Call to book01904 521 936
Tour Search
#Favourites
India

India Holidays

India, land of contrasts and extremes. Where gleaming modern cities sit alongside crumbling ancient forts. With us, you have the assurance of an unforgettable journey through this extraordinary country, with the experts.

India is a feast for the senses with vibrant colours, a bustling atmosphere, and sights and sounds unlike anywhere else in the world. That's why, as trusted providers in India travel, we have put together a programme of tours that can introduce you to many aspects of this incredible country.

From witnessing the Taj Mahal bathed in golden evening light on our Highlights of India, Mumbai, and the Golden Triangle Tour to exploring the serene landscapes of the southern state of Kerala, our itineraries are designed to provide you with unparalleled experiences. You can rely on us to guide you through the wonders of India, where every moment is a celebration of its rich history and unique character.

Find out more with a free brochure and enjoy weekly travel inspiration and offers in our e-newsletter.

Holiday ideas for India

Taj Mahal, Agra
Save £100pp
4.7 stars(98 reviews)
2024JanFebMarAprSep...
2025JanFebMarAprSep...
14 days from
£1,995 pp
View Details
Tigers, the Taj Mahal and Mumbai
Save £100pp
4.7 stars(21 reviews)
2024JanFebMarSepOctNov
2025JanFebMarAprSep...
11 days from
£1,695 pp
View Details
Kerala & Exoctic Southern India
Save £100pp
4.3 stars(21 reviews)
2024JanFebOctNov
16 days from
£2,695 pp £2,495 pp
View Details
The Maharajas Express
New Tour
2024SepOct
16 days from
£10,995 pp
View Details
Darjeeling & the Last Himalayan Kingdom
Save £100pp
4.8 stars(18 reviews)
2024FebMarOct
16 days from
£4,995 pp £4,795 pp
View Details
Grand Tour of India & Nepal
Save £100pp
4.4 stars(20 reviews)
2024FebMarAprOctNov
18 days from
£3,395 pp
View Details

Our Guide to India

About India

The facts about India are almost as incredible as the country itself. Covering nearly 1.3 million square miles in total, it's the seventh largest by area in the world but with the second highest population at around 1.3 billion people. You'll also find that there are an estimated 447 different languages spoken across the country. But don't worry, English is the official language - a welcome relic, for some of us at least, from the country's colonial past.

The days of empire with croquet on the lawn, afternoon tea on the veranda and kedgeree for breakfast may well be long-forgotten. But in many places you will still see other influences that the British occupation left behind. For example, on tours that also involve coach travel you'll notice that the country is one that also drives on the left.

You'll also find countless other kinds of history wherever you travel across the Indian sub-continent from medieval temples to mosques and minarets constructed in the 16th century when the country was predominantly Muslim, compared with the prevalence of Hinduism of today.

In the cities you will also see the great coming together of the ancient and the modern. In the capital, New Delhi, this is certainly the case whose tree-lined boulevards may be very different from what you imagine the city to be in your mind's eye.

Naturally, there is also magnificent wildlife to be sought out and savoured. This may be in the world-famous Ranthanbore National Park, 81 miles from Jaipur, where tigers still roam in the wild or even in the Chitwan National Park in Nepal, a world heritage site and home to the increasingly rare Indian rhino.

This is just one of the breath-taking places that you'll visit on our Grand Tour of India, Nepal and the Himalayas along with Kathmandu, made famous by the 1960s "hippy trail".

Elsewhere in the country, you'll find great diversity, whether you're exploring the Portuguese influences in Kerala and cruising through its scenic backwaters on a traditional kettuvallam, or houseboat, or ascending one of the world's steepest railway lines taking you up through the tea plantations of Nilgiri.

It all adds up to a holiday experience that will stay with you forever. And at Great Rail Journeys we will make sure that it is everything that you hope it will be and more.

Above all, we want to make sure that you feel safe and relaxed while surrounded by a culture that may be very different to the one that we are accustomed to in the UK. We also aim to make sure that you are travelling with like-minded companions who want to explore everything this captivating country has to offer.

The enjoyment of the rich tapestry of history and culture that awaits the visitor to India is also enhanced by having knowledgeable and informative guides, whether you're visiting the wonders of Agra or Amritsar's legendary Golden Temple. So all of our accompanied excursions include this service.

Experiencing the traditional cuisine of India is another element that will make the holiday a memorable one. On some days you may be enjoying silver service treatment on board trains like the Maharajah's Express. At other times there will be lavish restaurant meals of five-star hotels like the Taj Bengal Hotel, Kolkata or the Taj Malabar Resort and Spa in Kochi.

