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Northern India Explorer route map

Arrive in Delhi. Meet your crew and Trip Manager in the evening, then head out for dinner at a local restaurant.

Morning sightseeing in Old Delhi: photo stop at the Red Fort, rickshaw ride to Jama Masjid, pass India Gate, the President’s House and government buildings, and visit Gandhi’s House. Optional Old Delhi food tour in the evening. Board an overnight train to Bikaner (6-berth sleepers with bedding; limited in-cabin bag space).

Arrive in Bikaner and have breakfast at a homestay. Visit Junagarh Fort, then enjoy free time with an optional heritage bike ride past havelis and local street food.

Meals: Breakfast

Drive to Jaisalmer. Admire Jaisalmer Fort from the outside and watch sunset from a rooftop.

Guided walk in Jaisalmer, then free time. Transfer into the Thar Desert and check into tents near the dunes of Khuri. Enjoy a sunset camel ride, bonfire with Rajasthani folk music and dance, and a family-style dinner under the stars.

Meals: Dinner

Breakfast at camp, then drive to Jodhpur. Orientation through old city lanes and markets with a photo stop at Mehrangarh Fort, free time, hotel check-in, and evening to explore.

Meals: Breakfast

Free day in Jodhpur for tuk-tuk rides, blue-lane photo ops, viewpoints, markets, cafes, and street eats.

Drive to Pushkar, a spiritual town with no meat or alcohol. Orientation around the holy lake and ghats, visit the Brahma Temple, and attend the evening Aarti.

Pre-dawn climb 970 steps to Savitri Temple for panoramic views. Hands-on block printing session at the Anoothi Project. Evening orientation walk through Jaipur’s bazaars and sandstone streets.

Visit Amber Fort and stop for photos at Hawa Mahal. Evening free, with an optional home-style dinner with a local family.

Free day in Jaipur: options include a Bollywood film at Raj Mandir Cinema, Jantar Mantar, a bike tour, or drinks at a heritage palace.

Travel to Ranthambore National Park. Optional safari into the jungle (pre-booking recommended).

Meals: Dinner

Drive to Agra. Free evening or an optional visit to Agra Fort for sunset views.

Meals: Breakfast

Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, then drive back to Delhi. Evening free to explore.

Train from Delhi to Haridwar, then local transport to Rishikesh. Check into a simple yoga retreat, explore Tapovan, and gather by the Ganges for the evening Aarti.

Morning yoga class at the retreat, vegetarian breakfast, and a guided walk past markets and ashrams, finishing at the Beatles Ashram.

Travel from Rishikesh to Haridwar, then take a train to Lucknow. Settle in for two nights.

Guided tuk-tuk ride past Lucknow’s key sights. Free time, with an optional street food tour.

Train to Varanasi. Explore by e-rickshaw, then attend the Ghat Aarti ceremony on the Ganges.

Free day in Varanasi with options for a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges or a visit to Sarnath.

Trip ends in Varanasi. Say your goodbyes and depart.

What’s included

3 breakfasts and 2 dinners included. Includes a family-style dinner during the Khuri desert camp experience.
Accommodation as per itinerary in standard hotels plus unique stays, including a desert camp near Khuri and a yoga retreat in Rishikesh (or similar).
Make Travel Matter block printing workshop in Jaipur at Anoothi, a women-run social enterprise connected to the Vatsalya Society.
Trip Manager and Local Guides for included sightseeing and activities.
All overland transport and local transfers as per itinerary, including an overnight sleeper train from Delhi to Bikaner (6-berth compartments with bedding included), local trains between Delhi–Haridwar, Haridwar–Lucknow and Lucknow–Varanasi, and local transport such as rickshaws/e-rickshaws and tuk-tuks for guided orientations.
Guided sightseeing and special experiences as per itinerary: Old Delhi highlights with a rickshaw ride; Junagarh Fort in Bikaner; Jaisalmer Fort guided walk; sunset camel ride and desert bonfire with Rajasthani folk music and dance; Jodhpur old town orientation with a photo stop at Mehrangarh Fort; Pushkar orientation around the holy lake and ghats with Brahma Temple visit and evening Aarti, plus a sunrise hike to Savitri Temple; Jaipur guided city walk, Amber Fort guided visit and Hawa Mahal photo stop; sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra; Rishikesh evening Ganga Aarti, a guided yoga session and a guided walk to the Beatles Ashram; Lucknow tuk-tuk orientation; Varanasi e-rickshaw tour and evening Ghat Aarti.

