Delhi to Goa

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.

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. Visit the Jama Masjid – Delhi’s oldest (and India’s largest) mosque, opt to go inside – 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!

Take the express train to Agra this morning, and head straight to the most recognisable sight in India – The Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This site 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.

Travel by private vehicle to Rajasthan’s colourful capital of 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, maybe 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.

As the sun rises this morning, you’ll have the option to hop in a hot air balloon and glide over the Pink City as it wakes up. Later today, you’ll visit the hilltop Amber Fort with your group, 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 from your local leader. Later, maybe head out for dinner with your group.

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 with your group, stopping in at the main bazaar. Here you’ll come across anything from 1960s fashion and glass lamps to jewellery and traditional Rajasthani puppets. After, you’ll have free time to spend as you wish. Maybe take a walk around Pushkar’s lake, considered sacred in Hindu culture and with an interesting mythology behind it. Wander past the bustling ghats and temples, observing the devout as they worship at the city’s holy waters.

Early- risers may like to hike up the hill to the Savitri Temple for sunrise views over the town this morning. If the chai wallah is there, enjoy a steaming cup of tea at the top! Later in the day, you’ll visit 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 (held annually in November), you can experience one of India’s most famous festivals tonight. Later, maybe ask your leader for some recommendations on the best local eats.

Continue 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. When you arrive, take a leader-led walk around the city to get your bearings. Explore twisting alleyways filled with shops and bazaars selling silver jewellery, shoes, bags, leather goods and miniature paintings.

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. Or 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.

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 just a few km 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 your night travelling like the locals.

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 historic 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 vie for your attention here. A great optional activity is to visit Elephanta Island – easily accessible by ferry – home to the ‘City of Caves’ and a collection of well-preserved rock art linked to the cult of Shiva.

While away the day in Mumbai, with a full free day to explore at your own pace. You might like to take a walk along Marine Drive beside the Arabian Sea or hang out by the picturesque Bombay High Court. Your leader will also have some great suggestions, including the best spots for a good feed!

Catch an early-morning train to Goa, giving you plenty of time to enjoy this relaxed, tropical city today. Check into your hotel, then take a walk to orient yourself. You’re bound to notice the Portuguese influence that is ever so present in the city’s whitewashed churches. This afternoon, maybe visit Aguada Fort for views over the Arabian Sea and its old Portuguese lighthouse, or head to Reis Magos Fort to explore restored ramparts, prison cells and galleries overlooking the Mandovi River.

The day is yours to spend as you please, and there’s no shortage of things to do in this coastal spot. Maybe set off on two wheels and immerse yourself in the countryside. For a more spiritual kind of exertion, spend the day seeking a little enlightenment with a touch of yoga at a local studio. 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 a winner.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you’re able to depart the accommodation at any time. If you would like to stay an extra couple of days, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.