Delhi · Agra · Varanasi
Trip overview
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur show you the India of emperors and maharajas: tombs, forts, planned cities and palace courtyards. Varanasi shows you something much older and still very much alive. Set on the west bank of the Ganges, it is among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, and Hindus have been coming here to bathe, pray and be cremated for well over two thousand years. Mark Twain's line about it being older than history gets quoted often because it captures something true about the place.
This private 7-day tour runs the classic triangle first, then flies you east for two nights in Varanasi. You watch the evening Ganga Aarti from the steps at Dashashwamedh Ghat, take a wooden boat out at first light as the ghats turn gold, walk the old city's tangled lanes, and visit Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment.
Travel is by private air-conditioned car with your own driver through the Golden Triangle, with domestic flights to and from Varanasi, and licensed local guides in every city.
Day by day
Jump to any day, or scroll through the full route below.
Your driver welcomes you at Delhi airport and transfers you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, explore New Delhi with your guide, visiting Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar, followed by a drive past India Gate and the government buildings. Spend the evening relaxing at your hotel.
Overnight in Delhi.
After breakfast, discover Old Delhi with visits to Jama Masjid and Raj Ghat, along with a cycle rickshaw ride through the bustling lanes of Chandni Chowk. Experience the markets and historic streets before beginning your journey to Jaipur by private air-conditioned car.
Upon arrival in Jaipur, check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Overnight in Jaipur.
Begin your day with a guided visit to Amber Fort, exploring its courtyards, gateways and beautiful Sheesh Mahal. Stop for photographs at Jal Mahal before continuing to Jaipur's historic walled city.
Visit the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, and admire the distinctive façade of Hawa Mahal. Later, enjoy time exploring the local bazaars, known for textiles, jewellery and traditional handicrafts.
Overnight in Jaipur.
After breakfast, check out and drive towards Agra. Along the way, visit Chand Baori in Abhaneri, an impressive historic stepwell, and Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar's former Mughal capital.
Continue to Agra and check in to your hotel. If time permits, visit Mehtab Bagh for views of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River in the evening light.
Overnight in Agra.
Visit the Taj Mahal early in the morning with your guide. Explore its gardens, marble architecture and intricate decorative details while learning about Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Return to your hotel for breakfast before visiting Agra Fort, where grand courtyards and royal chambers reveal the history of the Mughal Empire. Later, transfer to the designated railway station in Agra to board your overnight train to Varanasi. Your departure time and air-conditioned sleeper accommodation will be confirmed according to the available train service and your travel date.
Overnight on the train to Varanasi.
Upon arrival at the designated railway station serving Varanasi, meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel. Check-in will be subject to the hotel's timings and room availability.
After time to freshen up, visit Sarnath to explore its Buddhist heritage, including the Dhamek Stupa and ancient monastery ruins. Sightseeing will be arranged around your train's arrival time.
In the evening, head to Dashashwamedh Ghat to witness the Ganga Aarti. Watch priests perform the riverside ceremony with brass lamps, chanting and bells before returning to your hotel.
Overnight in Varanasi.
Begin early with a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, subject to river and weather conditions. Observe the morning rituals along the ghats, then enjoy a guided walk through the old city's narrow lanes. A visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple complex can be arranged according to access requirements, queues and your flight schedule.
Return to your hotel for breakfast before transferring to Varanasi airport for your flight to Delhi. On arrival, continue to your hotel or onward departure terminal, allowing sufficient time for any connecting flight.
Your tour concludes in Delhi.
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Good to know
Because it's a completely different India. The triangle is about monuments; Varanasi is about ritual, the river and daily life that has continued in much the same way for centuries. Most travellers say it is the part of the trip they remember most.
By air, usually via Delhi, taking around four to five hours door to door. There are overnight trains, but they take 16 hours or more and eat a full day.
Two at minimum, so you get one evening aarti and one sunrise boat ride. Three nights gives you time for a slower old-city walk and an unhurried Sarnath visit.
Yes. You'll need your passport for identification, and phones, cameras, bags and leather items are not allowed inside. Security is tight and queues can be long, so your guide will advise on timing.
You can observe respectfully from a distance or from a boat, but photography and filming are strictly forbidden, and you should not accept offers from anyone asking for "donations for wood." Your guide will steer you through this.
It starts around sunset, so the time changes with the season. Get there early, or book a boat for an unobstructed view.
Yes, with normal care. The old-city lanes are narrow, crowded and easy to get lost in, which is exactly why a local guide is worth having. Watch your footing and your belongings.
October to March is most comfortable. Dev Deepawali, in November, is spectacular, with thousands of lamps along the ghats, but the city is extremely busy. Summers are very hot, and the river runs high during the monsoon.
Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and shoes that slip off easily for temples. Mornings on the water are chilly in winter.