India and Sri Lanka share a common culture and influence each other, but each country has its own characteristics.
In this 15-day India and Sri Lanka tour we will take you to explore the fascinating history and experience the most colorful culture of both countries.
Days
15
Price
from US$2,962 P/P
Best For
Discovery-seekers
Best Time
Otc. to Mar.
Tour Highlights





China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Our trip to Li Jiang and Shaxi Yunnan
We arrived at Lijiang on 9/8. We enjoyed the time in Lijiang a lot with good hotel selection and a well planned program. We went onto Shaxi for the local singing festival of the local minority groups. It was a fantastic experience. What makes the trip most memorable is our guide Alice. She took excellent care of us, anticipating our every need. She was personable, warm and very knowledgeable. We shared many laughters and traded stories. She brought smiles to us during the entire trip. We will specifically ask for her again when we come back to Yunnan. Five star service. More
Consumer,
Sep 2023
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Great trip around Shanghai
This was our first time ever visiting Shanghai so we wanted to see good places to go to and good food to eat in Shanghai. That's why we booked with China Highlights. They're very responsive and quick to arrange our 3 day trip. Our guide name is Qi and she is a very sweet and helpful person. She knew we wanted to explore many local foods, so she brought us some local breakfast foods when she picked us up from our hotel, just so we can try everything! She was knowledgeable as well about the culture and history of the places we went to. Will definitely recommend this tour and use China Highlights again for our next trip to China! More
Sherry,
Sep 2023
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Great way to see the city
Private tour with China highlights made seeing Xi'an super easy. We saved a lot of time with a private driver, and our guide Jenny took really good care of us, sending instructions for where to meet once getting off the train and made everything feel really safe and easy. She also accommodated a number of last minute changes to our itinerary without batting an eye. She was very patient, knowledgeable and friendly. It was great having a guide who grew up locally in the area to show us around (which is not always the case, from my previous experiences elsewhere). Would definitely recommend! More
Stephanie N,
Sep 2023
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One Day Beijing Trip (Great Wall, Summer Palace) With Jennifer
My tour guide Jennifer made this quick one day trip to Beijing great! The day started out a bit overcast and rainy when I landed, but Jennifer’s positive attitude and kind communication (along with her being able to keep up/put up with my jokes) made it fine.Despite this, Jennifer and our driver Chen were able to swing an extra photo shoot stop at the Olympic Stadium. I guess it gives me an excuse to come back to visit again, and when I do - I will use China Highlights and this great fantastic team. More
Alan Landau,
Sep 2023
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Mervyn is what we call a perfect tour guide!
Mervyn is what we call a perfect tour guide! She is extremely informative all the way through. She knows hers stuff and she is also enthusiastic, knowledgeable, personable and very willing to help. The whole day was perfect. A great amount of walking and a lots of physical activity ( hiking) and she was all smiling, accommodating and keeping us informative. She was absolutely the best tour guide we've ever encountered in China. Her English is perfect! Everything was so well organized. Her knowledge of the local culture and history is impressive. Fantastic More
pdaroundthewrorld,
Sep 2023
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Best Great Wall experience
Used China Highlights for a private all-day tour of Jinshanling portion of the Great Wall. One of the best days of my life! Tour guide Alan and a driver met me at my hotel and the ride was very comfortable. Alan was extremely knowledgable and friendly, I really enjoyed talking with him. The scenery was astoundingly beautiful; this is a less touristy portion of the Wall. The hiking was fun, Alan brought plenty of water, and showed me things I would not have noticed by myself. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch that Alan had arranged - delicious! Once in a lifetime experience. More
LZviajera,
Sep 2023
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Wonderful experience!
