Highlights of India: Discover Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Varanasi

This trip exceeded my expectations. Accomodations were outstanding and that is not a requirement for myself. Cultural activities were exactly what I would choose. My room mate was very comfortable and nice to be around. India is one country that I can't get enough information and experience with, so fascinating with all of the complexities. The people are outstanding and cordial.

This trip to India is amazing. The itinerary is full of experiences. So many sights and sounds and smells and tastes. The people are kind and generous. Old and new - high and low- quiet and loud. Rashid our tour guide was excellent and offered us an insight to the Indian culture. He answered all of our questions. Our hotels were beautiful. If you have an adventure in mind -then this is the journey for you.

This was an excellent cultural introduction to Northern India, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to open a window to that part of the world.

I recommend this program highly. It is truly life-changing in the best possible way. India is the most interesting countryI've ever visited.

Highly recommend. Hotel , Guides , food, transportation , places of visit were excellent.

Loved the program and the participants. Wished we visited Ranthambhore National Park rather than go to markets. Maybe one less home visit? All in all, a beautiful learning adventure with fun and interesting people.Thank you, again,, Jay, for all your care and concern Mary Ellen

India is vast and its culture so very different from western life. It is also endowed with thousands of years of history and the monuments that tell that story. We visited religious sites, Ghandi's last home, forts and palaces and of course, the Taj Mahal, which was the fulfillment of a dream for me. There were lectures on religion, history, politics and women's issues to give context to what we were seeing. We were surrounded by poverty, but also witnessed the government's efforts to combat it. There are long bus rides involved but the time passes quickly when you have a guide like Ritu Sharma, who could not do enough for us and who is the reason the group bonded the way it did and things ran as smoothly as they did. She is knowledgeable, professional, a good storyteller and a joy to be around. The hotels were comfortable and the food in all of them, and the restaurants we visited, was excellent. We also had dinner with local families and were able to experience Indian culture on a personal level. When you see a camel and an elephant being ridden down the main street of Jaipur you know you're not in Kansas anymore :-). Just go - you will never regret it - and hope that Ritu is your group leader.

My friend and I were already seasoned travelers in countries of diverse cultures. Due to the vastness and complexities of nativgating India, we chose Road Scholars. From the beginning, the interaction with our tour guide was trusting and helpful. The way he conducted the trip showed expertize, empathy, and lots of humor. The places that were chosen were perfect for a survey trip. The accomodations were exquisite... Maybe u necessarily so. Some folks thought shopping was too much, some thought it was too little, but that difference is to be expected. India is hard due to the poverty, but our guide approaches the subject with realism and empathy.

We had an incredible first trip to India through Road Scholar. Our 10 days through Northern India (wish we had done the whole of India trip, which was sold out) could not have been better, due to the educational nature of the trip and exceptionally knowledgeable guide, Ritu Sharma, who infused the visits to sacred sites and monuments with information about the religions, local customs, family life and more. This cultural trip had wonderful lectures with local experts in each place, where we also visited families in their homes to experience how people live and discuss life and politics. This was my first RS trip and I took my adult daughter. It was wonderful having everything arranged for us - we just had to show up and enjoy everything. The group had interesting people; lots of teachers and experienced travelers. The hotels were all very nice - we particularly liked the Trident hotels (Oberoi Group). The included hotel meals were buffets which offered a wide selection, including continental options. We particularly enjoyed the restaurant meals with the group and would have liked them also offered on the few “nights off”. We can’t wait to go back to India and will definitely travel with Road Scholar again.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel to many places—however India now is ranked the top trip of my life! So grateful for Dheerendra Nathawat for all he did to provide knowledge, adventure and excitement…and safety.

This yatra (journry) was a pilgrimage for me that raised my understanding of myself and my roots.

The Highlights of India Program was a fantastic way to get a glimpse of some of the main attractions in India. The mix of historical sites, cultural experiences, and educational programs was just right to get some insight into this vibrant and fascinating country. Our guide (Anurag Srivastava) exhibited a vast depth of knowledge and his passion for his country and his skilled 'storytelling' made India truly come alive. Even the 'organized chaos' of the streets was enlightening. If you want to see a piece of India, I highly recommend this program.

This was everything and more that I wanted from this adventure. The group was congenial; our guide Anurag Sreivastava was outstanding. He seemed to deeply care that the group not only enjoyed every minute of our time in India but his desire was to give us detailed knowledge of the culture, history and peoples of North India. He went truly out of his way to satisfy all our wishes and answered any questions or concerns that arose. He encouraged our questions. The sites that were chosen for the tour were excellent and equally as enjoyable were the visits to private homes to know people more intimately than just passing or observing them on the street. Since we visited during Diwali time it was especially meaningful. I have forever wanted to see the Taj Mahal and that wish was granted and was most definitely a highlight. I have to say however that I found the visit to Varanasi the most fascinating of the whole trip. The Ganges and seeing the cremations and the people coming to the river to bathe was phenomenal! It was so colorful and I felt like I was in the midst of the activities, yet viewing it in a relaxed situation on the boat ride. If I had any complaint with this trip, it would NOT be the itinerary or the guide - both couldn't have been better. I had some dissatisfaction with the travel agency who booked me originally very poorly and then when I sought to correct it, I was "fined" $200. I live near the Jacksonville, FL airport but was supposed to find my way to Miami then to NJ and then to New Dehli - furthermore they seem somewhat perturbed to make this correction and were not at all helpful in upgrading my seat. I have traveled extensively for work and pleasure and have never encountered this attitude. They seemed too busy and annoyed at the inconvenience they felt they were encountering. I look forward however to travel with Road Scholar again as the trip as a whole was outstanding!

