Highlights of Northern India

15 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
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Small Group Tour
Journey beyond the Golden Triangle on this in-depth tour of Northern India. Search for Bengal tigers in Ranthambore, take a trip down the Chambal River to spot Gharial crocodile and witness the spiritual ceremonies of Varanasi. From the bustle of Delhi to the majesty of the Taj Mahal and the palaces of Jaipur, this trip ticks off all the must-sees and more. ...
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$2,657
From$2,560
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Discover North India on this in-depth tour that goes beyond the Golden Triangle
    • Search for tigers and other wildlife on safari in the vast Ranthambore National Park
    • Journey down the Chambal River past temples and palaces

What's this trip about?

    Journey beyond the Golden Triangle on this in-depth tour of Northern India. Search for Bengal tigers in Ranthambore, take a trip down the Chambal River to spot Gharial crocodile and witness the spiritual ceremonies of Varanasi. From the bustle of Delhi to the majesty of the Taj Mahal and the palaces of Jaipur, this trip ticks off all the must-sees and more. Adjusted stops for select dates - On the 18th and 25th January, 8th and 22nd February, and 8th March 2025 departures, the night stops in Agra and Chambal will be switched. The Golden Triangle - Explore Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, North India's historical hub, and home to the icons. Temples and palaces - Journey down the River Chambal and uncover the 40 Hindu temples that line its banks. Spot rare wildlife - Search for tigers and more on safari in the sprawling Ranthambore National Park.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transport
Start CityDelhi
End CityDelhi

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Attractions

  • Agra
  • Agra Fort
  • Amber Fort
  • Delhi
  • Fatehpur Sikri
  • Fes
  • Hawa Mahal
  • India Gate
  • Jaipur
  • Jama Masjid
  • Qutab Minar
  • Rajasthan
  • Taj Mahal
  • Varanasi

Activities

  • Hiking

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 20

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 20

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join tour in Delhi and city tour of New Delhi

Arrive in New Delhi, India's bustling capital which successfully combines the ancient with the modern. Amidst the tall and modern skyscrapers, there are still the remnants of a bygone time with numerous monuments and temples. For those arriving on time today our Le...

Day 2 Walking tour of Old Delhi before travelling to Jaipur

Compared to New Delhi, the Old City is much closer to the image conjured up by Rudyard Kipling. This morning, we will travel to Old Delhi by metro and walk around the narrow, packed lanes of this fascinating part of the city, culminating with a jamboree of sounds at C...

Day 3 Exploring Jaipur - Amber Fort, City Palace, and Palace of the Winds

The capital of the state of Rajasthan, Jaipur was India's first planned city and is considered by many to be one of the finest planned cities anywhere, the usual Indian urban chaos being replaced by wide streets and formal gardens. This morning we will visit the once ...

Day 4 Free morning in Jaipur and travel to Pushkar

This morning has been left free to explore Jaipur in your own time. You may choose to visit one of the many bazaars which are bursting with delights, from marble statues to antique textiles; traditional print blocks to local musical instruments. In the early aftern...

Day 5 Camel ride and sunset at Savitri Temple

This morning we travel by camel through the market place and up to the camel fair grounds. Travelling by camel captures the traditional means of desert travel allowing us to experience something of the remote life of the tribesmen and their families. Riding camels ca...

Day 6 Jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park

We start early this morning as our drive to Ranthambore will take about five hours. On arrival, we check in to our accommodation before setting off for an afternoon game drive, where we hope to have an opportunity to view tigers in the wild. Ranthambore National P...

Day 7 Safari to spot tigers before visit to Fatehpur Sikri en route to Agra

This morning, an early start affords us more chances to spot tigers on our second game drive in Ranthambore. The tigers are usually most active early in the morning, before the heat of the day forces them to take shelter. After our safari we drive towards Agra and ...

Day 8 Watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal and visit Agra Fort and Baby Taj

An early start this morning as we visit one of the most universally recognised buildings on earth. The Taj Mahal was built by the emperor Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, and was once described by Rudyard Kipling as '…the embodiment of all t...

Day 9 Drive to Chambal Sanctuary for afternoon nature walk

Leaving Agra this morning we drive for approximately two hours (excluding stops) until we reach Mela Kothi-Chambal Safari Lodge, a beautiful eco-lodge that lies amongst acres of sprawling plantation and farmland in the heart of the Chambal Valley. The lodge accommoda...

Day 10 Search for soft-shell turtles and explore the temples at Bateshwar

Taking to the water this morning we board small motor boats and explore the River Chambal. The boatmen are skilled at spotting soft shell turtles, gharials and sarus cranes from a great distance and knowing when to cut the boats engine so we can enjoy the wildlife wi...

