Booking choice: The Hello India 4-day tour, from $160 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The Golden Triangle mixes working places of worship with some of India's busiest monuments. You will take your shoes off several times a day, cover up at mosques and temples, and spend hours in an air-conditioned car between hot or chilly stops.
Here is what to wear, season by season, and what to pack for a four-day tour.
The quick answer
Cover your shoulders and knees for mosques and temples, carry a scarf to cover your head or shoulders, and wear slip-on shoes you can take off quickly. October to March is mild, with cold, foggy mornings in December and January; April to June is very hot; July to September brings the monsoon. Pack your passport, small rupee notes and a small day bag, and leave food, tripods and chargers out of your Taj Mahal bag.
What should you wear to mosques and temples?
Clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, plus a scarf: you visit working places of worship like Jama Masjid and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
Loose trousers or a long skirt and a shirt with sleeves work for everyone, and they are more comfortable in the sun than shorts. Carry a scarf or shawl for covering your head at the gurdwara and your shoulders anywhere else. Dressing modestly also means fewer stares in the busy lanes of Old Delhi.
Dressed and ready? The Hello India tour starts in Old Delhi with a local guide.
Check dates for the Hello India 4-day tourWhich shoes are best?
Comfortable slip-on shoes or sandals with a good sole: you take them off at mosques and temples, and walk a lot on stone in the forts.
At the Taj Mahal you do not need to go barefoot: the foreign ticket includes shoe covers for the mausoleum platform. Amber Fort and Agra Fort involve ramps, steps and uneven stone, so skip anything flimsy. Socks help on hot marble or stone floors after you take your shoes off.
What should you wear in each season?
Light layers from October to March, the lightest cotton you own from April to June, and quick-dry clothes and an umbrella from July to September.
| Months | Weather | What to wear |
|---|---|---|
| Oct to Nov, Feb to Mar | Dry and mild; the best time to go | Light long sleeves, a layer for the evening |
| Dec to Jan | Cold, often foggy mornings around Agra | A warm jacket and layers for the sunrise visit |
| Apr to Jun | Very hot | Loose, light cotton, a hat and sunglasses, plenty of water |
| Jul to Sep | Monsoon rain and humidity | Quick-dry clothes, sandals, an umbrella or rain jacket |
What is not allowed into the Taj Mahal?
Drones, food (even toffees), tobacco, tripods, headphones, chargers and electrical goods other than a camera.
Large bags slow you down at security, so take a small day bag and leave the rest in the car with the driver. Photos are not allowed inside the mausoleum. More on the visit in the Taj Mahal sunrise guide.
What should you pack for a 4-day tour?
Pack light for the car and keep a small day bag for the sightseeing.
- Passport and visa: hotels ask for them at check-in
- A scarf or shawl for places of worship
- Slip-on shoes and a pair of socks
- Sunglasses, sun hat and sunscreen
- A reusable water bottle
- A warm layer from December to February
- A phone charger for the car (not for the Taj Mahal)
- Any medicines you need, including something for an upset stomach
Want water sorted too? Keeper Landwey includes bottled water on the drives and the battery van at the Taj.
Explore the Keeper Landwey tourHow much cash should you carry?
Carry small rupee notes every day for tips, shoe-minders, toilets and snacks; cards work in most hotels and larger shops.
Tips for the driver and guides are not included on any tour, so keep them in an envelope rather than a wallet you open in crowds. If your tour does not include entry fees, check whether the guide expects to pay with your cash at the counters.
What about early starts and the safari?
Dress in layers: sunrise at the Taj and a morning safari in Ranthambore can be cold in winter, and warm up fast by midday.
An open safari vehicle is dusty, so neutral colours, a scarf over your mouth and sunglasses help. See the Golden Triangle with Ranthambore if you are thinking of adding a tiger safari.
Adding a tiger safari? The Maria Tours route includes hotels, breakfasts and a shared canter in Ranthambore.
Explore the Ranthambore tourAnything else to know about dressing in India?
Modest, comfortable and easy to take off is the rule; nobody expects formal clothes.
A light long-sleeved shirt protects from the sun as well as from stares, and a scarf doubles as a head cover, a sun shield and a dust mask in the car. Buy a scarf at a market on day 1 if you forgot one.
Packing sorted? Monument tickets are one less thing to carry cash for on the Driver India tour.
Check dates for the fees-included tourFrequently asked questions
Can I wear shorts in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur?
You can in the car and your hotel, but cover your knees for mosques and temples; loose trousers are cooler in the sun anyway.
Do women need to cover their heads?
At the gurdwara everyone covers their head, and a scarf is useful at mosques. Carry one every day.
Do I need to take my shoes off at the Taj Mahal?
No: foreign ticket holders get shoe covers for the mausoleum. You take shoes off at mosques and temples such as Jama Masjid.
Can I take a power bank into the Taj Mahal?
Chargers and electrical goods other than a camera are not allowed, so leave them in the car.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Private 4-Day Golden Triangle to Agra & Jaipur
- Private air-conditioned car for 4 days: sedan for 1-2, SUV for 3-4, van for 5-10
- Private local guide for all sightseeing in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
- 3 nights with breakfast if you book the option with hotels
4-Day Private Golden Triangle by Car
- Private air-conditioned car with chauffeur, tolls, parking and fuel
- Government-approved local guides in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
- Tuk-tuk ride in Old Delhi and the battery van to the Taj Mahal gate
Golden Triangle & Ranthambore in 4 Days
Swapping part of Jaipur for a tiger safari
