Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

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10 Days From

$2015

$1814

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

10 Days Starting and ending in Delhi

Visiting: Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Karauli, Jaipur, Varanasi

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 24

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

16 + if accompanied by an adult.

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Interests:

Cultural

From: $2015 $1814 Operator discount: -$202

NB: Prices correct on 22-Oct-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Explore Delhi, both old and new. Tour the legendary Taj Mahal in Agra as well as the beautiful Pink City of Jaipur, where you'll experience the illustrious City Palace and Jantar Mantar Space Observatory. Watch locals perform mesmerizing sunrise Hindu prayer rituals in the vibrant city of Varanasi, right on the banks of the holy Ganges.

Highlights

  • The Taj Mahal – Discover the most iconic site in India and enjoy a guided tour at this extravagant symbol of love

  • Agra – Visit the lesser known but still impressive Agra Fort and explore behind its fortified walls

  • Varanasi – Sail on the holy Ganges and watch the ancient tradition of religious ritual cleansing on the riverside ghats

  • Delhi – Ride on a rickshaw around Old Delhi and see highlights of the city including Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb and the India Gate monument

  • Jaipur – Enjoy a tour of the highlights of the Pink City including the City Palace and Jantar Mantar space observatory

  • Karauli or Dholpur – Spend the night at the Maharaja’s Palace Bhanwar Vilas in Karauli or the Raj Niwas Palace in Dholpur

  • Amber Fort – Explore the famous 16th century fortress, laid out over four levels and set on shimmering Maota Lake

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Delhi

Location: Delhi

Saturday. On arrival in Delhi you are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The rest of today is free to explore India’s capital at leisure before meeting the group and guide at the hotel at 18:00 for a Welcome meeting.





For those able to arrive very early today or the day prior, why not get off the beaten track and explore Old Delhi with us on our optional 'Backstreets of Delhi' add-on tour. You will get to relish the taste of various street foods, from savoury to sweet. Along the way, visit Khari Baoli, the largest spice market in India and the colourful Bazar Matia Mahal, located opposite the majestic Jama Masjid Mosque. The tour will combine a mixture of metro, electric rickshaw and walking to get around.

Day 2: Old Delhi

Location: Old Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Delhi - Agra. This morning we enjoy a packed day of sightseeing in Old and New Delhi. Check out the UNESCO-listed Humayun’s Tomb and Jama Masjid - India’s oldest and largest mosque. Visit the iconic Sikh temple Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and its community kitchen feeding 25,000-30,000 people daily. We also enjoy a thrilling rickshaw ride around the Chandni Chowk bazaar and explore New Delhi. Walk down the Rajpath, formerly known as the ‘King’s Way’ and see the famous India Gate monument.





This afternoon, we will drive to Agra. After checking into the hotel, enjoy a group Namaste dinner for departures in 2024. Please note there is no dinner included for departures in 2025.





Day 3: Agra

Location: Agra

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we'll visit the legendary Taj Mahal, India's most renowned monument. Constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a tribute to his beloved wife, this iconic white marble mausoleum is an unparalleled symbol of love and devotion, standing as one of the most extraordinary architectural masterpieces in the world. Be sure to capture this once-in-a-lifetime experience with plenty of photos!





Following our visit to the Taj Mahal, we’ll journey to the impressive Agra Fort. This massive red sandstone fortress houses some of India's most exquisite Mughal buildings, all safeguarded behind its towering fortified walls. It’s a site rich with history and grandeur, offering a fascinating glimpse into the Mughal era.



Day 4: Karauli

Location: Karauli

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Karauli or Dholpur

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Agra - Karauli/Dholpur. This morning we journey to either Karauli or Dholpur stopping for lunch en route.





In Karauli, we will stay in the beautiful Palace Bhanwar Vilas. An eclectic melding of both Oriental and Art Deco architecture, the heritage-listed hotel was built in 1938 as a family home of the Maharaja of Jaipur. In Dholpur, we will stay at the magnificent Raj Niwas Palace, which is known for its red sandstone, traditional Rajisthani architecture, and European-style ceramics. It's said that this heritage-listed hotel was built by the Maharaja to welcome HRH Albert Edward, who visited in 1876.





Spend the afternoon at your leisure exploring the grounds, perhaps check out the vintage cars or take a dip in the swimming pools. This evening, you can also opt to attend the evening Aarti (prayer).





