Diwali, the festival of lights, is the biggest celebration of the Indian year. Millions of clay lamps glow on rooftops, bazaars shine with lights, families share sweets and the night sky fills with fireworks. For travellers, a Diwali tour package in India is a chance to see the country at its most joyful. Here is where to go, sample itineraries, and our festive season tour offer with a private car and driver India guests have trusted for more than 25 years.
What Is Diwali?
Diwali (or Deepavali) celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and the victory of light over darkness. Homes are cleaned and decorated with rangoli, people buy gold and new clothes on Dhanteras, and on the main night families worship Goddess Lakshmi and light diyas (oil lamps) all around their homes. For Sikhs it is also Bandi Chhor Divas, celebrated with spectacular lights at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
For an India tour for foreigners, Diwali is special because you feel the festival everywhere: in the hotel lobby, at the roadside chai stall and in your driver’s home town. Many of our guests are invited to share sweets with local families.
Diwali 2026 Dates
| Day | Date (2026) | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday, 6 November | Shopping for gold, silver and utensils; markets are packed. Taj Mahal closed (Friday). |
| Choti Diwali | Saturday, 7 November | First lamps lit; bazaars fully illuminated. |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday, 8 November | The main night: diyas, prayers, sweets and fireworks. |
| Govardhan Puja | Around 9 to 10 November | Special celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan. |
| Bhai Dooj | Around 10 to 11 November | Family day for brothers and sisters; roads busy with travel. |
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar, so check them again close to your trip. Late October to mid-November is also the start of the best travel season in North India, with warm, sunny days and cool evenings. Read more in our best time to visit North India guide.
Best Places to Celebrate Diwali in North India
Jaipur, the Pink City
Our first choice for Diwali. Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar and MI Road are decorated with huge light displays, and the old city glows pink and gold. Drive past the illuminated Hawa Mahal in the evening, then visit Amber Fort the next morning. A same day Jaipur tour from Delhi works, but we recommend staying at least one night to see the lights.
Agra and the Taj Mahal
Seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise during Diwali week, then returning to a hotel lit with diyas, is a memory many guests treasure. Our Same Day Agra Tour with private driver fits easily before or after the main night. Just avoid Friday, when the Taj is closed.
Udaipur, the City of Lakes
The ghats and palaces around Lake Pichola are lit with lamps that reflect in the water. It is one of the most romantic places in India for Diwali, and a highlight of any Royal Rajasthan Tour with english speaking driver.
Varanasi
The ghats of the Ganges glow on Diwali, and two weeks later the city hosts Dev Deepawali, when more than a million lamps are lit along the river. Read our winter festival tour guide for Dev Deepawali, the Pushkar Camel Fair and more.
Amritsar
The Golden Temple celebrates Bandi Chhor Divas on Diwali night with lamps around the sacred pool and fireworks overhead. Add it with our Golden Triangle with Amritsar tour.
Diwali Tour Packages: Sample Itineraries
Every tour is private, so we adjust it to your dates. These three routes work best around Diwali 2026:
1. Diwali Golden Triangle Tour (5 Days / 4 Nights)
- Day 1, 5 November: Delhi airport pickup with private driver, Delhi sightseeing.
- Day 2, 6 November: Drive to Agra, Agra Fort and Mehtab Bagh (the Taj is closed on Friday).
- Day 3, 7 November: Taj Mahal at sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, drive to Jaipur for Choti Diwali lights.
- Day 4, 8 November: Amber Fort, City Palace, then Diwali night in the Pink City.
- Day 5, 9 November: Return to Delhi or the airport.
This is the classic Delhi - Agra - Jaipur golden triangle tour timed around the festival. See the full 5 days Golden Triangle tour.
2. Diwali in Rajasthan (8 to 15 Days)
Spend Diwali night in Jaipur or Udaipur, and add Jodhpur, Jaisalmer’s desert camps and Pushkar. Start with our Golden Triangle with Udaipur or the longer Rajasthan tour.
3. Diwali with Tigers
Ranthambore National Park reopens for the season in October and November is a great month for safaris. Our Rajasthan Wildlife Tour with Private driver india combines the Taj Mahal, a tiger safari and Diwali in Jaipur.
Short on time?
Take a Same day Delhi to Agra tour, a Same day Jaipur to Pushkar tour, or a Same day Jaipur to Delhi tour if you are flying out of Delhi after celebrating in Jaipur. All our same day tours run through Diwali week.
Our Diwali and Festive Season Tour Offer
We keep our festive pricing simple and transparent. Every Diwali tour package includes:
- Private AC car from a sedan for couples to a Tempo Traveller for big family groups.
