Three days that begin with a full day in Delhi, move to Agra by road, and finish with the Taj Mahal on the morning of the third day before the drive back. It is the gentlest way to combine both cities.
Highlights
What stays with you
Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk with a guide who knows the lanes
Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar and the avenues of Lutyens' Delhi
Agra Fort and a quiet sunset view from Mehtab Bagh
The Taj Mahal at opening time, before the crowds build
Private car and driver, and a licensed guide in each city
Day by day
How the days go
Day1
Delhi
Your driver and guide meet you at the airport or hotel and begin in the old city.
Start with Jama Masjid and walk into the lanes of Chandni Chowk, where the guide points out the spice market, the sweet shops and the old havelis.
A cycle rickshaw ride through the narrowest stretch is a good way to see it and can be arranged.
Lunch can be a thali or kebabs at a place the guide knows.
After lunch you drive south through the wide avenues of New Delhi, passing India Gate and the government buildings, and arrive at Humayun's Tomb, the garden tomb that came before the Taj.
Allow about an hour there.
Finish at Qutub Minar if the light is still good, or at Lodhi Garden for a slow walk.
Wear comfortable shoes and cover your shoulders for the mosque.
The Red Fort is closed on Mondays, so we adjust the order on those days.
Day2
Delhi to Agra
Drive: four hours
Leave Delhi after breakfast.
The Yamuna Expressway makes the drive to Agra roughly three and a half to four hours, with a rest stop halfway for tea.
You arrive around midday, check in and have lunch.
In the afternoon your Agra guide takes you to Agra Fort, the red sandstone fortress on the river, where the Mughal emperors held court.
Walk the audience halls and the marble terraces with their first long view of the Taj in the haze, and plan about two hours.
Move on to Itimad-ud-Daulah, the small inlaid tomb sometimes called the baby Taj, if energy allows.
For sunset, drive across the river to Mehtab Bagh.
The garden faces the Taj from the far bank and the light turns warm and soft.
It stays open on Fridays, which helps if the Taj is closed on your day.
Dinner is at the hotel or in town.
Day3
The Taj and the drive back
Today the Taj Mahal comes first.
Your guide meets you early and you enter when the gates open, when the marble is cool and the crowds are small.
Take your time on the platform, look at the inlay work on the tomb, and walk the garden paths to see the building from the side.
Plan about two hours, then return to the hotel for breakfast.
The Taj is closed on Fridays, so if your third day falls on a Friday we move the Taj to day two afternoon, or swap the days, and we will plan this with you before you travel.
In December and January, fog can hide the building at dawn, but it often clears by mid-morning.
After checkout the driver takes you back to Delhi, about four hours, with a lunch stop on the way, ending at your hotel, the airport or an onward train.
Note. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so the order of days may shift. December and January fog can flatten a sunrise.
Practical
Good to know
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so tell us your dates early and we will place Agra on the right day.
Fog in December and January can slow the Yamuna Expressway and flatten a Taj sunrise. A mid-morning visit is often clearer.
The Taj morning needs an early start, so keep luggage packed the night before.
Drives each way are roughly four hours, so avoid same-night international flights on the last day.
The details
Included, and not
Included
Private air-conditioned car and driver throughout
Licensed local guide in each city
Hotels in your chosen category, breakfast daily
Airport or hotel pickup and drop
Bottled water in the car
WhatsApp support from our Agra team
Not included
International and domestic flights
Monument entry tickets (we arrange them at cost)
Lunches and dinners
Tips for guides and driver
Travel insurance and visas
Questions
Good to know
What if the third day is a Friday?
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. We either reorder the days so that Agra falls on another day or visit the Taj on day two and use the third morning for Agra Fort and Mehtab Bagh. We will agree this when we plan.
Is the pace too tight for a first visit?
It is brisk but not rushed, because the Delhi day is separate from the driving. If you want more room we can add a night in either city. Most guests keep this version when they have only a long weekend.
Do we see the Red Fort in Delhi?
We can pass it and walk through Chandni Chowk, and go inside on days it is open. It is closed on Mondays. The guide will suggest whether the inside visit is worth your time that day.
When is the best time of year?
October to March is cool and clear. April to June is very hot, so we shift outdoor sights to early morning and late afternoon. In the monsoon the monuments are quieter, with occasional heavy showers.
Rates on request
Tell us when you are travelling.
A short message is enough. We will come back with a plan, personally.
