8 Days Golden Triangle with Varanasi Tour Package

Day 1: Delhi Arrival

Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, our representative will warmly greet you. Kindly look for the placard with your name. You will then be escorted to your hotel. Check-in and relax. Day 1 is intentionally left unscheduled, allowing time to rest after a long journey.

Overnight in Delhi.

Day 2: Delhi City Tour

Have your breakfast. Today your tour will be divided into 2 different experiences—Old Delhi (Jama Masjid, markets of Chandni Chowk) and New Delhi (India Gate, Qutub Minar, Rashtrapati Bhavan).

We will start from Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the country. Its courtyard can alone hold up to 25,000 worshipers, and over six million tons of red sandstone and marble were used in its construction.

We will then proceed to discover the narrow but beautiful lanes of Chandni Chowk. Continue towards Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest wholesale spice market. Saffron and small-batch spice blends are recommended to buy from here.

For lunch or a quick bite in the area, we suggest Karim's, a Mughlai restaurant operating since 1913 near Jama Masjid, or Paranthe Wali Gali, a lane of longstanding shops specializing in stuffed parathas.

Late afternoon is reserved for New Delhi. We will drive past India Gate, President's House, Parliament House, and other Government Secretariat Buildings and then head to Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site also famous for being the largest brick minaret in the world (72.5 meters in height). Note – You can’t go inside Qutub Minar. The doors of the tower were closed to the general public after 1981, when 45 people lost their lives in a stampede.

For guests interested in trying more local food, we can recommend restaurant options. Try Indian curries (butter chicken).

Overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 3: Delhi to Agra, then Agra Sightseeing

After breakfast, we will start our journey towards the city of the Taj Mahal, Agra, via the Yamuna Expressway (approx. 230 kms from Delhi). The journey will take around 3.5 to 4 hours depending upon the traffic condition in Delhi.

Upon arrival in Agra, check in at your hotel. Freshen up and have lunch before moving ahead as per the itinerary. Post lunch, we will visit Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage site), situated alongside the Yamuna River, and it is also famous as "Lal-Qila" or "Qila-i-Akbari". The places even offer the stunning view of the Taj Mahal.

Next is the “Baby Taj" – known as the Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah, a stunning mausoleum in Agra. It was the first major Mughal architecture to be built entirely out of white marble.

Late afternoon is reserved for Mehtab Bagh, located just next to the Taj Mahal—a perfect spot to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal without the usual crowd. And at sunset, the experience is simply magical.

Evening, you can even indulge in shopping – Agra is famous for marble inlay handicrafts, leather goods, Zardozi textiles, and a sweet named Petha.

Overnight stay in Agra.

Day 4: Taj Mahal sunrise, then drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri and Chand Baori.

Set your alarm—the Taj Mahal opens thirty minutes before sunrise. And we strongly recommended the Taj Mahal tour at that time (roughly 6 AM to 8 AM). The temperature is cool. The crowd is smaller; you can actually stand at the main gate for that perfect shot, and nobody will be going to photobomb that shot.

Note—The Taj Mahal is closed to general visitors on Fridays. In such cases, we usually juggle the itinerary and cover Jaipur first.

What to bring: We recommend wearing comfortable shoes, maybe a light layer in the morning (for your comfort), and cash for the mausoleum surcharge.

Following the Taj Mahal tour, we will proceed towards Jaipur, which takes approx. 4.5–5 hours. En route, we will visit Fatehpur Sikri. This place, which was considered the heart of the Mughal Empire, has an interesting story behind it. It is believed that Emperor Akbar built this city as an act of gratitude after Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chishti predicted the birth of his son, Jahangir. However, the city was later abandoned due to a shortage of water.

The next stop is Chand Baori, a 1,200-year-old architectural marvel located in the village of Abhaneri, about 8 km north of Highway 21 (Jaipur – Agra). It is the deepest and oldest stepwell in Rajasthan. 3,500 steps in tight V-shaped tiers, dropping 20 meters straight into the ground. Half an hour is enough to spend here.

Arrive in Jaipur by early evening. You can also try any rooftop restaurant in Jaipur for dinner.

Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 5: Jaipur – The Pink City

Today, we will discover the pink city of India – Jaipur. Fun fact: The royal family still resides in a portion of the City Palace, right in the heart of the city.

We will start our Jaipur tour with Amber Fort, located just 11 km from the city centre. The fort holds the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan. A major highlight here is the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors). The ceiling is designed with mirrored pieces in such a way that just two burning candles can illuminate the entire room.

Fun fact – Many Bollywood movies, like Jodhaa Akbar and Bajirao Mastani, have shot sequences in the Amber Fort.

Continuing our journey, we will visit the City Palace, still the royal family’s actual home. A portion of the palace is still open to the public as a museum. We will then make a stop outside Hawa Mahal for a quick photo.

The next stop is Jantar Mantar – Jai Singh II's outdoor observatory built in 1734, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The observatory has the world's largest stone sundial, called the "Samrat Yantra".

Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 6: Jaipur to Varanasi by Flight

Morning is free to explore. You can go for shopping - Johari Bazaar if jewellery interests you, Bapu Bazaar is for block-printed fabrics, mojaris, Jaipuri quilts.

You will then be transferred to Jaipur International Airport (JAI) for a flight to Varanasi. If no direct flights are available, then will be drive back to Delhi (about 280 km, five hours)  to take a direct flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport.

On arrival in Varanasi (VNS, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport), transfer to your hotel. Relax. You can also explore nearby ghats.

Overnight in Varanasi.

Day 7: Varanasi – The Ghats, Sarnath, and the Evening Aarti

We will start early today at around 5:30 AM.

First, we will do a private boat ride on the Ganga starting from Assi Ghat. It will be a 60-90 mins ride. What to expect? The city is waking up in the most literal sense, pilgrims taking their morning dip in the river regardless of the season or the temperature and priests performing the Subah-e-Banaras (a smaller version of the evening aarti). Furthermore, we will pass through Manikarnika Ghat—the main cremation ghat where pyres burn round the clock, every day of the year. No photos here please.

Morning is incomplete in Varanasi without having a kulhad chai – tea served in a small clay cup. Before heading back, you should try one. In fact, you can ask our driver if you want to skip the hotel's breakfast and want to try any local dish.

Sarnath: The next stop is Sarnath, just 10 km north-east of Varanasi. Sarnath is also an important holy site for Jainism. It is said that Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment here, setting the "Wheel of Dharma" in motion. Dhamek Stupa, a massive 43.6-metre stupa, is still there, marking the exact spot where Buddha first taught his five disciples.

Evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat: This one is non-negotiable. The Ganga aarti lasts about 45 minutes and runs every single evening without a break (6:30 PM in winter and 7:00 PM in summer). We highly recommend reaching the ghat steps by 5:30 or 6 PM, a full hour before it actually starts. Dressed in saffron and gold robes, seven priests perform this ritual in perfect synchronisation, holding multi-tiered lamps and bells, chanting, and burning incense.

Note – Keep flashes low near the priests.

Return to hotel.

Overnight in Varanasi.

Day 8: Morning at the Ghats, then Fly to Delhi

Before departing from Varanasi, it is recommended to try some famous local food like kachori sabzi, a deep-fried lentil ball, served with potato curry. A few famous spots here are Ram Bhandar or Neelu Kachori Bhandar. And if you happen to come here between November and February, don't leave without trying malaiyo, a light form like sweet made from milk and saffron.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi (about one hour), then onward to your international connection or final destination. Your driver will confirm ahead of time whether you're dropped at IGI directly or need to transit to a different terminal for your connecting flight.