- Verified, English-speaking driver who stays with you for the whole tour.
- Fuel, highway tolls, state taxes, parking and driver allowance included, with no hidden costs.
- Free pickup from Delhi airport, your hotel or the railway station.
- Free itinerary planning around the festival dates, including the best places to see the lights each evening.
- Hotels on request at your budget, booked early for the busy Diwali week.
| Vehicle | Travellers | Outstation Rate | Delhi Local (8 hrs / 80 km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maruti Dzire (Sedan) | 1 to 3 | ₹12/km | ₹1,800 |
| Toyota Rumion (MPV) | 3 to 5 | ₹16/km | ₹2,500 |
| Toyota Innova Crysta (SUV) | 4 to 6 | ₹19/km | ₹3,000 |
| Force Tempo Traveller | 9 to 16 | ₹30/km | ₹6,500 |
For a full cost breakdown of a Golden Triangle trip, read our Golden Triangle tour cost guide, or compare cars on our Car Rental with Driver India page.
Ajay’s Insider Insight
"Diwali week is one of our busiest times of the year. Good cars, drivers and hotels in Jaipur and Udaipur are booked weeks ahead. Send us your dates now, even if your plans are not final, and we will hold a car and driver for you."
Diwali Travel Tips for Foreign Tourists
- Book early: Indians travel home for Diwali, so trains, flights and hotels fill fast. A personal cab with driver in India takes the stress out of busy stations.
- Avoid long drives on Diwali evening: arrive at your hotel by late afternoon so you can enjoy the celebrations.
- Fireworks: they are loud and go on late. Ask for a room away from the street if you are a light sleeper, and keep children and pets at a safe distance.
- Air quality in Delhi: it is often poor in early November. Keep Delhi short and spend Diwali night in Rajasthan; carry an N95 mask if you are sensitive.
- Markets are packed: keep your wallet and phone in a front pocket. Your driver will drop you close to the bazaar and wait nearby.
- Women travellers: we offer a safe private driver in India for women travelers, with police-verified drivers and 24/7 support. See our solo female travel guide.
- Join in: say “Happy Diwali”, accept a sweet, and light a diya with your hotel staff. It is the best part of the festival.
How to Book Your Diwali Tour
Whether you want to hire car and driver in India from USA, need a private driver India for UK tourists flying in from London, or are planning from Australia or Europe, booking takes a few minutes:
- Send your travel dates, number of travellers and cities on WhatsApp or through our enquiry form.
- We send a clear, all-inclusive quote and a day-by-day itinerary built around Diwali.
- Your driver meets you at Delhi airport with a name board and stays with you until your last drop.
Guests often call us the best private driver India has for festival travel, because our drivers know where the lights are best and when the roads are quiet. Explore our Golden Triangle Tour with english speaking driver, our Rajasthan packages, or simply book private car and driver in India for your Diwali trip.
Popular Services for Diwali Travellers
- Hire Private Driver for Golden Triangle India Tour or the Delhi Agra Jaipur golden Triangle tour
- Private Driver For Delhi to Agra Tours
- Car Rental Services with Driver and Car Rental with Driver by the day or by the km
- Personal driver in india and English speaking chauffeur India
- Private driver in India for foreign tourists and best English speaking driver india tips
- India tour packages for international travelers from the most popular Private Driver India team
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
The main day of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The five-day festival starts with Dhanteras on 6 November and ends with Bhai Dooj around 10 to 11 November. Dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar, so confirm locally before you travel.
Is Diwali a good time for foreigners to visit India?
Yes. Cities are lit with oil lamps and fairy lights, markets are at their busiest and the weather in North India is pleasant. Book cars and hotels early, expect crowds in the markets, and keep the evening of Diwali itself for celebrations rather than long drives.
Is the Taj Mahal open on Diwali?
The Taj Mahal is open on Diwali day, Sunday 8 November 2026. Remember that it is closed every Friday, which in 2026 includes Dhanteras on 6 November, so plan your Agra visit for another day.
Where is the best place to see Diwali in North India?
Jaipur, where the bazaars of the Pink City compete for the best lighting, is our favourite. Udaipur, Varanasi and Amritsar, where the Golden Temple celebrates Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day, are also wonderful.
What is included in your Diwali tour offer?
A private AC car with a verified English-speaking driver, fuel, highway tolls, state taxes, parking and driver allowance, plus pickup from Delhi airport or your hotel. Monument tickets, hotels and meals are extra unless you ask us to arrange them.
Is Delhi crowded or polluted around Diwali?
Traffic is heavy in the week before Diwali and air quality in Delhi is often poor in early November. Many guests keep Delhi short and spend Diwali night in Jaipur, Agra or Udaipur instead.
