A sweeping journey through India’s great cities, Himalayan foothills, wildlife reserves, desert kingdoms and tropical south. From Delhi and Shimla to Rajasthan, Mumbai and Kerala, this expansive itinerary brings together monumental architecture, living traditions, wilderness and changing landscapes, revealing the country’s remarkable diversity at a thoughtfully unhurried pace.
India first reveals itself in Delhi, where the ceremonial avenues of New Delhi give way to the mosques, markets and tightly woven lanes of the old city. Explore the capital’s defining monuments, travel by pedicab through Chandni Chowk and visit Bangla Sahib, where the vast community kitchen offers a moving introduction to the Sikh tradition of service. From Delhi, fly north to Shimla and explore the former summer capital on a guided heritage walk through its wooded slopes, historic buildings and enduring Victorian character.
Returning through Delhi, travel onwards to Agra. Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when its marble façade takes on the changing colours of the morning light, before exploring Agra Fort and the finely detailed tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah. Continue through the remarkable stepwell at Abhaneri to Ranthambore National Park. Five game drives provide several opportunities to explore its forests, lakes and ancient ruins in search of tigers, deer, crocodiles and varied birdlife.
Rajasthan unfolds through its royal cities, sacred landscapes and artisan communities. In Jaipur, visit Amber Fort, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, alongside the city’s stepwells, hilltop fortifications and textile traditions. Travel to nearby Bagru to meet artisans and learn how its distinctive hand-block-printed fabrics are created. Continue to Pushkar, where visits to the Brahma Temple and local bazaar culminate in an evening prayer ceremony beside the sacred lake.
In Jodhpur, explore the bazaars of the old city and the imposing Mehrangarh Fort before travelling into the surrounding countryside to meet members of the Bishnoi community. The visit offers an opportunity to understand their daily lives and their centuries-old commitment to protecting wildlife and the natural environment.
Pause at Ranakpur to see its intricately carved Jain temples before reaching Udaipur. Three nights allow time to explore the City Palace, galleries and temples, visit Eklingji and the ancient temple complex at Nagda, and take a sunset boat ride across Lake Pichola.
Fly to Mumbai to discover the city’s grand public architecture, museums, markets and layered neighbourhoods. A boat journey across the harbour leads to Elephanta Island and its rock-cut cave temples.
The final chapter unfolds in Kerala. Explore Kochi’s trading heritage and attend a Kathakali performance before travelling into Munnar’s tea-covered hills for a guided ridge hike. In Periyar, cruise across the lake, visit a spice plantation and watch a Kalaripayattu martial arts performance. The journey concludes in Kumarakom with a private daytime houseboat cruise through the backwaters and time to enjoy Kerala’s gentler rhythm before departing from Kochi.
Journey Highlights
