India Tour 2027 - Escorted Test Tour

Inclusions

19 NIGHTS - FEATURE TOUR (28 JAN-16 FEB)

• 6 nights Chennai for the 2nd Test
  
• 7 nights Best-of-India sightseeing (between 2nd & 3rd Tests)
  
• 6 nights Guwahati for the 3rd Test
  
• optional 2 nights Amritsar/Golden Temple add-on (before 2nd Test)

27 NIGHTS - EXTENDED TOUR (20 JAN-16 FEB)

• 6 nights Nagpur 1st Test
  
• 2 nights Amritsar including Sikhs' holy Golden Temple
  
• 6 nights Chennai 2nd Test
  
• 7 nights Best-of-India sightseeing (between 2nd & 3rd Tests)
  
• 6 nights Guwahati 3rd Test

PLUS

• Luxury 4 & 5-star accommodation
  
• Hospitality tickets including lunch every day of the cricket
  
• Internal transport as detailed in the itinerary
  
• Return match day transfers
  
• Breakfast daily
  
• Tour dinner function ahead of each Test
  
• Tour hosted by Geoff Marsh (2nd & 3rd Tests)
  
• Experienced AST tour leader
  
• Local English-speaking tour guides
  
• Arrival & departure airport transfers
  
• AST tour merchandise

CHOICE OF INCREDIBLE TOUR EXCURSIONS BETWEEN THE CRICKET

• Optional two-nights Amritsar’s historic Sikh religious complex & Harmandir Sahib Golden Temple ahead of the 2nd Test

Choice of 7-night tour options between the 2nd & 3rd Tests:

• The national capital of Delhi, Jaipur’s Pink City, Agra & the Taj Mahal, Lucknow and Varanasi, Sarnath & the Ganges River;
  
  
• Darjeeling’s tea plantations in the Himalayan foothills, the former British Raj capital of Kolkata & Assam state’s Kaziranga National Park.

4th & 5th TEST EXTENSIONS

Contact our office for details on continuing on to the 4th & 5th Tests including 5-star accommodation, match tickets including lunch, match day transfers, breakfast daily, flights between match cities, local sightseeing ahead of each Test & departure airport transfers.

Itinerary

You can choose to start & end your tour the day before & after the matches of your choice. We can also include accommodation and flights from your arrival city in India (New Delhi or Bengaluru). Contact our office for alternative dates or extra nights before or after each option.

Wednesday 20 January: Nagpur Arrival

Welcome to India! Accommodation for those of you joining us for the 1st Test will start in Nagpur today. Extra nights in Nagpur (or your arrival city) can be arranged by contacting our office. After checking-in at our hotel we have our welcome get-together hosted by our tour hosts.

Overnight: Nagpur

Thursday 21-Monday 25 January: 1st Test, Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

Each morning our hosts will offer us his thoughts on the day’s cricket after which we will be transferred to the ground on our private coach. Hospitality match tickets for each day of the cricket with lunch and beverages are included. In the evening of day 1 we will have a dinner event with special guests to reflect on play and look ahead to the coming series.

The New Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, also known as Jamtha Stadium, was established in 2008 and also hosted the first Test of Australia’s 2023 tour. India got off to a flier last time bowling out the Aussies for 177 & 91 so the tourists will be looking to put some runs on the board this time around!

Overnight: Nagpur

Tour Options: Tuesday 26-Thursday 28 January

Ahead of the 2nd Test we have an optional two-night tour of Amritsar’s historic Sikh religious complex including the Harmandir Sahib Golden Temple.

Thursday 28 January: Chennai

Today both groups come together in Chennai (formerly Madras) on the Bay of Bengal ahead of the 2nd Test. Capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai has been an important regional centre stretching back millennia and was an important administrative centre for the British Raj and is known for its culinary and musical importance.

Overnight: Chennai

Friday 29 January-Tuesday 2 February: 2nd Test, M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Once again our hosts will be on hand each morning to offer us his thoughts on the day’s cricket after which we will be transferred to the ground on our private coach. Hospitality match tickets for each day of the cricket with lunch and beverages are included. In the evening of day 1 we will have our dinner function with our hosts and special guests.

