Step into the sacred, the strange, and the achingly beautiful on this women-only tour
Deep end of India
Book now with $550. Pay the rest at your pace.
12 days starting at $3,350 USD.
Up to 14 solo female travelers.
This is not your average trip to India. Yes, you’ll see the Taj Mahal, but everything else is grittier, deeper, and a little confronting.
Over twelve days you’ll follow one of the oldest questions humans have ever asked: what happens when we die, and how should we live because of it?
You’ll watch the sunrise over the Ganges from a wooden boat. You’ll stand at Varanasi’s cremation ghats, where fires have burned for centuries and death isn’t hidden away but lived out in the open. You’ll walk temples carved with tantric art that most guides rush past, sit with an astrologer who reads your life in your palm, and end in Rishikesh talking dharma with a saint over a home-cooked meal.
This trip is for the deeply curious.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Witness The Ganga Aarti
Stand at Manikarnika, where the fires have burned for centuries and death is lived out in the open.
Meet The Aghoris
Sit with the fearless ascetics of Manikarnika Ghat and learn how they’ve made peace with death.
Explore The Temples Of Khajuraho
Walk UNESCO temples carved with thousand-year-old erotic art older than shame itself.
Sunrise Boat Ride On The Ganges
Drift past Kashi with live classical music as your guide explains the karmic cycle of life and death.
Ashram Day In Rishikesh
Talk dharma with a real saint, eat a sattvic lunch, and join the Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan.
Get Your Palm Read
Sit with a Varanasi astrologer who reads your life and karmic past just by looking at your face and palm.
Lunch With The Taj Mahal's Artisans
Meet the descendants of the craftsmen who built the Taj, now restoring it themselves, over coffee at Sheroes Café.
TRAVELER LOVE
INCLUSIONS
STAY IN 4 - STAR BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Arrival airport pickup on day 1
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
All activities listed in the itinerary
Twin share rooms
Transport in air-conditioned vehicle and 2 domestic flightS
Max group size of 14 solo female travelers
Expert local guide for the whole tour
MEET YOUR NEW BFF
GUARANTEED SOLO TIME
Spend it with friends or explore on your own, but take time to reflect on your incredible journey.
GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP
Enjoy our hand-picked accommodation combining the best of design, location and comfort.
TOUR AT A GLANCE
DAY 1 - Welcome to Delhi!
Welcome meeting & first taste of local cuisine
DAY 2 -DELHI TO VARANASI
Flight to Varanasi & Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
DAY 3 - VARANASI
Sunrise boat ride, meeting the Aghoris & a palm reading
DAY 4 - VARANASI TO AGRA
Weavers walk, Kashi Vishwanath Temple & train to Agra
DAY 5 - AGRA
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal & lunch at Sheroes Café
DAY 6 - AGRA TO KHAJURAHO
Drive to Khajuraho & visit the Aadivart tribal museum
DAY 7 - KHAJURAHO
Full day exploring the tantric temples of Khajuraho
DAY 8 - KHAJURAHO TO DELHI
Flight back to Delhi & free time for shopping
DAY 9 - DELHI TO RISHIKESH
Drive to Rishikesh & evening by the Ganga
DAY 10 - RISHIKESH
Ashram visit with a saint, sattvic lunch & Ganga Aarti
DAY 11 - RISHIKESH to Delhi
Back to Delhi & enjoy a special farewell dinner with a local family
Day 12 - Farewell!
Breakfast, goodbyes and check out
Why Choose SoFe Travel?
Built for Solo Women
Every trip is designed specifically for solo female travelers. That means no awkward third wheels, no feeling like the odd one out—just instant community, shared values, and support from Day One.
Real Connection
Almost everyone arrives solo, and 92% of our travelers stay in touch long after the trip ends. It’s not just a tour—it’s a chance to make lifelong friendships in some of the world’s most unforgettable places.
Space to Breathe
We build in solo time, always. Want to wander a market alone or skip a group dinner for some quiet? Go for it. Prefer a travel buddy? There's always someone ready to join you. You do you—with the comfort of community when you want it.
No Forced Single Supplements
Forget the extra fees. Our roommate matching quiz pairs you with a like-minded traveler, or you can upgrade to a private room if you prefer your own space.
Is The Spiritual India Meetup Tour Right for you?
This trip goes to some confronting places
We explore life, death, and sex, and we don't sanitize it: cremation fires, ascetics who live at the edge of taboo, temples covered in explicit carvings. You're always safe, but this trip is meant to explore a totally new perspective and that can feel like a lot.
A flexible itinerary
While each day has a clear spiritual focus, from temple visits to ashram time, we leave room for stillness, reflection, and the unplanned moments that tend to matter most on a trip like this. An open mind goes a long way here.
