A 7-day India tour for the Holi colour festival, following Krishna's trail through Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra, Jaipur and Delhi, led by Krittapas Samatthai.
Trip highlights
- Experience India's famed festival of love and play with colours at a safe, organised venue
- Visit Vrindavan and Mathura, tracing the legend of Krishna to understand the spirit of the festival
- See the highlights of India's three great cities
- Marvel at the Taj Mahal, a monument to great love
- Visit Hawa Mahal, Jaipur's Palace of Winds
- See Qutub Minar, Delhi's ancient minaret
Highlight places
Led by historiansEvery trip travels with an expert history lecturer who brings each site to life in plain language.
Off the beaten pathCentral Asia, the Middle East, the Himalayas — places most tour companies never go.
Private groups, no rushingRight-sized groups and unhurried time at the places that matter most.
Beyond ordinary travelEvery tour is designed by writers and professional travellers to create experiences that reflect who you are — for travellers who want more than an ordinary holiday.
About this tour
The Spirit of India: Holi Festival is a 7-day, 5-night tour that joins Holi, India's festival of colours, held each March to celebrate the love of Krishna and Radha. The 2025 departure ran 12-18 March.
The route follows Krishna's story through Vrindavan and Mathura, then visits Agra (Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal), the Holika Dahan bonfire ceremony, Jaipur (Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Galta Ji) and Delhi (Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Bangla Sahib and India Gate). The colour play takes place at the Khasa Kothi Hotel in Jaipur at an event organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation.
The tour is led by Krittapas Samatthai (Ajarn Pom), who has guided history tours in many countries for over 10 years. Flights are with Thai Airways and hotels are 4-5 star.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Bangkok – Delhi – Vrindavan
Meet at 04:00 at Suvarnabhumi Airport at the Thai Airways counters. Fly TG323 at 07:00 and land in Delhi at 09:55 (India is 1 hour 30 minutes behind Thailand). Drive to Vrindavan, where Krishna lived in his youth and a centre of Krishna worship.
- Prem Mandir, a temple of Italian marble honouring the love of Krishna and Radha and of Rama and Sita, set in gardens with fountains
- The evening dancing fountain show
- The Aarti and prayer ceremony
Day 2Mathura – Agra – Taj Mahal – Holika Dahan
Visit Mathura, Krishna's birthplace and one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities, and the Radha Krishna Temple, then drive about 1.5 hours (61 km) to Agra, the Mughal-era capital.
- Agra Fort, a red sandstone fortress blending Islamic, Persian and Hindu styles, a World Heritage Site
- The Taj Mahal, white marble inlaid with gems, a World Heritage Site since 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders
- The Holika Dahan ceremony on the eve of Holi, a bonfire marking Prahlad's victory over the demoness Holika and the triumph of good over evil
Day 3Agra – Jaipur – Holi Festival
Leave early for Jaipur, the Pink City and capital of Rajasthan, 247 km and about 5 hours away (the team brings snacks). Then join the Holi festival at the Khasa Kothi Hotel, built in the 19th century by Maharaja Ram Singh II and organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), which guarantees fun and safety.
Optional: watch an Indian film at Raj Mandir Cinema, 7 USD (not included); films usually have no English subtitles.
Day 4Hawa Mahal – Amber Fort – City Palace – Jantar Mantar
A full day in Jaipur.
- Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, built in 1799 in pink sandstone with five storeys and 953 windows, shaped like a honeycomb or Krishna's crown
- Amber Fort, a 16th-century World Heritage fort, visited by jeep
- Jal Mahal, the palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake (photo stop)
- The City Palace, blending Rajput, Mughal and European styles
- Jantar Mantar, a World Heritage observatory with the world's largest sundial and astronomical instruments
- Jaipur's traditional market, reached by rickshaw
Day 5Galta Ji – Delhi – Qutub Minar
Visit Galta Ji, an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site whose best-known temple is the "Monkey Temple", dedicated to Hanuman in the 18th century. Then drive about 4.5 hours (292 km) to Delhi and visit Qutub Minar, the early 13th-century Islamic minaret and World Heritage Site that symbolises the city.
Day 6Old Delhi – India Gate – Return flight
Explore Old Delhi.
- Jama Masjid, a 17th-century mosque of red sandstone and white marble
- Drive-bys of the Red Fort, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament House
- A rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk
- Tasting Fire Paan and kulfi ice cream
- Gurudwara Shri Bangla Sahib, a Sikh temple with a sacred pool
- A photo stop at India Gate
Then transfer to Indira Gandhi Airport for TG316 at 00:20 the next day.
Day 7Delhi – Bangkok
Land at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 05:45 (TG316 departed Delhi at 00:20).
Included
- International economy round-trip flights (BKK – DEL – BKK)
- Transport and sightseeing vehicle with an experienced driver
- Accommodation as per the program, two guests per room
- Entrance fees as per the program
- Meals as per the program
- Experienced local guide
- Experienced Thai lecturer and tour leader
- Travel accident insurance with coverage of 1,000,000 baht per person (subject to the policy)
Not included
- International business-class flights
- Single room supplement
- Personal expenses such as passport fees, phone, internet, laundry, minibar, special meals outside the program, extra drinks, excess baggage, seat reservations and medical costs for pre-existing conditions
- Tips for tour leader, local guide and driver (recommended 60 USD per person)
- Raj Mandir Cinema admission, 7 USD per person
- 7% VAT, 3% withholding tax and other taxes
- Fuel surcharges and airport taxes if the airline raises them
About this tour
Does the Holi Festival tour price include flights?
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Is playing Holi safe, and where does it take place?
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India: The Spirit of India – Holi Festival
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