Golden Triangle Cultural Tour

From $650 pp

  • Duration

    7 days
  • Bookable From

    September 1st - April 15th
  • Trip Style

    Privately Guided
  • Country

    India
  • Physical Rating

    Very Easy

Overview

This iconic cultural tour of India’s Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur) is the perfect way to become acquainted with “Incredible India.”

How do you experience a country as massive as India? Especially great for first-time visitors, this immersive tour introduces you to the main attractions and hidden secrets behind the scenes. Our storytelling and cultural immersion enhance your experience and put this tour a class apart from just sightseeing. From walking tours to craft experiences to food tasting and spirituality, this is a holistic introduction to India.

Highlights

  • Golden Triangle tour of the highlights: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur
  • Beautiful homestays with families in Delhi and Agra
  • A stay in a vibrant heritage hotel in Jaipur
  • Walking tours focused on food, artisans, spirituality, and heritage
  • Participate in hands-on workshops
  • Emphasis on storytelling
  • Participate in Indian festivals with the families (see Seasonal Notes)
  • Optional: If you have more days, ask us for customization. We recommend adding Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, and several smaller towns in western India.

This tour is perfect when you have a limited number of days (7-10) to spare. On this private tour of the Golden Triangle, you will experience not only the main monuments but also those hidden secrets about the three cities that tell the entire story behind their history and current society.

For example, it is incomplete to see the Taj Mahal itself unless you do a storytelling tour of old Agra and visit the busy streets just the way locals do. You can choose from a range of activities within the ethos of sustainability and customize your tour of the Golden Triangle.

5 reasons why you should not miss this cultural trip to the Golden Triangle:

  1. Storytelling makes your experience far more enriching than what typical tours and websites say about the Taj Mahal and other monuments on the tour.
  2. In Delhi, delight your taste buds with delectable street food, stunning views of UNESCO World Heritage sites, and vibrant markets.
  3. Your cultural understanding of India will be highly broadened, as you will participate in local festivities, see traditional handicrafts of marble inlay and embroidery, and stay at charming homestays. As India is a culturally diverse destination that attracts people from all over the world, you will also see traditions and practices from many different countries.
  4. The block printing workshop in Jaipur uses the traditional technique of printing patterns on fabric using carved wooden blocks. This workshop connects you with the artist within you.
  5. Our walking tours give you a pleasant introduction to spirituality in multicultural and religiously diverse India. See daily morning rituals at beautiful temples from a local´s perspective.

Seasonal Notes

The best time to visit India is between September and mid-April. During this period, the weather is pleasant and comfortable. It is usually sunny and dry, with cooler temperatures in the north and more moderate temperatures in the south. Besides, India's important festivals, such as Diwali, Holi, and Dussehra, also take place during these months. Diwali is in November, and Holi is in March; exact dates vary every year.

Summers (May to August) can be scorching hot in Rajasthan. However, this season is great for the Himalayas and the North East.

This private tour happens on a date of your choice.

Itinerary

Day 1 Delhi [India] (arrival day)

Arrive in Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport). We receive, welcome, and assist you with transfer to the accommodation.

Spend a few hours relaxing and recovering from jetlag.

Evening half-day tour of Delhi city. We usually cover the President's Palace, the India Gate, and artisan's markets followed by a traditional Indian dinner with the host family. You can customize this evening according to your choice of destinations.
--
Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Delhi City Tour

Walking tour of old Delhi where we visit the jewel, textile, and spice markets and taste some of the traditional and freshly made Indian snacks.

During the second half of the day, we cover any two of the following experiences: Akshardham Temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Qutub Minar, and Humayun Tomb. Each of these visits involves extensive storytelling where we share the history and cultural significance of the destination and have you immerse with the locals in community kitchens.
--
Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 Delhi to Agra

After breakfast, we drive from Delhi to Agra and arrive in the afternoon. Your stay in Agra is again in a beautiful homestay. After rest, visit the Agra Fort on a guided tour. Thereafter, choose any one of these activities:

  1. Cycling tour through the villages and countryside along the river Yamuna.
  2. A cooking session with a family.

Having done these tours, you have set the stage for a spectacular sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal the following day.

--
Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 Taj Mahal + Agra to Jaipur

Lo and behold! The sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal will leave you in awe as the first rays fall on the monument. The white marble mausoleum is one of the Seven Wonders of the World due to its stunning architecture and intricate marble inlay work.

While the Taj Mahal is known as a monument of love, we also share with you the lesser-known stories of military and economic power struggles in the emperor’s courts. From debunking myths to the stories of architectural engineers to the design inspiration from Central Asia, this guided tour will take you from one surprise to the other.

After breakfast, check out and drive onward to Jaipur.

