Taj Mahal sunrise tour from Delhi: Private car, guide & entry

The Taj Mahal appears at dawn before the crowds arrive.

A private guided tour from Delhi to Agra with round-trip transportation, a live guide in English or four other languages, and entry to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah. The tour departs from your Delhi hotel or airport and runs 11 to 12 hours. Your guide meets you in Agra after the 3–4 hour drive, and you choose whether to add lunch on the return journey.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Taj MahalEntry included2h
2. Agra FortEntry included2h
3. Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah30m

Delhi to Agra and sightseeing

• Pick up from Delhi hotel or airport
• Travel to Agra via Yamuna Expressway
• Meet local guide in Agra
• Visit Taj Mahal
• Visit Agra Fort
• Optional visit to Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah
• Return to Delhi

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Delhi hotel or airport, then a climate-controlled drive south on the Yamuna Expressway toward Agra. The route takes 3 to 4 hours. There's a stop for coffee or a washroom break if you need one. Once you arrive in Agra, your guide meets you and the monuments come into focus: the Taj Mahal first, a white marble mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, then Agra Fort with its red sandstone walls and Mughal palaces, and finally the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, the "Baby Taj", a smaller marble structure with intricate lattice screens and semi-precious stone inlay work. All three sites are UNESCO World Heritage designations, and entry to each is included.

The sunrise timing is the hinge of the day. You reach the Taj Mahal early enough to walk the grounds while the light is still soft and the site is not yet crowded with tour groups. The guide explains the history and architecture as you move through each space, and because the tour is private, the pace and the questions are yours. Agra Fort comes next, where you stand inside the red sandstone complex that served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors until 1638, and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah is optional: a quieter stop with riverside views and details the guide can linger on if you choose.

The return journey follows the same route back to Delhi. If you've chosen the lunch option, you'll eat on the way. Otherwise, the drive is unbroken. All parking, tolls, fuel and taxes are covered, as is bottled water throughout the day. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, French, German or Japanese, and the air-conditioned vehicle is the only transport you arrange.

What’s included

• Round-trip transportation from your Delhi hotel or airport in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, French, German or Japanese.
• entry fees to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah.
• all parking fees, tolls, fuel and taxes.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• lunch on the option that includes it.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour with car, guide and ticketsGuide in 5 languages · 11 departure times: the first at 02:30, the last at 12:00Entrance; duration: 11 hours; car and guide; includes pickup

Car, guide, entrance tickets and lunchGuide in 5 languages · 11 departure times: the first at 02:30, the last at 12:00Private round-trip car, professional tour guide, monuments entrance tickets and buffet lunch; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 11h–12h, runs every day except Friday, 11 start times, from US$ 80 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Friday11 departure times: 02:30, 03:00, 04:00, 05:00, 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00Another day? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and JapaneseOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Infant (under 5)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Epic India Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise before the crowds gather and have a guide explain the history of each site as you move through them. The private car and fixed itinerary mean the timing holds together without you arranging transport, entry or the route between monuments.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 5).

What time does the Taj Mahal sunrise tour leave Delhi?

The tour departs from your Delhi hotel or airport in the early morning to reach the Taj Mahal at sunrise. A variety of start times are available to suit your schedule, and your driver picks you up from your location.

Is lunch included on this Agra tour?

Lunch is optional and depends on which tour option you choose at checkout. One option includes the car, guide and monument entry. The other adds lunch to that package. Either way, bottled water is provided throughout the day.

What is the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, and why is it called the Baby Taj?

The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah is a Mughal mausoleum built between 1622 and 1628 in Agra, known for its intricate marble lattice screens and semi-precious stone inlay work. It is called the "Baby Taj" because its delicate craftsmanship is considered a precursor to the Taj Mahal, and it is smaller in scale.

How long is the drive from Delhi to Agra?

The drive takes 3 to 4 hours each way on the Yamuna Expressway. A coffee or washroom break is available on the way to Agra if you need one, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for comfort.

What does Agra Fort look like, and what will I see there?

Agra Fort, also called the Red Fort of Agra, is a UNESCO World Heritage site built primarily during Emperor Akbar's reign in the 16th century. Its red sandstone walls enclose palaces, mosques and audience halls that showcase Mughal architecture and offer a view into the opulence of imperial life before the emperors moved their residence in 1638.