Golden Triangle Tour with Khajuraho and Varanasi — 8 Days, 7 Nights
Overview
This 8-day journey extends the classic Golden Triangle to two of India’s most evocative destinations: Varanasi, the sacred city on the Ganges where the famous Ganga Aarti is performed each evening, and Khajuraho, whose UNESCO-listed temples are renowned for their medieval sculpture — a deep dive into India’s spirituality and artistry.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrive in Delhi
Your guide meets you on arrival and transfers you to your hotel. Delhi has been the seat of empires for over a thousand years — from the Delhi Sultanate to the Mughals and the British Raj. The evening is at leisure to settle in.
- Private welcome & hotel transfer
- Evening at leisure
- Trip briefing with your guide
Delhi sightseeing
A full day across the capital. In Old Delhi the Jama Masjid and Red Fort recall Mughal power, alongside Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial; in New Delhi you visit Humayun’s Tomb, the 1570 forerunner of the Taj, and the 73-metre Qutub Minar, passing India Gate and the government quarter.
- Jama Masjid & Red Fort
- Raj Ghat memorial
- Humayun’s Tomb & Qutub Minar
- India Gate
Delhi — Agra: Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
After breakfast, drive to Agra on the Yamuna Expressway (about 3.5–4 hours). Visit the Taj Mahal — Shah Jahan’s white-marble mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — with your guide, then tour the red-sandstone Agra Fort, the Mughals’ fortified seat of power.
- Drive to Agra
- Taj Mahal with your guide
- Agra Fort
- Optional Mehtab Bagh sunset
Agra — Fatehpur Sikri — Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar’s perfectly preserved red-sandstone capital of 1571. Continue to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, arriving by evening to settle into the Pink City.
- Fatehpur Sikri guided stop
- Scenic drive to Jaipur
- Evening at leisure
Jaipur sightseeing
Explore Jaipur, painted pink in 1876 for the Prince of Wales: the hilltop Amber Fort of the Kachhwaha Rajputs, the 1799 Hawa Mahal with its 953 windows, the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory, a UNESCO site with the world’s largest stone sundial, with time for handicrafts and gems.
- Amber Fort & Hawa Mahal
- City Palace & Jantar Mantar
- Shopping in the bazaars
Jaipur — Varanasi: evening Ganga Aarti
Fly from Jaipur to Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest living cities and the spiritual heart of India. In the evening, witness the mesmerising Ganga Aarti, a fire-and-lamp ceremony on the ghats of the Ganges.
- Flight to Varanasi
- Evening Ganga Aarti
- The ghats at dusk
Varanasi: sunrise boat & Sarnath
At dawn, take a boat ride on the Ganges to watch pilgrims and the sunrise over the ghats, then explore the old city’s lanes and temples. Later, visit nearby Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
- Sunrise boat on the Ganges
- Old city & temples
- Sarnath
Varanasi — Khajuraho & departure
Fly to Khajuraho and tour its spectacular Western Group of Temples with your guide, before your onward connection — a fitting finale of medieval art and architecture.
- Flight to Khajuraho
- Western Group of Temples
- Onward connection
What’s Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned car (Delhi — Agra — Jaipur) with driver
- Certified English-speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
- Hotel & airport pickups and transfers; bottled water and all taxes
Not included
- Monument entry fees
- Lunches and dinners
- Tips for guide & driver (at your discretion)
- Personal expenses
- Domestic flights (Jaipur — Varanasi, Varanasi — Khajuraho) unless added to your quote
Vehicles, Travel & Hotels
- Private AC sedan / SUV / tempo traveller, sized to your group
- Jaipur — Varanasi and Varanasi — Khajuraho by flight
- Hotels from comfortable 3-star to luxury, matched to your budget
What Travellers Say About This Trip
“My wife and I did the Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Ashish was a fantastic, knowledgeable guide, fluent in English and flexible with our itinerary. We always felt safe. Highly recommend.”
“Excellent, enjoyable tour! All arrangements were smooth. Our guide was wonderful — knowledgeable, friendly and flexible, giving us time to appreciate the Taj.”