Our tour guide was Mervyn, and she was amazing! She had great knowledge of Xi'an and the silk road, and we learned so many things we didn't know before. The Muslim quarter is a must-see, with so many streets of food. Terracotta warriors were breathtaking. We did a Hanfu experience and enjoyed walking the city at night in our tang Dynasty outfits. We wish we spent more than 2 days here as there's so much to do. Definitely recommend this tour and will be visiting again! More
Laura A,
Sep 2023
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Unforgettable trip to Guilin
We enjoyed an incredible two day trip in Guilin, taking a brief half-day boat cruise on the Li River and cycling around Yangshuo in the afternoon with our guide Gary. Gary met us at the airport and made us feel very welcome, providing us with five-star service. He gave us a lot of insight about Guilin and the Guangxi region and even gave us a tai chi lesson on the boat. He provided us excellent dining suggestions for the evening as well as suggestions of things to do. Thank you Gary for making our trip to Guilin so memorable! More
Regis B,
Sep 2023
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
We were paired with great guides on every city, very knowleadgeble and hardworking people that made our trip fabulous. Jack in Beijing was brilliant and very resourceful making sure we enjoyed the city even when he wasn't with us. In Xi'An we were paired with Crystal that was incredibly smart and made sure we felt we had not only a guide but a friend to rely on in Xi'An, we loved how she made sure we tried the best food and fruit available and helped us from arrival to departure from Xi'An. Finally, kudos to Gary (Wei Li) that worked with us in Guiling and Yangshuo. Gary is a local to Guiling and truly proud of his city and origins. We learned a lot from him and he trully went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time in Guiling adjusting the itinerary to our liking and taking time to explain everything. On our flight out of Guiling we had a bit of an issue with our tickets (booked by ourselves) and Gary promptly lent a hand to help us sort it out with the airport staff, trully a champion. If you are heading to Guiling with Chinahighlights, make sure to have Gary as your guide. More
Moises,
Sep 2023
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Amazing tour!
Our guide, Linda, was by far the best person to have for our tours of The Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, and Mutianyu Great Wall. She was an encyclopedia with great knowledge of Chinese History and was able to explain every detail of what we were seeing. She picked us up with a very nice car and driver from our hotel both days, at the time most convenient to us, and dropped us back off wherever we wanted at the end of our tours. Both the Forbidden City and the Great Wall are marvels of human and Chinese achievements and are a must to see in Beijing. Visiting them both with a tour guide that feels more like a friend was certainly helping enjoying it even more. More
Robin Z,
Sep 2023
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Stunning Yellow Mountain and beautiful Ancient Villages
We had the most fantastic experience with our tour guide, Jack Fan, who is very knowledgeable about the Yellow Mountain and was able to get us quickly to the most stunning highlights. He was our "photographer" anytime we wanted a photo and that was very often. We made the most of our time having him guiding us. He was truly the mountain man as he is a local there. He is very passionate about what he does. He loves history, nature, and travel, which is a must for a guide. He provided historical facts about the stunning Ancient villages at Hong Cun and Xidi. He answered any questions we had about history, nature, and current things we had. I felt like he was a professor, and we were his students in a very good way. He was NEVER late, and neither was our driver. They never bought us anywhere to "sell" us things. He took us to buy tea only when we asked to buy a specific tea, staying much later than he should have! I wanted to check out lotus and rice fields, which was not on the itinerary, but he squeezed it in for us. We were very well taken care of. I highly recommend Jack for a tour guide who speaks English. More
annemompt,
Sep 2023
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An Unforgettable Tibetan Adventure - Qinghai Train Ride Y971
I recently embarked on an unforgettable journey to Tibet, a land steeped in mysticism and rich cultural heritage. My train trip on the famous scenic Qinghai route on train Y971 Lhasa played a significant role in making this trip an extraordinary experience.Upon my arrival in Lhasa via an overnight train, I was warmly welcomed by the guide assigned Tenzin Lhatse. He had waited for more than 3 hours as he was not informed there was a change in the train schedule. Nontheless, it did not dampen his warm attitude and the seamless transferfrom the train station to the hotel set a positive tone for my stay.The highlight of my stay was undoubtedly the visit to the iconic Potala Palace. The sheer grandeur and architectural brilliance of this historic site left me in awe. The guidance of my knowledgeable tour guide, who revealed the stories behind each shrine, enriched my experience. However, the strict visitor limits and rules underscored the importance of preserving this ancient marvel. The Old Barkhor Street Walking Tour was a journey through time. From Jokhang Temple to the bustling local market, each stop offered insights into Tibetan daily life and folk customs. The Pandatsang Compound's history and the cup of Tibetan sweet tea at Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery added unique flavors to the tour.Overall, my journey through Tibet was an incredible odyssey into a world of spirituality, culture, and natural beauty. I'm glad to have taken this step with my wife to challenge the train ride which was totally worthy of this lifetime. More
