Highlights of North India
Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Delhi
When you arrive in Delhi, our local representative will be waiting for you at the airport. In the hustle and bustle of India’s largest airport, a sign with your name on it is a welcome sight. You’ll be transferred directly to a comfortable hotel, that’s well located on a quiet street in New Delhi. Touching down amidst the commotion of Delhi can be something of a culture shock, so we’ve left the rest of the day free for you to settle in and get used to the assault on the senses!
Day 2 – Explore Old Delhi like a local
This morning you’ll explore Old Delhi with an English-speaking guide. You’ll travel like the locals, taking the metro, an auto-rickshaw and a cycle-rickshaw. This way, you’ll get to know the real Delhi. During the morning you’ll visit Jama Masjid Mosque – India’s largest mosque – and the Red Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll pass through the busy, chaotic narrow streets of Chandni Chowk, the heart of the Old Town. The tour ends at modern Connaught Place. You could grab lunch in one of the restaurants here and plan your free afternoon. Your guide will be happy to make suggestions on places to visit.
Day 3 – Travel to the desert town of Mandawa
Time to leave the big city behind to explore dust-swirled desert towns and sleep in a traditional clay hut. It’s a 6-hour drive to the remote Shekhawati region, where you’ll be staying in the small town of Mandawa. Your unique accommodation for two nights is a fully furnished, air-conditioned clay hut, designed to blend in with the desert landscape. The property champions sustainable tourism by providing jobs for the local communities, using locally sourced food in the restaurant and preserving the cultural heritage of the region. It’s an idyllic and peaceful spot, with a pool and plenty of space to relax.
Day 4 – Mandawa’s colourful havelis
The desert settlement of Mandawa was once a key stop on the old caravan routes, where wealthy merchants built colourful, lavishly decorated havelis. We’ll arrange a guided walking tour so you can admire the exotic paintings and intricate frescoes, each telling stories of a bygone era. As you stroll around the town you’ll often be greeted with curious smiles – the locals are genuinely surprised and delighted to see visitors, as few travellers make it into Rajasthan’s little-visited Shekhawati region.
Day 5 – Travel to the Pink City of Jaipur
Today, you’ll be driven to Jaipur – a journey of approximately 3.5 hours. The city is called the ‘pink city’ because many of the buildings are painted in terracotta pink tones. It’s also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The streets are a lively, chaotic muddle of camel carts, elephants and cycle rickshaws, bustling markets, forts and palaces. You’ll stay in a friendly, family-run hotel with lots of character and Rajasthani style. On arrival you can enjoy the peace and quiet of your surroundings and cool off with a dip in the hotel pool, or venture out and explore.
Day 6 – Tour of the city & Amber Fort
Today you’ll take a private guided tour of Jaipur. You’ll visit the City Palace, the Observatory – which houses the world’s largest sundial, and the Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal) with its 900+ small windows that were designed so the royal women could watch street life below without being seen. You will also visit Amber Fort. This ancient citadel made of red sandstone and white marble sits high on a hilltop overlooking the rocky hills around Jaipur. One of the fort’s highlights is the mirror palace, covered with an intricate mosaic made up of thousands of tiny mirrors.
Alternative experiences in Jaipur
If you’re feeling active, or want to spend another day in Jaipur, we can arrange a guided bike tour through the narrow streets, stopping for a traditional meal with a local family. Or if you love Indian food and want to try your hand at cooking a traditional meal, we can book an authentic, hands-on cooking class in the home of a local lady. Ask your Travel Specialist for more details.
Day 7 – Onwards to Agra via Galta & Fatehpur Sikri
After breakfast you’ll depart Jaipur and drive to Agra – home of the iconic Taj Mahal. You’ll break the journey up with a few stops along the way including the Monkey Temple at Galta which is a popular pilgrimage site, and the former Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On arrival in Agra you’ll be warmly welcomed into the cosy homestay which is your base for the next two nights. We’ve found a handful of wonderful, small, family owned homestays that are less than 10 minutes stroll from the Taj Mahal. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and the gardens are just the spot to relax.
