Essential India
15 days, Delhi to Delhi
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 included through the G Adventures-supported Women on Wheels project.
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.
Women on 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 a local woman from a resource poor community.
Day 2Delhi
Take a morning walk through the city with a young adult from the G Adventures-supported New Delhi Streetkids Project. Later, visit Old Delhi, explore the spice markets, and visit Jama Masjid and Connaught Place.
In the morning enjoy a city tour by local streetkids, a G Adventures-supported project.
Later, visit Delhi’s famous Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) and climb the minaret for a bird’s eye view of the Old City. Walk through Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest markets, and learn the history of the Sikh religion at the important Gurdwara, (Sikh place of worship) Gurdwara SisGanj. Stop for photos at the colourful spice market before finishing at the Victorian Connaught Place, one of the most prominent architectural remnants of British rule.
Your G for Good Moment: City Walk
Explore the streets of Delhi with a youth-led tour guide from the G Adventures-supported City Walk project. As a former at-risk youth, your local guide will have a unique perspective on the city and can provide more information on the life of a child in India. The guided tour helps support the guide's college or university tuition.
Please note that City Walk is closed on Sundays and holidays and this activity will not run on those days.
Jama Masjid Visit
Travel through the winding roads of Old Delhi to visit the gorgeous Jama Masjid, the Great Mosque of Delhi. Commissioned by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who also commissioned the Taj Mahal, it is the best-known and largest mosque in India. Explore the stately structure, which was completed in 1656, and enjoy its massive courtyard, which can hold 25,000 worshippers.
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Visit
Learn the history of the Sikh religion at this historically significant Gurdwara, which is a Sikh place of worship.
Delhi Spice Market
Visit this fragrant spice bazaar in Old Delhi, which is the largest spice market in Asia. Teeming with shoppers and traders from dawn till dusk, you can purchase flavourful spices, strong teas, delectable pickles and chutneys, and a large variety of dried fruit and nuts.
Connaught Place Visit
Explore the Victorian architecture of Connaught Place, which is a giant circle at the centre of any map of Delhi. Buy trinkets and textiles at the market on Janpath, which came into being when refugees from Pakistan began peddling their wares on this road after Partition in 1947. It remains one of Delhi's most colourful markets, and is very popular with tourist and locals alike.
Chandni Chowk Visit
Enjoy a stroll through Chandni Chowk, one of India's oldest and busiest markets. Be sure to stop and try one of the many types of paranthas (stuffed Indian bread) sold in stalls lining the streets.
Day 3Delhi/Jaipur
Arrive in Jaipur and explore this gorgeous 'pink city'.
Drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and start exploring. Opt to visit the Jantar Mantar, or Royal Observatory. Don't miss the opprtunity to see a Bollywood film at the famous Art Deco Raj Mandir cinema.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
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.
Movie at Raj Mandir
200-400INR per personVisit this spectacular cinema and watch a song-and-dance Bollywood film.
Day 4Jaipur
Stop and take a photo of the 'Palace of the Winds' and wander the organized streets of the 'Pink City'. Later, enjoy a visit to the Amber Fort, famous for its mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture.
Head out to visit the ruined city of Amber, the former capital of Jaipur state. Stop and take a photo of the Hawa Mahal palace complex, elaborate formal gardens, and a small lake.
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.
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
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.
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.
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.
Day 5Jaipur/Tordi Sāgar
Visit this Rajasthani rural village in the beautiful countryside with a close tie to the land.
Travel to the rural village of Tordi Sagar. Walk with a local resident through the markets, potters, iron smiths, temples, and farms and get a taste of the complexity of rural India.
Go on a camel cart ride to the dunes or opt to take a jeep safari in the surrounding region. Visit hamlets around the village, ancient stepwells, or watch a stunning sunset on the reservoir.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Tordi Sagar Local Village Tour
Take a tour of this tiny, tranquil village far from the maddening crowds and enjoy its pastoral settings and local hospitality. Also look at its magnificent red sand dunes.
Tordi Sagar Camel Cart Ride
Take a ride in a cart pulled by the "desert horse" and explore the pastoral settings of this tiny, tranquil village.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Tordi Sagar Jeep Safari
600-700INR per personGet in a jeep and enjoy a ride in the pastoral settings of this tiny, tranquil village.
Meals included:
Lunch | DinnerDay 6Tordi Garh/Āgra
Stop by the impressive Abhaneri stepwells on the way to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.
Opt for an early morning hike to the old fortress before continuing on towards Agra. Visit Abhaneri, known for its beautiful baoris (stepwells) and the famous Harshat Mata temple.
Arrive to Agra, a city that is best known as the site of India’s most famous landmark, the Taj Mahal.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Abhaneri Stepwell Visit
Walk around the amazing Chand Baori, a tenth century water tank that's an impressive 6.1m (20 ft) deep. Learn about ancient Indian environmentalism—a "baori" is a unique Indian invention for harvesting rainwater.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Āgra
Visit the famous Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Agra Fort.
Visit the sparkling Taj Mahal for sunrise then stick around to explore (if the light is better around sunset, we may visit later in the day instead). Later, visit the walled city of Agra Fort by cycle-rickshaw and the I'timad-ud-Daulah, or the Baby Taj.
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.
Cycle Rickshaw
Visit the Agra Fort by human-powered cycle-rickshaw.
Agra Fort Visit
Enjoy a visit to this impressive Mughal fort made of red sandstone and white marble.
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.
Day 8Āgra/Alīpura
Travel to Alipura and stay in a heritage property in the village.
Leave early and travel along typically rough Indian roads to Alipura, a friendly village which will be our base for two days.
Here, stay in a heritage property with time to wander the town and interact with locals.
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.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time to meet the locals and check out village life.
Day 9Alīpura
Enjoy a day trip to Khajuraho to visit the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, India's largest group of medieval temples, known for their kama sutra statues.
Travel 1.5 hrs to Khajuraho, one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Learn the history of these world-famous temples on a guided tour and enjoy a taste of a little erotica from the Middle Ages.
After, opt to visit a nearby waterfall (seasonal) or watch an evening dance performance.
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 10Alīpura/Orchha
Visit Orchha, a quiet rural town along the banks of the Betwa River and enjoy a puja ceremony. Visit a unique paper-making plant en route, set up to assist tribal women from the area.
En route to Orchha, visit 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. Continue on to Orchha and enjoy an orientation tour of this small town. Set on the banks of the Betwa River, it is the perfect antidote to the chaos of India’s cities. Later, attend an evening puja ceremony at the Ram Raja Temple.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
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.
Puja Ceremony
Experience a Hindu prayer ceremony presenting flowers, incense, and food to an image or idol representing a deity.
Day 11Orchha/Varanasi
Visit the Orchha Palace complex and enjoy free time before the overnight train to Varanasi. Opt for a local cooking class with a family.
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
Enjoy free time to check out the local markets.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
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 11 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 12Varanasi
Take an orientation walk through the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. Marvel at the ghats from the River Ganges as you enjoy boat trips at sunrise and sunset.
Disembark the train in legendary Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindus visit for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn, or to die.
There is time here to shop, wander, and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city, while optional activities include the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, the site of the Buddha's first sermon.
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 12 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.
Day 13Varanasi
Watch the sunrise from a boat along the Ganges. Enjoy free time in this holy 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
Explore all this famous city has to offer.
Day 14Varanasi/Delhi
Cut out the travel time with an afternoon flight back to Delhi.
Free Time
Do some last minute sightseeing with free time in the morning.
Day 15Delhi
Depart at any time.