Activity Level: Moderate
This trip includes boat rides, temple walks, train travel, and full days of sightseeing across five different cities. Expect to be on your feet some of the day, sometimes on uneven ghats or stairs, with quieter days built in at the ashram and during free time in Rishikesh.
Your India Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Delhi!
Airport pickup, hotel check-in, and welcome dinner.
Welcome to India. You’ll land in Delhi, one of the world’s great sprawling, layered capitals, and our representative will be waiting to bring you to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to settle in, shower off the flight, and catch your breath before it all begins.
At 6 PM we’ll gather for a welcome meeting with your tour leader, then head out together for your first proper Indian meal. This is where it starts: the thirteen strangers who won’t be strangers for long.
Arriving early? We can arrange a tailor-made city tour of Delhi before the tour officially kicks off, just ask.
Meals: dinner
Day 2 - Varanasi, Where Fire Meets the Ganges
Morning flight to Varanasi and the Grand Ganga Aarti by night.
This morning you fly to Varanasi, the oldest living city on earth. People have been living, praying, and dying here without interruption for over 3,000 years, longer than Rome, longer than almost anything still standing. You’ll settle into a boutique stay near the river.
At dusk, you’ll watch the Grand Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat: priests moving in sync, towering brass lamps, bells, chanting, thousands of people packed along the water. It happens every single night, and your guide will walk you through what each part of the ritual means.
Then you’ll walk to Manikarnika, the main cremation ghat, where open-air pyres burn around the clock and have for centuries. This is where you learn how Hindus approach death directly, not euphemized: the rituals, who performs them, and what the karmic cycle actually means to the people tending the fires. Few outsiders ever see this up close.
Meals: breakfast
Day 3 - Varanasi, Saints, Souls & the Sacred Ganges
A sunrise boat ride, the Aghoris, and a palm reading on the ghats.
You’ll start before dawn on a wooden boat, drifting past the ghats as classical musicians play and the city wakes up along the water. Your guide uses the ride to explain the karmic cycle of life and death, and why this stretch of the Ganges is considered the most sacred ground in India.
Later, you’ll meet a group of Aghoris at Manikarnika. They’re ascetics who deliberately live at the edge of death and taboo, doing the things others won’t, to prove that nothing is truly impure. You’ll hear how they see the body, the ego, and what actually matters. There’s almost no other way to encounter this in India, or anywhere. *True Aghoris are unpredictable. They know we are coming, but we can’t promise they show up. It’s all part of the adventure.
In the afternoon, you’ll sit with an astrologer who reads your life and karmic past from your face and palm. This isn’t a party trick here. People across India consult astrologers before marriages, business deals, and major life decisions, and you’ll see exactly how it’s done and how seriously it’s taken.
Meals: breakfast
Day 4 - Varanasi to Agra, Silk Shiva & The Fastest Train in India
Kashi Vishwanath Temple and a scenic train ride to Agra.
This morning you’ll visit Kashi Vishwanath, one of the holiest Shiva temples in India. Shiva is the god of destruction and time, the one who presides over death, which makes this the fitting last stop in the city built around it. Your guide will explain why this temple draws millions of pilgrims a year and what they come here to do.
In the afternoon, you’ll board the Vande Bharat to Agra, one of the fastest, most comfortable trains in the country. It’s a seven-hour ride with meals included, reclining seats, and a moving window seat onto rural India, the small stations, the fields, the everyday life you don’t see from a plane.
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 5 - Agra, A Love Story Carved in Marble
Visit the Taj Mahal and meet the families who helped restore it.
After breakfast, visit the Taj Mahal, one of the most iconic monuments in the world. Head to Sheroes Café, run by acid attack survivors, for a meaningful stop on your day.
The generations who originally crafted the Taj Mahal are still based in Agra, and you’ll have the chance to meet and see the work of their families, who have recently helped restore parts of the Taj and Agra Fort using marble and natural colors.
Meals: breakfast
Day 6 - Khajuraho, Temples of Tantra & Sacred Sexuality
A scenic drive to Khajuraho and a visit to a one-of-a-kind tribal museum.
After breakfast, you’ll drive to Khajuraho, a small town with a very big reputation: its thousand-year-old temples are covered, inside and out, in some of the most famous erotic carvings in the world. Built by the Chandela kings and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they treat sex as one part of a full human life, alongside work, duty, and the divine, and the town has been tied to Tantric practice for just as long.
Once you’ve settled in, you’ll visit the Aadivart Museum, dedicated to the tribal cultures of Madhya Pradesh. It’s the only museum of its kind in central India and a genuine change of pace, a look at the Indigenous art, craft, and belief systems that rarely make the itinerary.
