India: Empires and Everyday Life
25 Oct –
11 Nov 2027
- 18 Days
- 29 Meals
- Group size: 16
Itinerary
Old Delhi first: Jama Masjid, a cycle-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, Gandhi Smriti and Raj Ghat, before New Delhi shows a completely different face of the same city. We stay centrally at The Lalit.
Amber Fort, the Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal. And at the centre of it, Diwali as guests in a Jaipur family’s home. There is time too for Jaipur’s textile, jewellery and craft districts. Three nights at the family-owned K.K. Royal, close to Amber.
Fatehpur Sikri on the way in, then Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal at sunset, with enough time to take it in properly. Two nights at the ITC Mughal Resort & Spa, a garden property a few minutes from the Taj.
A daytime Vande Bharat train east to the Ganges. The evening Aarti, a dawn rowing boat on the river and Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Varanasi is not softened for visitors, and we treat it with honesty and respect. Two nights at the Taj Ganges.
And then we slow down. Two nights aboard our houseboat, moving through canals, villages, rice fields and open water. After Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi, the change of pace is deliberate.
Fort Kochi: the Chinese fishing nets, the Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace and the layered history of an Indian Ocean port. Two nights at Fragrant Nature, in the old town.
Mumbai by Dawn takes us into a city already at work: flower markets, newspaper sorting, fish arrivals, the docks and the Dabbawalas. Two nights at the Trident Nariman Point on Marine Drive.
Old Delhi first: Jama Masjid, a cycle-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, Gandhi Smriti and Raj Ghat, before New Delhi shows a completely different face of the same city. We stay centrally at The Lalit.
Amber Fort, the Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal. And at the centre of it, Diwali as guests in a Jaipur family’s home. There is time too for Jaipur’s textile, jewellery and craft districts. Three nights at the family-owned K.K. Royal, close to Amber.
Fatehpur Sikri on the way in, then Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal at sunset, with enough time to take it in properly. Two nights at the ITC Mughal Resort & Spa, a garden property a few minutes from the Taj.
A daytime Vande Bharat train east to the Ganges. The evening Aarti, a dawn rowing boat on the river and Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Varanasi is not softened for visitors, and we treat it with honesty and respect. Two nights at the Taj Ganges.
And then we slow down. Two nights aboard our houseboat, moving through canals, villages, rice fields and open water. After Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi, the change of pace is deliberate.
Fort Kochi: the Chinese fishing nets, the Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace and the layered history of an Indian Ocean port. Two nights at Fragrant Nature, in the old town.
Mumbai by Dawn takes us into a city already at work: flower markets, newspaper sorting, fish arrivals, the docks and the Dabbawalas. Two nights at the Trident Nariman Point on Marine Drive.
Diwali in Jaipur · The Ganges at dawn · Kerala by houseboat · Mumbai · 25 October to 11 November 2027
18-day small group tour of India
Delhi. Diwali in Jaipur. The Taj Mahal at sunset. The Ganges at first light. Two nights on the Kerala backwaters. Mumbai already at work before dawn.
And at the centre of it, Diwali as guests in a Jaipur home.
This is a full route through India, but one we have given room to breathe. The north is busy, colourful and, at times, simply a lot to take in. Then Kerala slows everything down, before Mumbai sends you home. We take care of the complicated parts in the background. Your part is to simply be in India.
The first time I went to India, all of it was too much at once. The hospitality, the food, the noise, the sheer number of people. For the first three days I ate nothing but naan and toast.
I have been back many times since, sometimes multiple times in a year. My tastebuds have long since moved past butter chicken and naan. I have my own favourite places now, to shop, to eat, or simply to sit and watch the world go by.
The history still defeats me, in the best way. It is a deeply layered puzzle, and every visit adds a piece without ever quite completing it.
India has changed a great deal in that time. It has moved well beyond the brightly painted Horn Please trucks and the picture many of us still carry in our heads. The roads are better. The infrastructure has been taken seriously. It is a modern country getting on with itself.
And yet it still intrigues me. There is always something new to find, but also something familiar and comforting about going back.
That is really why we travel through India the way we do. A small group, the difficult parts handled quietly, and enough breathing room to take it all in without having to find your own way around.
Elizabeth
Seagull Travel & Tours
India rewards a traveller who can go with the flow a little. Here is what to expect.
The Pace
This is a full tour. There are early starts in Varanasi and Mumbai, some longer travel days, busy streets and several active sightseeing days. Kerala gives the route a slower pause, but this is not a holiday built around long stretches of free time.
The Walking
Expect regular walking on uneven paving, steps at forts and monuments, busy historic streets, railway platforms and houseboat boarding. You do not need to be especially fit, but you should be steady on your feet and comfortable in crowds and changing conditions.
Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the most extraordinary places on the route, and it is not softened for visitors. The dawn boat on the Ganges may pass cremation ghats. We approach it with respect, and you should be comfortable with the realities of a living, sacred city.
The Climate
October and November bring varied conditions between the north and the south. Light layers, comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for temples and a family home all matter. A light scarf or shawl is useful.
