Map of Delhi to Goa including India

Get Goan on a dazzling exploration from city to coast

From spice-filled bazaars to white sandy beaches, opulent palaces to spice plantations, discover India in all its glory on this well-balanced 15-day adventure. Delve into a world of delicious street food, ride rickshaws through narrow alleyways, stroll by beautiful lakes and forested hills, mingle with Mumbai merchants, and explore centuries-old icons. Finish up on the shores of easygoing Goa, where yoga, cocktails, and golden sands are all you need to chill out after the bustling big towns of India. Now that’s an idyllic Indian adventure.


Start
Delhi, India
Finish
Goa, India
Destination
India
Style
Basix
Theme
Explorer
Code
HHRG
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Discover Delhi, both new and old, with a guided walking tour of its historic walled heart and a rickshaw ride through the Chandni Chowk marketplace.

  • With plenty of time to explore Mumbai at your own pace, why not delve into the incredible heritage quarter, check out the circus-like Chowpatty Beach, or find a chai wallah for a spot of tea – it’s up to you!

  • Witness the one and only Taj Mahal. Seeing this Mughal marvel for the first time, in all its dazzling white marble, is a moment you won’t forget.

  • Goa may be a golden-sand beauty, but there’s more to life here than simply chilling by the beach – you could opt to tour an organic spice farm and gorge on a sumptuously spiced Goan feast instead.

  • Jaipur and Udaipur are two of India’s most delightful destinations. Take the time to stroll the enchanting and very different streets of these colourful centres with your small group.

Is this trip right for you?

  • It’s important to prepare for hot sticky temperatures during the day and cooler climates in the evening. Light layers are the best way to tackle this disparity in weather. Please also ensure that you use adequate sun protection and drink plenty of water.

  • We visit a number of temples on this trip, which requires a certain level of modesty. Please bring clothes that cover the arms and pants/skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.

  • This trip involves some long overnight train journeys, including a nine-hour overnight train to Goa. While this can be tiresome, entertaining chai wallahs (tea vendors), food vendors, and conversations with locals make this a rewarding experience. For your own security, take a lock for your hand luggage on the sleeper train journey.

  • You will also be travelling by local bus on this trip. While conditions are basic, this is a great way to rub shoulders with the locals while enjoying the passing scenery.

  • There is plenty of free time for your choice of optional activities on this trip, so please make sure you budget for things you may like to do during your spare time.

