Taj Mahal, Khajuraho and Varanasi
Overview
- Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
- Departures: Private, any date
- Group size: Private, from 2 travellers
- Accommodation: Comfortable 3–4★ hotels and heritage properties
- Country: India
Travel from Delhi and the Taj Mahal through Orchha and the temples of Khajuraho to the sacred riverfront of Varanasi, on a route that mixes trains, quiet roads and a short flight.
This nine-day tour links three very different chapters of India‘s past: Mughal splendour, medieval temple art and the living rituals of the Ganges. It suits curious travellers who have seen the obvious sights in photos and want a route with more depth, including two smaller places most visitors miss.
After two nights in Delhi, you take the train to Agra for the Taj Mahal at sunset and dawn. A second train and a short drive bring you to Orchha, a riverside town of palaces and cenotaphs, and then the road leads to Khajuraho and its finely carved temples. The final two nights are in Varanasi, with the evening aarti, a sunrise boat on the river and a visit to Sarnath.
Points to weigh before you decide:
- The drive from Orchha to Khajuraho takes about four hours on rural roads.
- Flights between Khajuraho and Varanasi are limited. If none fits your dates, we propose a road or rail alternative, which makes that day longer.
- Dawn starts at the Taj Mahal and on the Ganges are worth the early alarm.
- Some monuments close one day a week, which we plan around.
We can add a night in Varanasi, start with Jaipur or replace Orchha with a longer stay in Khajuraho. Tell us your plans on our plan your trip page.
Day-by-day itinerary
On arrival, a driver meets you and takes you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is unplanned. If you want fresh air, the lawns and tombs of Lodhi Garden are close to the centre and quiet in the evening. Your specialist gets in touch to run through the journey and answer questions.
Overnight: Delhi
Weave through the alleys of Old Delhi by cycle-rickshaw, past spice stalls and silversmiths, to the great mosque of the Jama Masjid. Pass the Red Fort, seat of the Mughal emperors. After lunch, explore the garden tomb of Humayun and the Qutb Minar, then drive past India Gate and the government buildings of New Delhi.
Overnight: Delhi · Meals: Breakfast
A fast train brings you to Agra in about two hours. After settling in, visit the marble tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, delicate as a jewellery box, and the red sandstone walls and palaces of Agra Fort. As the light softens, cross to the Mehtab Bagh gardens to see the Taj Mahal reflected across the Yamuna.
Overnight: Agra · Meals: Breakfast
See the Taj Mahal at dawn, when the marble shifts from grey to pink to white. After breakfast, take the train to Jhansi, about two and a half to three hours, and drive about half an hour to Orchha. In the late afternoon, wander the riverbank among the domed cenotaphs of its Bundela kings.
Overnight: Orchha · Meals: Breakfast
Spend the morning exploring Orchha’s palace complex, including the many-domed Jahangir Mahal, and the tall spires of the Chaturbhuj Temple. The town is small and peaceful, easy to walk. After lunch, drive to Khajuraho, about four hours through the farmland and scrub of Bundelkhand, and arrive in time for dinner.
Overnight: Khajuraho · Meals: Breakfast
Explore the Western Group of temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site built around a thousand years ago under the Chandela kings. Your guide explains the carved friezes of gods, dancers, musicians and lovers that cover every wall. In the afternoon, visit the quieter Eastern Group, including its Jain temples, or rest by the pool.
Overnight: Khajuraho · Meals: Breakfast
Travel to Varanasi by a short flight where the schedule allows, or by the road or rail alternative we confirm in your quote. In the evening, your guide leads you through the lanes to Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga aarti, when priests perform with fire, bells and chanting to the river as crowds watch from the steps and boats.
Overnight: Varanasi · Meals: Breakfast
Before sunrise, glide along the ghats by rowing boat while pilgrims bathe and pray and the old city wakes up. Walk back through narrow lanes past shrines and tea stalls. In the afternoon, drive about half an hour to Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, to see the great stupa and the archaeological museum.
Overnight: Varanasi · Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a free morning in Varanasi, perhaps a last walk by the river or a visit to a silk-weaving workshop. Your driver then takes you to the airport for a short flight to Delhi, where you connect with your international flight. We set the timing to fit your onward journey.
Overnight: — · Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
- Eight nights’ accommodation with breakfast
- Private airport, station and hotel transfers
- Private air-conditioned car and driver for road journeys and sightseeing
- Trains from Delhi to Agra and from Agra to Jhansi
- Domestic flights named in the itinerary (or the road or rail alternative)
- Local English-speaking guides in Delhi, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho and Varanasi
- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges
- Entrance fees to the sights in the itinerary
- 24/7 support during your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Tips for guides, drivers and boatmen
- Camera fees and personal expenses
- Optional activities
Good to know
Sample itinerary: we adapt the route, hotels and dates to you and confirm everything in your written quote. Best October–March.
Delhi to Agra is about two hours by fast train, and Agra to Jhansi about two and a half to three, with a short drive on to Orchha. Orchha to Khajuraho is about four hours by road. Flights from Khajuraho to Varanasi run on a limited schedule, so we confirm the best option when you book. The tour ends with a short flight from Varanasi to Delhi.
Frequently asked questions
Orchha breaks the long journey from Agra to Khajuraho and is worth a visit for its own sake. Its palaces, temples and riverside cenotaphs are far less visited than the Golden Triangle. The town is small and relaxed, a pleasant contrast to the cities.
A small share of the carvings are erotic, but most show gods, dancers, warriors and everyday life. Families visit regularly, and guides adapt their explanations. Your guide can steer you through the temples as you prefer.
Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in Hinduism, and the cremation ghats are places of mourning. Don’t photograph cremations, dress modestly and follow your guide’s lead. It is a powerful place, and a respectful approach is welcome. Read more in our Varanasi guide.
October to March is the most comfortable time, with dry, warm days and cool nights. From April, Khajuraho and Varanasi become very hot. Winter fog in December and January can delay trains and morning flights in the north.
