Day 1:
Welcome to Incredible India!

Welcome to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi where you will be received and welcomed in the traditional Indian way before being transferred to your hotel.

Depending on arrival time we may visit Lakshminarayan Temple – a modern Hindu Temple.

Afternoon to rest and relax before our first meet up at 6 pm in the accommodation lounge for your official welcome and meet and greet your fellow travellers.  Our guide will give you a rundown of the adventures ahead.

Accommodation: Hotel Thikana, Delhi.

Meals: As per airline.

Activities: Transfer to accommodation, Lakshminarayan Temple (if time permits).

Day 2:
Delhi – Time To Enter The Urban Jungle

Get your local on and enjoy rickshaw ride in the busy bazaar of Chandni Chowk and the spice market Khari Baoli which will engulf your senses with the delicious aromas of fresh spices.

You won’t know where to look with a brisk business trade and thousands of people moving about their day, it really is an exciting ride.

Enjoy light snacks with masala tea on the rooftop at Khari Baoli and enjoy the visual feast with the spice market activities bustling below.

Drive through impressive boulevards and buildings such as President’s Residence, India Gate and others in Lutyen’s Delhi.

Accommodation: Hotel Thikana, Delhi. 

Meals: Breakfast.

Activities: Chandi Chowk, drive by President’s Residence, India Gate.

Day 3:
Tombs, Minars & Temples

After breakfast, we begin our day with a visit to the serene and ethereal Lotus Temple. Arrive with plenty of time to be seated for the 10am morning prayer. Be mindful to remove your shoes and observe silence as you take some time to soak up the peace and serenity.

The challenge is to take that serenity through your day as we continue to Humayun’s Tomb. The tomb, built in 1570, is of cultural significance being the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent and went on to inspire several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Moving on to Majnu ka Tilla on the banks of the Yamuma River, home to a large section of Tibetan refugees. This ‘little Tibet’ is a fusion culture on its streets, adds variety to the cultural spectrum of Delhi.

Spend free time here self exploring the alleyways with Tibetan trinkets, clothing and best of all food. Slurp a delicious bowl of Thukpa, a traditional hot soup with velvety noodles or delve into a dish of momos, luscious dumplings with lashings of spicy sauce for dipping while people watching.

Back to our hotel for some well deserved R & R.

Accommodation: Hotel Thikana, Delhi. 

Meals: Breakfast.

Activities: Lotus Temple. Humayun’s Tomb, Manju Ka Tilla.

Day 4:
Delhi To Jaipur & Rajasthani Feast

Depart Delhi after breakfast and begin the drive to Jaipur.  Take this time to rest, relax and take in all you’ve seen so far as we journey between cities and see authentic Indian life at its best.  As the saying goes, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey and today is an opportunity to see the day to day life outside of the city.

Tonight we have a real Rajasthani treat!  We will make our way to Chokhi Dhani and enjoy the village fair-like atmosphere and relish in traditional Rajasthani food and life. 

Accommodation: Traditional Haveli, Jaipur.  

Meals:  Breakfast, dinner.

Activities: Transfer to Jaipur. Chokhi Dhani dinner experience.

Day 5:
Pink Lady Rickshaw Ride & Family Dinner

Be ready for your 11am Pink Lady Rickshaw company tuk tuk tour through Jaipur markets this morning. We love supporting this not for profit organisation providing new aspirational employment opportunity to 200 women from low income households in Jaipur.

This tour has been curated to take you to some of the niche stores that house the best handcrafted products as well as some of the secret little finds.  This four hour tour lets you browse through block printed apparels, quirky home accessories, blue pottery ceramics and handcrafted gift items. 

All our recommended stores and shops are well known for their quality and directly contribute to the development of the craftspeople of Rajasthan. All shops have been recommended on merit, with no payments or incentives involved. 

If you’d prefer, have a relaxing morning at the hotel and meet up with the group later on.

Around 5 pm we will leave to enjoy a cooking demonstration with traditional dinner with our local guide and family and also see the Holi Ka Dahan. Holi Ka Dahan is an extremely popular tradition and is celebrated with fervour all across the country and is symbolic of the triumph of good over evil.

Accommodation: Traditional Haveli, Jaipur.  

Meals:  Breakfast, dinner.

Activities: Pink Lady Rickshaw Company market tour, dinner with local family, Holi Ka Dahan celebration.

Day 6:
Happy Holi – It’s Time To Get Your Colour On!

