India Real Food Adventure
Experience Overview
Dig into the sights, sounds and flavours of India on a 15-day food adventure. From Delhi to Goa via Rajasthan and Mumbai, experience everything from street food to home cooked meals, the Taj Mahal to the Amber Fort, and temples to thali. Relax on Goa’s beaches, see Jaipur’s breathtaking Palace of the Wind, explore the vibrant street food scenes of Delhi and Mumbai, and spend time in rural Rajasthan living it up in a 17th-century fort. With a taste of India’s vibrant markets and the chance to cook up a storm yourself, this unforgettable journey will take you to the cultural and gastronomic heart of India.
Highlights
- Get a true taste of some of India's finest culinary traditions – Mughal, Rajasthani, and the Portuguese-tinged flavours of Goa – while feasting in local restaurants, street food stalls, rural homes and cooking classes.
- Leave with authentic recipes under your belt after you take part in a plant-based cooking class in a Jaipur home, learn how to make thali in Udaipur and find out how to cook Malvani cuisine in Goa.
- See the rich tapestry of India’s culture and history on display, meeting chai wallahs in local markets, visiting local farming communities and spice growers, and dining in Sikh and Jain temples.
- Bask in the ivory glow of the inspiring Taj Mahal in Agra, explore Old Delhi and Jama Masjid, and stand in awe of the Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort in Jaipur.
- Grab a fork and dig in – this trip introduces you to some of India’s most iconic dishes like kachori, kulfi, chai, paratha, chaat, thali and heaps more.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2140
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Plane,private vehicle,taxi,train,overnight train
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: HHZM
Starts: Delhi, India
Finishes: Goa, India
Duration: 15 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (13), Lunch (8), Dinner (5)Accommodation: Hotel (11 nights),Heritage property (2 nights),Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,164 ($211 /day)
Itinerary
Namaste! Welcome to India. Delhi is an exciting and chaotic capital city filled with historical sites, museums, galleries, shops and bazaars. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After, celebrate the start of your adventure with a short stroll to a local restaurant for your first taste of North Indian cuisine – a delicious (and completely vegetarian) thali feast. A thali is an assortment of small dishes put together on one platter – the perfect way to sample a range of flavours. After, your leader will take you to a hole-in-the-wall eatery where you may like to sample some of Delhi’s best kulfi falooda, (a delicious ice cream-style dessert).
Included Activities:
- Delhi - Welcome dinner
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Ready your appetite and venture out to Old Delhi, wandering through alleyways for an authentic Delhi street food breakfast. Maybe pick up some deep fried kachori, potato curry, sweet fried jalebi or paratha flatbread. Keep your eye out for the local chai wallah, renowned for his delicious milky tea. Next, jump on the city's metro system and head to Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest mosque. After some time at this ancient building, hop aboard a rickshaw and head to Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Visit the spice warehouses in the back alleys of Khari Baoli and meet a seller to learn about the spice mixes they take to market. Visit the Gali Paranthe Wali (lane of parathas). Parathas are one of the most popular unleavened flat breads in Punjabi North Indian cuisine, and you’ll taste some filled with potatoes, cauliflower and paneer. While Hinduism is the dominant religion in Delhi, there is also a significant Sikh population, which you’ll learn more about over a vegetarian lunch at a local Sikh temple. Tonight, you’ve got the option to visit a local family for a home-cooked meal. This provides an insight into the day-to-day life of Delhites, so find out some secret recipes, get involved or just chat with your welcoming hosts.
Included Activities:
- Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
- Delhi - Street Food Breakfast
- Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
- Delhi - Lunch at a Sikh Temple
- Delhi - Spice warehouse visit
Optional Activities:
- Delhi - Dinner with local family (3000 INR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Jump aboard a local train for an air-conditioned ride to Agra. Famed for one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, Agra is a city of fascinating history, rich in Mughal heritage. Agra is also home to one of the finest looking forts in India – Agra Fort. Enter the dark red sandstone stronghold and search through throne rooms and tiny but ornate mosques. For lunch, join a Mughlai cooking demonstration. Influenced by Central Asian and Islamic recipes, Mughlai cuisine is unique and fragrant. Meet a passionate cook who'll teach you how to prepare classics such as malai ki sabzi (vegetables cooked with cream) and onion paratha (flatbread stuffed with onions and potato), depending on the season. After, head to the Taj Mahal to explore the grounds and take in the changing scenes as day turns to evening – a truly unforgettable experience. For dinner this evening, why not book onto a chaat crawl. This savoury snack is typically served from roadside stalls or carts and recipes, ingredients and flavours vary from place to place – the perfect excuse to try them all!
