India’s Golden Triangle: Taj Mahal to the Ganges
9 days, Delhi to Varanasi
Itinerary Notes
Want to experience the sights and sounds of Holi? Make sure you’re in India on March 14, 2025 or March 4, 2026 for the nation’s most colourful festival.
Itinerary
Day 1Delhi
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included through the G Adventures-supported Women With Wheels project.
There are no planned activities until the evening welcome meeting. Afterward, head out for an optional dinner with the group.
Your G for Good Moment: Women With Wheels Transfer
Transfer by a G Adventures-supported project, Women With Wheels. This program provides safe and reliable transport for travellers, while providing a dignified livelihood for local women who once lacked financial opportunities.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Delhi/Jaipur
Visit Delhi's impressive India Gate and Connaught Place before traveling to Jaipur, commonly called the "Pink City" for its unique architecture. Along the way, try your hand at block printing with the women of the Anoothi Project. Get to know this colourful city on an orientation walk, then opt to watch a classic Bollywood film.
Delhi Orientation Tour
Get a taste of India's capital city through a visit to Connaught Place by metro and a walk to India Gate, a stately memorial built for Indian soldiers who died in World War I.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your G for Good Moment: Anoothi Block Printing Experience
Women from marginalised communities outside Jaipur came together to create the Anoothi Project. In Hindi, Anoothi means 'unique and extraordinary' and by teaching these women to master the traditionally male handicraft of block printing, the collective shines a light on the unique and extraordinary within each individual. At this G for Good visit, engage in a hands-on block printing activity with the local women as you indulge in some local snacks prepared by your hosts.
Orientation Walk
Head to the markets of this "Pink City," the capital of Rajasthan, and one of the most important heritage cities in India on this CEO-led orientation walk.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Movie at Raj Mandir
200-400INR per personVisit this spectacular cinema and watch a song-and-dance Bollywood film.
Day 3Jaipur
Explore Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, clinging to the surrounding hills on Maota Lake. Stop to marvel at the mysterious Hawa Mahal, "Palace of the Winds," an elaborately carved facade built to enable the purdah women in the Zenana to watch the goings-on in the street below without being seen.
With free time, opt to get active by pre-booking a cycle tour, or catch a classic Bollywood film in the spectacular Art Deco film house — the Raj Mandir.
Amber Fort Visit
Take in the Hindu and Muslim architecture of the beautiful Amber Fort. Wander through the halls and courtyards and admire the intricate details.
Free Time
Enjoy the rest of the day to explore Jaipur on your terms.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Jaipur Cycle Tour
With its many lanes and organized layout, Jaipur is the perfect location to explore by bicycle. Choosing to cycle through the city on this morning tour will introduce you to sights, sounds and smells that a vehicle just can't match, so grab a helmet and jump on your bike! Navigate the streets of the 'Pink City' with the help of your experienced guide, starting the day with a traditional Indian yoghurt drink of Lassi. Marvel at the architectural wonders as you enter the walled part of the city and stop at the City Palace to visit the Govind Dev temple. Wander through the historical spices and sweets market, stopping for tea and a tasty snack of pakoras before heading towards the majestic Albert Hall Museum where the tour ends. Taxi transfers from the hotel to the starting point and from the finishing point back to the hotel are included in the price of this cycle tour.
City Palace Visit
1000INR per personExplore the courtyards, gardens, and buildings that make up the City Palace. Located in the heart of the Old City, it is a striking blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. Visit the palace's museum to look at ancient carriages and the former maharaja's gold-embroidered wedding outfit.
Jantar Mantar Visit
202INR per personVisit the Jantar Mantar observatory for a guided tour and explore the collection of astronomical instruments housed there, some dating back to 1727.
Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)
202INR per personEnjoy a visit to the intricately-carved Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of the Winds," which is named for the cool breeze that comes through the structure and keeps it comfortable, even in the hot Jaipur summers. Admire this architectural wonder and snap some photos.
Jaipur Balloon Ride
Begin your day at dawn, just as the sun starts to rise. As you drift into the sky, enjoy the silence and serenity of the morning, watching as the day starts for the colourfully dressed inhabitants below. From high in the sky, you may float over rolling hills, villages teeming with life, and a small monastery. You may even spot elephants—if luck is on your side.
Available September 1 - April 30.
Day 4Jaipur/Āgra
Take in the arid terrain and small towns on the ride to Agra for a sunset visit to the famous Taj Mahal. Marvel at the iconic Mughal architecture and immerse yourself in the mausoleum's unique history.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Taj Mahal Visit
Cross one off your bucket list as you visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Explore the gorgeous white marble mausoleum, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a testament of his love for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Day 5Āgra/Orchha
Travel by train and rickshaw to reach peaceful Orchha along the Betwa River. Enjoy some time away from India's bustling cities and gain insight into rural life. Visit Tarragram, a unique paper-making plant set up to assist tribal women from the area. All the paper is made from recycled clothing and wood pulp. Then, visit the palace complex to learn more about the ancient history here. Opt to witness an evening puja, a Hindu prayer ceremony.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Auto Rickshaw
Scoot quickly around the big cities inside a three-wheeled mini-taxi.
