About This Tour
Overview
This 14-night journey fuses the imperial Golden Triangle with the sacred heart of the Ganges plain. Begin in Delhi, where Mughal mosques, colonial boulevards and India Gate stand beside the towering Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb. Drive to the pink-walled capital of Jaipur for the hilltop Amber Fort, the wind-screened Hawa Mahal and the royal City Palace. Continue via the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri to Agra for the Taj Mahal at dawn — India's eternal monument to love — and the mighty Agra Fort. Then turn towards central India: the colossal rock-fortress of Gwalior, the riverside palace-temples of Orchha on the Betwa, and the breathtaking UNESCO temples of Khajuraho — the finest surviving architecture of the Chandela dynasty. A stop at Prayagraj offers the holy Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, before arriving in Varanasi, the world's oldest living city. Witness the hypnotic Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, pray at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and explore the deer park of Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught. Fly back to Delhi for your departure — a complete circuit of India's most iconic monuments and most sacred waters.
Duration
14 Nights / 15 Days
Tour Type
Heritage · Temple · Pilgrimage · Private
Region
North & Central India · Ganges Plain
UNESCO Sites
Taj, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Khajuraho, Qutub
Sacred Stops
Triveni Sangam · Ganga Aarti · Sarnath
Languages
Hindi, English, Local Guides
Top Experiences
Highlights
Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
The white marble mausoleum at sunrise, then the red-sandstone Agra Fort — two of India's most celebrated UNESCO monuments
Pink City & Amber Fort
Jaipur's honey-pink walled city, the hilltop Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal's wind palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory
UNESCO Temples of Khajuraho
The Chandela dynasty's masterpieces — the Kandariya Mahadeva and Lakshmana temples, celebrated for their intricate stone sculpture
Varanasi & Ganga Aarti
The world's oldest living city — dawn boat ride on the Ganges, the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat and Kashi Vishwanath
Gwalior Fort & Orchha
The colossal Gwalior citadel, then Orchha's riverside palace-temples on the Betwa — jewels of Rajput and Bundela architecture
Old & New Delhi
Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, the Red Fort and India Gate — the layered imperial history of India's capital
Visual Journey
From the Taj to the Ganges
What's Covered
Includes / Excludes
✓ Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver throughout
- 14 nights accommodation with breakfast (heritage & boutique hotels)
- Varanasi → Delhi one-way airfare (D14)
- Entry tickets: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Gwalior Fort, Orchha, Khajuraho Temples, Kashi Vishwanath, Sarnath
- Sunrise Taj Mahal visit & Varanasi Ganges boat ride
- Local expert guides at Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho & Varanasi
- Airport transfers (Delhi arrival & departure)
- All road taxes, parking & driver allowances
✕ Excluded
- International flights & Indian visa fees
- Lunches, dinners & beverages (unless specified)
- Camera & video permits at monuments
- Elephant / camel rides & optional excursions
- Travel insurance & personal expenses
- Tips & gratuities for guides and drivers
Day by Day
Detailed Itinerary
Day01
Arrive Delhi
Welcome to the capital · Airport transfer
Arrival
- Namaste! Meet your guide and driver at Delhi airport and transfer to your hotel.
- Rest and acclimatise after your flight; dinner at leisure.
- Overnight in Delhi.
Day02
Old & New Delhi Sightseeing
Qutub Minar · Humayun's Tomb · India Gate
Full Day
- Morning: the 12th-century Qutub Minar and the garden-tomb of Humayun's Tomb.
- Afternoon: drive past India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament, then explore the lanes of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi.
- Optional rickshaw ride through the spice and silver bazaars; photo stops at the Red Fort.
- Overnight in Delhi.
Day03
Delhi → Jaipur (by surface 260 km / 05 hrs)
Abhaneri Stepwell en route
Drive Day
- Depart Delhi after breakfast and drive to the Pink City of Jaipur.
- En route, pause at the Chand Baori stepwell of Abhaneri — one of India's deepest and most photogenic stepwells.
- Arrive Jaipur by late afternoon; evening stroll around the illuminated bazaars.
- Overnight in Jaipur.
Day04
Jaipur Sightseeing
Amber Fort · City Palace · Jantar Mantar
Full Day
- Morning: the hilltop Amber Fort — arrive by jeep or on the back of a decorated elephant.
- Afternoon: the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar observatory and a photo stop at the wind-screened Hawa Mahal.
- Evening: optional Rajasthani dinner with folk dance.
- Overnight in Jaipur.
Day05
Jaipur → Agra via Fatehpur Sikri (by surface 231 km / 05 hrs)
Akbar's ghost city · Taj at sunset
Drive & Explore
- Drive via the Mughal ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri — the red-sandstone capital of Emperor Akbar, including the Buland Darwaza gateway.
- Continue to Agra; at golden hour, admire the Taj Mahal from the riverside Mehtab Bagh viewpoint.
- Overnight in Agra.
Day06
Agra — Taj Mahal at Sunrise
Taj at dawn · Agra Fort
Full Day
- Dawn visit to the Taj Mahal — arrive at first light to see the marble mausoleum glow pink and gold.
- Morning: the red-sandstone Agra Fort, palace of the Mughal emperors with views back to the Taj.
- Afternoon free — optional visit to the Itmad-ud-Daulah ('Baby Taj') and Mehtab Bagh.
- Overnight in Agra.
Day07
Agra → Gwalior (by surface 122 km / 03 hrs)
Gwalior Fort & royal cenotaphs
Drive & Explore
- Drive to Gwalior, the fortress city of central India.
- Afternoon: the colossal Gwalior Fort perched on a 100-metre sandstone ridge, with its blue-tiled Man Mandir Palace and the Jain rock-cut statues.
