Classic India
A private 14-day passage through India’s Mughal cities, Rajasthan palaces, tiger country and the sacred riverfront of Varanasi.
Classic India is a private route through the country’s best-known monuments and several quieter counterpoints. Delhi introduces the Mughal and modern capitals; Udaipur slows the pace beside Lake Pichola; Jaipur and Alwar move from royal architecture into rural Rajasthan. Two safari days in Ranthambore lead to Agra for the Taj Mahal, before the journey closes on the ghats of Varanasi. The order, hotel level and daily timing can be adjusted around your flights and interests. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and monument access, domestic flights and room categories are checked again before the trip is confirmed.
- Duration
- 14 Days | 13 Nights
- Location
- Delhi · Udaipur · Jaipur · Alwar · Ranthambore · Agra · Varanasi
- Difficulty
- Easy | Privately paced cultural journey
- Season
- October to March
- Group
- Private journey for 1-8 guests
Journey highlights
- Private sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola with Udaipur’s palaces and the Aravalli hills around you.
- Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in Ranthambore with an experienced naturalist.
- Taj Mahal at sunrise, followed by Agra Fort and time to rest before the flight east.
- Old Delhi by rickshaw, Bangla Sahib’s community kitchen and New Delhi’s garden tombs.
- Amber Fort, Jaipur’s old city and a women-led Pink Rickshaw ride through its bazaars.
- Bhangarh and the Alwar countryside, with two slower nights away from the larger cities.
- Varanasi’s lanes, Sarnath, evening Ganga Aarti and a private dawn boat on the Ganges.
- Private vehicle, local specialist guides and named hotel options confirmed before payment.
Full itinerary
New Delhi — Arrival & Private Transfer
Receive VIP assistance on arrival and meet the local team for a private transfer to your hotel. Most international services arrive later in the day, so the first evening stays deliberately open for rest, dinner and a quiet start.
Stay: The Leela Palace / The Oberoi Gurgaon or similar
Meals: Meals on your own
New Delhi — Old City, Langar & Garden Tombs
Cross Old Delhi by cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, visit Jama Masjid and spend time at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, including its community kitchen. Continue through New Delhi past India Gate and the government quarter, then visit Humayun’s Tomb and the Lotus Temple.
Stay: The Leela Palace / The Oberoi Gurgaon or similar
Meals: Breakfast included
Udaipur — Flight & Lake Pichola at Sunset
Fly to Udaipur and settle into a lakeside hotel. Late afternoon is reserved for a private boat ride on Lake Pichola as the light moves across City Palace and the Aravalli hills. An optional dinner at the historic House of Bedla introduces recipes preserved by a family of former royal chefs.
Stay: Taj Lake Palace / The Leela Palace / Oberoi Udaivilas or similar
Meals: Breakfast included
Udaipur — Palaces, Temples & Old Town
Explore the City Palace complex, its courtyards and lake views, followed by the royal vintage car collection and Jagdish Temple. End with a guided walk through the old city’s lanes, workshops and small markets.
Stay: Taj Lake Palace / The Leela Palace / Oberoi Udaivilas or similar
Meals: Breakfast included
Jaipur — Fly to the Pink City
Take a short flight to Jaipur. Visit City Palace and Jantar Mantar before joining a women-led Pink Rickshaw ride through the old city, with Hawa Mahal and the evening bazaars along the way.
Stay: Rajmahal Palace RAAS / Rambagh Palace / Oberoi Rajvilas or similar
Meals: Breakfast included
Jaipur — Amber Fort & Rural Lunch
Leave the city early for Amber Fort, walking through its gateways, mirror work and hilltop courtyards with a private guide. Continue to Dera Amer in the Aravalli foothills for lunch and a responsible encounter with rehabilitated working elephants, then return to Jaipur.
Stay: Rajmahal Palace RAAS / Rambagh Palace / Oberoi Rajvilas or similar
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included
Alwar — Aravalli Villages & Quiet Rajasthan
An optional sunrise balloon flight can be added before the private drive to Alwar. Check into Amanbagh, then take a late-afternoon village drive through the Aravalli landscape with time for chai and local conversation.
Stay: Amanbagh or comparable private countryside retreat
Meals: Breakfast included
Alwar — Bhangarh, Neelkanth & Mansarovar
Visit the atmospheric remains of Bhangarh before the day grows hot, then continue to Neelkanth Temple. Later, take a traditional shikara on Mansarovar Lake and return to the retreat with time to use the property’s facilities.
