Visit the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on your school expedition to India and enjoy a wealth of unforgettable experiences which will broaden your students’ horizons and make them better global citizens.
You’ll visit a small rural village just outside of Jaipur, where your students will volunteer at a local primary school, either teaching or helping to improve the facilities, leaving a lasting mark on the village children.
You’ll also visit a Bear Rescue Centre near Agra, where you’ll learn more about the sad practice of bear dancing, before discovering the cultural and economic issues behind it. You’ll see how the project is not only aiming to improve the lives of the bears, but also those of their former owners, so they don’t have to resort to the exploitation of wild animals in order to feed their families.
Suggested Itinerary (10 days, 8 nights)
| Day | Morning Summary | Afternoon Summary | Evening Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Overnight flight to Delhi. |
||
| 2 |
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel. |
Central Delhi tour with a visit to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara to see its community kitchen which feeds thousands of visitors every day. |
Evening meal and overnight in Delhi. |
| 3 |
Early morning cycle tour of the walled section of Old Delhi, through bazaars, past temples and colonial buildings. Breakfast at a local restaurant. Visit Deepalaya, an NGO working on issues affecting the urban and rural poor. Visit the shelter and school which look after around 150 children from the local slums. |
Visit the brick minaret of Qutab Minar. |
Evening meal and overnight in Delhi. |
| 4 |
Depart for Agra by coach. |
Visit Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before you continue on to the beautiful Taj Mahal. Visit the Sheroes Hangout Cafe for a cup of coffee. The cafe is run by survivors of acid attacks. |
Evening meal and overnight in Agra. |
| 5 |
Visit the Bear Rescue Centre. Gain an insight into the world of sloth bears through a presentation and expert discussion before seeing the bears. |
Transfer to Jaipur |
Evening meal and time to relax with an overnight stay in Jaipur. |
| 6 |
Volunteer work at the local primary school in Jhinjha village. |
Explore the village, meet the locals, visit their homes, share a cup of tea with then, visit the farms and have lunch on a local farm. |
Evening meal and overnight stay in Jaipur. |
| 7 |
Volunteer work at the local primary school in Jhinjha village. |
Spend time exploring local life in and around the village. |
Evening meal and overnight stay in Jaipur. |
| 8 |
Volunteer at local primary school in Jhinjha village. |
Spend time exploring local life in and around the village. |
Evening meal and overnight stay in Jaipur. |
| 9 |
Head to Amber Fort (aka Amer Fort) by Jeep before visiting Hawa Mahal - the Palace of the Winds. |
Visit the Maharajah's City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory. Take a cycle rickshaw ride in the bazaar of Old Jaipur. |
Evening visit to the Birla temple to see the Aarti ceremony. Evening meal and overnight stay in Jaipur. |
| 10 |
Depart for Delhi for your return flight to the UK. |
Return flight to the UK. |
|
- 24-hour assistance from Halsbury Travel in the UK
- 8 nights' half-board accommodation plus 3 lunches
- Air-conditioned coach
- Airport tax and passenger duty at current rates
- Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
- English-speaking guide
- Entrance to visits and attractions as per itinerary
- Free staff place ratio 1:10
- Return flights from the UK
Accommodation
Tour Highlights
Volunteer at a Local Primary School
Spend three days in Jhinjha volunteering at the local primary school, where your students will gain valuable skills and find out what life is really like in a small, rural Indian village.
Your group can teach maths, English and science, or even run a drama workshop. You can prepare meals for the students, or help with repairs and improvements of the school facilities.
And because our local partners contribute to the school’s upkeep and improvement, your visit will help to ensure that this vital support is able to continue.
Did you know?
The village is home to the Berwa people, whose main occupation has historically been agriculture and animal husbandry.
Bear Rescue Centre
In 1972 the Indian government banned bear dancing, but the practice is still relatively common in India because it is often the case that the owners of the bears have no other source of income. And for many years there was nowhere for the bears to go even if they were confiscated.
When the bear sanctuary was set up in Agra it meant that there was somewhere safe for the bears to go. Most are taken from the wild as cubs.
Their teeth and claws are also often removed, and their experiences leave most traumatised. This makes it impossible to release them back into the wild.
Your group will have the opportunity to learn more about the bears and how they ended up at the centre. They’ll also have the chance to see the effects of the practice on the bears themselves. And they’ll find out how the former owners are supported, to ensure they don’t return to bear dancing to feed their families.
Did you know?
In the wild, sloth bears can live up to 20 years – in captivity, dancing bears rarely live past the age of 7 or 8 years.
Deepalaya
Deepalaya is a non-governmental organisation in Delhi that works on issues affecting the urban and rural poor in India, with a particular focus on children. The organisation believes that ‘every child deserves a chance’ no matter what their gender, economic status or physical abilities.
It runs projects in education, female empowerment, healthcare, institutional care and vocational training.
You’ll be able to visit the Deepalaya Children’s Home, which cares for around 150 underprivileged children, many of whom come from the city’s slums.
Did you know?
Deepalaya is the largest operational NGO in Delhi and has helped around 50,000 children.
