Golden Triangle with Goa — 9 Days from Palaces to Beaches

Your driver meets you at Indira Gandhi International Airport and transfers you to your hotel. After the long flight, the day is light — time to settle in and adjust. Overnight in Delhi.

Morning is given to Delhi's monuments. Old Delhi: Jama Masjid's vast courtyard, a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, and Raj Ghat. Then imperial Delhi: Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar, with a drive past India Gate. After lunch, you drive approximately three and a half hours to Agra. Overnight in Agra.

Early morning visit to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the marble is at its warmest and the crowds thinnest. After breakfast, visit Agra Fort. Leave for Jaipur with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar's short-lived abandoned capital, with the towering Buland Darwaza and Panch Mahal. Arrive Jaipur by late afternoon. Overnight in Jaipur.

Morning: Amber Fort with elephant or jeep ride up the cobbled ramp, followed by the Sheesh Mahal and marble courtyards. Afternoon: the honeycombed Hawa Mahal façade, Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory, and City Palace Museum. Evening free for Jaipur's bazaars — block-print fabrics, blue pottery, and gem markets. Overnight in Jaipur.

Morning transfer to Jaipur Airport for your included domestic flight to Goa. Met on arrival at Goa International Airport and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon free — your first taste of the Goan pace: ocean air, a slow walk to the beach, and dinner at a seafood shack. Overnight in Goa.

Morning: Fort Aguada, the well-preserved 17th-century Portuguese sea fort with panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. Then Old Goa's whitewashed baroque churches — the Basilica of Bom Jesus and Sé Cathedral, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Afternoon: Calangute and Baga beaches, Anjuna flea market (on Wednesdays). Evening: Mandovi River cruise with traditional Goan music and dance performance. Overnight in Goa.

Drive south to explore a different Goa. Palolem Beach is one of the most picturesque stretches of sand in India — a curved bay with calm water and a largely crowd-free shoreline. Nearby Colva is longer and equally quiet. En route, visit Mangeshi Temple and the Shri Shantadurga Temple — among the most important Hindu shrines in Goa. Afternoon: a working spice plantation tour with lunch of traditional Goan cuisine. Return to your hotel by evening. Overnight in Goa.

A full day entirely at your pace. Sleep late, return to a favourite beach, try watersports, browse the craft stalls in Panaji's Latin Quarter, or simply do nothing at all. This is the decompression day — the deliberate counterpoint to four days of monument-walking. Overnight in Goa.

Transfer to Goa International Airport for your onward flight. Your Golden Triangle with Goa tour ends here — Mughal monuments in the north, Portuguese heritage and the Arabian Sea in the south, nine days across two completely different Indias.

Yes, entirely. You have your own private car, driver and English-speaking guides throughout. The Goa beach days are yours to spend as you wish — there is no group itinerary or shared transport.

Different atmospheres. North Goa (Calangute, Baga, Anjuna) is livelier — beach clubs, Wednesday flea markets, a busy social scene that runs late. South Goa (Palolem, Colva) is quieter, with calmer water and a more secluded feel — better for couples and relaxation. This tour shows you both so you can decide which suits you before booking extra nights.

Yes. Most guests add 1–3 extra nights for more beach days, watersports, or time in a specific resort. We can adjust the itinerary easily — just let us know when enquiring.

Yes. Palolem and Colva have calm, shallow water suitable for children. Many Goa beach resorts have kids' clubs and pools. The Taj Mahal and Amber Fort are also very popular with families. We can pace the sightseeing days to suit younger travellers.

Goa's cuisine is seafood-heavy and Portuguese-influenced — fish curry with rice, prawn balchão, beef vindaloo, and bebinca (layered Goan dessert). Beach shacks serve freshly caught fish and prawns grilled to order. The food is a genuine highlight of the Goa section of the trip and very different from North Indian cuisine.

Yes. The economy class domestic flight from Jaipur to Goa is included in the tour price. Business class upgrades are available on request at an additional cost.