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Down the Ganges
15 days, Delhi to Delhi
Itinerary
Day 1Delhi
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities until the 14:00 welcome meeting. We highly recommend you book pre- or post-accommodation to fully experience this bustling city.
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.
Orientation With CEO
Visit the Connaught Place by metro and walk to India Gate.
Day 2Delhi/Rishīkesh
Take a morning train to Haridwar then drive to Rishikesh. Explore this holy city.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Yoga Class
Stretch and hold poses in this gentle but effective form of exercise.
Day 3Rishīkesh
Enjoy whitewater rafting in Rishikesh and spend the afternoon exploring.
Whitewater Rafting
Rishikesh is the rafting capital of India. Go for half-day rafting session on the mighty River Ganges.
Free Time
Explore more of this holy city.
Day 4Rishīkesh/Haridwar
Drive to Haridwar. Attend an evening aarti (prayer ritual) and walk along the ghats.
Visit the prominent holy city of Haridwar, regarded as one of the seven holiest places for Hindus. Witness an evening aarti, the waving of lighted wicks that accompanies almost all Hindu ceremonies.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Evening Aarti
An aarti is a religious ritual found in Hinduism, consisting of lighted wicks soaked in ghee being offered to the deities. The offering in Haridwar is one of the most famous. An aarti symbolizes five different things— ether, wind, fire, water, and earth.
Day 5Haridwar/Āgra
Take a morning train to Agra. Spend the evening exploring.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Orientation With CEO
Visit Fatehabad Road.
Day 6Āgra/Allahābād
Visit the Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Agra Fort by cycle-rickshaw before boarding an overnight train to Allahabad.
Watch the sunrise in the city of Agra, best known for the Taj Mahal. Visit this great icon of Mughal architecture in the early morning for the best light.
In the afternoon, visit I’timad-ud-Daulah, also known as the ‘Baby Taj'. Ride a cycle-rickshaw to visit the Agra Fort.
In the evening, hop an overnight train.
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.
Baby Taj Visit
Visit this mausoleum that looks like a jewel box, built before the Taj Mahal by Queen Nur Jahan for her father. Enjoy the intricate details of the structure; it was the first Mughal building faced with white marble and where "pietra dura" (precious stones inlaid into marble) was first used.
Agra Fort Visit
Enjoy a visit to this impressive Mughal fort made of red sandstone and white marble.
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.
Day 7Allahābād/Chunār
Embark on a sailing trip down the Ganges and camp overnight on the river banks.
Head to a hotel in town to change up for the day before continuing to Mirzapur to embark on a day of sailing on the sacred River Ganges.
Allahabad is an important town on the Ganges for pilgrims and it's confluence of two of the great rivers — the Ganges and Yamuna. This point is known as Sangam and it's the place Hindus come to wash away their sins.
Enjoy sleeping by the river with cooks and helpers to make the experience comfortable.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Ganges Sailing
Sail down the mighty Ganges, past holy pilgrimage sites, and soak in life along the sacred river.
Meals included:
Lunch | DinnerDay 8Chunār/Robertsganj
Drive to Rajpur in Robertsganj. Explore the village and forested areas with a local guide. Opt for a 4x4 safari or a bicycle ride around the town. Overnight tent retreat.
Drive to Rajpur to explore the village and forested area of Robertsganj. Learn about this off-the-beaten-path destination on a walk with a local guide. Opt for a 4x4 safari through the forest or ride a bicycle around town.
Camp overnight at a site run by the local villagers, providing sustainable support for the neighbouring communities.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Guided Walk
Enjoy a walk with a local guide to learn more about this hidden community. Gain insight on the nearby forest and life in a remote village.
Free Time
Spend time exploring with a 4x4 safari or bike rental.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Bike Rental
Rent a bike from a local shop and head out to explore.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 9Robertsganj/Varanasi
Opt to cycle around the village before driving to Varanasi. Enjoy an evening boat ride on the Ganges.
Continue on to the holy city of Varanasi.
Take boats out onto the sacred Ganges River to enjoy the sunset. For the evening boat journey, experience a candle flower ceremony on the boats.
With time in Varanasi, opt to shop, wander, and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city, while optional activities include visiting the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, site of the Buddha's first sermon.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
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.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Varanasi
Watch the sunrise from a boat on the Ganges before a free day to explore the city.
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
Make the most of your time in this holy city.
Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow
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.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Varanasi/Khajurāho
Spend the day travelling to Khajuraho via Satna. Visit the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, India's largest group of medieval temples, known for their kama sutra statues.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Khajuraho Temples Guided Tour
Get ready to be impressed by the beautiful temples of Khajuraho during this guided tour. Not intended for the bashful, these erotic carvings are similar to style of the Kama Sutra. These Hindu temples were build over a span of a 100 years, and while originally there were more than 80 of them, only 22 currently remain.
Day 12Khajurāho/Orchha
Continue to Orchha, stopping en route to explore the village of Alipura.
Stop in Alipura to break up the drive and have lunch in town. Opt to enjoy the heritage palace for lunch or take a bullock cart ride through town.
Continue on to Orchha for the night.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 13Orchha
Explore the Orchha Palace complex. With free time in the afternoon, opt to take a cooking class.
Set on the banks of the Betwa River, Orchha is the perfect antidote to the chaos of India’s cities. Visit the Orchha Palace complex and learn more about this fascinating place.
Opt for a local cooking class with a family or attend an evening puja ceremony at the Ram Raja Temple.
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.
Free Time
Head out and explore.
Optional Activities - Day 13 HideShow
Cooking Class
1000INR per personCalling all foodies! Get a taste of local food of Orchha by visiting a local family for a cooking class. After the cooking demonstration sit down and enjoy the delicious dishes you have prepared.
Day 14Orchha/Delhi
Visit Tarragram, a local initiative for the sustainable livelihood of paper making, before boarding an afternoon train to Delhi.
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.
Later, head back to Delhi by the Shatabdi Express train.
Tarragram Visit
Explore more of the city.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Day 15Delhi
Depart at anytime.