impossible to criticize, incapable of improvement, the most perfect structure in the world.” Those not ready to leave this compelling country can add two days in Varanasi, Hindu- ism’s most important pilgrimage site, for explorations including a stirring, misty, early-morning look into the soul of India from a boat on the sacred Ganges.

W  hen we refer to a trip like From Taj to Tiger as a classic , we mean that, first, it was inspired by our fondness for the places it visits and, second, because so many GeoEx travelers over the years have fallen in love with those places. We’re privileged to be in the business of presenting these kinds of stupendously colorful, gloriously engaging, unforgettably interesting trips. From Taj to Tiger intertwines thoughtful stops at some of India’s most compelling sights and monuments with game viewing at one of the country’s preeminent wildlife parks. (Our group size is considerably smaller than that of other companies’ ostensibly similar trips, we stay in abso- lutely top-notch hotels throughout, and our leaders are the toppest-notch in India or anywhere.) After a good look at Delhi, we fly to the state of Rajasthan, initially to explore Udaipur, the City of Sun- rise, and then to join locals in the ancient village of Narlai to celebrate the much-anticipated and enthusiastically fêted Holi or Diwali Festival. We take in the expressive Jain temples of Ranakpur before wandering for a day or so in Jaipur—“bustling, monkey- lled, oleander pink toytown capital of Rajasthan,” in the words of Louise Nicholson.

For north-to-south India explorations, see GeoEx.com

group trips from $9970 oct. 23–nov. 3, 2019 (with diwali festival); mar. 5–16, 2020 (with holi festival); nov. 9–20, 2020 (with diwali festival) also offered as custom trip oct.–apr.

Day 1  arrive in Delhi ✦  2  explore Delhi ✦  3  fly to Udaipur ✦ 4  Udaipur sightseeing ✦  5  drive to Narlai ✦  6  Holi or Diwali Festival ✦  7  on to Jaipur ✦  8  discover Jaipur ✦  9  drive to Ranthambore National Park ✦  10  game viewing ✦  11  to Agra by train and road ✦ 12  return to Delhi, depart.

You have to see India to believe it.

ABOVE  The Taj Mahal at sunrise. “We know the Taj’s history, almost stone by stone,” wrote Enrique Ortiz, “but that no more explains it than a treatise on music explains Mozart.”

kathleen b., troy, mi

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INDIA