Two nights — the Taj Mahal under the light of the full moon
The Taj Mahal Full Moonlight Tour is one of the rarest and most extraordinary experiences in India — the Archaeological Survey of India permits just five nights per month for moonlight viewing, on the night of the full moon and two nights either side. By day the Taj is breathtaking; by night, bathed in silver moonlight, it becomes something entirely beyond description. This 2-night, 3-day tour from Agra includes the exclusive ASI-permitted moonlight Taj viewing, sunrise and sunset visits, Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh, Itmad-ud-Daulah, and a private rooftop dinner with the Taj silhouetted against the night sky. Limited to five permitted viewings per lunar cycle and just 400 visitors per night — this is the Taj Mahal almost no one ever sees.
What makes this unforgettable
Pricing & packages
| Hotel Category | 3-Star Heritage | 4-Star Haveli Hotel | 5-Star (Oberoi Amarvilas) |
| Meals | Breakfast only | All meals (B+L+D) | All meals + rooftop dinner |
| ASI Moonlight Taj Permit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Taj Mahal Sunrise Entry | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Agra Fort Entry | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mehtab Bagh Visit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Itmad-ud-Daulah Entry | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private Rooftop Dinner | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marble Inlay Workshop | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expert Taj Historian Guide | — | — | ✓ |
| Sunrise Yamuna Boat Ride | — | — | ✓ |
Your detailed itinerary
Welcome to Agra. Your guide meets you at the station or airport and transfers you to your hotel. After freshening up, head first to the magnificent Agra Fort — the great red sandstone citadel of the Mughal emperors, with its Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Jahangir’s Palace, and the heartbreaking Musamman Burj, where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his own son and spent his final years gazing across the Yamuna at the Taj. Then, as the afternoon light turns golden, enter the Taj Mahal for sunset — the white marble flushing amber and rose as the sun descends. This evening: a rooftop dinner with a moonlit Taj view (Heritage & Royal packages). Tonight is the full moon.
- Agra Fort & Musamman Burj
- Taj Mahal at Sunset
- Taj Ganj Heritage Bazaar Walk
- Rooftop Taj-View Dinner (Heritage+)
The centrepiece of the entire experience. The morning is spent at leisure — breakfast at the hotel, a visit to Itmad-ud-Daulah (the “Baby Taj”), the exquisite white marble mausoleum covered in the first pietra dura inlay ever used on a Mughal monument, and the Mehtab Bagh gardens at dusk for the finest unobstructed view of the Taj at sunset and moonrise. Then, after dinner, your pre-secured ASI permit admits you to the Taj Mahal for the full moonlight night viewing — one of just 400 people on earth who will stand inside the Taj under the full moon tonight. The white marble turns silver-blue, the minarets dissolve into the sky, the gardens are hushed. There are no words that suffice. This is why you are here.
- Itmad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj)
- Mehtab Bagh — Sunset & Moonrise View
- Marble Inlay Workshop (Heritage+)
- ASI Moonlight Taj Viewing (9pm – 12am)
One final dawn at the Taj — the same marble you stood beneath by moonlight last night now glowing pink and gold in the first light of morning. Entry at opening means the gardens are nearly empty, and you will find yourself understanding completely why this is the most visited monument on earth. Royal package guests begin with a sunrise boat ride on the Yamuna, watching the Taj Mahal loom from the river in the early mist as Shah Jahan himself once saw it. After a farewell breakfast, your guide transfers you to Agra Cantt station or Agra airport for your onward journey. You leave carrying three versions of the Taj — sunset, moonlight, and sunrise — and not one photograph that does any of them justice.
- Taj Mahal at Sunrise
- Yamuna Sunrise Boat Ride (Royal)
- Farewell Breakfast
- Departure Transfer
Inclusions & exclusions
- 2 nights accommodation (heritage hotel / Oberoi)
- All meals as per itinerary (B/L/D)
- AC private vehicle for all transfers
- English-speaking certified guide throughout
- Pre-secured ASI moonlight Taj permit (2 persons)
- Taj Mahal entry — sunset, moonlight, and sunrise
- Agra Fort entry
- Itmad-ud-Daulah entry
- Mehtab Bagh entry
- Marble inlay workshop visit (Heritage+)
- Private rooftop Taj-view dinner (Heritage+)
- Yamuna sunrise boat ride (Royal)
- Expert Taj historian guide (Royal)
- Airport / station pick-up & drop
- Welcome drink on arrival
- Train or flight to / from Agra
- Personal expenses & shopping
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips & gratuities for guide / driver
- Alcoholic beverages
- Visa fees (if applicable)
- Early check-in / late check-out charges
- Photography inside the Taj main mausoleum
Know before you book
The ASI issues moonlight viewing permits for only 5 nights per lunar month — the full moon night plus two nights on either side. Permits are strictly limited to 400 visitors per night and sell out weeks in advance. We secure permits at booking — this tour cannot be guaranteed without advance reservation.
All visitors must carry a government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar or Passport) for both daytime and moonlight Taj entry. The name on your ID must match the name on your ASI permit exactly. No exceptions are made at the gate.
Photography is permitted throughout the Taj gardens and on the plinth. Photography inside the main mausoleum (the interior chamber with the cenotaphs) is strictly prohibited at all times, including during moonlight hours. Tripods are not permitted.
Moonlight viewing is from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM. Visitors are admitted in batches of 50 for 30-minute sessions. We pre-book the best time slots. The Taj is closed on Fridays — tour dates are planned around the lunar calendar and Friday closures.
Modest clothing is required at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Footwear must be removed on the white marble plinth — shoe covers are provided at the gate. Bring a light shawl for evening monument visits as temperatures drop after sunset.
October to March is ideal for Agra (15–28°C days, cool evenings). The Taj Mahal is most breathtaking under a winter full moon, when visibility is exceptional and the marble takes on a deep blue-silver tone. Avoid May and June when daytime temperatures exceed 45°C.
Children under 15 are not permitted for the ASI moonlight Taj viewing — this is an ASI regulation, not our policy. Children are welcome on all daytime components. Ages 5–12 receive 30% discount on the tour price excluding permits.
Carry personal medications. Bottled water is provided throughout the tour. The Taj marble plinth can be slippery in damp conditions — wear non-slip footwear. A first-aid kit is with your guide at all times.
Flexible booking, fair terms
We understand plans change. Here’s our refund structure to keep things transparent:
| Cancellation Notice | Refund Amount | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| 30+ days before departure | 100% Full Refund | 5–7 business days |
| 15–29 days before departure | 75% Refund | 5–7 business days |
| 7–14 days before departure | 50% Refund | 7–10 business days |
| 2–6 days before departure | 25% Refund | 7–10 business days |
| Less than 48 hours / No-show | No Refund | — |
* ASI moonlight permits are non-refundable once secured, regardless of cancellation date. Date changes are free up to 45 days before departure and subject to lunar calendar and permit availability. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for this permit-dependent tour.
