Spend two amazing weeks discovering the flavours, sights and sounds of India. From Delhi to Goa, through the hustle and bustle of Mumbai to beautiful rural Rajastan. You will taste amazing street food in Delhi, experience the Taj Mahal in Agra, you will understand why it’s one of the wonders of the world. Experience the vibrant markets, cook authentic dishes. Not forgetting delightful traditional food of Udaipur and Jaipur, ending with Goa’s relaxing beaches. On this tour, you will dig deep into the cultural and gastronomic heart of India.
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Day 1 - International Outbound Flight - Delhi
Welcome to Delhi, the excitingly chaotic capital city – filled with historical sites from different eras, museums and galleries, shops and endless bazaars, there’s plenty to see, do, and of course, eat. Your adventure begins with a vital welcome meeting. A short stroll afterwards to celebrate the start of a memorable food adventure at a local restaurant. Your first enjoyable taste of North Indian flavours over a delicious – and completely vegetarian – feast. Perhaps partake in a kulfi falooda (ice cream-style dessert) after dinner from a hole-in-the-wall place, considered one of the top-spots for kulfi in Delhi.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Real Food Adventure Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in-time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Day 2 – Delhi
Wake up and venture out to Old Delhi, wander through alleyways for an authentic Delhi street food breakfast. Try the local chai wallah, renowned for his delicious milky tea. Now onto the city's metro system, heading to Jama Masjid – Delhi's oldest mosque. While Hinduism is the dominant religion in Delhi, there is also a significant Sikh population, so continue the religious theme over a vegetarian lunch at a local Sikh temple. After lunch, tour one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi - Chandni Chowk. In the back alleys of Khari Baoli, visit the spice warehouses and meet a seller, hear them talk about spice mixes. Visit the Gali Paranthe Wali (lane of parathas), which has been in operation since the 1870s. Parathas - one of the most popular unleavened flatbreads in Punjabi North Indian cuisine, taste some delicious variations with fillings like potatoes, cauliflower and cottage cheese. Tonight, you have the option of visiting a local family for a home-cooked meal. Giving an insight into the day-to-day life of Delhites, finding out some secret recipes, getting involved in the meal or just chatting with your welcoming hosts.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Delhi - Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
- Delhi - Street Food Breakfast
- Delhi - Jama Masjid
- Delhi - Lunch at a Sikh Temple
Optional Activities
- Delhi - Dinner with a local family
Meals Included
Day 3 - Agra
Experience your first Indian train with an air-conditioned ride to Agra (approximately 3 hours). Famous for the evocative Taj Mahal, Agra, a city of fascinating history, rich in Mughal heritage, lush gardens and exquisite structures. Agra is also home to one of the finest looking forts in India – Agra Fort. Enter the dark red sandstone stronghold and search through throne rooms and tiny but ornate mosques. Join a Mughlai cooking demonstration, meet a passionate cook, who'll teach you how to prepare classics such as malai ki sabzi (vegetables cooked with cream) and onion paratha (flatbread stuffed with onions and potato) – obviously depending on the season where you’ll eat lunch. Afterwards, wander around the grounds of the Tak Mahal, taking in the changing vistas as day turns to evening – a truly unforgettable experience. For dinner, you could book into a chaat crawl – a savoury snack, like fried potatoes or samosa broken into pieces with chutney, typically served from roadside stalls or carts. Fast food: Indian style.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Agra - Taj Mahal
- Agra - Mughlai Cooking Demonstration
Meals Included
Day 4 - Jaipur
Travelling to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur (approximately 5 hours). Jaipur was designed by royalty and has delighted visitors for centuries with its pink-hued buildings, wonderful bazaars, and the rainbow of bright colours dancing along hectic streets. Stop at India's most photographed building after the Taj Mahal – the Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of the Winds’. Here, royal maidens once watched the streets below through the fabulous jali (lattice screens) which hid them from prying male eyes. Today, snake charmers and fortune-tellers ply their trade below the same hideaway. Visit the oldest chai wallah in the city along your way, cool down with a delicious kulfi and marvel at the sheer range of products on display at the markets. In the evening, you may wish to check out the extravagance of a Bollywood blockbuster, with all the Hollywood-style elements of action, romance, drama and music (sometimes all rolled into one), at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema. Your leader will also have plenty of dinner suggestions.
Accommodation
Optional Activities
- Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema
Meals Included
Day 5 - Jaipur
Travelling to the old capital of Amber and explore the hilltop complex known as the Amber Fort. Set in stunning surroundings overlooking Maota Lake, this opulent palace is the legacy of a fallen empire and a superb example of Rajput architecture. One of its most spectacular buildings is the Sheesh Mahal. With its walls completely covered with tiny mirrors, the hall becomes a dazzling fantasy with the light of a single match. For lunch, try a local favourite – kachori. Kachoris are deep-fried bread stuffed with vegetables and lentils and are one of the most sought-after snacks in north India. If sweets are your thing, try the mawa kachori – dried fruit and mawa (milk solids) stuffed kachori, deep-fried and coated in sugar syrup. Later learn the secrets of Rajasthani cuisine in a hands-on cooking class, sitting down to a sumptuous dinner of all you have prepared.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Jaipur - Amber Fort
- Jaipur - traditional Kachori lunch
- Jaipur - Rajasthani Cooking Class and Dinner
Optional Activities
Meals Included
Day 6 - Bijaipur
Leaving the city behind for a drive of approximately 6 hours arriving for a local heritage stay located in the Vindhyanchal Hills in the Mewar region of south-central Rajasthan – learning about rural life and culinary customs. En route stopping to enjoy lunch with a local family. Your accommodation for the next two nights will be at 16th-century Castle Bijaipur – now a heritage hotel with domes, arched windows and doorways, all within the original fortified walls. Enjoy the palace’s blend of colonial and Mughal architecture as you relax by the pool or in the gardens, pampered by Mewar hospitality.
