- Tour code
INDADV02
- Start
New Delhi
- End
New Delhi
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
North India rewards you for slowing down. This twelve-day trip pairs the great monuments with hands-on moments: rolling chapatis in a Sikh temple kitchen, printing fabric in an artisan village, cooking dinner with a Jaipur family and learning Bollywood moves on a rooftop.
It starts in Delhi with a chef-led walk through the lanes of Old Delhi and a morning helping in the kitchen of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. From there a train takes you to Agra for the Mughal palaces of Agra Fort, chai with a view of the Taj Mahal and a sunrise visit to the Taj itself.
Two nights in Ranthambore give you a morning and an afternoon safari in tiger country, and three nights in Jaipur leave time for Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Palace of the Winds and Jantar Mantar, as well as a sunrise bike ride, a women-driven pink rickshaw tour and a block-printing workshop in Bagru.
You'll travel by train, road and two domestic flights, and finish on the Ganges in Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, where dawn boat rides and the evening Aarti bring the ghats to life. Your Soca Islands Host is with you throughout, and groups are kept small, from 6 to 16 travelers.
Why This Journey
The Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is India's classic first trip, but on its own it can feel like a run between monuments. Adding Ranthambore and Varanasi changes the rhythm: a pause in the forest looking for tigers, then two nights beside the Ganges, where daily life and ritual happen in the open along the river steps.
The moments that tend to stay with people here are the shared ones: serving food alongside volunteers at the gurudwara, eating at a family's table in Jaipur, and watching the lamps swing at Ganga Aarti. It suits curious first-timers who want India's highlights handled for them, with real time among the people who live there.
Where You'll Stay
Delhi (3 nights, two at the start and one at the end): The Imperial, New Delhi, on Janpath near Connaught Place. Agra (1 night): ITC Mughal, Agra, a short drive from the Taj Mahal. Ranthambore (2 nights): Nahargarh Ranthambhore, close to the park gates. Jaipur (3 nights): ITC Rajputana, Jaipur, in central Jaipur. Varanasi (2 nights): BrijRama Palace, a restored palace on the ghats. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into and out of Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi; arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
The Taj Mahal at first light
Evening Aarti on the Ganges, glowing with oil lamps
Jeep safaris in Ranthambore's tiger country with a specialist guide
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and personal expenses
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Land at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), where a private transfer takes you to your central hotel. Once the group has gathered and met your Soca Islands Host, you'll head out on an introductory tour of the city, from the broad avenues of New Delhi to its busy markets.
In the evening, sit down to a welcome dinner full of spice and a first toast to the days ahead.
Follow a chef through the lanes of Old Delhi, stopping for the dishes locals line up for, from crisp snacks fried to order to sweets made the same way for generations.
Then step into the kitchen at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, where around 35,000 people are fed every day free of charge. Join in wherever you're needed: rolling chapatis, stirring huge pots of dal, or serving the community.
A train carries you to Agra, once a capital of the Mughal emperors. The red sandstone walls of Agra Fort enclose palaces, mosques and courtyards, with views along the river toward the Taj Mahal.
Later, in a nearby village, climb to a rooftop for chai and pakoras with the Taj Mahal on the horizon.
An early start is worth it: you'll see the Taj Mahal as the rising sun warms its white marble, before the crowds build.
Afterward, travel on to Ranthambore National Park, once the hunting reserve of Jaipur's maharajas and now one of India's best places to see tigers in the wild.
Dawn is prime tiger time, so you'll head into the park in an open-top jeep as the forest wakes up, passing lakes, ruined pavilions and the walls of Ranthambore Fort.
Rest at the resort through the heat of the day, then go out again late in the afternoon, scanning for tigers, leopards, deer, hyenas and monkeys.
Drive on to Jaipur, Rajasthan's capital, with its pink-washed palaces and busy bazaars.
Tonight a local family welcomes you into their home, shows you how they cook, and shares dinner and stories around their table.
Head out to Bagru, a village known for hand block-printed textiles, and try the craft yourself in one of its workshops, stamping a piece of your own with carved wooden blocks and natural dyes.
Back in Jaipur, see the city from a pink rickshaw driven by local women, part of an initiative creating jobs and independence for women drivers.
Start at sunrise on a bicycle, rolling through local markets and past temples as Jaipur wakes up.
Then tour the city's headline sights: Amber Fort on its ridge, the City Palace, the Palace of the Winds and the giant stone instruments of Jantar Mantar. As evening falls, head to a rooftop and learn some Bollywood dance moves.
Fly to Varanasi, the holy city on the Ganges that has drawn pilgrims for thousands of years.
Explore its narrow, incense-scented lanes and shrines, then retreat to your boutique hotel, a quiet base away from the crowds.
Board a boat at first light to watch Varanasi's ghats come alive with bathers and morning rituals. Later, stroll the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, then head out to Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
At sunset, return to the river for Ganga Aarti, when priests swing flaming lamps to the rhythm of chants and bells.
Greet the day with yoga on the steps above the Ganges.
Then fly back to Delhi for a little downtime before the farewell dinner with the group.
Your trip wraps up today. Say goodbye to the group, and your departure transfer takes you to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) for your onward journey, with India's colors, flavors and people firmly in your memory.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
The Imperial, New Delhi
A landmark hotel opened in 1931 on Janpath in the heart of Lutyens' New Delhi, a short walk from Connaught Place and within easy reach of India Gate and the city's main sights. Its long, palm-lined drive and gardens make it feel calm despite the central location.
The hotel is known for its collection of colonial-era art and photographs, its restaurants and its spa, and it has the room inventory to keep a group together.
Hotel websiteITC Mughal, Agra
A low-rise hotel set in extensive Mughal-style gardens on Fatehabad Road, a short drive from the Taj Mahal's east gate, which makes the sunrise visit straightforward.
It has a large pool, the Kaya Kalp spa and several restaurants, and a big room inventory suited to groups.
Nahargarh Ranthambhore
A resort built in the style of a Rajput fort on the road between Sawai Madhopur and Ranthambore National Park, a short drive from the park's entry gates.
Its courtyards, gardens, pool and restaurant make it a comfortable base between the morning and afternoon safaris.
ITC Rajputana, Jaipur
A hotel built in the style of a Rajput haveli, with arches, courtyards and jharokha windows, on Palace Road in central Jaipur. The old Pink City, the City Palace and Hawa Mahal are a short drive away.
It has a pool, spa and several restaurants, and a large room inventory that suits groups.
BrijRama Palace
A restored 18th-century palace standing directly on Darbhanga Ghat on the Ganges, within walking distance of Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the evening Ganga Aarti takes place. Boats can be boarded from the ghat below the hotel.
Rooms are in the old palace, and its terraces look out over the river. It is a quiet, characterful base in the old city.
Rooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,261 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Sep 8, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into and out of Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi.
Proposed accommodation is The Imperial, New Delhi (3 nights), ITC Mughal, Agra (1 night), Nahargarh Ranthambhore (2 nights), ITC Rajputana, Jaipur (3 nights) and BrijRama Palace in Varanasi (2 nights), or similar, subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers between Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and the Delhi hotel are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The trip includes 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners, as described in the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our North India: Golden Triangle & Varanasi trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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