On other days you may be left free to explore the local dining scene for yourself or to follow your Tour Manager's recommendations.

In fact, your Tour Manager will play an important role throughout your holiday offering exactly the level of support you need.

You can also be sure that we have taken great care to choose the perfect accommodation on all of our tours of India with four-star service as a minimum and many hotels achieving five stars. We also have long-established relationships with the hotels in question so any special requests you may have can generally be accommodated.

Sights to See
Taj Mahal, Agra

The Taj Mahal, Agra

Perfectly framed by its immaculate gardens in the city of Agra, the iconic Taj Mahal is a sublime vision in polished white marble, with a sentimental history almost as captivating as the structure itself.

Amber Fort, Jaipur

Amber Fort, Jaipur

A short distance from the pink city walls of Jaipur lies the golden-hued Amber Fort, an extensive palace complex in the 16th century and now a well-deserved UNESCO site.

Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park

One of the best places in the world to spot wild tigers, lucky visitors to Ranthambore National Park can spy the elusive Bengal tiger basking in the sun or sauntering through the wilderness.

Culture

Indian culture is widely known, yet little understood. Obviously for such a large country, there will be diversity as you travel from province to province but there are still few key factors to bear in mind.

Traditions

Often-times in India, traditions are honoured through age-old festivals and holy days. Holi is the country's festival of colour, and is one of the biggest events in the calendar for Hindus.  Diwali is marked in late autumn on the night of a new moon, and is the Hindu festival of light. 

Haggling in India

Indian markets have a thriving bargaining culture which is not just accepted, but welcomed. When negotiating with a street merchant never accept the first price you are offered, which could be ten or even twenty times the price they will settle for.

Key Facts of India

  • Language - Hindi
  • Currency - Rupee (INR)
  • Visa Requirement - Yes
  • Time zone - +5 hours 30mins
  • Flight Time - 8.5 hours approx
  • Vaccinations needed - Yes
  • Climate - Tropical/Humid
  • Tipping - Yes
  • Best time to visit - October to March
Currency and money

The Indian Rupee is the official currency and one rupee is worth a little over 1p in sterling. As a closed currency, you can't take in any rupees to the country, or leave with any either.

US Dollars are also widely accepted in the country, particularly in the cities, so it's a good idea to take plenty of these to exchange when you're there, or simply to use as currency.

Visa and Mastercard are both widely accepted in India and there are also plenty of ATMs, including in many hotels. It's worth noting, however, that using credit cards in shops can attract transaction charges of between 2% and 4%.

Dollar traveller's cheques can also be cashed at all major banks, exchange bureaus and airports. You may also be able to use them at some shops providing that you also present your passport.

When buying food or drink, tipping is expected, but not compulsory. The standard amount is 10% of the total bill. For taxi drivers 100 rupees is generally considered to be about the appropriate amount per journey.

When shopping in markets and smaller shops, bargaining is very much expected. So be prepared to haggle if you don't want to risk offending the owner. But in more up-market outlets, it's very much a case of paying the advertised prices.

Food and eating out

In the UK we may all think that we know all about Indian food and, although chicken tikka masala may be our favourite Indian curry, it's fairly different from the sorts of dishes that you'll find being served. Like many countries, there are certain regional flavours and ingredients and here are just a few of them.

Northern India

The cuisine of Northern India is perhaps the closest to that which we enjoy in the UK. It uses many dairy products including milk, paneer cheese and ghee as well as the yoghurt that forms the base of sauces like the mild korma. In fact, hot and spicy curries hardly feature at all in this part of the country. There's also extensive use of the tandoor clay ovens that are used for everything from roasting chickens to baking naan bread.

Western India

The combination of geographical position of Western India and its Portuguese occupation dating back to the 16th century means that there is a crossover between the two country's cuisines. Pork and beef feature more than in other parts of the country - and so does vinegar, a key ingredient in the vindaloo. It's also a region very well known for its fruit and vegetable chutneys.

Southern India

While many people associate fish curries with coconut-based sauces as being typical of southern India, this isn't strictly accurate. That's because the curries from this region tend to be of the drier kind and generally they're vegetarian too. But one southern Indian speciality that most of us will know about is the poppadum.

Some Indian specialities to look out for:

Dal Makhani: a classic Northern Indian vegetarian curry that combines lentils cooked in a creamy sauce of tomatoes, onions, mango powder, and garam masala.

Pani puri: a classic Mumbai street food, pani puri are flat breads that puff up impressively when fried and which are then filled with a mixture of chickpeas, potatoes, onions, chutney and spices.

Dosas: these are large, wafer-thin and crepe-like rice pancakes that are usually filled with vegetables, chutneys, or masala curries. Utthapams are similar but thicker with the filling spread on top like a pizza.

