India's Golden Triangle and Varanasi

Chandni Chowk by Night

Delhi

Exploring Chandni Chowk by night gives you a chance to understand the real spirit of Delhi. At night, it’s less crowded so there’s more opportunity to engage with locals and after sunset, Chandni Chowk glows and glitters with store lights. There’s a maze of different streets to discover that specialise in everything from silver and spices to saris and glass bangles. If you want to buy something, you guide will help you haggle, which is a ritual in Old Delhi. The highlight of the trip is trying some of the local food.

Exploring Chandni Chowk by night gives you a chance to understand the real spirit of Delhi. It’s like a movie unfolding around you, a whirl of architecture and food, history and business. At night, it’s less crowded so there’s more opportunity to engage with locals and after sunset, Chandni Chowk glows and glitters with store lights. There’s a maze of different streets to discover that specialise in everything from silver and spices to saris and glass bangles. If you want to buy something, you guide will help you haggle, which is a ritual in Old Delhi.

The tour starts at around 5.30pm exploring on foot, as your guide explains the evolution of Old Delhi. You’ll see various businesses and have the opportunity to sit with people and hear about their lives. You might meet the ear-cleaning-man, who wears a red hat and carries tools to remove wax from people’s ears – it’s a great photo opportunity as is the chai vendors swirling tea in their metal pans. As you walk, your guide will point out religious landmarks like the Sunehri Masjid and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a Sikh temple with a community kitchen.

The highlight of the trip though is always the food. You will have dinner at Karim’s (guest to pay directly), a restaurant that serves Mughlai cuisine. It was set up in the 1940s by Karim, a chef who served in the kitchen of a Mughal emperor and wanted to introduce this food to ordinary people. The dishes have a Persian influence and include lots of bread and kormas, all cooked in an open kitchen. Afterwards, wander around the street food area where you can sample desserts like bread pudding and mango ice cream. You’ll get to try everything from samosas to chai – food is a very important part of experiencing Old Delhi.

Back to itinerary

Architectural Walking Tour

Jaipur

This tour is a great orientation of Jaipur; you’ll discover its architecture, religion and crafts and meet the locals, learning the stories and legends behind the city. Visit one of the city’s oldest temples, see the architectural sights of City Palace before immersing into some of Jaipur’s hectic markets.

Join a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Jaipur to learn about its architectural jewels. The tour starts at 8.30am when it’s peaceful, before the bazaars and markets take over. This is when locals go to worship and you can join them at one of the city’s oldest temples, which is known for its 300-year-old fresco painting and set in a private family home. This begins a discussion about religion and architecture in Jaipur; where at a junction in the city, you get to see a Jain Temple, a mosque and a Hindu temple.

Continue the walk at Broad Road, which was once used by the royal family, so it’s lined by grand houses. As you enter the winding by-lanes you’ll hear about Jaipur’s history as the first planned city in India, the vastu shastra and shilpa shastra architecture and havelis owned by artists, craftsmen and traders. You’ll get to meet some of these characters when you visit the metal-beating community who still work without technology, in the same way they have for 200 years. It’s fascinating to see how everything has been hand-created. Other key architectural sights on the tour include the City Palace, the Ayurvedic hospital and two huge, 10-foot-tall silver jars which belonged to a king of Jaipur. Guests love visiting a local family in their haveli to chat about life in Jaipur and meeting traditional bangle makers.

You will end the tour with an immersion into some of Jaipur’s hectic markets. There’s the spice market with over 300 shops which draws buyers from far and wide, followed by the vegetable and flower markets. The flower market is always busy with people shopping for weddings and festivals. This tour is a great orientation of Jaipur; you’ll discover its architecture, religion and crafts and meet the locals, learning the stories and legends behind the city.

Back to itinerary

Taj Mahal by Sunrise

Agra

Every day, the Taj Mahal, India’s most famous World Heritage Site, will see on average 15,000 people. Visit at dawn though and you cut those numbers right down resulting in a more peaceful stroll around the magnificent monuments. The early hours really are the best time to visit when you can just sit quietly and listen to the birds as you take in its architectural beauty.

Every day, the Taj Mahal, India’s most famous World Heritage Site, will see on average 15,000 people. Visit at dawn though and you cut those numbers right down resulting in a more peaceful stroll around the magnificent monuments. The early hours really are the best time to visit when you can just sit quietly and listen to the birds as you take in its architectural beauty.

