Diwali, Festival of Lights - 8 days

Diwali, Festival of Lights - 8 days

500 Views
8 Days From

$1115

Diwali, Festival of Lights - 8 days

8 Days Starting and ending in Delhi

Visiting: Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Karauli, Jaipur

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

883/DIWA

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 24

Age range:

16 + if accompanied by an adult.

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Interests:

Cultural

From: $1115

NB: Prices correct on 22-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Combine a tour of the famous Golden Triangle with the vibrant Festival of Light, Diwali. Celebrate the victory of light over darkness as India illuminates with colourful lights, lanterns and liveliness aplenty.

Highlights

  • The Taj Mahal – Explore India’s most famous site with a guided tour of the legendary Taj Mahal, an enduring symbol of love

  • Diwali – Celebrate the colourful Festival of Lights with the locals in Jaipur and enjoy a delicious Indian dinner

  • Delhi – Ride on a rickshaw around the Chandni Chowk Bazaar and tour highlights of the city including Jama Masjid and the Rajpath

  • Jaipur – Visit the beautiful City Palace and the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar Space Observatory as we tour the Pink City

  • Amber Fort – Enjoy a visit to this impressive 16th century fortress and explore each of its four levels

  • Karauli or Dholpur – Spend the night at the Maharaja’s Palace Bhanwar Vilas in Karauli or the Raj Niwas Palace in Dholpur

  • Agra – Discover striking Agra Fort and explore behind its fortified sandstone walls

Places You'll See

Taj Mahal, Agra

Taj Mahal, India

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Delhi

Location: Delhi

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Jaypee Siddharth Hotel, Delhi

Saturday 26th October 2024. On arrival in Delhi you are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The rest of today is free to explore India’s capital at leisure before meeting the group and guide at the hotel at 18:00 for a Welcome meeting.





For those able to arrive very early today or the day prior, why not get off the beaten track and explore Old Delhi with us on our optional 'Backstreets of Delhi' add-on tour. You will get to relish the taste of various street foods, from savoury to sweet. Along the way, visit Khari Baoli, the largest spice market in India and the colourful Bazar Matia Mahal, located opposite the majestic Jama Masjid Mosque. The tour will combine a mixture of metro, electric rickshaw and walking to get around.

Day 2: Old Delhi

Location: Old Delhi

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Vivanta by Taj Dwarka, Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Delhi - Agra. This morning we enjoy a packed day of sightseeing in Old and New Delhi. Check out the UNESCO-listed Humayun’s Tomb and Jama Masjid - India’s oldest and largest mosque. Visit the iconic Sikh temple Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and its community kitchen feeding 25,000-30,000 people daily. We also enjoy a thrilling rickshaw ride around the Chandni Chowk bazaar and explore New Delhi. Walk down the Rajpath, formerly known as the ‘King’s Way’ and see the famous India Gate monument.





This afternoon, we will drive to Agra. After checking into the hotel, enjoy a group Namaste dinner for departures in 2024. Please note there is no dinner included for departures in 2025.

Day 3: Agra

Location: Agra

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Mandawa Haveli, Jaipur

Meals Included: Breakfast

Agra. Today we will tour of the legendary Taj Mahal, India’s most famous site. This iconic white monument was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century in memory of his beloved wife. It is perhaps the most extravagant symbol of love the world has ever seen and has no rival. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the sunrise or sunset over the magnificent mausoleum so make sure to take plenty of photos!





We will also visit the impressive Agra Fort, which boasts some of India's finest Mughal buildings behind its fortified walls.

Day 4: Karauli

Location: Karauli

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Karauli or Dholpur

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Agra - Karauli/Dholpur. This morning, we drive to either Karauli or Dholpur. In Karauli, we will stay in the beautiful Palace Bhanwar Vilas. An eclectic melding of both Oriental and Art Deco architecture, the heritage-listed hotel was built in 1938 as a family home of the Maharaja of Jaipur. In Dholpur, we will stay at the magnificent Raj Niwas Palace, which is known for its red sandstone, traditional Rajisthani architecture, and European-style ceramics. It's said that this heritage-listed hotel was built by the Maharaja to welcome HRH Albert Edward, who visited in 1876.





Spend the afternoon at your leisure exploring the grounds, perhaps check out the vintage cars or take a dip in the swimming pools. This evening, you can also opt to attend the evening Aarti (prayer).





Please note: Lunch will be included in 2024. Please note there is no lunch included for departures in 2025, instead you will have time to enjoy lunch at your own expense.

Day 5: Jaipur

Location: Jaipur

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Udai Vilas Palace, Bharatpur

Meals Included: Breakfast

Karauli/Dholpur - Jaipur. This morning we hit the road towards the vibrant UNESCO listed Pink City of Jaipur. On arrival, we will spend the afternoon on a tour of the illustrious City Palace and the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar Space Observatory, which features 19 separate astrological instruments.





