North India tour packages

• Duration: 2 to 15 days; most travellers take 6 or 7.
• Price: from ₹10,499 per person, stays, local travel and the sightseeing listed on each trip page.
• Places: the Taj Mahal, Delhi and Jaipur, Shimla, Manali and Kasol, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Nainital and Jim Corbett, Auli and Chopta, and the pilgrim towns of Mathura, Vrindavan, Ayodhya and Varanasi, with the Char Dham yatra.
• Travel: Every trip here is private. Most start with a pick-up in Delhi and go on by road in your own car with a driver; a few Manali and Dharamshala plans travel between Delhi and the hills on an overnight AC coach. Some start in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jaipur, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mathura or Nainital, and each trip page says where it begins and ends. Flights or trains to the start city are not part of the package.
• Stay: hotels along the route in the category you choose, a resort near the park at Corbett, camps or a homestay at Chopta and the basic lodges at Kedarnath on the yatra; a few Manali and Dharamshala plans spend the first and last nights on an overnight AC coach.
• Best time: October to March is the best time for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Amritsar and the pilgrim towns, and March to June with October and November for the hill stations of Himachal and Uttarakhand.
• Weather: On the plains around Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, October to March days are 20 to 30°C and April to June reaches 40 to 45°C, while Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie and Nainital, at about 2,000 m, stay about 10 to 25°C in summer and fall below freezing on winter nights.
• Trip type: private trips planned around your dates and your group.

2 Days Mathura Vrindavan Yatra2D/1N · ₹10,4993 Days Mathura Vrindavan Gokul Yatra3D/2N · ₹10,9994 Days Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan Yatra4D/3N · ₹13,4003 Days Chopta Chandrashila Trek3D/2N · ₹13,499

Four or five days covers one pair of places from Delhi: Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Haridwar and Auli, a quick Shimla and Manali, or Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Six or seven days, the length most people take, does Shimla and Manali properly with Solang and Kasol, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Nainital with a Corbett safari, or Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Eight days and more join regions: Himachal with Amritsar, the Golden Triangle with Rajasthan, Mathura on to Ayodhya and Varanasi, and the twelve-day Char Dham yatra.

4 days / 3 nights, from ₹13,400 per person: 4 Days Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan Yatra (4D/3N, from ₹13,400); 4 Days Rishikesh Auli Escape (4D/3N, from ₹14,575); 4 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Bliss (4D/3N, from ₹15,499).

5 days / 4 nights, from ₹17,566 per person: 5 Days Jaipur Agra Getaway (5D/4N, from ₹17,566); 5 Days Manali Kasol Getaway (5D/4N, from ₹18,499); 5 Days Haridwar Auli Rishikesh Bliss (5D/4N, from ₹22,200).

6 days / 5 nights, from ₹19,250 per person: 6 Days Shimla Manali Escape (6D/5N, from ₹19,250); 6 Days Mathura Ayodhya Lucknow Yatra (6D/5N, from ₹19,999); 6 Days Manali Solang Honeymoon Retreat (6D/5N, from ₹20,299).

7 days / 6 nights, from ₹20,380 per person: 7 Days Delhi Mathura Agra Jaipur Yatra (7D/6N, from ₹20,380); 7 Days Shimla Manali Escape from Chandigarh (7D/6N, from ₹20,625); 7 Days Nainital Corbett Rishikesh Bliss (7D/6N, from ₹23,500).

8 days / 7 nights, from ₹23,999 per person: 8 Days Nainital Corbett Mussoorie Bliss (8D/7N, from ₹23,999); 8 Days Delhi Jaipur Udaipur Bliss (8D/7N, from ₹24,999); 8 Days Shimla Manali Dharamshala Bliss (8D/7N, from ₹30,625).

9 days / 8 nights, from ₹29,999 per person: 9 Days Mathura Ayodhya Varanasi Yatra (9D/8N, from ₹29,999); 9 Days Shimla Manali Dalhousie Bliss (9D/8N, from ₹35,134); 9 Days Himachal Amritsar Bliss (9D/8N, from ₹35,989).

10 days and longer, from ₹30,899: 10 Days Golden Triangle Rajasthan Escape (10D/9N, from ₹30,899); 12 Days Rajasthan Jaisalmer Desert Adventure (12D/11N, from ₹38,500); 11 Days Himachal Amritsar Chandigarh Bliss (11D/10N, from ₹42,812).

