Insider's India - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Delhi, you'll be met by a Myway representative, who will accompany you to your hotel.

With your expert local guide, slip behind New Delhi’s majestic boulevards and tree-lined avenues to experience local life in this extraordinary city. On a quiet back street you'll discover the community of 60 washer-men who scrub laundry for hotels, hospitals and better-off residents - many of their families have done this for generations, but the trade is dying out. Explore a well-preserved ancient step well, and spend time at a prominent Sikh temple, where you'll have the chance to lend a hand in the community kitchen - a traditional part of Sikh temples, which feed people of all religions in their large dining halls. Take lunch in the hall amongst the other diners, before heading back to your hotel for a rest before your evening streetfood tour of Old Delhi. Feast on treats and sweetmeats, and visit what is allegedly the largest spice market in Asia, before stopping at India's largest mosque before bedtime.

Head to New Delhi station to catch the train to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. This iconic tomb is every bit as majestic as expected, but you'll get a different view of it today once you've been met and transferred to the small village of Kachpura, on the opposite riverbank to the Taj. Here, you'll be met by a local guide for a walking tour of the village, discovering the significance of this rural community during the Mughal era. Along with the insight into village life, you'll enjoy excellent views of the Taj Mahal, and your visit will support a community tourism initiative. From Agra, you'll be driven out into rural Uttar Pradesh, arriving at the Chambal Safari Lodge in time for a nature walk before dinner.

Set off on a river safari with a trained naturalist from the lodge, keeping your eyes open for gharials basking in the sandy shallows. Return to the lodge for some time at leisure before your afternoon visit to a nearby village, Holipura, once a stronghold of the Chaturvedi clan who built grand havelis that are still in evidence today, still inhabited by descendents of the original owners despite being in varying states of decay. As the sun sets, take a boat to the sacred Bateshwar temples where you'll receive a priest's blessing, before returning to your lodge for dinner.

Having been driven to you Lucknow hotel, freshen up and step out with an expert local guide for a heritage walk of the city's old quarter. This densely packed area of the city brims with culture and history: its alleys are lined with the ornate windows and intricate woodwork of crumbling havelis, and artisan families sell handcrafted embroidery, kites, itars (perfumes) from tiny shops, much as they have done for generations. Conclude your exploration at a historic royal city gate, where you'll be introduced to the local chef who will guide you around foodie heaven on an evening food tour. Sample authentic local cuisine at various traditional eateries and food stalls, tasting a variety of treats while your guide explains the origin, ingredients and methods involved in each dish. Fully sated, return to your hotel to loosen your waistband!

Spend the day with your expert local guide, exploring some of Lucknow’s notable historic sites. Begin at the prestigious and imposing La Martiniere College, established in 1845 and boasting alumni such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri. Visit The Residency, built in the 1800s as official home to the British in Lucknow, and refuge to thousands of British expats during the 1857 siege of Lucknow. For contrast to the colonial presence, explore the colossal Bara Imambara, built in the 1780s. Its name, 'big shrine', is something of an understatement - the complex contains a mosque, a large stepwell, a remarkable central hall, and a bewildering maze of secret tunnels connected by around 500 identical doorways. Continue to explore an elaborate tomb, before finishing the day in style by taking afternoon tea with a descendant of the Nawab (former rulers of Lucknow) in his home. Along with tea, you'll receive a fascinating insight into the Nawab clan and the history of Lucknow, as your host shares stories about his family, their opulent lifestyle and influence on the city's distinctive cuisine and arts scene.

Your day will be at leisure to explore Lucknow or relax at your hotel.

Head to Allahabad and check in to your hotel. Later in the afternoon visit Triveni Sangam, where the sacred Ganges, Yamuna and Sarawasti Rivers converge. As such it is considered to be an immensely auspicious spot, and Hindus believe that bathing here will wash away their sins. Pilgrims travel here to immerse themselves in the waters, especially during the Kumbh Mela festival when millions of devotees congregate for a holy dip. Board a small boat and travel out to the holy spot, where you'll have the opportunity to bathe in the river and be blessed by a holy man.

Before departing for Varanasi, spend the morning exploring Allahabad's most significant sites. Start with the ancestral home of the Nehru family (influential in Indian politics) which has been turned into an excellent museum, its interior is full of memorabilia, personal effects, books and historic photos, and a room dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, who was a regular house guest. You'll also visit a beautiful walled garden containing three Mughal style mausoleums, the 16th century Allahabad Fort, and a temple that is submerged in water when the Ganges is in full flow. There'll be time to freshen up at your Allahabad hotel before the onward journey to Varanasi.

Rise early to witness Varanasi come alive while devotees perform their morning rituals. It's a magical time of day here, and your dawn boat ride on the Ganges will be a memorable one, as you observe pilgrims and locals descend from the ghats (riverside steps) to dip in the river. After breakfast back at your hotel, step out for a walking tour with your expert local guide, to discover Varanasi's spiritual side. Stroll through the winding lanes of the old city, stopping at one of the most significant Hindu temple shrines in India, and at the city's main cremation ghat, considered to be the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. Cremation rituals take place here 24 hours a day, and the ashes are scattered in the sacred Ganges, which Hindus believe will free them from the cycle of rebirth. Spend a few hours at leisure back at your hotel, before a late afternoon boat ride to witness the spectacular devotional ceremony which takes place every day at sunset, with large flaming lamps, burning incense billowing in the air, and the rhythmic chanting of devotees.

With your guide acting as translator, take a walk to see local weavers hard at work on their traditional handlooms. You’ll get a first-hand insight into the history of the silk trade and how zari - the gilded thread of the city's jacquard textile designs - came to characterise the local sari. See the beautiful detail work done by hand in the homes of local artisans, and walk through the alleys of the weavers to learn how the local Muslim & Hindu communities have interacted and worked together for centuries. Stroll down Dal Mandi (formerly the courtesans’ neighbourhood), listening to folktales of the city’s elite and the high culture of music and dance in Varanasi, before dropping in to visit a classical tabla drum-maker, and ending your walk at the historic silk market.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.