From
NZ $3,569

Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation

11 days
Start and end in New Delhi
4.9
27 traveler reviews
From
NZ $3,569
Find this price
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $892 now + easy payments of $206 Learn More

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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 1 - 10
Age range 5 to 90
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Old Delhi by rickshaw
  • Visit the majestic Jama Masjid
  • Admire the Lotus Temple's unique design
  • Discover the Pink City of Jaipur
  • Witness the eternal beauty of Taj Mahal

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Delhi
  2. Day 2 Delhi
  3. Day 3 Jaipur
  4. Day 4 Jaipur
  5. Day 5 Agra, Fathepur skri and Abhaneri stepwell
  6. Day 6 Orchha
  7. Day 7 Khajuraho
  8. Day 8 Khajuraho
  9. Day 9 Varanasi
  10. Day 10 Varanasi
  11. Day 11 Delhi
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Flights
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Additional Services

Customer Photos

4.8
(459 reviews)

Number of tours

49

Age Range

1 to 99 years old

Response time

5 hours

Response rate

100%

PaylessToursIndia is a leading Company that specializes in package based as...

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Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.9
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.9
  • Guide
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.9
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.3
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.2
  • 4.8
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation reviewer 1
    · June 13th, 2025
    My customised tour to India according to the itinerary of Essence of India tour was simply brilliant. Despite being alone on this tour, I never felt lonely or bored. Both the driver Mr. Mithun and the company representative took great care of me. Mithun turned out to be not only a loyal and wonderful employee of the travel agency but also a great friend and a person.I had truly an amazing time in India and felt really safe and comfortable in the company of Paylesstoursindia driver and local guides.They always advised me well and gave me recommendations that were precious. Everything was perfect and I've already started planning another exciting journey to India.
    Show more
    Trip date: April 2025
  • Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation reviewer 2
    · May 13th, 2025
    Excellent tour with an excellent driver Mr. Mithun who took care of us and our safety and comfort. All the places from Delhi to Varanasi were extraordinary and it was extremely really exciting to explore them. Assistance of local guides was precious, we found out lots of facts about India. That was definitely tour to remember and definitely with Paylesstoursindia.
    Show more
    Payless tours india commented on this review
    We are so satisfied to receive such a positive feedback regarding our services and Paylsstoursindia team. We are always ready to serve our Customers in case of problems or situations which sometimes happen. There is always solution which can be found.... Show more
    Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 1Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 2Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 3Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 4Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 5Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 6
    Trip date: May 2025
  • RH
    · April 28th, 2025
    Just coming to the end of our 17 day tour of India and Nepal with Payless Tours India, we couldn't be happier with the package. We chose to do the private car tour which made it very flexible for us - Neeraj was easy to work with in organising the itinerary and other administration. At each site visited, we had very competent local guides join us to explain the history of each location. The highlight for us was to see the Taj Mahal and Mt Everest but there were many other amazing things. Travelling by car, and avoiding internal flights meant some long days driving but we had the benefit of viewing some locations free of western tourists. A special thanks to Mithun, our driver and companion. He was exceptional in his awareness of our needs, offering helpful advice and suggestions and ensuring we got to see the maximum number of places in the time available. His good humour, infectious laugh and positive outlook were very much a bonus. We would have no hesitation in recommending this tour and Payless Tours India as a very good company with whom to work.
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    Payless tours india commented on this review
    We are so satisfied to receive such a positive feedback regarding our services and Paylsstoursindia team. We are always ready to serve our Customers in case of problems or situations which sometimes happen. There is always solution which can be found.... Show more
    Trip date: April 2025
  • MO
    · April 18th, 2025
    This was a great trip. With great tour guides and a wonderful driver - Prajesh. He was a great driver and helped us throughout the trip. He was fun to be with and very generous too. All of our questions were answered and we had lots of laughs with his great humor. All the trip people helped to make the trip very enjoyable and one we will remember for years to come.
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    Payless tours india commented on this review
    Many thanks for this amazing and motivating feedback. We hope that you wish to come to India again and travel with us. Thank you for trust and using our services. Best wishes from Paylesstoursindia team
    Trip date: April 2025
  • SO
    · April 18th, 2025
    I have been very pleased overall with the driver and tour guides. They have been very accommodating and gone above and beyond,especially our driver Prakesh.When my husband felt ill he secured meds to help. He always had water available and was flexible when we wanted an extra stop for a store or shop or ATM.India was certainly interesting and he was always ready to talk about customs and experiences. His driving was exceptional. I Don't know how he was able to deal with the traffic and keep calm. We truly trusted him. India takes some getting used to but such culture! The only suggestion was I would recommend a different hotel in Delhi.Also there was a miscommunication as I pre-paid tips for guides and they did not get the info ahead of time leading to some uncomfortable discussions. Also a suggestion for tipping would have been helpful. Anyone traveling should be made aware that most admissions to sites did not take credit cards.Also tips at restaurants usually need to be paid in cash.
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    Payless tours india commented on this review