Celebrate the spectacular festival of Holi with gulal (coloured powders), music and dance!  We will supply your outfit/dress for the traditional celebrations. It’s an action-packed morning of fun dance and community as we are welcomed into our guides family celebrations as one of their own.

After Holi celebration, we will transfer back to the hotel to freshen up.  The afternoon is kept free.

Optional: This afternoon at 5pm be ready for pick up as we make our way to Nahargarh Fort for a magnificent sunset view and dinner at the Once Upon a Time restaurant.   Nahargarh Fort was built in the 18th century and once formed part of the stronghold of forts protecting the city. 

Accommodation: Traditional Haveli, Jaipur.  

Meals:  Breakfast.

Activities: Holi Festival with locals. Optional extra: Sunset and dinner at Nahargarh Fort (dinner at own cost between 1000 Rs. – 1500 Rs. per person, must be pre-booked)

Day 7:
Jaipur – Full Day Guided Tour Of The Pink City

Up early for morning Aarti of Lord Krishna at Govind Dev Ji Temple.  We will also visit the local vegetable and flower market, an opportunity to see the daily market life of the growers and even have a chat with the sellers.  A beautiful morning experiencing real Jaipur not to be missed.  

Back to our hotel for breakfast and short relax before we head out on a guided sightseeing tour of stunning Jaipur.  We will visit the majestic Amber Fort housing the beautiful mirror palace and elaborate Ganesh Pole. 

Have lunch in the local market restaurant before we visit the Gatore Ki Chhatriyan and City Palace and its vast treasure of rare manuscripts, paintings and other collections. Visit other monuments and palace (if time permits).

Accommodation: Traditional Haveli, Jaipur.  

Meals:  Breakfast.

Activities: Guided tour of Jaipur, morning Aarti, veg & flower market.

Day 8:
Mahua Village Visit – Agra

Begin the morning with an optional traditional yoga and meditation class.  A gentle practice introducing you to various forms of yoga including breath work.  Return to the hotel for breakfast before checking out and making our way toward Agra. 

We visit Mahua Village en route to Agra and learn about the local farming and meet the artisans, explore the arts and crafts and meet the local children as we visit the school.  Enjoy a traditional Rajasthani lunch in the village with a Rajput family where we interact and share stories with the locals who are just as eager to hear about our lifestyles as we are about theirs.

Continue drive to reach Agra. On arrival, check-in at our hotel.

Accommodation:  Ekaa Hotel, Agra.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Activities: Village visit, transfer to Agra.

Day 9:
Agra Fort, Sheroes & Old Agra Tour

This morning begins visiting Agra Fort, a historical fort in the city, it was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638 when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.

We will lunch at Sheroes Hangout. A unique and inspiring cafe run by women who have fought to survive after being victims of acid attacks.

These women are on the way to becoming true fighters, having the courage to live, work and walk in the midst of the society and force the society to reevaluate its norms about beauty and appearance.

Back to the hotel for some R&R or stay in the city for self-exploration.  Be ready for our early evening activities visiting Dhobi Ghat. An interesting stop where the local laundry workers wash, dry and fold acres of saris on the banks of the river.  

Onwards to Kachhpura village walk to see local life and learn how local people make bags, shoes and so on.  The Taj overlooks the Kachhpura village, across the Yamuna River. 

Early evening we complete a great afternoon at the back of the Taj Mahal for sunset. The rare sight of Taj from Mehtab Bagh with the river in the front is simply magical.

Accommodation:  Ekaa Hotel, Agra.

Meals: Breakfast.

Activities: Agra Fort, Dhobi Ghat, Sheroes Cafe, Kachhpura village visit, Taj Mahal visit at sunset from Mehtab Bagh.

The Taj Mahal is closed Fridays and Public Holidays so these days in Agra may swap around to fit in all activities.

Day 10:
The Grand Taj Mahal

Up early to get the best view of the Taj Mahal as the sun rises.  Built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.

After you’ve explored the Taj Mahal, we return back to the hotel for breakfast and time at leisure or self explore Agra via tuk-ruk or foot.

Ensure you stay hungry, as we will leave for a short street walk tour around 5pm with an English speaking expert to experience the local delicacy chaat and watch how it is prepared. 

We then make our way to the British Colonial House for Punjabi dinner in a family home.  A night of fun, dance and music with the dinner and interaction with the local Sikh family where you can ask questions and learn more about the local culture. 

