India Real Food Adventure

Intrepid Travel · 13 days

4.6

20 Reviews

Duration

13 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Dig into the sights, sounds and flavours of India on a 15-day food adventure. From Delhi to Goa via Rajasthan and Mumbai, experience everything from street food to home cooked meals, the Taj Mahal to the Amber Fort, and temples to thali.

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (12), Lunch (7), Dinner (7)
Accommodation: Hotel (9 nights), Heritage property (3 nights)

Highlights

Get a true taste of some of India’s finest culinary traditions – Mughal and Rajasthani – while feasting in local restaurants, street food stalls, rural homes and cooking classes. 
Leave with authentic recipes under your belt after you take part in a plant-based cooking class in a Jaipur home and learn how to make thali in Udaipur.
See the rich tapestry of India’s culture and history, meeting chai wallahs in local markets, visiting local farming communities and spice growers and dining in Sikh temples.
Bask in the ivory glow of the inspiring Taj Mahal in Agra, explore Old Delhi and Jama Masjid and stand in awe of the Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort in Jaipur.
Grab a fork and dig in – this trip introduces you to some of India’s most iconic dishes like kachori, kulfi, chai, paratha, chaat, thali and heaps more.

Trip Details

Duration

13 days

Transportation

Plane, private vehicle, taxi, train, overnight train

Guide Language

English

Starts

Delhi, India

Finishes

Mumbai, India

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi

Namaste! Welcome to India. Delhi is an exciting and chaotic capital city filled with historical sites, museums, galleries, shops and bazaars. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After, celebrate the start of your adventure with a short stroll to a local restaurant for your first taste of North Indian cuisine – a delicious (and completely vegetarian) thali feast. A thali is an assortment of small dishes put together on one platter – the perfect way to sample a range of flavours. After, your leader will take you to a hole-in-the-wall eatery where you may like to sample some of Delhi’s best kulfi falooda (a delicious ice cream-style dessert). 

Included Activities:

Delhi - Welcome dinner

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Delhi

Start your day with authentic local chai tea then jump on the city's metro system to venture out to Old Delhi. Ready your appetite as you wander through alleyways for an authentic street food breakfast. Maybe pick up some bedmi, potato curry, sweet fried jalebi or paratha flatbread. Next, head to Jama Masjid, Delhi’s oldest mosque. After some time at this ancient building, hop aboard a rickshaw and head to Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Visit the spice warehouses in the back alleys of Khari Baoli and meet a seller to learn about the spice mixes they take to market. Visit the Gali Paranthe Wali (lane of parathas) – parathas are one of the most popular unleavened flat breads in Punjabi North Indian cuisine, and you’ll taste some filled with potatoes, cauliflower and paneer. While Hinduism is the dominant religion in Delhi, there is also a significant Sikh population, which you’ll learn more about over a vegetarian lunch at a local Sikh temple. Tonight, you’ve got the option to visit a local family for a homecooked meal- – this is great insight into the day-to-day life of Delhites, so find out some secret recipes, get involved or just chat with your welcoming hosts. 

Included Activities:

Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
Delhi - Street Food Breakfast
Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
Delhi - Lunch at a Sikh Temple
Delhi - Spice warehouse visit

Optional Activities:

Delhi - Dinner with local family (3000 INR)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Agra

Jump aboard a local train for an air-conditioned ride to Agra. Famed for one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, Agra is a city of fascinating history, rich in Mughal heritage. 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. After, head to the Taj Mahal to explore the grounds and take in the changing scenes as day turns to evening – a truly unforgettable experience. For dinner, join a Mughlai cooking demonstration. Influenced by Central Asian and Islamic recipes, Mughlai cuisine is unique and fragrant. 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), depending on the season.

Included Activities:

Agra - Agra Fort
Agra - Taj Mahal
Agra - Mughlai Cooking Demonstration

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Karauli

Today, you’ll drive from Agra to Karauli for your stay in a royal-palace-turned-hotel in Karauli. The estate is expansive – as it’s a palace property, and they grow their own vegetables, fruits and seasonal crops. Take a walk through the estate’s landscaped gardens, vegetable patches, orchards and cow shed, where the milk used in the kitchens is sourced – an important element of traditional Indian cuisine. Everything grown and produced on the estate is organic! If you’d like, you can also visit the Madan Mohan Ji Temple and Karauli Palace this afternoon. The stay also provides a welcome opportunity to slow down and unwind after the busy sightseeing schedule in Delhi and Agra and tonight, you’ll sit down to a farm-to-table dinner with your group to settle in.

Included Activities:

Karauli - Farm to Table dinner

Optional Activities:

Madan Mohan Temple - Karauli - Free
Karauli - Palace visit (200 INR)

Accommodation:

Heritage Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Jaipur

Say goodbye to your royal digs this morning and drive to Jaipur. Designed by royalty, the city has delighted visitors for centuries with its pink-hued buildings and buzzing bazaars. Jump on a rickshaw and swing by one of India’s most photographed buildings, the Hawa Mahal or ‘Palace of the Winds’, to snap some pictures yourself. Then, you’ll have the chance to try kachori (a deep-fried snack and local favourite, typically made from a spiced dough filled with vegetables and lentils) at the iconic Rawat Mishthan Bhandar. In the evening, you may like 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 Raj Mandir Cinema.

