India Grand Discovery
Fourteen days across two Indias — the Mughal monuments and pink-city palaces of the north, the sacred ghats of Varanasi, and the tea hills and backwaters of Kerala in the south — with your transfers, hotels and guided sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
The Golden Triangle, the sacred Ganges, and God's Own Country — in one journey
India rewards travellers who give it time, and fourteen days is enough to see two genuinely different Indias without rushing either. This itinerary opens with the Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur — the north's defining trio of Mughal monuments, marble mausoleums and pink-sandstone palaces, then adds Varanasi, the country's spiritual heart on the banks of the Ganges. From there, a domestic flight carries you south to Kerala, where the pace slows into tea-covered hills, spice markets and a night adrift on the backwaters.
You'll stand before the Taj Mahal at Agra, wander the ramparts of Delhi's Red Fort and the pink façade of Jaipur's Hawa Mahal, watch the Ganga Aarti ceremony on Varanasi's ghats at dusk, walk among the Chinese fishing nets of Fort Kochi, climb into the tea estates of Munnar in the Western Ghats, and drift the palm-lined canals of Alleppey by traditional houseboat. Few single trips cover this much ground, or this much of what makes India India.
Airport and intercity transfers, accommodation, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing at every stop are arranged for you. Want more time in Kerala, a wildlife detour, or a fully private version throughout? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
What you'll actually see
Delhi's Mughal & imperial landmarks
The Red Fort, built by Shah Jahan as the seat of Mughal power, alongside Qutub Minar and the wide colonial boulevards of New Delhi.
The Taj Mahal, Agra
Shah Jahan's white-marble mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and one of the most recognisable buildings on Earth — best seen at sunrise, before the crowds and the heat.
Jaipur, the Pink City
The hilltop Amber Fort, the pink façade of Hawa Mahal and the royal City Palace — Rajasthan's fort-and-palace trio at its most photogenic.
Varanasi's sacred ghats
One of the world's oldest living cities, where the Ganga Aarti fire ceremony lights the riverbank each evening and a sunrise boat ride reveals the ghats waking up.
Kerala's coast, hills & backwaters
Fort Kochi's Chinese fishing nets and colonial lanes, the tea plantations of Munnar in the Western Ghats, and a houseboat cruise through the palm-lined canals of Alleppey.
Your 14-day itinerary
North India's icons, then a change of pace in Kerala — with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met at Indira Gandhi International Airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Settle in and rest after your flight — with two Indias ahead of you, the first evening is deliberately unscheduled.
A guided day through Delhi's contrasts: the Mughal-era Red Fort and the Jama Masjid in the old city, then the wide colonial avenues, India Gate and the government quarter of New Delhi built under the British Raj. Qutub Minar's 13th-century minaret rounds out the day.
A road transfer to Agra (around four hours). In the early evening or the following dawn, your first sight of the Taj Mahal — Shah Jahan's white-marble tribute to his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and, for many travellers, the reason the trip exists at all.
A morning at Agra Fort, the red-sandstone fortress from which the imprisoned Shah Jahan is said to have gazed at the Taj Mahal in his final years. In the afternoon, a road transfer to Jaipur, Rajasthan's capital.
A full day through Jaipur's landmarks: the hilltop Amber Fort with its Sheesh Mahal palace of mirrors, the pink façade of Hawa Mahal, and the City Palace, still home to Jaipur's royal family. Time in the old city's bazaars rounds out the afternoon.
A flight (connecting via Delhi) to Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. In the evening, walk down to the ghats to witness the Ganga Aarti — the nightly fire ceremony performed on the riverbank.
A sunrise boat ride along the Ganges, drifting past the ghats as the city wakes, pilgrims bathe and the light turns gold. The rest of the day is free to wander Varanasi's narrow lanes, temples and markets at your own pace.
A flight south (connecting via a major hub) to Kochi, on the Kerala coast — the long transfer that carries you from North India into "God's Own Country." Arrive and settle into your hotel in the historic Fort Kochi area.
A guided walk through Fort Kochi's old quarter — the iconic cantilevered Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront, Dutch and Portuguese colonial architecture, the Jewish quarter and Mattancherry Palace, and a spice market that hints at Kerala's centuries as a global trading post.
