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Discover and explore authentic India through travel, cultural immersion and community engagement! The first three weeks of this exhilarating road trip will be spent traveling through the diverse states of the region, and the final week will be spent volunteering in the stunning beach communities of Goa.
Itinerary:
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (DEL). Participants will be picked up from the airport and taken to a guesthosue in New Dehli.
Week One: Delhi, Shimla & Dharamsala
Day 1, Monday: Participants will take a 10-hour UNESCO train ride from New Delhi to Shimla. Overnight at a guesthouse in Shimla.
Day 2, Tuesday: Participants will go on a hertiage walk around Shimla, visiting various temples. In the evening, travelers take a two-hour bus to a local village in the Himalayan Mountains. Overnight in a homestay.
Day 3, Wednesday: Travelers will embark on a seven-hour trek up a hill that is 3100 meters high for a view of the Himalayan Mountain Range. Upon descent, participants will be driven back to the Shimla guesthouse.
Day 4, Thursday: Travelers will embark on a walk through the Deodar Forests to see historical temples and monuments. Participants will then take a nine hour bus to Dharamshala, the abode of Buddhist monks. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 5, Friday: Participants will have breakfast before visiting a Buddhist monastery, exploring a waterfall in the mountains and walking throughout the markets.
Day 6, Saturday: After an early breakfast, traveler will travel by bus to Amritsar, check-in to a hotel and have some time to relax. Participants will visist the famous Gold Temple heritage site in the evening.
Day 7, Sunday: Travelers will take an 11-hour train to Agra. Upon arrival in the evening, partcipants will check into a hotel next to the Tag Mahal and have the evening free.
Week Two: Agra & Udapair
Day 8, Monday: Participants will have the chance to experience sunrise at the Taj Mahal. In the afternoon, travelers will spend the afternoon by the Yamuna River before taking a train to Udapair.
Day 9, Tuesday: Free day in Udapair.
Day 10, Wednesday: Participants will visit a local outdoor market to purchase vegetables for the Indian cooking lesson! Following lunch, travelers will visit a model desert village to see traditional Rajasthani art and culture. Participants will catch the sunset at Monsoon Palace!
Day 11, Thursday: Today travelers will visit ancient temples near Udapair and take an overnight bus to Jaisalmer.
Day 12, Friday: Travelers will take a jeep safari throughout the desert! Overnight stay in tents under the starry desert sky.
Day 13, Saturday: Participants will return to the city of Jaisalmer, visit a Haveli and spend time in a beautiful lake! Participants will take an overnight bus back to Udapair.
Day 14, Sunday: Arrive into Udapair and have a free morning. Travelers will go to watch a Bollywood movie in the center and stay overnight in Udapair.
Week Three: Mumbai & Goa
Day 15, Monday: Free mronign and afternoon. Overnight bus to Mumbai.
Day 16, Tuesday: Participants will get to explore Bollywood today! See the costumes, stages and everything else before enjoying a free evening in Mumbai.
Day 17, Wednesday: Enjoy a trip to the Gateway of India and a boat ride in the Arabian Sea to visit the Elephanta caves! Free evening in Mumbai.
Day 18, Thursday: Participants will take an early train to a volunteer house in Goa and enjoy a day at the Anjuna beaches!
Day 19, Friday: Travelers will visit a lovely waterfall and have a tour of a spice plantation. Participants will have a free night to spend how they wish.
Day 20, Saturday: On this day, participants will visit Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage site for visits to old churches and sites, do yoga and have an Ayurvedic massage.
Day 21, Sunday: Free day for travelers to explore Goa.
Week Four : Goa Volunteering Week
Days 22-26, Monday-Friday: Volunteers will spend each of these days working on both construction/ renovation programs and working with children in a migratory school program.
Day 27, Saturday: Free day in Goa.
Day 28, Sunday: The adventure ends on this day. Travelers will arrange their transportation to Goa International Airport (GOI) for departure.
Please note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Flights, visa (required). travel health insurance, some lunches, personal expenses
On this adventure of a lifetime, you will witness and experience firsthand, the incredible diversity of India. This road trip takes you through several different regions; from the foothills of the Himalayas, to the vibrant cities of Delhi, Dharamsala and Rajasthan, and the beautiful and relaxing beaches of Goa. On this trip you will get to see everything that India is best known for – colorful and bustling streets, awe-inspiring temples and delicious food – as well as see what lies off the beaten path.
Aside from the must-see tourist destinations, you will also visit local communities where you will have the chance to volunteer while learning about their lives and culture.
Your volunteering will take place in Goa during the last week of your trip. Below is the description of both the child care program and the community aid program you will be involved in.
Slums Outreach Project: Many of the children living in the slums around Goa cannot afford to go to school. This project aims to organize fun, educational activities for these children in order to inspire them to learn and give them some much needed attention. You’ll play games and sports, sing songs and do some arts-and-crafts, all aimed at teaching English to the children while giving them the attention and love they need and deserve.
Schools Renovation: Volunteers will help to ensure a positive learning environment through renovation and beautification of local schools. Tasks vary depending on the need of the school in which you are placed, and may include painting, decoration, construction and groundskeeping activities.
Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:
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