10 Days-10 Days Golden Triangle Tour with Khajuraho & Varanasi: Temples & Ghats
Key Experiences
- Old and New Delhi in a Day: Jama Masjid, a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, and drive-past views of India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- Sunrise at the Taj Mahal: An early start rewards you with the monument in soft morning light and far fewer crowds.
- A Detour Through Fatehpur Sikri: Akbar's abandoned red sandstone capital, on the drive from Agra to Jaipur.
- Amber Fort by Jeep: Jaipur's hilltop fort, with its mirrored halls and sweeping courtyard views.
- The Khajuraho Temples: Kandariya Mahadeva and the Western Group, among the finest temple art in India.
- A Sunrise Boat Ride on the Ganges: Varanasi's ghats from the water, as the day begins.
- The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat: An evening ceremony of fire, sound and chanting on the riverbank.
- Complete Arivo Holidays Support: Private vehicles, hotels, and local guides arranged at every stop.
About This Tour
This ten-day route by Arivo Holidays takes you from the forts and palaces of the Golden Triangle to two of India's most spiritual places — the carved temples of Khajuraho and the ghats of Varanasi. Delhi, Agra and Jaipur open the trip; Khajuraho and Varanasi close it at a slower, more contemplative pace.
Arivo Holidays handles the private vehicles, hotel stays, and local guides at every stop, so the whole route from the Taj Mahal to the Ganga Aarti stays easy to follow.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your Arivo Holidays representative meets you at the airport and takes care of the transfer to your hotel. Use the rest of the day your way — rest after the flight, take a short walk nearby, or ask for a quick orientation drive to get your first look at the city.
Overnight stay: Delhi
Your guide picks you up after breakfast for a full day through Old and New Delhi. Jama Masjid's courtyard opens the morning, followed by a rickshaw weaving through Chandni Chowk's packed lanes. From Raj Ghat, you'll drive past India Gate, Parliament House, and Rashtrapati Bhavan before ending at Humayun's Tomb and the Lotus Temple.
Overnight stay: Delhi
The drive down to Agra on the Yamuna Expressway is smooth and quick, leaving time to check in and head straight out to Agra Fort — its red sandstone walls hint at what is coming the next morning. As evening sets in, Mehtab Bagh across the river gives a quiet, uncrowded view of the Taj Mahal at sunset.
Overnight stay: Agra
An early start gets you to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the marble catches the first light and the crowds have not arrived yet. After breakfast, the road to Jaipur breaks at Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's sandstone city, where the Buland Darwaza and Jodha Bai Palace are worth the walk-through. By evening you are checked into Jaipur, with time free to relax or ask about a cultural show at Chokhi Dhani.
Overnight stay: Jaipur
Amber Fort opens the day — reached by jeep, with an elephant ride available if you would like the traditional approach. Your guide takes you through the mirrored halls and courtyards before the day continues to City Palace, Jantar Mantar, and Hawa Mahal's honeycomb front. Later, Jaipur's markets are worth a slow browse for textiles and jewellery.
Overnight stay: Jaipur
After breakfast, transfer back to Delhi for your onward journey to Khajuraho, with the connecting flight or train arranged by Arivo Holidays. On arrival, a representative drives you to your hotel. Khajuraho's pace is different — quiet lanes, open fields, and temples rising out of the parkland.
Overnight stay: Khajuraho
A guided morning through the Western Group of Temples takes you to the Kandariya Mahadeva, Lakshmana and Chitragupta temples — more than 800 sculptures among them. After lunch, explore the quieter Eastern Group, with its Jain temples, and the Khajuraho Archaeological Museum. In the evening, the Sound and Light Show retells the story of the Chandela dynasty against the temples.
Overnight stay: Khajuraho
This morning you could add a quick stop at Orchha's Jahangir Mahal before transferring to the railway station or airport for Varanasi. Arriving on the Ganges' banks, your Arivo Holidays representative escorts you to the hotel. An easy evening walk along the ghats is the perfect first taste of the city.