Accommodation:  Ekaa Hotel, Agra.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

Activities: Taj Mahal, street food tour, Punjabi family dinner.

Day 11:
Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Centre

Morning breakfast in the hotel and free time to relax or set out on your own adventure..

Around 2 pm we proceed to Wildlife SOS – elephant conservation and care centre.  SOS collaborate with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to rehabilitate severely abused captive elephants in distress.

Here, several elephants that used to spend their days doing hard work in often harsh conditions are living out their retirement years in peace and safety. No longer forced to bear heavy loads, or walk on hot pavement, these majestic creatures are finally able to spend their days happily, with frequent baths, a nutritious diet, and good veterinary care.

We transfer to Agra railway station to board the overnight train to Varanasi.  This is where you need your trailblazer mindset! Getting on the trains is loud, confusing and squishy so please just go with the flow, follow your guide and get on fast.  We will sort our bags and bedding out once we are on.  

Accommodation: Overnight in air-con sleeper coach on the train. 

Meals: Breakfast, packed dinner box for the train.

Activities:  Wildlife SOS visit. Overnight train to Varanasi.  

Note: Train travel is overnight sleeper cabin, air-con 2 tier.  Bedding is bunk beds, shared rooms and can get very cool. Best to layer your clothing as it can get cool.  Luggage is stored under the bunk beds and a luggage chain is suggested. Keep an open mind, remember where you are and keep a mindset of ‘going with the flow’. 

Refer to our post under FAQ’s or read our blog on train travel in India.

Day 12:
Banaras, Varanasi – Life, Death & The Ganges

On arrival at Varanasi, transfer to your hotel for early check in. Rest of the day is kept free to walk to the Ghats or explore the narrow back-lanes of one of the oldest cities in the world on your own and at leisure.

It is a sensory overload with sounds, smells and touts but a really special time for you to explore and create memories of your own.

You will see pilgrims come to the ghats lining the Ganges to wash away sins in the sacred waters or to cremate their loved ones. It’s a particularly auspicious place to die since expiring here offers moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth).

In the evening we will take a short boat ride tour to witness holy rituals before returning to shore to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony – a very spiritual experience!

Accommodation: Hotel Ganges View, Varanasi.

Meals: Breakfast.

Activities: Transfer to accommodation, evening boat ride, Ganga Aarti ceremony.

Day 13:
Varanasi, Land Of Shiva To Delhi

Early morning, enjoy a boat ride on river Ganges to witness holy rituals on Ghats. It’s certainly a feast for the eyes before we take a moment to close them down, stop and take in all we have seen over our journey.  The early morning Ganga is a special place not to be missed. 

Later visit the weaver’s village of Sarai Mohana. The village is well known for its unique silk weaving.  The weavers make some of the finest saris in all of India, made with silver and gold brocade with opulent embroidery on fine silk.  

In the afternoon we make our way to the airport for our short flight back to Delhi.

Flight to book: Varanasi to Delhi – Air India Flight AI405.  Departs Varanasi 4.50 pm and arrives in Delhi 6.25pm. Budget approx. $100 AUD.  Please let us know if you require our help to book. 

Accommodation: Hotel Thikana, Delhi. 

Meals: Breakfast.

Activities: Boat ride on Ganges, Sarai Mohana silk weavers visit, transfer to airport.

Day 14:
Delhi & The Sikh Temple

Morning breakfast then we visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to attend the morning ceremony and if you like, can participate as a server to the many thousands who partake in the grand communal feast at the Temple.

The feast runs 24 hours a day where anyone can participate in cooking, washing, cleaning, feeding and other activities at the Langar (feast) Hall.

Make our way to the Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and the site where he spent the last 144 days of his life and was assassinated on 30th January 1948. We can tour the grounds and the building, viewing the room where Gandhi lived and the place on the grounds where his life was taken during his evening prayers.  

Time permitting, we can visit Connaught Place.  After the visit, transfer back to our hotel for some leisure time.

Accommodation: Hotel Thikana, Delhi. 

Meals: Breakfast.

Activities: Visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gandhi Smriti.

Day 15:
It’s A Sad Farewell

Morning is kept free to explore at your leisure.  You may also enjoy last minute shopping at the local market, Dilli Haat or Delhi depending on your departure time.

Ensure you’re back and ready for your transfer to the airport and onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast.

Activities: Transfer to airport.

NOTE: Budget required for entranc fees to all monuments listed approx. $120