4 Days Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan Yatra4D/3N · ₹13,4004 Days Rishikesh Auli Escape4D/3N · ₹14,5755 Days Jaipur Agra Getaway5D/4N · ₹17,5665 Days Manali Kasol Getaway5D/4N · ₹18,4996 Days Shimla Manali Escape6D/5N · ₹19,2506 Days Mathura Ayodhya Lucknow Yatra6D/5N · ₹19,9997 Days Delhi Mathura Agra Jaipur Yatra7D/6N · ₹20,3807 Days Shimla Manali Escape from Chandigarh7D/6N · ₹20,6258 Days Nainital Corbett Mussoorie Bliss8D/7N · ₹23,9998 Days Delhi Jaipur Udaipur Bliss8D/7N · ₹24,9999 Days Mathura Ayodhya Varanasi Yatra9D/8N · ₹29,9999 Days Shimla Manali Dalhousie Bliss9D/8N · ₹35,134

4 days / 3 nights from ₹13,400 per person. Four or five days covers one pair of places from Delhi: Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Haridwar and Auli, a quick Shimla and Manali, or Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Six or seven days, the length most people take, does Shimla and Manali properly with Solang and Kasol, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Nainital with a Corbett safari, or Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Eight days and more join regions: Himachal with Amritsar, the Golden Triangle with Rajasthan, Mathura on to Ayodhya and Varanasi, and the twelve-day Char Dham yatra.

5 plans: 4 Days Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan Yatra (4D/3N, from ₹13,400); 4 Days Rishikesh Auli Escape (4D/3N, from ₹14,575); 4 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Bliss (4D/3N, from ₹15,499); 4 Days Haridwar Rishikesh Yatra (4D/3N, from ₹18,000).

4 Days Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan Yatra4D/3N · ₹13,4004 Days Rishikesh Auli Escape4D/3N · ₹14,5754 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Bliss4D/3N · ₹15,4994 Days Haridwar Rishikesh Yatra4D/3N · ₹18,000

5 days / 4 nights from ₹17,566 per person. Four or five days covers one pair of places from Delhi: Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Haridwar and Auli, a quick Shimla and Manali, or Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Six or seven days, the length most people take, does Shimla and Manali properly with Solang and Kasol, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Nainital with a Corbett safari, or Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Eight days and more join regions: Himachal with Amritsar, the Golden Triangle with Rajasthan, Mathura on to Ayodhya and Varanasi, and the twelve-day Char Dham yatra.

9 plans: 5 Days Jaipur Agra Getaway (5D/4N, from ₹17,566); 5 Days Manali Kasol Getaway (5D/4N, from ₹18,499); 5 Days Haridwar Auli Rishikesh Bliss (5D/4N, from ₹22,200); 5 Days Auli Joshimath Snow Escape (5D/4N, from ₹22,499).

5 Days Jaipur Agra Getaway5D/4N · ₹17,5665 Days Manali Kasol Getaway5D/4N · ₹18,4995 Days Haridwar Auli Rishikesh Bliss5D/4N · ₹22,2005 Days Auli Joshimath Snow Escape5D/4N · ₹22,499

6 days / 5 nights from ₹19,250 per person. Four or five days covers one pair of places from Delhi: Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Haridwar and Auli, a quick Shimla and Manali, or Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Six or seven days, the length most people take, does Shimla and Manali properly with Solang and Kasol, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Nainital with a Corbett safari, or Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Eight days and more join regions: Himachal with Amritsar, the Golden Triangle with Rajasthan, Mathura on to Ayodhya and Varanasi, and the twelve-day Char Dham yatra.

15 plans: 6 Days Shimla Manali Escape (6D/5N, from ₹19,250); 6 Days Mathura Ayodhya Lucknow Yatra (6D/5N, from ₹19,999); 6 Days Manali Solang Honeymoon Retreat (6D/5N, from ₹20,299); 6 Days Golden Triangle Ranthambore Wildlife Escape (6D/5N, from ₹20,687).