Overnight stay: Varanasi
The day begins with a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, past the bathing ghats and temples as the city wakes up. After breakfast, drive out to Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon — the stupas and the archaeological museum make it an essential stop. As evening falls, return to Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti, a ceremony of fire, sound and chanting on the riverbank.
Overnight stay: Varanasi
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Varanasi Airport for your onward journey. Your Arivo Holidays airport executive assists with boarding and connections — closing out a trip that took you from Mughal monuments to temple carvings and the ghats of the Ganges.
What's Included
- All transfers and sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for all road journeys and sightseeing (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur).
- Experienced, tourist-friendly chauffeur.
- Connecting flight or train from Jaipur/Delhi to Khajuraho.
- Connecting flight or train from Khajuraho to Varanasi.
- 09 nights' accommodation as per the itinerary.
- Daily breakfast at the hotel.
- Local English-speaking guide in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Khajuraho, and Varanasi.
- Airport pickup and drop in Delhi, Khajuraho, and Varanasi.
- Sunrise Ganges boat ride in Varanasi.
- All parking charges, toll taxes, and driver allowance.
- All applicable government taxes.
What's Excluded
- International and domestic airfare other than what's specifically mentioned in Inclusions.
- Monument entrance fees (including Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Amber Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, and the Khajuraho temples) unless specifically mentioned.
- Elephant ride at Amber Fort (available as an optional add-on).
- Khajuraho Sound and Light Show ticket.
- Lunch and dinner, unless arranged on request.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and shopping.
- Camera and video charges at monuments.
- Tips and gratuities for driver, guide, or hotel staff.
- Travel insurance.
- Any expenses arising from flight delays, cancellations, or other circumstances beyond our control.
- Any service or item not specifically mentioned under Tour Inclusions.
Why Book With Us
- Two India's in One Trip: Golden Triangle heritage sightseeing plus the temple art of Khajuraho and the spiritual ghats of Varanasi.
- A Well-Paced Ten Days: Five days on the classic Golden Triangle route, five days at a slower, more contemplative pace.
- Local Guides Throughout: From Old Delhi's lanes to Khajuraho's carvings, guides who know the history and the shortcuts.
- Early-Morning Planning: Sunrise visits to the Taj Mahal and a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, both timed to avoid the crowds.
- Representatives at Every Stop: An Arivo Holidays team member waits on arrival in Delhi, Khajuraho, and Varanasi.
- Flexible by Design: Hotel categories and optional experiences can all be adjusted to match how you like to travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything About 10 Days Golden Triangle Tour with Khajuraho & Varanasi
The classic Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur usually ends after five days. This itinerary, built by Arivo Holidays, keeps going — adding the UNESCO temples of Khajuraho and the sacred ghats of Varanasi to the same trip, so heritage sightseeing gives way to temple art and riverside evenings.
What Makes This Trip Work
One Continuous Route: Delhi to Agra to Jaipur by road, then on to Khajuraho and Varanasi, with the onward connections arranged.
The Taj at Sunrise: The morning light on the marble is the highlight of the Agra leg.
Khajuraho's Temples: Kandariya Mahadeva and the Western Group, explored with a local guide.
Varanasi by Boat and by Foot: A sunrise Ganges boat ride and the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Arivo Holidays Support: Private vehicles, hotels, guides and transfers arranged at every stop.
Travel Tips for This Trip
Start Early at the Monuments: The Taj Mahal, Amber Fort and Khajuraho's Western Group are all calmer in the first hours of the morning.
Dress for the Temples: Cover shoulders and knees in Khajuraho and at Varanasi's temples.
Best Season: October to March keeps the whole route pleasant.
Keep Documents Handy: Carry ID and hotel details, with digital copies saved as backup.
Stay Connected: A local SIM or roaming plan helps you reach your Arivo Holidays representative anywhere on the route.