Mystical India

The Spirituality of India

A country that cannot be fully captured in a single glance: the cradle of ancient religions and a kaleidoscope of cultures, India is best explored at the leisurely pace of wonder. This 9-day, 8-night tour, organized by Boscolo, takes you from Delhi, a megalopolis of a thousand contrasts, to the “Pink City” of Jaipur, to the Mughal wonders of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, and finally to Varanasi, the sacred city where life unfolds on the banks of the Ganges and every dawn is a prayer. A tour that explores the common ground between differences, led by local guides who speak Italian.

Program

• Day 1 — Departure · Delhi: Flight to Delhi, India’s most populous megacity. Arrival late in the evening or overnight, followed by transfer to the hotel, The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel (5-star, or similar).
• Day 2 — Delhi: Old Delhi with the Grand Friday Mosque (Jama Masjid), the exterior of the Red Fort, a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, the Raj Ghat memorial, a scenic drive along the boulevards of New Delhi to India Gate, the Sikh temple Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, and the Qutub Minar. Dinner at the hotel.
• Day 3 — Delhi · Agra: Transfer to Agra, once one of the most powerful capitals of the Mughal Empire. A tour of the Red Fort (built in 1565), with views of the Taj Mahal, and of Mehtab Bagh, the “moonlight garden,” along the Yamuna River. Check-in at the Grand Mercure Agra (or similar) and dinner.
• Day 4 — Agra · Fatehpur Sikri · Jaipur: the Taj Mahal at dawn, when the white marble is bathed in the colors of the sunrise. The tour continues to Akbar’s Mausoleum in Sikandra and the ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, which was abandoned after only twelve years. Dinner at the Hilton Jaipur (or similar).
• Day 5 — Jaipur: the “Pink City”: the Palace of the Winds, the City Palace, the Observatory, and a stroll through the colorful market, where you can have your hands decorated with henna. In the afternoon, Amber Fort, perched on a hill that can be reached by jeep, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner at a restaurant.
• Day 6 — Jaipur · Varanasi: Domestic flight to Varanasi, one of the holiest cities for Hindus. Free time to get a first glimpse of daily life along the banks of the Ganges. Dinner at the Hotel Rivatas By Ideal (or similar).
• Day 7 — Varanasi: Wake up before dawn for a boat ride on the Ganges and a puja—an offering to the sacred river—among the pilgrims and the ghats. In the afternoon, visit a workshop producing Varanasi’s famous silk, and then, back on the boat, witness the Aarti, the moving evening prayer. Dinner at the hotel.
• Day 8 — Varanasi · Delhi: Optional: a sunrise yoga class on the ghats. Next, Sarnath, a sacred site for Buddhists where the Buddha delivered his first sermon: the Gandhara Art Museum and the Dhamekh Stupa. Flight to Delhi and accommodation at the Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka (or similar), with a room held for you until your evening departure.
• Day 9 — Delhi · Return: Overnight transfer to the airport and return flight to Italy.

Guided group tour (departure confirmed with a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of approximately 30–35), with accommodations in 4- and 5-star hotels, transportation in a minivan or GT bus for the group’s exclusive use, and a local Italian-speaking tour guide. An entry visa is required for India, and there is a flat-rate tip fee of €80 per person through February 2027 (€90 starting in March 2027). Optional excursion: a sunrise yoga class on the ghats of Varanasi.

The fee includes

• Assistant for departures from Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino and Venice Marco Polo airports
• Airport taxes
• Domestic flights from Delhi to Varanasi and from Varanasi to Delhi
• Airport/hotel transfers and vice versa
• Travel by minivan or GT bus for the exclusive use of Boscolo guests
• Local Italian-speaking tour guide
• Boscolo tour guide service for groups of at least 20 people
• 8 overnight stays and breakfasts
• 6 lunches at restaurants and 7 dinners
• All inputs provided in the program
• The Exclusive Boscolo Travel Kit
• Medical, baggage and pandemic risk insurance
• “No Problem” Helpline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Prices start at €2,490 per person for a 9-day, 8-night trip that includes airfare.