Intrepid Travel

Delhi to Goa Tour

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From spice-filled bazaars to white sandy beaches, opulent palaces to spice plantations, discover India in all its glory on this well-balanced two-week adventure. Delve into a world of delicious street food, ride rickshaws through pulsing alleyways, stroll amid beautiful lakes and wooded hills, mingle with Mumbai merchants and explore centuries-old icons like Taj Mahal. Finish up on the shores of easy-going Goa, where yoga, cocktails and golden sands are all you need to chill out after the bustling big towns of India.

Highlights

Discover new and old Delhi Explore the incredible heritage quarter and circus-like Chowpatty Beach in Mumbai Witness the one and only Agra Taj Mahal Explore Jaipur and Udaipur Visit Jama Masjid at Delhi Visit Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) at Delhi Visit Amber Fort at Jaipur Visit Pushkar Savitri Temple Visit Pushkar Brahma Temple

Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi Arrive in the fun and frenetic capital and settle into your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 18:00. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these to provide to your leader. Afterwards, take an orientation walk and head out for an optional dinner with your fellow travellers. There are plenty of Urban Adventures you can book if you have spare time today. These chaotic streets are the perfect place to have an expert guide show you the ropes. Epicureans can get a taste of home-cooked Delhi, history buffs can take a Gandhi-focused excursion around town. Day 2: Delhi Start your day with a ride on the metro. Your tour takes us to Old Delhi, the heart of the city. Inch your way through the streets around the Chandni Chowk marketplace in true local style by cycle rickshaw. Perhaps visit the Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest (and India's largest) mosque, and then stop by the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple). Learn about the Sikh guru who, in the 17th century, stuck to his religious beliefs and paid the ultimate price in this very spot. This afternoon is free to explore more of Delhi's sights. Day 3: Agra Agra itself might not be the prettiest city in the world, but the minute you see its iconic sights, that won't matter one bit. You will arrive by one of India's express air-conditioned trains (approximately 3 hours), then head straight to the most recognisable sight in India. The Taj Mahal may well exceed your expectations as the light shimmers off its white marble surface. Best known as a monument to love and loss, the 17th century Taj is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture, surrounded by trimmed English gardens. The highlights keep coming as you take a motorised rickshaw tour around town, a great way to see the monuments of Agra. You can also visit Akbar's Mausoleum, a beautiful sandstone and marble tomb built for the greatest of the Mughal emperors. Day 4: Jaipur Travel by local bus to Rajasthan’s colourful capital, Jaipur. Settle in, then enjoy a walk through the streets of this ‘Pink City’. Use the rest of the day to explore the city on your own, perhaps visiting Jaipur's ornate Royal City Palace. Your accommodation for tonight is a family-run heritage hotel. In the evening, perhaps take the opportunity to see a Bollywood film. Jaipur is home to one of the world's great cinema halls, the grand art-deco Raj Mandir. Day 5: Jaipur For many travellers, an optional hot air balloon experience is one of the highlights of Jaipur. This optional ballooning activity is available from September and June. For additional information, please see the Important Notes section of the trip notes. In the afternoon today, visit the hilltop Amber Fort, an excellent example of Rajput architecture, and see the red stone palace of the Hawa Mahal (The Palace of the Winds). Take in its dazzling coloured glasswork and learn its interesting history. Day 6: Pushkar Travel to Pushkar by local bus and private vehicle via Ajmer. This is one of India's holiest towns and a market centre for the surrounding villages. Head out to explore the town on a walking tour, stopping in at the main bazaar along the way. Here you'll come across anything from sixties fashion clothing and glass lamps to jewellery and traditional Rajasthani puppets. Take a walk around Pushkar’s lake, which is considered sacred in Hindu culture and has interesting mythology behind it. Wander past the bustling ghats and temples, observing the devout as they worship at the holy waters. Day 7: Pushkar Early morning risers can hike up the hill to the Savitri Temple for sunrise views over the town. If the chai man is there, enjoy a steaming cup of tea at the top. Later in the day, you will pay a visit to the colourful