If you want to be immersed in the culture of old and new India, see and experience all you think you want, and then discover you get so much more than this, then this is the tour for you. Road Scholar has outdone itself in organizing this tour to provide an amazing experience and then hired an outstanding tour guide/presenter/mentor to do the job. Anurag guided and delivered more than just a learning event, he delivered the expertise, knowledge, depth, and insight to make this tour a truly transformational experience.

I enjoyed every moment of this trip. The highlights for me were visiting Gandhi's home, seeing the Taj Mahal, visiting the Bodi tree and a boat ride on the Ganges River. The trip was organized, fun and informative. Anurag was an excellent guide!

I just returned from the Highlights of India trip. It was such a fantastic experience, even more than I expected. Our guide, Anurag, was phenomenal. He was with us from arrival to departure, and took care of every single detail. We were in very good hands. Before I left for the trip, I had some concerns about drinking water and spicy food. This wasn’t a problem at all. There was ample bottled water provided on the bus and in all hotels and restaurants. Some of the food was spicy, but there were always many options of non-spicy foods too. A highlight for me was visiting in peoples’ homes, and we had several opportunities to do that. Visiting Varanasi and witnessing Hindu religious rituals along the Ganges from a boat was amazing. I now wish I had gone on the longer trip to India.

This was an excellent program for the experienced traveler. If you are up for an adventure, this is an excellent opportunity.I feel that this program would be difficult for the casual tourist.

The Highlights of India trip is a lot of fun plus informative, with a wide variety of activities.

This was an incredible trip. Our tour leader Jay was extremely well educated, patient and personable. The variety of activities was excellent. Hotels and food exceptional. Really enjoyed home visits and shopping!

This was a fabulous program with a great guide best I’ve ever had on an overseas program. It is well worth your time and money. Great experience. Karen

Road Scholar is a program created for people who want to do more than look out a bus window, staying at nondescript hotels filled with other Americans, visiting castle after cathedral after museum. Stopping periodically to take some photos. People who choose Road Scholar want to meet locals, learn some history, eat in local restaurants, experience the local culture and travel with smaller groups guided by a professional local who is well versed in all aspects of his/her country and likes being with people.

Our group leader, Prakash Detha, was amazing. You are very fortunate to have with with your organization. You should know this is the first time I've ever taken a group tour. I'm more of a DIY kinda guy and have felt comfortable navigating around Europe as a solo traveler. Prakash was attentive to our needs both individually and as a group, informative about his country and culture, empathetic to the specific requests by individuals, and very personable. His attention to detail and availability as a group leader went far above what I would have considered sufficient. In short, he went out of his way to make this trip such a success. He is a valuable asset to RS.

The Highlights of India program is a brief and amazing glimpse of India. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. The sights are fantastic! Seeing the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, also called the Pink city with all the palaces and of course the River Ganga is very thrilling. The accommodations surpassed my expectations and the food was excellent. It is a programs that gives a lot of value for the money you spend!

This 12-day outing is a real educational and cultural treat. We not only saw the sights but also had the chance to meet with local hosts in their gracious homes. After moving constantly through the day, we get to relax in luxurious hotels with like-minded fellow travelers. If you can do it, do it.

One of the best Road Scholar trips I have taken!! Great group leader, wonderful experiences, great food!!

This is a wonderful program! Our group leader was superb, and helped us see things that we would never have been able to see on our own. In Delhi, we worked in a Sikh community kitchen; in Agra, we explored the Taj Mahal; in Jaipur, we visited the Red Fort; and in Varanasi, we heard a master sitar player and floated on the Ganges for evening and morning ceremonies.

After my now 5th Road Scholar program, I cannot come up with one that did not meet my expectations; in fact everyone was beyond, especially Group Leader Knowledge and Hotel Accommodations with their variety of food choices Antoine K.

An excellent program.Instructor with comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter in addition to excellent program management skills. Program highly recommended.

India is a fascinating country. It will not leave you indifferent. Just go there with the Road Scholar.

Highlights of India (including the camel festival at Pushkar) introduced us to unique architecture, fabulous food, an array of religions, and the many sights, sounds, and smells of everyday life. Visiting families in their homes was a special treat and we left India reluctantly, wishing to learn more!

This trip was amazing - probably the best trip I have evert taken in my lifetime. The tour leader, Sandeep, was very knowledgeable, interesting, and informative. He worked with our small group to ensure we develped a great understanding of India. This is a memorable trip that I would recommend in the highest possible terms.

This was an intense and immersive experience in Indian culture that I will never forget.

This program was truly the experience of a lifetime for me. Our Group Leader was so kind and knowledgeable and the educational content was exceptional. Go on this program if you have an open mind and are ready for an adventure.

Highlights of India, exceeded all my expectations, I would urge anyone to try it. The sights, sounds, beauty etc. that we encountered were overwhelming. So very glad I got to do it. A trip of a lifetime.

An excellent tour! It truly exceeded my expectations in every way.