    Thank you for highlighting our outstanding customer service in your review! Thank you for your remarks which will help us upgrade our services. We’ll pass along your compliments to our team. Look forward to serving you again soon! See you soon,... Show more
    Trip date: April 2025
  • P
    · April 17th, 2025
    I'm very pleased with my trip Essence of India from Delhi to Varanasi. The first hotel was a little subpar, but the second was a great improvement and they got better as we traveled. Our driver Prakesh was amazing and very helpful, willing to provide us with everything we need and a few extra things we also appreciated. He was also willing to stop at extra places like a grocery store at our request. All our guides were very knowledgeable and willing to cater to us even though my mom had some mobility issues and my dad kept wandering off. Overall the experience has been absolutely wonderful and I would recommend it to my friends.
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    Payless tours india commented on this review
    Thank you for rewarding words. It is extremely motivating for our Paylesstoursindia team and important. We hope that you wish to come to India again and travel with us. Thank you for trust and using our services. Best wishes from Paylesstoursindia team
    Trip date: April 2025
  • NM
    · March 24th, 2025
    Great tour with great driver and great guides! Ideal for first time to India as you get the full spectrum and perfect overview. Very friendly, flexible and cultivated driver with very good English. Safari was added on request and as 99% it was "no problem"! Hotels maybe not always top (no hot water...) but OK for 1/2 nights. Very good to end in exotic-caotic-holy Varanasa!
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    Payless tours india commented on this review
    Thank you for such a great review of this tour. We are glad you enjoyed your time in India and especially in Varanasi. We are grateul for your feedback and hope to see you again. We would love to make another tour for you in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives... Show more
    Trip date: March 2025
  • JA
    · March 16th, 2025
    Based on the cooperation with the Payless Tours India agency, we went on an individual two-person 14-day trip on a route similar to the "Quintessence of India with Varanasi" trip. Additionally, we visited the Ranthambore and Panna parks (we met tigers and a leopard!) and the city of Gwalior. The cooperation with the Payless Tours office was very good both at the stage of arrangements, preparations and making decisions about the trip, as well as during its implementation. The company provided us with drivers, a car, hotels with breakfasts and local guides. From picking us up from the Delhi airport after arrival to departure to Poland, everything went very smoothly. The entire program was implemented. We highly value the quality of work and dedication of the drivers (Nerander and Mithun) and excellent communication with the office - literally at any time of the day holidays etc. The places we visited - monuments, parks with animals, large and small cities gave a very rich picture of India. The dealt with a large variety of historical objects, cultural and natural. The guides supplemented our plans with local curiosities and well-chosen points with products of local craftsmen and artists. The entire trip brought us more impressions than we expected. We are thinking about further trips together with Payless Tours India.
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    Payless tours india commented on this review
    We’re delighted to know that our team exceeded your expectations! Your kind words mean the world to us, and we can’t wait to share your compliments with them. Looking forward to your next visit.
    Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 1Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 2Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 3Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 4Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 5Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation customer review photo 6
    Trip date: March 2025
  • JW
    · January 17th, 2025
    Great introduction to India Having never been to India before my wife and I decided on a guided tour and were very impressed. Payless tours had good reviews so we went with them and we are glad we did, it took all the hassle and stress away. We had an excellent driver (thanks Anil) and car to ourselves, the hotel and guides were all booked and coordinated as per the itinerary. The guides were very informative, hotels were good to very good and always clean, and the included buffet breakfast was greta way to start the day
    Show more
    Payless tours india commented on this review
    We truly appreciate your continuous support and trust in us. Your 5-star review brightens our day and serves as a constant reminder of why we love what we do. Thank you so much for your feedback. We hope you will come back in the future and we will have... Show more
    Trip date: January 2025
  • A
    · December 16th, 2024
    A great introduction tour for the first timer of India! I am glad that I did this tour instead of just traveling by myself figuring out all the logistics as I go. Without the tour, I would have had some difficulties navigating myself and moving to the next destinations as well as understanding the culture of India and its safety. I cannot say thank you enough to my driver, Prakash. He speaks English, is kind, caring and trying to make me feel comfortable and safe all the time during the trip. I learned a lot about Indian and Hindu culture from him! 100% recommendation to have him as a driver for your trip! He is more than just a driver! The tour itself is well organized and followed the itinerary posted on the Tourrader most of the time. “Payless Tours India “ is trustful and reliable company. I highly recommend it to your Indian journey. However there were some minor things that I did not feel comfortable about. I did not expect to visit many specialized shops during the local tours, so I became stressed out going there to say “No” to their bargains although I was interested in learning about it. Sadly I found out that’s I got a different material for high price in later days….. For the hotels, they provided 3 star hotels where the staffs are all nice and helpful, but wifi is sometimes not available in the rooms. No heater at all the hotels in December. Not sure if it’s Indian standard without heating or not though, but I got sick from the coldness. Anyway, other than that, again it's a great tour!
    Show more
    Payless tours india commented on this review
    Once again, thank you for choosing us and for the incredible 5-star rating. Your feedback motivates us to keep raising the bar and sets the standard for excellence in everything we do. We hope to have a chance to take you on a tour to India again or... Show more
    Trip date: December 2024

