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Real North India


Explore the colour, vegetarian cuisine, spirituality and natural wonders of north India on this 11-day adventure. Ride a rickshaw in Delhi, brush up on your bargaining skills in Chandni Chowk and have a spiritual experience in Varanasi as you watch the sunrise over the Ganges. Snap the ultimate selfie in front of the Taj Mahal – one of the famed Seven Wonders of the World, see pink in gorgeous Jaipur, join the yogis in Rishikesh and eat endless amounts of pakoras, samosas, tandoori, chicken tikka masalas and naan. On this immersive journey from cities to mountain campgrounds, you won't just see north India, you'll experience it.

11 days, from

$582

per person

GROUP SIZE

16 people max

ACTIVITY LEVEL

 
2
Trip code: HHYV
Style: Basix
Theme: 18 to 35s

Details

Countries Visited:  India
Accommodation: Hotel (6 nights), Overnight sleeper train (3 nights), Camping with basic facilities (1 night)
Transportation: Auto-rickshaw , Cycle rickshaw , Jeep , Public bus , Private vehicle , Overnight sleeper train , Train
Included Meals:

  • 1 breakfasts
  • 1 lunches
  • 1 dinners

Group size: Minimum 1, Max 16

  • Capture your best selfie in front of the Taj Mahal – a marble masterpiece and the mother of all mausoleums, this Indian icon is all part of Agra’s allure.

  • Get among the relaxing vibes of Rishikesh with a one-hour morning Yoga class, then sleep under the starry Indian sky surrounded by nature and mountain views.

  • Snap pics in front of a slew of ornate pink-hued buildings in the fabulously photogenic Jaipur and opt to float over this pretty city in a hot air balloon.

  • Let your expert leader navigate you through the busy, bustling and bold streets of Delhi. With so much going on, a guide should almost be a requirement.

  • Watch the sunrise on the holy Ganges River in Varanasi for a somewhat spiritual experience. This thought-provoking part of the journey invigorates even the weariest of travellers.

Itinerary

Show Full Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi

Namaste, welcome to Delhi! Your adventure officially kicks off with an important Welcome Meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and travel companions. If you arrive in Delhi with time to spare, there's plenty to do in this wonderfully chaotic city. You might like to wander the streets, sip on your first chai or practice haggling in one of the many markets.

Day 2: Delhi - Overnight train

This morning head out on a walking tour around the commercial heart of Delhi, visiting Chandni Chowk (Sheeshganj Gurudwara) and Connaught Place along the way. Explore Old Delhi on a bicycle rickshaw to dig that little bit deeper. You'll then have some free time to do as much sightseeing as you can, before boarding an overnight sleeper train bound for Varanasi.

Day 3: Varanasi

Arrive into Varanasi early and head straight to the hotel to freshen up before plunging headfirst into this holy city, which is one of the world's oldest. Explore the narrow laneways and backstreets on a walking tour with your guide, before watching the world pass by along the ghats. Your evening is then free to do as you wish.

Day 4: Varanasi - Overnight train

Wake up early and experience one of the highlights of your time in India. This morning, jump in boats and watch the sunrise over the Ganges. Pilgrims bathing, cremation fires and riverside haircuts - India is best before dawn and this is the way to see it. The rest of your day is free to explore, before catching an overnight train to Agra tonight.

Day 5: Agra

Arrive in Agra early this morning, then head to one of the most iconic sites in India, the Taj Mahal. Take in the beauty of this 17th-century masterpiece of white marble set amid beautiful formal gardens. Then, with some free time to explore at your leisure, you have a full day to discover Agra. You might like to explore the city on a motorised rickshaw tour, or visit Agra Fort, a huge complex built originally as a military structure of red sandstone by Emperor Akbar in 1565. If you fancy a cool drink or a light meal, you might like to visit Sheroes Hangout. This cafe is staffed by survivors of acid attacks and is located just 10 minutes’ walk from the Taj.

Day 6: Jaipur

Jump on a bus this morning and travel to Rajasthan's pink capital, Jaipur. On arrival into the city stop off at the Hawa Mahal (pink sandstone palace) before heading to your hotel. Use the opportunity to freshen up and then venture out for a walking tour of the old city. In your spare time, perhaps take an optional tour of the Jaipur City Palace or take the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Bollywood film in Raj Mandir Cinema. An authentic experience, you might not totally understand what's happening in the film but, trust us, the crowd's reactions to the movie will be enough to entertain you. Plus, the magnificent 1,300-seat art deco cinema is enough to make the experience worth it.

Day 7: Jaipur – Overnight train

For many travellers, a hot air balloon experience is one of the highlights of Jaipur. Ballooning can be done over Jaipur on the morning of Day 7, between September and April. For additional information, please see the 'Important notes' section of the Essential Trip Information. Later in the morning, enjoy a guided tour of the medieval Amber Fort with a local guide. Make sure to grab another cup of chai before settling in for this evening's overnight train journey. Tonight, you'll hop on a train bound for Rishikesh.

Day 8: Rishikesh

Arrive early in to Rishikesh, a spiritual town lying in the verdant foothills of the Himalayas. Embark on an orientation walk with your leader before enjoying free time to roam at your own leisure. Aptly named the 'Yoga Capital of the World', Rishikesh is a great place to relax and seek a little enlightenment. In your free time, why not visit The Beatles Ashram – a spiritual retreat inhabited by the famous band in the sixties. In the evening, perhaps take a stroll along the holy Ganges River as temple bells ring and the nightly fire ritual of Ganga Aarti begins.

Day 9: Rishikesh

This morning, take the opportunity to unwind in Rishikesh and enjoy a one-hour yoga class. Afterwards, perhaps tuck into a masala dosa for breakfast before embarking on a short walk with your leader on one of the trails along the Ganges. For something more adventurous there is the option to white-water raft down the Ganges. In the afternoon, reunite with your group for a short walk through the jungle nearby. Tonight, experience sleeping under the stars just outside of Rishikesh, you’ll be staying in a fixed campsite with twin-shared beds and western-style toilets surrounded by nature and mountain views.

Day 10: Delhi

Have a chilled morning at your campsite before returning to Rishikesh where you’ll be able to use a day room to freshen up and have a shower. Spend the rest of the afternoon wandering around Rishikesh before catching an evening train (approximately 5 hours) back to Delhi.

Day 11: Delhi

Your North India adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you'd prefer to stay on in Delhi a little bit longer, then additional accommodation can be booked prior to travel (subject to availability).