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The intention behind each decision.
Begin with a conversation.
Depart on your flight to India.
Most suited for
Couples, Families
Ideal time to visit
December- May
This two-week itinerary is ideal for culture, food, and wildlife lovers who want to go to an area of India which is well off the trodden path, and it will immerse you into two completely different states: Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
You’ll have six nights of wildlife and rural village experiences in Corbett and Dudhwa national parks, ideal for those who like to invest time and energy into getting the most out of their national park experience. You’ll also visit bustling Delhi and Lucknow, and finish with the iconic Taj Mahal.
Less Discovered Northern India
As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you.
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Day 1
Your adventure begins
Days 2 - 3
Delhi
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel in the heart of New Delhi. Later you’ll be picked up by tuk-tuk for an introduction to New Delhi, taking in the key sites. You will be accompanied by a guide who will be happy to recommend a restaurant to you for dinner.
A full-day tour will start with the Salaam Baalak Trust’s guides and former street kids taking you around old Delhi, recounting eye-popping stories, and giving you a fantastic insight into another side of Delhi. The revenue from this tour goes directly to the trust’s work to help other street children. Lunch will be at the famous Khan market, where you can choose an eatery of your choice.
Later you’ll visit Humayun’s tomb and Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, and then take a cycle rickshaw through Old Delhi. There’ll be opportunities to sample street food as you explore the noisy labyrinthine lanes of Chawri Bazaar and Chandni Chowk.
Days 4 - 6
Corbett National Park
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be met by your driver and driven to Corbett National Park, your base for the next few days. The journey takes around 6 hours, with stops along the way.
This region, which extends over 1,300sq km, is made up of lush green grassland and forests, bisected by the Ramganga River. The park protects wild elephants, tigers and sloth bears, nearly 600 domestic and transitory birds, and rare reptiles. There are plenty of opportunities over the next few days to explore the park by jeep, as well as a trek through the buffer zone and along the Jim Corbett heritage trail.
For those particularly interested in birding, why not add a night or two in Pangot, three hours east in the foothills of the Himalayas with over 250 species of bird and great for local walks.
Days 7 - 9
Dudhwa National Park
This morning you will set on off a long journey of around 9 hours to the remote Dudhwa national park near the border with Nepal. You will be based here for the next three nights, with varied opportunities to enjoy the wildlife and village life around the property.
Dudhwa national park is a vast expanse and was made a ‘Project Tiger’ reserve in 1988. It has a spectacular array of wildlife including leopards, black bears, rhinoceros and around half the world’s Barasinghas (12-antler deer).
While staying in the region of Dudhwa, you can explore the local area around the hotel with a farm and a village visit to see massive sugar cane plantations and probably see crocodiles in the forest swamps. You’ll spend the morning and afternoon on game drives in the tall grasslands and forested areas; also you’ll take a boat trip into the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary, exploring around dense swamps and steaming wetlands.
Extending your stay here is no bad thing – simply relaxing in beautiful surroundings is worth it, and with longer here, you can explore more of the three parks and local village life.
Days 10 - 11
Lucknow
Today you’ll journey (around 5-6 hours) to one of the lesser-explored Indian cities of Lucknow, which is coming into its own for incredible food experiences.
You’ll have two days getting under the skin of the city, seeing the famous sites, and experiencing some of the best food northern India has to offer. Highlights include Awadhi cuisine, a delicious mix of Mughal, Kashmiri, and Hyderabadi cooking styles in the bazaars of Aminabad.
A full-day tour takes you first to the Residency, the British campus that witnessed nearly 3,000 deaths during the uprising of Indian troops against their British officers in 1857. Then to the Bara Imambara, built as a relief measure after a devastating famine to employ in the 1780s. In the afternoon you’ll walk through the famous shopping area of Hazratganj, where you’ll receive a special invitation to see inside one of Lucknow’s beautiful old houses.
Days 12 - 13
Agra
Today you’ll drive to the most famous area of Uttar Pradesh, Agra. The drive will take between 4-5 hours, so once you arrive, you’ll have the rest of the day at leisure to relax.
The next day you’ll rise early to visit the Taj Mahal, the premier iconic site in the whole of India and deservedly so. Late morning, you’ll board a train to Delhi, which usually takes around 2.5 hours. A well-deserved afternoon off awaits after your adventure through remote northern India.
Day 14
Fly home
Take your private transfer to the airport and say goodbye to your driver before boarding your day flight home.
India, exceeded all expectations
A trip taking in the Golden Triangle... rest and relaxation at Ramathra Fort and a beach resort in Kerala. Great planning... everything went perfectly and we felt we experienced all aspects of India.
Ian
28 February 2025Excellent
850 Reviews
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What’s included:
With ETG, what’s included is shaped around ease. We take care of the practical details that can distract from the experience itself, so you’re free to relax into the journey and enjoy it as it unfolds.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
All flights (unless you’ve booked your own)
Carefully selected guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transport
Gratuities
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout
Pricing:
Each journey is shaped around you, so costs vary depending on season, flight choices, accommodation and how much is built in.
As a guide, most of our two-week trips fall between £5,000 and £10,000 per person.
Some fall below that, particularly for families or travel outside peak periods. Others go beyond it when the brief includes business-class flights, longer stays, or more ambitious hotel choices.
We discuss budget early, so everything is clear from the start.
Meet Our India Experts
With over a decade of experience, Sara knows how to blend India’s vibrant energy with luxurious, personalised touches. Her itineraries balance historic cities, serene countryside retreats, and cultural experiences that stay with you forever.
Sara
Regional Expert
Explore Our Hotels & Villas
Wherever you go, and whatever you do, at the end of every day you can always be sure of a comfortable rest. Every location on our list of hotels is handpicked, and in its own way, shares the history, the hospitality, and the soul of the destination. Below are some examples of the different hotels we use.
The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
Important FAQs about India
India is a place of contrasts and deep cultural richness, and travelling here with ETG ensures you experience it in a way that is authentic, seamless, and meaningful.
We craft holidays that go far beyond the typical tourist trail: think hand-picked boutique hotels, private guides with expert local knowledge, and immersive experiences that give you genuine insight into India’s diverse traditions and landscapes. From the calm of rural Rajasthan to the chaotic charm of Delhi, our holidays are designed to be both inspiring and stress-free, with 24/7 in-country support so you can focus on the magic of the moment.
India is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on the region and your interests. For most of northern India, the cooler, drier months from October to March are ideal for exploring cultural sites, cities, and wildlife reserves. The southern states, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are also wonderful during these months, while the Himalayan regions are best visited in the warmer months from April to June. If you’re looking for fewer crowds, travelling in the shoulder seasons—September or April—can offer a great balance of pleasant weather and quieter
Every ETG holiday to India is designed to feel seamless, immersive and stress free. We’ll arrange international flights (if you’d like us to), your drivers and guides, and stays in characterful hotels we know and trust.
You’ll experience India in a way that’s completely bespoke to you – from quiet moments to big adventures – all planned by our India specialists. And while you’re away, our local team is on hand 24/7, so you’ll always feel well looked after.
