Forts · Himalaya
Plan North India North India
Forts, palaces and the Himalaya.
- Red Fort, Old Delhi
- Taj Mahal, Agra Fort
- Leh, Ladakh
India · North, East, South and West
India, every corner curated
India tour packages for the whole country: sandstone forts and Himalayan valleys, tea hills, backwaters and beaches, all planned around you and never off a checklist.
- Best time
- October to March, most regions
- Ideal length
- About a week for the Golden Triangle
- Best for
- Couples, families, friends
- Visa for Indians
- None. It is a domestic trip.
Why India, the IKOU way
One country, a hundred journeys.
We plan the one that is yours.
From the forts of Rajasthan and the high valleys of Ladakh to the tea hills of Darjeeling, the backwaters of Kerala and the beaches of Goa, we plan trips anywhere in India, for two people or a whole family. Tell us the mood and who is travelling; we shape the days. See how we work in Discover IKOU.
“We don't sell trips. We travel with you.”
Let's go together.
India, the IKOU way
One country, a hundred holidays. We plan one of them: yours.
North, east, south, west, or one slow corner of it.
Pick a corner of India
Four corners, and anywhere in between
Tea hills · Culture
Plan East India East India
Tea hills, monasteries, temples.
- Darjeeling tea gardens
- Gangtok, Sikkim
- Konark Sun Temple
Backwaters · Temples
Plan South India South India
Slow water, green hills, old stone.
- Alleppey backwaters
- Munnar tea hills
- Meenakshi Temple
Coast · Heritage
Plan West India West India
Beaches, churches, rock-cut caves.
- Palolem beach, Goa
- Old Goa's churches
- Ajanta and Ellora
The IKOU route
Explore India, the IKOU way
One country, a hundred journeys.
Four corners.
Different moods.
A more meaningful way
to see it.
Map: derivative of India outline.svg by Theo10011, Amog and Thryduulf (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0).
01
Kashmir
Dal Lake · Scenic valley
A shikara glides across Dal Lake at dawn, houseboats and the Pir Panjal range behind it; Srinagar is the gateway to the meadows of Gulmarg and Pahalgam beyond.
2-3 nights, best April to October
Explore this part
02
Ladakh
Himalaya · High desert
The Indus flows through Ladakh's high desert valleys below the Himalaya, a world apart from the rest of India: Buddhist monasteries, passes over 5,000m, and villages that see snow eight months of the year.
3-4 days, roads open late May to September
Explore this part
03
Rajasthan
Forts · Desert culture
Jaisalmer's living sandstone fort still houses a working town inside its walls; between it, Jodhpur and Udaipur, Rajasthan strings together forts, painted havelis and the Thar desert.
3-5 days, best November to February
Explore this part
04
Delhi and Agra
Golden Triangle · Heritage
The Red Fort and Old Delhi's lanes, then the Taj Mahal at Agra: the classic Golden Triangle opener, the two cities about 3-4 hours apart by road or a faster express train.
2-3 nights, Delhi to Agra by train
Explore this part05
Darjeeling and Sikkim
Tea hills · Slow mountains
Tea gardens climb the hills below Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak; the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway still runs the toy train up from the plains.
2-3 nights, toy train from New Jalpaiguri
Explore this part06
Goa
Coast · Heritage
Palm-backed beaches on the Arabian Sea and Portuguese-era churches in Old Goa, best between mid-November and mid-February before the heat builds.
2-3 nights, best November to February
Explore this part07
Kerala
Backwaters · Slow water
A houseboat drifts down Alleppey's palm-lined backwater canals at walking pace, IKOU's slowest day of any India route; hill stations and beaches beyond the water are still to come.
1-2 nights on a backwater houseboat
Explore this part
08
Lakshadweep
Coral islands · Lagoons
A permit-only cluster of coral atolls off the Kerala coast, reached by ship or flight from Kochi: turquoise lagoons, and islands so small you can walk around most of them in an hour.
3-4 nights, permit required, best December to May
Explore this part
09
Andaman
Islands · Diving
A ferry from Port Blair crosses to Havelock Island (renamed Swaraj Dweep), where Radhanagar Beach's white sand and reef diving are a world away from mainland India, hours out by air over open sea.
3-4 nights, fly into Port Blair, best mid-January to mid-May
Explore this partA journey through different moods
ScenicKashmirAdventureLadakhFocusedRajasthanFocusedDelhi and AgraSlowDarjeeling and SikkimRelaxedGoaSlowKeralaRelaxedLakshadweepAdventureAndaman
A sample journey
The Golden Triangle in six days
- Day 1FocusedNorth India
Delhi and the Red Fort
Arrive, then the Red Fort and Old Delhi.
- Day 2ScenicNorth India
On to the Taj Mahal
By road or train, 4 to 6 hours by road.
- Day 3SlowNorth India
Agra Fort, then slow
Agra Fort, then a second look at the Taj.
- Day 4ScenicNorth India
Agra to Jaipur
About 240 km, roughly four hours by road.
- Day 5FocusedNorth India
Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal
Amber Fort in the morning, then the Hawa Mahal.
- Day 6SlowDepart
A slow last morning
Late start, then Delhi, about 204 km by road.
The IKOU PaceFocusedScenicSlow
Shape this itinerary with us A sample to show the rhythm, not a fixed package. Every IKOU journey is shaped around you.
Good to know
India travel questions
Do Indian citizens need a visa for these trips?
No. These are journeys within India, so there is nothing to arrange beyond your usual ID for domestic travel.
What is the best time to visit India?
It depends on the region. October to March suits most of the country. Goa is best from mid-November to mid-February, the Andaman islands from mid-January to mid-May, and the Himalaya in late spring and early autumn.
How many days do you need for India?
As many or as few as you like. A week is a comfortable Golden Triangle; two or three weeks lets us link regions in one slow route.
What should we eat in India?
In Old Delhi, make Paranthe Wali Gali your tasting moment: a narrow lane in Chandni Chowk where shops have fried stuffed parathas since about 1870, in the traditional vegetarian style without onion or garlic. It sits a short walk from the Red Fort, so it fits neatly into a Golden Triangle day. Every region has its own plate, and we build the food stops around where you travel.
More places we know like home
Let's go together.
Tell us how you want to feel.
Tell us how you want to feel.
We'll design the journey.
Photo credits
- India: “Jaipur 03-2016 05 Amber Fort” by A.Savin, FAL
- India: “Indus River Valley, Ladakh, North India, Himalaya” by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
- India: “Kanchenjunga range from tea gardens of darjeeling” by Souviknshm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- India: “Kerala backwaters, Houseboats, India” by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
- India: “Vagator Beach, Goa, India, Palms” by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
- Kashmir: photo by Amit Jain (Unsplash), Unsplash License
- Ladakh: supplied by IKOU Holidays, Own
- Rajasthan: photo by Umesh Nikam (Unsplash), CC0
- Taj Mahal: photo by Almbauer, CC0
- Darjeeling: "Kanchenjunga range from tea gardens of darjeeling" by Souviknshm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Goa: "Vagator Beach, Goa, India" by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
- Kerala: "Kerala backwaters, Houseboats, India" by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
- Lakshadweep: supplied by IKOU Holidays, Own
- Andaman: photo by tatonomusic (Unsplash), Unsplash License
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