Indian Getaway
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Experience Overview
Dive into India on this 11-day adventure that takes you to a wide range of cultural highlights in a relatively short amount of time. Visit the spiritual centre of Varanasi, the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur and the chaotic capital of Delhi. This journey is perfect for travellers who want local guidance and exciting included experiences without sacrificing the freedom to explore independently. Witness the beauty of the Taj Mahal, feel enlightened on an optional boat trip along the River Ganges and get the royal treatment during a 16th-century heritage stay. Bring an open mind and an open heart and plunge headfirst into this utterly captivating destination.
Highlights
- Get to know the chaotic capital of Delhi with a local leader to help you navigate. Take a cycle rickshaw ride through the city’s bustling streets and visit the Sheeshganj Gurudwara to learn about Sikhism.
- See the spectacular Taj Mahal – one of the New Seven Wonders of the World – during a guided tour that illuminates the building’s fascinating history.
- Choose your own adventure with optional activities like a sunrise boat ride along the holy Ganges River in Varanasi. Your expert local leader will have the local know-how to guide you throughout your journey.
- Stay in the rural, off-the-beaten-track Rajasthani village of Tordi Garh in style when you spend a night at a 16th-century palace.
- Travel like a local when you take sleeper trains – a quintessential Indian experience – to Varanasi and Agra, with padded bunks for comfort and onboard vendors selling chai and samosas.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2104
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Auto rickshaw, Cycle rickshaw, Metro, Overnight sleeper train, Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Jeep
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Rail & Cruises, Budget
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: HHRI
Starts: Delhi, India
Finishes: Delhi, India
Duration: 11 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (1), Dinner (1)Accommodation: Heritage Property (2 nights), Hotel (6 nights), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $740 ($67 /day)
Itinerary
Namaste! Welcome to Delhi, a fabulously chaotic capital city that will warm your heart and overwhelm your senses. The air is thick with the smell of spices and the sound of mayhem as vendors whip up masala chai on side streets, locals barter at bazaars for the best bargain and bhangra music blasts from the alleyways. Your adventure will begin with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive with time to spare, why not head out and explore the streets?
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, check out the sights and sounds of Old Delhi on a leader-led tour of this fascinating quarter of the capital. Take a ride on the city's modern metro system and get a taste of India's famed public transport with a cycle rickshaw ride through the chaotic streets (such as the famous Chandni Chowk). You’ll also visit the Jama Masjid – Delhi's oldest mosque and one of its most impressive buildings – then stop by the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) to learn about the spiritual traditions of Sikhism. In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train bound for Varanasi.
Included Activities:
- Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking tour
- Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
- Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
Accommodation:
- Overnight Sleeper Train (Number of Nights: 1)
When you arrive in Varanasi this morning, check into your hotel and freshen up before heading out on a guided walking tour of the Old City. Set along the banks of the holy Ganges River, Varanasi is the ultimate destination for Hindu pilgrims who travel from far and wide to experience this spiritual city that’s overflowing with temples, shrines and devotees. Navigate through Varanasi's maze of narrow alleyways packed full of small shops, stalls and lumbering cows. See pilgrims performing rituals unchanged for hundreds of years and pass chiming temples as wafts of incense fill the air.
Included Activities:
- Varanasi - Leader-led Old City walking tour
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
If you’re up for an early start today, it’s highly recommended you take an optional boat ride down the Ganges to watch the sunrise. Even if you're not the spiritual sort, this experience offers incredibly scenery. Pass the many ghats (stairs leading to the water) and temples along the river, and watch thousands of Hindu pilgrims cleanse their sins in the holy water as the sun bathes the surroundings in shades of amber and orange. Witness the rituals of life and death taking place along the riverbank and be prepared for potentially confronting sights and smells, as this is also where families come to cremate their loved ones. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace – ask your leader for their suggestions.
Optional Activities:
- Varanasi - Sunrise Ganges boat trip (500 INR)
- Varanasi - Banares Hindu University (250 INR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, there’s lots of free time to explore more of Varanasi before you get an authentic taste of Indian life on board an overnight sleeper train bound for Agra this evening. You could take a trip to nearby Sarnath, one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations and the site where Buddha preached his message of the path to enlightenment. Or you could visit the crumbling 17th-century Ramnagar Fort and palace on the eastern bank of the Ganges. Varanasi is home to India’s silk-making industry, so maybe investigate the many silk markets dotted around the city, otherwise you could take a class to work on your yoga skills.
