10 Days in India: Itinerary for First-Timers
Three realistic routes, day by day, what each one is best for, and what to leave out.
By Dhruv Poonia, Digital & Marketing Manager, Colourful Indian Holidays · Published 25 October 2026
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The best 10-day India itinerary for a first-timer is Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur: the Taj Mahal, then Rajasthan's forts and palaces, ending at the lakes. Ten days fits one well-paced route, not the whole country, so the choice is which extension to add to the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur: Rajasthan's lakes, Kerala's backwaters or Varanasi. Below are all three, day by day.
Which 10-Day Route Should You Choose?
| Route | Best for |
|---|---|
| 1. Golden Triangle + Rajasthan lakes | Forts, palaces and the classic first trip |
| 2. Golden Triangle + Kerala | A slower, greener second half and backwater houseboat |
| 3. Golden Triangle + Varanasi | Spiritual India and the Ganges at sunrise |
Route 1: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur
This is the classic. It builds on our 9-day Golden Triangle with Udaipur by adding a night in Jodhpur, and we arrange it privately around your dates.
- Day 1: Arrive in Delhi and settle in.
- Day 2: Delhi sightseeing: the Mughal and colonial city.
- Day 3: Drive to Agra.
- Day 4: The Taj Mahal at sunrise, then on to Jaipur.
- Day 5: Jaipur: Amber Fort, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal.
- Day 6: Drive to Jodhpur (5.5 to 6 hours).
- Day 7: Jodhpur: Mehrangarh Fort and the blue-washed old city.
- Day 8: Drive to Udaipur (about 5 hours), stopping at Ranakpur's Jain temples.
- Day 9: Udaipur: the City Palace and an evening on Lake Pichola.
- Day 10: Depart from Udaipur.
Want this route built around your dates and hotels? See the 9-day Udaipur trip
Route 2: Golden Triangle and Kerala
Pairs North India's monuments with Kerala's slower, greener pace. It is a tailor-made combination of the Golden Triangle from our Golden Triangle tour with the south from our Kerala tour.
- Day 1: Arrive in Delhi.
- Day 2: Delhi sightseeing.
- Day 3: Drive to Agra.
- Day 4: The Taj Mahal at sunrise, then on to Jaipur.
- Day 5: Jaipur sightseeing.
- Day 6: Fly south to Kochi.
- Day 7: Fort Kochi: colonial lanes, Chinese fishing nets and spice markets.
- Day 8: Alleppey: a houseboat cruise through the backwaters.
- Day 9: On to Munnar and its tea gardens.
- Day 10: Depart.
Route 3: Golden Triangle and Varanasi
Adds India's spiritual heart. It follows our 9-day Golden Triangle and Varanasi trip with one extra day.
- Day 1: Arrive in Delhi.
- Day 2: Delhi sightseeing.
- Day 3: Drive to Agra.
- Day 4: The Taj Mahal at sunrise, then on to Jaipur.
- Day 5: Jaipur sightseeing.
- Day 6: Fly to Varanasi.
- Day 7: A sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, then Sarnath.
- Day 8: Varanasi's old city, temples and evening aarti.
- Day 9: A slower day in Varanasi, or an extra night in Delhi on the way home.
- Day 10: Depart.
How Does a 10-Day Trip Feel on the Ground?
Each long drive costs you most of a day, so on Route 1 the stretches that matter are Delhi to Jaipur (about 280 km, 5 to 6 hours), Jaipur to Jodhpur (5.5 to 6 hours) and Jodhpur to Udaipur (about 5 hours). We pace them with a stop for lunch or a fort on the way, so they feel like part of the trip rather than lost time. The first day after a long flight is deliberately light.
What to Leave Out in 10 Days
- Jaisalmer. It sits at the far end of Rajasthan and adds a long road day each way. Save it for a longer trip.
- A second country. Nepal or Bhutan needs at least 11 days to avoid rushing. See our 10 to 14 day tours.
- Too many one-night stops. Give each major city two nights where you can.
How Much Does a 10-Day India Trip Cost?
A 10-day private trip (9 nights) with your own driver and guide starts from about $900 per person with 3-4 star hotels and from about $2,250 with 5-star and palace hotels, two sharing, flights excluded. Peak season and higher hotel categories cost more. Our cost guide explains what is included and what changes the price.
When Should You Go?
October to March suits the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan best, and Kerala is pleasant through that window too. See our best time to visit India guide for each month region by region. New to India? Start with our first-trip guide and our e-Visa guide. Got two weeks? See our 14-day India itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 days enough for India?
Ten days is enough for one good route, not for the whole country. It fits the Golden Triangle plus one extension, either Rajasthan's lakes, Kerala's backwaters or Varanasi, but not all of them. Trying to cover more usually means spending most of the trip in transit.
What is the best 10-day itinerary for India for a first-timer?
For most first-time visitors, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur: the Taj Mahal, then Rajasthan's forts and palaces, finishing at Udaipur's lakes. If you would rather end on a beach-free, slower note, swap Rajasthan for Kerala's backwaters, or add Varanasi for the Ganges.
How much does a 10-day trip to India cost?
A 10-day private trip (9 nights) with your own driver and guide starts from about $900 per person with 3-4 star hotels and from about $2250 with 5-star and palace hotels, two sharing, flights excluded. Peak season and higher hotel categories cost more.
Can I combine India with Nepal or Bhutan in 10 days?
It is tight. Our India and Nepal and India and Bhutan trips each run 11 days, which is the shortest length that avoids rushing the second country. In 10 days, stay in India.
Which cities should I skip in 10 days?
On the Rajasthan route, skip Jaisalmer, which adds a long road day each way, and Pushkar unless you have a spare day. Keep the Taj Mahal, one fort city and one lake or river city and give each at least two nights.
What is the best time for a 10-day India trip?
October to March suits the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan, and Kerala is pleasant through that window too. Summer heat in the north can be punishing. See our best-time guide for each month region by region.
Dhruv Poonia is the Digital & Marketing Manager for Colourful Indian Holidays, working alongside a family travel business that has arranged tours across India, Nepal and Bhutan since 2007. He also oversees the company's sister sites, Rajasthan Travel Agency and Palace on Wheels Tour.
He writes and maintains the destination guides, route information and travel advice published on this site, drawing on his day-to-day work planning itineraries for international travellers to keep every page accurate and current.
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