Welcome to Delhi (Arrival by International Flight)

Your journey starts the instant you arrive at Terminal 3 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. After customs, immigration, and baggage retrieval, our representative greets you warmly outside the arrivals hall, holding a sign with your name for quick recognition. After check-in, you ride comfortably in an air-conditioned private car to your hotel. 
Delhi is India's capital region, a historic city where the old and the new coexist in a fascinating, paradoxical, and continuously intriguing manner. As you walk through its busy streets, you experience all of these intriguing layers at once—from the medieval Delhi Sultanate through the magnificent Mughal Empire to the British colonial period. You have the remainder of the day to unwind, adjust, and absorb your initial impressions of this amazing city.
Overnight stay in Delhi (city centre). Hotels: Hotel Florence or similar (3★), Jaypee Siddhartha or similar (4★), Vasant Continental or similar (5★) Meals: No meals included.

Full-Day Sightseeing of Old & New Delhi

Your English-speaking local guide greets you following breakfast to take you on an adventure through the amazing extremes of Old and New Delhi. 
Begin in Old Delhi, where the historical impact of the great Mughal Empire is still clearly visible. Drive by the formidable walls of the Red Fort before going to see the magnificent Jama Masjid, India's biggest mosque, with beautiful architectural details. Then get on a traditional cycle rickshaw and wind your way through the famous, busy lanes of Chandni Chowk market. Let yourself be immersed in Asia's oldest commercial center, which is full of spices, textiles, and lively local life.
Go to New Delhi sightseeing in the afternoon, starting at the tranquil Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. Here, you will see the uplifting community kitchen that makes over 40,000 free meals every day for people from all walks of life. Then, drive along the grand imperial boulevards built by the British to see famous civic landmarks such as the magnificent India Gate, Parliament House, and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India. End your fantastic day at the towering Qutub Minar, an amazing 73-meter-high triumph tower from the early 13th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site encircled by historic ruins.
Overnight stay in Delhi (city centre). Hotels: Hotel Florence or similar (3★), Jaypee Siddhartha or similar (4★), Vasant Continental or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.

Train to Varanasi
Departure Delhi at 06:00 hrs/Arrival Varanasi at 14:00 hrs. or similar (runs daily except Thursday)

Early this morning, we will help you with a transfer to New Delhi Railway Station, where you will board your train to Varanasi. We will provide you with a packed breakfast for your journey. As the rural scenery changes around you over many hours, this beautiful train ride is a fantastic experience in and of itself, softly bringing you right across the center of the North Indian plains. 
Varanasi is said to be the oldest constantly inhabited city in the world, and it pulsates with a spiritual fervour unlike anywhere else on Earth. Its historic temple spires, tangled pathways, and holy riverside ghats have drawn pilgrims from all over the world for centuries.
Our local representative welcomes you at Varanasi Railway Station for a smooth ride to your accommodation. Head to the holy Ganges for a memorable sunset boat ride along the stepped riverbanks in the evening. From your boat, see the magnificent Ganga Aarti as night falls. Every night, synchronized priests sway huge, burning oil lamps while old Vedic hymns fill the air and traditional instruments reverberate across the water in this magnificent prayer ceremony. Every visitor is profoundly affected by the intense energy and spiritual potency of this riverside ceremony.
Overnight stay in Varanasi. Hotels: Surya Kaiser Palace or similar (3★), Madin or similar (4★), Radisson Varanasi or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.

Explore the city of Varanasi

Get up before daybreak and meet your local guide to head to the holy Ganges for a stunning sunrise boat ride along the famous ghats—one of the most famous sights Varanasi has to offer. The chants, temple bells, and morning prayers grow stronger as the first light of day touches the river, creating a spectacular golden glow over the stepped riverbanks and ancient temple spires. 
Visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most holy Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, to value its spiritual importance from the outside grounds before heading back to the hotel for breakfast.
Following breakfast, continue your city tour with a visit to the highly revered Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, noted for its strong spiritual energy, then the historic 18th-century Durga Temple constructed by a Bengali Queen. End your local temple tour at the remarkable Bharat Mata Mandir, an intriguing shrine honoring an exquisitely sculpted marble map of India itself rather than a traditional god.
Go to Sarnath in the afternoon; it is only 10 kilometres distant. This is one of the most significant Buddhist pilgrimage destinations worldwide, where Gautama Buddha preached his inaugural sermon upon reaching enlightenment, an occasion honored as initiating the Wheel of Law. Visit the tranquil deer park, the old ruins, and the magnificent Dhamek Stupa constructed by Emperor Ashoka in the third century BC. Before heading back to your hotel for an evening at leisure, finally go to the Sarnath Museum to view a remarkable collection of ancient Buddhist relics, including the iconic Lion Capital of Ashoka.
Overnight stay in Varanasi. Hotels: Surya Kaiser Palace or similar (3★), Madin or similar (4★), Radisson Varanasi or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant

