Western India Cultural Journey
New
Set off from Hyderabad on a 14–day adventure ending in Mumbai – a rich sweep of Deccan history, coastal chill and big–city buzz. In Hyderabad you’ll explore Golconda Fort, the Charminar and palace museums. Drive through Bidar and Gulbarga to Bijapur for Gol Gumbaz and graceful Islamic architecture. Expect to see Badami's cave shrines, the temple clusters of Aihole and Pattadakal, and evocative ruins at UNESCO–listed Hampi. Ease into Goa's beaches, baroque churches and lively markets before flying to Mumbai, where Elephanta Caves, the Gateway of India and Marine Drive round things off. A varied route, comfortable pace and plenty of local flavour throughout.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Overview
Duration
14 daysHotel Rating
3, 4 or 5 star hotelsStarts
HyderabadEnds
MumbaiMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in India that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
YesTour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Country
IndiaPassengers
£2,255.00
£1,242.00
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private Tour
Trip Type
Private Tours
Range
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Tour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private TourRange
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Private ToursPlaces You'll See
Hyderabad
Bidar
Gulbarga
Bijapur
Kalaburagi Division
Badami
Belgaum Division
Vijayapura
Aihole
Pattadakal
Bagalkot
Gadag
Lakkundi
Hospet
Hampi
Goa
Ponda
Karwar
Mumbai
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1 - Hyderabad
On arrival at Hyderabad airport, we’ll meet you and assist with your transfer to the hotel. Standard hotel check-in and check-out are at 12:00 – early check-in is subject to availability on arrival. The rest of the day is free for you to relax. Overnight in Hyderabad.
Day 2 - Exploring Hyderabad
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to explore Hyderabad – a 400–year–old metropolis known for its vibrant bazaars and remarkable Islamic–era monuments. We begin at Golconda Fort, once famed for diamond mines linked to the Kohinoor and Darya–i–Noor, then continue to the Qutb Shahi Tombs, where each mausoleum differs in size yet shares the same architectural grandeur. We visit Charminar, built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, before discovering the vast collections at the Salar Jung Museum (Friday closed), established in 1951 and renowned for antiquities and artefacts dating back to the first century.
We also tour Chowmahalla Palace (Friday closed), the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizams hosted official guests, and Purani Haveli (Friday closed), built in 1777 and noted for its 240–foot–long wooden chamber with around 150 walk–in–cupboards – often cited as the world’s largest wardrobe. We finish at Birla Mandir, dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara and built from 200 tonnes of white Rajasthani marble. Sites marked Friday closed are unavailable on Fridays and the order of visits may be adjusted accordingly. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 - Bidar & Gulbarga
After breakfast, we drive from Hyderabad to Gulbarga (approx. 250 km – around 5 hours), stopping in Bidar to explore its key monuments. At Bidar Fort – built during the Western Chalukya period and noted for its Persian-influenced design – we take in its quadrangular plan, around three miles of defensive walls with 37 bastions, a triple moat and seven gates across a complex measuring roughly 1.21 km by 0.80 km. We continue to the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa, an old Islamic university built in 1472 by Khwaza Mahmud Gawan, a Persian merchant whose learning and integrity led him to become prime minister of the Bahmani Sultanate. We also visit the Bahmani Tombs at Ashtur, a compound of twelve grand mausoleums with lofty domes, arches and niches – the tomb of Ahmad Shah Wali being the most noted.
We then drive on to Gulbarga and check in at the hotel for the night.
Day 4 - Gulbarga & Bijapur
After breakfast, we tour Gulbarga, a historic city with origins predating Islamic rule. We explore Gulbarga Fort – a major Bahmani stronghold noted for its defensive planning, with a surrounding canal, 15 towers and 26 guns, including one about 8 metres long. The fort is attributed to Raja Gulchand, with later additions by Ala ud din Bahmani. We then visit the Jama Masjid – renowned for its arcaded interior, whose design echoes Hyderabad’s Spanish Mosque and recalls the Great Cathedral–Mosque of Córdoba. In the afternoon we drive to Bijapur – about 152 km, approximately 3 hours – and check in to the hotel. Overnight in Bijapur.
Day 5 - Bijapur to Badami
Bijapur – Badami (120 km – approx. 3 hours). After breakfast, we take a city tour of Bijapur, exploring the Adil Shahi legacy at Bijapur Fort and the monumental Gol Gumbaz – famed for its vast dome, second in size only to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, with staircases ingeniously built into each minaret. We continue to Malik‑e‑Maidan, known for its colossal cannon, visit the Asar Mahal – a 17th‑century Hall of Justice built by Muhammed Adil Shah – and see the striking, unfinished arches of Bara Kaman, the intended mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II. We also visit Ibrahim Rauza, a refined mosque‑and‑tomb complex set within a square enclosure.
