South Asia

India Holidays

Mughal monuments, Himalayan hill towns and holy rivers, most of them a train ride or a short drive from Delhi.

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Oct–MarBest months
2–7 daysIdeal trip length
₹10,999Packages from, per person
Road & railMost places within a day of Delhi

India is the easiest big trip you will ever plan: no visa, no currency exchange and no long-haul flight, yet the country changes completely every few hundred kilometres. The Taj Mahal and the forts of Rajasthan, the ghats of Rishikesh, the colonial hill station of Shimla, the snow at Manali and the Golden Temple in Amritsar are all within a day's travel of Delhi.

Each place below has its own guide with the sights, experiences and stays we recommend. Tell us your dates and we will join them into one route, with trains, drivers and hotels booked for you.

The case for it

Why India

No visa, no forexTravel on the ID you already carry, pay in rupees and use UPI almost everywhere. There is nothing to arrange before you go.
Short trips that feel farAgra is under two hours by fast train and Jaipur about five by road. A long weekend is enough for a completely different landscape.
Every kind of holidayMughal architecture, desert forts, yoga by the Ganges, Himalayan snow and Punjab's food trail. Mix them into one trip or keep to one theme.
Where to go

Where to go in India

Agra

Agra

The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri: the Mughal capital, under two hours from Delhi by fast train.

Explore Agra
Jaipur

Jaipur

The Pink City: Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal and the bazaars of the old city, about five hours from Delhi.

Explore Jaipur
Rishikesh

Rishikesh

Yoga, the evening Ganga Aarti and white-water rafting where the Ganges leaves the Himalaya.

Explore Rishikesh
Shimla

Shimla

The colonial hill station of the Ridge and Mall Road, reached on the UNESCO-listed toy train from Kalka.

Explore Shimla
Manali

Manali

Snow at Solang, old wooden temples and riverside cafés: the favourite Himalayan escape.

Explore Manali
Amritsar

Amritsar

The Golden Temple, the Wagah border ceremony and the best food trail in Punjab.

Explore Amritsar
Goa

Goa

Beaches, Portuguese-era churches and Goan seafood, at their best from November to February.

Sample itinerary

A week in the north

  1. 1
    Day 1 — Delhi to Agra

    Fast train or the Yamuna Expressway to Agra. Agra Fort in the afternoon and sunset at Mehtab Bagh, across the river from the Taj.

  2. 2
    Day 2 — The Taj, then Jaipur

    The Taj Mahal at sunrise, then Fatehpur Sikri on the way to Jaipur, arriving by evening.

  3. 3
    Day 3 — Jaipur

    Amber Fort in the morning, City Palace and Hawa Mahal in the afternoon, and the bazaars after dark.

  4. 4
    Day 4 — Back to Delhi

    Sunrise at Nahargarh if you are up early, then the drive back to Delhi.

  5. 5
    Days 5–6 — Rishikesh

    Six hours up to Rishikesh. The evening Ganga Aarti, a morning rafting on the Ganges in season, and a café lunch above the river.

  6. 6
    Day 7 — Home

    Back to Delhi by road, or fly home from Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport.

Season by season

When to visit India

WindowWhat it's likeWorth knowing
October – MarchCool, dry and clear on the plainsThe best time for Agra, Jaipur and Amritsar. Fog can slow trains in the north in December and January.
March – JuneHot on the plains, pleasant in the hillsHead for Shimla and Manali. Rishikesh rafting runs through spring.
July – SeptemberMonsoonGreen and quiet, but mountain roads can close after heavy rain and rafting in Rishikesh pauses.
December – FebruarySnow in the hillsManali and Shimla often get snow. Beautiful, but some high roads and passes close.
Tour packages

India holiday packages

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Before you go

Travel tips

Practical

Good to know

  • Money

    UPI works almost everywhere, even at small stalls. Keep some cash for temples, tips and hill towns with patchy networks.

  • Trains

    Book the fast trains (Vande Bharat, Shatabdi, Gatimaan) early: they sell out on weekends and holidays.

  • Dress

    Cover shoulders and knees at temples, gurdwaras and mosques. At the Golden Temple everyone covers their head and removes their shoes.

  • Mountain roads

    Hill roads are slow and winding, so allow more time than the distance suggests, and carry a warm layer even in summer.

  • Food and water

    Drink bottled or filtered water, and eat where the locals queue.

  • Festivals

    Diwali, Holi and long weekends fill hotels and trains fast. Book early if your dates overlap.

India: common questions

Do I need any documents to travel within India?
Only a government photo ID for trains, flights and hotels. A few restricted areas need permits, which we arrange with your booking.
How many days do I need?
Two days covers Agra or Amritsar, three suits Jaipur or Rishikesh, and four to five suit Shimla or Manali. A week joins Agra, Jaipur and Rishikesh.
When is the best time to visit North India?
October to March for the cities and plains, March to June for the hills. December to February brings snow to Manali and Shimla.
Can you combine several places in one trip?
Yes. Tell us the places you like and your dates, and we will plan the route with trains, cars and hotels.

One country, a week of very different places

Tell us your dates and the places you like, and we will come back with a route, the trains and drivers, and the hotels.

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Keep exploring

More destinations

Bhutan
Bhutan

The world's only carbon-negative country — monasteries on cliff faces, empty mountain roads and no visa queue for Indian travellers.

Philippines
Philippines

Island-hopping through limestone lagoons — and one of the few places left in Asia where the postcard actually undersells it.

Japan
Japan

The country that runs on time — sakura in spring, koyo in autumn, and a train network that makes a ten-day trip feel effortless.

South Korea
South Korea

Six centuries of palaces and the most switched-on street culture in Asia, an hour's flight from a volcanic island.