Basix
Explorer
Iconic India
37 days • 4.4
4.5
Excellent
circle12 reviews
location_on 37 days
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Start
Delhi, India
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Finish
Goa, India
tour
Trip Code
HHRCC
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Min Age
15
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Trip Size
1 - 16
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Physical Rating
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Meals
5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
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Transport
Auto rickshaw, Boat, Bus, Car, Cycle rickshaw, local bus, Metro, Overnight sleeper train, Private vehicle, Taxi, Train, Plane
bed
Accommodation
Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night), Guesthouse (5 nights), Heritage Property (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (18 nights), Overnight sleeper train (3 nights)
From £1,681(37 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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Rajasthan is the India that many people imagine when they dream of travelling to this captivating country – ancient forts, palaces, rural villages and the colourful cities of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur.
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Pushkar and Varanasi are among the holiest cities in India. Climb to hilltop temples at sunrise, dodge cows in the street, and observe pilgrims praying along the ghats of the sacred Ganges River during a boat cruise.
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Explore the wonders of the Thar Desert. Feast on Rajasthani cuisine at sunset before bunking down to camp between the sand dunes.
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Glide through the backwaters of Kerala on a pole boat, going ashore for a village stay – a beautiful break and a perfect way to get close to local customs and culture.
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The word ‘colourful’ gets thrown around a lot when people talk about India, but the gateway towers of Meenakshi Amman Temple truly are a technicolour dream.
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
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Part of travelling with Tuuur means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. We visit a number of temples on this trip, which requires a certain level of modesty. Please bring clothes that cover the arms and pants/skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.
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Sleeper trains are a great way to travel long distances while still getting maximum time in each place. Beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow and blanket provided (although some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet). Please note that you may be sharing with locals of the same or opposite gender. More information can be found in the Transport section of the Essential Trip Information.
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You will also be travelling by local bus on this trip. While conditions are basic, this is a great way to rub shoulders with the locals while enjoying the passing scenery.
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This trip runs all year round, so it’s important to be aware of just how hot it can get in India in the summer months and choose the season that best suits you. Depending on the time of year, temperatures in northern India can get very hot and very cold. Please bring layers and a range of adequate clothing, including thermals and sun protection.
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We've sourced our accommodation carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Tuuur style of travel. Service and accommodation in India may be different from western standards.
Itinerary
Experience a kaleidoscope of colour and culture
Travel to the far-flung corners of India on this epic adventure. In the north, journey through Jaisalmer's desert, lose yourself in the electric bazaars of Jodhpur, witness pilgrims performing ancient ceremonies on the ghats of Varanasi and marvel at the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. Then bask in the tropical southern climate, cruise along the Kerala Backwaters, come face-to-face with local customs in small rural towns, and laze on the gorgeous beaches of Goa – India's idyllic holiday destination. Enjoy the freedom to be immersed in the diverse cultures of colourful, chaotic and enchanting India on this small-group adventure.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Delhi
- DAY 2Day 2 • Delhi – Overnight Train
- DAY 3Day 3 • Bikaner
- DAY 4Day 4 • Bikaner to Jaisalmer
- DAY 5Day 5 • Jaisalmer
- DAY 6Day 6 • Thar Desert
- DAY 7Day 7 • Jodhpur
- DAY 8Day 8 • Jodhpur
- DAY 9Day 9 • Udaipur
- DAY 10Day 10 • Udaipur
- DAY 11Day 11 • Pushkar
- DAY 12Day 12 • Pushkar
- DAY 13Day 13 • Jaipur
- DAY 14Day 14 • Jaipur
- DAY 15Day 15 • Abhaneri
- DAY 16Day 16 • Fatehpur Sikri – Agra
- DAY 17Day 17 • Agra – Overnight Train
- DAY 18Day 18 • Varanasi
- DAY 19Day 19 • Varanasi
- DAY 20Day 20 • Varanasi – Overnight Train
- DAY 21Day 21 • Delhi
- DAY 22Day 22 • Trivandrum
- DAY 23Day 23 • Varkala
- DAY 24Day 24 • Varkala
- DAY 25Day 25 • Kerala Backwaters
- DAY 26Day 26 • Kochi
- DAY 27Day 27 • Kochi
- DAY 28Day 28 • Periyar
- DAY 29Day 29 • Periyar
- DAY 30Day 30 • Madurai
- DAY 31Day 31 • Madurai – Overnight Train
- DAY 32Day 32 • Mysuru
- DAY 33Day 33 • Mysuru– Overnight Train
- DAY 34Day 34 • Hampi
- DAY 35Day 35 • Hampi - Overnight train
- DAY 36Day 36 • Goa
- DAY 37Day 37 • Goa
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
airport_shuttle Transport
Auto rickshaw, Boat, Bus, Car, Cycle rickshaw, local bus, Metro, Overnight sleeper train, Private vehicle, Taxi, Train, Plane
bed Accommodation
Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night), Guesthouse (5 nights), Heritage Property (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (18 nights), Overnight sleeper train (3 nights)
festival Included activities
circleDelhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
circleDelhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
circleDelhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
circleJaisalmer - Leader-led walking tour
circleJodhpur - Leader-led walking tour
circleUdaipur - Leader-led walking tour
circlePushkar - Leader-led walking tour
circleJaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour
circleAbhaneri - Chand Baori stepwell
circleAbhaneri - Harshat Mata Temple visit
circleAgra - Taj Mahal
circleVaranasi - Leader-led Old City walking tour
circleTrivandrum – Leader-led Orientation Walk
circleKerala Backwaters - Pole boat ride
circleKerala Backwaters - Guided village walk
circleKochi - Leader-led Fort Kochi walking tour
circlePeriyar - Spice plantation visit
circlePeriyar - Kalaripayattu (Indian Martial Art) performance
circleMadurai - Leader-led walking tour
circleMysore - Leader-led walking tour
museum Optional activities
circleDelhi - Humayun's Tomb - INR600
circleDelhi - Qutub Minar - INR600
circleDelhi - Red Fort - INR600
circleDelhi - Gandhi's Delhi Urban Adventure - INR3350
circleDelhi - Delhi Food Walk Urban Adventure - INR3750
circleDelhi - Hidden Gems of Delhi Urban Adventure - INR4100
circleBikaner - Junagarh Fort - INR600
circleJaisalmer - Folklore Museum - INR500
circleThar Desert - Overnight Desert Camp - Free
circleJodhpur - Bishnoi villages day trip - INR750
circleJodhpur - Meherangarh Fort - INR600
circleElevator Mehrangarh Fort - INR50
circleUdaipur - Cultural performance - INR250
circleUdaipur - Sajjan Garh Palace (Monsoon Palace) - INR300
circleUdaipur - Shilpgram craft village - INR100
circleUdaipur - Cooking class - INR600
circleUdaipur - City Palace - INR400
circleUdaipur - Lake Pichola boat ride - INR500
circlePushkar - Brahma Temple - Free
circlePushkar - Sunrise at Savitri Temple - Free
circleJaipur - Amber Fort - INR500
circleJaipur - City Palace - INR1200
circleJaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema - INR400
circleJaipur - Balloon Safari - USD280
circleAgra - Agra Fort - INR650
circleAgra - Akbar's Mausoleum - INR300
circleVaranasi - Sunset candle flower ceremony - INR400
circleVaranasi - Sarnath - INR315
circleVaranasi - Sunrise Ganges boat trip - INR400
circleKochi - Kathakali performance - INR600
circleKochi - Dutch Palace - INR20
circlePeriyar - Guided nature walk - INR1400
circleMadurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple - INR50
circleMadurai - Gandhi Museum - Free
circleMysore - Keshava Temple - INR200
circleMysore - Maharaja's Palace - INR200
circleMysore - Chamundi Hill & Temple - INR100
circleHampi - Vittala Temple - INR500
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Friday Jun 13, 2025
Saturday Jul 19, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 10 spaces left
£2,101£1,681
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Friday Jul 25, 2025
Saturday Aug 30, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 9 spaces left
£2,101£1,681
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Friday Aug 15, 2025
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 5 spaces left
£2,123£1,698
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Friday Aug 29, 2025
Saturday Oct 04, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 4 spaces left
£2,123£1,698
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Friday Sep 12, 2025
Saturday Oct 18, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 6 spaces left
£2,283£1,826
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Friday Sep 26, 2025
Saturday Nov 01, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 5 spaces left
£2,239£1,791
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Friday Oct 03, 2025
Saturday Nov 08, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Saturday Nov 15, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 11 spaces left
£2,266£1,926
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Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 7 spaces left
£2,266£1,926
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Friday Oct 17, 2025
Saturday Nov 22, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 12 spaces left
£2,266
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Friday Oct 24, 2025
Saturday Nov 29, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 6 spaces left
£2,283£1,940
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Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 11 spaces left
£2,266
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Friday Oct 31, 2025
Saturday Dec 06, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 5 spaces left
£2,266£1,926
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Friday Nov 07, 2025
Saturday Dec 13, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 8 spaces left
£2,294£1,835
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Friday Nov 14, 2025
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 12 spaces left
£2,266
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Important notes
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1. This trip is a combination of North India Revealed (HHRR, group size max 16) and South India Revealed (HHSS, group size max 12). As such the makeup of your group and your tour leader may change on Day 22
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2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 2, 17, 20, 31, 33 and 35 (Overnight sleeper trains) and Day 3 (Camping) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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3. The Pushkar Camel Fair is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant festivals in India, and can be a true highlight, but please note the fair is based on the lunar calendar, so the fair dates can vary and it can be hard to confirm the exact festival dates.
