India: Beyond the Guidebook
04-17 February 2027

The Tour

This immersive 14-day journey through North India blends history, art, food, and local insight, offering a deeper perspective beyond traditional sightseeing. Beginning in Delhi, the trip explores the layered heritage of India’s capital through expert-led tours, iconic monuments, and exceptional dining experiences.

From Delhi, the journey continues to Agra to witness the Taj Mahal at sunrise and explore Mughal architecture, before travelling onward to Jaipur, where guests experience the vibrant “Pink City” through its markets, palaces, design scene, and cultural storytellers.

The itinerary then slows in Alwar, staying in a historic hill fort and enjoying nature, relaxation, and local culture. A contrast follows in Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest living cities, where spiritual rituals and ancient traditions offer a profound and atmospheric experience.

Throughout the tour, accommodation is in carefully selected heritage properties and boutique hotels, and experiences are enriched by historians, artists, and local experts along with Reena who will accompany the group throughout.

The Food

Food across Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi is not simply about sustenance; it is a living expression of history, tradition, and cultural exchange. Sample the varied cuisine of India, from top restaurants to humble street food.

In Delhi, centuries of migration and empire have shaped the city’s food into a reflection of its layered past. The Mughal emperors left behind a legacy of aromatic biryanis, slow-cooked kormas, and charcoal-grilled kebabs, while waves of traders and settlers introduced their own flavours. Today, Delhi’s bustling streets still echo these influences in the form of chaat, tangy golgappas, and richly spiced parathas from the old alleys of Chandni Chowk—dishes that speak of a city forever reinventing itself through food.

Agra, though globally renowned for the Taj Mahal, also bears the imprint of Mughal taste in its kitchens. The city’s cuisine reflects the grandeur of courtly dining, with its emphasis on nuts, dried fruits, and fragrant gravies, yet its most famous contribution is humbler: the translucent petha, a translucent candy made from ash gourd and flavoured with rose or saffron. Legend has it that this sweet was first prepared in the royal kitchens, but it has since become a symbol of the city itself. Agra’s culinary identity is thus a blend of imperial elegance and simple pleasures, mirroring the contrast between its monumental architecture and everyday rhythms.

Royal patronage also elevated Rajasthani food into a cuisine of opulence—rich in ghee, vibrant spices, and sweets such as ghewar (a traditional Rajasthani dis cshaped Indian sweet made from flour, ghee, and a sugar syrup) that remain tied to festivals and seasonal rituals. Eating in Jaipur, one tastes both the resilience of desert communities and the splendour of Rajput courts.

Varanasi, by contrast, carries a sacred and philosophical approach to food, deeply tied to its spiritual identity as one of the world’s oldest living cities. The predominance of vegetarian dishes here is linked to religious traditions and rituals, with simple fare like kachori sabzi and aloo-tamatar curry embodying both devotion and local ingenuity. Streetside stalls offer tamatar chaat, a sweet-sour-spicy preparation, while the winter delicacy malaiyo—light as air, flavored with saffron and pistachios—evokes the city’s quiet artistry.

Trip Scholar – Reena Anderson-Bickley

Born in Cheshire to Indian parents, who came to England in the 1960’s. Almost every year I would travel back to Delhi with my mother for a holiday. I would play with my cousins and absorb the language, culture and food. After university I stayed in India for three months. It was hot and I spent a lot on time indoors reading books, I really fell in love with Old Delhi and the wonderfully syncretic nature of the architecture and art of 17 – 19 century North India. Later on I worked for an international company in London and had a two month secondment at the office in Mumbai, this cemented my love for the country.

Fast forward 30 years, a few years ago I left my job to follow my passion and study Indian and Islamic art. My study has really helped me to connect with the heritage and view the art, buildings and textiles through a new academic lens. My insider knowledge of Delhi and the other cities we visit, will give you a look into the lives of ordinary people of India, we will go were few tourists go and you will have a most authentic and vibrant experience.

• Discover Delhi’s layered history with historians, anthropologists, and storytellers bringing monuments and neighbourhoods vividly to life.
• Witness the Taj at its most magical, as the marble shifts from soft pink to glowing white in the early morning light.
• Enjoy high tea in Kacchpura village with a unique, peaceful view of the Taj Mahal away from the crowds.
• Jaipur’s Hidden Heritage Walks, explore the Pink City’s havelis, temples, and markets with an expert dedicated to preserving its disappearing architecture. Gain a more intimate look at royal life with special access areas and curated insights into Jaipur’s living heritage.
• Experience the spiritual city of Varansi (one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities) a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.
• Stay in a 14th-Century Hill Fort Relax at Hill Fort Kesroli in Alwar, combining history, countryside views, and a slower pace of travel.
• Travel with like-minded guests in a small group, led by Reena Anderson-Bickley.
• Curated cultural experiences, from meeting artisans and activists to exploring design, food, and philosophy, the journey is enriched by meaningful local connections.