Optional Activities:
- Varanasi - Sarnath (315 INR)
- Varanasi - Ram Nagar Fort (250 INR)
Accommodation:
- Overnight Sleeper Train (Number of Nights: 1)
Get ready to tick off a major bucket list item today – the glorious Taj Mahal. Head out for a guided tour of this elaborate monument when you arrive in Agra. After, you’ll have a free day to explore more of Agra's highlights. There’s the option to take a trip on a motorised rickshaw to visit some of the city’s best monuments. If you’ve got the energy, head out to Agra Fort and stroll the palatial gardens of this red sandstone stronghold or check out Akbar's Mausoleum, a beautiful sandstone and marble tomb built for the greatest of the Mughal emperors. In the evening, maybe try some signature local dishes like biryani or korma, or sit down for a meal at Sheroes Hangout – a cafe that supports acid attack survivors.
Included Activities:
- Agra - Taj Mahal
Optional Activities:
- Agra - Sheroes Hangout Cafe (prices from) (500 INR)
- Agra - Akbar's Mausoleum (300 INR)
- Agra - Motorised Rickshaw (300 INR)
- Agra - Agra Fort (650 INR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Drive through the countryside to Tordi Garh – a village that few travellers venture to. This remote village offers a fantastic glimpse of the real Rajasthan. When you arrive, meet the locals for a guided walk – you’ll visit the old village temple and wander through the markets, gaining an insight into everyday life in this peaceful community. Tonight, you’ll sleep in heritage accommodation – a 16th-century palace with its owner as your host. Settle in, then savour delicious local flavours during tonight’s included dinner.
Accommodation:
- Heritage Property (Number of Nights: 1)
Take a private vehicle to Jaipur, India's oh-so-pretty Pink City. You'll have plenty of free time here to haggle to your heart's content at the bazaars and backstreets where vendors sell a variety of textiles, gemstones and stunning blue pottery. Go on a guided walk with your leader to get the lay of the land in the city, then maybe drop by one of India’s finest palaces – the Royal City Palace. Food lovers will want to hit the streets for raj kachori chaat (a snack served with chutney, yogurt, chili and potato). Then, you might like to cool off with a lassi at Jaipur's oldest and most famous lassi shop – Lassiwala. This evening, you might like to see a Bollywood blockbuster at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema. Your accommodation for tonight will be in another family-run heritage hotel.
Included Activities:
- Jaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour
Optional Activities:
- Jaipur - City Palace (1200 INR)
- Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema (400 INR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
If you're keen for a different view of the Pink City, an optional early morning hot air balloon ride is highly recommended. Speak to your leader about organising this optional activity. Later in the morning, you might like to drop by Hawa Mahal (AKA the ‘Palace of the Winds’). The palace’s impressive five-storey facade with pink and honeycombed windows has made it the most photographed building in the country after the Taj Mahal. Then, you’ll venture out to the old capital of Amber to explore the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort. The rest of the day is free for you to spend however you like. You might like to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jantar Mantar Observatory, which was built in the 18th century.
Included Activities:
- Jaipur - Amber Fort
Optional Activities:
- Jaipur - Balloon Safari (290 USD)
- Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema (400 INR)
- Jaipur - City Palace (1200 INR)
- Jaipur - Jantar Mantar Observatory (200 INR)
- Jaipur - Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Wind) (200 INR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, take a train ride back to India's capital. This exciting city is overflowing with incredible historic sites, museums, galleries, shops and endless bazaars. Watch as people, cars, rickshaws and cows all move through the streets together in a kind of organised chaos. You might like to sit back with a chai and let it all soak in as you enjoy a free day to explore. Ask your expert leader for their top recommendations on how to make the most of your time here. You could visit the 16th-century Humayun's Tomb or the Qutub Minar – the tallest minaret in India. This evening, join your group for an optional farewell dinner and toast to your adventures.