Please note: Lunch will be included in 2024. Please note there is no lunch included for departures in 2025, instead you will have time to enjoy lunch at your own expense.

Day 5: Jaipur

Location: Jaipur

Meals Included: Breakfast

Karauli/Dholpur - Jaipur. This morning we hit the road towards the vibrant UNESCO listed Pink City of Jaipur. On arrival, we will spend the afternoon on a tour of the illustrious City Palace and the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar Space Observatory, which features 19 separate astrological instruments.

Day 6: Jaipur

Location: Jaipur

Meals Included: Breakfast

Jaipur. Enjoy an unforgettable experience early this morning with an optional balloon ride over Jaipur. Sail with the wind over the surrounding region and pass above hill-top forts and regal palaces. Later, enjoy a jeep ride to Amber Fort for a guided tour and visit a cotton weaving house for an authentic demonstration of fabric dyeing.

Day 7: Varanasi

Location: Varanasi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Jaipur - Varanasi. Today you fly to Varanasi, India's holiest city. You will be transferred to the airport where you will take a flight to Varanasi. Depending on flight schedules this may be an indirect flight connecting via another city. On arrival, you will be transferred to our hotel.





Day 8: Varanasi

Location: Varanasi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Varanasi. We set off on a morning city tour. We will get to visit sites including Banaras Hindu University, Durga Mata Mandir, and Bharat Mata Mandir. There will be an optional excursion to visit the Sarnath Temple Ruins and Museum. A holy Buddhist site, Sarnath is said to be the location where Buddha held his first sermon.





Later, we enjoy an evening visit to the Ganges to see the Aarti ceremony. The Ganga Aarti is a ritual performed by use of fire, lamp and chants, on the ghats of River Ganga. We will watch as small lamps are lit with fire and oil, decorated with flowers, and floated onto the River Ganges as a ritual offering for the Indian deity, Ganga.







Please note: The visit to Sarnath will be included in all 2024 departures. From 2025, it will become an optional excursion that can be booked and paid locally.



Day 9: Varanasi

Location: Varanasi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Varanasi - Delhi. Rise and shine, for an early morning boat ride along the Ganges River, where you can watch the sunrise illuminate the ancient city. Not only will we experience breathtaking views of the Varanasi Ghats from the water, we will also get to witness locals performing Hindu puja - sunrise rituals that involve prayer, songs and ritual bathing.





Later today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Delhi. Once in Delhi, you will take a transfer to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure.





Please note: included flight from Varanasi to Delhi varies between afternoon and evening.

Day 10: Delhi

Location: Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Monday. Our Indian adventure comes to an end today. A departure transfer is included today for departures in 2024. If you are travelling in 2025 this can be booked for an additional supplement if required.



What's Included

  • Accommodation
    3 - 4 star & heritage hotels

  • Breakfast daily and 1 dinner

  • 9 nights 3-4 star and heritage hotels

  • Guided sightseeing - Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Karauli or Dholpur and Varanasi

  • Sunrise boat cruise on the holy River Ganges in Varanasi

  • Travel by jeep to beautiful Amber Fort in Jaipur

  • Rickshaw ride in Delhi

  • 2 economy class flights: Jaipur to Varanasi and Varanasi to Delhi

  • Escorted by an English-speaking Indian tour guide (for groups of 4 or more)

  • Services of English-speaking Indian specialist guides at some sites

  • Airport arrival transfer on day 1 (For departures in 2024 a departure airport transfer is provided on day 10)

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What's Not Included

  • International flights and visa

  • Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$4-7 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture

  • Entrance Fees: USD$65-85pp, paid in local currency

Age Policy

15 + if accompanied by an adult.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    3 - 4 star & heritage hotels

  • What is the maximum group size?

    24

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Caroline Baudon  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

07-Apr-2015

Fantastic tour, quite quick paced, but saw a lot. Loved every minute of it. Satendra was fabulous. He took amazing care of our group, and his passion was really genuine, and enhanced the trip.

Martin Philps  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

15-Mar-2018

India was a wonderful place & I fell in love with the place and the people within a very short period of time. Our guide, Yusuf, was professional & couldn’t have been more fun or helpful. He made the tour better than we could have hoped. A real asset to On the Go. I know that I’ll return to India and I’ll be using On the Go again when I do. Overall, it was an great experience.

