India Encompassed - 28 Days

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included through the the tour operator-supported Women With Wheels project. Arriving early with a free day in Delhi? Opt to add the "Half Day Culinary Tour of Delhi" extra to your tour.

Enjoy a youth-led morning walk through Delhi by the tour operator-supported City Walk project offering a unique perspective of Delhi while supporting at-risk youth. Later, visit Delhi’s famous Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) and climb the minaret for a bird’s eye view of Old City. Walk through Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest markets, and learn the history of the Sikh religion at Gurdwara. Stop for photos at the colourful market before finishing at Connaught Place, one of the most prominent architectural remnants of British rule.

Drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, to start exploring the Pink City. Along the way, try your hand at block printing with the women of the Anoothi Project. Later, opt to visit the Jantar Mantar, or Royal Observatory. Don't miss the opportunity to see a Bollywood film at the famous Art Deco Raj Mandir cinema.

Stop and admire the intricate architecture of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) before venturing to the ruined city of Amber to explore the famous Fort. Opt to see the city on bicycle by pre-booking the Jaipur Cycle Tour.

Travel to Dhula Village and get a closer look at rural life in Rajasthan during a cycling excursion. Tonight, settle in to your cozy tent, relax by the fire, and take in the starry night sky. Before saying farewell to the Pink City, admire it from above by pre-booking the Jaipur Balloon Ride when booking your tour.

Tonight's accommodation is in spacious and comfortable tents outfitted with beds, lamps, and simple en suite bathrooms.

Stop by the impressive Abhaneri stepwell en route to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.

Visit the sparkling, iconic Taj Mahal for sunrise with time to explore the picturesque grounds. Afterward, take a ride to the walled city of Agra Fort and Baby Taj.

Board a morning train then transfer to a private vehicle for a ride across rough Indian roads to Alipura. This friendly village will be our base for two days where you'll stay in a heritage property with time to wander the town and interact with local people.

Enjoy a day trip to Khajuraho, where India's largest group of medieval temples reside, known for their Kama Sutra statues. Learn the history of these world-famous temples on a guided tour and enjoy a taste of a little erotica from the Middle Ages. After, opt to watch an evening dance performance.

En route to Orchha, visit a unique paper making plant, set up to assist tribal women from the area. All the paper is made from recycled clothing and wood pulp. Continue on to Orchha and embark on an orientation tour of this small town. Set on the banks of the Betwa River, it is the perfect antidote to the chaos of India’s cities. Later, attend an evening puja ceremony at the Ram Raja Temple.

Visit the Orchha Palace complex and enjoy free time before the overnight train to Varanasi. Opt to sharpen your culinary skills by pre-booking the Orchha Cooking School extra when booking your tour.

Disembark the train in legendary Varanasi - the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindus visit for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn, or to die. Take an orientation walk through the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. There is time here to shop, wander, and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city. Marvel at the ghats from the River Ganges as you enjoy an evening boat trip to witness a mesmerizing candle-lit flower ceremony. Pre-book the Varanasi Heritage Walk and enjoy a guided tour that focuses more on the local life in Varanasi and its philosophical and cultural values. Witness pilgrims singing and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of Varanasi in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Watch the sunrise from a boat along the Ganges. Spend the rest of the day getting to know this holy city. Opt to visit the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, the site of the Buddha's first sermon.

Soak up some free time this morning and continue exploring Varanasi. Later, cut out the travel time with a flight back to bustling Delhi.

Fly to the port city of Kochi. Settle into your hotel and enjoy free time to relax the rest of the day. Opt to catch the sunset over the Arabian Sea, framed by hundreds of boats and fishing nets. In the evening, there will be a welcome meeting for new travellers joining the group.

Walk along the cobblestone streets of Fort Kochi on a sightseeing tour of this historic city. The rest of the day is yours to explore as you wish. Tonight, take an overnight train to Bangalore.

After a night on the train, we'll pull into Bangalore in the morning. The first stop of the day is breakfast. Second stop of the day is to the beautiful Lal Bagh Botanical garden. Walk through the incredible green houses full of colourful flowers and unique sculptures. The remainder of the day is yours to see the city. In the evening, regroup for an orientation walk through the main iconic commercial streets of Bangalore.

Depart from Bangalore and drive to Srirangapatna to visit the incredible Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and the Tipu Sultan's tomb. Then continue on to Mysore for an afternoon of free time to explore the city before an evening orientation walk in Devraja Market and an optional group dinner.

Explore the best of Mysore today with visits to Chamundeshwari Temple at Chamundi Hills, the Mysore Palace and St. Philomena Cathedral. The rest of the day is yours to explore this historic, opulent city.

Take a train to Chennai and transfer to a private vehicle to arrive to Mamallapuram by the afternoon. This famous town is steeped in myth and history, so enjoy the opportunity to experience it with a free afternoon.

An early morning is dedicated to a tour of the Shore Temple, an iconic complex of temples and shrines known to the be one of the oldest stone temples in India, and best viewed at sunrise. After an incredible walking tour, take the remainder of the day for your own exploration of Mamallapuram. Most use this time to enjoy a visit to the beach or a yoga class.

Leave Mamallapuram and drive to Chennai. Then transfer to a train to arrive in the afternoon to Thanjavur, a town renowned globally for its bronze metal sculptures. After settling in, visit the 200+ foot tall Brihadeeswarar Temple and walk around the markets.

This morning, drive to Kanadukathan, known as the land of Chettiars, the collection of over 75 villages. Here we will visit the traditional houses of Chettinad, famous for their spaciousness, opulence and intricate tiles. Afterwards, continue on to Madurai, considered the home of goddess Parvati in her form of Meenakshi - the fish eyed goddess.

Explore the best of Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with tours of Thirumalai Nayakar Palace and Meenakashi Temple. The afternoon leaves you with time to venture on your own before we hop on a cycle rickshaw for a tour of the city.

Drive to Thekkady this morning. Thekkady, adjacent to Periyar National Park, is the spice capital of India.  Take a guided tour of spice plantations in the Cardamom Hills. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore Thekkady how you wish maybe on a boat tour on Periyar Lake or an ayurvedic massage.

Travel down to Allepey and catch a private boat for the short ride to the village homestay. In the afternoon, explore the island with a local person to observe the different facets of local life — it's a great opportunity to meet and talk with the people who live in this unique location. Just before sunset, hop on a small country boat and journey along with the locals to enjoy sunset on the winding backwaters. For this homestay, you will only need to take a small overnight bag. Your main bags will be transferred directly to the hotel in Kochi.

Spend the morning enjoying your last moments with your host family before departing for Kochi. On the way, stop at your the tour operator-supported project TWE, a coop run by local women, for lunch. Head out for an orientation walk after arrival in Kochi, then enjoy an evening performance of Kathakali, a form of traditional dancing from Kerala.

Depart at any time.