A Taste of India

A culinary tour of this amazing country. Join us for a veritable feast of a tour, as we journey from bustling Dehli to tranquil Goa.  We begin by visiting the amazing Taj Mahal, continue to the towns and palaces of Rajasthan, experience the bustling modern city of Mumbai , and finish on Goa 's beautiful beaches.

Along the way we will discover many facets of Indian culture, but our focus will always be on the country's delicious food.  We will enjoy unique opportunities to sample a wealth of traditional delicacies, from the sublime vegetarian cuisine of Jaipur to the spicy seafood of the coast.  These dishes will often be demonstrated by the experts – local women in their homes, and even on one occasion by a Rajasthani princess.

Itinerary (15 nights / 16 days)

Day 1, Delhi
Arrive and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon we take a tour of Old Delhi , visiting the Red Fort, the Jama Mashid mosque and Chandni Chowk, a bustling bazaar. We will enjoy our first taste of India at Karim's, a traditional Mughlai eatery with an almost medieval ambience.

Day 2, Agra
We board our early morning express train to Agra, home to one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal. Tonight we stay with a local family, where the lady of the house will give us a private cooking demonstration, as she prepares some classic Indian dishes. (BD)
Approx 3 hours train journey

Day 3, Madhogarh
After visiting the abandoned Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri, we carry on to Fort Madhogarh , fabulously situated on top of a lone hill surrounded by plains. From the rampart walls it is possible to see breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside, especially at sunrise and sunset. (B)
Approx 5 hours driving

Day 4, Madhogarh
Madhogarh is a typical small Rajasthani town, where communities of potters, carpenters, cobblers and carpet makers ply their trade in a manner that has continued unchanged for centuries. Later, we have a unique opportunity to see a demonstration of Rajput cooking given by the young princess of this area, then savour our meal in a beautiful courtyard setting. (BD)

Day 5, Jaipur
After breakfast served in the turret of the fort, we leave Madhogarh for Jaipur, the captivating Pink City . We visit the fabulous Amber Fort, situated 11 km north of the town, and walk the steep paths leading to a magnificent complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples. We spend two nights at a tastefully furnished boutique hotel which serves delicious home cooked meals. (B)
Approx 1 hour driving

Day 6, Jaipur
The pink city of Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, and cars, scooters, rickshaws, camels and bullock carts all jostle for space on the streets. In the morning, we visit some of Jaipur's palaces, observatories and parks. Tonight, we eat in a typical Rajasthani restaurant, designed to resemble a traditional village. The vegetarian food is served to us as if we were the guests at a traditional wedding feast. (BD)

Day 7, Jaipur
Jaipur is a great place to shop for jewellery, carpets, and local craftwork. Today we have a full day to explore the markets before we board our overnight sleeper train to Udaipur . (B)
Approx 11 hour train journey

Day 8, Udaipur
We arrive in Udaipur , the most romantic city Rajasthan, with beautiful lakeside palaces and mansions. This evening we can dine at Ambrai, a restaurant with fabulous views over the lake and the famous Lake Palace hotel.

Day 9, Udaipur
We visit the City Palace , carved out of yellow sandstone on the banks of Lake Pichola . The main part of the City Palace is now preserved as a museum, and houses a large and varied collection of mosaics, glass and porcelain figures, miniatures and paintings. The rest of the day can be spent wandering the bazaars, a maze of narrow streets. (B)

Day 10, Ahmedabad
Continue to Ahmedabad, the cultural centre of the state of Gujarat . A culinary tour of India would not be complete without tasting a famous Gujarati thali, the traditional meal in which you use your hands and pieces of chapati to eat curry and vegetable dishes from small bowls set around a large metal plate. (BD)
Approx 6 hours bus journey

Day 11, Mumbai
Continue to Mumbai by early morning train. Mumbai is the thriving financial centre of India, and people from all over the country have settled around the city. In order to feed its growing population, Mumbai has its own distinct street food culture. We will see Pao Bhaji (a spicy stew of mashed vegetables, eaten with hot buttered bread), Sev Puri and Bhel Puri (crisp gram flour discs eaten with cut onions, coriander and a mixture of chutneys).
Approx 7 hours train journey.

Day 12, Mumbai
A free day to explore the city. Later, we visit a restaurant that serves ‘original' Bombay food. The first residents of Mumbai, the local fishing community, were followed by settlers from other coastal parts of Maharashtra , and their delicious traditional cuisine consists of a mixture of sea food and meat dishes. This evening we take an overnight train to Goa , on the scenic Konkan railway.
Aporox 12 hours train journey

Day 13, Goa
The former Portuguese colony of Goa boasts amazing scenery, with some of the world's most beautiful beaches, lush paddy fields, mango groves and white washed villas. The people are famous for their easy going nature and traditional hospitality. Our hotel is located close to Candolim beach.

Day 14, Goa
We visit the home of a typical Goan family and learn to make prawn balchao, a pickled prawn/shrimp dish that is both sweet and hot. Then we experience a vindaloo curry, in all its spicy glory. Our dessert will be a coconut pancake, the perfect combination of western and Indian cuisines. (L)

Day 15, Goa
Time to relax on the beach or explore some more of Goa 's many restaurants. This area has attracted many international restaurateurs, with establishments that serve a variety of different cuisines. The night bazaars also offer a fantastic selection of dishes, from crisp fried calamari, to hand-rolled plum sushi.

Day 16, Goa
Tour ends.

General Tour Information

Style: Special Interest
Maximum group size: 12
Staffing: Fully escorted by professional tour leader and services of local guides
Transport: Private air-conditioned coach, trains
Accommodation: 8 nights tourist class hotels, 4 nights heritage hotels, 1 night homestay, 2 nights overnight train
The single supplement does not apply to the homestay nor the overnight train.
Activities: Walking, cooking demonstrations
Meals: As per itinerary. B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner.
Entrance fees: Included for all sites visited as part of the itinerary.
Tipping: To avoid embarrassment and save you money all tours operate a tipping kitty. Please allow US$70 per person for the duration of the tour. This does not include a tip for the Tour Leader which is entirely at your own discretion.
Additional sightseeing and Optional activities: If you wish to visit a wide range of sites and take part in a variety of optional activities please allow approx US$50.

For comparability, all prices in this dossier are quoted in one currency. We use the US Dollar since that is familiar to most. However, once on tour you will need to pay for all goods and services in the local currency (with the exception of the local payment which must be paid in US Dollars cash with the notes unmarked and in good condition). See your Country Dossier for details of exchange rates.

Local Payment

There is a local payment of US$200 on this tour. This must be paid to the Tour Leader in US Dollars cash on Day 1 of the tour.

Free Arrival Transfer

Arrival transfers are included for all clients arriving in Delhi on day 1 or before day 1 if extra accommodation is booked with us. Departure transfers to the airport are included on day 15. If you have booked your flights separately from your tour please ensure that you inform your tour booking agent of your flight details at least one month before departure to avoid payment of an administration fee.

Price includes:

• Staffing as shown in the 'Factfinder'
• Accommodation, meals, transportation, and sightseeing excursions as per itinerary.
• Entrance fees for all sites listed as part of the itinerary
• Transfer to hotel on arrival.

Price does not include:

• Visa costs
• Border Taxes
• Drinks, tips, laundry and other items of a personal nature.
• International flights
• Departure transfers
• Meals other than those listed
• The single supplement does not include nights at the homestay nor on the train.

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