Although Indian cuisine is not as famous as the top three world-renown cuisines, it has become more and more popular because of its rich flavors and the diverse vegetables in it. If you are planning your first trip to India and would like to have an authentic food adventure as well as visiting the must-see attractions, this 9-day India highlights and food tour will be your best choice.
In this tour, you will have rich food experiences, which include enjoying a special dinner in a fine restaurant, having a cooking class in a local person's home, and sampling some fresh street food.
Highlights
- Explore the Chandni Chowk by a rickshaw to discover ordinary people's life.
- Admire the unbelievable ancient wonder, the Taj Mahal.
- Explore the lovely 'Pink City', Jaipur, and enjoy a memorable dinner in the romantic Amber Fort.
- Meet and interact with locals to learn about the Indian culture and food.
- Witness an incredible ceremony and sample the fresh street food in Varanasi.




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. Your guide and driver will meet you in the arrivals hall and take you to your hotel. Enjoy your free time for the rest of the day.
Start your Delhi tour with the sacred Jama Masjid, which is the biggest mosque in India. Feel the solemn atmosphere and discover how the Islamic and Indian architectural styles combine. Then, take a rickshaw ride through the bustling Chandni Chowk market, which is a great way to discover the local people's lifestyle in Old Delhi. The narrow alleys are filled with lots of small stores selling clothes, spices, papers, and cheap jewelry as well as street food vendors and tangled wires, all of which present you with a vivid image of the real India.
In the afternoon, go to see Qutub Minar, which is a great symbol of Delhi's triumph, and Humayun's tomb. Listen to stories about the splendid dynasties that were created by Indian Muslims.

In the evening, you will visit a local family. The family will show their hospitality with the home-cooked meal. Enjoy dinner with the family and have a chat to get a good idea of what their daily lives are like. They will also be happy to listen to your stories.

You will be driven from Delhi to Agra in the morning. Have a rest after checking in to your hotel. Then visit Mehtab Bagh (the Moonlight Garden) in the late afternoon for a classic view of the Taj Mahal. The garden is located behind the Taj Mahal and the Yamuna River flows between them peacefully. Watch the Taj Mahal as the sun sets. At this moment, the Taj Mahal is just like a beautiful lady sitting on the riverbank, wearing a sari made of the sunset glow.

In the early morning, you will visit the world's most elegant and extraordinary mausoleum complex, the Taj Mahal.
It is a miracle in the history of architecture, expressing the most beautiful emotions of a human being. The closer you walk to it, the more moved you will be by the spectacular ivory-white marble building and the emotion that sparked its creation.
Afterward, you will visit Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb, which is often called the 'Baby Taj' as it is an impressive white marble building decorated with colorful mosaics and stone inlays.

Enjoy a barbecue lunch in a local restaurant. You'll be unable to refuse the delicious chicken and shrimps. In the afternoon, you will visit Agra Fort. It is a magnificent 16th-century fortress made of red sandstone, which is located on the Yamuna River. Imagine the luxurious lifestyle of the royal family in this fantastic palace. The sunlight in the afternoon makes the red color of the sandstone fort appear to be very bright, just like the glory of the Mughal Empire.

You will say goodbye to Agra and head for the 'Pink City', Jaipur, by car in the morning. On the way, stop at a village near Jaipur to find the most magnificent stepwell, the Chand Baori. You might wonder why Indian people make wells so romantic and interesting. Don't look at it for too long - you might feel dizzy because of its 3,500 steps!

Enjoy dinner in Amber Fort in the evening. It will be an exclusive experience to visit the fort at night. When you stand on the balcony and look down, it looks like a picture from a fairy tale. The sparkling lights on the ground look like stars in a blue-black sky. The buildings and the walls are lit up by the golden lights. The shadows of the mountains appear indistinctly behind the fort.
Enjoy your meal in an elegant dining room while listening to live Indian music. You will be impressed by the tender chicken meat, lamb with spicy sauce, and the special desserts rice pudding and honey balls.

Start with the glorious Amber Fort. You will find it is more fantastic than it seemed the previous night. The corridor with elegant pillars, the lovely colors of the patterns on the walls, the shining mirrors in Sheesh Mahal - any of them can make you feel as though you have gone back in time to the great dynasty.
In the afternoon, continue your trip to Jaipur's City Palace. The beautiful courtyard and the abundant exhibits highlight what life was like for the maharajas of Jaipur. Afterward, have a quick photo stop at the famous Hawa Mahal, which is a landmark of Jaipur.

In the late afternoon, you will have a cooking class at Ikaki Niwas to learn about some Indian cuisine. Your teacher will introduce some favorite dishes including three varieties of Indian bread and three main dishes. The most important thing is to learn how to use the various Indian spices. Try your hand to cook like Indians. Enjoy the dinner you cook. You will receive a copy of the recipe at the end of the class.

In the morning, you will fly from Jaipur to Varanasi, which is located on the west bank of the Ganges and is India's holiest city. In the late afternoon, take a boat ride on the Ganges River to see pilgrims washing their bodies, praying, and performing ancient rituals.
When the sun sets, you will head to 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 walking in circles around large lamps, all while chanting and playing music.

The highlight of a trip to Varanasi is enjoying a boat ride at sunrise when the temples along the river are bathed in the soft morning light. During the boat ride, you will see how much the local people rely on the Ganges River and watch them go about their daily activities. There, people wash their clothes, perform yoga, and give offerings of flowers.

After the boat ride, you will take a walk through the busy streets of the old city to go street food hunting. You will get a glimpse into the food ethos of this region as well as having a firsthand experience of the local people's passion for good food.
Finally, you will visit Sarnath. It is a sacred place for Buddhism. Buddha went there to preach the Dharmachakra after gaining enlightenment in 528 BC. It includes Dhamek Stupa, which was built at the site where Buddha is believed to have delivered his sermon to five disciples. Afterward, explore a superb collection of Buddhist artifacts in the Archaeological Museum.

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 to experience palace hotels, heritage hotels, or nice resorts in order to get the high-quality service and to 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 between cities mentioned in the itinerary
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Governmental taxes
Tour code: ah-in-82
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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