Highlights
- Take a ferry to the enigmatic Elephanta Caves
- See the Gateway of India and Dhobi Ghat
- Taste award-winning wines at Sula Vineyard
- Drive down the "Queen's Necklace" in Mumbai
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Mumbai | Mumbai |
| Day 2 | Elephanta Caves and City Tour | Mumbai |
| Day 3 | Drive to Nashik | Nashik |
| Day 4 | Vineyards and Wine Tastings in Nashik | Nashik |
| Day 5 | Return to Mumbai and Departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Mumbai
Once you land in Mumbai, your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. From there, you can relax or explore the city.
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and is known as India's economic capital. It's also India's wealthiest and most industrialized city.
Check-in starts at 2 pm, and earlier check-in is available (subject to availability).
Day 2: Elephanta Caves and City Tour
After breakfast, your guide will take you to the Elephanta Caves an hour away from Mumbai by ferry. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there has been speculation about who carved them and when they were sculpted since at least the 19th century. Their exact origins are still a mystery.
The carvings narrate Hindu mythologies. Despite the damage much of the artwork has suffered, the caves are spectacular to visit, and stand in contrast to Mumbai's hectic streets.
To reach the caves, you'll take a ferry and then a tourist train to the entrance.
Later in the afternoon, you'll go on a tour of Mumbai. Stops include the Gateway of India, Mumbai's principal landmark, which was erected on the waterfront in 1924 to commemorate King George V's visit to this then-colony in 1911. You'll also drive past the Afghan Church and along Marine Drive, which is sometimes called the "Queen's Necklace" for the way the streetlights look like a string of pearls when seen from above at night. Then, you'll visit the Jain Temple and the Hanging Gardens—which offer spectacular views of the city—as well as Chowpatty, Kamala Nehru Park, and Mani Bhavan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai.
Finally, you'll drive past Haji Ali Mosque, a shrine to a Muslim saint built on an island off the coast that is connected to the mainland by a causeway.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Drive to Nashik
After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel and be driven to Nashik in an air-conditioned car. Nashik is located in northern Maharashtra, an area that has become known as India's wine capital in the last decade. The drive takes around three to four hours (103 miles/167 km).
Once you arrive, you can relax at your hotel or explore Nashik.
Day 4: Vineyards and Wine Tastings in Nashik
In the morning, you'll visit the Sula Vineyards, India's largest and most popular winery. Started in 1999, Sula Vineyards rapidly developed into a world-class winery that dominates the industry in India and exports to around 30 countries around the world. At Sula, you'll be able to enjoy a tour of the vineyard and taste six of their wines, several of which won prizes at the 2018 India Wine Awards.
After Sula Vineyards, you'll travel to Soma Winery, which offers one of the best wine tour experiences in Nashik. Located between the backwaters of the Gangapur Dam and Sahyadri Ranges, Soma is a smaller vineyard that gives you a more intimate tour and lots of opportunities to taste award-winning wines.
Day 5: Return to Mumbai and Departure
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and travel back to Mumbai for your flight home.
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