 Drive to Lucknow

Following breakfast, depart for Lucknow (about 5 to 6 hours by road), affectionately known as the City of Nawabs and among India's most elegant, refined, and underestimated towns. You find a city where every corner holds the subdued murmur of a glorious history as you meander through its winding streets and expansive avenues. Lucknow's heritage extends from the ancient chapters of the Ramayana through to the pivotal moments of India's independence movement, and its intricately adorned architecture, courteous atmosphere, and lyrical Urdu-influenced culture give it a character that is entirely its own.
Sometimes the city feels like a scene taken out of a poem: sophisticated, kind, and steeped in history. Check into your accommodation upon arrival and spend the remainder of the day completely at leisure, taking in the appeal of this amazing city at your own leisure. 
Overnight stay in Lucknow. Hotels: Golden Tulip or similar (3★), Clarks Awadh or similar (4★), Saraca Lucknow or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.

Explore the Highlights of Lucknow, the City of Nawabs

With your local English-speaking guide, spend a full day seeing Lucknow's remarkable architectural and cultural legacy following breakfast.
Start with Bara Imambara, a stunning example of Mughal architecture constructed using traditional Lakhnavi bricks. Built entirely without the use of iron girders, the central hall is among the largest vaulted halls worldwide. The famous Bhool Bhulaiya, a maze of hallways with 1,024 entrance possibilities but only two exits, is located inside the complex on the top floor. Finding your way through is really difficult and great entertainment.
Then go to Chota Imambara, a magnificent mausoleum with golden spires, lovely Urdu calligraphy painted all around, and magnificent chandeliers brought in from Belgium. Next, visit the significant site of religious gathering, especially during Muharram, the Asfi Mosque, named after Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulah.
Next, visit the Summer Palace, which was first built by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and then served as a British court during the colonial period. After that, go to the Government Museum, one of the oldest and most extensive museums in North India, which has artifacts from the Harappan Civilization, Egyptian antiquities, paintings, manuscripts, and numismatic collections.
Then explore the eerie British Residency, the ruins of what was once a magnificent colonial complex on the banks of the Gomti River, now a heartbreaking piece of living history from the 1857 Revolt, India's first war of independence. Over 2,000 individuals who perished during the siege find their final resting place in the nearby graveyard.
Last but not least, spend the remainder of the afternoon seeing Aminabad Market, one of Lucknow's most cherished and historic retail streets, popular since the period of the Nawabs themselves. From glass bangles, handmade shoes, khadi (traditional hand-spun cotton fabric), and fake jewellery to antique bookstores that have provided Lucknow's students and academics for decades, Aminabad is a lovely, vibrant way to spend your last hours in this amazing city.
Overnight stay in Lucknow. Hotels: Golden Tulip or similar (3★), Clarks Awadh or similar (4★), Saraca Lucknow or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.

Travel to Agra via Kannauj Perfumeries

Leave for Agra (about 5 to 6 hours by road) following breakfast. On the way, make a really fascinating stop in Kannauj, India's legendary perfume capital, whose tradition of natural fragrance-making dates back thousands of years and has earned it the title The Grasse of the East (Grasse is the well-known perfume town in the south of France).
Stroll through this historic town's fragrant alleys, where traditional attar—a totally natural, non-alcoholic perfume created by distilling flowers, herbs, wood, and spices using ancient copper distillation vessels—is still made by hand precisely as it has been for millennia. As one of the most unusual mementos you'll ever discover, visit local perfumeries, observe trained craftspeople at work, learn the intriguing step-by-step process from raw ingredients to finished product, and maybe bring home a small bottle of genuine, handmade Indian attar.
Continue your travel to Agra, check into your accommodation, and then relax in the evening at leisure. 
Overnight stay in Agra. Hotels: Howard Plaza or similar (3★), Grand Mercure or similar (4★), Jaypee Palace or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.

