South Asia
India
The Taj Mahal, Rajasthan's forts and palaces, holy lakes and the green calm of Kerala.
- Taj Mahal
- Jaipur
- Jodhpur & Jaisalmer
- Udaipur
- Kerala backwaters
- Thar Desert
India overwhelms the senses like nowhere else — and this route eases you in through its greatest hits. Start with the Golden Triangle: imperial Delhi, the sublime Taj Mahal at Agra, and pink Jaipur. Push deeper into Rajasthan's desert kingdoms of forts, blue cities and lake palaces, then fly south to the tea hills, backwaters and beaches of green, gentle Kerala — the soothing counterpoint to the glorious chaos of the north.
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Length
Travel style
Your interests
The Golden Triangle: imperial Delhi, the sublime Taj Mahal at Agra, and the forts and bazaars of pink Jaipur.
Daily budget:≈ €40–85 / day
Heritage hotels and homestays, restaurant meals, a car with driver and domestic flights.
Day by day
- 1
A glass of sweet, spiced masala chai.© Gannu03 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Land in Delhi and let India arrive slowly — the colour, the horns, the scent of spice and incense. Sort a SIM and some rupees, take a first gentle wander, and settle your senses over a glass of sweet, milky masala chai before the days ahead.
Nothing quite prepares you for the first hour in India — it floods every sense at once, overwhelming and exhilarating in equal measure. A roadside chai, hot and sweet in a tiny glass, is the perfect way to stop, breathe, and let it all wash over you.
Our take
Pre-book a hotel airport pickup for your first night — arriving in Delhi is not the moment to haggle with taxi touts. Ease in gently; jet lag plus India is a lot.
Highlights
- ✦ First chai
- ✦ Easing into Delhi
- 2
The Lahori Gate of Delhi's Red Fort.© Ranjeet Chauhan · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque.© Indrajit Das · CC BY-SA 3.0 
The soaring Qutub Minar.© Syed Sajidul Islam · CC BY-SA 4.0 Dive into Delhi: the mighty Red Fort and the vast Jama Masjid in the frenetic lanes of Old Delhi, a rickshaw ride through the spice-scented Chandni Chowk bazaar, then the calm grandeur of New Delhi — the towering Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and the imperial sweep past India Gate.
Delhi is really two cities pressed together — the medieval Mughal tangle of the old town, all rickshaw bells and frying samosas, and the wide, green, planned avenues of the British-built capital. Crossing between them in a day is a crash course in a thousand years of history.
Our take
Take a guided Old Delhi walk or food tour — a local guide turns the chaos into stories. Wear modest clothes and slip-off shoes for the mosque.
Highlights
- ✦ Red Fort & Old Delhi
- ✦ Jama Masjid
- ✦ Qutub Minar
- 3
The Taj Mahal at dawn.© Philip Nalangan · CC BY 4.0 
The marble palaces of Agra Fort.© Jean-Marc Astesana from Voisins le Bretonneux, France · CC BY-SA 2.0 Getting there: Express train or drive Delhi → Agra (about 3–4h)
Travel to Agra and visit the colossal Agra Fort, the red-sandstone seat of Mughal power, with its marble palaces looking out toward the Taj. Then, the moment you came for: the Taj Mahal itself, the white-marble masterpiece built by an emperor for his lost love — even more breathtaking in person than you imagined.
You've seen the Taj in a thousand photos, and still, stepping through the great gateway and seeing it float there — impossibly perfect, glowing, symmetrical — actually stops you in your tracks. It earns every superlative, and then some.
Our take
See the Taj at sunrise if you can — softest light, smallest crowds, and the marble turns from pink to gold to dazzling white. Book tickets online and note it closes on Fridays.
Highlights
- ✦ Taj Mahal
- ✦ Agra Fort
- 4
The Buland Darwaza gate at Fatehpur Sikri.© Marcin Białek · CC BY-SA 3.0 Getting there: Drive Agra → Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri (about 5h with stop)
Catch the Taj once more at dawn, then drive toward Jaipur, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri — a perfectly preserved Mughal capital, abandoned after just 14 years, where the colossal Buland Darwaza gateway still soars over the empty courtyards. Arrive in Jaipur, the Pink City, by evening.