After sightseeing, we drive to Badami, check in at the hotel and you have the evening to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 - Exploring Pattadakal, Aihole & Badami
Badami – Pattadakal – Aihole – Badami (approx. 39 km – about 1 hour – each way). After breakfast at the hotel, we set out for a full-day visit to Pattadakal and Aihole.
In Pattadakal – a complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments dating from the 6th to 12th centuries, with most surviving from the 7th to 10th – we see the Sanghameswara Temple, the Mallikarjuna Temple with pillars depicting episodes from Krishna’s life, the Virupaksha Temple with panels from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and the Papanatha Temple with notable ceiling and pillar carvings.
We continue to Aihole, a temple complex of around 70 shrines, including the Lad Khan Temple, the Durga Temple known for its sculptures, the Meguti Temple built from 630 small stone blocks, and the Ravanaphadi Cave with fine rock-cut carvings.
Returning to Badami, we visit Badami Fort, set atop a cliff opposite the famous caves and associated with the Chalukya and Pallava periods, which offers commanding views over the town and its monuments. We return to the hotel in Badami for the night.
Day 7 - Gadag, Lakkundi & Hampi
After breakfast, we drive about 130 kilometres – roughly 3 hours – from Badami towards Hampi, stopping at Gadag and Lakkundi en route. In Gadag, we visit the Trikuteshwara Temple, dedicated to Shiva, known for its finely carved columns and three lingas mounted on a single stone, with a shrine to Saraswathi.
We then continue to Lakkundi to see its cluster of ruined temples, including Mallikarjuna, Virabhadra, Manikeshwara, Nanneshwara, Lakshminarayana, Someshwara and Nilakanteshwara. On arrival in Hampi, we check in at the hotel – the rest of the day is free for you to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 - Exploring Hampi
After breakfast at the hotel, we spend a full day exploring Hampi, set amid the ruins of the medieval city of Vijayanagara on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. This UNESCO World Heritage Site sits in a striking, boulder–strewn landscape and preserves extensive temples, gateways and civic structures. Although the city was destroyed by Mughal forces in the 16th century, much of it remains today – a vast complex that reflects the era’s power and artistry. We return to the hotel for the night.
Day 9 - Hampi to Goa
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive from Hampi to Goa – approximately 300 km, taking around six hours. On arrival we check in at the hotel in Goa, known for its long beaches and swaying palms. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or spend time on personal activities at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 - Exploring Goa
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a full day exploration of Goa, beginning in the north among the historic churches and continuing south to key temples. We visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus – a World Heritage Site that preserves the body of St Francis Xavier and was completed around 1695. At the Se Cathedral – the largest church in Asia, dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria – we take in its grand architecture and giant bells.
We continue to the Church of St Francis – built between 1517–1521 – noted for architecture that blends Hindu and Christian elements, and the evocative ruins of the Church of St Augustine with its tower rising 46 metres beside the former convent. We also stop at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, one of Goa’s best-known landmarks and among the earliest churches in the state. In South Goa, we visit Shree Manguesh Temple – dedicated to Lord Shiva and set on a hillock with its distinctive white entrance tower – and nearby Shree Mahalsa, where the deity worshipped is an attribute of Vishnu. Later, you have free time to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 - Goa at Leisure
We begin with breakfast at the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure – enjoy time on the beach, explore Goa independently or relax at your resort. If you’d like more sightseeing, you can visit the South Goa temples and an Old Portuguese manor on an unguided basis. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 - Fly to Mumbai
After breakfast we transfer you to Goa airport for your flight to Mumbai (not included). On arrival we meet you and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure – you can explore the city with your driver. Mumbai blends old and new, with palm–lined streets, Art Deco homes and fashionable shopping areas amid the bustle of daily life, where cows wander the roads and wallas – local tradesmen – ply their trade. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13 - Exploring Mumbai
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the Gateway of India and board the ferry to Elephanta Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage Site on an island 11 km from Mumbai. Returning to the Gateway of India, we begin a city tour of Mumbai. We visit Dhobi Ghat, Mani Bhavan, Marine Drive, Crawford Market, Victoria Terminus – now CST – Babulnath Temple and Banganga Tank. We also drive past key landmarks including the High Court, the Prince of Wales Museum, the University and Flora Fountain. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 - Mumbai
After breakfast at the hotel, we arrange your transfer to Mumbai airport for your onward flight.
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Tour Reviews
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Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
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Prices & Dates
The prices you see below are a guide, with final prices per person being determined by the number of travellers in your booking party, desired hotel standard and the rooming arrangements required. To see an accurate price, please click "Book Dates" and enter the details for your booking party.
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