India & Sri Lanka 2023: 11-Day Highlights Tour with Taj Mahal, Delhi Tour & World Heritage-Listed Kandy
Discover India and Sri Lanka’s spellbinding tapestry of cultural sites, ancient heritage and breathtaking natural landscapes on this 11-day highlights tour through the historic cities of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Colombo and Kandy. Watch the sun gild the marble pillars of the Taj Mahal, experience the sights and sounds of Old Delhi, get lost among the pink brickwork of Jaipur and fall in love with Colombo’s tree-lined boulevards. You’ll also have the chance to stand in the shadow of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sigirya and explore the storied streets of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s final royal capital.
It’s the perfect India and Sri Lanka adventure, with the flexibility to match – enjoy ten nights of three-, four- or five-star accommodation, plus an included international flight between Delhi and Colombo, sightseeing with expert English-speaking guides, all entrance fees and roundtrip airport transfers.
Your journey takes you to: Delhi — Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur — Delhi — Colombo — Dambulla — Sigirya — Dambulla — Kandy.
Your tour includes:
- Ten nights of accommodation in three-, four- or five-star accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- One-way international flight from Delhi to Sri Lanka
- Explore Delhi’s many marvels on a tour of the Old and New City
- Witness the sheer majesty of the marble-clad Taj Mahal in Agra
- Wander through the royal walkways and palaces of the Pink City, Jaipur
- Experience Colombo’s vibrant melding of cultures and traditions on a city tour
- Step in the shadow of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sigiriya, or ‘Lion Rock’
- Discover the ancient city of kings in Kandy and visit the famous Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth
- The services of local, English-speaking guides in India and an English-speaking chauffeur in Sri Lanka
- Roundtrip airport transfers
- All transfers and sightseeing excursions as per the itinerary in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance fees and government service taxes as per itinerary
Your tour begins at Delhi International Airport (DEL) at 2pm and ends at Colombo International Airport (CMB) at 10am with roundtrip airport transfers.
Roundtrip flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. If your chosen tour departure date is guaranteed at the time of booking, you may be able to purchase flights immediately. If your tour departure date is not yet guaranteed (still pending minimum numbers), flights should not be booked until you receive an update on the status of your tour.
Please book your flights to arrive Delhi International Airport after 2pm on Day 1 and depart from Colombo International Airport any time after 10am on Day 11.
Private roundtrip airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last day only.
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive in Delhi on your chosen tour start date.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visas Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements (subject to availability). Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information: India
Time zone: GMT+5:30
Telephone: +91
Currency: Indian Rupee (Rs)
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within cities. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas.
Languages: India recognises 22 official languages. The most widely spoken are Hindi and English.
Climate: India has diverse climate zones across the country, ranging from tropical and subtropical conditions in the central and southern regions, to the alpine climate of the Himalayas.
Dress code: Relaxed but respectful, especially when visiting religious institutions.
Important Destination Information: Sri Lanka
Time zone: GMT+5:30
Telephone: +94
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs or LKR)
Languages: money: Avoid buying Sri Lankan rupees ahead of time, as it’s unlikely you’ll get a good rate outside of Sri Lanka, and remember to exchange back to your currency before returning home. ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas. Most institutions will exchange money for you.
Language: Sinhala or Tamil
Climate: Tropical and quite hot, Sri Lanka has an average yearly temperature that hovers between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Welcome to Delhi, a city of rich history, jaw-dropping sights and one of India’s most extraordinary culinary scenes. Upon arrival at Delhi International Airport (DEL), you’ll be warmly greeted by your guide and transferred to your accommodation. After check-in, spend the afternoon exploring your new surroundings.
Accommodation 3-Star: Hotel Metro Heights, New Delhi (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, New Delhi (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: Jaypee Siddharth, New Delhi or similar (or similar)
Day 2: Delhi
After breakfast, head out to visit the bustling capital of Delhi. Visit the 300-year-old Chandni Chowk Market, a traditional Indian market with crowded shops, narrow streets, busy roads and an explosion of sounds and sights.
Shop to your heart’s content here, indulging in clothes, trinkets and delicious street food before heading to Jama Masjid, or the Friday Mosque. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, this is one of India’s largest mosques and provides commanding views of Old Delhi.
