School Expedition to Central India

Your school expedition to central India will see your group visit Delhi, Agra and Kanha. Your students will have the opportunity to visit a number of community projects in the cities, including a café run by acid attack survivors and a shelter for homeless children. By visiting these projects, your students will learn more about the issues affecting the urban population in India.

You’ll also have the chance to experience the rural side of India, as you visit tribal villages, meet the locals and spend time in a local primary school. The highlight of your tour will be meaningful exchanges with locals which will help your group to better understand the realities of life in India.

And you’ll also get the chance to volunteer at the Kanha Tiger Reserve, where you’ll learn more about these majestic, endangered animals.

And, of course, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy some of the cultural highlights of India, including the Taj Mahal and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Agra Fort.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Evening

Overnight flight to Delhi.

Day 2

Morning

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel.

Afternoon

Tour of central Delhi including a visit to the Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple to see its community kitchen, which feeds thousands of visitors daily.

Evening

Evening meal and overnight in Delhi.

Day 3

Morning

Early morning cycle tour of the walled section of Old Delhi, through bazaars and past temples and old colonial buildings. Enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant. Visit Deepalaya's school and shelter which looks after around 150 children from the local slums.

Afternoon

Visit the brick minaret of Qutab Minar.

Evening

Evening meal and overnight in Delhi.

Day 4

Morning

Depart for Agra by coach.

Afternoon

Visit to Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site before continuing to the beautiful Taj Mahal. Then, visit the Sheroes' Hangout Community Cafe for a cup of coffee. The cafe is run by women who have suffered some form of injury through acid attacks.

Evening

Evening meal and overnight in Agra.

Day 5

Morning

Return to Delhi to fly on to Raipur.

Afternoon

On arrival transfer to Kanha and your jungle lodge.

Evening

Evening meal and time to relax.

Day 6

Morning

Spend the morning vounteering with Lantana weed removal - the weed is posing a major threat to native plant species.

Afternoon

Lunch at the lodge before enjoying an afternoon jungle safari in the reserve. Here you can enjoy the many birds, butterflies and mammals that live in this jungle. And if you're really lucky, you may even spot a tiger!

Evening

Evening meal and overnight stay in Kanha.

Day 7

Morning

Another morning of Lantana weed removal.

Afternoon

A well-earned lunch followed by a visit to a tribal village. Meet the local families and see them making baskets and alcohol from Mahua flowers.

Evening

Evening meal and overnight stay in Kanha.

Day 8

Morning

Enjoy a second jungle safari and visit the Forest Interpretation Centre.

Afternoon

Enjoy lunch at your hotel before joining in plantation work that supports habitat management for the animals of the national park.

Evening

Evening presentation on the tiger census and the methods used. Evening meal and overnight stay in Kanha.

Day 9

Morning

Visit a local primary school supported by the forest department. Spend time playing and interacting with the students and teachers.

Afternoon

Enjoy a jungle safari in the Tiger Reserve.

Evening

Enjoy a tribal dance performance before your evening meal.

Day 10

Morning

Depart for Raipur for internal flight back to Delhi, before you fly back to the UK.

Afternoon

Return flight to the UK.

24-hour assistance from Halsbury Travel in the UK
8 nights' accommodation - 3 nights on a half-board basis and 5 nights on a full-board basis
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
Internal flights in India
Return flights from the UK

Accommodation

Chitvan Jungle Lodge

The hotel offers some great facilities, including a library, swimming pool, WiFi and a great on-site restaurant. The food showcases the best of Indian cuisine a lot of the produce is sourced from an organic farm just outside the city.

Hotel Africa Avenue

This popular, modern hotel offers elegant, tranquil accommodation with excellent facilities, making this the ideal base from which to explore New Delhi. Close to many of the city's key historical sites and just 15 minutes from Delhi (Indira Ghandi International) Airport, this hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout. There is also a lovely restaurant serving both Indian and international cuisine. All guestrooms feature an en-suite bathroom and air-conditioning, as well as a flat screen TV. Reception provides a 24-hour service.

Hotel Royale Residency

The Hotel Royale Residency is a three star hotel in Agra. The hotel boasts large and spacious rooms, all decorated with a somewhat regal elegance befitting the home of the Taj Mahal. There's also a lovely large lawn and a great on-site restaurant serving international cuisine.

Tour highlights

Bangla Sahib Gurdwara

This Gurdwara is one of the most prominent in Delhi and is famous for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishnan who stayed at the bungalow that once stood there in 1664. The Gurdwara complex also houses two schools, a museum, a library and a hospital. And make sure you take a moment to admire the temple’s Sarovar, or pool of holy water. The water is considered by Sikhs to have healing powers. You’ll be able to see the Langar hall and kitchen, where volunteers feed thousands of people daily.

Did you know?

In Sikhism, Langar refers to the community kitchen run by a Gurdwara and staffed by volunteers from the Gurdwara’s community. Free vegetarian meals are provided to all visitors, regardless of their faith, race, gender, caste or anything else. Everyone sits on the floor to eat, symbolising their equality under God.

Sheroes Hangout

Just half a mile from the iconic Taj Mahal, the Sheroes Hangout Community Café is run by survivors of acid attacks. With many of the victims of such attacks being young girls and women, the effects of an acid attack can go much further than the physical, it can also affect their education and future careers, and make them want to hide away. This café helps the survivors to learn new skills and to build their confidence. Opened by a team from StopAcidAttacks, the café provides a safe space for discussion around feminism and women’s rights in India. Profits from the café go towards the rehabilitation of survivors of acid attacks.

Did you know?

In India, at least 72% of reported acid attacks include at least one female victim. Around 300 cases are reported each year, with another 700 believed to go unreported.

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.

Educational Activities

Agra Fort

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is just 2.

Bangla Sahib Gurdwara

The Bangla Sahib Gurdwara is one of the most important in Delhi.

Cycle Tour of Old Delhi

The best way to see all the sights of Old Delhi is on a bike.

Qutab Minar

In 1199, Qutbuddin raised the Qutab Minar either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built under the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.