This tour suits travellers who would rather understand India than simply tick it off. People drawn to history, food, faith, craft and daily life, who want to be well looked after without being herded, and who are happy with an active pace and a country that does things its own way.
The noise, the crowds and the sheer amount going on are also part of why we keep the group small. With fewer people we move more easily through Old Delhi and the stations, there is more time for questions with the guide, and when something catches the group’s attention, the freedom to stop and look.
Who travels with you
The same accompanying guide is with us through Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. With local specialists in Varanasi, Kochi and Mumbai, and a Seagull tour leader throughout. The hotels and the houseboat are hand-picked for their place in the route and as somewhere comfortable to come back to at the end of a full day.
Layers
October and November vary between the north and the south. Light layers work best, with something warmer for early mornings.
Comfortable walking shoes
Properly worn in, not new. You will be on your feet on uneven paving, at forts and along riverbanks and station platforms.
Modest, respectful clothing
Temples ask for covered shoulders and knees. Slip-on shoes are useful, as many sites require you to remove your footwear.
Something for the Diwali evening
Nothing formal, but nicer clothing you feel good in adds to the evening as guests in a family home.
A light scarf or shawl
Useful for temples, for cooler evenings and on the river at dawn.
A little context makes India easier to read. None of this is required, but it helps make sense of the places along the way.
To Read: City of Djinns, A Year in Delhi, by William Dalrymple
A funny, deeply researched year in Delhi that moves back through the city’s many layers. The best possible preparation for the first few days.
To Read: Maximum City, Bombay Lost and Found, by Suketu Mehta
A vivid, immersive portrait of Mumbai and how it works. Useful before the Mumbai by Dawn morning at the end of the route.
To Watch: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
Filmed in Rajasthan, gentle and warm, and a lovely way into the colour of the north before you go.
To Watch: Ganges (BBC, 2007)
A beautifully filmed series following the river from source to sea. Good background for Varanasi and the dawn on the Ganges.
What is included, and what is quoted separately?
The tour includes your hotels and the two-night Kerala houseboat, the Diwali home evening and the other listed experiences, all touring and entrance fees, the accompanying and local guides, a Seagull tour leader, and 28 meals as set out in the itinerary. Quoted separately are the international flights from South Africa, the two domestic flights (Varanasi to Kochi and Kochi to Mumbai), the Indian visa, and travel insurance. Full pricing is set out in the itinerary. Download it above, or talk to us and we will take you through it.
Where will the group depart from?
The international group flight departs from either Johannesburg or Cape Town, depending on where most confirmed travellers are based. Final routing is confirmed once group fares are available, and we can assist with connecting arrangements where needed.
What is the difference between the tour leader and the local guides?
The Seagull tour leader manages the overall flow, the practical arrangements and the group experience. An accompanying English-speaking guide travels with the group through Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi, and local English-speaking specialists guide Kochi and Mumbai.
Is a visa required for India?
Yes. An Indian visa is required. It remains the traveller’s responsibility to obtain, and Seagull can provide guidance closer to departure.
Is the Kerala houseboat private?
Yes. The houseboat is reserved for the Seagull group for the two nights on the backwaters. Final vessel and cabin allocation are confirmed closer to departure.
Can I have clothes made in Jaipur?
Yes. Jaipur is a practical place to explore fabrics and made-to-measure clothing. Bring a well-fitting garment, photographs or measurements to show your preferred style and fit, and mention your interest to us early so we can advise what may be possible around the touring programme.
How does tipping work?
A set gratuity amount is confirmed before departure and collected by your tour leader at the start of the tour. The tour leader manages tipping for guides and drivers on behalf of the group.
How many people will be on the tour?
This is a small group, with a minimum of ten travellers and a maximum of sixteen. We keep it small because India is easier to take in that way, and the guiding, the movements and the arrangements all work better.
Can I join from outside South Africa?
Yes. We regularly assist travellers joining from elsewhere, including South Africans living abroad, and can advise on the most practical routing.
We care about our guests
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We are here to help
The tour leader collects a set amount from each member of a tour. This kitty is then used to tip the local tour guide and city guides, bus drivers, any other assistants, and restaurant staff. We believe in tipping for good service as a token of appreciation, especially as many workers in tourism rely on tips to supplement their income.
Although we cannot apply on your behalf, we are more than willing to give guidance and assistance with completing forms. We do this for many clients on a near-daily basis. It does, however, remain the responsibility of the client to ensure that they get the correct visa on time.
Remember that we limit the number of guests on our tours. This means more time at stops and sites. We definitely do not do groups of 30 pax, where guests are rushed from one site to the other. There is enough time to explore on your own.
We always suggest USD/Euro 50 to USD/Euro 100 per person per day. As we mostly include two meals per day on our tours, this will be enough for lunch/dinner, some snacks, and memento shopping. Should you want to buy larger items, we suggest taking along your credit card. Remember to advise the bank that you will be travelling.
Once you have completed the form, you will receive an email with the itinerary which includes pricing, inclusions and flight options.
You can contact us at info@seagulltours.co.za or +27 42 296 0475