Day 8 – Sunrise at the Taj Mahal & Agra tour
The iconic Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan out of love for his deceased wife. It’s one of the most visited places in India, so we recommend to get up extra early so that you’re at the Taj Mahal before the tourist crowds. A real wonder of the world, it’s a building that will take your breath away.
After visiting the Taj Mahal by yourselves, you’ll spend time exploring some of Agra’s (other) historic monuments with a local guide. You’ll visit Agra Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most impressive Mughal forts in the country. You’ll also visit Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb, a.k.a the Baby Taj, and the gardens of Mehtab Bagh. From here you’ll catch a picture-perfect view of the Taj Mahal across the river, especially at sunset when the marble glows softly in the fading light.
Day 9 – Take the train to Orchha
A trip to India isn’t complete without a train journey! And to get to Orchha – your next destination – you’ll take the train to Jhansi, then finish the journey by car. Orchha is a small, laid-back town, on the banks of the Betwa River. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was the capital of the Bundela dynasty, who left behind grand palaces. Many still stand today, their crumbling walls adding to the town’s atmospheric charm. You’ll only be staying in Orchha for one night, but you’ll have plenty of time this afternoon to explore independently. The towering stone chhatris that line the banks of the river look particularly magical at sunset.
Day 10 – Discover the Khajuraho temples
After breakfast you’ll depart Orchha heading to Khajuraho – a journey of 4-5 hours through rural Madhya Pradesh. Khajuraho is a small, relaxed town famous for its collection of UNESCO-listed temples which you will visit this afternoon with a local guide. The temples were built between the 9th and 12 centuries and are incredibly well preserved. Intricate carvings cover the temple walls – including scenes from the Karma Sutra. The most impressive and largest temple is the Kandariya Mahadev, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Day 11 – Travel to Bandhavgarh National Park
Now for something totally different as you continue on your journey to Bandhavgarh National Park. Once the hunting grounds of maharajas, it’s now a protected haven with forests, rocky hills and sprawling meadows, dominated by the majestic Bandhavgarh Fort. Despite being a relatively small park, Bandhavgarh has the highest density of tigers in India, giving you one of the best chances to see this majestic animal in the wild. It’s also home to leopards, sloth bears, langurs and hundreds of bird species.
You’ll be staying for two nights in a jungle lodge located in the lush green surroundings of the park. The cottages are air-conditioned and feature a private veranda. The property also has a swimming pool and spa.
Please note: The park is closed during the rainy season (July 1 to October 15).
Day 12 – Tiger spotting in Bandhavgarh
Early this morning you’ll be collected by an experienced naturalist guide for your first jeep safari through Bandhavgarh National Park. Don’t worry if the tigers remain elusive, you’ll have a second opportunity on another jeep safari when you head back into the park later this afternoon.
Day 13 – Take the train to sacred Varanasi
Time for another train journey. This morning you’ll be transferred to Katni station in time to board the train to Varanasi. You’ll be met on arrival at the station and transferred to your hotel. Varanasi is one of the oldest and holiest cities in India. It’s a city of constant noise, chaos, colour and wandering cows that can be a bit overwhelming at times. Depending on your time of arrival you may wish to head to Dashashwamedh Ghat – the most famous ghat in Varanasi – to witness the magical Aarti ceremony.
Day 14 – Discover Varanasi by boat & on foot
At dawn, you’ll set off on an atmospheric boat trip down the Ganges, watching pilgrims bathe in the sacred waters and listening to their soft chants. You’ll then take a short guided walk through the narrow, winding lanes of Varanasi’s old town. Expect to share the streets with passing cows, food stalls and locals carrying offerings to the river
The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Beside the cremation ghats, you’ll find kids playing cricket, holy men smoking, cows nosing through rubbish and women beating laundry on the rocks. If you would prefer, we can arrange an excursion to nearby Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first teachings.
Days 15 & 16 – Back to Delhi and departure
You’ll have some free time for some final sightseeing of Varanasi before being transferred to the airport for your domestic flight back to Delhi. Tonight, for convenience, you’ll stay in a comfortable hotel with a pool, that’s just a 20 minute drive from Delhi Airport. The following day, we’ll arrange a transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.
Accommodation