Accommodation
Meals Included
Day 7 - Bijaipur
Explore the surrounding farming communities by jeep. This is a major agricultural area and, depending on the season, passing through fields growing wheat, corn, maize, lentils, aubergine, spinach, fenugreek, okra, green chillies, tomatoes, potatoes, gourd, onion and garlic. Some of India’s known spices, such as turmeric and cumin, are also grown here. In the late afternoon, return to your heritage stay and join the estate's chef to discover how these ingredients are used in Rajasthani cooking. Savour the results over a delicious dinner in the palace grounds with your small group – a truly special experience.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Bijaipur - Village tour
- Castle Bijaipur - Rajasthani Desert Cooking Demonstration and Dinner
Meals Included
Day 8 - Udaipur
Travelling approximately 4 hours’ drive to Udaipur known for its Hindu temples and palaces but there are also some small but renowned Jain temples in the city. Jainism is a minority religion in India and is considered among the most rigorous spiritually motivated diets in India. Arriving to enjoy a street food snack tasting and lunch in the Old City. Tonight, you’ll have a free evening for dinner. Udaipur has several delicious rooftop restaurants, so climb some stairs, choose a restaurant and settle in to watch the sunset over one of the city’s shimmering central lakes.
Accommodation
Meals Included
Day 9 - Udaipur
Udaipur, also known as the 'City of Lakes', is built around the shores of Lake Pichola and full of fascinating temples, ornate palaces and impressive 'havelis' (merchant homes). Take some time to discover its winding streets and shops full of traditional Rajasthani wares. Visit the City Palace – one of the largest royal palaces in India – and check out the unbelievable treasures within, from vivid murals to antiques and royal utensils. The rest of the day is free for your own exploration.
Accommodation
Included Activities
Meals Included
Day 10 – Udaipur – Overnight Train
Beginning the day at the local market to collect ingredients for a cooking class, where you will learn how to prepare a traditional north Indian thali meal. A thali comprises of several dishes served on one large plate, and vary depending on which region the thali is prepared in. As you’re in Udaipur, you will make a vegetarian thali. Typical dishes include rice, dahl, vegetables, roti, papad (deep-fried flatbread), curd (yoghurt), small amounts of chutney or pickle, and a sweet dish to top it off. After all, that cooking, enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. Afterwards, transfer by private vehicle to the Abu Road train station (approximately 3 hours). Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train bound for one of India's great cities – captivating Mumbai (approximately 16 hours). The train will depart late evening and arrive after midday tomorrow.
Accommodation
Today soaking up the atmosphere of this incredible metropolis whilst sightseeing. Marvel at the remarkable Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat. At 140 years old, it's Mumbai's oldest laundry and, with over 1000 troughs, it is also the world’s largest open-air, human-powered one. Next, take in some of the key landmarks including the impressive World Heritage Site and historic railway station of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. For lunch, seek out a restaurant known for serving Parsi cuisine, whose community is largely concentrated in Mumbai. The Parsi peoples are descendants of Zoroastrians who are believed to have immigrated from Persia to India in the 10th century. Drop past Mumbai’s bustling Crawford Markets, and then the rest of the afternoon and the evening are free for your own food adventures. Perhaps take high tea at the iconic Taj Hotel, or stake out one of the myriad fabulous restaurants in this city which cater for all budgets – your group leader will have plenty of suggestions.
Take a flight from Mumbai to Goa (approximately 1 hour), arriving in the early afternoon. The locals say that time moves more slowly in Goa, so this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a bit of tranquillity in an often frenetic country. Tinged with a Portuguese flavour, the state of Goa is blessed with lovely beaches, rich traditions, World Heritage-listed buildings and mouth-watering food. Goa's dense forested areas and favourable climate also make it a perfect location to grow the spices liberally used in its cuisine. In the late afternoon, visit a local spice farm that uses organic methods of cultivation. For the daring, try a taste of feni – a spirit made from either coconut or the juice of the cashew apple, much-loved in this region. Perhaps enjoy a meal at one of the shacks that line the beach in the evening. Goa is renowned for its seafood, and variations of fish curry with coconut and served with rice has become a regional classic.
Please note that the Goa fish markets are closed in the months of June, July and August due to it being the wet season.
During the morning spending time with a passionate cook who has lived in Goa all her life. Take a guided tour through the markets and get to know the building blocks of Portuguese-tinged Goan cuisine, followed by the last hands-on cooking class. Learning how to prepare meals such as hot pork vindaloo or chicken xacuti and enjoy a laid-back Goan lunch. The afternoon is free for some shopping, perhaps a visit to Panaji, or simply some time to relax on the beach. Tonight, savour a group meal of seafood and spicy curry and reminisce on your Indian food finds.
There are no activities planned for today, your Real Food Adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your return international flight to the UK.
Hotel (11 nights), Heritage property (2 nights), Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)
