How many nights do I need?

We suggest 8–15 nights. Our India packages can be extended or shortened to suit you.

Can I combine India with another destination?

Yes. Many travellers pair it with a neighbouring destination — use the trip builder or mention it in your inquiry.

Taj Mahal reflected in the long garden pool lined with cypress trees, Agra

Asia · 2 holiday packages

India

Q: Do I need a visa?

Requirements depend on your nationality. Please check official government guidance; we can point you to the right resources.

Palaces, spice markets and backwater calm

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Why go to India

From the Golden Triangle’s forts and palaces to Kerala’s backwaters, India is endlessly varied and vivid.

Most travellers begin in Delhi. Our specialists typically suggest 8–15 nights to see the highlights without rushing — longer if you’d like to combine regions or add beach time.

Best time: Oct–Mar
Suggested length: 8–15 nights
Packages from: $2,028 pp
Main gateway: Delhi
Time zone: UTC+5:30
Currency: Indian rupee (INR)

India at a glance

Republic of India

Capital: New Delhi
Region: Southern Asia, Asia
Currency: Indian rupee (INR)
Languages: English, Hindi, Tamil
Dialling code: +91
ISO codes: IN · IND · 356
Local time: —Asia/Kolkata

Country details are maintained by our travel specialists. Live weather is provided by an external service and updates automatically.

Live weather

New Delhi

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Best time to visit

Recommended: Oct–MarPossible, with trade-offs

Key attractions & experiences

Taj Mahal

The white marble tomb Emperor Shah Jahan raised for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, set in a walled Mughal garden on the Yamuna and inscribed by UNESCO in 1983.

Ochre walls and domed towers of Amber Fort under a blue sky, Jaipur

Amber (Amer) Fort

A honey-coloured sandstone palace-fortress on a ridge about 11 km from central Jaipur, famed for its mirrored Sheesh Mahal and its reflection in Maota Lake.

Traditional thatched houseboat on palm-lined backwaters beside green paddy fields, Alappuzha

Kerala Backwaters: Alappuzha and Kumarakom

A maze of canals, rivers and lakes around Alappuzha and Kumarakom, where converted rice barges called kettuvallams drift past paddy fields, coconut groves and village life on Vembanad Lake.

Riverside ghats and old buildings of Varanasi seen across the Ganges in soft morning haze

Varanasi Ghats and the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh

A long arc of stone steps, temples and old palaces lines the Ganga in Varanasi. Every evening at dusk, priests at Dashashwamedh Ghat perform the Ganga Aarti with tiered brass lamps, conches and chanting.

Destination guide

Explore 30 places in India

Landmarks, sacred sites, islands, parks and food streets — each with its story, the best time to go and what’s nearby.

30 places in India

Landmark

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Taj Mahal

The white marble tomb Emperor Shah Jahan raised for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, set in a walled Mughal garden on the Yamuna and inscribed by UNESCO in 1983.

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Heritage

Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Amber (Amer) Fort

A honey-coloured sandstone palace-fortress on a ridge about 11 km from central Jaipur, famed for its mirrored Sheesh Mahal and its reflection in Maota Lake.

Explore

Nature

Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, Kerala

Kerala Backwaters: Alappuzha and Kumarakom

A maze of canals, rivers and lakes around Alappuzha and Kumarakom, where converted rice barges called kettuvallams drift past paddy fields, coconut groves and village life on Vembanad Lake.

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Religious site

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi Ghats and the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh

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Red sandstone gateway and round bastions of Agra Fort under a deep blue sky, with visitors entering

Heritage

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Agra Fort

Akbar's red sandstone citadel, later filled with Shah Jahan's marble palaces, where the emperor spent his last years looking towards the Taj Mahal. A UNESCO site since 1983.

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The Taj Mahal and its mosque seen across the Yamuna from the north bank near Mehtab Bagh, in soft hazy light

Viewpoint

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Mehtab Bagh

A restored Mughal charbagh garden directly across the Yamuna from the Taj Mahal, prized for calm, uncrowded views of the mausoleum, especially in the late afternoon.

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The red sandstone and marble prayer hall of Jama Masjid between two minarets, with visitors crossing the courtyard

Religious site

Old Delhi, Delhi

Jama Masjid, Delhi

Old Delhi's principal mosque, built by Shah Jahan of red sandstone and white marble, with three gateways, two tall minarets and a courtyard that Delhi Tourism says holds 25,000 worshippers.

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Humayun's Tomb on its arcaded platform beyond a fountain pool and garden path, in warm afternoon light

Heritage

Nizamuddin East, New Delhi, Delhi

Humayun's Tomb

The tomb of Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his widow Bega Begum in the 1560s, which UNESCO calls the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and a forerunner of the Taj Mahal.

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The tiered Panch Mahal pavilion beyond a red sandstone courtyard, with carved stone brackets in the foreground

Heritage

Fatehpur Sikri, Agra district, Uttar Pradesh

Fatehpur Sikri

The ridge-top capital Emperor Akbar built between 1571 and 1585, with palaces, the great Jama Masjid, the Buland Darwaza and the revered tomb of Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti.

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All things to do in India →

India holiday packages

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CultureNature

India · 9 nights4★ Hotel

Golden Triangle & Ranthambore

Taj Mahal at sunrise
Amber Fort
Tiger safari

Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing

Indicative from

$2,028 pp

BeachHoneymoon

India · 10 nights5★ Resort

Kerala Backwaters & Beaches

Houseboat night
Munnar tea hills
Ayurveda

Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing

Indicative from

$2,378 pp

Want something different?Build a India trip around your own dates, pace and interests.Customise your trip

Sample itinerary

Golden Triangle & Ranthambore

10 days · 4★ hotel · indicative from $2,028 pp. Every day can be adjusted.

View full package

Day 1
Arrive in Delhi
You’re met on arrival and taken by private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle in — your travel specialist will have left a welcome pack with local tips.
Day 2
Taj Mahal, Agra
See the marble mausoleum at sunrise. Your local guide shares context and stories along the way, with time to explore independently afterwards.
Day 3
Amber Fort, Jaipur
A hilltop fortress of courtyards and mirrored halls. Your local guide shares context and stories along the way, with time to explore independently afterwards.
Day 4
Kerala backwaters
Overnight on a traditional kettuvallam houseboat. Your local guide shares context and stories along the way, with time to explore independently afterwards.
Day 5
Day at leisure
A free day to explore at your own pace. Suggested: ayurveda, tiger safaris, cooking with local families. Optional excursions can be pre-booked as add-ons.
Day 6
Taj Mahal, Agra
See the marble mausoleum at sunrise. Your local guide shares context and stories along the way, with time to explore independently afterwards.

Food, culture & things to do

Food

Rajasthani thali, Keralan fish curry, street chaat

Culture

Festivals, classical dance and temple architecture

Shopping

Block-printed textiles, spices and gems

Activities

Ayurveda, tiger safaris, cooking with local families

Practical information

Language: Hindi, English + regional
Currency: Indian rupee (INR)
Time zone: UTC+5:30
Gateway: Delhi
Best for: History, Food & drink, Wellness, Festivals

Entry requirements depend on your nationality. Please check official government guidance before you travel — your specialist can point you to the right resources.