Included Activities:
- Agra - Agra Fort
- Agra - Taj Mahal
- Agra - Mughlai Cooking Demonstration
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Say goodbye to Agra and drive to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. Jaipur was designed by royalty and has delighted visitors for centuries with its pink-hued buildings and buzzing bazaars. Jump on a rickshaw and swing by one of India's most photographed buildings, the Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of the Winds’, to snap some pictures yourself. Then, visit an open-air food court where you’ll have the chance to try some local favourites for lunch, like thali, pav bhaji (thick vegetable curry served with bread), masala dosa (a crispy savoury crepe) and plenty of sweet treats. In the evening, you may like to check out the extravagance of a Bollywood blockbuster, with all the Hollywood-style elements of action, romance, drama and music (sometimes all rolled into one), at the Raj Mandir Cinema.
Included Activities:
- Jaipur - Hawa Mahal photo stop
- Jaipur - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities:
- Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema (400 INR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Travel out to the old capital of Amber and explore the hilltop complex known as the Amber Fort. Overlooking Maota Lake, this opulent palace is the legacy of a fallen empire and a great example of Rajput architecture. One of its most spectacular buildings is the Sheesh Mahal – with its walls completely covered with tiny mirrors, the hall becomes a dazzling fantasy with the light of a single match. For lunch, try a local favourite, kachori (deep fried bread stuffed with vegetables and lentils). If sweets are more your thing, try the mawa kachori (deep-fried pastry stuffed with dried fruits and milk solids, coated in sugar syrup). Later, head to a local home for a hands-on cooking class where you’ll learn how to make some plant-based Rajasthani dishes like ker sangri, using dried ker berries and sangri beans. Enjoy the fruits of your labour in the peaceful garden of your hosts, where they grow fresh greens.
Included Activities:
- Jaipur - Amber Fort
- Jaipur - Street Food Lunch
- Jaipur - Rajasthani Cooking Class and Dinner
Optional Activities:
- Jaipur - Balloon Safari (280 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Leave the city behind and drive to a local heritage stay located in the Vindhyanchal Hills in the Mewar region of south-central Rajasthan – a great opportunity to learn about rural life and culinary customs. You’ll for lunch along the way at a local restaurant. Your accommodation for the next two nights will be at 16th-century Castle Bijaipur – now a heritage hotel with domes, arched windows and doorways, all within the original fortified walls. Take in the palace’s blend architecture as you relax by the pool or in the gardens, enjoying the famous Mewar hospitality.
Accommodation:
- Heritage Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you’ll jump in a jeep and explore the surrounding farming communities. This is a major agricultural area and, depending on the season, you’ll pass through fields growing wheat, corn, maize, lentils, aubergine, spinach, fenugreek, okra, green chilies, tomatoes, potatoes, gourd, onion and garlic. Some of India’s most-loved spices, such as turmeric and cumin, are also grown here. Return to your heritage stay and join the estate's chef to discover how the ingredients you’ve seen today are used in Rajasthani cooking. Savour the results over a delicious lunch in the palace grounds with your group.
Included Activities:
- Bijaipur - Countryside jeep safari
- Bijaipur - Rajasthani Desert Cooking Demonstration and Meal
Accommodation:
- Heritage Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Travel to Udaipur – a charming city known for its Hindu temples and palaces, and small but renowned Jain temples. Jainism is a minority religion in India and is considered among the most rigorous and spiritually motivated diets in India. When you arrive, visit a Jain temple for lunch where you’ll learn about the religion and the food connected to it. Jain cuisine is strictly vegetarian and excludes the eating of root vegetables like carrots, onion and garlic due to the belief that uprooting the plant kills it and the micro-organisms around the roots. Tonight, you’ll have a free evening for dinner. Udaipur has several inviting rooftop restaurants, so climb some stairs, choose a restaurant and settle in to watch the sun set over one of the city’s shimmering central lakes.