6 Days Shimla Manali Escape6D/5N · ₹19,2506 Days Mathura Ayodhya Lucknow Yatra6D/5N · ₹19,9996 Days Manali Solang Honeymoon Retreat6D/5N · ₹20,2996 Days Golden Triangle Ranthambore Wildlife Escape6D/5N · ₹20,687

7 days / 6 nights from ₹20,380 per person. Four or five days covers one pair of places from Delhi: Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Haridwar and Auli, a quick Shimla and Manali, or Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Six or seven days, the length most people take, does Shimla and Manali properly with Solang and Kasol, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Nainital with a Corbett safari, or Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Eight days and more join regions: Himachal with Amritsar, the Golden Triangle with Rajasthan, Mathura on to Ayodhya and Varanasi, and the twelve-day Char Dham yatra.

10 plans: 7 Days Delhi Mathura Agra Jaipur Yatra (7D/6N, from ₹20,380); 7 Days Shimla Manali Escape from Chandigarh (7D/6N, from ₹20,625); 7 Days Nainital Corbett Rishikesh Bliss (7D/6N, from ₹23,500); 7 Days Shimla Manali Honeymoon Retreat (7D/6N, from ₹24,799).

7 Days Delhi Mathura Agra Jaipur Yatra7D/6N · ₹20,3807 Days Shimla Manali Escape from Chandigarh7D/6N · ₹20,6257 Days Nainital Corbett Rishikesh Bliss7D/6N · ₹23,5007 Days Shimla Manali Honeymoon Retreat7D/6N · ₹24,799

8 days / 7 nights from ₹23,999 per person. Four or five days covers one pair of places from Delhi: Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Haridwar and Auli, a quick Shimla and Manali, or Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Six or seven days, the length most people take, does Shimla and Manali properly with Solang and Kasol, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Nainital with a Corbett safari, or Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Eight days and more join regions: Himachal with Amritsar, the Golden Triangle with Rajasthan, Mathura on to Ayodhya and Varanasi, and the twelve-day Char Dham yatra.

4 plans: 8 Days Nainital Corbett Mussoorie Bliss (8D/7N, from ₹23,999); 8 Days Delhi Jaipur Udaipur Bliss (8D/7N, from ₹24,999); 8 Days Shimla Manali Dharamshala Bliss (8D/7N, from ₹30,625); 8 Days Mussoorie Corbett Nainital Escape (8D/7N, from ₹33,898).

8 Days Nainital Corbett Mussoorie Bliss8D/7N · ₹23,9998 Days Delhi Jaipur Udaipur Bliss8D/7N · ₹24,9998 Days Shimla Manali Dharamshala Bliss8D/7N · ₹30,6258 Days Mussoorie Corbett Nainital Escape8D/7N · ₹33,898

9 days / 8 nights from ₹29,999 per person. Four or five days covers one pair of places from Delhi: Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Haridwar and Auli, a quick Shimla and Manali, or Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Six or seven days, the length most people take, does Shimla and Manali properly with Solang and Kasol, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, Nainital with a Corbett safari, or Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Eight days and more join regions: Himachal with Amritsar, the Golden Triangle with Rajasthan, Mathura on to Ayodhya and Varanasi, and the twelve-day Char Dham yatra.

4 plans: 9 Days Mathura Ayodhya Varanasi Yatra (9D/8N, from ₹29,999); 9 Days Shimla Manali Dalhousie Bliss (9D/8N, from ₹35,134); 9 Days Himachal Amritsar Bliss (9D/8N, from ₹35,989); 9 Days Golden Triangle Amritsar Escape (9D/8N, from ₹43,000).

9 Days Mathura Ayodhya Varanasi Yatra9D/8N · ₹29,9999 Days Shimla Manali Dalhousie Bliss9D/8N · ₹35,1349 Days Himachal Amritsar Bliss9D/8N · ₹35,9899 Days Golden Triangle Amritsar Escape9D/8N · ₹43,000

These are the places North India trips are built from. Each trip page lists exactly which of them it covers, and a private trip can swap one for another.

