My Secret Itinerary Revealed

I typically post all the details of my upcoming adventures before I depart. But since my next trip is a secret (which I previously wrote about), I’m not doing it this time. However, I do want to have a post that shows the complete itinerary for my upcoming trip to India and the Himalayas, so I’m writing it now, before I leave, and I will post it after I get home.

I’ll update it with any adjustments or modifications that may happen, and I’ll add my own photos.

Here, then, is my no-longer-secret itinerary.

Istanbul Stopover

I’m flying Turkish Airlines, and they offer free accommodations for a stopover in Istanbul. So I’m starting with three nights there.

I have been to Istanbul before, so this is time to see a few of the things I missed on my last visit, and to rest and relax and reset my internal clock. I’m sure I’ll also enjoy revisiting favorite places from my last visit in 2022.

Monday, November 3

Turkish Airlines TK 189
Depart MEX 05:30

Friday, November 7

Turkish Airlines TK 716
Depart IST 20:45

Heart of India

The first OAT tour of this trip is called Heart of India. This will be my tenth tour with OAT.

Saturday, November 8

Arrive DEL 05:15
Check in to Park Hotel New Delhi
India Gate

Sunday, November 9

Delhi
OAT welcome briefing
Bangla Sahib Sikh temple

Monday, November 10

Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb
Raj Ghat
Controversial topic: Hindu and Muslim relations in India
Lyuten’s Delhi
Welcome Dinner

Tuesday, November 11

Drive from Delhi to Jaipur
Jantar Mantar
City Palace
Check in to Lemon Tree Premier Jaipur
Home-hosted dinner

Wednesday, November 12

Jaipur
Amber Fort
Jhalana Leopard Safari Park

Thursday, November 13

Drive from Jaipur to Ranthambore
Check in to Nahargarh Hotel
Game-viewing drive in Ranthambore National Park

Friday, November 14

Ranthambore
Visit to school supported by Grand Circle Foundation
“A Day in the Life” of a local village
Dhonk Women’s Cooperative

Saturday, November 15

Ranthambore
Additional game-viewing drive
Drive to rural Rajasthan
Check in to Abhaneri Village Safari Camp

Sunday, November 16

Drive to Agra
Check in to Radisson Hotel Agra

Monday, November 17

Agra
Taj Mahal
Sheroes Hangout Cafe
Controversial Topic: Acid attacks against women
Agra Fort

Tuesday, November 18

Drive from Agra to Lucknow
Check in to Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar
Kathak dance academy visit

Wednesday, November 19

Lucknow
Bara Imambara
Old Lucknow
Kebab cooking lesson

Thursday, November 20

Drive from Lucknow to Varanasi
Check in to Taj Ganges Varansi
Boat ride and sacred light ceremony (aarti) on the Ganges River

Friday, November 21

Varanasi
Morning visit to the Ganges
Sarnath
Farewell dinner

Saturday, November 22

Fly from Varanasi to Delhi
Check in to Lemon Tree Premier Delhi Airport
End of tour

Free time in Delhi

Before my second OAT tour begins, I’ll have a few free days in Delhi for independent explorations. I’ve scheduled a few things and also allowed myself some time to rest and recharge before the next tour begins.

Sunday, November 23

Delhi
Free day for some possible museum visits:
Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
National Gallery of Modern Art
Maybe others

Monday, November 24

Delhi
The Great Indian Food Tour (Old Delhi Food and Heritage Tour)

Tuesday, November 25

Delhi
Art tour with Indian classical music and dance

Nepal and the Mystical Himalayas

The second OAT tour of my trip is primarily to Nepal. But on this trip, I’m doing a pre-trip to Bhutan and a post-trip to northern India.

Wednesday, November 26

Fly from Delhi to Paro, Bhutan
Drive to Thimphu
Check in to City Hotel Thimphu
Orientation walk and OAT Welcome Briefing

Thursday, November 27

Thimphu
Memorial Chorten
Buddha Dordenma
Textile Museum
Jungshi Paper Factory

Friday, November 28

Drive over Dochula Pass from Thimphu to Punakha
Punakha Dzong (Palace of Great Happiness)
Check in to Four Boutique Hotel

Saturday, November 29

Punakha
Chimi Lhakhang Monastery
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery

Sunday, November 30

Drive from Punakha to Paro
Rinpung Dzong
Check in to Metta Resort

Monday, December 1

Paro
Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest)

Tuesday, December 2

Fly from Paro to Kathmandu
Check into Radisson Hotel Kathmandu

Wednesday, December 3

Kathmandu
Mount Everest flight
Boudhanath Stupa
Conversation with a local woman who has climbed Everest

Thursday, December 4

Kathmandu / Patan
Meet the Kumari of Patan
Controversial topic: The restrictive childhood of Nepal’s Kumaris
Patan Durbar Square

Friday, December 5

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Drive and trek to the mountains
Check in to Tomijong Lodge

Saturday, December 6

Mountains
Hike to Patalekhet
Conversation about Nepal’s migrant workers

Sunday, December 7

Visit to Tanchok Primary School (supported by Grand Circle Foundation)
“A Day in the Life” in Majgaon Village

Monday, December 8

Trek and drive Pokhara
Paragliding
Check in to Temple Bell
Home-hosted dinner

Tuesday, December 9

Pokhara
Helicopter tour to Annapurna Base Camp
Canoeing on Phewa Lake

Wednesday, December 10

Drive to Seti Valley
White water rafting on the Seti River
Arrive at The Seti Camp

Thursday, December 11

Seti Valley
Hike to Kahare Village
Relaxation at the campsite

Friday, December 12

Seti Valley
Final leg of white water rafting on the Seti River
Drive to Chitwan
Check in to Kasara Chitwan Resort
Chitwan National Park

Saturday, December 13

Chitwan
Jeep safari in the National Park
Canoeing on the Rapti River

Sunday, December 14

Chitwan / Kathmandu
Visit with a survivor of a rhino attack
Fly to Kathmandu
Check in to Radisson Hotel Kathmandu
Pashupatinath Temple

Monday, December 15

Fly to Delhi
Check in to The Lalit

Tuesday, December 16

Delhi
Gandhi Smriti
Qutab Minar

Wednesday, December 17

Fly to Amritsar
Check in to Ramada by Wyndham Amritsar
Wagah ceremony at the Pakistani border

Thursday, December 18

Amritsar
Sri Harmandir Sahib

Friday, December 19

Drive from Amritsar to Dharamsala
Norbulingka Institute
Check in to Amritara Surya

Saturday, December 20

Dharamsala
McLeod Ganj
Namgyal Monastery

Sunday, December 21

Dharamsala
Naddi village visit
Home-hosted lunch

Monday, December 22

Fly to Delhi
Check in to Lemon Tree Premier Delhi Airport

Tuesday, December 23

Turkish Airlines TK 717
Depart DEL 06:55
Arrive IST 11:30

Wednesday, December 24

Turkish Airlines TK 184
Depart IST 02:15
Arrive MEX 08:00
Viva VB 1062
Depart MEX 13:30
Arrive GDL 14:45

I’m about to publish this post as I sit in the Business Class Lounge at Istanbul Airport, waiting for my flight back to Mexico. The trip is over. And it was amazing. Which you already know if you’ve been following along.