Then head to Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, where an eternal flame burns continuously for the main architect of India’s independence. A prominent landmark of this area is the commanding Red Fort, built entirely of red sandstone, which you will pass on your journey.
In the afternoon, switch over to the modern side of Delhi with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Qutb Minar, a 72-metre-high tower built in the early 13th century.
On your way to the tower, pass by the other prominent landmarks of Delhi such as India Gate (the ‘Arc-de-Triomphe’ of India), the Presidential Palace and Parliament House.
Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Accommodation 3-Star: Hotel Metro Heights, New Delhi or similar (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, New Delhi or similar (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: Jaypee Siddharth, New Delhi (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Delhi – Agra
After breakfast, head approximately four hours to Agra, home to the iconic porcelain-white majesty of the Taj Mahal. After checking in to your accommodation, visit the ornate stonework of Itmad-ud-Daulah, a shining Mughal tomb overlooking the Yamuna River towards the Taj Mahal. Its cenotaphs celebrate the life of the parents of Empress Nurjahan, Queen of Jahangir, considered an exceptionally beautiful and clever ruler.
Accommodation 3-Star: Hotel Crimson Palace, Agra (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Hotel Royale Regent or Crystal Sarovar Premiere, Agra (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: DoubleTree by Hilton Agra or Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Agra (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur
After breakfast, visit the marble wonder that is the Taj Mahal at sunrise. One of the greatest architectural wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a token of his undying love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after she passed away. The marble mausoleum is so grand and elaborate that its construction took nearly 20 years, and the masons, calligraphers, painters and other artisans that worked on it were brought in from around the world.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and then head to another Mughal remnant, the magnificent Agra Fort. Built by the emperor Akbar, it was the main residence of the Mughal dynasty. Home to many dazzling structures such as Jahangir Mahal, Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid, Agra Fort offers spectacular views of Taj Mahal.
After your historical tour of Agra’s iconic landmarks, you’ll be transferred approximately five hours to Jaipur to explore more of India’s spellbinding sights.
Please Note: The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
Accommodation 3-Star: Shahpura Residency, Jaipur (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Sarovar Portico Jaipur or Hotel Golden Tulip Essential Jaipur (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: Four Points by Sheraton, Jaipur (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Jaipur
Welcome to Jaipur, named the ‘Pink City’ for its countless terracotta-pink facades, the result of Maharaja Ram Singh ordering the city to be painted in the colour of hospitality to celebrate the arrival of Prince Albert in 1876.
After a hearty breakfast, head out on a city tour of the capital of Rajasthan. Begin your exciting tour at Amber Fort, an ancient complex perched on a hill overlooking Maota Lake. It holds within its sturdy walls a princely palace made of white marble and red sandstone. Gaze at the stunning interiors of the palace, featuring painted miniatures depicting scenes of wars and royal life.
En route to Amber Fort, enjoy a photo stop at the Palace of Winds, or Hawa Mahal. Capture Jaipur’s most distinctive landmark, a five-storey structure of red and pink sandstone with intricately designed exteriors.
In the afternoon, visit the City Palace, a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture, spread over one-seventh of Old Jaipur. While part of the palace has been converted into a museum housing age-old weapons and traditional Indian fabrics and costumes, a portion of it is still used by the royal family of Jaipur.
Accommodation 3-Star: Shahpura Residency, Jaipur (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Sarovar Portico Jaipur or Hotel Golden Tulip Essential Jaipur (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: Four Points by Sheraton, Jaipur (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Jaipur – Delhi – Colombo
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and return to Delhi, where you will embark on an international flight to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Once called ‘The Garden City of the East,’ Colombo was famed for its majestic ancient trees and leafy boulevards – today it’s known for superb beaches, breathtaking heritage and a spectacular foodie scene.
Upon arrival at Colombo International Airport (CMB), you’ll be transferred to your accommodation. Enjoy your evening at leisure beneath Sri Lankan skies.
Accommodation 3-Star: Fairway Colombo (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Pegasus Reef Hotel, Colombo (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Colombo – Dambulla
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Colombo, the cultural and commercial capital of the island nation of Sri Lanka. With a name meaning ‘mango harbour,’ Colombo has been of prime strategic and trade importance for millennia and a thriving gateway to the Maritime Silk Roads.
