Holi in India: The Golden Triangle

Itinerary

• Day 1: Overnight Flight

  Jai ho, jai ho, it’s off to India you go! Lay back and catch some shut eye on your overnight flight, it’s a long one, but from the minute you step off the plane in Delhi, you’ll know that it’s totally worth it.

  This tour requires a visa for U.S. citizens. Check entry requirements or call us with questions at 800-766-2645.

• Day 2: Arrive in Delhi

  Welcome to India! For thousands of years, empires from across Asia and Europe have strived to rule this land, each leaving their mark in the form of Muslim mosques, Mughal palaces, and even a love for British cricket.

  You’ll be arriving late, so focus on resting up as much as possible for the exciting day ahead of you.

  Today's highlights:

  • Meet an EF representative and fellow travelers as they arrive at the airport.
  • Transfer to your hotel to check in and check out your room.
• Day 3: Sightseeing Tour of Delhi + Humayun’s Tomb + Welcome Dinner

  Delhi is an ancient and exquisite trip for the senses. Prepare your nostrils for the delicious scents of breads called paratha, your eyes for the remains of the eight different cities that have occupied this land, and your ears for the sound of a bustling city that never stops moving.

  Today's highlights:

  • Tour the city, including a stop at the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India—and a relic of past Muslim rule.
  • Hold on to your mechanical horses on a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi.
  • Realign your chakras with a visit to a Buddhist meditation center—prayer participation is not mandatory.
  • Stop along the way to see the lavish Tomb of Emperor Humayun—the first garden tomb in India, and the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.
  • Feelin’ hungry? We’ve got you covered for a Welcome Dinner with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot.
• Day 4: Travel to Agra + Taj Mahal + Home-hosted Dinner

  Come face to face with THE symbol of India—the Taj Mahal. This massive mausoleum was built in the 1600s as a tomb for Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife, and remains one of the most recognizable buildings anywhere in the world.

  Today's highlights:

  • Let the ivory and marble dazzle you on a sunset tour of the Taj Mahal—trust us, it’s infinitely more beautiful as the sun goes down.
  • Learn how to tell your dals from your chaats at a scrumptious home hosted dinner in Agra.
• Day 5: Yoga Lesson + Travel to Ranthambore

  Rise and shine! Things are looking up, and your downward dog pose is looking immaculate. Yes, you’re starting the morning off with a yoga lesson, then it’s off to Ranthambore—a wildlife sanctuary and one of the best places to see the elusive Bengal tiger.

  Today's highlights:

  • Own that lotus pose! Start things off with a morning yoga lesson with a view of the Taj Mahal—fact: the word yoga originated in India.
  • Travel to Ranthambore via train and study up on your tiger facts in anticipation of tomorrow.
  • Arrive in Ranthambore and enjoy an included dinner and drinks.
• Day 6: Ranthambore National Park Game Drive + Travel to Jaipur

  In 1973, the Indian government initiated Project Tiger: an effort to protect the Bengal tiger population. Thankfully, it’s been a smashing success, and Ranthambore National Park is now one of the best parks to gaze at these elusive big cats.

  Today's highlights:

  • Get an early 5am start and embark on a pre-breakfast safari on the prowl for leopards, crocodiles, hyenas, and of course: Bengal tigers. Sighting of the elusive Tiger is not guaranteed.
  • Return to the hotel for breakfast and board your bus for Jaipur—the next point on India’s Golden Triangle.
  • Discover why everything is prettier in pink as you explore Jaipur with a local guide, entering Jaipur City Palace and the local markets.
  • Banish evil and ignite the beginning of Holi with the Holika Dahan bonfire ceremony.
  • Join an aristocratic Indian family for a traditional cooking demonstration. Then don a sari as you enjoy the fruits of your culinary labor.
• Day 7: Holi Celebration

  Grab your Kurta pajamas, some water guns, and meet us by the pool. Holi is here! This Hindu festival of colors celebrates the divine love of the deities Radha and Krishna. Throw colored powder and water to signify the triumph of good over evil.

  Today's highlights:

  • Holi-moly it’s time to party! Celebrate the festival of colors in style at a boutique palace.
  • Play by the pool, get drenched in color, eat your weight in samosas and dance the day away for Holi.
  • After painting the town rainbow, it’s time to settle down. The afternoon is free for you to shower and rest up or get ready for night out!
• Day 8: Amber Fort Excursion + Return to Delhi + Overnight Flight Home

  On your final day in India, you’re going for the royal hat trick: three different palaces. Each unique, each likely to make you gasp at their beauty. Then, it’s back to Delhi for goodbyes and preparation for your overnight flight back home.

  Today's highlights:

  • Find out why the stacked Hawa Mahal is called the “Palace of the Breeze.”
  • Get proof that magic exists when you see the floating Jal Mahal palace on Man Sagar Lake.
  • Take a 4x4 up to the top of the imposing 1,000+ year-old Amber (or Amer) Fort, strategically situated over a desert oasis.
  • Enjoy a puppet show and sightseeing tour of Amber Fort.
  • Board your overnight flight home from Delhi. It’ll likely leave late, but you may use the hotel’s day room until your ride to the airport is ready.
• Day 9: Arrive Home

  Alvida, dost!
  Translation: Goodbye, friends! Your next destination awaits—home. But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?