Ganges to the Golden Triangle | India trip
Travel ExpertStarting from:
1900 USD
per Adult
Let the flow of the Ganges and the legacy of India’s royal courts shape your journey on the Ganges to the Golden Triangle trip. Created as one of our thoughtfully designed India trips, this itinerary is tailored for travelers seeking meaningful, well-paced experiences. Stay in heritage hotels, enjoy regional cuisine in historic settings, and meet local custodians who bring palace histories to life.
Share what interests you most, and we will craft a private itinerary that reflects your pace and curiosity. Request a personalized proposal and turn this layered journey through northern India into an experience that feels distinctly your own.
Ganges to the Golden Triangle trip highlights
- Private palace access: Enjoy private, tailor-made tours of historic palaces with local guides.
- Ganges cultural immersion: Witness dawn rituals on the Ganges and meet artisans in intimate settings for a personalized glimpse of living traditions.
- Tailor-made golden triangle: Curate your Golden Triangle route with expert local planners for less-crowded experiences.
- Culinary and craft encounters: Savor regional cuisine in family-run kitchens and learn crafts from master artisans.
- Personalized luxury and local life: Stay in heritage hotels, enjoy curated comforts, and explore villages with a local host.
| Day | Location | Activity | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delhi | • Arrival and hotel transfer • Guided Old Delhi tour • Red Fort and Jama Masjid • Walk through Chandni Chowk • Heritage sites and Raj Ghat | Delhi |
| 2 | Delhi → Varanasi | • Morning flight to Varanasi • Hotel transfer • Evening boat ride on the Ganges • Candlelit Ganga Puja ceremony | Varanasi |
| 3 | Varanasi | • Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges • Morning puja on the river • Visit historic temples • Excursion to Sarnath and museum | Varanasi |
| 4 | Varanasi → Khajuraho | • Flight to Khajuraho • Hotel transfer • Guided visit to Khajuraho temples • Kandariya Mahadeva Temple | Khajuraho |
| 5 | Khajuraho → Orchha → Agra | • Drive to Orchha • Explore temples, palaces, cenotaphs • Evening train from Jhansi to Agra | Agra |
| 6 | Agra | • Visit the Taj Mahal • Explore Agra Fort • Free afternoon for shopping or leisure | Agra |
| 7 | Agra → Fatehpur Sikri → Jaipur | • Explore Fatehpur Sikri • Buland Darwaza and palace complex • Drive onward to Jaipur | Jaipur |
| 8 | Jaipur | • Amber Fort and Shish Mahal • City Palace and museum • Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar | Jaipur |
| 9 | Jaipur → Delhi | • Free morning for shopping • Local bazaars and handicrafts • Drive to Delhi | Delhi |
| 10 | Delhi | • Final breakfast • Private airport transfer • Departure assistance | — |
Delhi arrival and Old Delhi highlights
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel. Your India travel experience begins with a half-day exploration of 17th-century Old Delhi, or Shahjahanabad. Visit the imposing Red Fort and the vast Jama Masjid, then walk through the lively lanes of Chandni Chowk, known for its street food and craft stalls.
Continue to Sis Ganj Gurudwara, Sunehri Masjid, Fatehpuri Masjid, and the Digambara Jain Temple and Bird Hospital. The day concludes at Raj Ghat, followed by visits to the Gandhi Darshan and the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, offering a reflective close to the day.
Candlelight Puja ceremony
Fly to Varanasi in the morning and transfer to your hotel. In the evening, take a boat ride on the Ganges to witness the candlelit Ganga Puja, a moving ceremony of prayers, music, and floating lamps that draws devotees to the river’s edge.
After the ceremony, return to your hotel for the night.
Ganges River morning ceremony
Start before dawn with a boat ride on the Ganges, joining a quiet sunrise puja on the water. After returning to your hotel for breakfast, spend the early afternoon exploring Varanasi’s historic temples before visiting Sarnath, the deer park where the Buddha delivered his first sermon.
See the Dhamekh Stupa and the Ashokan pillar, along with its lion capital, in the museum, offering insight into the roots of India’s spiritual history.
The temples of Khajuraho
After breakfast in Varanasi, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Khajuraho. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided visit to the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Khajuraho, among the best places to visit in India for art and architecture.
Built between 950 and 1050 by the Chandela rulers, 22 temples remain, celebrated for their intricate sculptures of deities, dancers, and symbolic erotic scenes. The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple stands out as the most impressive example.
Orchha temples and transfer to Agra
After breakfast, drive to Orchha to explore its temples, palaces, and cenotaphs. Once the capital of the Bundela rulers, Orchha’s gentle landscape and blend of Hindu, Mughal, and Indo-Saracenic architecture offer striking photo opportunities and a quiet sense of history, brought to life by a local guide.
In the evening, transfer to Jhansi Railway Station to board your express train to Agra. On arrival, you will be met and taken to your hotel.
Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
Visit the iconic white marble Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage site and masterpiece of Mughal architecture, followed by the 16th-century Agra Fort, where red sandstone palaces and ramparts overlook the Yamuna River.
The afternoon is free for independent exploration and shopping, a relaxed pause within your India itinerary. Look for authentic pietra dura marble work along Fatehabad Road or at the Shilpgram Crafts Village near the Taj East Gate.
Fatehpur Sikri visit
Depart Agra for Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s 16th-century capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Explore the monumental Buland Darwaza, the Jama Masjid, Diwan-i-Khas, and Mariam’s House as your guide shares stories of Mughal court life and the fusion of Persian, Mughal, and Indian architectural styles. After the visit, continue by road to Jaipur.
Amber Fort and City Palace
Spend a full day exploring Jaipur, visiting Amber Fort, the City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and Jantar Mantar. Climb to Amber Fort’s hilltop ramparts to see the Diwan-i-Am and the mirrored Shish Mahal.
Continue to the City Palace, wandering its courtyards and the Sawai Man Singh II Museum, home to royal armour and miniature paintings. End at the Hawa Mahal, with its 953 latticed windows, and Jantar Mantar, where monumental instruments were built to chart the skies.
Jaipur shopping and transfer to Delhi
After breakfast, enjoy free time to explore Jaipur at your own pace. Browse Bapu Bazaar and Amber Road for bandhani, block prints, and blue pottery, or visit the Rajasthali Government Emporium for curated crafts and clear pricing. Johari Bazaar is ideal for jewellery, gemstones, and traditional juttis. Later, depart by road for Delhi.
Departure
Your India trip concludes in Delhi. After a final breakfast and time for last-minute shopping or a short cultural stroll, enjoy a private transfer to Delhi International Airport for your flight home or onward journey.