Day 11 Free time in Chambal and overnight train to Varanasi

Today there is chance to relax in the morning and make the most of the peaceful setting of the lodge, or if there is a chance to take another river safari. In the early afternoon we will drive to Agra where we board an overnight train to Varanasi. Indian sleeper tra...

Day 12 Walking tour of Varanasi and evening watching a ceremony on the river

Arriving in the early morning we take a short transfer to our hotel. Varanasi (Benares) has been the centre of Hinduism since the dawn of history; its age is contemporary with Babylon and Thebes. Often known as 'Kashi' (City of Light) by Hindus it attracts over a mill...

Day 13 Visit Buddhist temples at Sarnath and journey to Delhi

After breakfast we visit nearby Sarnath. Having gained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his first sermon. The city was at its peak in the 5th century, when it was a respected centre of religious activity, learning and art. Muslim invader...

Day 14 Free time in Delhi

After arriving in Delhi we transfer to our hotel and check in. After breakfast and time to freshen up the day is left free for you to explore the capital city.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 15 Trip ends in Delhi

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Delhi. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Delhi at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to rece...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,560
Price per day$171
Last Updated: 3/14/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room (Optional)
Availability
04 Oct 2025
18 Oct 2025
$2,710
$670
11 Oct 2025
25 Oct 2025
$2,580
$660
27 Oct 2025
10 Nov 2025
$2,760
$670
29 Oct 2025
12 Nov 2025
$2,760
$670
01 Nov 2025
15 Nov 2025
$2,760
$640
08 Nov 2025
22 Nov 2025
$2,580
$630
15 Nov 2025
29 Nov 2025
$2,580
$630
22 Nov 2025
06 Dec 2025
$2,580
$630
13 Dec 2025
27 Dec 2025
$2,580
$630
20 Dec 2025
03 Jan 2026
$2,710
$640

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
10,321
Great
3,322
Average
522
Disappointing
158
Terrible
79
J

Jacques

Feb 2025

Written on

Highlights of Northern India

Brilliant trip. Highly recommend. Very full on, cramming in so much in 2 weeks & we saw & did so much. Tour leader Indu was outstanding & went out of hi...

T

Tom

Feb 2025

Written on

Highlights of Northern India

Excellent trip. Very packed itinerary means you see and do so muc...

P

Philip

Feb 2025

Written on

Highlights of Northern India

This was an excellent trip full of interest. The highlights were seeing the Taj Mahal at dawn, a boat trip on the Chambal River looking at crocodiles and numerous bi...

M

Martin

Feb 2025

Written on

Highlights of Northern India

We were blessed with the best guide/fixer in Indu Singh and if you want to see everything you wanted to see in Northern India then this trip is for you. Taj Mahal, J...

S

Sharon

Feb 2025

Written on

Highlights of Northern India

Highlights of Northern India really is an excellent tour. Busy of course but the intention was to cover a lot of ground in a reasonable time period. I enjoyed our lo...

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

Bus, 4WD, Boat, Rickshaw, Train,

Transportation & flights

Bus, 4WD, Boat, Rickshaw, Train
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s), Local Guide(s), Naturalist(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
India: Holders of passports endorsed British citizen, as well as Australian, New Zealand and US passport holders may be eligible for the e-Tourist Visa to enter India. Unfortunately the Indian government are not currently granting visas for anybody travelling with a Canadian passport. The visa can be applied for through the official Indian government visa website only - https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . Please check all eligibility criteria that can be found on the website but important points are listed below - You must be arriving into one of 29 selected entry points which can be found via the official Indian Government website link above. However, you can exit from any of the authorised immigration check posts in India. Passports must have at least 6 months validity from the date of arrival in India and at least two blank pages for stamping. Visa applications will take approximately 4 days to process. There are different validity visas and the costs are as follows: 30-day validity (travelling between April and June) - $10 30-day validity (travelling between July and March) - $25 1-year validity - $40 5-year validity- $80 Those applying for a 30 day electronic visa can only apply within 30 days of arrival for your visa to be valid. Furthermore double entry is permitted and you can only obtain two 30-day visas in a calendar year. Please note these costs are subject to frequent change so you should check on the official Indian government visa website mentioned above. Biometric data will be collected on arrival in India. If you are not eligible for the e-Tourist Visa, please refer to VFS Global to apply for your Indian visa - https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/how_to_apply.html Whilst the online form offers a relatively quick way to apply for a visa, some applicants have reported difficulty in completing the form. If you do require assistance, then you may consider applying through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. They can complete the online visa on your behalf for a service fee + the visa cost. See www.travcour.com http://www.travcour.com
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against Tetanus, Infectious Hepatitis, Typhoid and Polio. Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at <a href="https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/know-before-you-go/travel-health">Explore Travel Health</a> and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 14
  • Dinner : 3
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
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Trip ID
explore-DIH

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