Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

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15 Days From

$3235

$2750

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

15 Days Starting in Delhi and ending in Kochi

Visiting: Delhi, Agra, Karauli, Jaipur, Kochi, Munnar, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumarakom, Alleppey

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

891/GTK

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 24

Physical rating:

Low

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: $3235 $2750 Operator discount: -$485 -15%

NB: Prices correct on 23-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Uncover the delights of India’s famed Golden Triangle - Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, then head south to tropical Kerala. From Kochi visit the picturesque hill station of Munnar with its verdant tea plantations, spot elephants in Periyar Wildlife Sancutary, relax in sleepy Kumarakom and spend a night aboard a house-boat, gliding along the palm fringed backwaters.

Highlights

  • Agra – Enjoy a guided tour of impressive Agra Fort and the legendary Taj Mahal which is a lasting symbol of love

  • Kerala Backwaters – Spend the night aboard our deluxe rice boat and explore the lush backwaters

  • Delhi – Tour highlights of the city including Jama Masjid, the Rajpath and take a rickshaw ride around the Chandni Chowk bazaar

  • Munnar – Stroll through a tea plantation on a guided walk and visit a local market

  • Kumarakom – Relax or explore the famous Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary as we enjoy time at leisure

  • Jaipur – Explore highlights of the Pink City including the City Palace and Jantar Mantar Space Observatory

  • Kochi – Enjoy free time to explore the coastal city and perhaps enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance show

  • Amber Fort – Visit this impressive 16th century fortress which sits on the shore of shimmering Maota Lake

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

Places You'll See

Delhi

Jaipur

Agra

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Delhi

Location: Delhi

Saturday. Namaste! Welcome to Delhi! On arrival at the airport you’ll be transferred to our hotel for an afternoon 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: Delhi

Location: 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

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we'll visit the legendary Taj Mahal, India's most renowned monument. Constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a tribute to his beloved wife, this iconic white marble mausoleum is an unparalleled symbol of love and devotion, standing as one of the most extraordinary architectural masterpieces in the world. Be sure to capture this once-in-a-lifetime experience with plenty of photos!





Following our visit to the Taj Mahal, we’ll journey to the impressive Agra Fort. This massive red sandstone fortress houses some of India's most exquisite Mughal buildings, all safeguarded behind its towering fortified walls. It’s a site rich with history and grandeur, offering a fascinating glimpse into the Mughal era.



Day 4: Karauli

Location: Karauli

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Karauli or Dholpur

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Agra - Karauli/Dholpur. This morning we journey to either Karauli or Dholpur stopping for lunch en route.





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 Name: Overnight: Jaipur

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

Meals Included: Breakfast

Jaipur. Early this morning why not experience an optional hot-air balloon ride (booked and paid locally, see trip notes for further information). Later, enjoy a jeep ride to Amber Fort for a guided tour and visit a cotton weaving house for an authentic demonstration of fabric dyeing. The remainder of the day is at your leisure, why not opt to explore the Johari Bazaar in the Old Pink City.

Day 7: Delhi

Location: Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Jaipur - Delhi. Return to Delhi today where the rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps visit the impressive Akshardham - the world’s largest Hindu temple.

Day 8: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Delhi - Kochi. We catch an early morning flight to Kochi today, in the beautiful southern state of Kerala. With a history that has seen Jewish exiles and Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisation, Kochi is a melting pot of culture and architectural styles. Enjoy the remainder of the day to relax or explore Kochi.

Day 9: Munnar

Location: Munnar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kochi - Munnar. Today we travel to the picturesque former hill station of Munnar, surrounded by sprawling tea plantations. We take a guided stroll through a local tea plantation and visit a local market, before the rest of the day is free to relax as you please. You may wish to visit nearby Blossom Park and enjoy cycling or boating in your stunning surroundings. This evening, we meet others joining our group who have been travelling on our longer South India Explorer itinerary.

Day 10-11: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Location: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Kumily

Meals Included: Breakfast

Munnar – Periyar. A drive south to Periyar, South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary and home to bison, antelopes, sambar, wild boar, birds and even the odd tiger! Kumily, close to the sanctuary and where we'll stay, is a pretty little town dotted with small spice and handicraft shops. There is plenty to do in and around Periyar, so we leave the choice to you for the remainder of the day.





On day 4 we will enjoy an included boat ride on Lake Periyar to spot herds of wild elephants, spending the remainder of the day at leisure to explore on own. You can opt for an optional visit to explore the spice plantation or enjoy a kalaripayattu dance performance Periyar.

Day 12: Kumarakom

Location: Kumarakom

Meals Included: Breakfast

Periyar - Kumarakom. Today, we leave Periyar and take a drive to Kumarakom - a village spread over a cluster of islands on Lake Vembanad. The day is free to relax or explore Kumarakom at your leisure. Perhaps take a boat ride on the lake or visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to many rare bird species and is an important stopover for migratory birds in the winter (Nov-May).

