September - March

India Food Trail - Classic

Physicality

Moderate

Downtime

Balanced

Choose your tier

Things to know

Eleven days built as a city-by-city tasting route connecting India's most influential food centres without rushing between them. Delhi sets the tempo with spice markets, street food, and a Mughlai grill dinner at Bukhara. Agra adds Mughal food identity alongside the Taj: petha sweet shops, the mutton-heavy Dal Makhani tradition, and a tasting lunch at a heritage restaurant. Jaipur follows with dal baati churma, Rajasthani thali, and a craft context through block-print and textile studios. Lucknow slows the pace into the nawabi kitchen: Tunday Kababi, Wahid's biryani, chikan embroidery, and the Imambara quarter. Varanasi layers food into daily ritual: baati chokha, thandai, and street food on the ghats with the Ganges as backdrop. Kolkata finishes with the widest range of any Indian city: Mughal, British, Bengali, and Chinese influences visible within a single market circuit. The route prioritises timing and contrast — street and formal, heavy and light, fast and slow.

Bazaars

Culture

Food

History

Photography

Spiritual

Trip Highlights

What’s Included

All guided food and heritage experiences as listed. Entrance tickets quoted separately.

Farbound tour director throughout, with food specialist local guides in each city.

Five-star hotels and heritage stays in every city. Twin-share by default.

Private AC vehicle throughout. All domestic flights included: Jaipur-Lucknow, Lucknow-Varanasi, Varanasi-Kolkata.

Daily breakfast. Curated lunches and dinners at the key food destinations listed each day.

Why Farbound

Curated for You

Trips designed around your interests, pace, and preferences

Comfort, scaled to Fit

Trips designed around your interests, pace, and preferences

Connections, Not Crowd

Trips designed around your interests, pace, and preferences

From

$3,500 per person

Classic tier — indicative pricing

Cultural

Couples

Adventure

Family

Check FAQs

Day to Day Itineraries

Day 1 - Delhi: Food and Heritage Layers

Old Delhi spice markets, street food circuit, and a Mughlai grill dinner at Bukhara.

Start in Old Delhi: tight lanes, spice markets, and neighbourhood temples with a rickshaw ride through the heart of it.
Move into New Delhi for context: broad avenues, landmark architecture, and a calmer city layer.
Visit Humayun's Tomb for a strong heritage anchor without overfilling the day.
Lunch at a well-chosen spot matched to mood and appetite.
Dinner at Bukhara, ITC Maurya — the definitive North Indian grill, unchanged for decades.

Lunch, Dinner

ITC Maurya or similar

Day 2 - Agra: Mughal Food Identity

Agra Fort, a Mughlai food trail through the old city, and the Taj Mahal in the late afternoon.

Drive to Agra and begin with Agra Fort for Mughal political and architectural context before the food trail begins.
Move into the old city for the Mughlai food circuit: Dal Makhani in the heavy, slow-cooked tradition, Agra petha in every form at the original sweet shops, and the street nihari that predates the city's tourist layer.
Lunch at a heritage restaurant known for the mutton curry tradition that the Mughal court refined over centuries.
Optional zardozi workshop visit — the craft that fed families in the same old city lanes for 400 years.
Arrival at ITC Mughal, with the Taj visible from the hotel gardens.

Breakfast, Lunch

ITC Mughal or similar

Day 3 - Taj Mahal and Drive to Jaipur

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal, then drive into Jaipur with a Rajasthani lunch stop en route.

Visit the Taj Mahal timed carefully for light and crowd conditions — the route's iconic anchor, earned after the Agra food day.
Drive into Jaipur with comfort stops and a strong mid-route lunch at a Rajasthani highway dhaba of quality.
Optional Abhaneri stepwell stop if timing and heat align.
Arrive in Jaipur and keep the first evening calm before the food-intensive day ahead.

Breakfast, Lunch

Royal Heritage Haveli

Day 4 - Jaipur: Rajasthani Food and Craft

Dal baati churma, Rajasthani thali, Amber Fort, and a craft studio visit.

Amber Fort in the morning for the strongest heritage anchor in Jaipur, paced for heat and crowd logic.
City Palace and Jantar Mantar with controlled viewing time and pauses built in.
Lunch focused on Rajasthani food identity: dal baati churma, laal maas, and the thali tradition at a venue that does it properly.
Afternoon textile or block-printing studio visit — the craft and food cultures of Jaipur are intertwined through the same merchant communities.
Dinner at Jharokha, ITC Rajputana, or a curated Rajasthani heritage dining table.

Breakfast, Lunch

ITC Rajputana or similar

Day 5 - Fly to Lucknow

Domestic flight to Lucknow, Imambara visit, and the nawabi kitchen introduction.

Fly from Jaipur to Lucknow and shift into a slower, food-led rhythm.
Bada Imambara complex visit paced for heat and step intensity — the architectural anchor of the nawabi city.
Lunch at Tunday Kababi, the 1905 kakori and galouti kebab institution that defines Lucknow's food identity.
Afternoon rest before the evening food circuit.
Dinner at Wahid Biryani, where the dum pukht tradition is still done in the original way.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Taj Lucknow or similar

Day 6 - Lucknow Old Quarters and Chikan

British Residency ruins, old city lanes, chikan embroidery workshop, and a street food afternoon.

