L'Heure du Voyage
🇮🇳 Itinerary · India · 30 days

1-month India itinerary 2026: from the Mughal North to Kerala

30 days from North to South: Delhi, Varanasi, Rajasthan, Mumbai, the beaches of Goa, Hampi and the Kerala backwaters. Detailed budget, trains, flights and stages.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

30 days

Stops

10 places

Average budget

€2,500-4,000

Total distance

~4,500 km

Profile

Grand tour

Season

Dec-Feb

Delhi 3d · Varanasi 3d · Agra 2d · Jaipur 3d · Udaipur 3d · Mumbai 2d · Goa 4d · Hampi 3d · Kochi 3d · Kerala 4d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

India 1-month itinerary map: Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Hampi, Kochi, Kerala

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

10 days, day by day

1

~€60/day

Delhi · D1 to D3 · The Mughal North

  • D1 Arrival, rest, Old Delhi: Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk by rickshaw.
  • D2 Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort (UNESCO).
  • D3 Bangla Sahib Sikh temple, India Gate, New Delhi markets.
🛌 🛌 Delhi, Connaught Place · e.g. The Imperial (3 nights)·🚇 Delhi metro·India guide →
2

~€55/day

Varanasi · D4 to D6 · The sacred city of the Ganges

  • D4 Flight Delhi → Varanasi (1h30). Ganga Aarti fire ceremony on the ghats at sunset.
  • D5 Sunrise by boat on the Ganges, cremation ghats, old-city lanes.
  • D6 Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, 10 km away.
🛌 🛌 Varanasi, Ganges-side · e.g. BrijRama Palace (3 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight Delhi-Varanasi
3

~€70/day

Agra · D7 to D8 · The Taj Mahal

  • D7 Flight Varanasi → Delhi, then express train to Agra. Taj Mahal in late afternoon.
  • D8 Sunrise over the Taj, Agra Fort, drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri.
🛌 🛌 Agra, Taj Ganj · e.g. Hotel Taj Resorts (1 night) + road·✈️ + 🚄 Flight then express train
4

~€60/day

Jaipur · D9 to D11 · The Pink City

  • D9 Hawa Mahal, bazaars, sunset at Nahargarh Fort.
  • D10 Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar (UNESCO).
  • D11 Block-print workshop, excursion to Pushkar and its sacred lake.
🛌 🛌 Jaipur, old city · e.g. Samode Haveli (3 nights)·🚗 Private driver in Rajasthan
5

~€65/day

Udaipur · D12 to D14 · The City of Lakes

  • D12 Road or flight to Udaipur (via Jodhpur). City Palace by Lake Pichola.
  • D13 Boat ride on the lake, Jag Mandir, temples of Eklingji and Nagda.
  • D14 Sunset at the Monsoon Palace, Saheliyon Ki Bari gardens.
🛌 🛌 Udaipur, Lake Pichola · e.g. Taj Lake Palace (3 nights)·🚗 + ✈️ Road then flight to Mumbai
6

~€70/day

Mumbai · D15 to D16 · The metropolis

  • D15 Flight Udaipur → Mumbai. Gateway of India, the colonial Colaba district, Victoria station (UNESCO).
  • D16 Elephanta Island and its Hindu caves, dhobi ghat, Crawford Market, nightlife.
🛌 🛌 Mumbai, Colaba · e.g. Taj Mahal Palace (2 nights)·✈️ Flight Udaipur-Mumbai
7

~€55/day

Goa · D17 to D20 · Beaches and Portuguese heritage

  • D17 Flight or train to Goa. Check in on a southern beach (Palolem, Agonda), quieter.
  • D18-19 Beaches, spice markets, Old Goa and its baroque churches (UNESCO).
  • D20 Rest, a Goan cooking class (vindaloo, coconut seafood).
🛌 🛌 South Goa · e.g. Lalit Golf & Spa (4 nights)·✈️ Flight Mumbai-Goa or Konkan coastal train
8

~€45/day

Hampi · D21 to D23 · Ruins and boulders

  • D21 Night bus or train to Hospet, the gateway to Hampi.
  • D22 Vijayanagar ruins (UNESCO), Virupaksha temple, the Vittala stone chariot.
  • D23 Boulder-and-rice-field landscape by scooter, sunset on Matanga Hill.
🛌 🛌 Hampi, Hospet · e.g. Evolve Back Hampi (3 nights)·🚂 Train or night bus to Hospet
9

~€60/day

Kochi · D24 to D26 · Colonial Kerala

  • D24 Flight or train to Kochi (Cochin). Fort Kochi, Chinese fishing nets, the Jewish quarter.
  • D25 Kathakali performance, Kerala's dance-theatre, and coconut-and-spice cuisine.
  • D26 Drive to Munnar and its high-altitude tea plantations (1,600 m, fresh air).
🛌 🛌 Kochi, Fort Kochi · e.g. Brunton Boatyard (3 nights)·✈️ Flight to Kochi, then Kerala roads
10

