A full day in Delhi with a licensed guide and a private car, covering the Mughal and the older layers of the city. It suits first-time visitors who have one day and want the main monuments in a sensible order, without rushing between them.
Highlights
What stays with you
Humayun's Tomb, the garden tomb that came before the Taj
Old Delhi and the area around Jama Masjid
Qutub Minar and the ruins around it
Licensed guide and private car all day
An optional drive past India Gate and the government quarter
Day by day
How the days go
Day1
Delhi from the Mughals to the Sultans
Your driver collects you from your hotel in the morning, and the day begins at Humayun's Tomb, the garden tomb of the second Mughal emperor.
Your guide explains how its symmetrical gardens and double dome shaped the Taj Mahal a century later.
From there the car heads to the old city.
You step out near Jama Masjid, the great mosque of Shah Jahan, and climb to the courtyard for a view over the rooftops; cover your shoulders and knees.
The guide leads you on foot through the lanes of Chandni Chowk for a short walk, with a snack stop if you like.
After a lunch break at a restaurant your guide suggests, the afternoon turns south to Qutub Minar, the tall red sandstone tower surrounded by ruins from the early sultanate, including the iron pillar.
If you wish, the drive back passes India Gate and the government quarter, with a short stop for photographs.
Some monuments close on certain days, so the guide adjusts the order and may swap a stop when we plan.
Wear comfortable shoes that slip off easily.
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
Some monuments close on certain days of the week, so the order of the day is set when we plan.
Dress modestly for Jama Masjid, with shoulders and knees covered, and carry a light scarf.
Old Delhi is crowded and noisy, so keep bags in front and carry little.
Delhi is very hot from April to June, so we start early in summer and rest in the middle of the day.
The details
Included, and not
Included
Private air-conditioned car and driver throughout
Licensed local guide in each city
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
Is one day enough to see Delhi?
It is enough for the main sights in a calm order, but not for everything. We choose Humayun's Tomb, Old Delhi and Qutub Minar, and other places can be discussed when we plan.
What if a monument is closed on the day we travel?
The guide adjusts the order, or replaces the stop with a nearby alternative. Some sites close on certain days, which is why we confirm the plan with you before the day.
Is the Red Fort included?
Not as a standard stop. It is closed on Mondays and the visit takes time, so it can be added in place of another stop when we plan.
Is the India Gate drive included?
It is optional. The car passes India Gate and the government quarter on the way back, and we can stop briefly for photographs if you wish.
