Incredible India
About This Journey
India is not a country you visit — it is a country that visits you. It arrives in your senses with breathtaking force: the ochre walls of Rajpur's ancient palaces, the mind-altering geometry of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, the sacred smoke of Varanasi's ghats rising toward a violet sky, the silence of a Rishikesh morning on the Ganges. No two travelers leave India the same as they arrived.
NTC's Incredible India journey is designed to reveal this country at its most luminous — in the spring, when temperatures are warm but not yet fierce, and the light falls on the Rajasthani desert in long golden ribbons. You will stay in heritage palace hotels that were once the residences of maharajas. You will be guided by a private Spanish-speaking Tour Manager who understands both the spiritual poetry of this land and the curiosity of the Western traveler. This is India at its finest.
Where You'll Stay
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival in Delhi — A Royal Welcome to the Subcontinent
Your ambassador meets you at the airport with a garland and silk scarf welcome. Transfer to Le Meridien New Delhi. A traditional Arti & Tikka ceremony is performed in your honor — a sacred blessing that marks the beginning of a journey you will never forget.
Delhi — Old City & New India
Old Delhi: The great Jama Masjid mosque, a rickshaw ride through the chaotic spice lanes of Chandni Chowk, the imposing Red Fort, the serene Raj Ghat (Gandhi memorial), and the golden Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Sikh temple. New Delhi: India Gate, Parliament House, the Qutub Minar UNESCO tower, Humayun's Tomb, and the vibrant Khan Market.
Delhi to Jaipur — The Pink City Awaits
Scenic drive to Jaipur (5–6 hours) through the Rajasthani countryside. Check in to the ITC Rajputana. As the sun sets, attend an evening Hindu temple Aarti ceremony — bells, incense, and devotional song at the foot of the ancient city walls.
Jaipur — Amber Fort, Palaces & the Art of India
Ascend to the magnificent Amber Fort by Jeep and receive a Hindu blessing in its ancient temple. Photo stop at the ethereal Jal Mahal (Water Palace). Then: the City Palace & Museum, the astronomical Jantar Mantar observatory, and a Tuk-Tuk ride through the pink streets. Afternoon: henna painting, a Sari and Turban tying session with a photo copy to take home, and free time at Bapu Bazaar.
Jaipur → Fatehpur Sikri → Agra
Drive toward Agra with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri — the abandoned Mughal imperial city built by Akbar the Great, perfectly preserved in red sandstone and hauntingly empty. Continue to Agra and check in to the ITC Mughal. First views of the Taj Mahal's silhouette at dusk from the hotel gardens.
Agra — Taj Mahal at Sunrise & Agra Fort
Before first light, board the battery bus to the Taj Mahal's East Gate. Witness the white marble dome glow pink, then gold, then brilliant white as the sun rises over the Yamuna River — one of the most extraordinary sights on earth. A traditional dress photo session is set up for you: Sari for women, Kurta-Pajama for men, with a printed photo copy as a keepsake. Afternoon: the great Agra Fort, where the same emperor who built the Taj was later imprisoned by his own son.
Travel Day — Agra to Varanasi via Delhi
Transfer by coach to Delhi Airport. Fly to Varanasi on IndiGo flight 6E 2414 (dep. 18:40, arr. 19:55). Transfer to the Taj Ganges hotel. Tonight, the sacred city breathes around you — tomorrow, you will enter its ancient heart.
Varanasi — The Sacred Heart of India
Dawn boat ride on the Ganges — watching pilgrims bathe in the sacred river as the sun rises over one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Walk the labyrinthine alleys of Old Varanasi. Visit the exterior of the Golden Temple (Kashi Vishwanath), the Durga Temple, and then Sarnath — where the Buddha delivered his first sermon 2,500 years ago. As night falls, witness the hypnotic Ganga Aarti ceremony on the ghats — priests, flames, incense, and the river.
Varanasi → Delhi → Dehradun → Rishikesh
Fly Varanasi to Delhi on IndiGo 6E 2321 (dep. 09:35), then connect to Dehradun on IndiGo 6E 2135 (dep. 15:10, arr. 15:55). Transfer by road to Rishikesh (approx. 1.5 hrs) — the yoga capital of the world, nestled where the Ganges emerges from the Himalayas. Check in to Divine Resort Rishikesh.
Rishikesh — Yoga, Temples & the Evening Aarti
Morning Yoga & Meditation session by the river. Visit Triveni Ghat, the ancient Bharat Mandir (Rishikesh's oldest temple), and the peaceful Parmarth Niketan Ashram. Walk the famous suspension bridges over the Ganges. As evening falls, join the evening Aarti ceremony — flowers on the water, lamps reflecting in the current, the Himalayas blue in the fading light.
Rishikesh — Rafting, Trekking & Haridwar
Morning Yoga session, then optional adventure: Ganges white-water rafting or a Himalayan foothills trek. Afternoon excursion to Haridwar — one of Hinduism's holiest cities. Walk the ancient Har-Ki-Paudi ghat and witness another Ganga Aarti ceremony as thousands of oil lamps float down the river into the gathering dark.
Departure — Rishikesh to the World
Transfer to Dehradun Airport. Fly to Delhi on Air India AI 2908 (dep. 13:40, arr. 14:35) for international connections. India has given you something no other country can — an encounter with the ancient soul of humanity itself, still alive and breathing in its rivers, temples, and people.
What's Included
- 11 nights in 5-star & luxury palace hotels (all listed above)
- All meals throughout — breakfast, lunch & dinner every day
- Private Spanish-speaking Tour Manager & Guide — full journey
- 4 domestic flight segments (Delhi→Varanasi, Varanasi→Delhi, Delhi→Dehradun, Dehradun→Delhi)
- AC coach for all road transfers
- All monument & site entrance fees
- Rickshaw Chandni Chowk, Jeep & Hindu blessing Amber Fort, Ganges boat ride
- Battery bus at Taj Mahal; traditional dress photo session (Sari / Kurta-Pajama)
- Henna painting session; Sari & Turban tying experience
- 2 water bottles per person per day; all taxes
- NTC concierge available 24/7 via WhatsApp throughout
Not Included
- International flights to/from Delhi
- India tourist visa (required — apply in advance)
- Camera fees at some monuments
- Personal expenses & gratuities
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
India Is Calling. Will You Answer?
From the Taj Mahal at dawn to the Ganges at dusk — this journey reaches the parts of the world that change you. Twelve days. A private guide. And a handful of people who chose to travel differently.
Flexible deposits · No hidden fees · Personal NTC concierge from day one