Tarragram Visit
Enjoy a visit to this unique paper-making plant, set up to assist tribal women from the area. All the paper is made from recycled clothing and wood pulp.
Orchha Palace Visit
Visit the three separate palaces, or "mahals," in this complex: the Raj Mahal, Jehangir Mahal, and Rai Parveen Mahal. Enjoy the medieval architecture and learn about its rich history.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Puja Ceremony
FreeExperience a Hindu prayer ceremony presenting flowers, incense, and food to an image or idol representing a deity.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Orchha/Varanasi
Enjoy free time to explore beautiful Orchha. Opt to rent a bike, stroll along the river, or take a cooking class and enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. In the evening, catch an overnight train to Varanasi.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time.
Taxi
Jump in the back and tell the driver to step on it, just like they do in the movies.
Basic Overnight Train (beds)
Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Orchha Cooking School
As a place of spiritual importance and impressive architectural sites, it’s not hard to see what makes Orchha so unique. This is your chance to also taste what makes this town so special. You’ll learn how to concoct a warming cup of masala chai and a tasty snack of vegetable pakoras. Enjoy this as your hosts demonstrate how to make three different curries. Indulge in these delicious dishes with the accompaniments of raita, mango and guava chutneys, chapatis and puris, as you get to know your hosts some more.
Day 7Varanasi
Arrive in Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindus travel for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn, or to die. Take an orientation walk along the ghats and visit the old city to get acquainted with this magical city.
Orientation Walk
Experience the spiritual energy of Varanasi with a walk through the holy city, filled with temples, shrines and Hindus from all over India and the world. Enjoy views of the sacred River Ganges.
Free Time
Explore this holy city.
Day 8Varanasi
Enjoy a sunrise boat tour along the sacred Ganges before free time to explore this holy city. Walk the narrow alleys, visit some of the hundreds of temples and shrines, or wander the Old City. Opt to visit the site of the Buddha's first sermon or sit on the banks of the Ganges watching life unfold around you. In the evening, embark on a Ganges boat trip at sunset to witness a candlelit flower ceremony.
Pre-book the Varanasi Heritage Walk and enjoy a guided tour that focuses more on the local life in Varanasi and its philosophical and cultural values. Witness pilgrims singing and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of Varanasi in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Pre-book the Guided Visit of Sarnath and learn about the life of the Buddha. Discover the archeological ruins of the monastery. Explore the museum at Sarnath and the sacred Maha Bodhi Tree. Visit temples constructed by the buddhist people of Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan and stop to admire the Buddha statue during the three hours of guided exploration.
Morning Ganges Boat Tour
Catch the sunrise from a boat cruising the sacred Ganges River, where Hindu pilgrims from all over the world come to wash away their sins and cremate their loved ones. Witness locals participating in dawn rituals of bathing and burning at the river.
Free Time
Spend time exploring the hidden alleys, temples, and shrines found throughout this holy city -- it's the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. Take time to experience the culture and history or discover the shops and stalls in the Old City.
Evening Ganges Boat Tour
Enjoy a boat ride on the sacred Ganges River, where Hindu pilgrims from all over the world come to wash away their sins and cremate their loved ones. Participate in a candle and flower ceremony while on the water.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Heritage and Spiritual Walk in Old Benaras
Set off an engaging walking tour of Old Varanasi City. Wander through puzzling alleys, vibrant bazaars, explore temples, and gain a deeper understanding of Varanasi’s history, culture, and spirituality.
The Varanasi Heritage Walk begins from the Godaulia intersection and our first visit is to the Mata Kali Temple, one of the highest revered places of worship in the city. It was built by the Maharaja of Varanasi in 1885 and features carved pillars that capture visitors’ attention. Then we will visit the Ganesh temple before heading to the Tedhi Neem Gali for a walk through the colorful market dotted with many different shops. Afterward, we will go towards the Kashi Vishwanath corridor and witness Varanasi’s principal cremation site – the Manikarnika Ghat. The sacred fire here has been alive for the last 3000 years.
Next, we’ll walk past the Alam Gir mosque, visit the shrine of a Hindu Yogi and mystic Guru Shri Tailang Swami, the Mangla Gauri Temple, and the Sankatha Mata Temple. Towards the end of the walk, we will try the famous white butter toast with tea at Laxmi Chai shop or Dwarika Lassi.
During the walk our guide will focus more on the local life in Varanasi and its philosophical and cultural values. Witness pilgrims singing or chanting and gain an understanding of the importance of Varanasi in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Guided Tour of Sarnath
A day of exploration begins with a tuk-tuk ride from Varanasi towards Sarnath, where your local guide awaits. One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, Sarnath is the birth place of Buddhism where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. For nearly 1700 years the site remained a centre for great learning, a place of pilgrimage, and a Vihara (Monastery) for monks and scholars. Guided by a local expert, discover the archeological ruins of the monastery, the ancient Dhamek stupa. Explore the museum at Sarnath and the sacred Maha Bodhi Tree. Visit temples constructed by the buddhist people of Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan. Stop to admire the Buddha statue located at the Thai Buddha vihara. Some eighty feet tall, it is considered to be the tallest standing Buddha statue at Sarnath. After three hours of guided exploration, your guide will bring you back to your awaiting tuk-tuks bound for your hotel.
Day 9Varanasi
Depart at any time.