15-Day India Food & Culinary Tour

Arrive in Delhi and meet your Discovery Full Circle representative at the airport. Transfer to your hotel and relax after your international journey.

In the evening, enjoy a relaxed welcome dinner that introduces you to Indian cuisine — a first look at the spices, breads and regional specialities you will discover over the next two weeks.

Culinary experience:

• Introduction to Indian spices
• Traditional Indian welcome drink
• Welcome dinner featuring regional Indian specialities

Overnight: Delhi

Begin with a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, including the Jama Masjid — one of India’s largest mosques, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan — and the historic lanes around Chandni Chowk, where markets and street food have been intertwined for centuries.

Then set out on a guided food walk. Explore the Khari Baoli spice market, often described as Asia’s largest wholesale spice market and one of the best places to understand India’s extraordinary spice culture. Continue through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, tasting selected local specialities such as parathas, chaat, jalebi, samosas, kebabs and lassi, depending on the season and availability.

Culinary experience: Old Delhi food walk and spice market

Overnight: Delhi

Start the morning at a local market with your culinary guide, learning about the ingredients that shape Indian cooking:

• Cardamom
• Cumin
• Coriander
• Turmeric
• Garam masala
• Fresh herbs
• Chillies
• Lentils

Continue to a private cooking session with a local chef or family. You help prepare a selection of Indian dishes, then sit down to enjoy the meal you have cooked.

In the afternoon, visit Humayun’s Tomb, the 16th-century garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal, and drive past India Gate.

Culinary experience: Private Indian cooking class

Overnight: Delhi

Drive to Agra (approx. 230 km / 4 hrs). After checking in to your hotel, visit the magnificent Taj Mahal, the white marble mausoleum Shah Jahan built for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Later, explore Agra’s culinary heritage, which is closely linked with Mughlai cooking traditions. Visit a traditional sweet shop to learn how Agra’s famous petha is made from ash gourd, then enjoy an evening Mughlai dinner.

Culinary experience: Petha demonstration and Mughlai dinner

Overnight: Agra

Rise early to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the marble changes colour with the morning light. Return to the hotel for breakfast before driving towards Jaipur.

En route, visit Fatehpur Sikri, the remarkable red sandstone city that served as Emperor Akbar’s capital in the 16th century. Continue to Jaipur (approx. 240 km / 5–6 hrs in total) and check in to your heritage hotel.

In the evening, enjoy a traditional Rajasthani dinner featuring dishes such as dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi and seasonal specialities.

Overnight: Jaipur

Spend the morning sightseeing in Jaipur, including the hilltop Amber Fort, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, the 18th-century astronomical observatory.

Later, explore Jaipur’s food markets and traditional sweet shops and taste some of Rajasthan’s famous snacks, such as:

• Pyaaz kachori
• Mirchi vada
• Ghewar
• Mawa sweets
• Lassi

In the evening, enjoy a Rajasthani thali at a carefully selected traditional restaurant or heritage property.

Culinary experience: Jaipur food walk and Rajasthani thali

Overnight: Jaipur

Today is devoted to the home-style cooking of Rajasthan. Travel to a village or countryside setting outside Jaipur for a private cooking demonstration and hands-on experience.

Learn how traditional Rajasthani dishes are prepared with locally available ingredients, and how cooking techniques have adapted to the region’s dry climate. Lunch features the dishes prepared during the experience.

Return to Jaipur for an evening at leisure — explore the Pink City or enjoy an optional fine-dining experience.

Culinary experience: Rural Rajasthan cooking experience

Overnight: Jaipur

Drive to Jodhpur (approx. 340 km / 6 hrs). On arrival, explore the old city and its famous blue lanes.

Visit the area around the Clock Tower and Sardar Market, where local snacks and ingredients are sold side by side, and try traditional Jodhpuri specialities such as:

• Makhaniya lassi
• Mirchi vada
• Mawa kachori
• Dal baati
• Local sweets

The evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Jodhpur

Visit the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort in the morning. Founded in the 15th century, it rises high above the blue city and holds a fine museum of Marwar’s royal history.

Later, enjoy a private culinary experience that introduces you to Marwari cuisine. The cooking session can include traditional vegetarian dishes and breads, followed by lunch.

The afternoon is free for shopping and exploring Jodhpur’s old city.

Culinary experience: Marwari cooking class

Overnight: Jodhpur

Drive to Udaipur (approx. 260 km / 6–7 hrs). En route, visit the spectacular Jain temples at Ranakpur, where the 15th-century marble temple is famous for its hundreds of intricately carved pillars.

Continue through the Aravalli hills to Udaipur. In the evening, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola, followed by dinner overlooking the lake.

Culinary experience: Mewari dinner with lake views

Overnight: Udaipur

Spend the morning sightseeing in Udaipur, including the City Palace, which stretches along the shore of Lake Pichola.

Later, visit a local vegetable and spice market with your culinary guide, then continue to a private cooking experience where you learn about Mewari cuisine. Lunch is prepared during the class.

The evening is free.

Culinary experience: Mewari cooking class

Overnight: Udaipur

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lucknow, subject to flight schedules.

Lucknow is the culinary heart of Awadh and offers a completely different food experience from Rajasthan. After checking in to your hotel, take an evening walk through the historic Chowk area and sample selected Awadhi specialities, including kebabs, breads and sweets.

Culinary experience: Lucknow food walk

Overnight: Lucknow

Spend the morning sightseeing in Lucknow, including the Bara Imambara, the Chota Imambara and the historic heart of the city.

Later, enjoy a private Awadhi cooking masterclass. Learn about the slow-cooking techniques associated with Awadhi cuisine and prepare selected dishes such as kebabs, biryani or vegetarian specialities, then sit down to lunch featuring the dishes prepared during the class.

Awadhi cuisine and the city’s traditional cooking techniques are a major reason Lucknow works so well in a culinary itinerary.

Culinary experience: Awadhi cooking masterclass

Overnight: Lucknow

Travel to Varanasi (approx. 320 km / 6–7 hrs by road). After checking in, explore the historic ghats along the Ganges.

In the evening, witness the spectacular Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Afterwards, take a culinary walk through the old city and sample selected vegetarian specialities, sweets, lassi and the famous Banarasi paan.

Culinary experience: Varanasi food walk

Overnight: Varanasi

Take an early-morning boat ride on the Ganges and watch the city come alive as pilgrims and residents begin their day along the ghats.

Return to the hotel for breakfast. Depending on your departure schedule, transfer to Varanasi airport for your onward journey.

Tour ends.