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We will do all we can to ensure that travellers booked on departures that coincide with the fair will get an opportunity to see the best of the festival, but due to the uncertain and flexible nature of this festival we cannot take responsibility if the dates of the fair are changed resulting in your visit not coinciding with the fair.
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Pushkar hotels typically raise their rates considerably during the fair so departures across this period will be subject to a surcharge. Unfortunately, although we make bookings months in advance, Pushkar accommodation tend to overbook at this time so we ask for a flexible approach from our travellers who choose to travel at this time.
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4. Hot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate from September 1st to April 30th and last approximately 60 mins. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments, and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your joining meeting on day 1 of your trip. Payment must be made by cash in either INR/AUD/USD/GBP or credit card and is USD 260pp (subject to change). Flights are subject to availability and weather conditions (tickets are fully refundable in case of bad weather).
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5. Please note travelling during major festivals such as Holi and Diwali can, at times, cause disruption the the published itinerary. Please see the 'Safety' section for more details.
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6. The trip begins with an important welcome meeting at 6pm.There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.
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7. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for flight tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
Reviews (12)
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GRAHAM
Feb 16, 2025
This was an incredible trip great value for money and our guides Reetika and Chandra were both excellent in getting our group safely between places and to all hotels, restaurants and sites. I am definitely planning my next Intrepid trip
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David
Dec 06, 2024
The Iconic India trip was everything I wanted and more. It was hard going in parts, especially the very early departures, but equally, there were also some very relaxing times. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone of average physical fitness.
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Helen
Aug 28, 2024
Fabulous trip
Fabulous guides
Fabulous friends made
This is India. What a blast!!
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John
Jun 25, 2023
Take any quotes from all we have written that you like. We are exhausted at this point of the reviews. If we think of anything else for you to post we will send. Please know we recommend Intrepid constantly and I would like to offer to do a presentation for you if you would like at our local travel expo via Midwest Mountaineering. Intrepid is not known well yet in the USA and we would be happy to be ambassadors for you!
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Laura
May 22, 2023
Brilliant trip, brilliant country, an assault on all of your senses.... in a good way! Exceptional tour leaders.
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Natalie
Dec 13, 2022
The Iconic India tour was fantastic in showing the highlights of India especially for the first time in visiting - I thought it was the perfect length of time to spend seeing the north and the south. My only concern was feeling safe and the leaders were fantastic in supporting and changing my perception of India in this way. Would recommend!
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Judith
Nov 22, 2022
The 37 day trip Iconic India is simply FABULOUS!! Intrepid have curated an amazing itinerary that encompasses a taste of both north and south India, full of temples, palaces, forts, homestay's, overnight train travel, and an unforgettable night in the Thar Dessert looking at the stars. Travelling around India is an amazing experience, but its not for the faint hearted; nor without its challenges, and I personally didn't want to attempt this as a solo 60 yr old woman. The group support and camaraderie of like minded travellers and the professionalism of both our guides (Chime and Chandra) simply enhanced the whole adventure to a different level. If you have the time to spare , don't hesitate to book this amazing trip, you won't regret it!
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Steven
Jan 24, 2025
India is an assault on the senses in the best possible way, the colours, the sights, the aromas, the sounds, and of course the tastes all just hit you with an unforgettable intensity that embraces you.
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Syd
Jan 19, 2025
What a learning experience! I never realized how religious India is. Impressed with the flow of humanity in traffic and walking. People nice, and respectful
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Nadin
Dec 05, 2023
Die Reise Iconic India ist die beste Option um so vieles wie möglich in kurzer Zeit von Indien zu sehen.
Man beginnt im hektischen Norden und endet im entspannten Süden. Für mich die perfekte Kombination.