Well Organized Trip
We appreciated our travel design er (Ovijit) was able to customize our trip to add in additional stops and tailor our hotels to what we were looking for.
This 15-day India itinerary is designed for first-time international travellers who want to experience the country’s historical, spiritual and natural diversity in one carefully planned journey. It combines Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi in North India with Kochi, Periyar, Alleppey and Cherai in Kerala.
The first part of the tour explores Old Delhi’s historic neighbourhoods, Jaipur’s forts and palaces, the Taj Mahal in Agra and the riverfront rituals of Varanasi. A domestic flight then connects North India with Kerala, where the experience becomes slower and greener through colonial Kochi, the forests of Periyar, an Alleppey houseboat and the coast at Cherai.
This is a moderately paced private tour with several road journeys, two early-morning experiences and one domestic flight sector. Private transport makes the overland sections more comfortable, while guided sightseeing can help travellers understand the history and local customs behind the places they visit.
This itinerary works particularly well for couples, families and small private groups making their first extended visit to India. It is suitable for travellers who want more than the Golden Triangle but do not want to arrange separate hotels, transfers, flights and local sightseeing in each destination.
The programme includes busy cities, religious areas, heritage monuments, forest surroundings, waterways and a beach stay. Travellers should be comfortable with changing hotels, walking through crowded places and spending several hours on the road on transfer days.
Delhi provides the introduction to India, with time for both the old city and the planned avenues of New Delhi. The route then continues to Jaipur for Rajput architecture and onward to Agra for the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Returning through Delhi makes the onward journey to Varanasi more practical.
Two nights in Varanasi allow time for both the evening Ganga Aarti and an early-morning boat ride. These experiences reveal different sides of the riverfront: the evening is ceremonial and energetic, while the morning is quieter and better for observing daily life along the ghats.
After flying south, Kochi introduces Kerala’s maritime history and multicultural heritage. Periyar adds a cooler forest setting, Alleppey offers an overnight backwater experience, and Cherai provides a relaxed coastal finish before departure from Kochi Airport.
Upon arrival at the airport, our representative will greet you and assist you to your hotel.
Once you have settled in, you can relax and adjust to the new time zone on your own.
In your India tour, don't miss the chaotic Old Delhi. It is the oldest part of the city, filled with people and a wide range of shops. The Jama Masjid's minaret offers a breathtaking view of Old Delhi, and you can then take a rickshaw through the bustling alleyways of Chandni Chowk.
Upon entering New Delhi, you can see UNESCO-listed Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, the first garden-tomb on the subcontinent built in 1570, and the peaceful Hindu Temple of Laxmi Narayan.
In the morning, you will drive five hours to Jaipur, where you can check into your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure.
The next day, you can explore some of India's majestic palaces and atmospheric relics around this pink city.
In the morning, take a jeep up to the hillside Amber Fort. This magnificent fort made up of several elaborate imperial buildings will be an excellent example for you to get a glimpse of the Rajput lifestyle and art of Rajasthan. The Sheesh Mahal, a glittering mirror palace, should be included in your tour guide.
Take a photo stop at the famous Hawa Mahal, followed by a trip to the City Palace Museum and Jantar Mantar, the world's largest stone observatory that is still operational.
Drive to Agra (about 5 hours) from the pink city. Fatehpur Sikri, a former royal city between these two cities, is the highlight of today's tour.
Upon approaching the red sandstone palace, the grand entrance doors, and the Mughal courtyard, you will fall in love with its intricate carvings.
Early morning light coats the Taj Mahal's dome in a soft, golden hue, making it one of the most beautiful Taj Mahals. Discover Shah Jahan's love story with his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal and wander around this wonder, admiring its tiles, arches, and white dome. After that, visit Agra Fort and get a taste of the royal Mughal lifestyle.
After lunch, take the four-hour drive to Delhi for the night.
Take a flight to Varanasi, often referred to as the spiritual capital of India or the city of Lord Shiva. After you land, take private transport to your hotel so you can rest after your flight.
As the night falls, sit back by the Ganges and witness the thousand-year-old Aarti Ceremony. Feel the peace as young priests in elaborate ceremonial dress pray using fire, incense, bells, and body postures as well as movements.
The scene along the Ganges River, where countless Hindu devotees bathe in the river and offer worship can be breathtaking. Take a boat ride along the river before sunrise to see the scene of countless devotees bathing and offering worship along the river. After breakfast, you can take a brief walking tour of the old city.
The afternoon will be spent exploring Sarnath. Sarnath is a Buddhist pilgrimage site situated about 10 km from Varanasi that is one of the four most important pilgrimage sites in the world. It is in the Deer Park of Sarnath that Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded by Kondanna's enlightenment. A visit to the Sarnath Museum is also included in the tour.
Kochi has been a natural harbor for centuries and is known as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea". There are many churches and colorful cottages in the old town of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry which have a distinctly European feel to them. You can stroll through the narrow lanes in search of the Dutch Palace, the Paradesi Synagogue, and Saint Francis Church, and end your day by visiting the harbor where you will be able to see intricate contraptions of Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront.
Enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance performance in the evening by opting to attend.
It takes about three hours to drive from Kochi to reach Periyar Tiger Reserve, a paradise for nature lovers in the south of India. A major spice plantation also exists here in Kerala.
When you reach the area, you can stroll through one of the spice plantations in the area and learn about how spices have been used as medicine and food for centuries.
In the morning, you will be able to explore the reserve with your guide, taking in the beauty of the forest as you trek through forest trails, cross grassy swamps, and observe birds and flowers along the way.
This will take between one and three hours, depending on your fitness level and interest. In the early morning, you can embark on a boat ride along the picturesque Periyar Lake in the heart of the reserve after trekking.
Take advantage of the afternoon and enjoy it to the fullest.
A 3-hour drive away from Periyar is Alleppey, where rural village life surrounded by serene backwaters appeals to travelers throughout the world.
It is not uncommon to get on a houseboat with thatched roofs cruising along the palm-fringed Kerala canals.
You can simply sit back and enjoy Kerala's rural lifestyle while soaking in the lush greenery in the surrounding area.
After a wonderful breakfast in an open-air houseboat, disembark at Alleppey Drive towards Cherai.
Cherai Beach: There is nothing better than lying on the beautiful golden beaches of soft sand in the midst of the cool breeze and watching the waves as they break against the sandy shores facing the Arabian Sea. Take the time to relax, soak in the relaxation, and let the waves sweep you off your feet as you lay on the beach watching the waves.
Check into your Cherai beach resort. Relax for a while. In the afternoon, go on a stroll on the beach to enjoy the golden sunset. Stay at the Cherai Beach Resort for the night.
After spending a couple of days with your loved ones, today you will return to Cochin airport, where you will catch your flight home.
However, we are confident that you will be back soon because Incredible India country is not simply going to leave you with fond memories.
It also offers you a lifetime of adventures ahead of you.
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We appreciated our travel design er (Ovijit) was able to customize our trip to add in additional stops and tailor our hotels to what we were looking for.
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