• Taj Mahal and Agra Fort: Shah Jahan's white marble tomb for Mumtaz Mahal on the bank of the Yamuna, best at sunrise and closed every Friday, and the red sandstone Mughal fort a short drive upriver.
• Delhi: The Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the lanes of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, and Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and India Gate in New Delhi; most trips on this page start here.
• Jaipur: Amber Fort on its hill, the honeycomb front of the Hawa Mahal, and the City Palace and Jantar Mantar in the pink old city.
• Shimla and Kufri: The old British summer capital at about 2,200 m: the Ridge, Christ Church, Mall Road and the Jakhoo temple, with Kufri's slopes and the Himalayan Nature Park a short drive away.
• Manali, Solang Valley and the Parvati valley: The Hidimba Devi temple in its cedar forest and Vashisht's hot springs, Solang for paragliding and snow, Rohtang Pass above it when the road is open, and Kasol and the Manikaran gurudwara with its hot springs down the Parvati valley.
• Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj and Dalhousie: McLeod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community, with Bhagsu waterfall and Naddi village; Dalhousie's colonial hill town, and the meadow and small lake at Khajjiar near it.
• Amritsar and the Wagah border: The Golden Temple in its sacred tank and its free community kitchen, Jallianwala Bagh beside it, and the flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border in the late afternoon.
• Haridwar and Rishikesh: The evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri, then Rishikesh upriver: Ram Jhula, the Beatles Ashram, Triveni Ghat, the Neelkanth Mahadev temple and rafting at Shivpuri.
• Mussoorie: The hill station above Dehradun: Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Lal Tibba, Company Garden and Camel's Back Road, with the snow peaks in view on a clear day.
• Nainital and Jim Corbett: Naini lake and the Naina Devi temple, Snow View Point and the quieter lakes of Bhimtal and Sattal; Corbett, India's oldest national park, about two hours away for an open jeep safari.
• Auli, Chopta and the Char Dham: Auli's snow slopes and the Gorson Bugyal meadow facing Nanda Devi; Chopta for the trek to Tungnath and Chandrashila; and the four shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath on the twelve-day yatra.
• Mathura, Vrindavan, Ayodhya and Varanasi: Krishna Janmabhoomi and Dwarkadhish in Mathura, Banke Bihari, ISKCON and Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya, and Kashi Vishwanath and the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi.

What to eat

Old Delhi is the place for parathas, chaat and jalebi around Chandni Chowk; Agra is known for petha and Mathura for its peda; Jaipur for dal baati churma and pyaaz kachori. In Amritsar try the Amritsari kulcha and a glass of lassi, and eat at the free langar of the Golden Temple. In the hills there is siddu and the Himachali dham around Kullu and Manali, and momos and thukpa in McLeod Ganj and Manali. Haridwar and Rishikesh are largely vegetarian towns, and vegetarian food is easy to find on every route here.

Every trip is private, so the plan below is a starting point: the days, the hotels and the pace are set around you.

• Day 1: pick-up in Delhi and the drive up to Shimla, about 340 km and seven to nine hours; Lakkar Bazaar in the evening if you have the energy.
• Day 2: Jakhoo Hill, then Kufri and the Himalayan Nature Park; Mall Road and Christ Church in the evening.
• Day 3: the drive to Manali by Pandoh Dam and Kullu, with a stop at the Manikaran gurudwara and its hot springs.
• Day 4: Manali: the Hidimba Devi temple, Vashisht's hot springs, the Tibetan monastery and Mall Road.
• Day 5: Rohtang Pass when the road is open and the permit is issued, then Solang Valley for paragliding, zorbing or ATV rides, paid there.
• Day 6: the long road journey back to Delhi, about 530 km, arriving the next morning.

North India packages start at ₹10,499 per person: ₹13,400 for 4 days, ₹17,566 for 5 days, ₹19,250 for 6 days, ₹20,380 for 7 days, ₹23,999 for 8 days and ₹29,999 for 9 days. That covers the hotels, the road travel from the start city to the end (your own car and driver on most plans, an overnight AC coach between Delhi and Manali or Dharamshala on a few) and the sightseeing each trip page lists, with breakfast on almost every plan and one more meal a day on many. Flights or trains to the start city are not included, and entry tickets and activities are paid separately unless the trip page names them.

What moves the price is the season, the hotel category, the car and the group size. In the hills, May and June, the snow weeks and Christmas and New Year are the dearest; on the plains and in Rajasthan it is October to March, with Diwali the busiest week, and several trip pages add a surcharge over Diwali, Dussehra, Christmas and New Year. A family or two couples sharing one car brings the per-person price down. The 5% GST is added to the package price, and flights or trains to the start city, entry tickets, activities such as paragliding at Solang, the Rohtang permit and anything not named on the trip page stay out of the fare.

