Total India

Welcome to India! Make your way through streets filled with bustling bazaars and fragrant street food stalls to our starting hotel. Get to know your guide and the rest of the gang at our welcome meeting tonight before a few drinks to toast to our amazing adventure!

Today's as iconic as it gets as we take the morning train to the home of the Taj Mahal. Wander the legendary mausoleum's gleaming marble halls, learn all about its unique history, and snap a selfie in front of the magnificent domed building.

Spend the next couple of days exploring the Pink City's rose-tinted streets, traditional markets, and opulent architecture. Opt to visit the City Palace, enjoy a delicious meal at the city's Kitchen with a Cause, or catch a Bollywood movie. On day 4, we'll take a guided tour of the spectacular Amber Fort, an intricate sandstone structure looking out over a lake.

Start the day with an optional cycle tour of Jaipur. Then hop in our 4x4 and head to Tordi Sagar. Take a tour of this rural settlement, visiting local artisans, and markets, and joining a cricket match. An optional camel cart or 4x4 ride is a great way to explore further.

Travel to Pushkar and explore the city's ghats, Rajasthani architecture, and eclectic bazaars on a guided tour. On day 7 watch the sun come up from a stunning hilltop temple. Opt to dine in the desert this evening with food and entertainment provided by local cameleers.

Spend the next three days in the 'City of Lakes' with free time to explore at your own pace. You could explore its majestic palaces, ornate temples, and shimmering lakes on a guided walk. We've got lots of great optional activities on offer here from a boat ride on Lake Pichola, and a sunrise cycle tour of the city, to a Rajasthani cookery class, and a cultural show, with traditional music and dancing.

Take a local bus to Ahmedabad, where we'll visit the famous Gandhi Ashram. From here, we'll board an overnight train to Mumbai. Snuggle up in your bunk and let the train rock you to sleep.

Wake up as the train rolls into Mumbai. Take a guided walk in Colaba and Fort Districts with their lively street markets, and gothic and colonial architecture. The rest of the day is yours. Visit the Gateway to India, go people-watching on Chowpatty Beach, or hit Crawford Market.

Take a short flight to laid-back Goa today. Spend your days relaxing with a chilled coconut in hand on the soft white sands, join our optional trip to Old Goa for Portuguese colonial architecture, and spend your nights eating fresh seafood in the waterfront restaurants.

Take another flight today to the vibrant port city of Kochi, one of our fave destinations in India. This afternoon, check out the markets, watch the local fishermen at work at the Chinese fishing nets, and grab a lassi in a streetside cafe. 

Head to Alleppey, in the heart of the Keralan backwaters. Enjoy lunch at a local women's project, before a guided walk round the area. We'll spend tonight in a village homestay, where we'll learn how to cook some classic Keralan dishes.

Spend the morning exploring the backwaters on a ferry cruise. Drift along blue-green stretches of water, past gently swaying coconut trees, before travelling down the coast by bus to the port city of Kollam. Take a guided walk before exploring on your own.

Pay a visit to the docks and Neendakara Fishing Harbour this morning. Check out the morning's catch, before travelling down the coast to Varkala, a beach lover's paradise ringed by rust-red cliffs. Relax on the golden sands or join an optional temple trip. Please note: Kollam Harbour is closed to visitors May through June.

Today's yours. Spend some time relaxing on the beach with your friends, take a wander along the cliffs, join a yoga session, or take a boat ride to Ponnumthuruthu Island.  This evening enjoy a few beers in the beach bars with your travel buddies.

Head back to Kochi, where we'll take a guided walk through some of the city's highlights. Spend the afternoon picking up some last minute souvenirs, or opt to watch a traditional dance performance. Tonight's our last together so make it count!

Say goodbye to your buddies, exchange contact details, and continue your travels or head home, with a camera reel full to bursting, and the most amazing memories. 

Everyone's dream trip looks a little different, and this group tour is your chance to explore India on a budget. Whilst we take care of the accommodation, transport, guide and must-do activities, this trip is designed with maximum flexibility in mind to give you control over the itinerary. You'll have plenty of free time and freedom to shape your own adventures with a wide variety of optional activities available to book during your trip, so you can choose experiences around your preferences and budget.

Whether you're after an action-packed itinerary or want to explore at a relaxed pace, this trip is your chance to do so. This style of trips are some of the most budget-friendly options we offer, making them accessible to a wide range of different travellers.