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 Delhi — Old & New Delhi sightseeing
Your guide meets you on arrival and you begin exploring the capital in a private air-conditioned car. In New Delhi you visit Humayun’s Tomb, the 1570 garden-tomb that was the forerunner of the Taj, and the soaring 73-metre Qutub Minar, begun in 1193. In Old Delhi you see the red-sandstone Red Fort and pause at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s riverside memorial, driving past India Gate and the government quarter, with an optional walk through the bazaars of Chandni Chowk. Overnight in Delhi.
- Humayun’s Tomb & Qutub Minar
- Red Fort & Raj Ghat
- India Gate & government quarter
- Optional Chandni Chowk bazaar
Delhi → Jaipur: Amber Fort
After breakfast, drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan (about 5 hours via NH48). In the afternoon you ascend to the magnificent Amber Fort of the Kachhwaha Rajputs, with its mirrored Sheesh Mahal, the ornate Ganesh Pol gateway and sweeping views over the hills and Maota Lake. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Rajasthani dinner. Overnight in Jaipur.
- Scenic drive to Jaipur (~5 hr)
- Amber Fort & Sheesh Mahal
- Ganesh Pol & Maota Lake
- Rajasthani dinner
Jaipur — full day of sightseeing
A full day in the Pink City. Photograph the Hawa Mahal, the 1799 ‘Palace of Winds’ with its 953 latticed rose-pink windows; explore the City Palace, still partly a royal residence, with its famous silver urns and textile museum; and see the Jantar Mantar, Jai Singh II’s 1728 observatory and a UNESCO site with the world’s largest stone sundial. Climb to the hilltop Jaigarh Fort for its ramparts and giant cannon, and leave time for the colourful bazaars. Overnight in Jaipur.
- Hawa Mahal
- City Palace & silver urns
- Jantar Mantar observatory
- Jaigarh Fort & bazaars
Jaipur → Fatehpur Sikri → Agra
Drive to Agra (about 4 hours), stopping at Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar’s perfectly preserved red-sandstone capital of 1571, abandoned within 15 years. Here you see the towering 54-metre Buland Darwaza and the marble Tomb of Salim Chishti. Continue to Agra and, in the afternoon, visit the Taj Mahal — Shah Jahan’s white-marble mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight in Agra.
- Fatehpur Sikri & Buland Darwaza
- Tomb of Salim Chishti
- Drive to Agra
- Taj Mahal in the afternoon
Agra — Agra Fort, Baby Taj & Mehtab Bagh sunset
A full day in Agra. Tour Agra Fort, Akbar’s great red-sandstone citadel, including the Musamman Burj tower where Shah Jahan spent his final years gazing at the Taj. Visit the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, the delicate ‘Baby Taj’ — the first Mughal monument built entirely in white marble, famed for its pietra dura inlay. At sunset, head to Mehtab Bagh across the river, the finest place to see the Taj Mahal mirrored in still water. Overnight in Agra.
- Agra Fort & Musamman Burj
- Baby Taj (Itimad-ud-Daulah)
- Mehtab Bagh at sunset
Agra → Khajuraho by train & temples
This morning board the Shatabdi Express from Agra to Jhansi (about 2 hours), then continue by car to Khajuraho (about 3 hours). In the afternoon, tour the UNESCO-listed Western Group of Temples, built by the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD and celebrated for their exquisite medieval sculpture — among them the soaring Kandariya Mahadev, whose towers rise 31 metres and carry over 800 carvings. Overnight in Khajuraho.
- Shatabdi train to Jhansi
- Drive on to Khajuraho
- Western Group of Temples
- Overnight in Khajuraho
Khajuraho → Varanasi: evening Ganga Aarti
A short morning flight brings you to Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth and the spiritual heart of India. Take a boat ride on the Ganges past the ghats, including the sacred burning ghats of Manikarnika, and visit the golden-spired Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the labyrinth of the old city. In the evening, witness the mesmerising Ganga Aarti, a fire-and-lamp ceremony on the ghats at Dashashwamedh. Overnight in Varanasi.
- Flight to Varanasi
- Ganges boat ride & the ghats
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Evening Ganga Aarti
Varanasi → fly to Delhi & departure
After a relaxed final breakfast and checkout, you are transferred to Varanasi airport for your flight back to Delhi, where the tour concludes and you connect with your onward journey — ending a memorable passage through the Golden Triangle, the temples of Khajuraho and the sacred Ganges.
- Relaxed final morning
- Flight Varanasi to Delhi
- Onward connection
What’s Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned car (Delhi — Jaipur — Agra) 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
- Train (Agra — Jhansi) and domestic flights (Khajuraho — Varanasi, Varanasi — Delhi) 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.”