When the sun starts to rise on a clear day, you can see the mausoleum turn from gold yellow to orange to a sparkling mountain white. You can roam the splendid gardens decorated with fountains and inspect the ornamental craftwork without the crowds. As the sun slowly bathes the walls, the stunning pietra dura inlay lights up the whole façade. This only occurs during the hours of dawn and makes the early start well worth it.

Back to itinerary

Taj Mahal & Agra City Tour

Agra

On this tour you will two major attractions, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Start at Agra Fort where your guide will explain in detail how the Mughal dynasty created this paradise of beautiful gardens, fountains and architecture. Next you will head to the Taj Mahal stopping at the Mehtab Bagh gardens which enjoy magnificent panoramas of the glorious ivory-white structure. You will then be in front of one of the most beautiful buildings ever made.

On this tour you will two major attractions, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Start at Agra Fort where your guide will explain in detail how the Mughal dynasty created this paradise of beautiful gardens, fountains and architecture.

You will go through several gates to a palace called Jahangiri Mahal where inside you can discover all the different architectural influences, not just Islamic, but also Jain and Hindu. Next, head to the Octagonal Tower from where you can see all the way to the Taj Mahal.

Next you will head to the Taj Mahal stopping at the Mehtab Bagh gardens which enjoy magnificent panoramas of the glorious ivory-white structure. As you get closer, the Taj Mahal’s landscaped gardens will come into full view, lined with abundant trees, fountains, symmetrical paths and canals. You will then be in front of one of the most beautiful buildings ever made. The façade has been designed to impress from every angle with perfectly aligned arches and beautiful stonework decorated with flowers and inscriptions of verses from the Koran. The interior contains more architectural marvels such as the huge marble domed tomb. You will have some free time to explore at your own pace and there will be plenty of photo opportunities.

Back to itinerary

Meet the Nawab of Lucknow

Lucknow

Have tea with the famous Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah, who’ll give you a unique insight into the former Nawab rulers who governed Lucknow in the 18th-19th centuries. The meeting takes place in the museum, surrounded by antiques and family heirlooms that Jafar often rents out to Bollywood films.

Have tea with the famous Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah, who’ll give you a unique insight into the former Nawab rulers who governed Lucknow in the 18th-19th centuries. You’ll head to his house, a former palace, for tea at around 4.30pm, usually after a history tour of the city. The meeting takes place in the museum, surrounded by antiques and family heirlooms that Jafar often rents out to Bollywood films. While exploring the city, you will have heard all about the Nawabs so this is a special opportunity to meet one in person.

Enjoy a cup of chai accompanied by cookies, sandwiches and Indian snacks as you get to know Jafar. He’s a very charismatic, articulate man and an ambassador who appears on postcards because of his typical Nawab appearance. On his mother’s side, Jafar can trace his family’s roots back to the royal Nawabs of Lucknow and he has all sorts of stories and anecdotes to tell, including what life was like in British colonial times.

Back to itinerary

A Day in the City of Nawabs

Lucknow

This walking tour of Lucknow is a must if you want to understand the history of the city, its Nawab and colonial roots. Tours are led by knowledgeable local guides who can connect stories of the past with the present. As you’ll discover, the city is a blend of French, British and Nawab history as well as Shiite culture – Lucknow has the largest population of Shiite people outside of Iran.

This walking tour of Lucknow is a must if you want to understand the history of the city, its Nawab and colonial roots. Tours are led by knowledgeable local guides who can connect stories of the past with the present. You’ll start with a short horse-drawn carriage ride into the heart of the city and then explore some of Lucknow’s most important buildings and medieval markets. As you’ll discover, the city is a blend of French, British and Nawab history as well as Shiite culture – Lucknow has the largest population of Shiite people outside of Iran.

The monuments you will visit tell the story of the Nawabs, who ruled this region in the 18th and 19th century, followed by the British until India won independence in 1947. Sights include the ruins of a palace destroyed during the fight for freedom and the site where the last Union Jack flag was pulled down. You will spend a lot of time at The Residency, where the siege of 1957 occurred and around 3,000 British men, women and children died. It’s a powerful story of tragedy and struggle for liberation. You’ll also explore Dilkusha Park, where the British general Henry Havelock died.

Another key stop on the tour is La Martiniere, which was constructed by a soldier who switched sides from the French East India Company and rose to become a major general in the British force. Now a school, La Martiniere is known for its stunning architecture. It’s here that you’ll learn the story of Major William Hodson, another infamous figure in British colonial history, who’s buried here.

