Heart of India

Taj, Tigers & Rajasthan

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$1,890
13 days
average review
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DELHI, AGRA, RANTHAMBORE, JAIPUR, JODHPUR & UDAIPUR

Discover what makes India so incredible on this journey across iconic cities like Delhi and Agra to incredible natural wonders like Ranthambore National Park with unrivaled cultural and culinary experiences along the way. This perfectly paced tour takes you from the Taj Mahal to a jungle safari where you’ll search for the majestic tigers of Ranthambore to the culinary delights of the “Pink City”, to the beautiful “Blue City” of Jodhpur to the villages of Deogarh and the temples of Udaipur. From delightful accommodations to expert Tour Directors, we’ve thought of everything so this trip is hassle-free and you can simply experience and enjoy.

Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our Heart of India with Varanasi tour which includes 3 nights in Varanasi, one of India’s holiest cities.

See smarTours Travelers in India!

Itinerary at a Glance

January 2025–March 2026 Tour Itinerary:

  • 2 nights in Delhi
  • 1 night in Agra
  • 2 nights in Ranthambore
  • 2 nights in Jaipur
  • 2 nights in Jodhpur
  • 1 night in Deogarh
  • 2 nights in Udaipur

Tour Highlights

  • Birla House - Gandhi's Tomb
  • Chandni Chowk by rickshaw
  • Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset
  • Tiger Talk & Jungle Safari in Ranthambore
  • Jaipur Cooking Experience with a local family
  • Blue City of Jodhpur
  • Village walk in Deogarh
  • Ranakpur Temples
  • Lake Pichola Boat Ride in Udaipur

Your Tour Includes

  • All intra-tour flights, trains, and transfers
  • Ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Accommodations at first-class hotels
  • 21 Meals: 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners
  • Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees as per itinerary
  • Experienced, English-speaking Tour Director

Is this tour right for you? Find out What to Expect

January 2025–March 2026 Tour Itinerary

Flights

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi

Day 2: Old Delhi & New Delhi

A person practices yoga, sitting cross-legged with hands raised in a meditative pose, in the foreground of Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. The historical red and white sandstone mausoleum stands grandly with its domes and arches under a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by tall palm trees.

Today we'll uncover all of the city's gems from Old Delhi to New Delhi! We'll begin in Old Delhi, stopping at the Jama Masjid, the city's principal place of worship. Built by the same emperor who built the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, the Jama Masjid is an elaborate structure featuring an expansive geometric base topped with globe-shaped minarets crafted from red sandstone and white marble - truly a sight to behold! Next, we'll visit Chandni Chowk, or "moonlit square", one of the busiest and most famed shopping areas and best explored by rickshaw. We'll drive past the famous Red Fort on our way to Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

This afternoon, we'll explore New Delhi from the beautiful Sikh Temple, Bangla Sahib, driving past India Gate, onward to Gandhi Smriti & Humayun's Tomb. Gandhi Smriti, formerly known as Birla House, is a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and is where Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life before he was assassinated in 1948. The museum is home to a rich collection of books, journals, photographs, audio-visual materials, exhibitions, art pieces, and other memorabilia connected with Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba, and the Indian Freedom Struggle. This evening, we'll come together for a welcome dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Delhi – Agra

Day 4: Agra – Ranthambore

Day 5: Ranthambore National Park

Day 6: Ranthambore – Jaipur

Day 7: Jaipur

Day 8: Jaipur – Jodhpur

Day 9: Jodhpur

Day 10: Jodhpur – Deogarh

Day 11: Deogarh – Udaipur

Day 12: Udaipur

Day 13: Depart Udaipur

Guided Tour Pricing

Explore Last Minute Deals and our Book Early & Save offers below!

2025 Tours Tour Only  
Thu–Tue
Jan 9–21
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$2,199 $2,035
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Thu–Tue
Feb 6–18
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Feb 20–Mar 4
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Mar 6–18
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Oct 2–14
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Thu–Tue
Oct 16–28
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Thu–Tue
Nov 6–18
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2026 Tours Tour Only  
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Jan 8–20
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Thu–Tue
Feb 5–17
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Thu–Tue
Mar 5–17
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Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.

For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern) at 1.800.337.7773.

Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone (1.800.337.7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $300 per person. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.

Pre- & Post- Night Stays

Slow the pace of your tour with a pre- and/or post-night stay so you can arrive refreshed, acclimate to the time zone if needed, and depart leisurely, ensuring a seamless transition into and out of your journey.

Pre-Night in Delhi

Post-Night in Delhi

Optional Tours

Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.

Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.

