Golden Triangle with Rural India – 9 Days

Peace Start early with a walk through the awakening streets of Old Delhi. Watch locals perform morning prayers, visit the wholesale flower market, and try traditional breakfast at a 100-year-old shop. After exploring the magnificent Jama Masjid, drive to the rural village of Tikli, about two hours from Delhi. Here, you'll stay at Tikli Bottom, a beautiful farmhouse run by a local family. Spend the afternoon learning about organic farming, helping to milk the cows, or simply relaxing in the mango orchards. Join the family for a home-cooked dinner featuring vegetables from their garden.

Wake up to birdsong and join the morning farm activities if you wish. Visit the village school where you can interact with local children, then walk through the village with your host family, meeting farmers and artisans. Learn about daily life, traditional customs, and the challenges and joys of rural India. After lunch, drive to Agra, stopping at small pottery villages along the way. Reach Agra by evening and check into the heritage Colonial Quarter, housed in a converted colonial bungalow.

Rise early for a magical sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. After breakfast, explore Agra's hidden rural side. Visit the village of Kachhpura across the river, where you'll walk through fields with views of the Taj Mahal that most tourists never see. Meet families who have lived here for generations and learn about their connection to the monuments. Help cook lunch with a local family, learning traditional recipes passed down through generations. In the afternoon, visit a community project where women make carpets using traditional techniques. End your day at Mehtab Bagh gardens for sunset views of the Taj Mahal, followed by dinner with a local historian who shares fascinating stories about Agra's past.

After breakfast, drive towards Jaipur, stopping at the fascinating ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. Continue to the village of Abhaneri to see the incredible stepwell and have lunch with the village head's family. Visit nearby villages known for their traditional crafts - block printing, blue pottery, and lac bangle making. Learn these age-old skills from the artisans themselves. Tonight, stay at Rajasthan's famous Chokhi Dhani resort, designed like a traditional village but with modern comforts.

Start your day exploring rural Rajasthan by jeep. Visit shepherds' settlements, see traditional water conservation systems, and stop at small temples rarely visited by tourists. Meet tribal communities and learn about their unique customs. After lunch at a rural restaurant serving local specialities, visit the magnificent Amber Fort. In the evening, stay at a family-run heritage hotel in a small village near Jaipur, where your hosts share stories of rural Rajasthani life over dinner.

Today is dedicated to experiencing village life around Jaipur. Join the morning prayer ceremony at the village temple, visit the local school, and try your hand at traditional pottery. Watch farmers working in their fields and learn about desert agriculture. Help women preparing lunch using traditional methods - grinding wheat on stone mills and cooking on earthen stoves. In the afternoon, learn about herbal medicines from the village doctor and watch the sunset from the village lake where peacocks gather.

Spend your morning in the village, perhaps learning to make chapatis or helping with farm chores. Later, drive into Jaipur to experience the contrast between rural and city life. Visit the City Palace and local markets, now with a deeper understanding of Rajasthani culture. In the evening, return to your village hotel for a special farewell dinner with folk musicians performing under the stars.

After a final village breakfast, drive back to Delhi. Stop at rural communities along the way, including a visit to a dairy cooperative run by village women. Reach Delhi in time for your evening flight home, taking with you genuine insights into rural Indian life.