Agra: The Taj Mahal & Mughal Treasures

Every Golden Triangle and Varanasi visitor dreams about today. Get up early and go with your local English-speaking guide for a sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal (please note: the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, and sunrise visits are subject to weather conditions). From pale grey to blush pink to pure, brilliant brightness, the memorial changes hue as the first morning light strikes the white marble. Standing before it in the morning quiet, encircled by the reflection pools and the singing of birds, is an unexpected breathtaking experience.
Return to the hotel for breakfast after the Taj Mahal before leaving to discover more of Agra's amazing Mughal legacy. Go to Agra Fort, a huge semi-circular military stronghold that was eventually converted into a royal palace brimming with secret passages, complex courtyards, and layers of history that beg for close investigation. Next, go to Baby Taj, also known as Itimad-ud-Daulah, a white marble mausoleum of amazing sensitivity, generally referred to as the jewel box of Agra and regarded as a forerunner of the Taj Mahal itself.
Last but not least, end your Agra day by going to a local sweet shop to try Petha, Agra's well-known traditional sweet prepared from white pumpkin, available in a fantastic variety of flavors that will thrill anybody with a sweet appetite.

Overnight stay in Agra. Hotels: Howard Plaza or similar (3★), Grand Mercure or similar (4★), Jaypee Palace or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.
 

Travel to Jaipur via Abhaneri Stepwells

Travel to Jaipur (about 4 to 5 hours by road) after breakfast, the energetic capital of Rajasthan and one of India's most cherished cities. On the way, pause for an interesting tour of the Abhaneri Stepwells, also known as Chand Baori, one of India's most architecturally remarkable and aesthetically beautiful stepwells.
Originally constructed in the 8th and 9th centuries to collect water in this dry area, Chand Baori also functioned as a community meeting place. The stepwell is a hypnotic geometric design created by 3,500 exactly symmetrical steps descending 13 storeys into a deep, inverted pyramid of precision stone that leaves visitors truly amazed. Though mostly in ruins, the nearby Harshat Mata Temple enhances the site's spiritual and historical depth in a lovely way. This is the sort of secret treasure that most visitors to India never find, and on this trip, it is yours to explore.
Proceed to Jaipur, check into your accommodation, and savor the evening at your leisure. Maybe take a leisurely walk through a nearby market or just unwind.
Overnight stay in Jaipur. Hotels: Arya Niwas or similar (3★), Shahpura House or similar (4★), Radisson Khasa Kothi or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.

Explore Colourful and Delightful Jaipur

Begin your Jaipur sightseeing day with a trip to the famous Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, a five-story pink sandstone structure with a distinctive honeycomb front of 953 tiny windows constructed to enable royal women to watch street activity below without being seen. Its complex architectural detail is amazing. Go next to Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched spectacularly on Aravalli Hill, a vast castle and palace compound with maze-like passageways, exquisitely adorned halls, winding stairs, and expansive views of the adjacent hills and lake.
Continue to City Palace, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II between 1729 and 1732, a large complex of courtyards, buildings, and gardens, including the magnificent Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal, with an on-site museum showcasing Jaipur's extraordinary royal heritage. From there, go to Jantar Mantar, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, an astronomical observatory erected in the early 18th century with 16 masonry tools used for exact astronomical computations. Your guide will provide a really intriguing explanation of how every amazing gadget operates.
From hand-block-printed fabrics and priceless diamonds to silver jewelry, leather products, and hand-painted pottery, finally devote time exploring Jaipur's famous colourful markets. Jaipur has some of the best shopping in India, and even just strolling through the marketplaces is a fantastic experience in itself.
Overnight stay in Jaipur. Hotels: Arya Niwas or similar (3★), Shahpura House or similar (4★), Radisson Khasa Kothi or similar (5★) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.

Travel to Delhi International Airport — Farewell to India

A private car carries you from Jaipur to Delhi Airport after breakfast to catch your flight back home. You depart with amazing 11-day memories of Varanasi's spirituality, Lucknow's elegance, Kannauj's perfumes, the ageless Taj Mahal, and Jaipur's regal majesty.
No accommodation on this day. Meals: Breakfast at the hotel's designated or selected restaurant.