15-Day Tour of India

Marble palaces, cities painted almost entirely blue, and the world’s most opulent mausoleum—these are some of the centuries-old attractions that give India its allure. During this 15-day tour, you’ll stop at all of those landmarks and more, with a little bit of leisure time in between to branch out and do some exploring on your own. The tour includes:

• International flights: New York-New Delhi, Mumbai-New York; other departure cities available
• Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
• All intra-flights: Udaipur-Mumbai
• 2 nights at the 5-star Holiday Inn New Delhi in New Delhi
• 2 nights at the 4.5-star Trident Agra Hotel in Agra
• 2 nights at the 3-star Pugmark in Sawai Madhopur
• 2 nights at the 4-star Ramada Jaipur in Jaipur
• 1 night at the 3-star Ranbanka Hotel in Jodhpur
• 2 nights at the 4.5-star Trident Udaipur Hotel in Udaipur
• 1 night at the 5-star Trident Nariman Point Hotel in Mumbai
• Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
• Hotel porterage
• All transfers
• 18 meals: 12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners
• Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
• Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
• Entrance fees per itinerary
  

Days 1–3: Old Delhi and New Delhi

After an overnight flight, your tour of India begins in the country’s capital, New Delhi, where you’ll stay overnight in a luxury hotel before setting out on day 3 to see remnants of Old Delhi’s Mughal architecture. Your time in New Delhi includes visits to Hindu temples and the Indian War Gate, a monument that pays homage to Indian and British soldiers.

• Raj Ghat: This memorial to Mahatma Gandhi includes colorful flowers and an eternal flame. Footsteps away, the Yamuna River affords an idyllic place to take a moment of reflection.
• Ride in a rickshaw through the ever-crowded Chandni Chowk bazaar, where locals squeeze past side-by-side outdoor stands adorned with gold jewelry and colorful saris.
• See the world’s tallest brick minaret at Qutab Minar. The 12th-century red sandstone and marble minaret stands at nearly 250 feet tall.

Days 4–6: Agra and Taj Mahal

As the tour moves along to Agra, day 5 brings you to the Taj Mahal, a monument of sheer white marble that took more than two decades to complete. This leg of the tour wraps up with a stop in the village of Abhaneri, home to an 8th-century step water well.

• 20,000 statues and friezes were carved by thousands of sculptors to complete the facade of the Akshardham Hindu Temple. Nearly 150 life-sized carved elephants stand sentinel in the temple’s Gajendra Pith section.
• Must-see attraction: The Taj Mahal is a decadent token of affection—Shah Jahan built it for his third wife after her untimely death. The marble palace sparkles with hundreds of semi-precious stones and is surrounded by Persian gardens and ornate fountains.
• Agra Fort: This red sandstone fortress-turned-palace is nothing short of imposing, with its double-thick walls, crenellated towers, and a moat that was once filled with crocodiles to fend off intruders.

Day 7: National Park Safari

Spend day 7 rumbling past gazelles, sloth bears, and hyenas on a safari through Ranthambore National Park, which has been commended for its dedication to preserving the safety of endangered tigers. There are nearly three dozen of them throughout the property.

• More than 300 types of birds can be spotted flying amid the park’s tropical brush, including parakeets, cuckoos, and egrets.
• Ranthambore Fort: Stop at this 10th-century fortress, which features a temple dedicated to the Hindu gods Ganesh and Shiva.

Days 9–11: Jaipur & Jodhpur

When the Prince of Wales arrived in Jaipur back in 1876, the townspeople wanted to give him a fitting welcome, so they painted the city pink. It’s been that way ever since. You’ll see the “Pink City” firsthand on Day 9. Next, it’s to the storied “Blue City,” or Jodhpur, where most of the buildings are covered with royal blue paint.

• Thousands of reflective tiles line the walls and ceiling of the Palace of Mirrors. If you stand inside the main hall at just the right moment, you can see natural light casting its reflection of the mirrors to illuminate the whole interior.
• More than 1,000 columns support the Jain Temple, a sacred place for pilgrimages located in Ranakpur, a village you’ll visit en route to Udaipur.

Days 12–15 Udaipur and Mumbai

As the trip comes to a close, you make your way to Udaipur, where the highlight is the diverse architecture of the City Palace, which is perched on the banks of Lake Pichola. Before the trip ends, you’ll have a full day to stroll around Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay).

• City Palace mixes Chinese and European architecture with Belgian accents. At the elegant archways near the palace entrance, you’ll find a giant cage that was once used to trap tigers.
• Place to relax: Take a stroll amid lotus ponds and swaying palm trees at Saheliyon-ki-Bari, one of Udaipur’s decorative gardens.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. From what airport does the deal depart? Airfare is available from the New York City metro area. The departure airport (JFK, EWR, or LGA) will be advised at the time of booked based on availability. The supplemental fee to depart from a city that isn’t included is subject to departure date and availability at the time of booking.

2. Can we extend our trip before or after the promotional dates for the deal? Yes, you may extend your stay.

3. How do I find out if the dates I want to travel are available? The dates available are listed on each option.

4. Does my child need a Groupon, and can they stay in my room? Yes, each person traveling (including children) needs to purchase a voucher.

5. What happens if I buy the Groupon and my travel dates are not available? You can either choose another date or be refunded by Groupon. We suggest calling Gate 1 Travel to redeem your vouchers as soon as possible so that you do not run into this problem.

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