This 9-day tour of India's Golden Triangle and Varanasi is ideal for first-time visitors who want to explore the country's most iconic monuments and experience its holiest city with a spiritual and religious legacy of nearly 3,000 years.
On this journey, you will see the jewel-encrusted white marble Taj Mahal along with other incredible sights including teeming bazaars, immense forts, and colorful streets. You will also gain a deeper understanding of India's spirituality by observing daily life along the Ganges River, a holy river where many Hindu rituals are performed to cleanse all earthly sins and prepare for the soul's final journey to liberation.
Highlights
- Explore the legendary Old Delhi with its Mughal-built monuments and congested bazaars.
- Observe the evening aarti ritual when worshipers pray and give offerings to the Ganges at dusk.
- Enjoy a heritage walk along the Ganges River to have an insider's look at the local life.
- Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Rajput royalty during your feature stay in Jaipur's heritage hotel.
- Discover the vibrant pink city of Jaipur, whose historic architecture is as magnificent as the city's colorful streets.
- Bask in the fascinating colors of the Taj Mahal and admire the art of its pietra dura mosaics.




98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
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I have never hear of this company…
I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
orge alvarez,
May 2023
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Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
Debbie Woods,
May 2023
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Sharon from Asia highlights has been…
Sharon from Asia highlights has been amazing. She offered her amazing ideas to other tours I wanted. We have planned the perfect 9 day itinerary to Thailand. She worked in my budget and was very flexible when I had to change my flights. Thank you sharon. Can’t wait for the trip. More
Heather Stern Wilensky,
Apr 2023
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Ms. Ning first review 4-2023
Ms. Albee Ning has been doing a great job accommodating my requests and itinerary changes. Remember the first itinerary is a rough draft and you may modify it to suit your tastes. Remember you can not do it all and see everything in 3 weeks. If the flight wasn't so long I would visit Southeast Asia more often. I will update my review in a few months. We don't leave for 9 more months. Asia Highlights is working well for me so far! More
Chiefray,
Apr 2023
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Perfect Trip To Thailand…
We had so much fun in Bangkok with Tanni and Tom as they kept laughing at all of our silly jokes. Paul, our guide and Chiang Mai was really thoughtful, fun and full of great information about the temples and sights. Thanks so much! Brian and Michelle More
Scott Orchard,
Mar 2023
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I highly recommend Asia Highlights
I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I worked with Alisa and she is fantastic! I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. Each time, Alisa provided me an updated itinerary with activities that matched my interests. Whether I had a small change to an activity, a question about one of the arrangements, or a change or destination, Alisa was helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, providing me with updated options in an extremely timely manner. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. I am extremely excited to experience everything that Alisa planned for us. I recommend Asia Highlights to everyone and look forward to using them again on any other trips to Asia in the future. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! More
Britt Rosen,
Mar 2023
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Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
A special shoutout to our last guide in Bangkok - Ms. Ka-Noon who spoiled us with her kindness and then got us through check in and security for our flight home in record time at that huge Bangkok airport. More
Deby,
Feb 2023
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Over the last 5 years we've used Asia…
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia highlights twice. And both times we've had fantastic vacations. Would not want to do it any different when we travel to Asia from now on. Sharon was fantastic. She was a wonderful agent who helped us nail down our trip and make everything go as smooth as possible. More
Todd Atwell,
Feb 2023
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Family Trip to Thailand
Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. More
Roger Pyle,
Feb 2023
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Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights!
I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia More
Nancy Parker,
Feb 2023
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Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended
Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. In the period between the offer and the trip, Albee was always available for all our questions and supported us on the best possible way. During the trip she was again flexible to add new activities/transfers and this went on the smoothest possible way. Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip More
AZ,
Feb 2023
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5 STAR CUSTOMER SERVICE BY MONICA
Monica is a very sweet young lady who speaks excellent English via email/WhatsApp, and knows the importance of excellent customer service. More
Trent,
Jan 2023
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We had an awesome experience with Asia Highlights
We started our trip in Bangkok, where Mr. Prassert our tour guide, met us. He was on time and the van was clean and well-maintained. Mr. Prassert was our guide for the 4 days we spent in Bangkok. He was helpful, kind, and willing to accommodate our pee and coffee breaks. The driver was safe and punctual. Next, we went to Chiang Mai.Gemma exceeded every expectation we had for our tour of Chiang Mai! She had a great attitude that made exploring the city fun and exciting, as well as an abundance of knowledge and experience. She was always spot on with figuring out logistics and coming up with unique ideas that suited our interests and schedules. Gemma was incredibly generous with her time and even walked us to security at the airport to make sure we could carry all of our luggage. That’s just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. Gemma was sincerely interested in making every minute of our trip count. We’re very grateful to have met her and feel like we have found a friend in Gemma! Our driver in Chiang Mai was also great and very accommodating to our changes in schedules. More
Lois Paskow,
Dec 2022
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Thailand & Cambodia 2022
Albee went above and beyond to make our trip perfect. She rearranged flights due to a mistake of mine. She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. I felt comfortable and safe with all our reps. She did an excellent job and I highly recommend her booking your next trip. Thank you, Albee. More
Karen Brooks,
Dec 2022
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Perfect vacation thanks to Albee we…
I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all the efforts, attention to details and immediate responses to all questions that Albee and her team provided. The Asia Highlights team deserves more stars than the maximum allowed because of continually going above and beyond all expectations. Thanks Albee for making our vacation through south east Asia absolutely perfect!!! More
Michael Sharp,
Dec 2022
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2023 Chiang Mai CAD Yipeng Festival
We got early bird ticket and Bella was assisting us through whatsapp. Easy, competitive price, front row tickets. Thanks Bella, for being patient explaining everything to me. Highly recommended. More
lily hartati,
Dec 2022
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Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep
Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep. She was responsive and knowledgeable. Buying tickets from their website was super easy and the whole process was straightforward. Highly recommended. More
Khai,
Nov 2022
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I was ever so grateful to have a point…
I was ever so grateful to have a point of contact while in a foreign country for the first time, alone, that helped me through the Ins and outs of getting to and from my destination. Albee was readily available which brought me much comfort and feeling of safety. If in this part of the world again, I will not hesitate to use your services.. More
Omega,
Nov 2022
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Memorable Experience!!!
I booked tickets to the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Nov 2022. Bella was extremely responsive and helpful!! More
Bowen,
Nov 2022
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Personalized
It is the attention to detail and what we specifically wanted to see that made the reservation experience so exciting. More
Peter Bongiovanni,
Nov 2022
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Suggested Route
Itinerary in Detail
Your preferences design the real journey. We're ready to create a wonderful India tour for you.
Welcome to Delhi, India's capital, where the sounds are lively and the colors vibrant. When you arrive at the India Gandhi International Airport, you will be met by our representative and take a private car to your hotel.
Your trip will begin by exploring the whirling streets of Old Delhi. Your day will start at the magnificent Red Fort where you will pass by this striking crimson rampart. Afterward, pay your respects at Jama Masjid, India's largest and grandest mosque built from sandstone and marble. The huge courtyard of the mosque can accommodate up to 20, 000 people during Friday prayers when it looks like a sea of worshipers.
Walk north to Chandni Chowk with its narrow alleys that contain a kaleidoscope of shops selling anything from jewelry to street food. You will take a rickshaw ride through the bustling lanes to absorb all the sights and sounds.

