5 Days in India - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Golden Triangle Tour - Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur

This five-day tour covers India's Golden Triangle, which is made up of three of India's most beautiful and well-connected cities. Ride a rickshaw through Chandni Chowk market, see the world-famous Taj Mahal with your own eyes, explore the Pink City of Jaipur and more with this quick-paced five-day itinerary. 

Start your tour of the Golden Triangle in Delhi. Visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most well-known Sikh houses of worship in the city. Then, visit Old Delhi to see Jama Masjid—one of the oldest mosques in India—and ride a rickshaw through the Chandni Chowk market. 

Next, drive to Agra for an early morning visit to the world-famous Taj Mahal. Then, you'll tour Agra's Red Fort, and climb to the top to get magnificent views of the Yamuna River and the Taj Mahal on the opposite shore. 

Finally, drive to Jaipur, which is sometimes called the Pink City for its rose-colored buildings. There, you'll see Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), tour the famous Amber Fort outside the city, and visit Jantar Mantar, the solar observatory, before returning to Delhi early the following morning for your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Discover Maharashtra 

This quick five-day itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors to the state of Maharashtra, and wine lovers. Start with a couple of days in Mumbai to discover the city—including the fascinating carvings at the nearby Elephanta Caves—before continuing to Nashik for a day of wine tasting and vineyard-touring. 

Start your tour in Mumbai, where your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. In the morning, take a ferry to the Elephanta Caves to see these ancient carvings depicting Hindu mythology. After the caves, take a tour of Mumbai that includes a visit to the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, and Chowpatty. 

After breakfast on day three, your driver will take you to Nashik, one of India's main wine regions. There, visit Sula Vineyards—India's main wine producer—and the smaller Soma Winery. Both visits include tours and wine tastings of award-winning vintages. 

In the morning on day five, return to Mumbai and catch your flight home. If you have extra time, you can also do some last-minute sight-seeing or souvenir shopping. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Leh Cultural Tour - Leh, Pangong Tso, and Delhi

This five-day itinerary gives you a chance to explore the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas, as well as the many stunning Tibetan Buddhist temples surrounding Leh, charming mountain villages, and the narrow turquoise expanse of Pangong Lake. 

Fly over the Himalayan barrier and take in the spectacular views before landing in Leh. Once you arrive, your guide will take you to Leh Palace, which overlooks Leh from the top of Namgyal Hill. Then, you'll visit two of the area's most famous monasteries: Lamayuru and Alchi. Lamayuru Monastery is up on a promontory above the valley, and is one of the oldest monasteries in the region. Alchi is the largest and probably the most famous, and is known for its massive Buddha statues, lavish wood carvings, and beautiful artwork. 

On day three, drive through the Changla Pass towards Pangong Lake. On the way, stop at Sakti, Tangtse, and several other small Himalayan villages, before enjoying spectacular views of Pangong Tso on the last part of your drive. Spend the evening at a camp by the lake enjoying the scenery. 

The following morning, get back into the car to visit Thiksey monastery, which contains a magnificent two-story image of Future Buddha. Then, head to Hemis, which belongs to the Drukpa order of Buddhism, before returning to Leh in the evening. 

Finally, fly back over the Himalayan barrier early on day five, and spend a day exploring Delhi before catching your flight home in the evening. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Beaches of Goa

This relaxed five-day itinerary focuses on Goa, its beaches, and its laid-back culture. See the crashing waters of the Dudhsagar Waterfall, try some yoga on the sand, treat yourself to an Ayurvedic massage, and explore Old Goa on this quick trip focused on enjoying Goa's beautiful coast. 

Once you land in Goa, you can check into your hotel and then head to the beach to relax. The following morning, head out for a half-day tour to Dudhsagar Waterfall, which falls 1017 ft (310 meters) down a sheer rock face. In the afternoon, your guide will take you to a nearby spice plantation to learn about Goa's traditional farming and see firsthand the many spices, medicinal plants, and tropical fruit grown there. 

On day three, take advantage of a free day in Goa to enjoy kayaking, relaxing on the beach, or visiting temples, churches, and markets. You can visit the Ancestral Goa Museum, Chapora Fort, Fort Aguada, and The Secretariat, or check out Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, and Candolim Beach. For a change of pace, visit some of the region's many religious sites, like the Basilica De Bom Jesus, Church of Lady of Rosary and the Royal Chapel of St. Anthony. 

The following day, tour Old Goa and the beautiful Shanta Durga Temple, which belongs to the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community. Then, make sure to hit the beach one last time before your flight home the next day. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Hidden Rajasthan - Ranthambore National Park by Train

This five-day itinerary from Delhi to Rajasthan's stunning Ranthambore Park is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to see Bengal tigers up close. Take the express train from Delhi, and see if you can spot monkey, deer, birds and the elusive tiger on this nature-filled safari.   

Once you arrive in Delhi, meet your tour guide and check into your hotel. Then, you'll have the rest of the day free to explore Delhi, including the Red Fort and the India Gate. The following morning, your guide will pick you up and take you to New Delhi Railway Station for your early-afternoon train to Ranthambore National Park, where you'll arrive early in the evening. 

Ranthambore has the largest population of tigers of any of India's national parks and was once the hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. It's now a protected tiger reserve and is also a great place to see monkeys, deer, crocodiles, and birds like purple herons, kingfishers, cormorants, parakeets, and partridges. 

Mornings and evenings are the best times to see animals in Ranthambore, so on day three, your guides will take you on two game drives in a six-person Jeep: the first early in the morning, and the second in the late afternoon. Make sure to take lots of pictures!

On day four, take the train back to Delhi early in the morning. Once you arrive, visit Dilli Haat—an open-air food and craft market—before catching your flight home the following morning. Learn more

More Great 5-Day India Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your India trip? Check out these other 5-day India itineraries, or describe your ideal trip and we will connect you with a local specialist to make it happen.