Rasgulla: Indian desserts tend to take sweetness to a whole new level, and rasgulla is no exception. It consists of semolina and cheese curd balls that have been boiled in a light sugar syrup.

8 results matching: India

Filters
Filter by
Clear All
Holiday type
Reset
Holiday length
Reset
Theme
Reset
Transport type
Reset
Additional options
Reset
Taj Mahal, Agra
Save £100pp
4.7 stars(98 reviews)
2024JanFebMarAprSep...
2025JanFebMarAprSep...
14 days from
£1,995 pp
View Details
Save £100pp
14 days from
£1,995
per person
View Details
tour map
  • DestinationIndia
  • Starts / EndsLondon Heathrow
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Darjeeling & the Last Himalayan Kingdom
Save £100pp
4.8 stars(18 reviews)
2024FebMarOct
16 days from
£4,995 pp £4,795 pp
View Details
Save £100pp
16 days from
£4,995
£4,795
per person
View Details
tour map
  • DestinationBhutan, India
  • Starts / EndsLondon Heathrow
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Kerala & Exoctic Southern India
Save £100pp
4.3 stars(21 reviews)
2024JanFebOctNov
16 days from
£2,695 pp £2,495 pp
View Details
Save £100pp
16 days from
£2,695
£2,495
per person
View Details
tour map
  • DestinationIndia
  • Starts / EndsLondon Heathrow
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail
Map and accommodation
Grand Tour of India & Nepal
Save £100pp
4.4 stars(20 reviews)
2024FebMarAprOctNov
18 days from
£3,395 pp
View Details
Save £100pp
18 days from
£3,395
per person
View Details
tour map
  • DestinationIndia, Nepal
  • Starts / EndsLondon Heathrow
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Tigers, the Taj Mahal and Mumbai
Save £100pp
4.7 stars(21 reviews)
2024JanFebMarSepOctNov
2025JanFebMarAprSep...
11 days from
£1,695 pp
View Details
Save £100pp
11 days from
£1,695
per person
View Details
tour map
  • DestinationIndia
  • Starts / EndsLondon Heathrow
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail
Map and accommodation
The Maharajas Express
New Tour
2024SepOct
16 days from
£10,995 pp
View Details
16 days from
£10,995
per person
View Details
tour map
  • DestinationIndia
  • Starts / EndsLondon Heathrow
  • AccommodationRail, Hotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail
Map and accommodation
India's Palace on Wheels
Save £100pp
4.3 stars(20 reviews)
2024FebMar
14 days from
£5,495 pp £5,295 pp
View Details
Save £100pp
14 days from
£5,495
£5,295
per person
View Details
tour map
  • DestinationIndia
  • Starts / EndsLondon Heathrow
  • AccommodationRail, Hotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail, Coach
Map and accommodation
11 days from
£8,495
per person
View Details
Our customers love our India tours
India’s Golden Triangle, Tigers and Shimla
28/Nov
tim collisson
5 stars
“An excellent and informative holiday with first class tour manager and guide. The accommodation was first class and everything was perfect.
Collected by Trustpilot
Darjeeling and the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
27/Nov
Customer Dr R Peatfield
5 stars
“Very well planned and organised tour; impeccable leadership from Anne Forrest
Collected by Trustpilot
Discover Southern India and Kerala
27/Nov
Elaine
5 stars
“From cities to mountains and lakes and so much more in between!
Collected by Trustpilot
Highlights of India, Mumbai and the Golden Triangle
27/Nov
Susane Messenger
5 stars
“Am amazing experience and exceptional organisation.
Collected by Trustpilot
Grand Tour of India, Nepal and the Himalayas
15/Nov
Dr JAMES
5 stars
“Fabulous and fascinating!
Collected by Trustpilot
Ultimate Rajasthan and the Palace on Wheels
30 Nov 2022
Customer
5 stars
“Great, full on India experience. For me the highlights were Jaipur and Agra. Lots of travelling and perhaps an extra day in Jaipur and Agra would have improved the trip You will need a couple of days at the end to recover
Collected by Trustpilot
Latest articles from our journey blog
The Top 8 Luxury Train Journeys

The Top 8 Luxury Train Journeys

14/04/2023 · By

Taking a luxury train ride is a lot more than just getting from A to B. Travel is changing, and our desire for slower ways to travel is enforcing the notion that the travel itself is as important as the destination. In some ways this is a waft of nostalgia, taking us back to a time when great attention was given to travelling in luxury, a golden age of travel when decadence inhabited steamer ships and roamed the corridors of luxury trains.

Read more