Shimla and Manali are the classic pair: Shimla's Mall Road and Kufri, then the Kullu valley to Manali for Solang and, when it is open, Rohtang. Most plans start in Delhi, one in Chandigarh and one in Amritsar, and the longer ones add Kasol, Jibhi, Dharamshala and Dalhousie or Amritsar; a few travel between Delhi and the hills on an overnight AC coach, the rest in a private car.

17 trips on this page, from ₹18,499 per person: 5 Days Manali Kasol Getaway (5D/4N, from ₹18,499); 6 Days Shimla Manali Escape (6D/5N, from ₹19,250); 6 Days Manali Solang Honeymoon Retreat (6D/5N, from ₹20,299); 7 Days Shimla Manali Escape from Chandigarh (7D/6N, from ₹20,625).

5 Days Manali Kasol Getaway5D/4N · ₹18,4996 Days Shimla Manali Escape6D/5N · ₹19,2506 Days Manali Solang Honeymoon Retreat6D/5N · ₹20,2997 Days Shimla Manali Escape from Chandigarh7D/6N · ₹20,625

Haridwar and Rishikesh for the Ganga aarti, then Mussoorie or Nainital in the hills, Jim Corbett for a jeep safari, Auli for the snow or Chopta for the Tungnath and Chandrashila trek. Most are private road trips from Delhi; the Chopta trek starts in Rishikesh, and the Char Dham yatra takes twelve days from Delhi.

19 trips on this page, from ₹13,499 per person: 3 Days Chopta Chandrashila Trek (3D/2N, from ₹13,499); 4 Days Rishikesh Auli Escape (4D/3N, from ₹14,575); 4 Days Haridwar Rishikesh Yatra (4D/3N, from ₹18,000); 5 Days Haridwar Auli Rishikesh Bliss (5D/4N, from ₹22,200).

3 Days Chopta Chandrashila Trek3D/2N · ₹13,4994 Days Rishikesh Auli Escape4D/3N · ₹14,5754 Days Haridwar Rishikesh Yatra4D/3N · ₹18,0005 Days Haridwar Auli Rishikesh Bliss5D/4N · ₹22,200

Delhi, the Taj Mahal in Agra and Jaipur in four to six days, with Mathura, Ranthambore or Amritsar on the longer plans; the eight to fifteen day Rajasthan plans go on to Jodhpur, Udaipur and Pushkar, and the longest to Jaisalmer's fort and dunes. One plan joins the hills and the Taj: Shimla and Manali first, then a day trip from Delhi to Agra.

14 trips on this page, from ₹15,499 per person: 4 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Bliss (4D/3N, from ₹15,499); 5 Days Jaipur Agra Getaway (5D/4N, from ₹17,566); 7 Days Delhi Mathura Agra Jaipur Yatra (7D/6N, from ₹20,380); 6 Days Golden Triangle Ranthambore Wildlife Escape (6D/5N, from ₹20,687).

4 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Bliss4D/3N · ₹15,4995 Days Jaipur Agra Getaway5D/4N · ₹17,5667 Days Delhi Mathura Agra Jaipur Yatra7D/6N · ₹20,3806 Days Golden Triangle Ranthambore Wildlife Escape6D/5N · ₹20,687

Mathura and Vrindavan are about three hours by road from Delhi, so the two and three day yatras go from Delhi and back, and the four-day plan adds the Taj Mahal. The six and nine day yatras carry on from Mathura and Agra to Lucknow and Ayodhya, and the longest goes on to the Sangam at Prayagraj and the Ganga aarti in Varanasi.

6 trips on this page, from ₹10,499 per person: 2 Days Mathura Vrindavan Yatra (2D/1N, from ₹10,499); 3 Days Mathura Vrindavan Gokul Yatra (3D/2N, from ₹10,999); 4 Days Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan Yatra (4D/3N, from ₹13,400); 6 Days Mathura Ayodhya Lucknow Yatra (6D/5N, from ₹19,999).

