9 Day India's Golden Triangle & Varanasi
This tour includes return international airfares. See the Fine Print section for further details.
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
✓ Return international airfares included
✓ Incredible sightseeing as per the itinerary, including bustling Delhi, the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, Jaipur's Amber Fort and Palace of the Winds and the Abhaneri step well. Enjoy a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges River in Varanasi, walk the backlanes of Varanasi’s old city.
✓ Small group experience, with no more than 20 people
✓ 7 nights deluxe hotel accommodation
✓ Domestic flights
✓ All airport transfers
✓ Luxury A/C vehicles
✓ Daily breakfast
✓ The services of a professional English-speaking guide throughout.
✓ Sightseeing & all entry fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Delhi. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, our representative will meet you as you exit the arrivals terminal building, after which you will be transferred to your hotel. Check-in time is 1500 hours.
Rest of the day is at leisure to unwind and relax in the comforts of your hotel.
Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.
Please note: if you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel.
Some flights may depart the night before and fly overnight, to arrive on Day 1.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and proceed on a guided tour of Old and New Delhi.
Arriving in Old Delhi, drive past the Red Fort; visit Raj Ghat, the simple but moving memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. A short walk in the narrow bylanes is full of legends and unfolds many historic tales of Shahjahanabad. Visit quaint shops with incredible wares from food stalls to jewelry.
Later in the afternoon, get ready to explore imperial Delhi. Drive past the imposing India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Parliament buildings and Rashtrapati Bhawan (the President’s residence). End the tour with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage listed tomb of Emperor Humayun. The tomb was the first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent, a wonderful example of early Mughal architecture.
After breakfast, drive to the Mughal city of Agra (205 Kms / approx. 5 hours). On arrival, check into your hotel to freshen up before enjoying a guided tour of Agra. No visit is complete without a stop at the Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, this masterpiece in marble and one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
Enjoy breakfast before proceeding to the royal city of Jaipur (260 Kms / approx. 7 hours). En- route , stop at the ancient town of Abhaneri to visit the spectacular step-well and take a short walk around the village to stretch your legs before continuing to Jaipur. On arrival, check into your hotel for the next 2 nights. This evening is free for individual activities and exploration of Jaipur.
This morning enjoy a guided excursion to the fabulous hilltop citadel of Amber Fort , en-route halt for a photo stop at the intriguing red sandstone Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) - a five-storied facade with an incredible pyramidal façade, overhanging windows with lattice screens, domes and spires.
Crowning the crest of a hill, Amber Fort offers views of Maota Lake and the historic old town of Jaipur located at the base of the hill, which formed the early seat of the Amber kings before the fort was made their capital. Following your sightseeing tour, return to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore more of Jaipur
After breakfast and some time at leisure, our representative will meet you in the hotel lobby and transfer you to Jaipur airport for your flight to Varanasi. Following baggage collection, you will be met as you exit the arrival terminal building and driven to your hotel for a 2 nights stay in Varanasi.
Prior to sunset, head to banks of holy river Ganges to watch the nightly Aarti Ceremony. Witness priests and devotees participate in the traditional ritual. The Ganges is worshipped as a living goddess in Varanasi and daily prayers at dawn and dusk serve as salutations to the river. Oil lamps are offered and bells rung while sacred mantras are chanted. Priests offer prayers to the Ganges in a spectacular and very well orchestrated event which lasts 45 minutes to an hour.
Rise early for an action packed day. Firstly enjoy a boat cruise on the river Ganges (subject to water levels). Varanasi's principal attraction is the string of ghats, which line the western side of the river. This unique sight is best viewed at dawn from the river. A pre-dawn boat ride presents an incredible scene as the multitudes of devotees come to the river to pay homage to the Sun God. As well as worshippers, locals come to perform their daily rituals, catch up for chai or stop for meditation..
Disembark your boat and walk through the maze of back lanes into the old quarters that exude the smells and sounds of this holy city. The winding Vishwanath Gali leads to the Vishwanath Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva also known as Vishwanath – Lord of the Universe. Witness and taste street food shops selling Varanasi’s famous chaat (savouries), thandai (traditional mocktail) and paan (a mouth freshener made of betel leaf).
Later today, enjoy a guided city tour in which you will get a chance to visit a centre famous for weaving Benares silk. Varanasi is known throughout India as the finest producer of silk and the famous Banarasi sari. Step inside a traditional akhara, a gymnasium where men of all ages practice a traditional form of wrestling known as kushti
This afternoon visit Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and 11th century and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. Visit the Sarnath Museum (closed on Fridays), which is a treasure trove of Buddhist sculpture, inscription and pottery.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before check-out and transfer to Varanasi airport for the flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met as you exit the arrival terminal building and transferred to the international airport for your onward journey.
Welcome home, we hope you had a truly inspiring holiday.
This package is a flight inclusive package
This package includes international airfares and flights will be added to your booking at no additional cost. Select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’.
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. At the commencement of your tour you will be asked to provide tipping to your guide towards a ‘kitty’, which is then used towards the guide tipping for the services of helpers, hotel staff, restaurants and airport porterage. We recommend AUD$3 per person, per day, to be paid in local currency. Please note that this tipping is not for the guide or driver, merely for the guide to tip the services of other local workers during your tour. While not made compulsory, if you choose not to contribute to the kitty it means that the guide is tipping for these services out of their own pocket. Your cooperation in this instance is most appreciated.
Further, tipping for your guide and driver will be collected at the conclusion of their services. To remove the uncertainty and stress of not knowing how much is appropriate to tip we recommend AUD$6-10 per person per day for your guide and AUD$3-5 per person per day for your driver to be paid in local currency. The amount you wish to contribute is dependent on the services received and at the complete discretion of the guest. Thank you for your understanding.
Any other tipping, such as tips for camera and video fees, bathroom attendants or hotel porters that are taking luggage to your room, is at your discretion as are gratuities for additional requested special services. We encourage passengers to have a supply of small denominations of local currency to distribute for personal tipping.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $771.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent in your destinations.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while travelling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from your intended date of return.
An e-visa is required for entry into India. You will be able to obtain your E-visa when you have your tour documents indicating your date of entry into India, approximately 120 days prior to departure.
You can visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/Registration to purchase your visa online. The cost is US$80 per person. We can assist you over the phone as best as possible, however cannot submit the application on your behalf.
Please note, the ETA is limited to 60 days validity from the date of arrival.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Group Size
Minimum of 2 people
Maximum of 16 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
Click HERE for more information on weather in India.
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