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Highlights of Northern India

Name: Highlights of Northern India
Brand: Exodus
SKU: AIC
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 4.7 (26 reviews)

26 reviews

Overview

From the Taj Mahal to the ghats leading to the holy Ganges, explore a land packed with culture and excitement

Discover the best of northern India on this highlight-packed adventure. Led by an expert tour leader, we marvel at the always impressive Taj Mahal, a New Wonder of the World, and explore the Pink City of Jaipur. We also have an early morning boat ride along the mist-shrouded ghats of Varanasi, an experience only equalled by spotting one of the elusive tigers in Ranthambore National Park. Add to that the everyday wonders – smiling locals, whizzing rickshaws and flavoursome curries – and you will see why North India is such a favourite with our groups.

Holi and Diwali festival departures available – see Dates & Prices. For July departures, visit Highlights of Northern India – Summer Itinerary.

Key Information

Travel Style Classic: The quintessential Exodus adventure, pairing iconic sights and cultural discovery with comfortable stays: Classic
Activity: Culture
Activity Level: Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Trip Code: AIC
Ways to Travel: Classic, Guided Group
Countries: India
Carbon Footprint: 59.4kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 8 Comfort nights (hotels)
All breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (private bus and train) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival transfer available, departure transfers for any flight

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Discover the highlights of northern India: rich culture, amazing wildlife and tasty cuisine

Complete the famed Golden Triangle, visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

See the unforgettable Taj Mahal

Maximize your chances of spotting a tiger in Ranthambore National Park with two game drives

Marvel as thousands of pilgrims soak in the holy waters of the Ganges on a dawn boat ride in Varanasi

Itinerary

First Destination: Delhi
Next Destination: Delhi

Accommodation:7 Apple Hotel – Jalmahal (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel 7 Apple – Jalmahal (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Raj Palace Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Raj Palace Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Sun Ring (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Hotel Surya (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Iris Park (2026)/Zone Connect by The Park (2027) (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Iris Park (2026)/Zone Connect by The Park (2027) (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Delhi
Next Destination: Delhi

Our adventure begins in Delhi, a thrumming city chock full of architectural masterpieces. Meet the group either at a named meeting point (normally Iris Park hotel) or Delhi Airport – see the Joining Instructions for more information.

Once everyone has arrived, we depart for Jaipur, which takes five to seven hours, depending on traffic. There’s a lunch and toilet stop en route.

Around 6pm, we gather as a group to learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Want more time in Delhi? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative

Upgrade to a room overlooking the Jal Mahal today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:7 Apple Hotel – Jalmahal (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Built in the late 18th century, Jaipur is a planned city of broad avenues constructed of sandstone and later painted pink. On a tour led by a local guide, we visit one of the most intriguing sights in India, the observatory of Jai Singh, an assembly of immense astronomical instruments in a pleasant garden. We also see the impressive Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), then visit the hilltop Amber Fort, which sits above a lake a few miles from the main city.

After, the tour leader generally takes the group to a textiles factory to see how the local textiles are created, from start to finish. At the end, we can browse the shop and pick up anything from a complete outfit to handmade notebooks made from offcuts.

Upgrade to a room overlooking the Jal Mahal today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Hotel 7 Apple – Jalmahal (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Rise early, heading out for a dawn walking tour as the Pink City begins to wake. Visiting different chowkris (blocks) within the walled city, we can see the local people start their day and watch the rituals that take place in early morning markets and small temples. We can also interact with different artisan communities, while also sampling local food and drink.

We return to the hotel in time for a later breakfast. After checkout, we transfer (approximately five hours) through rural villages to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve; staying in a hotel not far from the park entrance, we’re well located for our two game drives tomorrow.

Accommodation:Raj Palace Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Explore Ranthambore today, one of the reserves created by the government-backed conservation scheme, Project Tiger. Many of our groups have seen Bengal tigers here over the last few years and today we maximise our chances of seeing one with two game drives.

Our first starts before breakfast, at around 6am. As we search for tigers, we also hope to see the other wildlife living here: several deer species, crocodiles, and bird life including purple herons, kingfishers, cormorants, parakeets and partridges.

We return in time for a later breakfast and a chance to relax and reflect on the wildlife spotted. We head out again for our second game drive around 2pm.

Please note, occasionally the game drive timings or zones may be adjusted depending on government restrictions and changes in national park zonal opening/closing times.

Accommodation:Raj Palace Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Start with an early breakfast before travelling (four to five hours) to Agra, stopping en route for a snack lunch. We arrive this afternoon and start our half-day sightseeing tour, first visiting the Agra Fort, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the white-marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of Emperor Akbar’s sons and successors: Jehangir and Shah Jahan.

Later, we visit the Taj Mahal for sunset, when the white-marble exterior is illuminated by the soft light and the crowds are smaller. After admiring it from the outside, we head inside, with a chance to explore the beautiful inner chambers and mausoleum, while our tour leader shares the history of this New World Wonder.