Included Activities:

Jaipur - Leader-led orientation walk
Jaipur - Hawa Mahal photo stop

Optional Activities:

Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema (400 INR)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Jaipur

Travel to the old capital of Amber today to explore the hilltop complex known as the Amber Fort. Overlooking Maota Lake, this opulent palace is the legacy of a fallen empire and a great 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, follow your leader to LMB, a local restaurant opened in 1727, and try their ghevar. After the meal, sample the mawa kachori (deep-fried pastry stuffed with dried fruits and milk solids, coated in sugar syrup). Finish the day in a local home where you’ll take a hands-on cooking class to learn how to make some plant-based Rajasthani dishes like ker sangri, using dried ker berries and sangri beans. Enjoy the fruits of your labour in the peaceful garden, where your hosts grow fresh greens. 

Included Activities:

Jaipur - Rajasthani Cooking Class and Dinner
Jaipur - Amber Fort
Jaipur - Street Food Lunch

Optional Activities:

Jaipur - Balloon Safari (290 USD)

Accommodation:

Heritage Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Bijaipur

Leave the city behind and drive to a local heritage stay located in the Vindhyanchal Hills in the Mewar region of south-central Rajasthan – a great opportunity to learn about rural life and culinary customs. You’ll stop for lunch along the way at a local restaurant. 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. Take in the palace’s blend architecture as you relax by the pool or in the gardens, enjoying the famous Mewar hospitality. 

Accommodation:

Heritage Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Bijaipur

Today you’ll jump in a jeep and explore the surrounding farming communities. This is a major agricultural area and, depending on the season, you’ll pass through fields growing wheat, corn, maize, lentils, aubergine, spinach, fenugreek, okra, green chilies, tomatoes, potatoes, gourd, onion and garlic. Some of India’s most-loved spices, such as turmeric and cumin, are also grown here. Return to your heritage stay and join the estate’s chef to discover how the ingredients you’ve seen today are used in Rajasthani cooking. Savour the results over a delicious lunch on the lake side with your group.

Included Activities:

Bijaipur - Rajasthani Desert Cooking Demonstration and Meal
Bijaipur - Countryside jeep safari

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Udaipur

This morning, travel to Udaipur – a charming city known for its Hindu temples and palaces, and small but renowned Jain temples. Jainism is a minority religion in India and is considered among the most rigorous and spiritually motivated diets in India. When you arrive, visit a Jain temple where you’ll learn about the religion and the food connected to it. Jain cuisine is strictly vegetarian and excludes the eating of root vegetables like carrots, onion and garlic due to the belief that uprooting the plant kills it and the micro-organisms around the roots. Taste Jainist cuisine at the famous Natraj restaurant, serving delicious thali since 1960s. Tonight, you’ll have a free evening for dinner. Udaipur has several inviting rooftop restaurants, so climb some stairs and settle in to watch the sunset over one of the city’s shimmering central lakes. 

Included Activities:

Udaipur - City Palace
Udaipur - Lunch at Jain Restaurant Natraj
Udaipur - Leader-led orientation walk

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 10: Udaipur

This morning, hop in a tuk-tuk for a unique local experience. Visit a bustling vegetable market where most of the vendors are women, and with the guidance of your local hosts, purchase fresh ingredients for your hands-on cooking class. You’ll prepare some traditional Rajasthani dishes, then sit down and enjoy them for lunch with your group. The evening is free for you to relax or explore Udaipur at your own pace.

Included Activities:

Udaipur - Thali Cooking Class

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 11: Mumbai

This morning, fly to Mumbai and check into your hotel. In the evening, head out for a Chowpatty Beach food crawl, where you’ll sample some of Mumbai’s most iconic street and beach food specialties while experiencing the city’s vibrant seaside atmosphere.

Included Activities:

Mumbai - Chowpatty Beach Street Food Crawl

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 12: Mumbai

This morning, experience Mumbai like a local with a ride on the city’s famous suburban train network. Visit Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest open-air laundry, followed by the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) and the iconic Gateway of India. Then, tuck into a traditional Parsi lunch in the fort area. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace or simply relax before joining your group for a farewell dinner at the renowned Mahesh Lunch Home, celebrated for its authentic local coastal cuisine.

Included Activities:

Mumbai - Leader-led Heritage Walk

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 13: Mumbai

Your food adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend more time in Goa and explore more of the city, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $2,770

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 13 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 01 Jan 2027

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

5.0

Kim

Traveled, March 2024

04/05/2024

My husband and I have just had our first small group adventure with Intrepid and we couldn't have picked a better organisation to travel with. Our tour leader Yadvendra Singh Rathore was very knowledgeable and approachable. Nothing was too much trouble and we saw and ate some gorgeous things on our real food tour of India, which we would never have found on our own. We felt safe and cared for at all times and would highly recommend this tour.

5.0

Ginny

Traveled, March 2024

04/06/2024

I have just completed an incredible Intrepid tour of India. It was everything I had hoped for and more. It was the perfect mix of adventure and organisation. Our guide and group became family. I could not recommend higher.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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