Back to itinerary

Culinary Walk

Lucknow

Explore Awadhi cuisine, which is unique to this region, on a popular evening food walk. Led by a food expert, you’ll hop from place to place, testing the signature dish at each eatery such as Lucknow’s famous melt-in-the-mouth kebab. The walk starts around 7pm when the food stalls and shops are in full swing. At each stop, your guide will talk you through the origins of the dishes you will sample, many are age-old recipes that have been passed down through the generations and are still cooked with traditional utensils and roasted over charcoal

Explore Awadhi cuisine, which is unique to this region, on a popular evening food walk. Led by a food expert, you’ll hop from place to place, testing the signature dish at each eatery such as Lucknow’s famous melt-in-the-mouth kebab – these cooks are the masters of their trade. You’ll be taken to the places locals love; they might not look fancy but you just have to close your eyes and let your taste buds do the work.

The walk starts around 7pm when the food stalls and shops are in full swing. At each stop, your guide will talk you through the origins of the dishes you will sample, many are age-old recipes that have been passed down through the generations and are still cooked with traditional utensils and roasted over charcoal. You’ll learn about Awadhi food, which is a refined version of Mughlai cuisine with colonial influences from the British and French, as well as Persian flavours added by the many Shiites who’ve migrated to Lucknow.

Over the course of an hour and a half you’ll taste everything from tender water buffalo skewers to halva and goat meat with rice that’s been cooked in a sealed pot so it marinates in its juices. A highlight of the tour is trying Nihari gosht, trotters stewed overnight in mustard oil and chickpea flour, served with a flaky pastry to absorb the sauce. The mustard oil is buried under a tree through the monsoons and takes the aroma of the raindrops – it’s one of the favourite dishes of Lucknow.

Back to itinerary

Varanasi on Foot - Northern Bazaars & Hidden Alleys

Varanasi & Khajuraho

On this tour you will explore the snaking alleys and busy bazaars in the north of Varanasi, which is rarely visited by tourists. Led by a local guide, you'll visit the silk market, temples and mosques. Along the way, you’ll meet local characters,  the experience provides a real insight into Varanasi life that’s tourists often miss.

On this tour you will explore the snaking alleys and busy bazaars in the north of Varanasi, which is rarely visited by tourists. Led by a local guide, you’ll start in the centre of the business area, which is filled with shops, houses and temples. This ancient district is home to the wholesale silk market, which was started by a businessman and the king of Varanasi and takes over an entire city block. Your guide will explain the history of the Asian Silk Route and how Varanasi’s finest silks made their way to Versailles Palace in France. Other highlights include the pots and pans bazaar and a famous samosa shop that dates back to the 1800s.

You’ll also get to visit temples and mosques hidden within the alleyways that only locals know about. There’s a Gopal temple and next to it, a mosque, which is a great place to discuss how Varanasi’s Hindu and Muslim people live and work together in harmony; Muslim people traditionally made silk products here and Hindu’s sold them on. You will also visit the riverside where the mystic Kabir used to write poetry before diving into the twisting back alleys again. Along the way, you’ll meet local characters - perhaps stopping to talk to a sweet vendor or a priest at the temple – the experience provides a real insight into Varanasi life that’s tourists often miss.

Back to itinerary

Khau Gully

Mumbai

If you love street food, this tour of Mumbai’s Khau Gully, which translates to food lane, is a must. This trip was devised to give travellers an understanding of what quintessential street food is like in Mumbai. You’ll visit the city’s various communities and hear the stories behind their dishes and ingredients. It’s one of the best ways to learn about Indian culture and history because there’s so much woven into food, from migration to politics.

If you love street food, this tour of Mumbai’s Khau Gully, which translates to food lane, is a must. This trip was devised to give travellers an understanding of what quintessential street food is like in Mumbai. You’ll visit the city’s various communities and hear the stories behind their dishes and ingredients. It’s one of the best ways to learn about Indian culture and history because there’s so much woven into food, from migration to politics.

Foodies rave about this experience; you get to taste around eight different dishes over three and a half hours. You’ll try signature snacks like the Bombay burger and bhel puri, which is made of puffed rice, vegetable and tamarind sauce. People enjoy the pav bhaji, a vegetable curry with bread that was loved by workers from Mumbai’s cotton mills. You’ll also get to visit some of the oldest restaurants in Mumbai, including a famous puri. Then there’s the 100-year-old Irani cafés that sprung up in the early 19th century, when bakers migrated here from Iran. Here you can enjoy tea and to meet the people who’ve been running the cafés for what feels like eternity.

The tour ends in Girgaon Chowpatty beach, where you’ll witness real street food culture. On a Sunday, when families want to escape the kitchen, they get dressed up and go down to eat at the beach. You can sample treats like dosas from southern India that have been adapted Bombay style.