British Residency ruins with clear historical context on the 1857 siege and its place in the city's narrative.
Old city lanes for the street food texture that runs parallel to the formal nawabi kitchen: sheermal, korma, and the milk-based sweets specific to Lucknow.
Chikan embroidery workshop visit — the craft that employs the same communities that supplied the Mughal courts, still done in the same old-city lanes.
Midday block protected for rest and a slower lunch.
Evening paced around appetite and how much food intensity you want to carry forward.

Breakfast

Taj Lucknow or similar

Day 7 - Fly to Varanasi

Domestic flight to Varanasi, ghat walk, and a street food evening on the river.

Fly from Lucknow to Varanasi and arrive into a city where food is inseparable from daily ritual.
Check in at BrijRama Palace on the Ganges ghats.
Ghat walk in the late afternoon timed around crowd peaks and access windows.
Street food evening built around the Varanasi food canon: baati chokha, thandai at the Blue Lassi shop, tamatar chaat, and the fried circuit that runs along the ghats after dark.
This is India's oldest food culture — simple, specific, and tied to the river.

Breakfast, Lunch

BrijRama Palace or similar

Day 8 - Sunrise on the Ganges and Sarnath

Private sunrise boat on the Ganges, Sarnath, and a Varanasi street food afternoon.

Private sunrise boat ride on the Ganges timed for light and river conditions.
Return for breakfast and a reset at the hotel.
Sarnath for Buddhist history and a calmer cultural counterpoint to the ghat intensity.
Afternoon street food circuit: kachori sabzi, jalebi, and the chai culture specific to Varanasi's old city.
Dinner included at a curated Varanasi table.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

BrijRama Palace or similar

Day 9 - Fly to Kolkata

Domestic flight to Kolkata, Victoria Memorial, and a Hooghly River evening.

Fly from Varanasi to Kolkata and begin with a clear heritage layer after arrival.
Victoria Memorial timed for access and crowd flow.
Market circuit planned with comfort and pacing: New Market for the cross-cultural food legacy, and a first Kolkata sweet shop stop.
Sunset Hooghly River ferry crossing for skyline views.
Dinner at a curated Kolkata table.

Breakfast, Dinner

Raajkutir IHCL or similar

Day 10 - Kolkata's Food Culture

A full Kolkata food day: Bengali, Mughal, British, and Chinese influences in one city circuit.

Morning at Kolkata's flower market for colour, movement, and daily-life texture before the food circuit begins.
Breakfast-style street food: kathi rolls, egg rolls, and the luchi-alur dom tradition at a local favourite.
Bowbazar and the old Chinese quarter for the Hakka-Indian food culture that exists nowhere else in India.
Lunch at a Bengali heritage restaurant for the full fish and rice tradition: ilish, chingri malai curry, and the mustard-heavy cooking that defines the cuisine.
Park Street heritage cafes for the colonial-era Kolkata layer: Flurys, Mocambo, and the city's unique cake-and-coffee culture.
Dinner at a curated Kolkata table.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Raajkutir IHCL or similar

Day 11 - Departure from Kolkata

Private transfer to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport for departure.

Morning at leisure at the hotel.
Private transfer to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
Timing built around your departure flight.

Breakfast

FAQs

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Do you take bookings and payments directly on the website?

Bookings are confirmed after proposal approval. Payments are collected via payment links rather than instant checkout.

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What is a Farbound tour director?

A tour director is a Farbound-appointed lead who are local experts, licensed by the ministry of tourism India, & responsible for coordination and issue resolution, either end-to-end or city-by-city.

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Is 24/7 support available?

Yes. On-trip support is available for coordination and issue escalation.

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Can I request a guide in a specific language?

Language-specific guides can be requested, subject to availability and routing.

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Can I upgrade or downgrade hotels?

Yes, subject to availability and repricing.

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Is this trip primarily food-focused or mixed with sightseeing?

Food-focused routes still include key city layers and cultural context. Your proposal clarifies the balance and specific inclusions.

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Can you accommodate vegetarian, Jain, or no-spice preferences?

Preferences can be accommodated where feasible with advance notice. Some experiences may be substituted to match constraints.

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Do you include street food?

Street food layers can be included when requested. Hygiene comfort levels are discussed during planning and alternatives are offered.

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Do I need an e-Visa for India?

Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in - it is typically approved within 72 hours and valid for 30 or 365 days depending on the type. We advise applying at least 2 weeks before travel. Some nationalities require a sticker visa from an Indian consulate.

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What is the best time to visit India?

India is vast and each region has its own season. The Himalayan north (Ladakh, Himachal) is best May-September. Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle are ideal October-March. Kerala and the south are good November-February. The northeast is spectacular March-May. We'll advise based on your chosen region.

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Is India safe to travel to?