Included Activities:
- Udaipur - Leader-led orientation walk
- Udaipur - Lunch at Jain temple
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Udaipur, also known as the 'City of Lakes', is built around the shores of Lake Pichola and full of fascinating temples, ornate palaces and impressive 'havelis' (merchant homes). Take some time to discover its winding streets and shops full of traditional Rajasthani wares. Visit the City Palace – one of the largest royal palaces in India – and check out the unbelievable treasures within, from vivid murals to antiques and royal utensils. The rest of the day is free for your own exploration.
Included Activities:
- Udaipur - City Palace
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Awaken your senses this morning with a visit to a local market to browse fragrant stalls and collect ingredients for a cooking class, where you’ll learn how to prepare a traditional north Indian thali meal. Thali varies depending on which region it’s prepared in, and as you’re in Udaipur, you’ll make a vegetarian thali. Typical dishes include rice, dahl, vegetables, roti, papad (deep-fried flat bread), curd (yoghurt), small amounts of chutney or pickle and a sweet dish to top it off. After all that cooking, enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. After, head to the Abu Road train station. Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train bound for one of India's great cities – Mumbai. The train will depart late evening and arrive after midday tomorrow.
Included Activities:
- Udaipur - Thali Cooking Class
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Arrive in Mumbai after your overnight train, reaching your hotel by mid-afternoon. Known as Bombay until its name change in 1995, Mumbai is India's commercial capital and largest city. Some would say that Mumbai is also the food capital of India. This is the heart of Marathi cuisine, but you’ll also find huge culinary diversity that celebrates regional cuisines from across the country. In the late afternoon, wander down Marine Drive to Chowpatty Beach. Enjoy the sunset and snack on bhel puri (tangy puffed rice and vegetable chaat), pav bhaji and other renowned Mumbai street foods.
Included Activities:
- Mumbai - Chowpatty Beach Street Food Crawl
Accommodation:
- Overnight train (Number of Nights: 1)
Time for some sightseeing and soaking up the atmosphere of this incredible metropolis. See the remarkable Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat – at 140 years old this is Mumbai's oldest laundry, and with over 1000 troughs, it’s also the world’s largest open-air, human-powered one. Next, take in some of the city’s key landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic railway station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and the bustling Crawford Markets. For lunch, seek out a restaurant known for serving Parsi cuisine, whose community is largely concentrated in Mumbai. The Parsi peoples are descendants of Zoroastrians who are believed to have emigrated from Persia to India in the 10th century. Enjoy a post-lunch stroll to the Gateway of India – a monument built to commemorate the landing of King-Emperor George V, the first British monarch to visit India – followed by a browse of the Colaba street market. The rest of the afternoon and the evening are free for your own food adventures.
Included Activities:
- Mumbai - Leader-led Heritage Walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Take a flight from Mumbai to Goa. The locals say that time moves more slowly in Goa, so this is a good opportunity to enjoy a bit of tranquillity in an often-frenetic country. Tinged with a Portuguese flavour, the state of Goa is blessed with lovely beaches, rich traditions, World Heritage-listed buildings and mouth-watering food. Goa's dense forested areas and favourable climate also make it a perfect location to grow the spices liberally used in its cuisine. Visit a spice farm and learn how they are grown, harvested, processed and prepared for use in food and Ayurvedic medicine. See how these spices come together over a freshly cooked lunch at the spice farm before returning to Goa.
Included Activities:
- Goa - Spice farm tour including lunch
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Start the day with a trip to Old Goa – a historic city sitting on the banks of the Mandovi River. While the city is home to around 2500 residents today, between the 16th and 18th centuries Old Goa was a booming spice trade hub with a population of nearly 200,000. Walk through streets lined with ancient churches and historic buildings and check out the local market. Enjoy some time to relax and revive this afternoon, before taking part in a cooking class to learn the secrets of Malvani cuisine, popular in the South Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa. Find out how to make some classic coastal dishes then tuck into your creations for dinner.