Accommodation:Hotel Sun Ring (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Rise early to reach Agra station for our 6am Vande Bharat Express train to Varanasi. Relax on board before we arrive around 1pm and transfer to our hotel.

On the river Ganges, Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India and stands at the centre of the Hindu universe. As such, the city lives and breathes Hinduism: there are thousands of pilgrims, wandering holy men (Sadhus), religious elders and casual visitors. There is time to visit emporiums specialising in silks and brocades or maybe take a massage by the riverbanks.

This afternoon, we can take an optional visit to nearby Sarnath Temple, home to the Dhamekh Stupa, the spot where Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon. There’s also an archaeology museum, which exhibits Buddhist artefacts and houses the findings of excavations from the Sarnath site.

Your tour leader can organise various optional sightseeing trips during your two days here.

Upgrade to a premium room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Hotel Surya (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Just before dawn, we take a boat ride on the Ganges to witness the extraordinary spectacle on the ghats, the steps leading down to the river. Every day, thousands of Hindu pilgrims come to this 3mi (5km) stretch of riverbank to soak in the holy waters.

This afternoon, we board the Vande Bharat Express train back to Delhi, a great opportunity to see more of India as you pass through rural villages, towns and cities. A light snack dinner is provided, which usually includes a soup and light meal with rice and vegetables. You may wish to pick up some additional snacks prior to boarding.

We arrive in Delhi late evening and transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation:Iris Park (2026)/Zone Connect by The Park (2027) (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today you are free to relax or explore the sites of New and Old Delhi (an optional sightseeing trip can be organised if you wish). Recommended sites include the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Jama Masjid (the largest mosque in India), Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) and Raj Ghat. For last-minute shopping, visit the market area of Chandni Chowk or Karol Bagh.

Accommodation:Iris Park (2026)/Zone Connect by The Park (2027) (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Our adventure through northern India ends today. If you’ve still a few pages left in your travel diary, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Delhi. Alternatively, catch your free transfer to the airport and begin your return journey home – remember to provide your details at least two weeks prior to arrival to secure your seat.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us and fly with confidence

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

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View Details

Accommodation

Zone Connect by The Park Saket New Delhi

City and jungle hotels

We stay in centrally located city hotels that mix heritage and modern styles, plus a jungle hotel in Ranthambore National Park. The accommodations typically used are on the day-to-day itinerary. However, below are a few of the notable accommodations on this trip.

Jaipur: 7 Apple Hotel (nights 1-2)

Highlights of Northern India

The 7 Apple sits directly across from Jal Mahal Lake in the capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Recently refurbished, it has modern and bright rooms with lake or Nahargarh Hill views.

Ranthambore:Raj Palace (night 3)

Within Ranthambore National Park, the Raj Palace is conveniently located so we don’t have far to go in search of tigers and other wildlife. When not in the forest, relax in the pool or just sit in the gardens giving your senses a break, away from the city noise and heat.

Worth knowing

Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are only a couple of months when the weather can get cold. You can, however, request more blankets if needed or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater for your room. Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this matter.
It’s common for hotels in India to have limited times in the day for hot water use to save energy. If you find your shower is cold, please let your leader or reception know so they can make sure the water heater is on.
Upgrade your room on Days 1, 2 and 6 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Mayank Khamesra

Expert Leader: India

Introducing Mayank Driven by a desire to travel, meet new people and see the world, Mayank has been guiding trips around his home country and Nepal for the best part of 20 years.

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Itinerary: This trip is ideal for culturally curious people eager to explore and experience as much as possible. We cover the highlights of northern India in a short time, which means the itinerary is generally fast paced – prepare for some long days and early starts. India can be challenging, while the heat and bustle of some cities can be a little overwhelming. That said, there are peaceful spots and you will undoubtedly return with memories to last a lifetime.

Journey times: The times stated in the day-to-day itinerary are driving times and do not include photo, tea, comfort or lunch breaks. Journeys can sometimes take longer due to traffic or road damage. Additionally, fog is common in December and January, which can sometimes slow us down. Departures in these months may also experience severe train delays or cancellations. If a severe delay occurs, the group travels on a private comfortable bus instead. In the rare event we can’t travel by bus or fly, we have an alternative itinerary, in which we visit Bharatpur, Deeg Palace and Mathura instead of Varanasi.

Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean that work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published, so it is not possible to warn you when work will be taking place.

Festivals: Some departures coincide with Holi and Diwali, both fascinating times to visit India. We seek opportunities to see the festivities, though we cannot guarantee what is happening locally – the festivals are celebrated in different ways throughout the country.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel 7 Apple – Jalmahal, Amer Rd, opposite Jalmahal, Gujarghati, Parasrampuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Phone: +91 84529 82777
Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately five hours’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Meet at the airport

Your easiest option is to join the group at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The meet time aligns with a chosen flight.