GOH-family-tours,
Sep 2023
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Wonderful trip to the Chinese Silk Road
Special shout out to our guide for the Gansu leg, Helen, who was the most caring guide we have come across in all of our travels. Make sure you ask for her! More
ED,
Sep 2023
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Fantastic first trip in Shanghai
My partner and I were visiting China for the first time. Our tour guide was Martin, who was friendly and very knowledgeable. He adjusted the tour to our needs and gave us an extensive tour of Shanghai as well as many fascinating insights on China. He also went above and beyond and offered us plenty of recommendations on what to do in the evenings, how to get there, and even made bookings for us. Martin, thanks again! More
Regis,
Sep 2023
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Yangshuo is magical from the misty…
The guide Lily has a great knowledge in hidden gems and the history about the places. Very memorable experience that i have thanks to them. More
Dony Yugo,
Sep 2023
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Beijing is AMAZING
Linda Wang our amazing tour guide helped us to have an unforgettable trip to all the best of Beijing. From organizing the driver (also excellent) to drop us/pick us up exactly when we were leaving busy tourist sites, excellent food recommendations, fascinating knowledge relevant to us and our children (13yo and 11yo) making The Forbidden City, Tiannamen Square, Great Wall, Beijing Zoo and The Hutongs thoroughly enjoyable. Handling all the entrance/exit passport and ticket requirements, interpreting, answering any questions we had about local culture, we were so comfortable and happy, never rushed, everything you could want and more. More
Michelle A,
Sep 2023
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Incredible 2 day tour of Jiuzhaiguo
Our tour guide Mary spoke perfect English, was so nice to us and took us to all the best sights in Jiuzhaiguo. It was an unforgettable tour with incredible views! More
Declan O,
Sep 2023
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Helen is the best Panda tour guide going around!
I had a fantastic Panda tour with Helen in Chengdu City. From the moment she picked me up, my energy was low from a heap of travelling, but Helen quickly brought me up a notch with her breathtaking passion for Pandas. Not only did she provide a fantastic experience accommodating my every need, but she was also a genuinely kind and joyful company to tour the city with. I can't recommend Helen enough - you won't regret it! More
Isaac C,
Sep 2023
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Two days in Xi’an
What an amazing few days in Xi’an! Our guide Jenny was first class - very knowledgeable and very helpful, she went out of her way to make sure we had the best experience like ordering us coffees & food and booking dinners for us. The highlight was of course visiting the Terracotta Warriors, but we also really enjoyed visiting a local family to make dumplings. Can’t recommend this trip and Jenny enough! More
Marvin K,
Sep 2023
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Fantastic experiences in Guilin and the beautiful surroundings together with Vincent.
Lib230524097 More
Go44854472794,
Sep 2023
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Itinerary Details
All tours in our Global Highlights are flexible, please feel free to let us know if you think the itinerary needs adjustments or if you have new ideas about your trip. We will do our best to make changes to meet your needs in order to ensure a wonderful trip.
Welcome to Delhi, the capital of India. In this city, the modern culture of the 21st century harmoniously combines with hundreds of ancient cultures.
Upon your arrival, your guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. Spend some time on your own for the rest of the day to adjust to the new time zone or wander around your hotel.
Start the day with a visit to one of the largest mosques in India — Jama Masjid. Founded in 1650, Jama Masjid is as important as Mecca in Saudi Arabia and the Al-Azhar Mosque in Egypt. Every year, tens of thousands of tourists come here as a pilgrimage.
Hop onto a rickshaw and travel around the Chandni Chowk area, where you will get a real feel of the local way of life in Old Delhi.
Next, visit Qutub Minar, marked as a world heritage site by UNESCO. This will be followed by a tour of Humayun's Tomb in the afternoon, where you can appreciate the glory of the Mughal Dynasty in India.
Spend 4 or 5 hours on the road, transferring from Delhi to Agra. You can take a nap on the way or enjoy the scenery on both sides of the road.
Reach Agra by noon and go for lunch then visit Agra Fort. Also known as Red Fort, because the palaces and walls are all made of red sandstone.
Later, visit Mehtab Bagh and enjoy sunset views of the Taj Mahal.
Mehtab Bagh lies on the banks of the Yamuna River and is directly opposite the Taj Mahal. Away from the usual crowds, it provides a great place for tourists to enjoy a majestic view of the Taj Mahal.
Get up early and visit the Taj Mahal. The beauty of the grand mausoleum doesn't just come from its remarkable architectural form, but also from the epic love story between Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. Today, the Taj Mahal is not only known world-over as a classical monument, but it has also become a symbol of love.