Included Activities:
- Goa - Cooking Class
- Goa - Old Goa tour
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Your food adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend more time in Goa, exploring more of the city, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Kim - Traveled, March 2024
My husband and I have just had our first small group adventure with Intrepid and we couldn't have picked a better organisation to travel with. Our tour leader Yadvendra Singh Rathore was very knowledgeable and approachable. Nothing was too much trouble and we saw and ate some gorgeous things on our real food tour of India, which we would never have found on our own. We felt safe and cared for at all times and would highly recommend this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2024
Ginny - Traveled, March 2024
I have just completed an incredible Intrepid tour of India. It was everything I had hoped for and more. It was the perfect mix of adventure and organisation. Our guide and group became family. I could not recommend higher.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2024
John - Traveled, March 2024
Excellent trip with a perfect blend of food experiences, sightseeing and free time. Great way to see parts of India
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2024
Martin - Traveled, March 2024
The sights, sounds, food and activities were all amazing! A great way to see India in a short amount of time. Yaddu went above and beyond to make it easy and memorable!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2024
Maria - Traveled, March 2024
This itinerary is brilliant, starting from the busiest place to gradually improve until ending in paradise (beach). It's not all about the food, the inclusions are fantastic – must do’s. Each stop/city is better than the previous: Great to get a sense of India from different perspectives. Ideal for beginners in the country.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/28/2024
Stephen - Traveled, March 2024
This was a fantastic introduction to India. Great food. Great adventure. Great experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/25/2024
Alex - Traveled, March 2024
An expansive introduction to Indian cuisine that could do with more cooking activities than cooking demonstrations. The tour hits all the sites of note and the overnight train, a primary reason for booking this itinerary, is an experience I shall not readily forget.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/26/2024
David - Traveled, February 2024
If you want a great balance of the cultral aspects of India, mixed with eating (lots of!) great food this is for you. Our guide Pradeep was a real asset. Arrive hungry!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/27/2024
Virginia - Traveled, February 2024
Had a fantastic trip. The food was amazing and varied. Mixed with all of the visited sites gives a great insight into India. I recommend you take this trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/01/2024
Calandra - Traveled, January 2024
Our food tour of India wildly exceeded my expectations due to our amazing guide, Bhagi! I wish he could lead all my tours! Request him if you can!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/06/2024
George - Traveled, January 2024
Our guide, Bhagirath, made this trip for us! For almost three weeks we didn’t have to worry about a thing, the food was great, and even when we wanted to do something not on the itinerary our guide made it happen. This is my first Intrepid trip but if I have more guides like Bhagirath I’ll gladly book some more!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/07/2024
Jacinta - Traveled, January 2024
I thoughly enjoyed this adventure. It was a very well organised trip with lots of planned activities and experiences that were managed well thanks to our brilliant guide Bhagirath.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2024
Lucy - Traveled, January 2024
What a phenomenal trip! Ajay our guide made this trip amazing! It flew by! Going home full of delicious Indian food and ready to try to recreate some yummy recipes!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/18/2024
Lauren - Traveled, January 2024
A really enjoyable tour; taking in the big sights, and eating along the way! A fascinating insight into Indian food and culture. Highly recommended.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/18/2024
Benjamin - Traveled, January 2024
If you love Indian food, you simply have to do this trip. Cooking classes, street food discovery and demonstrations make it worthwhile. Experience India in the company of fellow foodies.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/18/2024
Celeste - Traveled, December 2024
This is a trip of a lifetime. India is an incredible country with lovely people and excellent food. Our guide Saurabh made this trip go from good to excellent. He was a great storyteller and knowledgeable historian. He was kind, professional and supportive. Thank you Intrepid, Saurabh and India!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/19/2024
Cali - Traveled, November 2023
Could not be happier with this trip and with our guide, Pradeep. It was my favorite guided trip yet and I am so happy we chose Intrepid for India.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
hayley - Traveled, November 2023
Amazing trip through beautiful cities. Experience India in a small intimate group, visiting homes, places and famous sites. The experience is topped when you’re lucky enough and have Bhagirath, “Bhagi” as your guide
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Tammy - Traveled, November 2023
Exploring India with our leader Bhagi was a delight. His knowledge and enthusiasm for every place and experience we had was refreshing. We accessed experiences we would not have otherwise been able to do, street food delights, home cooked meals, it was so much fun, thanks Bhagi!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Janice - Traveled, November 2023
The India Food tour was a real adventure into the culture, history and life styles of India made possible by having an entertaining and knowledgeable local guide, Bhagi. The small group (9) was diverse from UK, USA, STH Africa and Australia and ranged in age from 20s to 70s which made conversations interesting. And, the food was fabulous - street food, home cooking and restaurants- a feast indeed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
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