Essence of India & Vietnam

29 MAR – 15 APR, 2025

Delhi – Jodhpur – Manvar Desert Camp – Chhatrasagar – Jaipur –

Agra – Delhi – Hanoi – Yen Tu – Halong Bay – Hanoi

SEE BELOW FOR TOUR DETAILS

Overview

• Delhi ( The Claridges Hotel – 5 star heritage hotel – Heritage balcony room)
• Jodhpur ( Daspan House – Heritage hotel – Deluxe room )
• Manvar ( Camp Seva –  Deluxe tented camp – Deluxe tent )
• Nimaj ( Chhatrasagar – Luxury tented camp – Luxury tent )
• Jaipur  ( Shahpura House – Heritage hotel – Deluxe room )
• Agra ( Grand Mercure - 4 star hotel – Deluxe room )
• Delhi  ( Novotel Aerocity – Day use room – Deluxe room )
• Yen Tu ( Legacy Yen Tu – 5 star resort – Mountain view room )
• Halong Bay ( Apricot cruise – 4 star – Balcony cabin )
• Hanoi ( La Sinfonia del Rey – 4.5 star – Balcony suite )

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival / Delhi  Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight at The Claridges Hotel.

Day 2

Delhi This morning enjoy Old Delhi heritage walk and rickshaw ride. Visit Sikh temple and community kitchen. Afternoon at leisure. Welcome dinner. Overnight at The Claridges Hotel.

Day 3

Delhi / Jodhpur/ Manvar After breakfast transfer to domestic airport for flight to Jodhpur. Transfer to desert camp. Afternoon camp activities including Dune jeep safari and visit local villages. Evening cultural performance. Overnight at Manvar Tented Camp.

Day 4

Manvar / Jodhpur After breakfast depart desert camp for short drive to the famous ‘Blue city’ of Jodhpur. Leisure time before a heritage walk through the markets and street food sampling with local guide. Overnight at Daspan House hotel.

Day 5

Jodhpur Breakfast. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort and heritage walk through old Blue city. Visit local spice, handicraft and textiles stores. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight at the Daspan House hotel.

Day 6

Jodhpur / Chhatrasagar Breakfast time. Drive to the village of Nimaj and check into luxury tented camp, located on the banks of a reservoir and wildlife reserve. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy camp activities. Overnight at Chhatrasagar Tented Camp.

Day 7

Chhatrasagar / Jaipur Breakfast and check out. Drive to the the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur.  Rest of afternoon at leisure. Overnight at Shahpura House hotel.

Day 8

Jaipur Breakfast. This morning start the day with an exhilarating pink city auto rickshaw ride. Visit the Hawa Mahal and local markets. Afternoon at leisure. Early evening transfer to an Elephant wilderness camp, where you will encounter rescue elephants , feed, bathe and walk with them and enjoy a bush dinner under the stars. Return to hotel. Overnight at Shahpura House hotel.

Day 9

Jaipur / Agra Breakfast. Check out and drive to Agra, home of the iconic Taj Mahal. After some leisure time at hotel, you will visit the Taj Mahal for sunset. Overnight at the Grand Mercure hotel.

Day 10

Agra / Delhi Breakfast. Check out and visit the Agra Fort before heading to Delhi. Check in to airport hotel for leisure time before transfer to international airport for flight to Vietnam. Overnight onboard Vietnam Airlines flight.

Day 11

Delhi /Hanoi Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will transfer directly to the spectacular mountain region of Yen Tu. Check into luxury resort. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight at the Legacy Yen Tu.

Day 12

Delhi / Hanoi / Yen Tu Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will transfer directly to the spectacular mountain region of Yen Tu. Check into luxury resort. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight at the Legacy Yen Tu.

Day 13

Yen Tu Breakfast. Today you will have the opportunity to ride the cable cars up to the mountain to Dong Pagoda and view the Buddha statue. Time at leisure to enjoy the serenity of this mountain resort. Overnight at the Legacy Yen Tu.