What’s not included

International flights to/from India are not included.
Indian visas and any associated entry requirements are not included.
Travel insurance is not included and should be arranged separately.
Meals not specified in the itinerary (including most lunches and some dinners) are at your own expense.
Optional activities and entrance fees not listed as included, such as the Old Delhi food tour, Bikaner heritage bike ride, dinner with a local family in Jaipur, Ranthambore safari (pre-booking required), Agra Fort visit, Varanasi sunrise boat ride and Sar
Personal expenses such as drinks, snacks, laundry, souvenirs and phone/data charges.

Additional information

  • 3 Breakfast (B)
  • 2 Dinner (D)
  • Delhi: Dive into Old Delhi with Local Guide. Check out the Red Fort before hopping on rickshaws through the city’s buzzing narrow lanes to Jama Mosque. You’ll cruise past India Gate and the grand government buildings, including the President’s House, then visit Gandhi’s House.
  • Bikaner: Wander through Junagarh Fort, a desert stronghold rising from the sands of Bikaner and known as one of Rajasthan’s most intricately decorated forts. Explore its courtyards, balconies and detailed interiors, and see firsthand the craftsmanship that once housed royal power in the heart of the Thar.
  • Jaisalmer: Explore Jaisalmer Fort with a Local Guide and step into a real-life sandcastle built from golden sandstone. You’ll walk past homes, temples and shopfronts (all of them still thriving within its walls). It’s basically like walking through history. 
  • Jaisalmer: Saddle up for a camel ride across the Thar Desert as the dunes shift from gold to deep amber at sunset. Take it slow, breathe it in, and watch the horizon do its thing just like the locals.
  • Jaisalmer: Circle up by the bonfire for an evening of traditional Rajasthani folk music and dance beneath the open sky. Feel the rhythm, soak up the stories, and share a night that’s all about culture, connection and epic desert vibes.
  • Jodhpur: Head up the hill for views of the mighty Mehrangarh Fort towering 125 metres above the city, then descend into Jodhpur’s sea of blue for a guided orientation through the old town. Wander past the clock tower and into Sadar Bazaar, one of India’s oldest markets.
  • Pushkar: Stroll through Pushkar’s old town on an orientation walk that brings you to the holy lake, sacred ghats and the iconic Brahma Temple. Best part? You’ll experience an evening Aarti Ceremony as chants rise into the dusk.
  • Pushkar: Rise early and climb up to Savitri Temple for sunrise, earning sweeping views over Pushkar and the desert beyond. Feel the city wake beneath you as the first light hits. 
  • Jaipur: Explore Jaipur on a guided walk through the Pink City’s sandstone streets and buzzing bazaars. Follow your guide through the old lanes, spot local crafts and everyday scenes, and get your bearings in a city that’s all colour, culture, and constant movement.
  • Jaipur: Step inside Amber Fort on a guided tour and explore its grand courtyards, intricate halls and hilltop views that once housed Rajput royalty. Walk the same pathways as warriors and rulers, and see why this fortress still steals the show.
  • Jaipur: Pause for a photo stop at the iconic Hawa Mahal, Jaipur’s pink sandstone showpiece known for its honeycomb windows and royal past. Cameras out, this one deserves a spot on the grid.
  • Agra: This one needs no introduction. Epic in the pictures. Out-of-this-world IRL. 
  • Rishikesh: Gather at the Ganges for the evening aarti. The priests perform synchronized rituals, brass lamps glow against the dusk, and chants echo along the riverbanks. You’ll watch diyas float across the water and feel the energy build as day turns to night. It’s a powerful way to experience Rishikesh after dark.
  • Rishikesh: Ease into the morning with a guided yoga session designed to stretch out travel-tired muscles and reset your mind. All right here, in the home of yoga.
  • Rishikesh: Walk through Rishikesh with a guided orientation past markets and ashrams, then head to the Beatles Ashram to explore old meditation huts, bold graffiti and forest trails overlooking the Ganges. It’s part spiritual retreat, part open-air art gallery (and seriously photogenic).
  • Lucknow: Hop into a tuk-tuk for an orientation spin around Lucknow’s key sights, taking in the city’s grand facades and everyday rhythm from the street. We’ll see the landmarks from the outside, soaking up the vibe as we go.
  • Varanasi: Zip through Varanasi on a guided e-rickshaw tour, weaving between temples and bustling lanes before heading to the Ganges for the evening Ghat Aarti ceremony. Watch the flames rise, hear the chants build, and feel the riverfront come alive after dark.

