India is famous for its food and there is ample opportunity to try various curries, including the familiar tandoori, biriyani and rogan josh. If you are a vegetarian, India is a great destination. There are wonderful desserts and excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink.

Allow at least 1,400-2,400 Indian rupees (US$20-US$35) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants, most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount. In most towns we visit, there is a good selection of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western food. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approximately 285 rupees (approximately US$4).

Mineral water is widely available, but drinking water is provided in a large container in the bus to reduce our use of plastic, so please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Visit the 9th-century Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri, a spectacular feat of water engineering descending through 3,500 narrow steps. Stand at the edge to admire its geometric stairways that form an intricate, Escher-like lattice.

Learn how stepwells captured monsoon waters and offered cool respite in Rajasthan’s semi-arid climate. The nearby Harshat Mata Temple and sculpted panels underscore the site’s enduring link between sacred space and community life.

Discover Mughal elegance as you step inside Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO-listed mausoleum set amid classic charbagh gardens. Notice Persian-influenced arches, red sandstone inlay and the harmonious symmetry that foreshadows the Taj Mahal’s later perfection.

Continue on a curated drive through Lutyens’ capital to see Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House and the solemn arch of India Gate, commemorating soldiers of the First World War. Grand avenues, sweeping domes and colonnades reveal the 20th-century vision that shaped modern New Delhi.

Experience daybreak serenity as you witness the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the marble softly blushes in first light. With your leader, step inside the mausoleum to admire exquisite pietra dura floral inlay and the hushed ambience that surrounds Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal’s tombs.

Continue to the Mughals’ seat of power, Agra Fort (Red Fort of Agra). Wander palaces, audience halls and courtyards where Akbar and Shah Jahan ruled, and pause for Yamuna River views that frame distant glimpses of the Taj.

Walk with your leader to visit a centuries-old Hindu temple near Hindaun, where brass bells ring and incense drifts through painted shrines. Observe everyday devotion and architectural details that anchor village faith and rhythm.

Return to the 600-year-old Suroth Mahal heritage hotel for a hands-on moment in the kitchen as you learn to make pakora. Hear tips on spice balance, batter texture and frying technique before tasting your crispy, fragrant creations in regal surroundings.

Stroll on a gentle guided walk to a 300-year-old village to meet local residents and glimpse rural crafts, waterwheels and seasonal fieldwork. Conversations open windows onto family life, harvest cycles and the skills that sustain small communities.

Pause at the lively village haat to see traders bargaining over produce, textiles and utensils. This grounded encounter with rural Rajasthan offers a human-scale counterpoint to the grand monuments of the Golden Triangle.

Watch the Pink City awaken on a dawn walking tour. Wander past carts piled with marigolds and mint to the flower and vegetable markets, where porters call out prices and chai simmers in brass pots.

Step into a small temple for a morning aarti with ringing bells and devotional song, then meet artisans preparing textiles and metalware. Sample local snacks and chai as Jaipur’s day gathers pace in colour, sound and scent.

Ascend to Amer Fort, a hilltop citadel overlooking Maota Lake. Explore sun-warmed courtyards, frescoed pavilions and the ornate Ganesh Pol gateway that introduces a world of Rajput refinement and Mughal influence.

Marvel at the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), where thousands of hand-cut glass pieces multiply a flicker of light into a galaxy of reflections. Your guide reveals stories of the Kachwaha rulers and the artistry that animated their royal seat.

Explore Jantar Mantar, the 18th-century observatory where giant instruments like the Samrat Yantra precisely chart the heavens. Stroll its garden setting as your leader demystifies celestial measurements and Jaipur’s scientific legacy.

View the latticed facade of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) and browse the walled-city bazaars for block-printed textiles, semi-precious stones and leatherwork. The city’s signature pink sandstone glow and artisan energy make this a vivid cultural snapshot.

Join a hands-on cooking class in a Rajasthani family home, learning to blend spices, temper tadka and shape breads before sharing the meal together. Expect practical tips you can recreate at home, from masala balance to finishing with fresh herbs.

This intimate culinary exchange deepens your understanding of daily life and hospitality in Jaipur. This experience is bookable on tour at additional cost and is subject to availability; your tour leader will assist with arrangements.

Explore Old Delhi’s maze of lanes as you join a cycle rickshaw ride rolling past the vast courtyard of Jama Masjid and into the atmospheric bazaars. Glide through alleys perfumed with cardamom and chilies before arriving at the Khari Baoli spice market, where burlap sacks spill vibrant powders and dried fruit.

Absorb stories of Shahjahanabad, the Mughal capital built by Emperor Shah Jahan, and feel the district’s lively rhythm—ringing temple bells, call to prayer, chai sellers and porters—capturing the city’s enduring spice-laden lanes culture.