Amber Fort above Maota Lake in the hills outside Jaipur, Rajasthan

Two Weeks in India: A First-Time Itinerary

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Planning a first India itinerary can feel overwhelming. The country is vast, and every region seems to have something essential to see. The secret is to do less, and to choose a route that flows. Two weeks is enough for a memorable first journey if you focus on one or two regions and give each place the time it deserves.

Here are three India itinerary ideas for a fortnight, followed by a day-by-day outline of the most popular.

Three ways to spend two weeks in India

  • The Golden Triangle and Rajasthan. Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, then Udaipur and Jodhpur or Ranthambore. The classic first India itinerary, rich in forts, palaces and palace hotels.
  • The Golden Triangle and Varanasi. Add the sacred city on the Ganges for a journey with a more spiritual thread.
  • North and south. A week in the Golden Triangle, then a flight to Kerala for the backwaters, spice hills and a few quiet days by the sea.

A day-by-day India itinerary: the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan

The Taj Mahal in Agra, a highlight of any first India itinerary
  • Days 1–3, Delhi: arrive and rest, then Old Delhi’s lanes and Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutub Minar.
  • Days 4–5, Agra: the Agra Fort, the Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset from Mehtab Bagh.
  • Day 6: by road to Jaipur by way of Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Days 7–9, Jaipur: Amber Fort, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and the bazaars, with an evening at a step-well or a palace.
  • Days 10–13, Udaipur: the City Palace, a boat on Lake Pichola and slow days in a lakeside hotel.
  • Day 14: fly to Delhi for your journey home.

Our Rajasthan tour follows a longer version of this route, with Ranthambore, Pushkar and Jodhpur, and our North India tour covers Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur in ten days.

Adding Varanasi

Evening on the ghats of Varanasi, an addition to an India itinerary

Varanasi is a short flight from Delhi or Agra, and two nights are enough to see the dawn rituals on the Ganges, the evening aarti and nearby Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Our spiritual tour combines Varanasi with the Golden Triangle.

Adding Kerala

For a contrast, end your India itinerary in Kerala: a night or two on the backwaters, the tea and spice hills, and a few days on the coast. Our guide to the Kerala backwaters explains the options, and our Kerala tour shows how it fits together.

Making your India itinerary work

  • Travel between October and March for the routes above; see our guide to the best time to visit India.
  • Allow at least two nights in each place, and a quiet day after the long flight.
  • Use private transport with an experienced driver, and expert local guides in each city.
  • Fly for longer legs, such as Jaipur to Udaipur or Delhi to Kerala, to save time.
  • Apply for your visa through the official e-Visa website well in advance.

Every journey we plan is shaped around the traveller. If you would like help with your own India itinerary, tell us your dates and interests.

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