Fatehpur Sikri is hauntingly beautiful — a whole imperial city of carved red stone, built at vast expense and then simply walked away from. Wandering its silent courtyards, you feel the strange vanity of empires in a way the crowded sites never quite convey.
Our take
Hire a guide at Fatehpur Sikri and politely brush off the persistent "guides" at the entrance. Break up the drive — it's a long one — and arrive in Jaipur in time for dinner.
Highlights
- ✦ Taj at sunrise
- ✦ Fatehpur Sikri
- 5
Amber Fort above its lake, Jaipur.© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds.© Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0 
A courtyard of Jaipur's City Palace.© Miniondo · CC BY-SA 4.0 Explore Jaipur: the magnificent Amber Fort rising above its lake on a hillside, the maze of the City Palace, the honeycombed pink façade of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), and the giant astronomical instruments of the Jantar Mantar. Finish haggling for textiles and gems in the buzzing bazaars.
Jaipur is Rajasthan turned up to full volume — pink palaces, elephants on the fort road, camel carts in the traffic, shop windows blazing with jewels and silk. Amber Fort at golden hour, all honey-coloured ramparts and mirrored halls, is the stuff of storybooks.
Our take
Reach Amber Fort early to beat the heat and crowds (and please skip the elephant rides — walk or take a jeep up). Jaipur is the best place in Rajasthan to shop for textiles and jewellery.
Highlights
- ✦ Amber Fort
- ✦ Hawa Mahal
- ✦ City Palace & bazaars
- 6
A thali, India on a single plate.© Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 Getting there: Drive or train Jaipur → Delhi (about 5–6h)
Make your way back to Delhi, with time for any last bazaar shopping and a proper Indian thali — a platter of curries, dal, rice and breads that's a whole cuisine on one plate. A relaxed final evening to digest the whirlwind of the Golden Triangle.
A thali is the perfect way to end — a dozen little bowls of colour and spice, endlessly refilled, each a different corner of India. You'll push back from the table stuffed, happy and already plotting which part of this vast country to see next.
Our take
If you'd rather not backtrack, you can fly out of Jaipur instead. Either way, build in buffer for India's traffic and trains, which rarely run exactly to plan.
Highlights
- ✦ Last bazaar shopping
- ✦ Indian thali
- 7
Heading home... already planning the next trip.© Tobias1984 · CC BY-SA 3.0 Getting there: Fly home from Delhi
A final chai and any last souvenirs, then the airport. Want more of India? The 15-day route pushes deep into Rajasthan — the blue city of Jodhpur, the golden desert fort of Jaisalmer and the lake palaces of Udaipur.
India doesn't let you leave unchanged. You'll fly out a little frazzled, a lot dazzled, and certain that a week only scratched the surface of somewhere endlessly deep.
Our take
Leave generous time for Delhi traffic and airport security. Learn "dhanyavaad" (thank you) — it brings warm smiles everywhere.
Highlights
- ✦ Last chai
- ✦ Fly home from Delhi
Where to stay
The best neighbourhood to base yourself in each area, by budget. We point you to the right zone — then you pick and book the place that fits.
Delhi
- Backpacker · Paharganj
- The classic backpacker bazaar by New Delhi station — cheap and central.
- Mid-range · Hauz Khas / South Delhi
- Leafy, trendy neighbourhoods with boutique stays, cafés and bars.
- Comfort · Lutyens' / Aerocity
- Grand five-stars in the leafy government quarter or by the airport.
Agra
- Backpacker · Taj Ganj
- Budget rooms in the lanes by the Taj's south gate — walk to sunrise.
- Mid-range · Taj East Gate Road
- Comfortable hotels minutes from the eastern entrance.
- Comfort · Taj-view hotels
- Luxury hotels with rooms and terraces framing the Taj Mahal.
Jaipur
- Backpacker · Near the Pink City
- Hostels and guesthouses close to the old walled city and bazaars.
- Mid-range · Civil Lines / C-Scheme
- Leafy, central area with heritage havelis and boutique hotels.
- Comfort · Heritage palace hotels
- Converted royal palaces and grand havelis — Rajasthan at its most regal.
Jodhpur
- Backpacker · Old city (clock tower)
- Blue-city guesthouses with rooftop fort views around the bazaar.
- Mid-range · Old city havelis
- Characterful heritage havelis beneath Mehrangarh Fort.
