I was in India from August 8 to 10, 2025 and I went with one single purpose, to see the Taj Mahal on August 9. With this trip I completed my personal challenge of visiting 30 countries before turning 30, and country 16 was Turkey, which I tell in Istanbul. If you want to see the videos of the challenge, I share them on my TikTok.
Trip facts
Duration3 days
Trip dateAugust 2025
Approx. temperature~32 °C, cloudy and rainy
What I loved mostThe Taj Mahal and the masala chai
How I almost missed my flight to New Delhi
I arrived in India from Dubai and I have a small anecdote from that day. We woke up late for the flight to New Delhi and we had very little time to get ready and get to the airport. When I saw the time I thought I was going to miss the flight, but luckily the flight was delayed and we arrived on time.
New Delhi and my first night
From the airport we went straight to the hotel. I stayed at The Connaught, New Delhi, a very nice hotel. That night the only thing we did was have masala chai, which I personally loved.
The day of the Taj Mahal
That day we did a tour that I booked through Klook, the From Delhi: Private Taj Mahal Tour with Car, Monuments Entrance, Guide & Lunch. It started in the early morning. If it's your first time signing up for Klook, you can get a discount by booking through this link.
The first thing was a masala chai, one of the best I've had so far. Then we went to rent the traditional outfits to be ready for the Taj Mahal. They cost 20 dollars and include the jewelry, and everyone was super friendly. We finished with the namaste pose.
The namaste pose, already in the traditional outfit.
With the outfits on we went to see the Taj Mahal, which is an incredible experience and is exactly as you see it everywhere. It's my fourth wonder of the modern world.
In front of the Taj Mahal.
I went with a friend and some people said we looked like twins. They even asked us for photos.
With my friend, at the Taj Mahal.They asked us for photos at the Taj Mahal.
I recommend the Taj Mahal 100%, it's beautiful. The best thing is to experience it in person, because sometimes people exaggerate way too much on the internet. I had a wonderful experience in India.
Agra Fort and the stone work of Agra
After the Taj Mahal we went to Agra Fort, whose visit included the palace. There you can see the mark of a cannonball from the British invasion of 1857, still intact, and from the palace there's a view of the Taj Mahal.
Agra Fort.Inside the palace of Agra Fort.
After a few more photos, they took us to learn a bit more about the work they do with different stones in Agra, and of course with more masala chai. They make incredible handmade work. The tour also included a lunch with typical Indian dishes.
How I ended the day
I ended the day at a restaurant near the hotel, where they sang happy birthday to me.
The dessert, candle and all.
A full day in New Delhi
The next day we did a full day in New Delhi, visiting the area's most touristic spots and ending at India Gate, because we had to leave for the next stop. My trip continued with a week in Thailand, which I tell in Thailand in 7 days.
Agrasen ki Baoli, a stepwell in New Delhi.At India Gate, the end of the day.
My tips for the Taj Mahal
01
Book a private tour with everything included. Mine included car, entrance to the monuments, guide and lunch, and everything was sorted from New Delhi.
02
Rent the traditional outfit. It costs 20 dollars, includes the jewelry and gets you ready for the photos at the Taj Mahal.
03
Leave a margin for your flight. We woke up late and, luckily, the flight was delayed.
04
Try the masala chai. It was one of the things I liked most about India and I had it several times during the tour.
What I take away from India
It was just three days and they left me with country 30 of my challenge, the Taj Mahal and a wonderful experience in India.
Custom map
Dreaming of the Taj Mahal?
If Agra and New Delhi are on your list, I'll build you a tailor-made map based on your own travel criteria so every day is sorted out.
I spent three days in India and saw the Taj Mahal in a single tour day from New Delhi, along with Agra Fort and a lunch.
How did I book the Taj Mahal tour?
Through Klook. It was a private tour from Delhi with car, entrance to the monuments, guide and lunch.
Where did I stay in New Delhi?
At The Connaught, New Delhi, a very nice hotel.
How much does it cost to rent the traditional outfit?
It cost 20 dollars and included the jewelry.
What to see in Agra besides the Taj Mahal?
Agra Fort, with its palace and a view of the Taj Mahal, and the handmade work they do with different stones.
What did I do in New Delhi?
A full day around the most touristic spots in the area, including Agrasen ki Baoli, a stone stepwell, and I ended it at India Gate.
How was my experience in India?
Wonderful. I went with a friend and on a private tour with a guide. The best thing is to experience it in person, because sometimes people exaggerate way too much on the internet. In my article about safe countries to travel solo I tell what I look at before traveling.
Going to travel solo for the first time? Subscribe and I'll send you my free checklist: what I check before booking, what I always pack and how I build the budget.
