India is larger than life: a population that exceeds a billion, 23 official languages and more than a million square miles of land. But one common thread runs through it - India floods your senses from every direction.

In this country of filigreed cities and opulent palaces Melissa shows you customs going back millennia and sites that inspire awe. In Varanasi, India's holiest city, stand beside the Ganges River at dusk and listen to rhythmic drumming as lantern-bearing priests bid the gods and goddesses a restful slumber. In Khajuraho, see all of life — joy, love, divinity, war — depicted in detail on every inch of its 85 Hindu and Jain temples. In Panna, take a private game drive in search of the graceful, elusive Bengal tiger and see nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way.

With superb local guides and incomparable service, Melissa takes you on a voyage of discovery through this unforgettable land. To experience this iconic destination for yourself, join one of our small group journeys or create your own Tailor Made journey of a lifetime.