Golden Triangle, Udaipur & Jodhpur

We fly from London Heathrow to Delhi today, arriving on Day 2. We transfer to the Maidens Hotel for 2 nights, a colonial heritage hotel surrounded by elegant gardens.

On Day 3, we embark on a sightseeing tour of Delhi, a city which perfectly illustrates the charms of both old and new India. Our first visit is to historic Old Delhi, where we enjoy a rickshaw ride through the vibrant, narrow streets to Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and liveliest bazaars in Delhi. We continue to Jama Masjid and enjoy a drive past Delhi's impressive Red Fort. We then visit the Raj Ghat Gandhi memorial before seeing Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, Qutab Minar, and the UNESCO-listed Humayun's Tomb.

This morning, we join India's first semi-high speed train, the Gatimaan Express, for our journey to Agra. A former capital of the Mughal Empire, the city is famous for its incredible Mughal era architecture including the imposing UNESCO listed Agra Fort, which we visit today, enjoying a guided tour around its vast courtyards. This afternoon, we take a tour of colonial Agra, finishing with a delightful high tea experience at a local tea house.

Early on Day 5, we take in one of the highlights of any trip to India, a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. Built in 1653 by the Mughal Emperor Shan Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, the white marble structure is lavishly decorated with precious stones and intricate calligraphy carvings. We leave Agra after breakfast and visit the 9thcentury Chand Baori Stepwell, a unique pond where the water can be reached by 3,500 geometrical stone steps. We continue to Jaipur for 2 nights at the Alsisar Haveli heritage hotel.

We make a short trip to the charming Ravla Khempur Hotel today, best known as the filming location for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. After a guided tour of the hotel and surrounding village, we enjoy lunch in the hotel. Later, we return to Udaipur, where we take a boat ride on Lake Pichola. This evening we are treated to a farewell dinner at the hotel's sprawling rooftop with views of the tranquil Pichola Lake.

On Day 13, we discover Udaipur on a guided tour. We explore the majestic City Palace complex and spend time in Saheliyon-ki-Bari, a beautiful garden. We also take in the expansive classic and vintage car collection of the Maharajas of Mewar, which includes rare Rolls Royce and Cadillac models. This evening we fly to Mumbai where we stay overnight.

We board our flight to London Heathrow in the afternoon of Day 14, arriving on the same day.