- Visit the Sas Bahu Temples and the Teli ka Mandir within the fort complex.
- Overnight in Gwalior.
Day08
Gwalior → Orchha (by surface 250 km / 05 hrs)
Betwa river palaces · Ram Raja Temple
Drive & Explore
- Drive south to Orchha, the medieval capital of the Bundela Rajputs on the banks of the Betwa.
- Explore the Orchha Fort complex — the Jahangir Mahal, Raja Mahal and the soaring Chaturbhuj Temple.
- Visit the Ram Raja Temple, the only temple in India where Rama is worshipped as king.
- Overnight in Orchha.
Day09
Orchha → Khajuraho (by surface 170 km / 04 hrs)
Arrival in the temple city
Drive Day
- Depart Orchha and drive to Khajuraho, the UNESCO-listed temple city of the Chandela dynasty.
- Evening: attend the famous sound & light show at the Western Group of Temples (seasonal).
- Overnight in Khajuraho.
Day10
Khajuraho Temple Tour
Kandariya Mahadeva · Chausath Yogini
Full Day
- Morning: the Western Group of Temples — the magnificent Kandariya Mahadeva, Lakshmana and Vishwanatha temples, famed for their intricate erotic and celestial carvings.
- Afternoon: the Chausath Yogini and Chitragupta temples, and the Archaeological Museum.
- Free evening — sunset views over the temple spires.
- Overnight in Khajuraho.
Day11
Khajuraho → Prayagraj (by surface 275 km / 05-06 hrs)
Triveni Sangam at dusk
Drive & Explore
- Drive east to Prayagraj (Allahabad), home of the sacred Triveni Sangam.
- Evening: visit the sangam — the holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati — and take a boat to the meeting point.
- Optional darshan at the Anand Bhavan (Nehru family home) if time permits.
- Overnight in Prayagraj.
Day12
Prayagraj → Varanasi (by surface 120 km / 03 hrs)
Arrival in the holy city
Drive & Explore
- Drive to Varanasi — the world's oldest living city on the banks of the Ganges.
- Afternoon: walk the atmospheric lanes to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple).
- Evening: witness the spectacular Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat — fire, incense, bells and chanting on the river steps.
- Overnight in Varanasi.
Day13
Varanasi & Sarnath
Dawn boat ride · Deer Park · Silk bazaars
Full Day
- Pre-dawn boat ride along the ghats — watch pilgrims bathe, yogis meditate and the sun rise over the Ganges.
- Morning: drive to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon — visit the Dhamek Stupa and the Archaeological Museum.
- Afternoon free to explore the famous silk bazaars of Varanasi.
- Overnight in Varanasi.
Day14
Varanasi ✈ Delhi (by air)
Morning flight · Leisure in Delhi
Flight
- Transfer to Varanasi airport and take the morning flight to Delhi.
- Afternoon at leisure — optional last-minute shopping in Delhi or a visit to Dilli Haat.
- Overnight in Delhi.
Day15
Depart Delhi
Airport transfer · Farewell
Departure
- Transfer to Delhi airport for your onward international flight.
- Dhanyavaad — carry home the glow of the Taj, the sanctity of the Ganges and the artistry of Khajuraho.
Where You'll Stay
Suggested Stays
Delhi
5★ Heritage Hotel — 2 Nights
Central location near Connaught Place
Jaipur
5★ Palace Hotel — 2 Nights
Former royal residence in the Pink City
Agra
5★ Taj-view Hotel — 2 Nights
Views of the Taj Mahal from the rooms
Gwalior
Heritage Fort Hotel — 1 Night
Boutique stay beneath the fort
Orchha
Riverside Heritage Hotel — 1 Night
Palace hotel on the banks of the Betwa
Khajuraho
Boutique Resort — 2 Nights
Garden resort steps from the temples
Prayagraj
City Hotel — 1 Night
Comfortable stay near the sangam
Varanasi
5★ Ganges-view Hotel — 2 Nights
Rooms overlooking the holy river
Delhi (Return)
5★ Heritage Hotel — 1 Night
Final night before departure
We will arrange and confirm your hotel stays as per the trip and budget — hotel options are not fixed and can be customised to your preference. Contact us for details
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time for this tour?
October to March is ideal — pleasant days and cool nights across Delhi, central India and Varanasi. The winter months (Dec–Feb) are best for the Ganga Aarti and sunrise boat rides, while October–November and February–March offer fewer crowds.
Do I need a visa to visit India?
Most nationalities can apply for the Indian e-Tourist Visa online before travel — valid for 30 days to 5 years depending on your passport. We recommend applying at least 4–6 weeks before departure.
What makes Khajuraho and Varanasi so special?
Khajuraho's Chandela temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for some of the most intricate stone sculpture ever carved — spiritual, celestial and human. Varanasi is the world's oldest continuously inhabited city, where the Ganga Aarti and dawn boat rides offer an unforgettable immersion in living Hindu tradition.
What optional activities are available?
Highlights include a Rajasthani folk-dance dinner in Jaipur, an elephant-back ride up to Amber Fort, the Khajuraho sound & light show, a Ganges sunset boat ride in Varanasi, and shopping for Banarasi silk. All can be arranged at the time of booking.
What should I pack?
Comfortable cotton clothing for the day, a light jacket or sweater for winter evenings, modest attire for temples (shoulders and knees covered), sturdy walking shoes for forts and ghats, sunscreen, a hat, and a reusable water bottle. Take off shoes before entering temples and at the aarti.
Can I extend this itinerary?
Yes — popular extensions include adding Ranthambore's tiger safaris en route to Jaipur, a golden-triangle leg to Udaipur, or a spiritual detour to Bodh Gaya from Varanasi. Tell us your dates and interests and we'll tailor the journey.
Full Route
Tour Map