Itinerary
- Day 1
Delhi
You'll arrive in Delhi, India's capital, and there's a 6 pm welcome meeting where you'll meet your trip leader and fellow travelers. If you get there early, the streets are worth walking through—chaotic and full of energy. Grab some chai, try haggling in the markets, and ask your leader where locals go out in the evening. It's a good way to shake off travel fatigue and get oriented.
Optional Activities
- Wander the streets of Delhi
- Sip chai at local spots
- Haggle in local markets
- Visit nightlife spots
Landmarks Delhi 
- Day 2
Delhi to Tordi
You'll take a train ride through the countryside heading to Tordi, a small village in Rajasthan that doesn't see many visitors. You're staying in an 18th-century palace, which is quite different from typical hotels. From there, you can walk out to see the ruined temple and fortress nearby, then sit down for a home-cooked dinner prepared by your host. It's a quieter, more personal kind of day.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked dinner at palace)
Included Activities
- Train journey through countryside
- Explore ruined temple near Tordi
- Explore fortress near Tordi
- Home-cooked dinner at palace
Landmarks Tordi - Day 3
Tordi to Jaipur
There's an optional sunrise hike if you're up for it—you'll get views across the town and surrounding countryside, plus chai and cookies at the top. Later, you'll head to Jaipur, known as the Pink City. Once you arrive, walk through the bazaars and backstreets, check out the Royal City Palace, try some local street food as you wander, and catch a Bollywood film at Raj Mandir Cinema in the evening. It's a full day of taking in the local culture.
Included Activities
- Leader-led walking & market tour in Jaipur
- Visit Royal City Palace (Jaipur)
Optional Activities
- Sunrise hike from Tordi
- Haggling at bazaars in Jaipur
- Explore backstreets in Jaipur
- Try raj kachori chaat street food
- Visit Lassiwala lassi shop on MI road
- Watch Bollywood film at Raj Mandir Cinema
Landmarks Royal City Palace Raj Mandir Cinema Lassiwala 
- Day 4
Jaipur
Start with an optional hot air balloon ride if you want a different perspective of the Pink City and the surrounding area. Then you'll visit Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds, which is that five-storey structure with all the honeycombed windows you've probably seen in photos. After that, head up to Amber Fort, the complex built on a hilltop in what used to be the old capital. You'll have free time later to find restaurants and decide where to eat dinner.
Included Activities
- Visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)
- Explore Amber Fort
Optional Activities
- Early morning hot air balloon ride over Jaipur
- Biryani or chicken tikka masala dinner
Landmarks Hawa Mahal Amber Fort - Day 5
Jaipur to Agra
You're traveling by public bus to Agra, which means you'll experience how locals get around and share the ride with regular commuters. Once you arrive, you'll see the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most recognizable symbol of India. Spend time there, absorb what you're seeing, and take photos. It lives up to what you've probably imagined.
Included Activities
- Visit Taj Mahal
Optional Activities
- Public bus ride to Agra
Landmarks Taj Mahal - Day 6
Agra to Varanasi
This day is yours to spend however you like in Agra. You could visit Agra Fort, which has palatial gardens and impressive red sandstone architecture. Or check out Sheroes Hangout, a restaurant run as a social enterprise that supports acid attack survivors—the food is good and the mission matters. By evening, you'll head to the train station to board an overnight train headed to Varanasi.
Optional Activities
- Visit Agra Fort
- Explore palatial gardens at Agra Fort
- Dine at Sheroes Hangout
Landmarks Agra Fort Sheroes Hangout - Day 7
Varanasi
You'll arrive in Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India and the place Hindu pilgrims come from all over to visit. The city is packed with temples, shrines, and people devoted to their spiritual practice. Spend the day moving around at your own pace, exploring what draws you. If you're interested, you can try yoga at spots focused on chakra balancing, or just sit quietly and take in the meditative atmosphere. This evening is for getting rested before an early morning.
Optional Activities
- Practice yoga at chakra-balancing spots
- Soak in meditative surroundings
- Explore temples and shrines
Landmarks Varanasi 
- Day 8
Varanasi
You'll get up early and head out on a boat ride along the Ganges as the sun comes up. You'll see the ghats, which are the stone stairs leading down to the water, and pass temples while watching thousands of pilgrims bathe in what they consider holy water. The light at sunrise colors everything in shades of amber and orange. After that boat ride, you'll take an auto rickshaw through the oldest part of the city, moving through narrow alleyways filled with incense, watching rituals that have been performed for centuries.
Included Activities
- Sunrise boat trip along the sacred Ganges
- Leader-led Old City walking tour
Optional Activities
- Auto rickshaw ride through oldest part of city
- Explore maze of narrow alleyways
- Visit small shops and stalls
Landmarks Ganges River - Day 9
Varanasi to Lumbini
It's a long travel day heading to the Sunauli border crossing between India and Nepal. Once you cross over, you'll arrive in Lumbini, which is where Gautama Buddha was born and one of the four most important pilgrimage sites in Buddhism. You'll see the Ashoka Pillars there, and you can take cycle rickshaws to Maya Devi Temple, the actual location where Buddha is believed to have been born. The journey is tiring but the arrival is meaningful.
Included Activities
- Visit Heritage Park (Lumbini)
- Visit Maya Devi Temple
Optional Activities
- Explore Ashoka Pillars
- Cycle rickshaw rides through Lumbini
Landmarks Maya Devi Temple Ashoka Pillars - Day 10
Lumbini to Chitwan National Park
You're heading to Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in Asia to see wildlife. Rhinos, deer, monkeys, and many different bird species live here, including the Nepalese wild chicken. Your lodge sits close to the park, so you'll fall asleep to sounds of nature. If you're lucky, you might hear something bigger, like a tiger, though that's rare.
Included Activities
- Chitwan National Park entry
Optional Activities
- Wildlife viewing
Landmarks Chitwan National Park 
- Day 11
Chitwan National Park
You'll get in a jeep with a local guide for a safari drive through Chitwan National Park. Keep your eyes out for elephants and rhinos—they're more commonly spotted. The park has around 100 Bengal Tigers, so there's always the chance of seeing one, though it's not guaranteed. In the afternoon, your lodge offers different activities like biking, bird watching, cultural performances, canoe rides, or visits to nearby villages. You can pick what sounds good to you.
Included Activities
- Jeep safari through Chitwan National Park
Optional Activities
- Mountain biking through the park
- Bird watching
- Cultural performances
- Canoe rides
- Village tours
Landmarks Chitwan National Park - Day 12
Chitwan to Kathmandu
You'll travel to Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, which has a particular scent from all the patchouli in the air. When you arrive, there's an optional massage or yoga session if you want to relax. After that, you can see the large Buddhist Stupa at Boudhanath or walk through narrow streets where holy men, monks, bicycles, and sacred cows all move together. Try traditional sweets like jalebi if you get hungry, and later have dinner with your group and explore the nightlife a bit.
Optional Activities
- Massage or yoga session
- Visit Boudhanath Stupa
- Wander narrow streets of Kathmandu
- Try traditional jalebi sweets
- Nightlife and dinner with group
Landmarks Boudhanath Stupa - Day 13
Kathmandu
Your tour ends this morning and there aren't any scheduled activities. If you want to stay longer and see more of Kathmandu, Urban Adventures offers a day tour that can help you explore the city further and understand it better before you leave.
Optional Activities
- Urban Adventures day tour of Kathmandu
- Extend stay in Kathmandu