M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as the Chepauk Stadium, is the second-oldest ground in India to still be hosting Test matches. The ground hosted England’s inaugural 1934 tour, was the venue of India’s first Test victory and saw the second-ever tied Test against the Aussies in 1986. Australia have only won one Test at the ground so will be looking to notch up a second this series.

Overnight: Chennai

Tour Options: Wednesday 3-Wednesday 10 February

Out touring options between Tests 2 & 3 are:

• The national capital of Delhi, Jaipur’s Pink City, Agra & the Taj Mahal, Lucknow and Varanasi, Sarnath & the Ganges River
  
  
• Darjeeling’s tea plantations in the Himalayan foothills, the former British Raj capital of Kolkata & Assam state’s Kaziranga National Park

Wednesday 10 February: Guwahati

Once again, both tour groups travel to Guwahati today ahead of tomorrow’s crucial 3rd Test.

Located south of the Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys, Assam is known for its wildlife, archaeological sites and tea plantations. Assam’s largest city, Guwahati, features silk bazaars, the hilltop Kamakhya Temple and Umananda Temple on Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra River.

Overnight: Guwahati

Thursday 11-Monday 15 February: 3rd Test, ACA Stadium, Guwahati

Each morning our hosts will offer us their analysis of the cricket after which we will be transferred to the ground on our private coach. Again, hospitality match tickets for each day of the cricket with lunch and beverages are included. In the evening of day 1 our tour dinner event will take place.

The Assam Cricket Association Stadium, officially the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium and also known as Barsapara Cricket Stadium, is India’s most recent ground to attain Test status following the 2025 visit of South Africa. The 3rd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series will be the second Test held at the venue.

Overnight: Guwahati

Tuesday 16 February: Escorted Tour Ends

Our tour ends after breakfast this morning with a transfer to Guwahati airport. Flights to your Indian departure city or extra nights of accommodation can be added to your package. Contact our office for details.

Optional 4th & 5th Test Extensions

Contact our office for details on continuing on to the 4th & 5th Tests including 8 nights in each city with breakfast, return match day transfers, local sightseeing on non-match days with a local guide, flights to Ranchi & Ahmedabad and departure airport transfers. These will be run with a local tour guide but without a tour host or AST tour leader.

Tuesday 16-Wednesday 24 February: Ranchi

The 4th Test of the Border-Gavaskar series takes place from 19-23 February at Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium Complex. Private match transfers and hospitality match tickets for each day of the cricket with lunch and beverages are included.

Ranchi is known as the City of Waterfalls and ahead of the cricket we will tour the pick of these including Dassam, Johna & Hundru falls. We will also tour the local sights including Jagannath Temple and Ratu Palace.

Overnight: Ranchi

Wednesday 24 February-Thursday 4 March: Ahmedabad

The world’s largest stadium plays host to the final Test of the series. Can the Aussies secure an historic win in India or will it be heartbreak all over again? Private transfers and hospitality match tickets for each day of the cricket with lunch and beverages are included.

Ahead of the match we will visit some of the highlights of this fast-developing city as well as the World Heritage-listed old town, once home to India’s largest cotton market. We will also visit the northern town of Gandhinagar featuring the massive Akshardham Hindu temple and the Dandi Kutir museum dedicated to the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

Overnight: Ahmedabad

Thursday 4 March: Departure

Package ends after breakfast this morning with a transfer to Ahmedabad airport. Once again, we can arrange for any required transfers to your Indian departure city or extra nights of accommodation. Contact our office for details.

Touring

Starting & Ending Your Tour:

Tours begin in the match city of the first Test in your selected package the day before each Test. Tours end after breakfast at the conclusion of the last Test in each respective package.

You can choose to fly directly into & out from these cities to match our package dates, or we can arrange additional nights at our tour hotels before or after your package. You can also choose to join us ahead of our mid-Test touring to get the most of your stay in between the cricket, contact our office for details.

Direct flights from Sydney & Melbourne are available into New Delhi and Bengaluru, while flights via Singapore offer more destinations including Chennai and Ahmedabad.