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Drive time: approx. 6 hours
Day 7 - Khajuraho, The Temples That Rewrite What You Know
A full day exploring the tantric temples and the real stories behind them.
Today is the deep dive. Khajuraho was once a major center for Tantra, an esoteric tradition the Chandela kings actively patronized, and the temples were built to reflect it. The layout, the sculptures, the symbolism, all of it maps to tantric ideas about the body, energy, and the union of the physical and the divine. There’s even a shrine to the Sixty-Four Yoginis, a core part of tantric practice.
Your guide will walk you through what the carvings actually depict and why, and how centuries of outsiders misread as scandalous what was meant as a language for transcendence. You’ll come away with a clear picture of what Tantra really is, which is almost never what people assume, and how it fits into the broader Sanatan tradition.
Meals: breakfast and lunch
Day 8 - Khajuraho to Delhi, Back to The Capital
A short flight to Delhi and an evening of free time.
After breakfast, take an afternoon flight back to Delhi, leaving the temples of Khajuraho behind. With the more intense, ritual-heavy days behind you, tonight is a chance to catch your breath.
Use the evening to wander Delhi’s markets for last-minute souvenirs, treat yourself to a nice dinner with the group, or simply relax at the hotel before the journey continues to Rishikesh tomorrow. However you spend it, it’s a welcome pause between two very different chapters of the trip.
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 9 - Rishikesh, A Gentler Side of India
A scenic drive into the foothills and an evening by the Ganges.
Wake up at your ease and, after breakfast, set off for Rishikesh by private transportation. Watch the landscape shift along the way, from the plains around Delhi to the forested foothills of the Himalayas, as the chaos of the cities gradually gives way to something calmer.
Once you arrive and check in, the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. Take a walk along the ghats, watch the Ganga flow past in the golden evening light, and settle in with a cup of chai as the sound of the river takes over from the noise of the road.
Meals: breakfast
Drive time: approx. 5 hours
Day 10 - Rishikesh, Dharma, Saints & Sacred Flame
A morning with a saint at an ashram and an evening Ganga Aarti.
After breakfast, head to a local ashram to sit down with a saint for a conversation about dharma, the cycle of karma, sattvic energy, and the deeper principles of life and living. It’s the kind of conversation that’s hard to find outside of India, unfiltered, personal, and rooted in centuries of practice. Stay on for a special sattvic lunch prepared at the ashram, a simple, pure meal meant to nourish both body and mind.
In the evening, make your way to Parmarth Niketan for a special Aarti of the Ganges and Shiva, one of the most beautiful rituals in Rishikesh. Join in with the chanting, the lamps, and the rhythm of the ceremony as the sun sets over the river, a fitting close to a day spent reflecting on life’s bigger questions.
Meals: breakfast and lunch
Day 11 - Back to Delhi & a home cooked meal
Morning drive to Delhi, evening home-cooked farewell dinner
After breakfast, you’ll drive back to Delhi (around five hours) and check into the hotel to rest and clean up. The afternoon is yours to relax before the last night.
In the evening, we’ll gather one final time for a farewell dinner cooked in a local family’s home, the kind of meal you can’t book and can’t fake. It’s a warm, low-key way to close out the journey and toast everything you’ve seen over the past eleven days.
Meals: breakfast and dinner Drive time: approx. 5 hours
DAY 12 - Back to Delhi & Farewell for now
After one last breakfast together, the trip comes to a close. Eleven days ago you arrived as strangers. You’re leaving with a group of women who stood at the cremation fires with you, puzzled over the temple carvings with you, and saw a side of India almost no one gets to see.
You’ll make your own way to the airport when it’s time. And if you’re not ready to go (most people aren’t), we’re happy to help arrange extra nights in Delhi so you can shop, rest, or explore on your own terms.
Meals: breakfast
HAND-PICKED ACCOMMODATION
Our stays in India are as full of contrast as the country itself. From a converted royal palace overlooking the Ganges to a modern South Delhi retreat near the Lotus Temple, and a garden hotel steps from the temples of Khajuraho, every stop is chosen for its comfort, character, and proximity to the moments that matter most.
Each property offers a sense of place, thoughtful hospitality, peaceful courtyards, and a few quiet luxuries that make you feel cared for between the more intense, soul-searching parts of each day. Expect comfortable rooms, warm service, and a few surprises you’ll still be talking about long after you get home.
Surya Kaiser Palace, Varanasi
Originally built by the King of Nepal in 1818, this heritage property sits in the cantonment area, just minutes from the ghats.
