10 Days Best of North India

Welcome to India. On arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, meet our representative in the arrivals area and travel by private vehicle to your hotel. The remainder of the day is kept free so you can rest after the flight and adjust to the local time.

If your flight arrives early and you feel comfortable, a short orientation drive or an easy walk near the hotel can be arranged. The main guided Delhi sightseeing tour begins the following morning, so no essential monument is planned for arrival day.

Overnight: Delhi

After breakfast, begin in Old Delhi at Jama Masjid, one of the city's most prominent Mughal-era mosques. Continue through Old Delhi's market district and Chandni Chowk, where a cycle-rickshaw ride offers a close view of its narrow lanes, traditional shops and street life. Visit Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, before stopping for lunch.

In New Delhi, explore the UNESCO-listed Qutub Minar complex and drive past India Gate, the Parliament buildings and Rashtrapati Bhavan. End the day at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, where visitors can observe the prayer hall, sacred pool and community kitchen. Modest clothing and a head covering are required inside the gurudwara.

Overnight: Delhi

After breakfast, leave Delhi for Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The journey normally takes about five to six hours, excluding stops, although traffic while leaving Delhi can affect the schedule.

Before entering Jaipur, make a worthwhile detour to Samode, a small settlement known for its painted havelis and heritage palace. Visit Samode Palace and have lunch here when included in your confirmed meal plan. Continue to Jaipur and check in at the hotel.

The evening is free to rest or take an optional walk in a nearby market. Keep major shopping for the following day, when the guide can help identify established textile, jewellery and handicraft areas.

Driving distance: Approximately 270 km
Overnight: Jaipur

Begin the day at Amber Fort, visiting early for more comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds. A jeep can be arranged for the uphill approach. Inside the fort, explore its courtyards, gateways, mirror work and former royal apartments. Stop for photographs of Jal Mahal while returning to the city.

In central Jaipur, visit the City Palace and the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory. Pause outside Hawa Mahal to see its distinctive honeycomb façade, built so royal women could observe processions without being seen from the street.

Later, explore Jaipur's old-city bazaars for block-printed textiles, blue pottery and handcrafted jewellery. Shopping is optional, and there is no obligation to purchase at any store.

Overnight: Jaipur

After breakfast, drive from Jaipur to Agra. En route, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the former Mughal capital established by Emperor Akbar. A guided walk introduces the palatial complex, including Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal and the courtyards associated with the royal household.

The neighbouring Jama Masjid and marble tomb of Salim Chishti remain active religious spaces. Shoes must be removed in the mosque area, and modest clothing is recommended. After the visit, continue to Agra and check in at the hotel.

If daylight, traffic and arrival time permit, an optional visit to Mehtab Bagh can be arranged for a view of the Taj Mahal from across the Yamuna River.

Driving time: Approximately five to six hours, excluding sightseeing and meal stops
Overnight: Agra

Visit the Taj Mahal in the morning, when the light is usually softer and temperatures are more comfortable. Your guide will explain the monument's Mughal design, marble inlay work and the story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday, so the sightseeing order must be adjusted when necessary.

Continue to the UNESCO-listed Agra Fort, a vast red-sandstone complex developed by successive Mughal emperors. Visit its audience halls, courtyards and marble palaces, with distant views towards the Taj Mahal from parts of the fort.

Later, visit the Missionaries of Charity home when access is available, or choose a quieter Mughal monument such as Itimad-ud-Daulah, commonly called the Baby Taj. Free time may be provided for Agra's marble inlay workshops and handicraft markets.

Overnight: Agra

Transfer to Agra railway station for the morning train to Jhansi. Train names and departure times can change, so the exact service will be confirmed when tickets are issued. On arrival, meet your driver and continue to Orchha, approximately 30 minutes from Jhansi.

Explore the riverside Bundela capital, focusing on the Orchha Fort complex and Jahangir Mahal. Depending on available time, also see the Ram Raja Temple and the royal chhatris beside the Betwa River. Orchha is a useful cultural break between the train journey and the longer drive to Khajuraho.

Continue by private vehicle to Khajuraho. The drive generally takes three and a half to four and a half hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Check in at the hotel on arrival; the main temple tour is scheduled for the next morning.

Overnight: Khajuraho

After breakfast, take a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Khajuraho Group of Monuments. Concentrate on the Western Group, where the Kandariya Mahadeva, Lakshmana and Vishvanatha temples demonstrate the craftsmanship and complex symbolism of the Chandela period. Although Khajuraho is often associated only with erotic sculpture, these figures form a small part of a much broader artistic program depicting deities, musicians, warriors and daily life.

Later, transfer to the airport for the flight to Varanasi. Direct Khajuraho–Varanasi services may not operate every day or throughout the year. The final flight or an alternative travel arrangement will therefore be confirmed for your date.

After arrival and hotel check-in, attend the evening Ganga Aarti in Varanasi if the flight schedule permits. The ceremony can be watched from the ghat or from a boat, subject to river and local operating conditions.

Overnight: Varanasi

Start before sunrise with a boat ride on the Ganges, passing a succession of historic ghats as Varanasi begins its day. The cruise is subject to safe weather, visibility, water level and local authority instructions. Continue on foot through parts of Old Varanasi, where narrow lanes connect the riverfront with shrines, homes and traditional markets.

Visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple when entry conditions permit. Security is strict, and mobile phones, cameras, bags and some personal items may need to be stored outside. Also see Bharat Mata Temple, known for its marble relief map of undivided India.

In the afternoon, travel to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Visit the archaeological area around Dhamek Stupa and other accessible monuments or museums included in the confirmed program.

If the previous evening's flight arrived too late for the Ganga Aarti, attend the ceremony today. Otherwise, the evening can be kept free for a relaxed ghat walk or Banarasi silk shopping.

Overnight: Varanasi

After breakfast, transfer to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport for your flight from Varanasi to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, connect with your international departure or continue to a Delhi hotel if an additional night has been booked.

Domestic and international flights may operate from different terminals and may be issued on separate tickets. A suitable connection buffer should be planned for baggage collection, terminal transfer, immigration and possible delays. For an early international departure, adding a final night in Delhi is the safer arrangement.