En route, we stop at the Abhaneri stepwell and the Harshat Mata temple complex. Go beyond the architectural wonder and know the history of invasions and how the communities spectacularly rebuilt the place. If you are interested in early 9th-century temple carvings and the stories behind each depiction, this may just be the right tour for you.

Arrive in Jaipur by evening with the rest of the time at leisure.

--
Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 Jaipur City Tour + Spiritual Tour

We start with an early morning spiritual tour. Visit the flower markets and temples just like the locals do before the prayer ceremony begins. En route, visit the Hawa Mahal (palace of wind) and taste authentic sweet yoghurt lassi. End the tour with a priest singing devotional hymns and a cup of tea.

Return to the hotel for breakfast. Highlights for the rest of the day:

  1. Amber Fort
  2. City palace
  3. Water palace

--
Accommodation: Heritage Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 Jaipur

Today is the day to play with colors. No, it is not Holi but we are going for an immersive tour of block printing with the community. This is a 2-3 hour tour that takes you through the entire process of preparing the colors and the fixer, boiling, dyeing, and printing.

Start learning as a novice but finish the day with an intermediate level of skill as you print your scarf to take back as a gift from us.

Evening options:

1. Artisans’ tour with visits to marble masons, bangle makers, and brass workers.

2. Food tour with 7-8 types of vegetarian dish tasting.

--
Accommodation: Heritage Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 Jaipur to Delhi (departure day)

It is time to say adieu. Take back great memories and learnings from this holistic tour of India that, we hope, gave you a perfect first introduction to our vast land of diverse cultures. We drive back to Delhi where we drop you to the airport for the onward journey.

Customization

This tour is customizable according to your budget, the number of days, and your choice of experiences.

If you have the time, we strongly recommend lengthening this tour to a 10-day tour. This allows for a more leisurely pace, and there is so much to see and do here!


Normally, we do this tour in a private car, but we can customize it for train journeys also. We'll work with you to make this trip just right!

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • All accommodations on a twin-sharing basis (eco-friendly homestays, heritage homes)

  • Breakfasts and special meals mentioned in the itinerary

  • Airport and railway station transfers

  • Private transportation in a sedan or SUV

  • Fee of all storytellers, activities, and workshops

  • Applicable government taxes

  • Stainless steel water bottles

  • Cost of opting for a higher grade of hotels

  • Meals that are not mentioned

  • Domestic/international flights

  • Entry fees to any monuments wherever applicable. The set government rates are INR 500 (per person per monument) and INR 1300 (per person for Taj Mahal)

  • Travel Insurance

  • Visa

  • Tips and gratuities

  • Any changes in the itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control or an act of God

Pricing

Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.

Prices are for double room occupancy unless indicated otherwise.

Price range is given for 2 to 10 travelers. Contact us with your group size for a quote.

Please contact us for solo traveler pricing.

Prices may vary during peak seasons such as during Diwali, Christmas, and New Year's.

  • Deposit per person

  • Group of 2 Travelers - price per person

    $900

  • Group of 10 Travelers - price per person

    $650

Sustainability

As an award-winning tour for our sustainable practices, we prioritize responsible tourism by limiting our visitor capacity to 500 per season and embracing the principles of slow travel. We are committed to supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, specifically numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15. By doing so, we aim to contribute to a sustainable future for both the environment and local communities

  • Environmental Initiatives

This trip is designed to prioritize environmental sustainability and animal welfare. We are committed to adhering to strict standards that ensure no animal-harming tourism. Our focus is on conserving ecosystems and preserving biodiversity during this holiday. We also prioritize low-carbon impact activities and have avoided in-destination flights to minimize our carbon footprint.

In addition, we emphasize vegetarian and vegan restaurants to reduce the environmental impact of our food choices. We have taken measures to minimize waste, including avoiding single-use plastics and water bottles.

To trim our carbon footprint, all of our cars are in line with the latest emission standards. However, we always recommend taking trains whenever possible. If our guests choose to travel by car, we ensure that it is an eco-friendly option. We provide all our guests with reusable stainless steel bottles to reduce single-use plastics.

Our focus is on sustainable eating, and we encourage vegetarian meals as they have more options in India. However, non-vegetarian meals are also available. Our artisan visits ensure that guests only buy sustainable and Indian products, supporting local communities and businesses. Additionally, all of our raw materials for meals are sourced locally to promote sustainability and reduce our carbon footprint.

Our approach to tourism involves steering travelers away from popular tourist destinations and instead introducing them to lesser-known areas. By doing so, we promote tourism dispersal, which can help alleviate over-tourism. Additionally, we educate travelers on responsible behavior in the destination, in order to raise awareness and promote sustainable tourism practices.

