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Day 1
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Depart San Francisco or Los
Angeles via Singapore Airlines
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Day 2
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Arrive Singapore. Overnight
rest stop.
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Day 3
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Sep 05 After a leisurely
morning, depart for New Delhi. Taj Palace Hotel or similar.
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Day 4
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Sep 06 Sightseeing of New
Delhi. Welcome to India reception tonight. BD
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Day 5
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Private motor coach to Agra,
home of the Taj Mahal. A visit to the Taj Mahal is planned
for tonight, by full moon. Hotel Jaypee Palace. BD
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Day 6
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After breakfast and additional
sightseeing, drive back to New Delhi.
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Day 7
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Early morning transfer to the
airport for flight to Leh. Though the history of Ladakh goes
back to 399 A.D, it really has only been open since 1974.
All day for rest and acclimatization to the high altitude.
Hotel Singgi Palace or similar.
Leh is located at the
tri-junction of the historic silk route from Sinkiang to
West Asia and to the plains of Asia. BLD
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Day 8
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After breakfast, depart for a
full day excursion to Shey, once the summer palace of kings
of Ladakh dating from the 17th century; Thiksey’s gompa
looks like a miniature of the Potala Palace in Lhasa; Hemis
is the most famous of all monasteries in Ladakh and contains
some of the region’s finest art treasures. BLD
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Day 9
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Today’s sightseeing includes
Tsemo and Leh Palace. In the afternoon, visit Spituk and
Stok Palace. Spituk has a commanding view of the River Indus
and a fine collection of ancient masks and thangkas. Stok
Palace is located across the river from Leh and has a
collection of beautiful royal costumes and jewellery,
exquisite thangkas, porcelain, jade, weapons and armor. BLD
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Day 10
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A nice and easy day with a
scenic float trip on the Indus; walking the bazaars of Leh
and if possible, visit a local family. BLD
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Day 11
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Lamayuru Gompa or Khardun Pass
excursion. BLD
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Day 12
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Early morning transfer to the
airport for your short flight to Srinagar, a city of lakes
and gardens and as the Mughals called it ‘paradise on
earth’. The Mughals also patronized the development of art
and crafts of the people of Kashmir, leaving behind a
heritage of exquisite artisanship. Deluxe Houseboats.
Afternoon, enjoy a shikara ride on the lake. BLD
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Day 13
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City sightseeing and shikara
ride. The onset of Autumn is perhaps Kashmir’s loveliest
season, when green turns to gold and then to russet and red.
Day temperatures should be in the low 70’s during the day
and 50’s at night. BLD
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Day 14
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Excursion to Gulmarg – the
journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there
– roads bordered by rice fields, picturesque villages,
maroon chilies drying on the windows of village homes, fir
covered hillsides – as you get closer to the snow-covered
mountains. BLD
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Day 15
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Excursion to Pampore area, one
of two places in the world where saffron is grown. Enjoy a
wazawan tonight, a Kashmiri banquet usually reserved for
weddings. Enjoy the best of Kashmiri food – mutton,
chicken, spinach, fish, lotus root, seekh kababs, meat
balls, roganjosh, roasted potatoes in gravy and more! BLD
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Day 16
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After a leisurely morning,
transfer to the airport for a short flight to New Delhi. A
day room will be arranged, along with a special farewell
luncheon. Late evening departure for Singapore and continue
to San Francisco or Los Angeles. BL
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Day 17
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Arrive Singapore, connect to
San Francisco or Los Angeles.
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