12 Day India's Golden Triangle & Varanasi Premium Small Group Tour

Welcome to India and the country's cosmopolitan capital, New Delhi!

On arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), you will be met in the arrivals hall by a local representative and transferred by private vehicle to your luxury 5-star hotel located in the heart of this dynamic city. 

Today is at your leisure with time to relax and explore on your own.

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.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before meeting your guide and fellow travellers in the hotel lobby for a full day exploration of this incredible city. 

Begin your day with a guided tour of New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind.  Enjoy a photo stop at the imposing India Gate, drive past the Parliament buildings and the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the President’s residence) and visit a step well in very close vicinity of India Gate “Agrasen ki Baoli”. 

Later we drive to visit Gandhi Smriti, Mahatma Gandhi spent his last 144 days in this mansion and today it is converted into a National Memorial. Proceed to Humayun’s tomb, the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and today a World Heritage Site. It was the first great example of a new distinctive style, which developed to become the hallmark of the Mughal Dynasty. 

Following our tour of New Delhi, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then later continue with a guided tour of the Old city of Shahjahanabad. Walk past the Red Fort and through the main street of Chandni Chowk visiting Jain temple from outside and to Sikh temple. We then proceed to Paranthe wali Gali, Kinari Bazar, a colourful spice market of Old city where your guide will show you the hundreds of colourful spices that are used in everyday Indian cuisine and take an opportunity to taste the local snacks at one of these shops. 

Following your tour, return to your hotel late this afternoon for an evening at leisure. 

After breakfast you will be driven to the Mughal city of Agra arriving early afternoon. 

Upon arrival, check into your hotel with time to freshen up before we head out on a guided tour of the city. 

Our first stop is the impressive UNESCO World Heritage site of Agra Fort. This historical fort was built by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD from sandstone as a majestic ode to the magnificence of the Mughal empire. It served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.  

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 a guided tour of this incredible complex as the sun sets over the city, then return to your hotel for an evening of leisure.

For those wishing to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, an optional guided tour is available. Please refer to the below description for more information. 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and later you will be driven to Ranthambore National Park at Sawai Madhopur arriving late this afternoon. En route, we stop for lunch at a local restaurant before arriving at our hotel late this afternoon located a 10 minute drive from the famous park gates. 

Once considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park is a major wildlife tourist attraction that has drawn the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers offering a huge variety of wild animals including tigers, leopards and marsh crocodiles.

Enjoy an included dinner this evening at the hotel and be sure to have an early night in preparation for your incredible safari experience that awaits you tomorrow! 

Wake up early today to undertake an experience you’ll never forget, a thrilling jungle safari in open top roof canters through Ranthambore National Park. Drive to the dense jungle of Ranthambore for tiger tracking and bird watching accompanied by a naturalist guide. The scrub woodlands of Ranthambore were the erstwhile hunting reserve of Maharajas of Jaipur. Today, it is a sanctuary for India’s exotic wildlife, and famous for spotting the majestic predator – the tiger. The park is also home to a large variety of other animals, including sambar deer, panthers, marsh crocodiles, jungle cats, civets, wild boar, sloth bears and leopards, as well as being a birdwatcher’s delight with more than 250 species nesting there. 

Following the visit, return to your hotel for breakfast and spend the rest of the morning relaxing and enjoying the facilities of the hotel. 

After lunch, we head back to Ranthambore National Park for an afternoon safari with your naturalist guide. The afternoon gives you a different perspective on the wildlife as the sun begins to set and the nocturnal animals become more active. 

After your game drive, we return to the hotel for dinner. 

Please note: Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve opens from 1st October and closes on 30th June each year. During the months of July to September, gates 6 - 10 remain open and all wildlife drives will occur via these gates only. In cases of heavy rainfall, wildlife drives can be cancelled by the Forest Department without notice.

This morning, an additional optional game drive can be booked. Please refer to the below description for more information. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Jaipur arriving early this afternoon. On arrival we check into our Inspiring Stay, a beautifully restored early 19th Century Palace which offers a magical experience of the bygone regal era of Rajasthan to its guests.

Jaipur, one of the most enticing places in India, is nestled between mighty forts and the rugged Aravalli Hills. It is known as ‘the pink city’ as its prominent buildings are washed in this colour. Founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in 1727, Jaipur is steeped in Rajput history and is characterised by sites such as the City Palace with its astronomical Observatory, Hawa Mahal and the beautiful Amber Fort. 

