| Northern India & The Maldive Islands You can choose either of these tours independently, or combine them for a an "India and Indian Ocean" trip of a lifetime! INDIA...Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle Without a doubt India is one of the most exotic and fascinating countries in the world, and the northwest province of Rajasthan is one of India’s best-loved regions. Steeped in tales of chivalry and romance, famous for its striking desert landscape and colorful festivals, Rajasthan brings alive its ancient and glorious history. From its legendary cities of Jodhpur and Jaipur, built by the mighty Rajput warriors, to its indigenous tribal and artisan communities, Rajasthan is a unique combination of royal and tribal India. The variety of its landscape is immense...the region is awash with awe-inspiring forts, sparkling palaces, soothing lakes and gardens, and exquisite temples and shrines. Once called Rajputana “abode of kings” until as recently as 1956 this vast land was separated into 22 states, each ruled by its own warrior-prince, called Rajput. When they were not fighting amongst themselves for power, wealth, and women, the Rajputs built the hundreds of forts, palaces, gardens and temples that make this region so enchanting. Come with us and travel this exotic region, you’ll meet the warm, wonderful people, experience the incredible cuisine, gaze on landscapes that jump right out of the pages of National Geographic, wander through impressive forts and opulent palaces, and see a part of the world that you never knew existed! On arrival you will be provided assistance at the airport followed by transfer to the hotel Vista Park. In the evening, you'll have a tour briefing by our local guide. If you are on the Maldives Diving Adventure after the India tour, your diving gear bags shall be picked up and shall be kept at with local operator until your return back to Delhi. Tonight is all about relaxing and recharging after your international flight. MARCH 03RD, 2013 DELHI to JODHPUR...THE BLUE CITY After breakfast, you'll have a transfer and assitance to the airport to connect to the flight to Jodhpur. In Jodhpur, you will be met at the airport on arrival followed by a transfer to the hotel Ajit Bhawan. The Ajit Bhawan Palace is the residence of the family of the Late General Maharaj Ajit Singh, younger brother of the late ruler, Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur. Built at the turn of the last century, this After freshening up, a local guide will meet us and off we'll go to explore Jodhpur, once the capital of the state of Marwar. Jodhpur is built tumbling down a low sandstone hill, right on the edge of the great Thar Desert. We'll see all of the most important and interesting places in Jodhpur today, including the Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, and the unbelievable Ummaid Bhawan Palace.
MARCH 04TH, 2013 BISHNOI VILLAGE and the GREAT THAR DESERT OF OSIAN After breakfast, our private local guide will pick us up for the drive to Luni. On arrival at the Fort, you'll get into Jeeps to go for a Village Safari through Luni, a traditional village of the Bishnoi people. You'll be amazed at their local handicrafts...shoe makers, pottery, and hand weaving. Bishnois are an integral part of this region, a very hard working and hospitable tribal community. It's fascinating to see village folk in their rustic and traditional attire and women clad in their ancestral silver jewelry. While in this area, you'll have a good chance to encounter and photograph wildlife such as black buck, chinkaras, peacocks etc., all endangered species protected by Bishnois. After the Village Safari, enjoy your Lunch at Fort Chanwa, a former Rajasthani palace. After Lunch, youll continue on to Osian, even deeper into the Great Thar Desert.. From there, you shall start your camel ride through the dunes…the only way to truly appreciate a breathtaking desert sunset is by camel! As a million stars burst into view over the clear desert landscape, you'll return to base camp and settle in to a wonderful traditional meal, fit for a maharajah...
MARCH 05TH, 2013 On arrival in Jaipur, the Pink City, check into the Shahpura House, previously the home of the rulers of the Shekhawat clan of Rajputs. The palace has been converted into a hotel and its doors have been flung open to visitors from all over the world. Rare among hotels it has remained a family home, where the members of the former ruling family welcome you personally as their honored guest. The house is a stunning display of traditional Rajput architecture of domes, frescoes, Mughal and Indian influences. Like many historic residences, it is a curious mixture of the old and the new. Tonight we have a special treat, as we'll leave the city to experience a bit of hospitality in the Rajasthani countryside at Chokhi Dhani village. Choki Dani has been the mirror of Rajasthani culture since 1989. Started as part of ambiance for a restaurant, over the years it has evolved as a tasteful and authentic symbol of ethnic village life of this most colorful state in the country. Today, the name of Chokhi Dhani is synonymous with Rajasthani culture throughout the country.