Meet at Hotel Iris Park (Address: A-1/23 & 24, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi, Delhi 110029)

You should be at the Hotel Iris Park by 9am, where you are met by a local representative and transferred to the airport to join the rest of the group. Please note, this time may change and will be confirmed in your pre-travel joining instructions.

Catching your return flight

We provide free departure transfers from the end hotel to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) for everyone. If you would like further information on joining a transfer, we will require all flight details two weeks prior to departure to secure the transfer. Please speak to your sales representative to arrange.

India

To avoid possible problems at immigration, make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.

Travellers from the UK, US, CA and EU normally need a visa to enter India. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/india
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/india
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html

Travellers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA and EU, can apply at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

For more information on applying for your Indian visa, please click on this link: Indian Visa Information

New Digital Arrival Card: Travellers from the UK, US, EU and Canada must also complete a Digital Arrival Card. This can be filled online up to 72 hours before arrival via the official Indian visa website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. This is separate from the Indian e-visa process and this remains the same. Physical cards will remain at the arrival airport until 1 April 2026, at which point the Digital Arrival Card will be made mandatory.

Self-declaration form requirement: All international passengers arriving in India are currently required to complete the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form before travel, preferably before boarding their flight. The form can be completed up to 24 hours before arrival and should be presented on arrival if requested by local authorities. Complete the form via the official Air Suvidha 2.0 Portal. Requirements may change at short notice, so please check the latest guidance before departure. This additional requirement is currently being taken amid concerns over the ongoing Ebola outbreak and in the interest of passenger safety and public health.

The included meals are stated on the daily itinerary.

India is famous for its food and there is ample opportunity to try various curries such as the familiar tandoori, biriyani and rogan josh. If you are a vegetarian, India is a great destination. There are wonderful desserts and excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink.

You should allow at least 1,400-2,400 rupees (US$16-US$28) per day for lunch and dinner. In most towns we visit, there is a good selection of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western food. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approximately 300 rupees (approximately US$4).

Mineral water is widely available, but drinking water is provided in a large container in the bus to reduce our use of plastic, so please bring your own refillable water bottle.

During October/November and from March to April, the days are normally hot (around 30C-35C/86F-95F) and nights slightly cooler (18C-24C/65F-75F) but humidity is very low and little or no rain falls so it’s a great time of year to travel to this part of India.

From December to early February, it gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings (sometimes dropping to 6C/43F) and warm clothes are essential. During this time, nightly temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a little above freezing. The evenings and early mornings (particularly at Ranthambore National Park) can be surprisingly cool and damp too, so come prepared for both cold and warm temperatures during winter.

In July, August and September, expect very hot days and warm nights (28C-40C/82F-104F). Rain is also likely at any time from the end of June until September and can be very heavy. However, it moderates the temperatures and humidity.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

Join an optional Old Delhi tour led by Salaam Baalak Trust guides, supporting former street children through employment while gaining insight into historic neighbourhood life.

Reviews

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Majella OMahony

Added June 2024

Fast paced but well worth it

Yes, the trip is fast paced, but I think that's pretty well explained on the website so I was expecting it. But the itinerary covers some really incredible places and I felt like I got a good feeling for India (my first time) as a result of it. There were some long drives, but the days spent in places like Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi meant it didn't feel like we were *constantly* on the move. I absolutely loved India! The group gelled really well and we're considering going on a S. India trip with Exodus all together again in 2026!

Most Inspirational Moment

The Taj Mahal. It was so beautiful it almost made me cry. Standing in front of it for the first time was just incredible. And we got there for sunrise so it wasn't too busy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Manoj was fantastic. He was informative but not overly so, engaging and took the time to get to know each of us. When our overnight train was delayed by several hours he worked really hard to rearrange everything in Varanasi to ensure we didn't miss out on anything. In the end, Varanasi was a real highlight for most people in the group, despite having half a day less than expected (due to the train delay).

Advice for Potential Travellers

The overnight train is basic so pack a sense of humour. There are some long drives as well, but the bus was comfortable and there's so much going on to look at that they just add to your overall exposure to India.

Suggestions

This is a great trip and ticked all my boxes and more. I wasn't expecting to love India as much as I did but that was thanks to a great leader (Manoj) and a really good itinerary that is a bit different to other similar ones I'd seen online elsewhere. Varanasi is a MUST!

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Trip Notes

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USD 2310

9 Days Excluding Flights

1-844 421 0109 dates & prices

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Highlights of Northern India

Overview

From the Taj Mahal to the ghats leading to the holy Ganges, explore a land packed with culture and excitement

Key Information

What's Included

Positive Impact

Don't Forget To

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us and fly with confidence

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

City and jungle hotels

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

India