In the evening, an Inspiring Taste awaits as we drive to a local house to experience the art of authentic Indian cooking.  Get yourself acquainted with Indian spices and local Rajasthani cuisine as your host will demonstrate how to cook an Indian dish.  You can also join in preparing ingredients and participate in cooking then all enjoy your efforts over dinner together. 

An exciting day awaits you on a full day of discovery of the beautiful “Pink City'' with your guide. Begin your sightseeing tour with a photo visit at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) - a five-storied wonder with a spectacular pyramidal facade and overhanging windows with lattice screens, domes and spires. The town around Amber Fort consists of beautiful small temples and a step well called Panna Meena. Amer was a flourishing settlement originally occupied by the Meena tribe. Explore this atmospheric ancient town as you pass numerous local shops selling traditional sweets, historic temples, havelis, and water harvesting structures amidst the natural beauty of Aravali Mountain range with your guide. Continue your sightseeing tour with a visit to the fabulous Amber Fort. At the foot of the hill, you will be taken by jeep up to the main gate and tour the chambers and hallways of the palace, famous for the excellence of its design and decoration

Following our visit, we stop for lunch at a local restaurant before exploring the exquisite City Palace, a synthesis of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles, consisting of an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces. The Museum has a collection of Rajasthani costumes, armoury of Mughals and Rajputs including swords of different shapes and sizes with chiselled handles.  Later, visit the Royal Observatory also known as “Jantar Mantar”, a stone astronomical and astronomical Observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century before returning back to your beautiful Haveli for an evening of relaxation. 

An optional sound and light show at Amber Fort is available this evening. Please refer to the below description for more information. 

Enjoy breakfast in the beautiful surrounds of your heritage Haveli, then we embark on a morning heritage walk in the pink city. 

Starting from the massive Tripolia Gate, make your way through the bustling lanes of Jaipur as you walk past the beautiful old temples and painted havelis. Wander through the streets as you see some of the gorgeous temples on both side of the roads dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, and the many forms of Lord Krishna. Appreciate the beautiful murals on their exterior walls as you continue to the big terracotta red building called the Jaipur College. Proceed through the narrow alleys seeing a collection of textiles, utensils, wedding attires and street food vendors. Choose to stay to continue exploring on your own and do some last minute shopping, or return back to your Haveli where the afternoon is yours to relax, unwind, and take in your last day in Jaipur. 

This evening, we gather for a special dinner at a typical Jaipurian restaurant.

Enjoy breakfast this morning before we transfer to the airport for our included flight to Delhi. 

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel located close to the airport where the rest of the day is at leisure.  

Today you will be met in the hotel lobby and transferred to the airport for your included flight to Varanasi.  

On arrival you will be met in the arrivals hall by your local guide and transferred to your hotel for your two night stay. 

Before sunset, you will be taken to the banks of the river and board a boat to witness the magical Aarti Ceremony from the holy waters of the Ganges. Admire this spiritual spectacle as you 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 Ganges in a spectacular and very well-orchestrated event which lasts 45 minutes to an hour.  

Following our visit, return to your hotel where the rest of the evening is at leisure.

Early morning,  subject to water levels, enjoy a boat cruise on the River Ganges. Varanasi's principal attraction is the string of bathing ghats, which line the western ghats of River Ganges. The spectacular series is a unique sight, best viewed at dawn. The early morning boat ride presents an incredible scene as the multitudes of devotees come to the river to pay homage to the Sun God or locals come to perform their daily rituals. We then walk through the maze of back lanes in 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, here. Witness the street food shops selling Varanasi’s famous chaat (savouries), thandai (traditional mocktail) and paan (a mouth freshener made of betel leaf).  

Following our visit, return to your hotel for breakfast and enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure.

In the afternoon visit Sarnath. One of the most important Buddhist centres, Sarnath is where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between 3rd century BC and 11th century and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. We also visit the Sarnath Museum, a treasure trove of Buddhist sculpture, inscription and pottery before returning back to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon and evening is free at leisure.

Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to New Delhi where your tour ends on arrival. 

Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.

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 booking a connection flight at Gandhi International Airport (DEL) on this day, all flights must be booked from 8pm onwards. If your flight departs prior to 8pm, we cannot guarantee your connection from Varanasi and recommend booking an additional night accommodation. Post tour accommodation information can be found under “Extra Services” and can be purchased at time of booking.