Next, head to Itmad-ud-Daula's tomb. Compared with the Taj Mahal, it's small and simple, but its building style was deeply influenced by the Taj Mahal.
You will be transferred to Ranthambore in the afternoon.
Hop in a Jeep and experience a safari adventure in the morning and the late afternoon when the animals are most active.
Besides tigers, there are deer, wolves, crocodiles, and other wild animals in the park. This magical experience will satisfy your curiosity about wildlife once and for all.
Day 6 will commence with a road trip to Jaipur, which will take around 5 hours from Ranthambore. Take a break and then head to Naharagarh Fort in the afternoon.
Naharagarh Fort, also known as Tiger Castle, was built in 1734 and expanded in 1868. The purpose of the construction of the Tiger Castle was to enhance the defense capabilities of Amber Fort. At the time, it had the longest cannons in the world, and their defense capabilities were very strong. It stands on a hill north of the Old City of Jaipur, overlooking the entire city. The scenery here is extremely magnificent and it is a good place to watch the sunset.
On day 7 you'll visit Amer Fort. Sheesh Mahal is the most famous pavilion here, with countless small mirrors on the palace walls, which shine brilliantly under sunlight. Just a little candlelight can reflect a thousand points of flickering light, making it a unique spectacle to behold.
Next, head to City Palace, from where you can capture panoramic views of the city. The palace has been converted into a museum for furniture and royal finery. Around the courtyard, the four gates represent the four seasons: the Green Gate represents spring, the Lotus Gate represents summer, the Peacock Gate represents autumn, and the Rose Gate represents winter — each having its own characteristics.
Visit Hawa Mahal on the way back, and take some great photos of this landmark.
Your driver will take you to the airport to catch the flight to Colombo with a layover in Bangalore. Your local guide in Colombo will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
Visit Elephant Orphanage, one of only two elephant orphanages in the world. The orphanage was founded in 1975. Here are mainly adopted baby elephants who have been homeless, seriously injured in traps, separated from the group, or sick.
It has now become a new home for wild elephants. On the river bank, you can see adult elephants bathing and feeding baby elephants. More than 60 three-generation elephants live in this reserve. You will arrive Kandy in the afternoon.
Start day 10's trip at the National Museum of Kandy. The museum is part of the former palace and contains many rare exhibits. This is a good window for visitors who want to learn about Sri Lanka's culture.
Your next stop will be the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Built in the 17th to 18th centuries, it is home to the Sri Lanka-Buddha Tooth Relic.
Walk by Kandy Lake after lunch before a visit to the Royal palace of Kandy. It is the residence of the last King of Sri Lanka in Kandy. There are many luxurious palaces, which house a variety of exquisite crafts and royal household items.
Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in the morning. It was once the royal garden of the Kandy king, and has more than 4,000 tropical and subtropical rare plants.
Then go to the Peradeniya Junction railway station and hop on the train that will take you to the countryside. You will see the remarkable landscape, dotted with beautiful tea plantations with endless green, forests, waterfalls, and local people.
When you arrive at Nanu Oya railway station in the afternoon, you will be taken to your hotel by your driver and guide.
In the morning, you will transfer to Udawalawe National Park. Upon arrival to your hotel, check in and have some rest to prepare for the jeep safari in the afternoon. This is a natural park comparable to the African savannah. In addition to elephants, sambars, and wild buffaloes, the park also has meerkats, jackals, water monitors, crocodiles, sloth bears, and sometimes you can see the Sri Lankan leopard.
Get up early and join another jeep safari in the morning! After that you will go to Galle by car.
Galle is a coastal city in the south of Sri Lanka. It is famous because of its castle, which is listed as World Cultural Heritage site. During the Dutch colonial period, in order to show that the rule of Sri Lanka was indestructible, a 360,000 square meter castle was built in Galle in standard European style. In addition to the castle, Galle has other relics from the colonial era, such as paths, houses, and unique doors.
Explore the old town with a knowledgeable tour guide who will guide you through Galle while explaining its fascinating history.
Slow your pace and discover the Galle Dutch Fort, the Dutch Reformed Church, Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum, and Community Tsunami Museum.
Board a train to Colombo. Enjoy the romantic train journey along the coastline. The wind from the Indian Ocean will be your last beautiful memory of Sri Lanka.
Your driver and guide will meet you at the station and transfer you to the airport to catch your flight home.
Price Includes
Price from: $2,962 (Tour code: gh-ah-in-88)








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Why Travel with Global Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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