How much does it cost?

From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes AC Chair Class on the Shatabdi Express (Delhi to Amritsar and return) and Standard Class on the Himalayan Queen toy train (a four-mile section of the Kalka-Shimla Railway). Flights London to Delhi and return are also included.

Is this an escorted tour or independent?

It is a fully escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from start to finish, and all guided tours, excursions and transfers are included.

The tour stays at four and five-star hotels: Taj Palace in New Delhi (five-star), Hyatt Regency in Amritsar (five-star), Araiya Hotel in Palampur, WelcomHeritage Elysium Resort and Spa in Shimla (five-star, three nights), and Ganga Kinare in Rishikesh.

When does the tour run?

Great Rail Journeys operates 11 departures, running in October, November, February and March of 2026, 2027 and 2028.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Yoga, meditation and cultural classes in Rishikesh are optional extras, as is a high-tea lunch at Wildflower Hall on an optional trip to Mashobra.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Spirit of the Himalayas & Amritsar's Golden Temple

Fourteen-day escorted journey through northern India by rail, coach and flight

Great Rail Journeys operates this 14-night escorted tour from London Heathrow through northern India, departing October through March in 2026, 2027 and 2028. The journey begins with an overnight flight to Delhi, then travels by Shatabdi Express to Amritsar for the Golden Temple and Palki ceremony, moves into the Himalayan foothills to visit tea estates and Tibetan monasteries in Palampur and Dharamshala, rides the Himalayan Queen toy train on the Kalka-Shimla Railway, and descends to Rishikesh on the banks of the Ganges for spiritual sites and the Beatles Ashram. The tour returns to Delhi for tours of Humayun's Tomb and colonial landmarks before the return flight home. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout; all accommodation is four or five-star, and the itinerary balances guided group experiences with free time on Days 9 and 11. This tour suits first-time visitors to India seeking escorted comfort, history enthusiasts, and those interested in spiritual and cultural sites.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £500 since 4 Jul, to £2,999.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The tour includes 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 11 dinners; not all meals are provided, and some lunches and dinners are at your own cost.
The group size can reach 30 people, which is large for an escorted tour.

Day by day

Day 1
Overnight flight from London to Delhi
Your discovery of Himalayan spirituality and mystical destinations begins as you meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow. Boarding a direct overnight flight to India's capital, we can begin to look forward to our exploration of northern India and the Himalayas.
Day 2overnight: Delhi
Welcome to India's capital
Arriving in Delhi this morning, we are transferred to our five-star hotel near New Delhi's Connaught Place for an early check-in. Early this evening, we reconvene at the hotel before sitting down for our first dinner together.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Amritsar
By rail to the Punjab city of Amritsar
We board the AC Chair Class carriages of the Shatabdi Express and journey northwards through Haryana state and into Punjab to Amritsar. On arrival we are transferred to our five-star hotel, then visit a nearby village to learn about life at a traditional Punjab farm.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Amritsar
Amritsar's Golden Temple & Palki ceremony
We explore the Golden Temple by day with a local guide, visit Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum, and see the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Wagah border. In the evening there is the option to revisit the Golden Temple to see the Palki ceremony.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Palampur
Heading to Palampur in the Himalayas
Leaving Amritsar after breakfast, we drive towards the mountains, crossing into Himachal Pradesh to Palampur, a hill station overlooked by the Dhauladhar mountains amid tea gardens.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Palampur
Wah Tea Estate & Dharamshala
We tour the Wah Tea Estate and the Kangra State Museum, then head to Dharamshala's Namgyal Monastery, home of the Dalai Lama, visiting the Tibetan Museum, Norbulingka Monastery and the Gyuto Monastery.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Shimla
Driving to the historic hill town of Shimla
A scenic journey through the Himalayan foothills brings us to Shimla, summer capital of the British Raj, where we check in to our five-star hotel for three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Shimla
Uncovering the history of colonial Shimla
Author and historian Raaja Bhasin presents a talk on Shimla's history, we ride the Himalayan Queen toy train to Taradevi, then tour the Viceregal Lodge, Scandal Point and the Gaiety Theatre.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9overnight: Shimla
Free day to explore Shimla
A day at leisure in Shimla, with optional excursions to Mashobra and Wildflower Hall, or independent exploration of Mall Road, the Ridge, the Children's Library and Christ Church.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10overnight: Rishikesh
Through the Himalayas to Rishikesh
We journey by coach through the Himalayan foothills via Nahan, arriving in Rishikesh to check in to our boutique hotel on the banks of the Ganges.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11overnight: Rishikesh
Soaking up the spirituality of Rishikesh
We visit the ashrams at Sivananda, Swarg, Geeta Bhavan and Parmarth Niketan, cross the Ram Jhula and Janki Setu bridges, and in the evening witness the Ganga Aarti fire ceremony at Bharat temple.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12railovernight: Delhi
Visiting the Beatles Ashram & returning to Delhi
We tour Chaurasi Kutia, 'the Beatles Ashram', stroll along the Ganges, then board a train back to Delhi with a picnic dinner, arriving late evening at our five-star hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13overnight: Delhi
Uncovering Delhi's rich history
We explore Old Delhi's Kashmiri Gate, the churches of St James and St Mary, and the Sacred Heart Cathedral, then drive through New Delhi past India Gate, the Parliament Complex, Rashtrapati Bhawan and Humayun's Tomb.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14
Homeward bound
Checking out of our hotel after breakfast, we transfer to Delhi airport for our direct flight back to London Heathrow, landing the same day.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Day 3: Travel by AC Chair Class Shatabdi Express northward through Haryana and Punjab to Amritsar, with a packed breakfast on board.
Day 4Day 4: Witness the Palki ceremony at the Golden Temple of Amritsar in the evening, and visit the Partition Museum and Jallianwala Bagh memorial.
Day 6Day 6: Tour the Wah Tea Estate in the Kangra Valley, then visit the Tibetan Museum and monasteries in Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama.
Day 8Day 8: Ride the Himalayan Queen toy train for a four-mile section of the UNESCO-listed Kalka-Shimla Railway, then tour Shimla's Viceregal Lodge and colonial landmarks.
Day 11Day 11: Visit ashrams in Rishikesh and attend the Ganga Aarti fire ceremony on the banks of the Ganges.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
12 nights’ 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class and AC Chair Class rail travel - all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Direct return flights from London Heathrow to Delhi
12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 11 dinners
Group luggage transfers between all hotels
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Railfrom $3,299

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes AC Chair Class on the Shatabdi Express (Delhi to Amritsar and return) and Standard Class on the Himalayan Queen toy train (a four-mile section of the Kalka-Shimla Railway). Flights London to Delhi and return are also included.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?: It is a fully escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from start to finish, and all guided tours, excursions and transfers are included.
What are the hotels?: The tour stays at four and five-star hotels: Taj Palace in New Delhi (five-star), Hyatt Regency in Amritsar (five-star), Araiya Hotel in Palampur, WelcomHeritage Elysium Resort and Spa in Shimla (five-star, three nights), and Ganga Kinare in Rishikesh.
When does the tour run?: Great Rail Journeys operates 11 departures, running in October, November, February and March of 2026, 2027 and 2028.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Yoga, meditation and cultural classes in Rishikesh are optional extras, as is a high-tea lunch at Wildflower Hall on an optional trip to Mashobra.