Itinerary

Welcome to India! Arrive in the fun and frenetic capital of Delhi and settle into your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your group leader and travel pals. After your meeting, take an orientation walk to get your bearings and perhaps head out for an optional dinner with your group.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Start your day with a ride on the metro. Your tour heads first to Old Delhi – the heart of the city. Inch your way through the streets around the Chandni Chowk marketplace in true local style – by cycle rickshaw! Visit the Jama Masjid – Delhi's oldest (and India’s largest) mosque – and then stop by the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple). Learn about the Sikh guru who, in the 17th century, stuck to his religious beliefs and paid the ultimate price in this very spot. This afternoon is free to explore more of Delhi's sights at your own pace!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
  • Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
  • Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking tour
Optional Activities
  • Delhi - Gandhi Smriti (Birla House - Place of Mahatma Gandhi's Assassination)) - Free
  • Delhi - Humayun's Tomb - INR600
  • Delhi - Qutub Minar - INR600
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Agra itself may not be the world’s prettiest city, but the minute you see its iconic sights, that won’t matter one bit. You will arrive by one of India's express air-conditioned trains (approximately 3 hours), then head straight to the most recognisable sight in India. The Taj Mahal may well exceed your expectations as the light shimmers off its white marble surface. Best known as a monument to love and loss, the 17th century Taj is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture, surrounded by trimmed English gardens. The highlights keep coming as you take a motorised rickshaw tour around town – a great way to see the monuments of Agra. You can also visit Akbar's Mausoleum, a beautiful sandstone and marble tomb built for the greatest of the Mughal emperors. Stop off for an optional meal at Sheroes Hangout, a cafe that supports victims of acid attacks.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Agra - Taj Mahal
Optional Activities
  • Agra - Akbar's Mausoleum - INR300
  • Agra - Sheroes Hangout Cafe (prices from) - INR500
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Travel by public bus to Rajasthan’s colourful capital, Jaipur. Settle into your hotel, then enjoy a walk through the streets and markets of this ‘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 is a family-run heritage hotel. In the evening, perhaps take the opportunity to see a Bollywood film. Jaipur is home to one of the world's great cinema halls – the grand art-deco Raj Mandir.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour
Optional Activities
  • Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema - INR400
  • Jaipur - City Palace - INR700
  • Jaipur - Jantar Mantar Observatory - INR200
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
For many travellers, an optional hot air balloon experience is one of the highlights of Jaipur, and today would be the ideal day to book in on one. In the afternoon, 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). Take in its dazzling coloured glass work and learn its interesting history.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
Optional Activities
  • Jaipur - Balloon Safari - USD280
  • Jaipur - Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Wind) - INR200
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
This optional ballooning activity is available in certain months of the year and must be booked in advance. For additional information, please see the ‘Important Notes’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
Travel to Pushkar by public bus and then private vehicle via the town of Ajmer. Pushkar is one of India's holiest towns and a market centre for the surrounding villages. Head out to explore the town on a walking tour, stopping in at the main bazaar along the way. Here you'll come across anything from 1960s fashion and glass lamps to jewellery and traditional Rajasthani puppets. Then, take a walk around Pushkar’s lake, which is considered sacred in Hindu culture and has an interesting mythology behind it. Wander past the bustling ghats and temples, observing the devout as they worship at the city’s holy waters.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Pushkar - Leader-led walking tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Early morning risers may like to hike up the hill to the Savitri Temple for sunrise views over the town. If the chai wallah is there, enjoy a steaming cup of tea at the top! Later in the day, you will pay a visit to the colourful Brahma Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu god-creator Brahma. If you’re lucky enough to be in town for the Pushkar Camel Fair, you can experience one of India’s most famous festivals. It's held every November.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Pushkar - Sunrise at Savitri Temple
  • Pushkar - Brahma Temple
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
The Pushkar Camel Fair is held in November each year. We will do all we can to ensure that travellers booked with a trip to coincide with the fair will get an opportunity to see the best of the festival, but we cannot take responsibility if the dates of the fair change. Pushkar hotels raise their rates considerably during the festival, so departures across this period may be at a higher price. Although we make bookings months in advance, accommodation in Pushkar tends to overbook at this time. That’s why we ask for a flexible approach from people travelling at this time as accommodation, the order of activities and type of transport may need to change.
Continue on to your next destination today, travelling by private vehicle back to Ajmer and then day train to Udaipur. Known as the ‘Venice of the East’, this white city is often regarded as the most romantic in India. Set amid the Aravalli Hills, Udaipur curls around a huge lake. On arrival, take a leader-led city walk to get your bearings around town. Explore twisting alleyways filled with shops and bazaars selling things like silver jewellery, shoes, bags, leather goods, and miniature paintings.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Udaipur - Leader-led walking tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Enjoy a free day to explore the sights of Udaipur. Season depending, why not take a short boat ride on the famous Lake Pichola and see the palaces of Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas rise out of the water. Take a guided tour of the lakeside City Palace complex, the largest palace in Rajasthan. While inside, check out vivid murals and royal antiques, and pop into the impressive Jagdish Temple that’s dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Alternatively, you could learn the secrets behind making the perfect Indian thali during a half-day cooking class.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Udaipur - Lake Pichola boat ride - INR350