We can also include accommodation and domestic flights from your arrival city in India to join up with the package of your choice, again contact our office for details.

Between-match touring

In between matches we have a choice of some incredible sightseeing options. For the first-time visitor India’s major highlights of Agra & the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Varanasi and Amritsar are bucket-list attractions. For the returning traveller we have options to explore more of the country including Goa, Darjeeling, Kolkata and Kaziranga National Park near Guwahati.

Depending on your selected package dates we will enjoy a range of sightseeing options including:

26-28 January: Amritsar

The northern city of Amritsar is best known for the Golden Temple which forms part of the Harmindar Sahib gurdwara complex, the spiritual heart of the Sikh faith.

Built in the 16th-century, its dome is richly gilded in shimmering gold, the lower level is built from elegant marble all while floating on the sacred waters of Amrit Sarovar. Pilgrims come from across the world to bathe in its purifying waters.

We also visit the traditional Punjabi village of Sadda Pind, a living museum of local culture and cuisine spread across 12 acres north of Amritsar.

3-10 February: Option 1 - Delhi, the Golden Triangle & Varanasi

India’s Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra is one of the country’s most popular attractions. We will start with a morning flight to Delhi ahead of an introductory tour of the national capital.

On day two we travel south to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, home to some of Asia’s best bazaars. The city’s alluringly frenetic old quarter is known as the Pink City thanks to its red-washed buildings, packed with stalls selling everything from silk to milk.

Of Jaipur’s numerous monuments, the Hawa Mahal - an ornate five-storey facade, designed to allow the women of the royal household to observe the street in anonymity - has become an icon of Rajasthani architecture. We enjoy a guided tour of the city including jeep transfers to the Amber Fort.

From Jaipur we travel to the former heart of the Moghul empire, Agra. The city was boasts the unparalleled beauty of the Taj Mahal, which adorns the banks of the Yamuna river. We will explore the Agra Fort and the nearby 16th century town of Fatehpur Sikri.

We then rise early for a dawn visit of the Taj Mahal ensuring the best views of this magnificent structure. The marble mausoleum is by far the most popular tourist site in India, and despite the hype and cliché it is an astounding and mesmerising sight to behold!

From Agra we travel to Lucknow. Today Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and was one the gateway to the Moghul empire. We will visit the historical highlights of
Rumi Darwaza, the 18th-century Bara Imambara shrine & Bhool Bhulaiya and the grand Victorian Husainabad Clock Tower.

Our final stop on this tour option will be Varanasi, a city which dates back to the 11th century B.C. and is regarded as the spiritual capital of India.

The city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the ‘Golden Temple’, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

We’ll enjoy a dawn boat ride on the Ganges River followed by a tour of the historic town of Sarnath just north of Varanasi.

3-10 February: Option 2 - Darjeeling, Kolkata & Kaziranga National Park Tour

Our second option between the 2nd & 3rd Tests is an incredible 7-day Darjeeling, Kolkata & Kaziranga National Park tour.

Located in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal state, Darjeeling was once a summer resort for the British Raj elite. The town remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan ‘Toy Train’ Railway, completed in 1881. Darjeeling is famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes with the backdrop of majestic Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s 3rd-highest peak.

After three nights in Darjeeling we travel to the former capital of the British Raj, Kolkata. The capital of India's West Bengal state, Kolkata was founded as an East India Company trading post, it was India's capital under the British Raj from 1773–1911. The city known for its grand colonial architecture, art galleries and cultural festivals. It is also home to Mother House, headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa.

From Kolkata we travel to Kaziranga National Park. One of the jewels of Assam state, Kaziranga is a UNESCO World Heritage site home to two-thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceros population. The park stretches along the Brahmaputra River and is famous for its own Big Five of rhinos, tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.

4th & 45th Test Extensions

Ahead of the Tests in Ranchi and Ahmedabad we will have tours taking in the highlights of each city.

16-18 February: Ranchi

Ranchi is known as the City of Waterfalls and ahead of the 4th Test we will tour the pick of these including Dassam, Johna & Hundru falls. We will also tour the local sights including Jagannath Temple and Ratu Palace.