Dates & Availability

11 days
Essence of India with Varanasi, 4 star accommodation
From New Delhi to New Delhi

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  • Instant Confirmation
    From Thursday
    19 Jun, 2025
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From
NZ $3,569
Find this price
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $892 now + easy payments of $206 Learn More

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Plan your adventure:

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
  • T

    Theresa

    Asked on February 25th, 2025

    Could you supply more details on this tour ... pickup/drop Delhi airport, quality of hotels, would like at least 4 stars, as only breakfast could food for purchase be close by during the day like a food court or hotel (what's approximate cost per meal), could you facilitate airline flights from USA and at what cost, lastly 2 persons per room but can an extra adult be included and new cost.

    Accommodation
    Flights / Transfers
    Meals
    Tour Details
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten February 2025

      We don't arrange international flights, however we can help you choose the right airlines or connection if you send us more details. There are 4-star hotels included in the package price, all the hotels and comfortable with good breakfast buffet selection in nice location, such as Grand mercure - Agra, Jaipur - Neerbana Palace, Khajuraho Chandela or Ramada. As for the other meals, the driver will show you restaurants where you can eat youe meals. We will provide you pick up from the airport and drop off to the airport in Varanasi, flight from Varanasi to Delhi is also included in the price. We can add also drop off to the airport at the end of the tour.

  • G

    Gra

    Asked on January 15th, 2025

    What is the payment procedure for the tour?

    Payments
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten January 2025

      Payments can be made via credit card or bank transfer, and remaining balances will be charged closer to the departure date.

  • Y

    Yasmin

    Asked on January 9th, 2025

    Is there assistance available for travel support during the tour?

    Travel Support
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten January 2025

      Yes, there is support available for any emergencies or issues while on tour.

  • F

    Fabien

    Asked on December 5th, 2024

    How can I upgrade to 5-star accommodations?

    Accommodation
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten December 2024

      You can opt for 5-star hotels, but please note that there will be an additional cost for the upgrade.

  • K

    Karen

    Asked on November 24th, 2024

    If we arrive around midday on the 6th Jan coud we still do the Delhi tour or would we be better to stay an extra night in Delhi and start tour on 7th Jan. I so what would be the extra cost for an extrat night in Delhi? Also, would a international flight departing from Deli on the last night of the tour departing around 10pm connect ok with flight from Varanasi?

    Flights / Transfers
    Tour Details
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten November 2024

      It would be better if we add one more night in Delhi so that you can start sightseeing without fatigue. It cost 100 usd extra. As for the last day, we will provide you afternoon flight.

    • K

      Karen

      TravelerWritten November 2024

      Is that usd 100 total for the two of us for an extra night in Delhi? Also we need to book flights back to Perth so would appreciate if you could advise if a 10pm flight from Delhi on the last day would work.

    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten November 2024

      Yes, it works since the flight will take off in the morning from Varanasi to Delhi. 100 USD is for 2 people. Please let us know and we will add this extra cost to the total tour price.

    • K
      2 more answers
  • K

    Karel

    Asked on August 17th, 2024

    Are there extra nights available before or after the tour?

    Accommodation
    Tour Details
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten August 2024

      Extra nights can be requested based on room availability at the designated hotels.

  • M

    Mirjam

    Asked on July 10th, 2024

    Can I customize the tour itinerary?

    Tour Details
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten July 2024

      Yes, customization is possible, including extensions to places like Nepal, depending on available routes.

  • V

    Vanessa

    Asked on June 20th, 2024

    What accommodations are provided during the tour?

    Accommodation
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten June 2024

      The hotels include options like Golden Grand in Delhi and 7 Apple in Jaipur, all rated at four stars.

  • D

    Denis

    Asked on May 28th, 2024

    Is there availability for the Essence of India tour?

    Price / Availability
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten May 2024

      Yes, the tour is available for the dates you requested, and departure is guaranteed.

  • N

    Nadia

    Asked on May 11th, 2024

    How can I find out more about the hotel facilities?

    Accommodation
    • Payless tours indiaOperatorWritten May 2024

      You can inquire about specific hotel amenities through your booking confirmation page.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Payless tours india with your enquiry, they usually respond within 5 hours.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 130773

  • Currency
    Indian Rupee
    India
  • Plugs & Adapters

  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Cholera - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for India. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for India. Ideally 10 days before travel.
    • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for India. Ideally 1 month before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before August 20th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 20th, 2025, a minimum payment of 25% is required to confirm your booking with Payless tours india. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Payless tours india will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Payless tours india" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

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Essence of India and Nepal with Paylesstoursindia