Journeys: Discover 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 Women on Wheels, a G Adventures-supported project.
There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel (check-in time is 12:00 noon).
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
Enjoy a youth-led walk through Delhi as part of the G Adventures-supported City Walk project. Later, explore Old Delhi with your CEO including a rickshaw ride through the busy streets, Jama Masjid (Great Mosque), Chandni Chowk local market, and Gurdwara Sikh Temple.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
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.
Old Delhi Guided Walk
Visit historic Old Delhi. Explore Jama Masjid, the "Great Mosque," and enjoy its massive courtyard, which can hold up to 25,000 worshippers. Also, visit the ancient Sikh temple of Gurdwara SisGanj, which was established in 1783.
Qutub Minar Visit
Visit Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This tall minaret was built in 1192 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, and is a stunning example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture. Walk through the surrounding ruins and check it out for yourself.
Cycle Rickshaw
Keep it clean and green on the busy streets aboard a pedal-powered taxi.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Delhi/Varanasi
Fly to Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city. Enjoy a lecture at the Ghats of the Ganges by a research scholar about the river's significance spiritually, socially, economically, and politically. After, we'll cruise the sacred Ganges at sunset, enjoy a candle and flower ceremony accompanied by sitar and tabla playing, and observe an evening aarti (prayer) ceremony.
Varanasi is the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindus travel for pilgrimage, worship, or mourning.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Ganges River Talk
While in Varanasi, sit down for a talk with a scholar at the picturesque ghats (stairs) of the Ganges. Discuss the river and the spiritual and social role it plays in daily life here.
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 4Varanasi
Rise early for a boat ride along the Ganges to observe the sunrise, as well as the bathing and burial dawn rituals. Later, have breakfast at Open Hand, a vocational training cafe. G Adventures has partnered with Open Hand to provide dignified and meaningful job opportunities to India's underprivileged. Take an excursion to Sarnath later in the afternoon, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon.
Cycle Rickshaw
Keep it clean and green on the busy streets aboard a pedal-powered taxi.
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
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 5Varanasi/Khajurāho
Fly to Khajuraho and visit the western temples, famed for their erotic sculptures depicting the Kama Sutra.
One of the most popular destinations in India, Khajuraho is home to India’s largest group of medieval Hindu temples. Discovered in the 20th century and famous for their erotic sculptures depicting scenes from the Kama Sutra, the Khajuraho group of monuments is today protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
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.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Khajurāho/Āgra
We'll start today's travel by private bus and then public train, where we'll meet locals on the way to Agra.
Today we travel by private bus and then public train to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Traveling by train in India is truly a wonderful experience. It's a great way to meet locals and see the countryside as it unfolds in front of you.
Our journey by train will end in Agra, one of the Mughal Empire's most important cities.
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.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Āgra/Ranthambore National Park
This morning, explore the magnificent Taj Mahal. Later, travel to Ranthambore National Park and take in the magnificent surroundings before heading out on safari the next day.
The bustling city of Agra is best known as the site of India’s most famous landmark and testament to love, the Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal Guided Tour
Here's one to cross off your bucket list: a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Take a guided tour of India's most famous landmark and an icon of Mughal architecture. Built by the emperor Shah Jahan as a testament of his love to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, this stunning white marble structure draws visitors from all over the world.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 8Ranthambore National Park
Explore the park with local rangers on a private safari drive in search of deer, birds, leopards, monkeys, and if we're lucky, the elusive tigers. Also, walk with locals through the ruins of the 1,000-year-old Ranthambore Fort and visit the Ganesh Temple.
Ranthambore Safari
We have two safari drives today to explore Ranthambore National Park - one in the morning and another in the evening.
Ranthambore Fort walk and Ganesh Temple
Ranthambore was once the private hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur, and its rich heritage manifests itself in its many chhatris, forts, and and hunting lodges that give the park its heritage status. Walk through the ruins of the old fort and visit the Ganesh Temple, a popular spot with locals for worship, dedicated to the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 9Ranthambore National Park/Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur and delve further into India's history.
After a leisurely breakfast we'll head to India's "Pink City," also known as Jaipur. Founded in 1728, Jaipur has the distinction of being one of the best-planned pre-modern cities.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Jaipur
Explore Jaipur including the City Palace, Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar Observatory, and Hawa Mahal. This evening, enjoy a culinary experience with a family in Jaipur, including a local market visit, cooking demonstration, and meal in their home.
Amber Fort Guided Tour
Explore this magnificent fort overlooking an artificial lake, famous for its unique mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture. The Fort's sandstone walls are perched on a hill almost blending in with the terrain, besides perfectly reflecting in Maota Lake creating a mirage effect (and perfect photograph). Wander through the halls, courtyards, and palaces inside and admire the intricate details.
City Palace Visit
Explore 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
Visit the Jantar Mantar observatory for a guided tour and explore the collection of astronomical instruments housed there, some dating back to 1727.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Family Culinary Experience
Visit the local vegetable and spice market with a local family to learn about popular ingredients in Indian cooking. Return to the family's home where we prepare a meal together and discuss the role of spices and base ingredients such as lime, yogourt, and mango in indian cooking. After enjoy our dinner with the family.
Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow
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.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 11Jaipur/Jojawar
Travel to the village of Jojawar and spend the night in a historic heritage hotel. Explore the village and take the opportunity to meet with locals who provide insight into rural life in India. Opt to take a rural train safari through the Aravali Hill ranges.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Orientation With CEO
Take a walk around the village and surrounding hamlets and interact with different tribes; the Rabaris (cattle herders), the Garasiyas (farm dwellers) and the Gadulia Luhars (rural ironsmiths).
Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow
Train Safari
600INR per personEnjoy a small train safari with the local villagers through the picturesque mountains of the Aravali Range.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 12Jojawar/Udaipur
Travel to Udaipur and take an orientation walk and boat ride on Lake Pichola.
We continue on to Udaipur, famous for its lakes and Raj-era palaces. The most famous of these, and certainly the most photographed, is the Lake Palace, which we view from the boat. This beautiful white marble palace is now a hotel and entirely covers a small island in Lake Pichola. Originally known as the Jag Niwas, the palace took three years to build and was inaugurated in 1746.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Pichola Lake Boat Tour
Sit back and relax on this amazing boat tour on Pichola Lake. The views of the city and gorgeous palaces, including City Palace, cannot be beat.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 13Udaipur
Explore the City including a visit to the City Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in India and the Jagdish Temple, built in 1651 and dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. This evening, take a yoga class.
During free time, journey out to the hilltop Monsoon Palace, summer resort of the Maharajas. Sit atop a hill with a panoramic view of the city’s lakes and watch the sunset.
City Palace Visit
Visit Rajasthan's largest palace to get a sense of how royalty lived. Take in the view from one of its many intricately-decorated balconies, with one side facing the stunning Lake Palace.
Jagdish Temple Visit
Visit the intricately-carved Jagdish Temple, which pays homage to Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. Make sure to take a peek at the black stoned image of Vishnu that's housed inside the shrine.
Free Time
Opt to take a boat ride on the lake.
Your Wellness Moment: Yoga Class
Stretch and hold poses in this gentle but effective form of exercise.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 14Udaipur/Delhi
Fly to Delhi for the final evening with the option to enjoy a farewell dinner.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
Opt to join the CEO for a farewell India feast.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 15Delhi
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.