North India: Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri & Jaipur — 8 Days
Mughal monuments, stepwells, and desert village life across four cities
Northern India's architecture and social layers unfold across eight days, moving from the divided geography of Delhi—its colonial New Delhi and medieval Old Delhi—through Agra's Mughal mausoleums, the abandoned red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri, and into Jaipur's pink-hued streets and surrounding rural settlements. The itinerary traces religious and dynastic layers: Jain temples and Sikh gurdwaras sit alongside Mughal domes and forts; ancient stepwell engineering appears alongside contemporary craft collectives. A night in the rural village of Pachewar, where potters and silversmiths still work by hand, completes a journey that moves between urban density and village rhythms without separating them into neat categories. Local guides anchor the experience in conversation and context rather than isolated monument visits.
Highlights
- Walking through Old Delhi's 17th-century Jama Masjid and nearby Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib with a youth guide from a supported city walk program
- The Taj Mahal in Agra and the adjacent mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal's grandfather, known as the Baby Taj
- Agra Fort, a red sandstone citadel with concealed marble palaces, representing Mughal defensive architecture
- Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned red sandstone city built in the 16th century by Akbar, sited to honor a Muslim saint
- Chand Baori, a stepwell in Abhaneri constructed over a thousand years ago with ornate decoration and ancient water conservation engineering
- Block printing workshop with women from the Anoothi Project near Jaipur, a collective working in a traditionally male-dominated craft
- Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, representing Rajput and Mughal architectural traditions in the Pink City
- A night in Pachewar heritage hotel, observing pottery wheels, silversmith workshops, and traditional cooking in a rural Rajasthani village
Day by day
1Arrival in DelhiDelhi · hotel
Arrival transfers are provided through Women With Wheels, a supported transport initiative. No activities are scheduled until an evening welcome meeting, allowing time to settle into the hotel and rest before the itinerary begins. A pre-arrival night in Delhi is recommended to adjust to local time.
2Delhi: Old City and New City, Then Drive to AgraNew Delhi's Paharganj district · Jama Masjid · Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib · Delhi to Agra
The day spans Delhi's dual geography and its religious institutions. A youth guide from the city walk project leads a walk through New Delhi's Paharganj district, contextualizing how the program supports disadvantaged street youth. The route then shifts to Old Delhi's narrow lanes, where the 17th-century Jama Masjid—India's largest mosque—sits alongside the Sikh temple Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, near an active shopping area. Both sites represent the religious layering that defines northern India's urban centers. An afternoon drive takes you to Agra.
3Agra: Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Agra FortTaj Mahal
Agra served as capital of the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire, and three major sites frame that continuity. The Taj Mahal, built by emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, represents Mughal architectural refinement. The Baby Taj—the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal's grandfather—sits nearby on a smaller scale. Agra Fort, a red sandstone citadel, encloses marble palaces within its ramparts, shifting the focus from funerary to residential Mughal building. Together, the three sites chronicle dynastic power and private devotion across the same period.
4Fatehpur Sikri, Chand Baori, Anoothi Project, and Arrival in JaipurFatehpur Sikri · Chand Baori · Anoothi Project · Jaipur
Travel to Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, with stops at Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri. Fatehpur Sikri, a red sandstone Mughal city, was built by the emperor Akbar in the 16th century to honour a Muslim saint from the village of Sikri who had predicted the birth of his son, Jehangir. The city was abandoned and now stands as an intact monument to a single dynasty's ambition. In the Rajasthani village of Abhaneri, the Chand Baori is an ornately decorated stepwell constructed over a thousand years ago, showcasing ancient Indian methods of water conservation. The final stop before Jaipur is the Anoothi Project, a collective of women working in block printing, traditionally a male-dominated craft. Visitors engage in a hands-on block printing session and hear directly from the collective about its economic and social purpose. The hotel in Jaipur is reached by evening.
5Jaipur: Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, and City ContextAmber Fort · Hawa Mahal · Bollywood cinema
Jaipur is known as the 'Pink City' for its rose-coloured buildings. Amber Fort, perched on a hill above the city, served as the residence of Jaipur's Rajput rulers before the capital moved into the city proper. Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, is a five-story sandstone structure with distinctive honeycombed windows, built as a viewing gallery where royal women could observe street processions unseen. A local historian provides context on India's social fabric, architectural traditions, and regional dynamics. A Bollywood cinema visit is an optional evening activity—the experience of watching Indian film in an Indian theater, with local audiences and their energy, differs markedly from the Western cinema experience.
6Pachewar Village: Rural Life and Traditional CraftsPachewar
The 85-kilometer drive from Jaipur leads to Pachewar, a rural village where accommodation is in a heritage home. The village preserves traditional commercial activities: pottery wheels, silversmith workshops, and cobbler stalls operate as they have for decades. Residents walk through mud-built houses and older temples dedicated to various religions. A cooking demonstration with a local family provides a participant perspective on daily food preparation in a rural setting. The village exemplifies how rural settlements maintain traditional practices while experiencing gradual pressures from urbanization and modernization.
7Pachewar to DelhiPachewar to Delhi · Delhi
Return to Delhi by road. An optional farewell dinner awaits the group this evening.
8Departure
Departure at any time.
Where you go
- 1Delhi
- 2hotel
- 3Taj Mahal
- 4Fatehpur Sikri
- 5Jaipur
- 6Amber Fort
- 7Hawa Mahal
- 8Delhi
Included
- What's Included
- Accommodation
- Hotels (6 nts), heritage hotel (1 nt).
- Meals
- Breakfasts: 7, Lunches: 0, Dinners: 1
- Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
- Vegetarian options available
- Local Guide
- Guided
- This adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
- Airport Transfers
- Arrival Only
- An airport transfer to the start of the tour is included. Please contact our team if you require a quote for a return transfer.
- Wifi
- Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.