Today you'll explore one of the most historic and fascinating cities on the planet! Jaipur is a delightful mix of modern India and ancient empires...don't be surprised to see camels pulling carts on the main streets!Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and takes its name from Maharaja Jai Singh, who in the early 1700s became the king of amber at the age of 13. Architecture and astronomy were just a few of his many passions. He designed the bulk of his new capital with exquisite buildings of rose colored terra cotta, thus giving it the name of "the pink city". With pink and orange the dominant colors, the effect at dusk is pure magic! Another little know fact is that over 80% of the world's jewels come to Jaipur for cutting, polishing and inlay work, making Jaipur the world's leader in jewelry fabrication. India itself mines more emeralds, rubies, and lapis lazuli than anywhere else, and the jewelry made with these stones is exquisite! So of course while you're here you'll visit a local jewelry maker to learn how precious and semi precious And if that wasn't enough, you'll find that the world-famous textile shops of Jaipur have some of the most artistic and labor intensive pieces you've ever seen. The rich Indian fabrics lend themselves wonderfully to the intricate embroideries and patterns. High-end fashion houses from all over the western world come to India to purchase upscale textiles...you can pick them up for a fraction of what you'd pay in Paris or New York. For our meal tonight, we'll join a local Indian family in their home to get an idea of the Indian culture and family life. We'll visit the house of Rajkumar (Prince of Raoti) Niranjan Singh Rathore, great-grandson of Maharaj Akhey Singhji-a Royal of Jodhpur. Rajkumar with his wife Kartika Singh and their 3 year old son Samarveer welcome all guests to their family.Their love for and knowledge of Jaipur enable them to show their guests the charm of Jaipur, all too invisible to the casual visitor because of the hustle and bustle of modernizing India. Visiting with Rajkumar and his family is the ideal way to discover an example of modern India, with a hidden charm which only a native of the city can explain. They will also give a demonstration of typical Indian dishes that many families would enjoy. And of course you'll get a wonderful meal while in their home!
MARCH 07th, 2013 After breakfast this morning you'll check out from the hotel and begin the next leg of your Indian journey. Yet another facet of the rich Moghul history will unfold for you today as you explore the ruins of the Ghost City of Fatehpur Sikri. The Moghul emperor Akbar began construction of Sikri in 1571, as a new capital city. Massive walls over seven miles long enclosed three sides, and a lake protected the fourth. It continued to expand and when the British envoys came to visit in 1583 they were astonished to find a city that exceeded London in both population and grandeur - with more rubies, diamonds, and silks than they could count! Akbar ruled here for only 14 years before moving his capital, and since then the city has languished and eventually was abandoned. Impressive buildings and mounuments still survive, though, as well as the thousands of "ghosts" of the royal court who are said to wander the empty streets. Not long after departing Fatehpur Sikri you'll arrive at Agra, home to one of the world's most famous sites...the Taj Mahal. Here we'll check into our hotel, the Orient Taj, and relax from our days journey. This evening you'll experience what may be the highlight of your Indian experience...a visit to the Taj Mahal! By now you'll have learned much about the Moghul empire in India, so you'll understand the significance of this most-impressive monument. Built by one of the last Moghul emperors, Shah Jehan, Tonight there is a wonderful farewell dinner planned at one of our favorite restaurants...complete with some local cultural performances! Enjoy the Indian cuisine while you relax and recall all of your wonderful experiences from the week... MARCH 08th, 2013 After your visit to the stunning Red Fort, you'll embark on the last leg of your overland India journey and travel to Delhi, eventually arriving at the hotel Vista Park. Those of you who are going on to Male for the Maldives adventure will be reunited with your dive gear, and taken to the airport to catch your evening flight to the islands. (See full itinerary below) The rest of the group will check into the hotel. MARCH 09, 2013 Early morning you will be provided an assisted departure transfer to the International airport to connect to your flight home.
This Trip Includes:
This Trip Does Not Include:
MARCH 8th, 2013 If you were on the India land tour, this evening your flight from Delhi will arrive in Male, the capital of the Maldives. If you were not on the Indian land tour, you will need to arrive in Delhi earlier today (or the day before) in order to connect with our Male flight. You will have a transfer waiting for you at the airport in Male to take you to the Hotel Nalahiya. The islands’ names unfurl like a string of pearls: Ihuru, Villivaru, Mirihi, Dhiffushi, Kuramathi, Mahaana elhi Huraa. Like those coveted gems, the coral-encircled islands of Maldives have been treasured since ancient times both for their beauty and for their precious borders: the deep blue waters of the Indian Ocean. In the bygone era, these islands were prized for their strategic position along tremendously important trade routes and as the source of cowrie shells, a form of currency once used in Asia and parts of East Africa. Ships plied the waters between the islands, Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Java and Sumatra. Nowadays, Maldives is even more renowned for the treasures that lie under those very seas — including the haunting, coral-covered shipwrecks that serve as poignant reminders of piratical days. The rest of the evening is free to relax, find a fun place to eat, and prepare yourself for the exciting adventure that starts tomorrow! MANTHIRI... Traveling divers will tell you: perhaps nowhere else is sea life as richly abundant and dazzling as it is in Maldives. More than one thousand tiny islands are scattered like gems across our crystalline waters. Long protected from commercial fishing, these seas offer unrivalled marine life and spectacular diving among the shallows and deep reefs — and no one knows those waters better than the team on The gracious standard of Manthiri is evident the moment you step on board. The beautiful 85-foot liveaboard is powerfully built
of fine tropical timber and custom-designed for dive Their separate, specially outfitted dive tender, called a dhoni, provides a home for compressors, Nitrox systems and dive gear, creating the equivalent of a 106-foot liveaboard on the main vessel — one with just six cabins and its own gracious dive deck. With the dhoni, that’s how spacious Manthiri feels.
