Women-only, small group tour
New 2024 date coming soon!
come to india with us and experience the holi festival!
India for Beginners is proud to announce our Women-only Holi Tour of India! We designed this tour to make your travel dreams come true. Holi in India is a celebration not be missed.
Also called the Festival of Colours, Holi is a full on experience of joy that celebrates life in all its hues. On this tour, we will explore some of the most well-known and traditional Holi celebrations such as Lathmar Holi in Mathura, visit the Taj Mahal and enjoy an optional luxury spa day in Agra, go shopping in Jaipur, and play Holi in beautiful Rishikesh.
This small group tour (maximum size 14 travellers) from India for Beginners is for travellers who have an adventurous spirit, who enjoy going off the beaten path, and want to immerse in the culture of India. There will be some walking, and it will be hot, so a moderate level of fitness and a healthy level of enthusiasm is required!
Holi is March 25 in 2024.
NOTE: Please read our FAQ and Terms & Conditions page thoroughly before booking.
HOLI TOUR Dates: NEW 2024 DATE COMING SOON (11 nights / 12 day)
EXTENSION: A customized pre- or post-tour extension can be arranged that could include a Yoga retreat, a trip to Varanasi, or a visit to Goa or Kerala in South India.
TOUR COSTS:
Per person on shared room basis: TBD
Per person for single room: TBD
Approximate airfare Jaipur-Dehradun: TBD*
Airfare is subject to change at the time of issuance.
to book:
Contact [email protected] for information regarding booking the tour and payment due dates or fill out the form below.
India for Beginners tours
India for Beginners tours are designed around relationships — the relationships founders Mariellen and Anjani have nurtured with people they have met on their extensive travels across India over many years. The local experiences we recommend both support the community and offer you memorable experiences of incredible India.
To find out more about India for Beginners, please read about our Travel Philosophy and check out some of our glowing Testimonials.
Itinerary
Day 01: TBD – Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi and we will meet you and help ensure you get a local SIM card so that we can be in contact 24/7.
There will be a private chauffeur driven car to take you to your hotel or guest house. Rest of the day is free to get over jet lag (depending on when you arrive).
Accommodation options in Delhi include staying with a local family in a safe, clean, bed-and-breakfast or a boutique hotel.
Day 02: TBD – Delhi
Let’s get to know Delhi, one of the oldest and most historic cities on earth — which is also one of the greenest capital cities in the world.
We will start with a tour of Old Delhi that will take you into the heart of this fascinating, chaotic, and crowded area. We will see Jama Masjid Mosque and Gurudwara along with an exploration tour through the alleys of Chandni Chowk via bicycle rickshaw.
Later we will drive through Lutyen’s Delhi — India Gate, Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhavan — and visit Humayun’s Tomb. If time permits, we can either stroll in Lodhi Garden or drive directly to Khan Market for shopping and dinner.
Day 03: TBD – Delhi
On our second day in Delhi, we will tour south Delhi. This area is home to Qutab Minar, the Lotus Temple, Hauz Khas Village, and leafy residential neighbourhoods filled with cafes, shops, and markets.
In the evening, we will be treated to a cooking demonstration and dinner that features local specialities at Prakash Kutir homestay in Hauz Khas, South Delhi.
Day 04: TBD – Barsana
Leave early morning and drive to Barsana to experience Lathmar Holi. Later drive to Agra for overnight stay.
Lathmar Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh, takes place before Holi. During these celebrations, the women and men of Barsana and Nandgaon take on the roles of Krishna and Radha and “fight” for supremacy with lathis (sticks). On March 12, the men of Nandgaon invade Barsana and the women beat them off; the reverse happens on March 13 in Nandgaon.
Day 05: TBD – Agra
Today we are in Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.
We will visit Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in the morning and spend the rest of the day enjoying the hotel amenities and an optional spa visit. Travel in India can be tiring and you need some rejuvenating downtime built into the schedule — to get you ready for the Taj Mahal!
Day 06: TBD – Agra
We start our day with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. This is the best time to see the gleaming marble monument, and the least busy, too. The Taj Mahal needs no introduction of course. It is a must-see experience in India and most people report that the world’s most beautiful building (which is actually a tomb) exceeds their expectations.
