India: Namaste

Arrive into Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi Airport (DEL) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Over breakfast, take your first informal language lesson. While you will just learn basic greetings and common phrases, learning the local language is an essential part of understanding the culture and a sign of respect toward people you interact with.

Participate in a cultural scavenger hunt! Discover Hindu gods and goddesses and test your language skills before enjoying delicious Punjabi food at a local restaurant. Spend the afternoon touring the city. Learn about Gandhi at a museum housed in the same building where his life ended, explore the Sikh religion at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, and take in the famous India Gate and parliament.

After another informal language lesson over breakfast, take a bus to Agra and spend the afternoon learning about how the intricate marble work of the Taj Mahal was inlaid with precious gems. Visit Agra Fort to learn about the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal. Enjoy a delicious dinner together sampling a wide array of traditional Mughal dishes known for their rich aroma and flavor.

Visit one of the modern marvels of the world, the Taj Mahal! Experience the magic of the Taj Mahal at sunrise and watch as the colors shift with the changing light. Learn about the intricate marble work and architecture from a local guide and take time to explore the compound. Drive to the Pink City of Jaipur to continue your North Indian tour. Enjoy a cooking demonstration this evening and learn to prepare traditional Rajasthani dishes.

Explore the famous Amber Fort. Roam the well-protected walls of the palace and see the secret caves that were used by former royalty to escape when the palace came under attack hundreds of years ago.

Participate in a lac workshop to see how artisans make lac bangles. Try your hand at customizing one of these bangles to give to friends or family back home. Spend the evening getting a customized mehandi (henna) design on your hand while showing off your dance moves with fabulous Ghoomar dancers in traditional Rajasthani style. Join your group for a debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned so far.

Take an early morning walk through the ancient city of Amber this morning, keeping your eyes peeled for peacocks and monkeys. Head back to Delhi for a solid night of rest before starting the next leg of your adventure in South India.

Catch a flight to the tropical paradise of India: Cochin, Kerela. Settle into your hotel in historic Fort Cochin and enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise through the Arabian Sea. Savor some of the local seafood delicacies as you reflect on the differences between North and South India.

Stroll down the beach in Fort Kochi to see the 15th-century Chinese fishing nets and fresh fish markets, and visit the centuries-old Jewish Synagogue. Take your time to soak in the vibes while sipping on fresh coconuts and learning basic Malayalam, the language of Kerala.

This evening you’ll visit a Kerelan cultural center to enjoy an enthralling Kathakali dance performance by our local artists! The discussion this evening will continue the topic from yesterday, centering on the differences between North and South India.

Drive to the magnificent hill station of Munnar, situated in the Western Ghats at an elevation of 5000 feet above sea level. Munnar was the British Government’s summer retreat in South India and is known as one of South India’s most beautiful tea plantations! Tour the plantation to learn the colorful and fascinating story behind growing and making tea, then sample over ten varieties of the teas that are locally grown.

Spend your day exploring the natural beauty of Munnar. Step into the exotic world of nearby tribal colonies to learn about their lifestyle and culture. Try some the delicious local cuisine prepared by locals with fresh local spices from the mountains. Watch the skillful and adventurous martial art form Kalaripayattu and celebrate the company of your fellow students with a bonfire dinner tonight.

Drive to the spectacular backwaters of Vembanad Lake, one of the largest lakes of India, and live on a traditional Ketuvallam houseboat. Fish for your dinner, swim in the lake, and compete in a friendly canoe race among your group. Soak in the ambiance of Kerala.

No India experience is complete without the celebration of a festival! Celebrate a mock Onam Festival that welcomes the Gods to Kerala. Create beautiful patterns from freshly picked flowers on the deck of your boat, dress in local Keralan clothing, and have a huge feast on banana leaves. Get an optional massage in the birthplace of Ayurveda in the evening.

Stroll through the nearby tea gardens in the morning and pick tea along with the local tea workers. After breakfast, bid farewell to the mountains and make your way back to Cochin, stopping by a spice market along the way to purchase spices for all the new foods you will be cooking at home! Catch your flight to Delhi, then settle into your hotel for a final night in the nation’s capital city.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

On your last day in India, use your bargaining skills to shop for the last souvenirs before heading to a resort in South Delhi to relax in a pool and enjoy final dinner together. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.