Drive pass the India Gate, the Red Fort, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Parliament House. Finish off the day with a visit to Humayun's tomb, the first great example of a Mughal garden tomb, and the Qutub Minar.

In the morning, fly from Delhi to Varanasi. Varanasi is situated on the west bank of the Ganges and is India's holiest city. This ancient city, where religion is an integral part of daily life, has drawn saints, poets, and pilgrims through the ages.
On arrival, take a private car to your hotel to relax for a few hours. In the late afternoon, take a boat ride on the Ganges River to witness pilgrims performing ancient rituals.

When the sun sets, you will head to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to experience the highly choreographed Ganga Aarti ceremony.
The ceremony starts with the blowing of a conch shell to remove all the negative energy in the area. You will then see people start waving incense in the air and walk in circles around large lamps, all while chanting and playing music.

The highlight of a trip to Varanasi is taking a boat ride at sunrise when the temples along the river are bathed in soft morning light.
During the boat ride, you will see the relationship between the local people and the river and watch them go about their daily activities. Here, people wash clothes, perform yoga, and give offerings of flowers.

Then you will spend the rest of the morning admiring Sarnath. To Buddhists, Sarnath is as sacred as Varanasi is to Hindus. The Buddha came here to preach the Dharmachakra after gaining enlightenment in 528 BC.
In Sarnath, visit the Dhamekh Stupa which is built at the site where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his sermon to five disciples. Afterward, explore a superb collection of Buddhist artifacts in the Archaeological Museum.

Begin your morning exploring the opulent 16th-century Amber Fort. Mughal-era architecture greatly influenced the style of several buildings in the fort which can be seen in the ornately carved silver door, the elegant alabaster relief work, and glass inlay.
You will then be led through the magnificent Ganesh Pol, which is the gateway to three gorgeous palaces built around Aram Bagh, a Mughal-style garden. Relax in the garden and enjoy the peaceful ambiance.

After spending some time at the Amber Fort, you will visit the central area of the 'pink city' of Jaipur. This area is home to the lovely Hawa Mahal which is a great place for photos in front of the building's beautiful pink windows.
Continue your visit by exploring the nearby Jantar Mantar Observatory, which has been described as 'the most realistic and logical landscape in stone', and then head to the City Palace Museum where you will have a splendid introduction to Jaipur's princely past and its rich history through local art.

Rise early and head to Agra, En route, take time to visit Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a city predominantly made of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri was founded in the 16th century by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is a great place to experience the history of this famous dynasty.
Continue driving to Agra. On arrival, spend the rest of the day relaxing at your hotel.

Admire the Taj Mahal during sunrise when the majesty of the world's most famous testament to love is best appreciated. Here, you will witness the shimmering morning light dance across the surface of this marble mausoleum.
While there, look out for the Taj Mahal's elaborate designs and exquisite craftsmanship. Here you will have the opportunity to see the art of pietra dura, an inlay technique of using highly polished colored stones to create images.

Next, you will visit the imposing complex of courtly buildings inside the Agra Fort. The marble hall of the Khas Mahal allows for splendid views of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River.
Have a Walk in the village near the Mehtab Bagh. Say hello to the local villagers and have a glimpse of their daily life. Enjopy a simple high tea in a villager's house End your day at the Mehtab Bagh for the sunset view of Taj Mahal.

Before driving back to Delhi, you will visit the Itmad-ud-Daula (the baby Taj Mahal) and be impressed by the thousands of beautiful inlaid patterns.

Hand-Picked Hotels
We have selected hotels with different styles and for different budgets. Let us know your preferences and we will help you find the right one.
We recommend experiencing palace hotels, heritage hotels, or nice resorts in order to get high-quality service and enrich your experience.




Our Service Includes:
- Private transfers and English-speaking tour guide
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- 4-star accommodations for 8 nights
- Flights and private transfers between cities mentioned in the itinerary
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Governmental taxes
Tour code: ah-in-72
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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