As you’re shown around Colombo, marvel at the city’s vibrant blend of cultures and traditions, including Arabian, Indian, Greek, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences. Begin in the ‘fort’ area – named for its original purpose as a fortress during the times of Portuguese and Dutch occupation – and walk beneath the city’s magnificent architecture, basking in its extraordinary heritage. Drive past Pettah, a colourful bazaar with a whirling mix of ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples, and head to Gangaramaya Temple, one of the most important Buddhist temples in the country and showcasing an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architectural styles.
In the afternoon, drive to Dambulla, famed for its rose quartz mountainsides and mysterious cave temples.
Accommodation 3-Star: Muwan Palassa Resort, Minneriya (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Habarana Village by Cinnamon, Habarana (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: Cinnamon Lodge Habarana (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Dambulla – Sigiriya – Dambulla
Today you’ll be able to admire a truly magnificent sight – the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sigiriya (‘Lion Rock’), the ruins of an ancient military stronghold set atop a soaring monolithic pillar. It was originally the fortress of notorious 5th-century AD King Kasyapa, who built it in high stone to protect himself from attackers.
After Kasyapa’s reign, the mountain was used as a monastery complex until the 14th century, after which it was abandoned – only to be discovered centuries later by English explorer John Still.
In the afternoon visit Dambulla’s famed Golden Rock cave temple, another World Heritage-listed historical site and ancient destination for sacred pilgrims throughout the region. Otherworldly and splendorous in equal measure, the caves are filled with Buddhist statues, ornate murals and ceiling frescos so masterfully painted onto the rockface that they seem to be fashioned of cloth. The temple is one of the most impressive centres of Buddhist worship in the world.
Accommodation 3-Star: Muwan Palassa Resort, Minneriya (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Habarana Village by Cinnamon (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: Cinnamon Lodge Habarana (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Dambulla – Kandy
After breakfast, depart for Kandy via the National Spice Garden of Matale. As you step through the pristine gardens, learn about how Sri Lanka’s spice trade has been vital to the nation’s prosperity for centuries and savour the chance to see fenugreek, cinnamon, cloves and more in their pre-processed, natural environment. Traditional Sri Lankan medicine, or ‘Ayurveda,’ rests upon the theory that spices are the key to human health – this is the perfect chance to learn firsthand about the curative properties of many of the nation’s most beloved aromatics.
Proceed to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed hill city of Kandy, famous for its magnificent central lake and splendid Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth. Though spectacularly beautiful, the region is historically a hotbed of political intrigue – it’s been said throughout history that whoever holds the relic of Buddha’s tooth rightfully controls the governance of Sri Lanka. The city is a site of great cultural, historical and religious importance.
After checking in to your accommodation, proceed to the breathtaking Peradeniya Gardens. Originally created in 1371 to appease a Kandyan queen, the gardens are hugged on three sides by the Mahaweli River and boast a stunning collection of native and important plants. The park’s incredible natural beauty belies a fascinating history – during a short period of time in the Second World War, the Peradeniya Gardens acted as the Allied Force’s Headquarters in Asia.
Accommodation 3-Star: Oak Ray Regency, Kandy (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Royal Classic Resort, Kandy (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: The Golden Crown Hotel, Kandy (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Kandy
After breakfast, embark on a city tour of Kandy. Head up to the Kandy View Point, admire spectacular views and enjoy a boat ride across the shimmering waters of Kandy Lake, before taking in sights such as the magnificent Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth. After walking through the temple’s halls and glimpsing a key part of history and mythology for yourself, explore the ancient walkways, majestic waterways and preserved architecture of Sri Lankan royalty’s final capital.
Finish your afternoon with a visit to Kandy’s Natural Gems and Gemmological Museum – showcasing the nation’s rich mining and trading history – and enjoy a chance to shop around town before spending the evening at leisure.
Accommodation 3-Star: Oak Ray Regency, Kandy (or similar)
Accommodation 4-Star: Royal Classic Resort, Kandy (or similar)
Accommodation 5-Star: The Golden Crown Hotel, Kandy (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Depart Kandy
Say goodbye to Sri Lanka as you are transferred to Colombo International Airport (CMB) for your ongoing journey.
Meals: Breakfast