Tours of India

Highlights of Northern India

Tour Map of Highlights of Northern India

Travelling on India's incredible rail network this adventure explores the best that north India has to offer. From the dramatic Moghul architecture of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur to a camel safari in the desert at Pushkar. We also spend time searching for Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park and take a river safari in Chambal Sanctuary on the lookout for Gangetic River dolphins, soft shell turtles and Sarus cranes. In Varanasi, India's holiest city, we take a boat trip on the sacred Ganges to witness the evening aarti ceremony.

Great value, reasonable prices, quality experiences. Comfortable and varied tourist-class accommodations chosen for location and character. Mix of public and private transport for the best overall experience. All the top highlights included, plus plenty of time to explore on your own.

The trips we've build our reputation on. Designed for maximum variety, these trips are geared towards travellers searching for a healthy mix of active exploration, uncommon landscapes, amazing wildlife and local cultures.

Essential India

Tour Map of Essential India

From the intricate saris of Rajasthan to the beautiful symmetry of the Taj Mahal, this compact journey is a photographer's delight and the perfect introduction to India. You'll float past the ghats on the River Ganges to encounter the spiritual heart of Hinduism in Varanasi and get off the beaten path exploring carved stepwells and quaint temples in rural villages. With the perfect combination of included activities and free time to explore the nation's rich heritage, you're sure to be caught up in India's incredible tapestry of life.

Our Discovery collection draws together the best of our holidays that focus on the culture of a destination, as well as on visiting iconic sights and embracing local traditions. Some of these Discovery holidays will also have an element of activity, combining sightseeing with short walks, for example. Others might have a multi-activity holiday format, including biking and/or rafting, for instance, and these holidays are specifically designed for the adrenaline seeker! Also within our discovery collection are those of our holidays with a wildlife emphasis, photographic workshops, and polar cruise holidays. Never too physically demanding, these are predominantly touring holidays and their grade (usually towards the lower end of our 1 to 12 scale) reflects, in part, the remoteness of the area visited and the conditions likely to be encountered. Our Discovery holidays allow the discerning traveller to get right to the heart of many of the world's most stimulating destinations.

Best of Northern India

Offering a blend of magical experiences, this short adventure holiday manages to capture the very essence of India. We start out in the ‘Pink City' of Jaipur, one of the most attractive cities of the princely state of Rajasthan, with its splendid Palace of the Winds, Jai Singh Observatory, ornate and towering Red Fort. Driving through rural India to the ‘Project Tiger' reserve of Ranthambore, we have included evening and morning game drives to give us a realistic chance of spotting a tiger, as well as some of the park's other amazing wildlife. Continuing our journey eastwards, we visit the Emperor Akbar's former capital of Fatehpur Sikri, en route to Agra and the Taj Mahal. An early morning tour of this white marble monument, built in the 17th century by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, followed by a visit to the imposing Red Fort, makes the best of our time in Agra. After an overnight train to Varanasi on the banks of the sacred River Ganges, we then have time to properly explore this monument to the Hindu religion; mingling with the countless pilgrims, who come here to bathe in the river and visit the numerous temples. Including a final sightseeing tour of Delhi, comfortable tourist-class hotels and a chance to sample delicious Indian food, this holiday provides a veritable feast for the senses!

Get beyond the tourist façade of the countries you visit. Focus on the local culture, past and present, and discover the lifeblood of any country – its people. Discovery and culture tours uncover different ways of life, and offer the opportunity to meet and sometimes stay with local people or tribal groups. Our discovery tours explore cultural sites – both ancient and modern – and help you learn about the people and their culture. Visit the remote tribes of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley, live the nomad life in desert camps or meet the local people of the high Andean altiplano in Peru. There’s no better way to get to the true heart of a country than through its people.

Moghul Highlights

Tour Map of Moghul Highlights

On this cultural and historical visit to India we admire some of the masterpieces of Moghul art and architecture. We discover Humayun’s tomb in Delhi, the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri and the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra. We also enjoy a rickshaw ride through Keoladeo National Park, search for Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park and witness Rajasthani village life in rural Karauli.

The Golden Triangle

Tour Map of The Golden Triangle

Travel with us through the cultural heart of vibrant northern India. We explore the region's Golden Triangle: from the narrow lanes of Old Delhi to the city of Agra and Jaipur in the Rajasthan Desert. We watch sunset at the Taj Mahal, visit the abandoned red sandstone settlement of Fatehpur Sikri and discover the Amber Fort and City Palace of Jaipur, the Pink City.

Great value, reasonable prices, quality experiences. Comfortable and varied tourist-class accommodations chosen for location and character. Mix of public and private transport for the best overall experience. All the top highlights included, plus plenty of time to explore on your own.

The trips we've build our reputation on. Designed for maximum variety, these trips are geared towards travellers searching for a healthy mix of active exploration, uncommon landscapes, amazing wildlife and local cultures.

Golden Triangle

Tour Map of Golden Triangle

This compact Indian journey will introduce you to three very different northern cities and the colourful rural life of Rajasthan. From the hectic pace of Delhi with its bustling markets, magnificent monuments, and colonial past, travel by private transport to Agra and the mesmerizing beauty of the Taj Mahal – truly one of the wonders of the world. Discover why Jaipur is called the Pink City and get a taste of village life in Abhaneri with its magnificent stepwells. Photographers and culture lovers won't be disappointed on this classic adventure.