~€65/day

Kerala backwaters · D27 to D30 · Houseboat and return

  • D27 Munnar tea plantations, the lake and viewpoints of Top Station.
  • D28-29 Night on a houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters, a maze of canals and rice fields below sea level.
  • D30 Marari beach, then flight from Kochi home to Paris.
🛌 🛌 Munnar then Alleppey houseboat · e.g. Spice Tree + houseboat (4 nights)·🚗 + 🛥️ Road then houseboat, return via Kochi

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€2,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €650
  • 🏨 Guesthouse: €15/night
  • 🍛 Thali and street food: €9/day
  • 🚄 Trains + bus + 3 domestic flights: €450
  • 🎫 Sites + houseboat + activities: €400
Recommended

Comfort

€3,400

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €750
  • 🏨 Boutique hotels: €60/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €22/day
  • 🚗 Drivers + 4 domestic flights: €600
  • 🎫 Sites + private houseboat + guides: €450

Premium

€7,000

per person

  • ✈️ Premium flight: €1,400
  • 🏨 5★ palaces (Lake Palace, Taj): €280/night
  • 🍽️ Fine dining: €45/day
  • 🚖 Driver-guides + domestic flights
  • 🎫 Luxury private houseboat + VIP tours: €700

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

The Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur.

2 weeks

2 weeks

The grand Rajasthan loop, to the Thar Desert.

You're here

1 month

1 month

From the Mughal North to the Kerala South, the grand axis.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

Over a month and 4,500 km from North to South, you combine domestic flights (cheap when booked early) and storied trains. The flights skip the very long hops (Udaipur-Mumbai, Mumbai-Goa, Goa-Kochi), while the Konkan train and night buses keep the railway experience. Plan 3 to 4 domestic flights.

✈️

Domestic flights Indigo / Air India

€40-90 · book early · for the long distances

🚄

Express trains and Konkan Railway

€10-30 · book on IRCTC · spectacular west coast

🛥️

Houseboat on the backwaters

€80-150/night · Alleppey · a night on the canals

🚗

Driver in Rajasthan and Kerala

~€32/day all-in · comfort on the roads

Adapt by season

Following winter from North to South

The grand North-South axis is best done from December to February: North and Rajasthan dry and cool, Kerala and Goa at their best (calm sea, 28-30 °C). From March to May the North turns scorching, so start with the South. The monsoon (June-September) violently soaks Kerala and the west coast, to avoid for this circuit. Varanasi is striking all year, but gentler in winter.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In January 2024 I watched the evening aarti on the Varanasi ghats then took the boat at sunrise the next day: the sacred city at dawn, mist over the Ganges and smoking pyres, the strongest image of all India.
  • • The houseboat on the Alleppey backwaters: a slow night between rice fields and palms, after the intensity of the North.
  • • Domestic flights for the hops over 500 km: over a month, they save whole days on the train.
  • • Hampi by scooter at sunset, golden ruins and boulders, an underrated site.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Run the circuit North-South in winter, South-North in spring, to follow the right climate.
  • • Book houseboats and domestic flights several weeks ahead in high season.
  • • Don't underestimate airport-to-city transfer times (Mumbai, Delhi): allow plenty.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is a month enough to see the North and South of India? +
Yes, it's the minimum for the grand North-South axis without rushing. A month lets you string together the Mughal North, Rajasthan, Varanasi then the South (Goa, Hampi, Kerala). Beyond that, you enter regional detail.
Do I need domestic flights on this circuit? +
Yes, 3 to 4 are recommended for the hops over 500 km (Udaipur-Mumbai, Mumbai-Goa, Goa-Kochi). They're cheap when booked early and save whole train days. The rest runs by train and car.
Is Varanasi worth the detour east? +
Yes, it's a singular experience. The sacred city of the Ganges, its cremation ghats and the evening aarti leave a lasting mark. A flight from Delhi (1h30) makes it accessible without breaking the rhythm.
Is this itinerary family-friendly? +
Yes, but it's dense: ease the pace with children, even cutting a stop. The Goa beaches and Kerala backwaters offer rest. Stay vigilant about food hygiene and the heat throughout.
When should I go for this grand axis? +
December to February: dry, cool North, South at its best. From March to May, start with the South (the North turns scorching). Avoid the monsoon (June-September), which violently soaks Kerala and Goa.
How much does a month in India cost all-in? +
Budget about €2,500 backpacking, €3,400 in comfort and €7,000 premium, flight from Paris included, per person.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

Profile →