Namaste! Welcome to India. Your adventure begins with a group meeting at 6 pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. There’s an optional group dinner after the meeting, which is a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Notes: If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

In the morning, set off on the city’s modern metro system to explore the sights and sounds of Old Delhi on a guided walking tour. Inch your way through the streets around Chandni Chowk marketplace in a traditional cycle rickshaw. Perhaps visit the Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest and India’s largest mosque, and then stop by the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple). In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train bound for Varanasi (approximately 13 hours).

On arrival into Varanasi this morning, check in to your hotel and freshen up before heading out on a guided walking tour of the Old City. Set along the banks of the holy Ganges River and considered to be India’s spiritual home, millions of pilgrims descend on Varanasi every year. It’s a unique experience to navigate through Varanasi's crowded alleyways.

Early in the morning, take a boat ride down the Ganges to watch the sun rise. Perhaps buy a candle from one of the vendors and light it for someone back home. Witness the rituals of life and death taking place along the riverbank, as people bathe and pray in the water. Be prepared for potentially confronting sights and smells, as this is where families come to cremate deceased loved ones. The rest of the day is free to explore.

Today continue to discover Varanasi. Explore the ghats along the river and investigate the many silk markets dotted around the city. Varanasi is home to India’s silk-making industry. If you have time, head to the outskirts of the city and visit Sarnath, which is one of the most sacred places in the Buddhist religion. In the evening, board a 13-hour sleeper train to Agra.

On arrival in Agra, head out on a guided tour of the Taj Mahal. This elaborate mausoleum was built in the 1640s as a memorial to the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. During an auto-rickshaw sightseeing tour of the city, enjoy an optional visit to Agra Fort. This 16th-century fortress was built to enclose the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. In the evening, perhaps try Agra’s delicious signature curry - butter chicken.

Today drive through idyllic countryside to Tordi Garh, a village that few travellers venture to. The journey will take around eight hours in total - five hours by public bus and another three by jeep. Once there, meet the locals, visit the old village temple and wander through the markets. Tonight, the group will stay in heritage accommodation, which was once a palace for the town’s nobility.

In the morning, travel by jeep for around three hours to Rajasthan’s colourful capital of Jaipur. Once settled, take a guided walking tour through the old bazaars of the ‘Pink City’. Use the rest of the day to explore the city on your own, perhaps visiting Jaipur’s ornate Royal City Palace. Your accommodation for tonight will be in a family-run heritage hotel.

For many travellers, an optional hot air balloon experience is one of the highlights of Jaipur. Ballooning can be done over the city between September and June. For additional information, please see the ‘Important Notes’ section of the trip notes. In the afternoon today, visit the hilltop Amber Fort, an excellent example of Rajput architecture, and see the red stone palace of the Hawa Mahal (The Palace of the Winds).

Early this morning, catch the train back to Delhi. Use the rest of your final day to wander around the city, getting to know the parts you haven’t seen yet. Perhaps pay a visit to Humayun's Tomb, the 12th-century Qutub Minar or the historic Red Fort. In the evening, you might like to head out for a final dinner with the travel group.

After breakfast, the trip comes to an end. There are no activities planned for today and you’re free to leave the accommodation at any time. If you wish to stay on longer, perhaps try one of our Urban Adventure day tours, such as the Culture Vulture Urban Adventure or the City Food Crawl. Your leader can give you more information.