Brahma Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu god. If you’re lucky enough to be in town for the Pushkar Camel Fair, you can experience one of India’s most famous festivals. It's held every November. Every effort is made to ensure that those travellers whose trip coincides with the festival get a chance to see the best of it. However, we cannot take responsibility if the dates of the fair change. Pushkar hotels raise their rates considerably during the festival, so departures across this period may be at a higher price. Although we make bookings months in advance, accommodation in Pushkar tends to overbook at this time, and accommodation and the order of activities may need to change. For this reason, we ask for a flexible approach from passengers who travel during this period. Day 8: Udaipur Continue on to our next destination today, travelling by private vehicle to Ajmer and then train to Udaipur. Known as the 'Venice of the East', this white city is often regarded as the most romantic in India. Set amid the Aravalli Hills, Udaipur curls around a huge lake. On arrival, take a walk to gather your bearings. Explore twisting alleyways filled with shops and bazaars selling things like silver jewellery, shoes, bags, leather goods and miniature paintings. Day 9: Udaipur Enjoy a free day to explore the sights of Udaipur. Perhaps take a short boat ride (seasonal) on the famous Lake Pichola and see the palaces of Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas rise out of the water. Take a guided tour of the lakeside City Palace complex, the largest palace in Rajasthan. While inside, check out vivid murals and royal antiques, and pop into the impressive Jagdish Temple that's dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Alternatively, learn the secrets behind making the perfect Indian thali during a half-day cooking class. Day 10: Udaipur Enjoy another free day in Udaipur before your overnight train to Mumbai. You might like to spend the day exploring Shilpgram, an interesting artistic neighbourhood located just a couple of kilometres away from town. Here you can see a range of village houses from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra with exhibitions on display (season depending). Board your overnight train to Mumbai from Falna station and settle in for a long but interesting journey. Day 11: Mumbai Wake up in Mumbai, perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in India. You will take a short walk through the heritage quarter of Mumbai, the nearby Gateway of India and the famous Taj Hotel. Discover some of the beautiful old colonial and art deco buildings, treat yourself to a meal in one of the country's best restaurants, or shop until you drop in the bazaars and malls. Later in the day, visit Chowpatty Beach where colourful crowds mill about in the cooler evening air. Palm readers, balloon sellers, magicians and acrobats all compete for your attention. A great optional activity is to visit Elephanta Island. Easily accessible by ferry from Mumbai, it's about 10 km from the south-east coast of the island city. Boats leave daily from the Gateway of India (approximately 1 hour each way). Day 12: Mumbai While away the day in magnificent Mumbai. Perhaps ride the excellent rail system and make your own discoveries around the city (it's a good idea to avoid the hectic peak hours). Tonight we board our next sleeper train to Goa. Day 13: Goa Arrive in Goa nice and early and check into your hotel. Take walk to acquaint yourself with Goa and its relaxed tropical atmosphere. You're bound to see the Portuguese influence that endures in the city's whitewashed churches. There's an optional visit to a local spice farm today, which gives you a fascinating look behind the rich aromas and flavours of some of India's essential ingredients. Goa's dense forested areas and favourable climatic conditions make it a perfect location to grow the spices liberally used in its cuisine. All the spice farms use organic methods of cultivation. A tour of the plantation culminates in a mouth-watering Goan buffet lunch. Day 14: Goa The day is yours to spend as you please. There's no shortage of things to do in this unique coastal spot. A bicycle trip into the lush countryside is a great option. For a more spiritual kind of exertion, spend the day seeking a little enlightenment with a touch of yoga. Otherwise, take this opportunity to relax on the beach or sip a cocktail at a local bar. Why not join the group for one last Indian feast this evening, the local seafood is a winner. Day 15: Goa Your trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast.

Includes

Accommodation: Hotel (12 nights), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights) Transportation: Overnight sleeper train, train, auto-rickshaw, cycle-rickshaw, metro, private vehicle, shuttle bus, public bus, taxi