- Comfort · Heritage & palace hotels
- Grand heritage properties, some with fort or palace views.
Jaisalmer
- Backpacker · Below the fort
- Budget havelis outside the fort walls (please don't stay inside the living fort).
- Mid-range · Old city havelis
- Carved sandstone havelis just below the golden fort.
- Comfort · Desert camps & resorts
- Luxury tented camps out on the dunes, or heritage hotels in town.
Udaipur
- Backpacker · Lal Ghat (old city)
- Lakeside guesthouses with rooftop cafés over Lake Pichola.
- Mid-range · Lake-view havelis
- Boutique heritage hotels with balconies over the water.
- Comfort · Lake palace luxury
- Iconic island and lakeshore palace hotels — pure romance.
Kerala (Kochi)
- Backpacker · Fort Kochi homestays
- Friendly family homestays in the atmospheric old town.
- Mid-range · Fort Kochi heritage
- Colonial-era boutique hotels walkable to the fishing nets.
- Comfort · Heritage hotels & backwater resorts
- Restored colonial mansions or luxury resorts out on the backwaters.
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At a glance
Best time to go
October to March is the best time across most of India, with cooler, dry, comfortable days — ideal for the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan. April–June is brutally hot (40 °C+ in the desert), and July–September brings the monsoon rains. Kerala in the south is also best November–March.
Currency
INR (₹)
Language
Hindi and English are both official, and English is widely spoken in tourism, hotels and transport — which makes India surprisingly easy to navigate. Hundreds of regional languages add to the rich mix.
Visa & entry
Most nationalities need an e-Visa, applied for online a few days before travel — straightforward and quick. Always check the current requirements and approved entry airports for your nationality.
Daily budget
India is exceptional value — plan roughly €40–85 per person per day for comfortable hotels, restaurant meals, trains and a car-and-driver for Rajasthan. Backpackers spend far less; at the top end, converted palace hotels are a world-class splurge. Figures are approximate.
Getting around
The legendary railways connect everywhere (book ahead on IRCTC); domestic flights cover the long hops south to Kerala. For Rajasthan, a hired car with driver is affordable, flexible and the easiest way to link the forts. In cities, use autorickshaws and the Uber/Ola apps.
Safety
India is generally safe for travellers, but stay streetwise: traffic is chaotic, touts and scams are common, and women should take extra precautions, especially at night. To dodge "Delhi belly", drink only bottled or filtered water, eat freshly cooked hot food, and ease into street food rather than diving in on day one.
Connectivity
A local SIM (Jio or Airtel) is cheap with good 4G, though it needs some paperwork — a travel eSIM is the hassle-free option. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés. Mobile payments (UPI) dominate locally, but cards and cash work fine for travellers.
What to pack — India
Our recommended gear for this trip — country-specific picks first, then the travel essentials we never leave home without.
- 🧣Scarf / shawl (temples & sun)→
- 💊Travel stomach & rehydration kit→
- 🦟Mosquito repellent→
- 👟Comfortable walking shoes→
- 🔌Universal travel adapter→
- 🧳Packing cubes→
- 🔋Power bank→
- 🎒Packable daypack→
- 💧Filtered water bottle→
- ⛑️Travel first-aid kit→
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Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit India? ＋
October to March, the cool dry season, is best for the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan and Kerala. Avoid April–June (extreme heat, especially in the desert) and the July–September monsoon, though the rains turn the south beautifully green.
Do I need a visa for India? ＋
Most nationalities need an e-Visa, which you apply for online a few days before travelling — it's quick and straightforward. Always check the current rules and approved entry airports for your nationality.
How do I avoid getting sick (“Delhi belly”)? ＋
Drink only bottled or filtered water (and skip ice you're unsure of), eat freshly cooked, hot, busy-restaurant food, peel fruit yourself, and ease into street food gradually. Carry hand sanitiser and basic stomach medicine, and consider travel vaccinations beforehand.
Sources
Last reviewed on June 4, 2026Facts in this guide were checked against the following sources.
- Incredible India (official tourism) — Destinations and travel basics
- India e-Visa (official government portal) — Visa & entry requirements
- Indian Railways (IRCTC) — Train travel & booking
- UNESCO World Heritage — India — Heritage sites (Taj Mahal, forts, Kerala)
⚠️ Prices, opening hours and transport times change — always verify the latest details before you travel.
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