We choose Surya Kaiser Palace because it captures the soul of old Varanasi without sacrificing comfort, with lavish balcony garden views, a full-service spa, and the kind of warm, personal hospitality that turns a hotel stay into a memory of its own.
The Suryaa, Delhi
A luxurious urban haven in South Delhi with recently renovated rooms and suites, The Suryaa is our pick for both ends of the trip.
We choose it because it’s calm, central, and quietly indulgent, with a rooftop restaurant, spa, and pool that make it the perfect place to land after a long flight and decompress before flying home
AS Hotels, Khajuraho
Set in a garden property just steps from the Western Group of Temples, AS Hotels is the closest you can stay to Khajuraho’s ancient carvings without sleeping in the ruins themselves.
We choose it for its spacious rooms, lush lawns, and easy walk to the temples, the kind of place where you can rest, swim, and reflect after a day spent untangling centuries of myth and meaning.
We match you with your most compatible roommate
We get it—sharing a room with a stranger can feel like a gamble. That’s why we’ve partnered with a professional matchmaker and psychologist to create a bespoke roommate matching quiz, designed to pair you with someone you’ll actually click with.
Whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, a social butterfly or someone who values quiet time, our quiz helps ensure you’re matched with the best possible roommate. And if you prefer your own space, you always have the option to upgrade to a private room.
No stress, no awkward surprises—just a trip made better by great company.
MEET Komal
YOUR GUIDE FOR THE TRIP
Kamal has been working in the travel industry from past 10 years. She started her career in tourism as a tour guide at time when it was very rare for women to work in such a profession and hence became one of the first female guides in Delhi.
Komal is very passionate about India and its culture and that’s what she loves about her job too. She gets to introduce people to the real India and its people and change a lot of misconceptions that exist about India. 🙂
There’s a very interesting fact about the diversity of India, it is said India is so diverse that in every 100 kms the dialect, the culture, the taste of food, the lifestyle and even the way chai is made changes, isn’t that fascinating! Her aim is to uplift the local businesses and promote responsible travel in India where we can leave positive footprints wherever we go!
*things happen, so if it’s not Komal, you will have another incredible, experienced, and vetted guide.
What Our Travelers Say
Join 1,500+ women who’ve embraced adventure, found their people, and taken the trip of a lifetime on a tour with us, the largest global community for solo female travelers.
Dates & Prices
Prices listed in USD
We sell out fast!
Hold your spot with a $550 deposit that goes toward the total cost of your tour.
Flexible payment plans
Pay what you want whenever you want, with the balance due 90 days before departure.
Free transfer
Change your dates or your destination one time for free, just give us at least 90 days notice.
Book now with $550. Pay the rest at your pace.
Nov. 12, 2027
Arrive on Friday
Nov. 12, 2027
Arrive on Friday
Nov. 23, 2027
Depart on Wednesday
Nov. 23, 2027
Depart on Wednesday
$3,350
with a private room +$1,400
$3,350
with a private room +$1,400
Frequently Asked Questions About India
WHAT ARE THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DETAILS?
Arrival: Indira Gandhi International Airport (code DEL)
- We will will have an airport transfer waiting for you when arrive on day 1. The transfer will take you from the airport to our group hotel in Delhi.
- If you arrive a day or two early, the airport transfer is not included. Please email us directly if you book flights outside this window so we can assist with arranging a transfer and an early night in the hotel .
- Our tour starts at 6pm, so we recommend that you arrive no later than 3pm on day 1. However, we will pick you up from the airport anytime.
Departure: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). You can leave anytime on the last day. Check out is at 10am.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
- Airfares
- Visa fees if applicable
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Tips for tour guide
Airport drop off
PAYMENT & REFUND POLICY
- A non-refundable $550 deposit is required to hold your spot.
- Final payment is due 90 days before departure.
- Pay as much as often as you like until the due date.
- If you cancel your spot earlier than 90 days before departure, you can apply your payment to any trip within the next year.
- No refunds on deposits.
DO I NEED A VISA?
Most nationalities are required to possess a visa in order to enter India. The process is relatively simple, but takes a few days to process. Please be sure you apply for the e-visa at least a week before departure, but earlier is better. Apply here.
WILL THIS ITINERARY CHANGE?
The itinerary is subject to change due for any reason – weather, unexpected cancellations, impromptu local opportunities, or surprise additions.
All bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory or you may be refused to join the tour. See our guide for help choosing a plan.
HOW MUCH LUGGAGE CAN I BRING?
Our domestic flight allows up to 30lbs/15kg check-in luggage. If you bring more weight, there will be a fee at the airport.
Still unsure if this trip is right for you?
Book a 15-minute clarity call with Jaqueline or Grace and we’ll walk through your questions together.
PHOTOS FROM THE ROAD