Day 14

Yen Tu / Halong Bay Breakfast then check out and drive to Halong Bay and board your cruise boat for an overnight Halong Bay cruise experience. Overnight onboard Apricot Cruise vessel.

Day 15

Halong Bay / Hanoi Breakfast, check out and drive to Hanoi. Check in to hotel and time at leisure. Late afternoon, enjoy a special degustation dinner followed by the flag lowering ceremony. Overnight at the La Sinfonia del Rey hotel.

Day 16

Hanoi Breakfast. This morning, you will enjoy a very fun way to see the backstreets of Hanoi, onboard a Vespa bike ride (pillion) See the murals of Art street, visit a Buddhist temple and stop at a tea house to enjoy some local tea. Free afternoon then special fine dining farewell dinner. Overnight at the La Sinfonia del Rey hotel.

Day 17

Hanoi /Departure Breakfast. Mid-morning set of on a ‘foodie’ walking tour through old Hanoi and its myriad of street and food markets. Leisure time with late hotel check out until transfer to international airport for your onward flight. Overnight onboard flight to onward destination.

Prepare for your trip

 India is everything, and more, all at once.

It's a sensory potpourri; a visual explosion of bright saris, lumbering cows, marigolds, incense, spices and bursts of sunlight - where you're guaranteed to craft your very own Darjeeling Limited experience.

As for the language, Hindi isn't spoken by everyone in India - in fact there are more than 20 languages spoken throughout the country and English tends to serve as a common one.

A few Hindi phrases will definitely help along the way: "Namaskar" (hello), "shukriya" (thank you), "aap kaise hai" (how are you), "kitna hai" (how much) and "naam kya hai" (what's your name), may come in handy on your trip.

As for money, you'll be dealing in Indian rupees - there are about 55 rupees to each Aussie dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted, but make sure you know all your pin codes as signing has been phased out around the country.

Vietnam.

Vietnam, a country steeped in history and tradition, offers a myriad of experiences. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the tranquil waters of Ha Long Bay, each corner of this Southeast Asian gem exudes its distinct charm.

Experience the legendary hospitality of the Vietnamese people, known for their warmth and generosity. From the bustling markets to the remote villages, you’ll be welcomed with open arms and infectious smiles.

The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). All prices you’ll see in Vietnam will be listed in VND, minus some tour providers and at the airport.

Vietnamese is the main language spoken in Vietnam, although different ethnic minorities have their own languages as well. Some words to know: "Xin chào (Sin chow)" (hello), "Cảm ơn (Gam un)" (thank you), "Dạ/Không (Dza/Kong)" (Yes/No), "Tạm biệt (Tam biet)" (Goodbye) and "Một, Hai, Ba, YO!" (1, 2, 3, Cheers!).

WHERE TO SHOP

Vietnam is a shopper’s paradise. From big shopping malls to street stores, there is a wide variety on offer, such as clothes, silk and jewellery. Also, rich in crafts, from woodblock to weaving painting, Vietnam has it all. Top places for shopping include Street Night Markets, Supermarkets and Shopping Centres. Bargaining is a must-learn skill here, especially in some local markets. You will be surprised by how much you can put the prices down after bargaining successfully. Learning a few words in Vietnamese  will go a long way, even if it’s as simple as ‘chào’ (hi).

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All tours include domestic flights, accommodation, transport, air-conditioned mini coach with refreshments, sightseeing entrance fees, special tour events and activities, local guides, most meals and all-inclusive tipping to cover day to day general tipping and local driver and guide. Prices may be subject to currency fluctuation or surcharges.

As part of a conscious initiative to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles, TIKKA TOURS ground operator now provides alternatives to plastic bottled water. Re-usable metal water bottles with re-filling facility are part of our guest’s vehicles.

TOUR PRICE

17 Days / 16 Nights
$9,899 ( twin share per person )*
$3,400 ( single supplement )*
Fully escorted small group tour
( Based on 10–12 passengers )

*This price is for all land & domestic flights only.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT PRICE

Vietnam Airlines Economy class airfare from AUD$1,670 per person (subject to availability)

Please ask us about the upgrade cost to Business class on Vietnam Airlines.