Back to itinerary

Mumbai by Dawn

Mumbai

If you want to see Mumbai at its best and meet the real people of the city, this is the tour for you. It’s worth the early start to see the city as it wakes, when it’s cooler and the industrial morning routines are in full swing. This trip really gives you an insight into the spirit and culture of Mumbai.

If you want to see Mumbai at its best and meet the real people of the city, this is the tour for you. With a pick-up at 5.15am, it’s worth the early start to see the city as it wakes, when it’s cooler and the industrial morning routines are in full swing. Down at the docks, watch the Koli fisher-folk, the original Mumbai inhabitants, hauling and grading 25 tonnes of fish straight from the boat. Led by a Mumbai storyteller, you’ll learn all about this community and migration in Mumbai, meeting people who’ve come from all over to make a living here, from fishermen to flower women.

Next stop is the newspaper distribution centre where vendors sort newspapers in seven different languages in the middle of the road. Unlike the rest of the world, the newspaper industry in Mumbai is thriving. You’ll delve into why this is and talk to some of the staff to learn how the printing industry works. The office is near the Victoria Terminus railway station, which you will visit to see its awesome architecture. Next visit a Synagogue, where you’ll learn about Judaism and other religions in Mumbai.

At the market, you’ll encounter all kinds of colourful produce and learn what’s endemic to the country, it’s a very popular photography stop. You’ll see more morning activity, from milkmen driving past to the bustle at the flower market. This trip really gives you an insight into the spirit and culture of Mumbai.

Back to itinerary

Colonial Walk

Mumbai

Explore Mumbai’s colonial history on this half-day tour, led by a local storyteller. The tour focuses on the tales behind the city’s famous colonial buildings, not just the dates and facts. These landmarks are woven into Mumbai’s past, set against a backdrop of modern Indian culture.

Explore Mumbai’s colonial history on this half-day tour, led by a local storyteller. The tour focuses on the tales behind the city’s famous colonial buildings, not just the dates and facts. These landmarks are woven into Mumbai’s past, set against a backdrop of modern Indian culture; people still work at the BMC building and thousands of travellers pass through the Victoria Terminus Station every day. It is a living heritage and a vital part of understanding the city.

The tour starts at the Victory Arch, the Gateway of India, which was built to commemorate King George V. Continue to key sites like the high court and Yacht Club, which are examples of stunning colonial architecture. At the police headquarters, which used to be the Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home, you’ll learn about its connection with the film Alien – the film director Ridley Scott named the spaceship Narcissus after a boat in one of Joseph Conrad’s books, which was set in Mumbai.

Highlights include the Regal Cinema, where you’ll hear about the first Bollywood film that came to Mumbai and a visit Watson's Hotel, which hosted Mark Twain and was the city’s first iron cast building, located in the Kala Ghoda art district of Mumbai. Guests love meeting the Dabbawalas, the couriers who deliver over 500,000 lunch boxes in the city per day, with a staggering 99 percent accuracy despite the fact that they still work without any kind of technology.

Back to itinerary

Colonial Walk

Mumbai

Explore Mumbai’s colonial history on this half-day tour, led by a local storyteller. The tour focuses on the tales behind the city’s famous colonial buildings, not just the dates and facts. These landmarks are woven into Mumbai’s past, set against a backdrop of modern Indian culture.

Explore Mumbai’s colonial history on this half-day tour, led by a local storyteller. The tour focuses on the tales behind the city’s famous colonial buildings, not just the dates and facts. These landmarks are woven into Mumbai’s past, set against a backdrop of modern Indian culture; people still work at the BMC building and thousands of travellers pass through the Victoria Terminus Station every day. It is a living heritage and a vital part of understanding the city.

The tour starts at the Victory Arch, the Gateway of India, which was built to commemorate King George V. Continue to key sites like the high court and Yacht Club, which are examples of stunning colonial architecture. At the police headquarters, which used to be the Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home, you’ll learn about its connection with the film Alien – the film director Ridley Scott named the spaceship Narcissus after a boat in one of Joseph Conrad’s books, which was set in Mumbai.

Highlights include the Regal Cinema, where you’ll hear about the first Bollywood film that came to Mumbai and a visit Watson's Hotel, which hosted Mark Twain and was the city’s first iron cast building, located in the Kala Ghoda art district of Mumbai. Guests love meeting the Dabbawalas, the couriers who deliver over 500,000 lunch boxes in the city per day, with a staggering 99 percent accuracy despite the fact that they still work without any kind of technology.

Back to itinerary