2 Days Mathura Vrindavan Yatra2D/1N · ₹10,4993 Days Mathura Vrindavan Gokul Yatra3D/2N · ₹10,9994 Days Delhi Agra Mathura Vrindavan Yatra4D/3N · ₹13,4006 Days Mathura Ayodhya Lucknow Yatra6D/5N · ₹19,999

Couples: 7 plans with the quieter stays and private transfers, from ₹20,299: 6 Days Manali Solang Honeymoon Retreat (6D/5N, from ₹20,299); 6 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Honeymoon (6D/5N, from ₹24,424); 7 Days Shimla Manali Honeymoon Retreat (7D/6N, from ₹24,799).

Families and couples take the private trips: the same places at your own pace, with the room category and the car chosen for your group.

6 Days Manali Solang Honeymoon Retreat6D/5N · ₹20,2996 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Honeymoon6D/5N · ₹24,424

Best time

October to March is the best time for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Amritsar and the pilgrim towns, and March to June with October and November for the hill stations of Himachal and Uttarakhand. December to February brings snow to Shimla, Manali and Auli, and July to September is the monsoon, when landslides can close the hill roads.

• October to November, 10 to 32°C: The best all-round weeks: clear, dry days on the plains and sharp views of the snow peaks from the hills, with Dussehra and Diwali the busiest dates. The Char Dham temples usually close around Diwali.
• December to February, -5 to 25°C: Snow in Shimla, Kufri, Manali and Solang and the ski season at Auli; cold, foggy mornings in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Heavy snow can close the high roads, and Christmas and New Year are the dearest weeks.
• March to June, 10 to 45°C: The hill-station season: pleasant days in Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie and Nainital, the Rohtang road usually opening around May or June and the Char Dham yatra starting in late April or May. The plains turn very hot from April, so the Taj and Jaipur are best in March.
• July to September, 15 to 35°C: The monsoon: landslides can close the hill roads in Himachal and Uttarakhand for hours or days, most Corbett safari zones are shut, and the plains are humid with heavy showers.

What to pack

From March to June, light clothes for the plains and a sweater or light jacket for the hill evenings. From October to February, layers: thermals, a fleece, a padded jacket, gloves and a woollen cap for Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie and Auli, where winter nights fall below freezing, and a warm layer even for Delhi and Agra mornings. A rain jacket and shoes with a good grip from July to September. Comfortable shoes that slip off easily for the temples and the Taj, clothes that cover shoulders and knees, a scarf or cap to cover your head at the Golden Temple, an original photo ID for every traveller, and travel-sickness tablets for the winding hill roads if you need them.

Getting there

From Hyderabad, fly to Delhi, about two hours, or take the train, which is about a day. Most of our North India trips start with a pick-up in Delhi; a few begin in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jaipur, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mathura or Nainital, and each trip page says where it starts and ends. From there the trip is by road. The flight or train is not part of the package.

From Bengaluru, fly to Delhi, about two and a half to three hours; the train takes well over a day. Most trips start in Delhi, and for the ones that begin in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jaipur or Dehradun you can fly there instead. Everything after the start city is by road, and the flight is booked separately.

From Chennai, fly to Delhi, about two and a half to three hours, or take the train, which is well over a day. Your car and driver meet you in Delhi for most plans; for the trips that start in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jaipur or Dehradun, fly there instead. The journey to the start city is not part of the package.

Permits and fees

Indian travellers need no Inner Line Permit for the places on these trips; carry a photo ID, which hotels and checkposts ask for. Three things are booked ahead with each traveller's ID details. Rohtang Pass needs a vehicle permit issued online by the Himachal government in limited numbers each day; the road is usually shut on Tuesdays and through the winter, and the trip page or your quote says whether the permit is in the price. The Char Dham yatra needs the Uttarakhand government's compulsory registration, done online or at the counters in Haridwar and Rishikesh with an original photo ID. A Corbett jeep safari is booked in advance through the park's own booking system, and most of its zones close for the monsoon. Rules and dates change, so confirm before you book.

North India or South India? North India is the Himalayan hill stations, with snow in winter, plus the Taj Mahal, Jaipur and the great pilgrim towns on the Ganga and the Yamuna, with long road days between them and most trips starting in Delhi. South India is beaches, backwaters, tea hills and temple towns, a shorter journey from Hyderabad, Bengaluru or Chennai and a milder climate through the year. Pick North India for snow, the mountains or the Taj; pick South India for a shorter trip close to home.