  • Sociocultural Initiatives

We offer a unique and authentic travel experience that connects travelers with the local community and culture. We prioritize meaningful engagement with locals and offer opportunities for travelers to stay overnight with them, providing an immersive experience and a deeper understanding of the local traditions and lifestyle. Besides, in the workshops we do, we engage local craftsmen and marginalized communities.

We are committed to being mindful of local health and natural resources, ensuring that our trips are conducted sustainably and with minimal impact on the environment. We train and employ local guides only, and take great care to hire staff and contractors without any religious, racial, or gender bias, ensuring an inclusive and non-discriminatory work environment.

Our experiences encourage interactions between guests and communities, while also educating both parties about each other's cultural aspects and promoting sensitivity. We offer small groups and private tours to ensure that we do not overwhelm the communities we visit and that each trip is conducted with respect and sustainability in mind.

This holiday goes beyond the typical tourist destinations and offers a deeper connection with the local community and culture.

Economic Initiatives

Your days in India will support local businesses and the local community as a whole, not just a few businesses. With this trip, we provide local employment and fair wages as well as good and safe working conditions.

Our travel company is committed to supporting local communities. One of the ways we achieve this is by training and employing local guides exclusively. This not only helps support the local economy but also ensures that guests have an authentic and insightful travel experience.

In addition, we engage local craftsmen and marginalized communities in workshops that we offer to our guests. This not only provides an opportunity for guests to learn new skills and crafts but also helps support local artisans and makes their traditional crafts visible.

We are proud to have a fair-wage policy that sets higher pay compared to the government guidelines. This ensures that our staff is well-compensated for their hard work and that they can support themselves and their families.

Our employment policy is also gender-neutral and based solely on a person's skill set. This ensures that all individuals, regardless of their gender, have an equal opportunity to be employed and contribute to the local community.

The workshops and conservation centers that we visit on our tours have an agreed payment policy with us, ensuring that everyone involved is fairly compensated for their work.

By purchasing goods directly from local artisans, you can be sure that any income generated goes directly to the grassroots community, helping support local businesses and families. We believe that supporting local communities in this way not only benefits them but also enriches the travel experience for our guests.

All the sustainable practices this trip implements have made it an award-winning one.

Health & Safety

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.

FAQs

What does the physical rating of "Very Easy" mean?

We customize the activities based on your age and acceptance of physical stress. But in general, all our holidays are planned and executed at a leisurely pace that is comfortable for you.

What are the accommodations like?

Homestays and heritage hotels as mentioned in the detailed Itinerary. You can choose different hotels also. Do share your preference with us during the initial discussion.

These small businesses are locally owned and operated, with a focus on sustainability. They serve food that is sourced from local and organic farms, and prioritize energy efficiency by using energy-saving lighting and thermal panels. Additionally, they prioritize water conservation by recovering and reusing rainwater.

Is this trip customizable?

Absolutely! You can add more days to it and discuss your requirements with us. This private tour is fully customizable.

How do I get a local SIM card?

It is best to get it from the airport you arrive at. You will require a copy of the passport, the address of the first accommodation, and a local reference number. We will provide a local reference after your booking.

Is this tour fully escorted?

This tour is a mix of guided and unguided experiences. The walking tours are with our storytellers whereas monument visits are self-tours. However, you will have a private car at all times. This tour can also be fully escorted (at additional cost).

What kind of car do you provide?

We provide either a sedan or an SUV depending on the number of people. All cars are air-conditioned.

Is this trip recommended for solo travelers, women, LGBTQ+ travelers, BIPOC travelers?

Yes, our trip is suitable for all groups of people. For solo travelers, we help you set it up as per your budget and preferences. On request, this trip can be fully escorted by our team. Private rooms are provided and trusted drivers with private cars are hired. All accommodations, drivers, and storytellers are well-trained and personally known to us.

What is the tipping culture in India?

Tips may be given to drivers, guides, and tour escorts. We let the guests be free to decide as per their budget.

Reviews

Karl N.

Custom 3-day Tour of Delhi & Agra

Attentive, thoughtful, helpful, reactive… just AWESOME!

I booked a custom 3-day, 2-night tour of Delhi & Agra for my first trip to India. I only wish I had more time to spend exploring! Hilary (Yugen team) and Gaurav (local guide) were super accommodating and helped me make the most of my short time in India.

The transportation was super convenient. From airport pickup to drop-off, a driver or guide accompanied me at all times. Since it was a short trip, I could do/see more with the guided private trip than I would have been able to do on my own.

For accommodations, I stayed with a local family who provided authentic breakfast & filtered water so that I didn’t need to use plastic water bottles! They were very kind and welcoming.

Overall, it was a great experience that felt authentic. I strongly recommend booking a guided trip with Yugen Earthside to others, especially those who have not tried this type of travel before.

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