Tours in India

Start with the light. In Delhi the day begins hazy and loud, with chai stalls steaming and auto-rickshaws already threading through traffic. Then you cross into another part of the country and the pace shifts again. India does that. Move a few hours in any direction and the language, the food and the way people greet you all change. You can spend a lifetime of trips here and still be a beginner.

The north is where most first visits begin. Delhi is really two cities side by side, the narrow lanes and spice markets of the old quarter, and the wide avenues and gardens of the new. From there the road runs to Agra, and to the Taj Mahal. You know the picture already. What the picture leaves out is the walk in through the gate, the moment the marble comes into view, and how the crowd goes quiet for a second. Go to the gardens and give it time. The Baby Taj across the river is smaller and calmer, and a lot of people end up loving it more than they expected. Agra Fort, red and enormous in feel, shows you where the Mughal court actually lived and looked out over the river.

Beyond that, the choices open up. Jaipur and the rest of Rajasthan bring forts, palaces and bazaars full of colour. Varanasi sits on the Ganges, where mornings belong to the ghats. Kerala in the south is backwaters, spice country and a gentler rhythm. Mumbai is film, street food and the sea. Goa is beaches, and Kolkata is old trams and bookshops.

We currently offer a full day from Delhi to Agra by private car, which suits a first trip well. If somewhere else is on your list, ask. A local guide can take the request and build the day around it.