Down the Ganges

What can you do with 15 days in India? Oh, this and that… Start with whitewater rafting in the foothills of the Himalayas and a visit to the Taj Mahal, a monument that redefines the word ‘monumental'. Next, hunt river dolphins (with your camera, of course), witness the moving burial ceremonies at the ghats of Varanasi and camp out along the shores of the mighty Ganges itself. From bustling New Delhi to beautiful Orchha and all points in between, this is India in a nutshell—a huge, wonderful, brightly-coloured nutshell.

Day 1 Delhi
Arrive at any time.

Day 2 Delhi/Rishīkesh
Take a morning train to Haridwar then drive to Rishikesh. Explore this holy city.

Day 3 Rishīkesh
Enjoy whitewater rafting in Rishikesh and spend the afternoon exploring.

Day 4 Rishīkesh/Haridwar
Drive to Haridwar. Attend an evening aarti (prayer ritual) and walk along the ghats.

Day 5 Haridwar/Āgra
Take a morning train to Agra. Spend the evening exploring.

Day 6 Āgra/Allahābād
Visit the Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Agra Fort by cycle-rickshaw before boarding an overnight train to Allahabad.

Day 7 Allahābād/Chunār
Embark on a sailing trip down the Ganges and camp overnight on the river banks.

Day 8 Chunār/Robertsganj
Drive to Rajpur in Robertsganj. Explore the village and forested areas with a local guide. Opt for a 4x4 safari or a bicycle ride around the town. Overnight tent retreat.

Day 9 Robertsganj/Varanasi
Opt to cycle around the village before driving to Varanasi. Enjoy an evening boat ride on the Ganges.

Day 10 Varanasi
Watch the sunrise from a boat on the Ganges before a free day to explore the city.

Day 11 Varanasi/Khajurāho
Spend the day travelling to Khajuraho via Satna. Visit the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, India's largest group of medieval temples, known for their kama sutra statues.

Day 12 Khajurāho/Orchha
Continue to Orchha, stopping en route to explore the village of Alipura.

Day 13 Orchha
Explore the Orchha Palace complex. With free time in the afternoon, opt to take a cooking class.

Day 14 Orchha/Delhi
Visit Tarragram, a local initiative for the sustainable livelihood of paper making, before boarding an afternoon train to Delhi.

Day 15 Delhi
Depart at anytime.