24-26 February: Ahmedabad

Ahead of the final Test of the series we will visit some of the highlights of fast-developing Ahmedabad as well as the World Heritage-listed old town, once home to India’s largest cotton market. We will also visit the northern town of Gandhinagar featuring the massive Akshardham Hindu temple and the Dandi Kutir museum dedicated to the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

Test Cities

Nagpur

Nagpur is the largest city in central India and famous for its orange production and nearby tiger sanctuaries. The city is leading India’s Smart Cities project, tops India’s livability index and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Nagpur was founded in 1702, later formed part of the Maratha Empire and today holds special significance in both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

The New Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, also known as Jamtha Stadium, was established in 2008 and also hosted the first Test of Australia’s 2023 tour. India got off to a flier last time bowling out the Aussies for 177 & 91 so the tourists will be looking to put some runs on the board this time around!

Le Meridien Hotel Nagpur is located on the southern outskirts of the city just a short drive from the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. The 5-star hotel features spacious rooms, on-site restaurants and bars, a swimming pool, fitness centre and spa.

Chennai

Chennai, on the Bay of Bengal in eastern India, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. The city is home to Fort St George, built in 1644 and now a museum showcasing the city’s roots as a British military garrison and East India Company trading outpost, then known as Madras. Religious sites include Kapaleeshwarar Temple, adorned with carved and painted gods, and St Mary’s 17th-century Anglican church.

M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as the Chepauk Stadium, is the second-oldest ground in India to still be hosting Test matches. The ground hosted England’s inaugural 1934 tour, was the venue of India’s first Test victory and saw the second-ever tied Test against the Aussies in 1986. Australia have only won one Test at the ground so will be looking to notch up a second this series.

In the vibrant heart of bustling Chennai, the Taj Club House is the perfect blend of modern comforts and regional charm. The 5-star hotel is located near local landmarks and is a short drive from M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. The hotel offers luxurious rooms and excellent amenities including a wellness spa salon, fitness centre and swimming pool. Three in-house restaurants offer the choice of international dining, tapas and cocktails or the cuisines of the Punjab, Rawalpindi and Sindh.

Guwahati

Guwahati sits beside the Brahmaputra River in the northeast Indian state of Assam. The city is known for holy sites such as the hilltop Kamakhya Temple, featuring shrines to the Hindu deities Shiva and Vishnu. To the east, 18th-century Navagraha Temple is an astronomical centre with planetary shrines. Umananda Temple, dedicated to Shiva and covered with engravings, stands on Peacock Island in the river.

The Assam Cricket Association Stadium, officially the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium and also known as Barsapara Cricket Stadium, is India’s most recent ground to attain Test status following the 2025 visit of South Africa. The 3rd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series will be the second Test held at the venue.

Vivanta Guwahati is a 5-star hotel offering the best of local Guwahati hospitality. The hotel features three restaurants offering a unique interpretation of fine cuisine, local ingredients and international expertise, plus a luxury spa, swimming pool and fitness centre.

Ranchi

Ranchi, nicknamed the City of Waterfalls, is one of the oldest cities in the state of Jharkhand. The city features the sights including Jagannath Temple and Ratu Palace and is the birthplace of former Indian captain MS Dhoni.

Australia featured in the first Test to be played at the JSCA International Stadium on their 2017 tour with Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell making centuries.

The brand-new Courtyard by Marriott Ranchi offers a seamless blend of comfort, style and warm hospitality. The hotel features well-appointed rooms, all-day dining options plus gym and rooftop swimming pool.

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is the largest city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The Sabarmati River runs through the city and the Gandhi Ashram, home to the spiritual leader’s living quarters and artifacts lies on the western bank of the river.

Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium, was opened in 2020 and was the venue of Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup triumph. The ground saw Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green score centuries in the drawn final Test of the 2023 series.

The Ummed Ahmedabad is a distinguished 5-star hotel is Gujarat’s first luxury hotel. Recently upgraded rooms overlook the hotel’s landscaped gardens and outdoor swimming pool and a wide selection of global cuisines along with classic Indian flavours is on offer.

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