Venture by shared jeep or canter into Ranthambore National Park, scanning lake edges and ruined pavilions for deer, birds and the park’s elusive Bengal tigers. Guides decode pugmarks, alarm calls and forest lore.

This wildlife outing is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Beyond predators, the mix of dhok forest, crumbling chhatris and ancient fort views makes Ranthambore a quintessential Indian jungle landscape.

Ride gentle camels onto the Khuri dunes at sunset as the Thar shifts from gold to amber. Sand ridges glow, desert breezes soften, and the horizon opens wide for pause-for-photos moments that feel timeless.

After dusk, gather by the bonfire for Rajasthani folk music and dance. Rhythmic drums, soulful Manganiyar songs and swirling ghagras set the scene while a family-style dinner is served under star-laden skies—an evening of desert hospitality and story.

Stroll the Blue City’s lanes on a guided orientation, tracing spice shops, stepwells and Sardar Market by the Clock Tower. Cameras ready for a photo stop beneath Mehrangarh Fort, the cliff-top citadel that commands Jodhpur’s skyline.

Hear tales of Rathore rulers and trade caravans as indigo-tinted alleys spill into courtyards scented with sandalwood and marigold. The scale of towering Mehrangarh and the intimate bustle below capture Rajasthan’s sweep from empire to everyday life.

Circle sacred Pushkar Lake on an orientation walk to the Brahma Temple, one of the few in India dedicated to the Creator. Narrow streets brim with flower garlands, prayer beads and rooftop cafés framing desert views.

As dusk settles, gather at the ghats for the evening aarti ceremony. Oil lamps flicker, chants rise, and the lake mirrors the ritual light. The moment blends ancient devotion with a serene, small-town atmosphere unique to Pushkar.

Climb the 970 steps up Ratnagiri Hill to the hilltop Savitri Temple at sunrise. As the first light spills over the Aravallis, panoramic views reveal Pushkar’s ghats, desert scrub and gleaming domes below.

The ascent rewards with quiet shrines and the cool morning breeze. This active start pairs gentle exertion with contemplation, capturing the desert’s soft dawn palette before the bazaars stir to life.

Get hands-on at Anoothi, a women-run social enterprise linked to the Vatsalya Society. Learn traditional block printing as artisans demonstrate carving, dyeing and alignment, then print your own textile using hand-carved wooden blocks.

Your visit supports skills training and fair income for women from marginalized communities while preserving a Jaipur craft. Expect inky fingers, pattern play and meaningful conversations that connect heritage design with positive social impact.

Follow your guide through Johari and Bapu Bazaar, past spice mounds, silverwork and sari emporia set against rose-hued facades. Learn how Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II’s grid plan still shapes the rhythm of Jaipur’s old city.