Day 13: Alleppey

Location: Alleppey

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Deluxe rice boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kumarakom - Alleppey - Keralan Backwaters. On day 13, we will take a scenic drive to Alleppey. Here we board our private rice boat for a voyage through the famous Kerala backwaters. Our rice-boat takes us sedately along the enchanting palm-fringed backwaters, covering a distance of some 20 kms, during which time the boat glides past local villages and fascinating scenes of everyday rural life. Watch a beautiful sunset over the backwaters and enjoy tasty meals (starting with lunch) prepared by the on-board chef using fresh local produce.

Day 14: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Keralan Backwaters – Kochi. This morning, we disembark our rice boat and head for Kochi. Formerly a princely state, Kochi is also fondly referred to as “The Queen of the Arabian Sea”. The rest of the day is at leisure exploring Kochi on its own. This evening you can opt for an optional tour to watch an entertaining and traditional Kathakali dance show. Kathakali performers are known for their elaborate costumes and makeup, and they always put on a fantastic show.

Day 15: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Saturday. 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 and heritage hotels

  • Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 2 dinners

  • 13 nights 3-4 star and heritage hotels

  • 1 night deluxe houseboat on the scenic backwaters of Kerala

  • Guided sightseeing - Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Karauli or Dholpur and Munnar

  • Travel by jeep to beautiful Amber Fort in Jaipur

  • Rickshaw ride in Delhi

  • Boat ride on Lake Periyar

  • Economy class flight: Delhi to Kochi

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

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

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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$75-95pp, paid in local currency

Age Policy

15 + if accompanied by an adult.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 14

  • 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 from travellers on this tour

Hazel Wightman  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

11-Nov-2018

Had an amazing holiday and very much enjoyed both the Golden Triangle & Kerala. They were two very different tours, with the hustle & bustle of Delh and many cultural sights in the North, including the Taj Mahal, and then a more relaxed pace in Kerala, but an equally interesting itinerary, our highlight being the stay on the Riceboat, followed by 2 nights at a luxury resort. Both guides were superb - friendly, courteous & knowledgeable. A fantastic experience.

Lianne Bibby  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

08-May-2024

Excellent tour & guides

Stephen Kelly  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

27-Mar-2018

Overall the tour was excellent. The Golden Triangle sector of the tour in northern India was very busy as expected and moving hotels each night was exhausting. The selection of places to visit was very good and all the accommodation was fine. Kerala by contrast was beautiful and relaxing, the boat trip and the Lakesong Hotel were excellent. Our extended stay at the Marari Beach Resort a wonderful estate with over 70 species of resident birds was superb. Our main guide in the north, Satendra, was very well organised and well informed about the main sites.

Pauline Farrier  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

22-Nov-2014

Yogi was very nice and a good knowledge about what we saw, the whole tour was jam packed. The hotel we stayed in in Delhi was not very good for food and the area was not nice Alex was very good also!! Overall a very good trip, and would use you again!!

Stephen Kettle  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

27-Feb-2017

Sat was brilliant. Knowledge and context of the sites visited was detailed and interesting. His overall manner was very engaging and nothing was too much trouble. Extemely flexible and approachable. First rate

Linda Tunstall  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

21-Nov-2014

Yogi was a great tour guide interesting and knowledgable and he interacted well with the members of the group. The tour was well arranged and had a degree of fleability.

John Kinloch  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

18-Nov-2014

Both the tour and the guide were excellent.

Patricia Chipchase  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

02-Apr-2017

This was our first time with On the Go so we weren't sure what to expect. However from our initial transfer at New Delhi airport we felt very happy with our choice of tour and company. Our guide Sat was very personable and helpful with requests. His knowledge of his home country was very extensive and relayed the information in The Golden Triangle part of the tour ( 19 people) was very much "on the go" however there was a lot of area to cover in this week. When we flew to Kerala the pace was a lot slower and as there were only 3 people we did not have a guide, just a driver. But this was not a problem and he was very professional and gave us a wide range of information. It was great to see both the northern and southern parts of India, such a range of intensity, sights, food and cultures. We would definitely recommend On the Go to others and are looking forward to doing another tour with this company next year.

Andrea Rowlands  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

14-Feb-2016

Satish was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and was able to answer our questions about the city and culture. He was also very good at providing practical tips where appropriate (eg: max prices to pay, where to buy things (and where not to buy)) to ensure we had an enjoyable trip. The Golden Triangle part of the tour felt very rushed. It would have been nice to have a bit of spare time to explore the cities. Kerala was very relaxing and all that we had expected from the 2nd leg of our trip. The level of hotel/hotel-restaurant service was lacking overall during this week however when we were staying in Munnar and also at the resort (after the boat cruise). This was noted in the feedback form completed at the end of our tour.

Lilian Lind  

Golden Triangle & Kerala - 15 days

10-May-2024

Too fast paced with no free time. Would have loved more down time and some opportunities to eat outwith the group. Being in the group every waking moment was too much. Felt like we ‘saw’ everything but experienced nothing. The second part of the trip in Kerrera was much, much better and our tour guide gave us options. It was slower paced but still I felt that India was seen through a bus window. We have been in numerous escorted tours - this was actually or third trip with On The Go - other gave us the odd afternoon off or a finish early. Time away from the group is essential. Eating bland buffet hotel food is not the reason we went to India. Both tour guides were very knowledgeable but the ‘triangle’ guide was too controlling.

Read all 10 reviews

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Prices last published on 23-Nov-2024

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    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.

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