India is safe for the vast majority of travellers when you take sensible precautions. Solo female travellers should exercise extra caution in certain areas, and we always advise on destination-specific safety. Our partners and guides are vetted, and we brief guests on local customs and areas to avoid.

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What vaccinations do I need for India?

Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus. Depending on your itinerary, your GP may suggest Hepatitis B, Rabies, or Japanese Encephalitis. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for some rural and jungle regions. Consult a travel health clinic 6-8 weeks before departure.

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Is the food safe in India?

Indian food is wonderful but your stomach needs time to adjust. Stick to cooked food, avoid tap water and ice from unknown sources, and opt for bottled or filtered water throughout. High-end restaurants and hotels are generally very safe. We include a food safety briefing in every pre-departure pack.

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Is India good for vegetarians?

India is arguably the most vegetarian-friendly country in the world. Virtually every restaurant offers extensive vegetarian menus, and many are entirely meat-free. Vegan options are increasingly available in cities and tourist areas. Please let us know your dietary requirements and we'll ensure every meal is taken care of.

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What is NOT included in the price?

International flights, visa fees, travel insurance, personal spending, tips for guides and drivers, and meals not listed in the itinerary. A clear inclusions and exclusions list is in every quote we send.

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Should I bring local currency or can I use cards?

A mix of both is ideal. Cards are accepted at most hotels and large restaurants, but local markets, tuk-tuks, tips, and smaller guesthouses are cash-only. We recommend having USD as an emergency backup - it's accepted or exchangeable almost everywhere we operate.

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Do you arrange flights?

We can arrange flights as part of a full package or advise on the best routing and airlines for your trip. Many clients prefer to book flights independently for flexibility with points and upgrades - we're happy to work either way and will give you the ideal arrival and departure airport for your itinerary.

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How far in advance should I book?

We recommend booking at least 3-6 months ahead for peak season travel (October-March for South Asia). Bhutan during festival season can need 6-12 months lead time. That said we've pulled together excellent last-minute trips - if your dates are flexible get in touch and we'll see what's possible.

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Can I customise my itinerary?

Absolutely - customisation is what we do. Every Farbound itinerary is built around your interests, pace, travel style, and budget. Whether you want to add a cooking class in Kerala, a yoga retreat in Rishikesh, or an extra night at a tea estate, just tell us and we'll design it for you.

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What is included in the price?

Our packages typically include accommodation, all meals as specified, private transfers, a local guide, entrance fees, and internal transport. International flights are usually separate unless stated. The exact inclusions are listed on every itinerary and quoted in writing before you confirm.

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How do I pay and what are the payment terms?

We typically require a deposit of 20-30% at booking to secure your itinerary and accommodation, with the balance due 60 days before departure. For last-minute bookings full payment is taken upfront. We accept bank transfer and major credit cards. Full payment terms are in your booking confirmation.

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What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations made more than 60 days before departure receive a full refund minus the deposit. Between 30-60 days we retain 50% of the total cost. Within 30 days the full amount is non-refundable. We always recommend travel insurance to cover unexpected cancellations. Full terms are in your booking agreement.

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Is there a single room supplement?

Yes, single travellers occupy a private room and a supplement applies as hotels charge on a per-room basis. The exact supplement varies by property and destination. We always quote this clearly upfront and work to minimise it where possible - some boutique properties have more affordable single rates.

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Do you run group tours or private only?

Farbound specialises in private, bespoke journeys. You won't be sharing a vehicle or guide with strangers. For travellers who prefer a social group setting, we can occasionally match solo travellers or small groups - get in touch to discuss.

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What happens if something goes wrong on my trip?

We have a 24/7 emergency contact for all guests travelling with Farbound. Our local partners are experienced in handling medical issues, itinerary changes, and unexpected situations. We also ensure all guests have comprehensive travel insurance before they travel.

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Do you cater for dietary requirements?

Yes - vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher, and severe allergy requirements are all manageable with advance notice. South Asia is exceptionally accommodating for vegetarian and vegan diets in particular. Please tell us at the time of enquiry so we can brief every restaurant and property on your itinerary.

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Is it easy to find vegetarian food in South Asia?

Extremely easy. India in particular has centuries of vegetarian culinary tradition - most menus are 60-70% vegetarian. Sri Lanka offers wonderful dhal, coconut curries, and rice dishes that are naturally plant-based. Bhutan's cuisine features red rice, buckwheat, and vegetable dishes alongside meat options.

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Can I drink the water?

Tap water is not safe to drink in Sri Lanka, India, or Bhutan. All reputable hotels provide filtered or bottled water. We advise carrying a reusable bottle with a built-in filter (e.g. LifeStraw or GRAYL) to reduce plastic waste - Bhutan in particular encourages this as part of its sustainability ethos.

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Should I take out travel insurance before booking?

Yes - and we ask that you do so before final payment. A good policy covers medical emergencies, evacuation, trip cancellation, curtailment, and lost luggage. Adventure activities (trekking, rafting, safaris) must be explicitly covered. We're happy to recommend providers if you need a starting point.