Colors of India: Holi, Taj Mahal, & Tigers with Caitlyn Lubas

NOTE: Arrival time and date may depend on individual flights. You may arrive past midnight early on March 7 and be brought straight to your hotel.

-Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel to begin your adventure tomorrow.

-After sleeping in to recover from our late-night arrival, we will have breakfast, begin getting to know each other, and meet our private guide and driver.

-We’ll set out for a tour of New Delhi for the day, soaking up the electric vibes of the city and seeing its iconic landmarks like Humayun Tomb, Lutyens Delhi, India Gate, Nizamuddin Dargah, the Bangala Saheb Gurudwara, and Gandhi Smriti. We will also stop for lunch along the way.

-Tonight, we will enjoy an authentic Bengali dinner with a local in her home to get a taste of India’s diverse food culture. It doesn’t get more “real” than from family homes, where recipes have passed on and evolved through generations.

-After fueling up with a hearty breakfast, we are going on a bike tour, visiting Connaught Place, India Gate & Rajpath & Agrasen Ki Baoli.

-Later we will visit the Partition Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art & The National Museum. Each stop gives us even deeper insight into Delhi and India’s culture at large. We’ll also stop for a tasty lunch at Lota Cafe. A deeper exploration of Humayun’s Tomb and the Sunken Museum post lunch.

-After a busy day, we will have free time to grab dinner wherever we choose. We will have a list of foreigner-friendly eateries to pick from.

-Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we set out for another unique day of discovery!

-We will explore the ancient area of Old Delhi and some of its highlights like the Red Fort and Jama Masjid. We will also explore the local markets via a tricycle rickshaw tour of Chandni Chowk and walking through Khari Baoli, Asia’s biggest spice market. After haggling for goods, we stop for lunch and a little rest before our next activity.

-In the afternoon, we will hike Tughlaqabad, featuring ruins of a fort from this lost city.

-The rest of the night is yours from here. We grab dinner wherever we choose.

-After an early morning final Delhi breakfast, we’ll pack up our bags and head to our next city.

-Our drive to Agra will take about 4 hours, offering great views of India as we drive.

-We will check into our hotel and have lunch before we continue our exploration.

-We’ll head out on a tour of some of Agra’s monuments, such as Agra Fort, Itimat-Ud-Daulah, and John Hessing's Tomb (Red Taj Mahal) showcasing the history and stories of the city.

-After our tour, we will return to the hotel, then we are free for dinner and exploration at our own cadence.

-This morning we’ll check off the much awaited visit to the Taj Mahal at sunrise to avoid the crowds and get stunning photos in the early morning golden hour light.

-We’ll return to the hotel, eat breakfast, check out, and we’ll get a glimpse of rural India during a walking tour of the ancient village of Kachpura. Come back to a boutique hotel for a traditional Thali Lunch, and then head to Ranthambore.

-About 3 hours into the drive, we will stop to visit the architectural wonder of the Abhaneri Stepwell. You’ll have seen Agrasen ki Baoli in Delhi, but this one beats any other.

-After a final 3 hour stretch of driving, we’ll arrive in Ranthambhore in the evening and check into our hotel where dinner is included.

-As the sun rises over Ranthambore, we’ll have breakfast to prepare for a full day of game drives.

-Our entire day is dedicated to exploring this incredible game reserve known to be the best place to spot the celebrated Indian tigers in their natural habitat. As we keep our eyes peeled for tigers, we will also see an array of diverse plant species and wildlife, such as Sambhar Deer, Indian Gazelle, Blue Bull (Nilgai), Spotted Deer, Langhur Monkey, Sloth Bear, leopards, and many birds. In between our morning and afternoon safaris, we’ll have a lunch included at the hotel.

-After a full day out, with hopefully a lucky tiger sighting, we’ll return to the hotel for dinner.

-Breakfast, pack up, and head out – our routine of transition continues, and it’s onto Jaipur, our final city!

-After our 4 hour drive, we will check into our hotel and quickly settle before heading out to begin our tour. Lunch will be a pre-set homestyle spread at the hotel.

-We will explore some of the highlights of Jaipur today, such as Amer Fort, Jal Mahal Gaitore ki Chhatri, Anokhi Textile Museum, Amrapali Silver, Jewelry Museum, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, and Patrika Gate.

-Once we are done, we will return to the hotel, and the rest of our night is free to explore how we wish.

-Today is Holi, a Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of spring, the triumph of good over evil, and the love between Radha and Krishna. Grab breakfast before we join the celebrations dressed in all white attire that will be provided for you.

-It’s time to join the fun, throwing colored waters and powders to create a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors. The energy is incredible and the vibes are high. We will also share a special lunch together.

-After a long lazy lunch, we will return to the hotel to freshen up. During the rest of the day’s free time, you can opt to join in on a drive around the city to witness all the action of Holi from a safe distance (it can get crazy out there!).

-It’s our final full day in India, so make sure you grab an early breakfast to energize and get all we can out of our exploration.

-We will take the famed women-operated pink city rickshaw tour of Jaipur, featuring a visit to the stunning Flower Market, Govind Devji Temple, and the iconic Hawa Mahal.

-For lunch, embark on a sensory journey through the glittering streets, aromatic spices, and delectable local dishes guided by a local chef — a culinary adventure where you can indulge in the city's vibrant street food scene and immerse yourself in its bustling bazaars. This tour takes you to hidden local gems, fresh markets, spice vendors, tea stalls, and more. The tour is not just about food; it also delves into Jaipur's historical backgrounds, local architecture details, and social aspects.

-With full stomachs, we will take a moderate afternoon hike around Aravali range with views of the Amer town, Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary, the old ramparts and fortification Jaigarh Fort, Sagar Lake, and an ancient temple.

-Tonight's free to explore Jaipur’s bazaars and street food delights, soaking up the unique vibes of India in our last moments here.

-It’s time to head home after an incredible adventure. Grab your final breakfast, pack up your bags, and grab your ride to the airport.

-If your flight departs later in the day and time allows, join an optional add-on block printing workshop at Rangotri studio, teaching you about basic principles, equipment, and dyes involved in this craft. You’ll create your own block printed apron, fabric bag, and handmade paper notebook to take home as the most unique souvenirs!

-As you depart, reflect on the incredible memories you’ve made here. Though we have only scratched the surface of this incredible nation, we are sure that you’ll be dreaming of a return trip already.