Stay: Amanbagh or comparable private countryside retreat
Meals: Breakfast included
Ranthambore — Drive & First Safari
Drive to Ranthambore and check into a wildlife lodge near the national park. After lunch and a short rest, head out by jeep with a naturalist for the first safari through dry forest, lakes and rocky ridges. Tiger sightings cannot be promised.
Stay: Aman-i-Khas / Oberoi Vanyavilas / SUJAN Sher Bagh or similar
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Ranthambore — Two Safari Drives
Spend the day around the park with morning and afternoon jeep safaris assigned across available zones. Between drives, return to the lodge for breakfast, rest and lunch. The naturalist will look beyond tigers to deer, langur, crocodiles and the park’s birdlife.
Stay: Aman-i-Khas / Oberoi Vanyavilas / SUJAN Sher Bagh or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Agra — Fatehpur Sikri & Mughal Forts
Travel by road to Agra, stopping at the preserved Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri. Continue to Agra Fort with a private guide, then check into your hotel. Taj-facing rooms can be requested but depend on the chosen property and live inventory.
Stay: The Oberoi Amarvilas or similar
Meals: Breakfast included
Varanasi — Taj Mahal at Dawn & Flight East
Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the grounds are usually quieter and the marble changes with the morning light. Return for breakfast, transfer to Delhi Airport and fly to Varanasi, where a private driver meets you for the hotel transfer.
Stay: Nadesar Palace
Meals: Breakfast included
Varanasi — Old City, Sarnath & Ganga Aarti
Walk the old city with a local guide, passing temples, shrines, markets and neighbourhood courtyards. Visit Sarnath in the afternoon, then return to the river for the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony from a reserved boat or riverside position.
Stay: Nadesar Palace
Meals: Breakfast included
Departure — Dawn on the Ganges & Delhi Connection
Take a private boat on the Ganges at dawn as the ghats wake for prayer and bathing. Return for breakfast, a slow morning and an early lunch before the flight to Delhi. On arrival, transfer privately to a hotel to refresh before returning to the airport for your onward international flight.
Stay: Departure day; Delhi day room on request
Meals: Breakfast included
Pricing and planning
USD 17,800 / INR ₹17,10,000
- Luxury: USD 17,800 / INR ₹17,10,000. From, per person, twin sharing. Dates, room category and availability are checked again before payment.
Inclusions
- 13 nights in the confirmed hotel category on double or twin sharing.
- Daily breakfast and meals specifically listed in the final proposal.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for road transfers and touring.
- Private airport transfers and domestic-sector coordination.
- English-speaking local guides for the planned city visits.
- Monument entries and experiences explicitly listed in the confirmed proposal.
- Lake Pichola boat ride, Ranthambore safaris and private Ganges boat ride, subject to availability and operating conditions.
- 24/7 Himalayan Locals trip coordination while travelling.
Exclusions
- International flights and visa costs.
- Domestic flights unless the final proposal says they are included.
- Meals, drinks and room service not listed in the confirmed plan.
- Travel insurance, medical costs and evacuation.
- Tips, laundry, shopping and personal expenses.
- Optional activities and hotel upgrades requested after confirmation.
- Costs caused by flight disruption, park closure, weather or force majeure.
- GST and payment charges shown separately on the final invoice.
Questions before you book
Is this an exact fixed itinerary?
No. It is a private example route. The city order can stay as shown, or the team can adjust nights, hotels, flights and daily pacing around your dates.
Are the named hotels guaranteed?
Hotel names are planning references, not automatic confirmations. The final proposal lists the available property, room category, meal plan and cancellation terms before payment.
Is a tiger sighting guaranteed in Ranthambore?
No. Safaris are genuine wildlife drives and sightings cannot be guaranteed. Park zones, vehicles and naturalists are subject to permit inventory and park rules.
What is the best time for Classic India?
October to March usually offers the most comfortable weather across Delhi, Rajasthan, Ranthambore, Agra and Varanasi. December and January can bring fog that affects flights and road timing.
Can domestic flights be included?
Yes. The final quote can include all planned domestic sectors, baggage allowances and private airport transfers, or flights can remain separate if you prefer to book them yourself.
How is the final price calculated?
The published starting price for this 14-day journey is USD 17,800 per person. The final quote depends on dates, room category, group size, domestic airfares and safari inventory; an INR equivalent can be prepared using the applicable billing exchange rate.