Delhi to Varanasi by Train

Welcome to Delhi - the buzzing city where centuries-old forts meet full-throttle city life. Meet your crew and Trip Manager tonight, before we head out for dinner at a local restaurant to kick things off properly.

Bye Delhi. We’ll hop on the local train and roll out towards Haridwar's calmer scenes. We’re stepping into India’s spiritual side here. From Haridwar, we’ll swap the train for local transport and make our way to Rishikesh. Welcome to Rishikesh: calm, cool and sitting pretty on the Ganges. We’ll check into a simple, comfy yoga retreat accommodation, explore the laid-back lanes of Tapovan, then gather by the river for evening Aarti as the ceremony lights up the water.

• See the evening Aarti Ceremony on the Ganges

We ain’t leaving the home of yoga without rolling out a mat. This morning, we’ll start with a yoga class at the retreat, fuel up on a sattvic vegetarian breakfast, then head out on a guided walk past markets and ashrams, finishing at the legendary Beatles Ashram (yep, THE Beatles).

• Take a morning Yoga class
• Discover Rishikesh on foot

Today, we’ll say goodbye to Rishikesh and start the journey back, hopping into local transport for the drive to Haridwar. (It's a long travel day ahead, have your playlists ready!). Train time again. We’ll board and roll on towards Lucknow, watching the landscapes shift as we head deeper into Uttar Pradesh. Welcome to Lucknow, known for its rich Nawabi heritage and legendary food scene, and our base for the next two nights. Settle in tonight. Tomorrow we'll dive in properly into everything this city has to offer.

Tuk-tuk time! We’ll zip through the city’s landmarks on a guided ride, soaking in views of Lucknow’s grand architecture and everyday buzz from the best seat in the house. The rest of the day is yours. And if you’re hungry, you can opt into a street food tour to taste the flavours this city is so famous for.

• See Lucknow's sights from a Tuktuk

Later, Lucknow. We’ll board another train and travel local-style towards one of India’s holiest cities. Welcome to Varanasi — spiritual, intense, and guaranteed to leave an impression. Sacred to Hindus and home to the city’s burning ghats, this is a powerful, unfiltered side of the Ganges (that couldn’t feel more different to laid-back Rishikesh). We’ll take to the streets by e-rickshaw, then end at the river for the Ghat Aarti ceremony as flames light up the waterfront.

• Take a guided e-rickshaw tour of Varanasi

You’ve got a full day to dive into this city’s energy. Opt for a sunrise boat ride along the Ganges as the river shifts through golden hour, or head to Sarnath - the place where Buddha first shared his teachings.

And just like that, our India adventure has officially wrapped up. From Delhi streets to holy rivers, we’ve covered some ground. Hug it out, swap details, and say your goodbyes (or maybe just “see you on the next one.”)