This morning you'll have a transfer to board this outstanding vessel and begin your dive adventure. How to describe the underwater experience of Maldives? Pristine. Lush. Vibrant.
Extraordinary. These are the only words that come close. Uninhabited islands and
waters zealously guarded by Maldivians from commercial fishing provide shelter
for dazzling aquatic species in stunning numbers, awaiting discovery by divers
aboard Manthiri. Unfortunately your Indian Ocean adventure winds down this morning as you make port back at Male Atoll and are transferred to the airport for you flight to Delhi. You'll long remember this experience, and images of your time in this incredible destination will be with you for the rest of your life... This Trip Includes:
This Trip Does Not Include:
|
stately palace served as a residence that attracted Princes and Statesmen, Artists and Hunters, an electric mix of the interesting & the mundane - all drawn its true essence of Rajput hospitality. 
the serene desert of Rajasthan in India, Ajit Bhawan stands as an oasis of hospitality and warm Rajput charm.
One of the higlights of Jodhpur is the fascinating exploration of the bazaar. Starting with a rickshaw ride through the impossibly narrow lanes of the market, you'll soon be immersed in the riot of color, people, and clamor that is an Indian bazaar at full tilt! Rajasthan's craftspeople have been famous for centuries for their jewel settings, stonework, blue pottery, enamel, lacquer, filigree work, and block-printed silk. Thousands of stands, spice markets, textile shops and street vendors selling everything you could possibly imagine...you'll realize that not much has changed here in the last few centuries. Think Indiana Jones... 
MARCH 06th, 2013 
stones are converted into stunning traditional Rajasthani jewelry of Kundan, Polki and Meenakari.
for his revered wife, Mumtaz Mahal, so that the world would never forget their love. Begun in 1632, it took 20,000 laborers 17 years to complete this vast tomb of white marble on the banks of the Yamuna river. As if the sheer size isn't impressive enough, nearly all of the massive building is covered with intricate inlays of precious jewels...a one inch flower on the queen's tomb has over 60 separate stones! As you wander the grounds and your guide explains all of the wondrous features, don't be surprised if you find yourself overwhelmed by the magnificence of this monument!
Manthiri. Possessing expert knowledge of local marine life and of Maldives’ most remote and pristine dive sites, no other liveaboard in Maldives furnishes the topflight dive experience of Manthiri. 
cruises. The vessel's wide
beam of 25 feet contributes toward a stable hull, and allows room
for spacious cabins. No more than twelve guests are invited on each cruise and
their attentive eleven-person crew ensures that every need is met.
Fastidiously maintained and in operation for fourteen years with a superb
crew, Manthiri is widely acknowledged as one of the finest liveaboards in the
world. We think you'll agree that the quality of the vessel and crew is key to exploring such a remote location. The Manthiri is legendary in the world of diving liveaboards, so you can rest assured you're with one of the best!
From this point on the crew of the Manthiri will pamper you as you explore island after island, reef after pristine reef!
The garland-shaped chain of 26 atolls, stretching 750
kilometers across the Indian Ocean southwest of India, forms a strikingly
diverse eco-system. This unique habitat acts as a magnet for exuberant marine
life. Their emerald islands, ringed with coral and numbering more 1,190 in the
archipelago, house species that run the gamut from blooming corals to big
pelagics. It’s not simply the variety and drama of the species but also their
sheer numbers that will astonish you. Friendly encounters with fish in the
thousands, from the tiniest to the tremendous, are common experiences on the
varied dive sites. 
dive destination.
From December to April northeast winds herald drier months to bring clear and bright blue skies. 
uncanny intimacy with the local waters,
navigating their guests to exclusive dive spots unknown to other operations. 