  • Udaipur - City Palace - INR300
  • Udaipur - Cooking class - INR600
  • Udaipur - Sajjan Garh Palace (Monsoon Palace) - INR300
  • Udaipur - Cultural performance - INR150
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Enjoy another free day in Udaipur before your overnight train to Mumbai. You might like to spend the day exploring Shilpgram – an interesting artistic neighbourhood located just a couple of kilometres away from town. Here you can see a range of village houses from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra with exhibitions on display (season depending). Board your train to Mumbai from Falna station and settle in for a long and exciting overnight journey.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Udaipur - Shilpgram craft village - INR25
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Sleeper trains are clean and air-conditioned, and beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow, and blanket provided (although some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet). Please note that you may be sharing with locals of the same or other genders.
Wake up in Mumbai, perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in India. You will take a short walk through the heritage quarter of Mumbai, the nearby Gateway of India, and the famous Taj Hotel. Discover some of the beautiful old colonial and art deco buildings, treat yourself to a meal in one of the country's best restaurants, or shop ‘til you drop in the bazaars and malls. Later in the day, visit Chowpatty Beach where colourful crowds mill about in the cooler evening air. Palm readers, balloon sellers, magicians, and acrobats all compete for your attention. A great optional activity is to visit Elephanta Island. Easily accessible by ferry from Mumbai, it's about 10 km from the south-east coast of the island city. Boats leave daily from the Gateway of India (approximately 1 hour each way).
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mumbai - Chowpatty Beach
  • Mumbai - Gateway of India
  • Mumbai - Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
Optional Activities
  • Mumbai - Elephanta Island - INR460
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
While away the day in magnificent Mumbai. Perhaps ride the excellent rail system and make your own discoveries around the city – it's a good idea to avoid the hectic peak hours! You’re free to discover Mumbai at your own pace today, and be sure to ask your group leader for their recommendations. Keep in mind that tonight you’ll board an overnight sleeper train bound for Goa.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Arrive in Goa nice and early and check into your hotel. Take a walk to acquaint yourself with Goa and its relaxed tropical atmosphere. You're bound to see the Portuguese influence that is ever so present in the city's whitewashed churches. There's an optional visit to a local spice farm today, which gives you a fascinating look behind the rich aromas and flavours of some of India's essential ingredients. Goa's dense forested areas and favourable climatic conditions make it a perfect location to grow the spices liberally used in its cuisine, and all the spice farms use organic methods of cultivation. A tour of the plantation culminates in a mouth-watering Goan buffet lunch – so what’s not to like?
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Goa - Spice farm tour including lunch - INR450
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
The day is yours to spend as you please, and there's no shortage of things to do in this unique coastal spot. A bicycle trip to the countryside is a great option. For a more spiritual kind of exertion, spend the day seeking a little enlightenment with a touch of yoga. Otherwise, take this opportunity to relax on the beach or sip a cocktail at a local bar. Tonight, why not join your group for an Indian feast – the local seafood is definitely a winner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Goa - Aguada Fort - INR50
  • Goa - Reis Magos Fort - INR50
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
As there are no activities planned today, your trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast. You are welcome to leave at any time, provided you comply with the accommodation’s internal check-out procedures.
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Meals

No meals are included on this tour

Transport

Overnight sleeper train, Train, Auto rickshaw, Cycle rickshaw, Metro, Private vehicle, Shuttle Bus, Public bus, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights), Heritage Hotel (2 nights), Overnight train (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
  • Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
  • Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking tour
  • Agra - Taj Mahal
  • Jaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour
  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
  • Pushkar - Leader-led walking tour
  • Pushkar - Sunrise at Savitri Temple
  • Pushkar - Brahma Temple
  • Udaipur - Leader-led walking tour
  • Mumbai - Chowpatty Beach
  • Mumbai - Gateway of India
  • Mumbai - Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Delhi to Goa trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 10 and 12 (overnight sleeper train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. In 2021 the official Pushkar Camel Fair dates are 11-19 November.
3. Hot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate from September 1st to April 30th and last approximately 60 mins. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments, and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your joining meeting on day 1 of your trip. Payment must be made by cash in either INR/AUD/USD/GBP only and is USD 260pp (subject to change). Flights are subject to availability and weather conditions (tickets are fully refundable in case of bad weather).

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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