Jenny Ellis  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

16-Jan-2018

I had a wonderful trip with my 19 new travellers and all made very welcome by our wonderful tour guide Saatendra who amazed us with his knowledge and insight to the history and told us in detail about the sights we visited and stories relating to past times and really explained everything in descriptive detail capturing all our attention. Saat organised everything to perfection, the other guides, passes in and buses organised to various sights, although he had no control over the weather, we had an unexpected overnight stop due to lack of flight to Varanasi and he very quickly overcame that obstacle (given it was New Year's Eve and most places book out) but arrangements very quickly organised, overall I would highly recommend On the Go to others and particularly request Saat as their guide.

Robert and Sarah McCready  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

20-Oct-2016

We loved our time in India and our guide Yusuf was absolutely brilliant. We also had fantastic guides in Mumbai and Cochin. Das, our driver in Kerala was also amazing. All went smoothly with transfers and flights and we would recommend doing India again with On the Go. Thankyou so much Rachna for putting this lifetime trip together for the 6 of us. We will be in touch.

Beth Maggs  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

24-Jan-2019

I really enjoyed this tour and loved India. Our guide Sat was great - patient, informative, funny and helpful. We enjoyed all the sites we saw and the information we received.

Kornelia Maraczy  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

31-Oct-2016

Sam has good local knowledge and language skills. He is a good tour guide with good interpersonal communication skills. He needs to keep to scheduled sight seeings. Sam need to improve on group organizational skills, when it comes to interstate travel by air and train. While other group tourist were managed to stay as one group, our group ended up separated. Pre organized 1st class train seating was not organized / achieved, creating disappointment. His organized evening entertainments were good and appreciated as well as the boat cruise at night on the Ganges.

Kathleen LANGLEY  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

16-Nov-2017

What can I say! Not only was this my first trip to India, but also my first overseas. I had always wanted to see a country different to my own (Australia), and that I did! I chose to go at Diwali time, and so glad I did. It was incredible. I also chose the "bolt - on" of going up in a hot balloon, which was another first for me. It was fantastic, and especially being able to see the Indian villages from above in the basket. There were highlights throughout the tour. I cannot just pick one, but I will say that the Diwali made it more special. It was great also, to see the Taj Mahal as well as the temples and hear the history of each. The experience of Varanasi, I will never forget either. I felt incredibly lucky to have been able to be there in India, embracing it all. Our tour guide, Yusuf added his own touch and personality to the whole trip, but I have to say that I personally thank him from the bottom of my heart for he had a confident aura about him, which allowed me to relax. I can be a panic merchant, but with him in lead, I felt safe. He also made the Diwali night an evening I will never forget. I would love to go back to India one day, because I think it is a pretty incredible place to visit, with so much to learn and appreciate. Thank you On The Go Tours, And thank you Yusuf!

Shayne van der Heide  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

24-Jan-2016

I found the tour a very educational experience. It is hard to believe that people still live like that in this day and age. The support and work that On The Go Tours into small villages is fantastic. I would like to know some more information on how I could contribute on a regular basis. Satish was handed a couple of challenging situations and handled himself very professionally. Satish also went out of his way to ensure that everyone was happy and did not miss out on anything. My partner and I missed on going to the jeweler visit the rest of the group went on, due us choosing to do the bolt on Balloon Ride. Satish was able to find us another jeweler at another one of our stop overs for us to visit. He also greatly assist me in organizing a surprise birthday cake for my partners birthday. I was lucky enough to have Satish sit with me one afternoon and shared a drink and chat, giving me a great incite to his and Indian life.

Te Mata Fraser  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

04-Apr-2015

my tour of India was incredible made even more incredible because of Santendra. His care, knowledge and assistance is an asset to your company

Kathleeni Langley  

Delhi, Palaces, Ganges - 10 days

01-Nov-2017

As I have said with feedback form given to me by Yusuf, it was through Yusuf, that I was not only able to enjoy ( apart from excessive heat) but feel safe. He was in control of any situation that might crop up, which left me and others feeling safe in what a trip in India represents, some interesting, though exciting challenges. I do also, thank On The Go for making these types of trips possible. For my first time out of Australia, it was a great experience. Thank you! Cheers Kathy

Read all 20 reviews

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Operator discount: -$202

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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