Pause for snapshots of painted doorways and artisan workshops as everyday scenes unfold—bangle makers, lassi stalls, temple bells. The walk balances living craft traditions with architectural harmony in the Pink City’s signature palette.

Step inside Amber Fort to explore marble courtyards, frescoed gateways and the glittering Sheesh Mahal. Hilltop vistas sweep across Maota Lake as your guide shares Rajput tales of defense and diplomacy.

Back in town, frame Jaipur’s emblem in your lens with a photo stop at Hawa Mahal. Its honeycomb of jharokha windows once hid royal processions from view—an elegant facade where palace life meets street theatre.

Seek a rooftop perch as the Jaisalmer Fort glows at sunset. Watch bastions, temples and townhouses shift through amber hues while evening prayers echo across the lanes.

This soak-in-the-atmosphere moment pairs city panoramas with the fort’s living heartbeat—vendors closing shop, lamps flickering on, and the desert cooling after a sun-drenched day. It’s a photographer’s dream in the Golden City.

Arrive in the hush of dawn to see the Taj Mahal at first light. Soft pinks and pearly blues wash over Makrana marble as reflections ripple in the long pools and the Yamuna drifts behind.

Hear how Shah Jahan memorialized Mumtaz Mahal with pietra dura inlay, calligraphy and perfect symmetry. The early hour heightens the calm, letting the monument’s craftsmanship and emotion take center stage.

Gather on the riverbank for the Ganga aarti as saffron-clad priests circle blazing lamps and conch shells sound across the water. The twilight ritual at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat casts a golden sheen over the current.

Mantras, bells and drifting diyas create a meditative atmosphere where pilgrims and travelers unite in reverence. It’s a vivid window into the spiritual pulse of the Himalayan foothills.

Reset body and mind with a guided session blending asanas and pranayama in the birthplace of yoga. Instructors tailor poses to travel-weary muscles while mountain air and temple bells frame the practice.

The class highlights alignment, breath awareness and quiet focus—principles that anchor Rishikesh’s global reputation. Step off the mat feeling centered, with the rhythm of the Ganges never far from awareness.

Wander past ashrams and markets to the graffiti-splashed ruins of Chaurasi Kutia (Beatles Ashram). Explore meditation cells, forested paths and murals that recall the 1968 creative retreat.

Along the way, trace Rishikesh’s rise from pilgrim town to yoga capital, where saffron robes mingle with backpacks and café culture. River vistas and Himalayan foothill breezes anchor a walk rich in counterculture lore and spiritual lineage.

Zip by tuk-tuk to view Bara Imambara, the grand Rumi Darwaza gateway and the Husainabad Clock Tower as everyday Lucknow life hums around you. This open-air spin reveals boulevards, bazaars and Mughal-meets-Awadhi elegance.

Hear of Nawabi patronage, refined etiquette and kitchens famed for kebabs and biryani. The ride sketches a city where courtly architecture and street-level bustle share the same stage.

Weave by e-rickshaw through temple-lined alleys to the Ganges, where the evening Ghat aarti sets the riverfront aglow. Priests lift flaming lamps in synchronized arcs as cymbals and mantras rise with the smoke.

The spectacle at Dashashwamedh Ghat frames Varanasi’s essence—faith, flux and fire—felt from within the crowd’s heartbeat. It’s a sensory immersion in one of the world’s oldest living cities.

Taste Old Delhi after dark on a guided forage through Chandni Chowk. Sample sizzling parathas at Paranthe Wali Gali, tangy chaat and syrupy jalebis while stories of spice routes and royal kitchens unfold between bites.

This culinary ramble is at additional cost and bookable on tour, balancing bold flavors with safe, insider picks. Expect narrow lanes, neon signboards and a city that truly comes alive through its street snacks.

