Is train travel included in the price?

Yes. The Deccan Odyssey sleeper train is included for eight nights (Days 7 to 13). Meals aboard the train are included. The narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen toy train on Day 4 in Shimla is also included.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

Fully escorted. Planet Rail provides partner representatives for transfers, guided sightseeing tours at each city, and a personal butler available 24 hours in every sleeper carriage aboard the Deccan Odyssey.

What is the Deccan Odyssey and what are the cabins like?

The Deccan Odyssey is a luxury train that runs from Delhi through Rajasthan, Agra, Khajuraho, and Varanasi. The Deluxe Suite cabins are 95 square feet with either double or twin beds (6 feet by 3 feet), en-suite bathrooms with separate shower cubicles, direct-dial telephone, and electronic safe.

Which hotels are used, and for how many nights?

ITC Hotel Maurya in Delhi for four nights (Days 1, 2, 6, 14); The Oberoi Cecil in Shimla for three nights (Days 3, 4, 5); eight nights aboard the Deccan Odyssey (Days 7 to 13).

When does this tour depart?

Planet Rail offers six departures: March 2026, April 2026, November 2026, December 2026, March 2027, and April 2027.

What is included in the price?

Hotel stays in Delhi and Shimla, all guided sightseeing tours, the Himalayan Queen toy train, jungle safari at Ranthambore, meals on the Deccan Odyssey, and butler service on the train. Flights (Delhi to Chandigarh, Chandigarh to Delhi, and return from Varanasi) are not explicitly stated as included; confirm with Planet Rail.

Planet Rail · Luxury rail holiday

Delhi to the Divine: An Indian Odyssey (Cultural Odyssey with Shimla)

Luxury rail odyssey from Delhi through Shimla, Rajasthan, Agra, and Varanasi

Delhi to the Divine: An Indian Odyssey is a 15-day luxury escorted tour operated by Planet Rail that combines Himalayan hill-station charm with royal heritage and spiritual India. The journey begins in Delhi with two nights of full-day sightseeing covering Mughal monuments, the Red Fort, and the Qutub Minar UNESCO site. You then fly to Shimla in the Himalayan foothills for three nights at The Oberoi Cecil, riding the narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen toy train from Shimla to Tara Devi. After returning to Delhi, you board the Deccan Odyssey, a world-class luxury sleeper train, for eight nights travelling through India's cultural heartland: a jungle safari at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to spot tigers, the pink-walled palaces and bazaars of Jaipur, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, the medieval fortress of Gwalior, Khajuraho's UNESCO-listed temples with intricate carvings, and Varanasi's sacred ghats along the Ganges River. A personal butler serves you 24 hours in your en-suite cabin. This tour suits luxury seekers, history lovers, and those who prefer fully guided travel with all logistics managed.