A scenic drive up into the Western Ghats to Munnar, a former British hill station roughly 1,600 metres above sea level, now covered in tea estates rolling to the horizon. Settle in among the cool, plantation-covered hills.
A full day among Munnar's tea plantations — a visit to a working tea estate and museum to see how the leaf becomes the cup, with time to walk the plantation trails and take in views across the surrounding hills.
A drive down through rubber and pineapple plantations to Alleppey, Kerala's backwater town, where you board a traditional kettuvallam houseboat. Cruise the palm-lined canals and lagoons as the boat's crew prepares a Kerala lunch on board, mooring for the night among the waterways.
Wake aboard the houseboat and cruise on through the backwaters before disembarking and transferring back to Kochi. A free afternoon and evening to revisit Fort Kochi, shop for spices, or simply enjoy the coast one last time.
Enjoy a final breakfast before transferring to Cochin International Airport for your onward or connecting flight home.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times — including flight routings and connections — is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to flight schedules, opening hours, local conditions and, on the houseboat leg, weather on the backwaters.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 13 nights, including one night aboard a Kerala houseboat
- Daily breakfast (all meals while aboard the houseboat)
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Intercity transfers where applicable
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
This itinerary includes domestic flights (Jaipur–Varanasi and Varanasi–Kochi, both connecting via a major hub). Whether these are priced into the package above or quoted as an add-on is confirmed with your operator before booking.
Before you go
Best time to visit
North India is most comfortable October to March, before the summer heat; Kerala is best in the same window, avoiding the June–September monsoon. We'll advise on timing for your exact dates when you enquire.
Currency
The Indian Rupee (INR / ₹). Cards are widely accepted in hotels and cities; carry cash for markets, small vendors and rural stops in Kerala and Rajasthan.
Visas & documents
Most nationalities need a visa or e-Visa to enter India, arranged in advance — this is not a visa-on-arrival or visa-free destination for most travellers. Requirements and processing times vary by nationality; please check well ahead of your trip, and we're happy to point you to the right official source.
Two regions, one long flight
The trip pivots on a domestic flight connecting North India to Kerala. Packing lighter and choosing luggage you're comfortable moving through airports repeatedly makes the transition smoother.
Dress code
Temples, mosques and the ghats at Varanasi generally ask for shoulders and knees covered, and shoes are removed at religious sites. Lightweight, modest clothing works well across both regions.
Private or shared
This itinerary can run as a private, just-for-you journey throughout, or with elements shared alongside other travellers to manage cost. Tell us your preference and we'll price it accordingly.
From the Taj Mahal to the backwaters
Good to have answered
Is the US$1,999 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 14-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation. It covers your hotels and one night aboard the houseboat, daily breakfast, airport and listed intercity transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel choice, group size, whether the domestic flight legs are included or quoted separately, and whether you'd like it private — so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Do I need a visa for India?
Almost certainly, yes. Unlike some destinations, India requires a visa or e-Visa for the great majority of foreign nationals, arranged before you travel. Requirements and processing times vary by passport, so please check well ahead of your trip — we're glad to point you to the right official source.
Why does the itinerary go north then south — is that a lot of flying?
North India and Kerala are genuinely different trips within one country, and this itinerary gives each its own dedicated stretch rather than a rushed sample of both. There are two shorter domestic legs (Jaipur–Varanasi) and one longer connecting flight (Varanasi–Kochi) — it's the most efficient way to cover this much ground without repeated backtracking.
Are international flights or the domestic flights included?
International flights into and out of India aren't included unless stated in your quote. The domestic flights within this itinerary are confirmed with your operator as either included in the package price or quoted as an add-on — we'll make this clear before you book.
Is 14 days enough, or could this be shorter?
Fourteen days gives the Golden Triangle, Varanasi and Kerala each a proper look. If your time is limited, we can build a shorter North-India-only or Kerala-only version instead — tell us what matters most and we'll shape the right length.
Can this itinerary be customised or run privately?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Run it fully private, add nights in any city, upgrade the hotels, or extend the Kerala leg with a wildlife stop at Periyar or beach time on the coast. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape the route around it.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your India Grand Discovery
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.