Highlights
- Visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal
- Visit spectacular sites and palaces like City Palace Museum and Hawa Mahal
- Visit Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace
- Embark on a houseboat and take an unforgettable riding experience across the Kerala backwaters
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Delhi
Post your arrival at Delhi International airport, you will be greeted by our welcome ambassador. You will then be escorted to the hotel. Arrive at Delhi International Airport, which is India's most prominent and busiest airport. The site is large, spreading across 2066 hectares, and lies 16 km away from New Delhi city centre. Check-in and overnight stay at a hotel to prepare you for the trip ahead.
Day 2 Delhi Diaries
Post your breakfast in the hotel, drive past the majestic Red Fort, a 17th-century fort which is built in red marble and served as the main residence of Mughal emperors. You will then be taken to Jama Masjid whose grandiose architecture is appreciated worldwide. The mosque can house nearly 25,000 people. Take an enthralling rickshaw ride and admire the daily-life in the city. Soothe your taste buds with vivid cuisines available. Next, drive-by around the magnificent India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan( House of India's President). Optionally, you can take a city walk with children from Salaam Baalak Trust, who have been rescuing, sheltering, and offering education to children from the streets.
Day 3 Agra Calling
After your breakfast at the hotel, check-out and take a drive to the glorious city of Agra. The city served as a prominent trade centre and capital under the Mughal emperors’ houses three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The vivid markets and architectural structures across the city depict the Indo-Islamic heritage. Check-in at the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure roaming the city as you like. As an optional endeavour, you can check-out the much-celebrated Agra Fort. The fort served as the main residence of Mughal emperors and is often called a walled city with a charm of its own.
Day 4 The Glorious Taj
Go on an early morning visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal situated on the southern bank of the river Yamuna. Part of the seven wonders of the world, the reflective floral effect on the white marble structure, is an exhilarating sight to watch at sunrise. Return to the hotel for breakfast and check-out, and drive to the city of Jaipur. The capital city of Rajasthan is known for its rich heritage of courage, traditions, and royalty. Check-in at the hotel and have some refreshments. Here, you can also opt to visit interesting historical sites like Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri Stepwells, an important jewel in the glorious history of Rajasthan.
Day 5 The Pink City
After breakfast, you will visit the City Palace Museum, a key tourist attraction of the city. The Palace served as the ceremonial and administrative seat of the Maharaja till 1949. Apart from the architectural beauty of the palace, the presence of multiple unseen, delicate and exotic artefacts, paintings and weapons make it a must-visit place. Next, visit the Hawa Mahal that is present at the edge of City Palace. The 5-floor palace complex is akin to a honeycomb with 953 windows ensuring the presence of wind at all times. As an optional activity, you can next visit Amer Fort, situated on a ridge outside Jaipur City. It has been a strategic site for multiple battles and whose walls and corridors sing the legends of the fallen heroes.
Day 6 Time to Visit Kochi
Leave Jaipur city after breakfast and drive to Delhi airport to catch a flight to Kochi. De-board the flight in Cochin airport and check-in at the hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure or take up independent activities like discovering markets and places in the vicinity of the hotel. The city of Kochi depicts a strong influence of European countries. Being a major port city for India for 600 years, the city is a prime example of harmony amongst vivid cultures.
Day 7 Witness Diversity at its Best
Post breakfast, you will begin your Kochi tour. First in the stop is the imperial Jewish Synagogue, a 1568 structure beautifully decorated with Belgian chandeliers and Chinese tiles. After this, visit the Dutch Palace built by Portuguese featuring exhibits and portraits of Kings of Kochi. It is also known as Mattancherry Palace. The next attraction of the day is the Chinese fishing nets. The presence of these fishing nets in the region reflects the strong foreign influence owing to Kochi's history as a major trading port. Interestingly, Kochi is the only place where you will find these gnats outside China. You can opt to watch an elegant and enlivening Kathakali dance performance.
Day 8 Spice Time in Thekkady
After breakfast, you will be driven to Thekkady. The place is a radiant centre of picturesque landscapes and regional fauna. The dense and green forest and breeze of cool air flowing in the air enrichen anyone around. Check-in at the hotel, followed by a visit to the spice plantation later in the afternoon. Witness an exciting range of spices grown, segregated by small farms, making the entire area a picture book depiction. Sense the tingling in your nostrils when the strong aroma of these spices hit them. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 House Boat Ride Across Kerala Backwaters
After your breakfast, embark on a houseboat, which is huge slow-moving barges. The interiors of the boat are decorated to offer you an unmissable experience. Watch out for the flavoursome tapioca – a local favourite. You will continue riding in the boat across Kerala backwaters passing through numerous glittering towns and cities. Enjoy traditional Kerala lunch onboard. The meal is a splendid collection of the salivary flavours of traditional and authentic Kerala dishes. You will taste the flavorful local favourite Tapioca. Dinner and overnight on the houseboat. You will embark on houseboats, a major tourist attraction in India. These houseboats are usually 18-21 meters long and 15 meters wide at the centre. You will stay on the houseboats overnight sailing across Kerala backwaters.
Day 10 Drive to Kumarakom
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel. Pack and check-out and drive to Kumarakom, a splendid hub of biodiversity in Kerala. Kumarakom is a pictorial blend of mangrove forests, rice paddies, coconut palms, and splendid plants. The calm and surreal environment makes it an ideal place to study yoga and meditation. Check-in at the hotel and the rest of the day is for independent activities. If you want then you may visit Philipkutty’s Farm which is on a small farm island in adjacent Vembanad lake. Enjoy the delicious Syrian Christian cuisine at the farm with exotic fruits, duck, chicken, and fish items. Take part in farm activities and retreat to the hotel.
Day 11 Relax in Kumarakom
This day is reserved for leisure activities where you can relax and reminisce about the beauty of your entire tour. You are free to take up multiple optional activities. Relax and let the ayurvedic therapies at your hotel calm your mind and naturally rejuvenate your body. You can visit Kumarakom bird Sanctuary, famous for exotic migratory birds. If not then take a tour of the village and enjoy village activities and mind-ravishing picturesque landscapes, led by a guide. Since Kumarakom is near Vembanad lake, the sunset becomes an endearing part of the evening. Embark on a sunset cruise organized for you and witness the pictorial sunset with waves splashing on your boats.
Day 12 Time to bid farewell
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and head for a drive towards Cochin airport for boarding the flight for your onward journey.
