India & Nepal, Air/13 Nights, From $2,299

The Real Deal Round-trip airfare on Air India to New Delhi; 13 nights' accommodations; buffet breakfast daily; one dinner at a local restaurant; high tea with an Indian family; all local transportation and transfers, including a train ride from Agra to Jhansi and three local flights on Air India (from Khajuraho to Varanasi, from Varanasi to Kathmandu, and from Kathmandu to New Delhi); guided sightseeing tours; entrance fees; the services of an English-speaking tour director; fuel surcharges; and hotel taxes, from $2,299 per person—plus airport taxes and fees of $130.

When Sept. 16, 2009; add $200 for Oct. 21, 2009, Apr. 7, 2010; $300 for Nov. 4, 18, Dec. 9, 2009, Jan. 13, 27, Feb. 10, Mar. 10, 24, 2010; $600 for Dec. 12, 2009.

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India (Peter Adams/Corbis) [enlarge photo]

Gateways New York City. Departures from other U.S. cities are not available, but travelers can book a connecting flight to New York City.

The Fine Print The $300 to $400 per person savings is reflected in the starting rate. Airport taxes and fees are an additional $130 per person. The $28 Delhi international departure tax is to be paid locally in local currency. Friendly Planet recommends buying optional travel insurance, which ranges from $99 to $159 per person, depending on the total cost of the trip. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $1,050 for Apr. 15 and $1,099 for all other departure dates. To book, refer to tour code d-1239895. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By June 26, 2009; add $300–$400 (depending on date of travel) for bookings made after that date.

Contact Friendly Planet Travel, 800/555-5765, friendlyplanettravel.com.

Why It's a Deal By making your reservations by June 26, you'll save $300 to $400 per person. To put the cost and value of the package in perspective, we ran a quick search on Kayak, which showed that the lowest round-trip flights between New York and New Delhi for travel in mid to late September is $755 with taxes (Northwest). For an additional $1,674, the Friendly Planet Travel special covers international airfare and 13 nights' accommodations, some meals, all local transportations—including train, boat, and three local flights—guided sightseeing, entrance fees, and most taxes. Plus, you get the convenience and reassurance of booking all the details through a tour operator.

Tour Itinerary Start with a bus tour of Old and New Delhi that stops at the Laxmi Narayan Temple; Raj Ghat (a memorial to Mohandas K. Gandhi); the red-sandstone-and-marble Jama Masjid, known as the Friday Mosque; the 234-foot sandstone tower called Qutub Minar; India Gate; the Parliament building; and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, which is the president's residence. Then take the bus to Jaipur—nicknamed the Pink City for its pink stucco architecture—to visit the beehive-like Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal), the Amber Fort overlooking Moat Lake (including a jeep or elephant ride to the fortress, depending on availability), the City Palace, and the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory. Then drive to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, the Hall of Public Audience and Royal Pavilions, and have high tea with a local family. Hop on an early morning Shatabdi Express train from Agra to Jhansi, then continue by bus to the town of Orchha and the temple complex in Khajuraho. Take a short flight from Khajuraho to Varanasi on the west bank of the Ganges River to witness an evening aarti ceremony at the Assi Ghat, enjoy a cruise on the Ganges—stopping at the most important of the bathing ghats—and visit the Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Shiva. Fly from Varanasi to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, where you'll enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city and its temples during your three-night stay before flying back to Delhi.

Lodging Two nights each at the Lalit New Delhi, the Ramada Jaipur, the Jaypee Palace Hotel and Convention Centre in Agra, and the Taj Hotel Chandela in Khajuraho. One night at the Taj Hotel Ganges on the Nadesar Palace in Varanasi. Three nights at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Kathmandu-Soaltee. One night back at the Lalit New Delhi.

More A flight over Mount Everest can be booked for an additional $190 per person. You can add pre- and post-tour nights in Delhi at the Lalit New Delhi for $230 per room per night.

Before You Go U.S. citizens need a passport and an entry visa for India; the visa can be booked through Travisa Outsourcing for $73 per person. The visa for Nepal is granted upon arrival in Kathmandu and costs $30 per person. Note that visa fees are not paid to Friendly Planet. For travel information and tips, visit the official tourism websites of India and Nepal.

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