Temple Heritage & Market Tour

Brahmin & Blue City Walking Tour

Udaipur by Cycle

What to Expect

Max Group Size: 30 travelers

Activity Level: Level 2

Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More

Pacing Level: Moderate

Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More

Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders

A valid passport is required for international tours. There are entry requirements for U.S. passport holders. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.

For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit our Before You Depart section.

Reviews

Lucia C

6 months ago
Great tour

Farshid Y

6 months ago
Loved the tour, India is a beautiful country.

Debra G

6 months ago
I'll send pictures once I get organized. Also, using CBIT for visa processing was extremely easy and quick. Smartours staff professional and helpful. We'll use Smartours again for our future trips.

Linda G

7 months ago
The heart of India with the extension to Varnasi was an incredible trip. It was truly an adventure of a lifetime! The many architectural wonders and the passionate religious experiences we were able to share were unbelievable. I highly recommend the extension to varnasi as it was such a highlight to be at the Ganges and experience all the religious devotions. Once again smarTours has organized a wonderful tour with high value in a very complex country.

Loydene R

8 months ago
Excellent guides for the tour and the extension in Varanasi. Knowledgeable and informative. Great communication, fun and friendly. We had a disabled participant that Shaju took very good care of. They helped us up steep stairs In Varanasi and were protective of us with aggressive vendors .

Shelley B

8 months ago
We had a wonderful tour, our guide Shaju was the best guide for India, he really worked hard to show us so many wonderful places and he taught us so much about India. We saw so many wonderful places and adventures, and we stayed at both hotels and palaces. We ate a lot of good Indian food and naan bread, yum. We went to many forts, temples, and palaces, and we saw the Taj Mahal. One of my favorites was the extension to Varanasi and going by boat on the Ganges. After going there, I feel this is a must see! Our guide in Varanasi Ajit, was phenomenal along with Shaju. We learned so much about India, it was fascinating, it truly is Incredible India, and I will miss so many aspects of it.

Uri

11 months ago
Good and interesting tour program

Randi a

1 year ago
Kudos to Smartours and especially our personal guide, Vikram Singh for our Heart of India trip. Smartours has a well planned itinerary that smoothly packed much into each day. All went without a hitch due to our wonderful guide, Vikram, and his crew. The itinerary was always well explained and thought out, and Vikram's informative talks were interesting and educational. This adventure involved many forms of transportation including bus, rickshaw, tuk-tuks, and jeeps. All went smoothly and safely. Our jam-packed days were full of exploring street markets, forts, palaces, temples, artisan businesses, a rural village, and even a village school. This trip is truly an adventure (as opposed to a casual vacation) with exotic architecture, bustling markets, beautiful fabrics and clothing, Eastern religions, and a different outlook on how happy lives are lived. Be prepared to learn about and experience a culture quite different from our own that is filled with gracious, beautiful people. India is an amazing adventure and not to be missed.

Our hotel accommodations were varied and reflected local culture and meals were excellent. The only issue one couple had with one hotel room was quickly resolved.

We enjoyed every experience including a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi, walks and crazy tuk-tuk rides through the Pink city of Jaipur, and walking tours of the Blue city of Johdpur with their crazy traffic mix of hand carts, tuk-tuks, cows, camels, cars, and even an elephant ambling in city traffic! Even the visits to marble inlayers, carpet weavers, and gem shop were informative and entertaining. You can look forward to meeting wonderful, friendly people, wild Tuk Tuk rides thru narrow alleys, busy bazaars, and dazzling colors everywhere. Can't beat Smartours for value!
R and J

Berman C

1 year ago
I would like thank my tour director Vikram Singh for taking me on a fabulous two tour of India. He immense knowledge and love of his country was on display. Vikram was with us every step of the way, willing to answer every question. The people of India were so kind and generous. They work so hard. I loved the beautiful children of India. So curious at every stop. We had a wonderful group of travelers who got along great. This made the trip more special. The tour director, bus driver and helper deserve much, pre more bang for the buck for tipping, which I did.

Mary A

1 year ago
My trip to India was wonderful, The trip was well planned and paced to use our time efficiently and get us to the major sites at the best times yet not wear us out. We saw the Taj Mahal at sunset and again in the morning light. Our tour guide, Vikram, worked very hard to graciously meet the needs of the group no matter how varied. His commentary brought sites to life and his leadership made everything go smoothly.
The Varanasi extension was awesome. We were taken to the banks of the Ganges at sunrise and again after dark to see devout Hindu people on pilgrimage to this holy city practicing their way of life. A solo senior traveler, I felt safe and secure even in very exotic settings. With sincere concern for safety, guides helped me up and down the uneven steps without railings.
The hotels were comfortable and the food plentiful though spicy. The hospitality of the Indian people made me feel very welcome. I highly recommend this tour.