What to know before you look closer

The itinerary includes a one-night hotel stay in Delhi (Day 6) between the Shimla leg and boarding the train, requiring an additional flight Chandigarh to Delhi.
The tour relies on flights between Delhi and Chandigarh (Day 3 and Day 6) and between Varanasi and Delhi (implied return on Day 14); rail is the centerpiece but not the sole transport mode.
The single supplement price is not disclosed in the evidence; confirm with Planet Rail before booking if you are travelling solo.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Delhi
Arrive into Delhi
On arrival at Delhi airport a representative meets you in arrivals, assists with your luggage and transfers you to the ITC Hotel Maurya (5 star) for the next two nights. The rest of the day is yours to relax or start exploring Delhi.
Day 2overnight: Delhi
Exploring Delhi
Full day tour of Old and New Delhi: Jama Masjid, one of Asia's largest mosques; Chandni Chowk, Asia's largest wholesale market; a drive past the Red Fort; Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; the UNESCO-listed Qutub Minar; 16th-century Humayun's Tomb; and a drive past India Gate, Parliament House, the Secretariat buildings and the Vice Regal Palace.
Day 3overnight: Shimla
Delhi - Chandigarh - Shimla
Transfer to Delhi Airport for your flight to Chandigarh, then drive to Shimla (115 km, approximately 3.5 hours), the capital of Himachal Pradesh at 2,159 metres in the Himalayan foothills. Check in at the Oberoi Cecil; the rest of the day is at leisure to explore the Mall Road and local bazaars.
Day 4railovernight: Shimla
Shimla, aboard the 'Toy Train'
Journey aboard the 'Toy Train' (Himalayan Queen) from Shimla to Tara Devi, then return by road for a guided Shimla city tour: the historic Vice Regal Lodge, the century-old church and temple near the Mall Road, Scandal Point and time on Shimla's iconic Mall Road.
Day 5overnight: Shimla
A day a leisure in Shimla
A relaxed day at leisure: unwind at The Oberoi Cecil or explore Shimla at your own pace, with optional walks along the Mall Road, café hopping, shopping for local handicrafts or nearby attractions.
Day 6railovernight: Delhi
Back to Delhi
Transfer back to Chandigarh airport for your flight to Delhi, then transfer to the ITC Hotel Maurya (5 star) for your overnight stay before boarding the train tomorrow.
Day 7railovernight: On board the Deccan Odyssey
Board the Deccan Odyssey
Assemble at Delhi Railway Station, where you are greeted and shown to your private cabin. Enjoy welcome drinks as the train departs Delhi at around 18:00 towards Sawai Madhopur, followed by dinner on board.
Day 8overnight: On board the Deccan Odyssey
Sawai Madhopur and Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Arrive in Rajasthan at Sawai Madhopur, gateway to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Embark on a jungle safari for a chance to spot tigers and diverse wildlife, followed by a village safari offering an authentic glimpse into local life. Dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 9railovernight: On board the Deccan Odyssey
Jaipur
Guided sightseeing in Jaipur, the Pink City: the City Palace and its museum, the iconic Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and time in the vibrant bazaars before returning to the train.
Day 10overnight: On board the Deccan Odyssey
Agra, the 'City of Love'
Arrive in Agra to visit the magnificent Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, followed by the impressive red-sandstone Agra Fort.
Day 11railovernight: On board the Deccan Odyssey
Gwalior
Explore the majestic Gwalior Fort, then proceed to Orchha to visit the celebrated Orchha Fort Complex and its temples, with a glimpse of village life, before the train departs for Khajuraho.
Day 12overnight: On board the Deccan Odyssey
Khajuraho
Visit Khajuraho's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Group of Monuments, including the revered Mahadev Temple, showcasing some of India's finest medieval Hindu and Jain architecture, before continuing towards Varanasi.
Day 13overnight: On board the Deccan Odyssey
Varanasi
Explore one of the world's oldest living cities: the sacred ghats and temples along the holy Ganga River, a breathtaking sunset boat ride on the Ganges and time in Varanasi's vibrant bazaars.
Day 14overnight: Delhi
Disembark the Deccan Odyssey
Breakfast on board before disembarking at Delhi Safdarjung Station. Transfer to the ITC Hotel Maurya (5 star) for your final night, with the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 15
Homeward bound
Check out after breakfast and take your private transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Full-day tour of Old and New Delhi includes the Jama Masjid, one of Asia's largest mosques, Chandni Chowk wholesale market, the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun's Tomb.
Day 4Journey aboard the narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen toy train from Shimla to Tara Devi through Himalayan foothills, returning by road for a guided city tour of the Vice Regal Lodge and Mall Road.
Day 8Jungle safari at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve near Sawai Madhopur offers chances to spot tigers and diverse wildlife in their natural habitat, followed by a village safari.
Day 10Visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, followed by the red-sandstone Agra Fort.
Day 13In Varanasi, experience a sunset boat ride on the Ganges River along the sacred ghats, then explore the city's temples and vibrant bazaars.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?: Yes. The Deccan Odyssey sleeper train is included for eight nights (Days 7 to 13). Meals aboard the train are included. The narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen toy train on Day 4 in Shimla is also included.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: Fully escorted. Planet Rail provides partner representatives for transfers, guided sightseeing tours at each city, and a personal butler available 24 hours in every sleeper carriage aboard the Deccan Odyssey.
What is the Deccan Odyssey and what are the cabins like?: The Deccan Odyssey is a luxury train that runs from Delhi through Rajasthan, Agra, Khajuraho, and Varanasi. The Deluxe Suite cabins are 95 square feet with either double or twin beds (6 feet by 3 feet), en-suite bathrooms with separate shower cubicles, direct-dial telephone, and electronic safe.
Which hotels are used, and for how many nights?: ITC Hotel Maurya in Delhi for four nights (Days 1, 2, 6, 14); The Oberoi Cecil in Shimla for three nights (Days 3, 4, 5); eight nights aboard the Deccan Odyssey (Days 7 to 13).
When does this tour depart?: Planet Rail offers six departures: March 2026, April 2026, November 2026, December 2026, March 2027, and April 2027.
What is included in the price?: Hotel stays in Delhi and Shimla, all guided sightseeing tours, the Himalayan Queen toy train, jungle safari at Ranthambore, meals on the Deccan Odyssey, and butler service on the train. Flights (Delhi to Chandigarh, Chandigarh to Delhi, and return from Varanasi) are not explicitly stated as included; confirm with Planet Rail.