Pedal past the Rampuria Havelis and through Bikaner’s walled quarters, admiring red-sandstone mansions with filigreed windows. Between photo stops, refuel with local favorites like spicy kachori or Bikaneri bhujia.

This active exploration is at additional cost and bookable on tour, pairing light cycling with architecture and snacks. It’s a kinetic look at a merchant city shaped by caravans, camel trading and confectioners’ craft.

Step into a local kitchen to learn family recipes and share a home-cooked Rajasthani meal—think fragrant dals, seasonal sabzis and fresh rotis off the tava. Conversations flow as spices bloom in hot ghee.

The experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Beyond flavors, it offers cultural exchange—table etiquette, festival tales and the rhythms of everyday life inside the Pink City.

Explore the red-sandstone ramparts of Agra Fort, from Jahangir’s Palace to marble pavilions and the Diwan-i-Am. As evening light warms the courtyards, viewpoints trace Mughal power—and glimpses toward the Taj across the Yamuna.

This historic visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour, enriching the Taj experience with context on emperors, artistry and the empire’s seat of rule.

Glide along the river as priests, wrestlers and washermen greet the day. A sunrise boat ride reveals Varanasi’s ghats in soft light—Assi to Manikarnika—where rituals of renewal and remembrance unfold along the steps.

The experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Oars slice the calm while temple bells carry over the water, offering a contemplative counterpoint to the city’s evening fervor.

Travel to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. Walk the parkland around the massive Dhamek Stupa, visit Mulgandha Kuti Vihar’s murals and browse sculptures in the site museum.

This contemplative excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour, tracing the roots of the Dharma and the Mauryan legacy of Ashokan patronage amid quiet gardens and monastic ruins.

Settle into the pastel, meringue-swirl interior of Raj Mandir Cinema for a full-throttle Bollywood screening with a local crowd. Expect cheers, whistles and a contagious buzz as the plot twists and songs soar.

This classic night out is at additional cost and bookable on tour, pairing Art-Deco glamour with India’s movie-mad culture—popcorn, neon and star power included.

Decode the cosmos at Jantar Mantar, the UNESCO-listed observatory of stone and brass instruments. Stand beside the giant Samrat Yantra sundial as your guide explains celestial tracking in an age before telescopes.

This science-meets-sculpture visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour, revealing how Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II fused mathematics, architecture and sky-watching in the 18th century.

Walk the lanes of the living citadel of Jaisalmer Fort, a honey-gold bastion where families, Jain temples and craftsmen still thrive inside 12th-century walls. Your guide leads past carved facades and bustling chowks to viewpoints over the city’s sandstone maze.

Founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156, the fort reveals trade-route heritage and merchant wealth in richly sculpted havelis. Feel the texture of hand-carved jharokha balconies and hear stories of caravans crossing the Thar with spices, silk and opium.

Discover the sandstone stronghold of Junagarh Fort, famed for jewel-box interiors that once hosted Bikaner’s princely court. Wander ornate courtyards and mirror-inlaid halls like Anup Mahal while your guide decodes carvings, balconies and battle stories.

Built in the 16th century by Raja Rai Singh, the fort’s palaces—Phool Mahal to Badal Mahal—showcase a fusion of Rajput and Mughal aesthetics. Intricate latticework and painted ceilings reveal a desert kingdom’s refinement set against the Thar’s stark horizons.

Explore the capital’s contrasts as you ride a cycle-rickshaw through Old Delhi to the vast courtyard of Jama Masjid and pause for photos by the UNESCO-listed Red Fort. Lanes brim with spice aromas, temple bells and sari shops—an immersive window onto Shah Jahan’s 17th-century city.

Continue along ceremonial boulevards to India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan before a reflective visit to Gandhi Smriti, where India’s independence story resonates. This curated overview links from Mughal Shahjahanabad to Lutyens’ Delhi, setting the scene for the journeys ahead.

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