Itinerary
- Day 1
Delhi
You'll arrive in Delhi and get transferred to your hotel. The afternoon and evening are yours to spend however you'd like before meeting up with your guide and group at 6pm. If you land early enough, there's an optional 'Backstreets of Delhi' tour where you can try street food, walk through spice markets, and check out local bazaars using the metro, rickshaws, and your own feet.
Optional Activities
- Backstreets of Delhi add-on tour including street food tasting, Khari Baoli spice market visit, and Bazar Matia Mahal exploration by metro, electric rickshaw and walking
Landmarks/POIs Khari Baoli Bazar Matia Mahal Jama Masjid - Day 2
Delhi to Agra
This morning starts with guided exploration of Old and New Delhi. You'll see Humayun's Tomb and Jama Masjid (both UNESCO sites), tour the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib temple, take a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar, and pass by India Gate on Rajpath. After that, you'll drive to Agra, check into your hotel, and have the rest of the day free to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of UNESCO-listed Humayun's Tomb
- Visit to Jama Masjid (India's oldest and largest mosque)
- Visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Sikh temple
- Rickshaw ride around Chandni Chowk bazaar
- Guided exploration of New Delhi
- Walk down Rajpath to see India Gate monument
Landmarks/POIs Humayun's Tomb Jama Masjid Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Chandni Chowk India Gate Rajpath - Day 3
Agra
You'll spend the day at two of Agra's most iconic sites. Start with the Taj Mahal, the white marble mausoleum that Emperor Shah Jahan built as a tribute to his wife. From there, head to Agra Fort, a massive red sandstone fortress with intricate Mughal buildings and gardens that offer real insight into that era's architecture and history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Taj Mahal
- Guided tour of Agra Fort
Landmarks/POIs Taj Mahal Agra Fort - Day 4
Agra to Karauli or Dholpur
You're heading to either Karauli or Dholpur depending on where your group is staying. There's a lunch stop on the way. In Karauli, you'll stay at Palace Bhanwar Vilas, a heritage property mixing Oriental and Art Deco styles from 1938. In Dholpur, it's Raj Niwas Palace with its striking red sandstone and traditional Rajasthani design. Spend your afternoon walking the palace grounds, checking out classic cars, or swimming. An optional evening Aarti ceremony is available if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Evening Aarti (prayer ceremony)
- Day 5
Karauli or Dholpur to Jaipur
You'll travel to Jaipur, the UNESCO-listed Pink City. Once you arrive, there's guided time to see the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar Space Observatory, which has 19 different astrological instruments that are pretty remarkable to walk through.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of City Palace
- Visit to UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar Space Observatory
Landmarks/POIs City Palace Jantar Mantar - Day 6
Jaipur
Start early if you want to do the optional hot-air balloon ride (you'll book and pay for this on your own). Later in the day, take a jeep up to Amber Fort for a guided tour, then visit a cotton weaving house to see how they dye fabric the traditional way. After that, the day is yours. Many people head to Johari Bazaar in the Old Pink City to walk around and shop.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Jeep ride to Amber Fort
- Guided tour of Amber Fort
- Visit to cotton weaving house with fabric dyeing demonstration
Optional Activities
- Hot-air balloon ride (booked and paid locally)
- Explore Johari Bazaar in the Old Pink City
Landmarks/POIs Amber Fort Johari Bazaar - Day 7
Jaipur to Delhi
You'll drive back to Delhi in the morning. The rest of your day is completely free to explore on your own. If you're interested, the Akshardham temple is worth the trip, it's the largest Hindu temple in the world and quite something to see.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit to Akshardham (largest Hindu temple in the world)
Landmarks/POIs Akshardham - Day 8
Delhi to Shimla via Toy Train
Get up early to catch the Shatabdi Express train heading to Kalka. Once there, you'll transfer to the Himalayan Queen Toy Train for a unique 33km ride through scenic hills with narrow twists, tunnels, forests, and traditional stations. The train brings you most of the way, then you'll drive the rest into Shimla where the evening is yours to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Shatabdi Express train journey from Delhi to Kalka (air-conditioned chair class)
- Himalayan Queen Toy Train journey from Kalka to Dharampur (33km through scenic countryside with tunnels, forests, bridges and traditional stations)
Landmarks/POIs Himalayan Queen Toy Train - Days 9 - 10
Shimla
Shimla sits at 2,100m elevation in the Himalayas. You'll explore the famous main street called The Mall with its stately English-style homes, visit the Viceregal Lodge (where the British Viceroy used to live), walk through narrow streets and colorful bazaars with valleys and mountains all around. On day 10, the day is free so you can wander The Mall on your own, take in snow-capped views, or browse through the colorful Lakkar Bazaar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Shimla including The Mall
- Visit to Viceregal Lodge (former British Viceroy residence)
- Exploration of narrow streets and colorful bazaars
Landmarks/POIs The Mall Viceregal Lodge Lakkar Bazaar - Day 11
Shimla to Delhi via Chandigarh
You'll leave Shimla and head to Chandigarh for a guided tour of the modern city. See the Rock Garden, which has over 2,000 sculptures made from concrete, steel drums, old bike frames, and broken sinks. Then check out the Rose Garden with its 1,500 types of roses, and walk along Sukhna Lake if there's time. Later, you'll catch a train back to Delhi and get transferred to your hotel when you arrive.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Chandigarh
- Visit to Rock Garden
- Train journey from Chandigarh to Delhi (air-conditioned chair class)
Optional Activities
- Visit to Rose Garden (Asia's largest botanical garden with 1,500 species of roses)
- Stroll along Sukhna Lake
Landmarks/POIs Rock Garden Rose Garden Sukhna Lake - Day 12
Departure from Delhi
This is your final day. Your time in India wraps up today. If you need a departure transfer to the airport or train station, that can be arranged, though it'll cost extra.
Optional Activities
- Departure airport transfer (available for additional supplement)