After the Taj Mahal visit we will return to the hotel for breakfast and a rest before touring Agra. We will see some of the popular sites such as the Agra Fort and the “Baby Taj” as well as some offbeat places, too.
Day 07: TBD – Jaipur
From Agra, we will head to Jaipur, the capital city of the beautiful state of Rajasthan. Jaipur is a favourite city, full of palace hotels, hip cafes, cultural events, bustling markets, and amazing heritage sites. Arrive Jaipur and check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax.
Day 08: TBD – Jaipur
Start your day with a visit to Amer Fort along with City Palace and Jantar Mantar (Observatory). Later start your shopping tour.
Shopping day in Jaipur! Jaipur is a shopper’s paradise known for block-print textiles, gemstones and jewelry, handmade leather shoes, arts and crafts, furniture, and so much more.
Day 09: TBD – Rishikesh
Take a flight to Dehradun. Arrive Dehradun and drive to Rishikesh (about 30 minutes). Arrive Rishikesh and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax and prepare yourself to enjoy the festival of colours.
Rishikesh is a sacred city picturesquely located where the Ganga River pours out of the foothills. It has been a gathering place for seers and sages since time immemorial, and has become a Yoga and adventure travel centre in recent years.
We will arrive before noon and check into a hotel or ashram. Afternoon is free to relax. Yoga class at 4:30 pm followed by dinner and a beautiful sunset view at a favourite cafe.
Day 10: TBD – Holi in Rishikesh!
Holi! The Holi Festival takes place in the morning, so get ready by oiling your skin and hair, wearing old clothes, and taking nothing with you but a water bottle, kleenex, and some hand sanitizer. We will join a private event to play Holi in safety. Afterwards, those who are more adventurous can give the raucous public event a try.
Day 11: TBD – Rishikesh
Today, we will start our day with a morning Yoga class by the Ganga River. After breakfast a tour of Rishikesh will include The Beatles Ashram, the famous bridges (Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula), a walk through the local market, and end by attending the evening aarti to honour the Ganga, the most sacred river in India.
Day 12: TBD – Delhi or Rishikesh
Transfer to Dehradun airport or Haridwar train station.
Alternatively, you can stay in Rishikesh and enjoy a Yoga ashram stay. We can help arrange a stay for you at a recommended ashram.
Tour inclusions / exclusions
tour includes:
- ACCOMMODATION AT SUGGESTED HOTELS OR SIMILAR
- DAILY BUFFET BREAKFASTS
- SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY
- PRIVATE AC INNOVA / TEMPO TRAVELER / MINI COACH FOR SIGHTSEEING AND TRANSFERS
- ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCAL GUIDE FOR SIGHTSEEING IN DELHI, BARSANA, AGRA, JAIPUR, AND RISHIKESH ONLY
- COOKING CLASS IN DELHI
- RICKSHAW RIDE IN DELHI
- HOLI CELEBRATION IN BARSANA
- ENTRANCE AND VISIT TO WILDLIFE SOS
- HOLI CELEBRATION IN RISHIKESH
- MINERAL WATER AND TISSUES DURING DRIVES
- 24X7 TOUR MANAGER WILL BE AVAILABLE OVER PHONE DURING TOUR
- ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES
- ALL ROAD TAXES, GOVERNMENT TAXES AND DRIVER ALLOWANCES
TOUR EXCLUDES:
- LUNCHES AND DINNERS
- PERSONAL EXPENSES
- CAMERA FEES, TIPS ETC.
- MONUMENT ENTRANCE
- SPA IN AGRA
- INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE
- VISA CHARGES
- ANYTHING WHICH IS NOT MENTIONED IN INCLUSIONS
IMPORTANT POINTS
- Hotels are subject to availability at the time of booking.
- Early check-in and late check-out will be subject to availability.
- Domestic airfare is subject to change at the time of issuance.
- The company assumes no liability for personal loss of tourists, medical emergencies or other losses.