Optional Activities:
- Delhi - Humayun's Tomb (650 INR)
- Delhi - Qutub Minar (650 INR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end. If you'd like to spend more time in Delhi, and it’s highly recommended you do, just speak to 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
Nick - Traveled, April 2024
If you don’t like tours like me, this is brilliant. You still have a sense of independence with efficient use of your time!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/12/2024
Rachel - Traveled, April 2024
This trip is phenomenal. A real adventure which explores the rich culture of India in depth and with understanding and sensitivity. The range of acitivies is excellent, we can't reccomend this enough.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/13/2024
Catalina - Traveled, April 2024
Intrepid is an incredible way to not just see a place but to activate all of your other 4 senses! It allows you to have freedom while also giving you security and comfort to be in a new city. I can’t wait to do another Intrepid tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/14/2024
Michael - Traveled, April 2024
An amazing introduction to this fascinating country in great company and with a fantastic leader. We will be back for more!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/15/2024
Daniel - Traveled, March 2024
India has surprised and thrilled me like nowhere else, largely thanks to the access to small communities and contact with people benefitting from our visit - for this, Intrepid is in a league of it's own.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/19/2024
Linda - Traveled, March 2024
Go; It’s special, not to be missed. A good first trip to become acquainted with India. While it’s non-stop activities and traveling ine can take their own breaks. If interested in yoga, meditation Rishikesh is a must. Very inspirational trip and fantastic leader.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/29/2024
Emma - Traveled, March 2024
India was a pleasant surprise. I was a little apprehensive about going as a female solo traveller however that quickly changed when getting to know the group and the trip manager. Some of the best culture, food and experiences I’ve ever had overseas. Would recommend.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/23/2024
Emily - Traveled, March 2024
My India Getaway trip was incredible! The tour leader was knowledgeable, friendly and well organised. The activities were great and the atmosphere of the group and tour was unmatched. Highly recommend
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/17/2024
Mindaugas - Traveled, March 2024
We usually travel by our own and were skeptical about organized trips. Yet India is messy and we decided to try Intrepid. "India getaway" overdelivers - good (very) intense schedule, full immersion in everything - cheap to expensive to spiritual to material. Excellent local guide (that travels everywhere with your group) answers all your questions and helps to understand local culture. And one more thing - you meet surprisingly nice and interesting new people withing the group too!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/15/2024
Alison - Traveled, March 2024
A brilliant itinerary plus our brilliant guide Shrishti gave us a wonderful insight into the history and religious cultures in India.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/16/2024
Alex - Traveled, February 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip, which exceeded expectations. Tour leader, Ravi, was highly knowledgeable and took every opportunity to teach up about the local history, customs and delicacies, as well as taking good care of us as we travelled from place to place. Couldn't have asked for more.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/06/2024
Julia - Traveled, February 2024
My experience on this Intrepid tour in India was magical. The itinerary offered a great mix of group activities and time for exploring. Our leader, Ravi, was simply wonderful, blending kindness and laughter with unlimited expertise. Highlights for me included the days spent in Varanasi, where we were immersed in the vibrant colours and rhythmic pulse of Indian life. Highly recommend this trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/10/2024
Noel - Traveled, February 2024
Amazing adventure, itinerary, optional excursions and top level guides! You get so much for the price. Outstanding!!! Definitely travelling with Intrepid again!!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/02/2024
Hannah - Traveled, February 2024
Indian getaway was an incredible experience, our leader was amazing and very knowledgeable and organised. The itinerary keeps you busy which I enjoyed as there was so much to do and see in india that I feel like I got to experience a decent amount of it, I loved this unusual trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/01/2024
Jo - Traveled, February 2024
A brilliant, excellently planned and informative adventure to the must see sights. I loved every minute and would travel with Intrepid again. Our tour leader made the trip extra special with his ability to show us the real India and explain things so well and so clearly! Thank you Daddy H! We love you.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/13/2024
Brooke - Traveled, February 2024
The Indian get away was amazing- I learnt so much about the culture and saw some great sights
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/23/2024
Rose - Traveled, February 2024
A great whistle stop tour of Northern India! Fascinating locations, incredible sights, fantastic local knowledge and excursions, and our guide Maddy could not have been better or nicer. Loved every moment 10/10 recommend
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/23/2024
Nicky - Traveled, February 2024
This trip was everything and more. Full on in every aspect. Brilliant. Thank you
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/23/2024
Steven - Traveled, February 2024
An amazing introduction to India, you need do this one
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/17/2024
Margaret - Traveled, January 2024
The Indian Getaway Tour was a fantastic experience especially because of wonderful fellow travelers and a great guide (Jitu).
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/06/2024