Day 6: Jaipur

Location: Jaipur

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Seven Hills Tower, Agra

Meals Included: Breakfast

Jaipur. What better way to kick off the day with an optional hot air balloon ride? Booked and paid locally, see trip notes for further information.





Afterwards, enjoy a breezy jeep ride to Amber Fort, a 16th century fortress laid out over four levels, and overlooking the glistening Maota Lake. Known for its artistic architecture, the palace is built with pearly-white marble, and pale yellow and pink sandstone. The remainder of the day is at your own leisure, why not opt to explore the Johari Bazaar in the Old Pink City.

Day 7: Delhi

Location: Delhi

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Jivitesh, Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Jaipur - Delhi. Today we drive back to Delhi. This is what you've been waiting for - the Festival of Lights, Diwali. Diwali is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, so you can be sure to see every market and building adorned with colourful lights and lanterns. There's plenty to do - from perusing the markets, to visiting the nearby temple, where locals will be offering prayers to their deities.





After visiting a local temple, we enjoy a traditional Indian dinner at a local restaurant or at the hotel and soak up the Diwali experience.

Day 8: Delhi

Location: Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Saturday 2nd November 2024. Our Indian adventure comes to an end today. A departure transfer is included today for departures in 2024. If you are travelling in 2025 this can be booked for an additional supplement if required.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    3 - 4 star & heritage hotels

  • 7 nights 3-4 star and heritage hotels

  • Breakfast daily and 2 dinners

  • Diwali - Visit to local markets and temple, fireworks and a traditional dinner

  • Guided sightseeing - Delhi, Jaipur and Agra

  • All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles

  • Travel by jeep to beautiful Amber Fort in Jaipur

  • Escorted by an English-speaking Indian tour guide (for groups of 4 or more)

  • Airport arrival transfer on day 1 (For departures in 2024 a departure airport transfer is provided on day 8)

  • Services of English-speaking Indian specialist guides at some sites

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visa

  • Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$4-7 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture

  • Entrance Fees: USD$70-80pp, paid in local currency

Age Policy

15 + if accompanied by an adult.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 8

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    3 - 4 star & heritage hotels

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What is the maximum group size?

    24

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Nicola Hodgkinson (Google Reviewer)  

Recently returned from Greece, a...

07-May-2024

Recently returned from Greece, a 5 day tour with OTG. Unfortunately, I had a negative experience on day 2 where I needed local support to get me out of a tricky situation. Thank you to Alexandra Z from Hetco Tours in Athens for helping me continue on with the trip, to the Hotel Zafolia staffing team and to Danielle and team here in the UK for supporting me with the aftermath. Your kindness will not be forgotten and I will pay it forward. I've now booked 3 trips with yourselves and will continue to go back. Thank you all. Honestly, I am SO grateful. Blessings to you all. Nicola

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

Land of the Northern Lights 5 day tour of Iceland

10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

On The Go Tours Sri...

05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Joyce Heitler (Google Reviewer)  

I would give this tour...

09-May-2024

I would give this tour group no stars if possible. The tour was not guaranteed but they did not inform me when I booked and they did not have enough people. Way after I booked they said I needed a doctors letter because I was over 70. Also way after booking I was informed I needed travel insurance. They knew my age when I booked. They would not refund my tour even though it was 4 months away.

Simla Patel (Google Reviewer)  

This company doesn’t deserve even...

26-Nov-2024

This company doesn’t deserve even 1 star. I would not recommend this company. There are hidden fees which means the cost of the holiday ends up being very expensive. We recently came back from our trip to China where it is not customary to tip in restaurants & hotel staff. Yet we had to make a payment upfront in cash to to the guide for more than £100. The hotel service was appalling. Just think £100 from each person. The trip was suppose to be a Tour yet we had to pay for all entrance fees. We complained about the poor condition of the hotels but no one responded to our emails to date. The after sales service is non existent. Do not use this company. Far far too expensive for what you get. Not competitive at all. They messed up our booking; repeatedly asked for the same information. We spent so much time correcting their errors. Very difficult to get hold of anyone because they all work in S Africa or New Zealand. Absolute nightmare

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

Save on this tour

Request your exclusive discount code now and unlock savings for your next adventure!

Send me one now.

1 Select your preferred date

Thursday - Thursday

Oct 16, 2025 - Oct 23, 2025
$1115
Prices last published on 22-Dec-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Enquire for huge savings

Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.

By submitting this form, I accept Travel Club Elites terms & conditions and privacy policy.

Similar Tours