Ultimate Rajasthan and the Palace on Wheels

We fly from London Heathrow to Delhi, arriving on Day 2.

On Day 3 we embark on a sightseeing tour, starting with a rickshaw ride through the streets of Old Delhi before visiting the Jama Masjid. We continue to New Delhi, passing by the President's House and Parliament House on the way. We visit the kitchen of Bangla Sahib Gurudwara that serves free meals to hundreds of people every day. We see Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, before discovering Connaught Place on a walking tour. Later, we sample high tea at the Imperial Hotel.

We transfer to the train station to board the Shatabdi Express to Kalka. Here, we embark on a scenic journey on the UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge Toy Train to Shimla. Alternatively, you may choose to make the journey by road. The mountain town of Shimla was once the summer capital of the British Raj because of its cooler climate.

Today begins with an informative talk from guest speaker Raaja Bhasin. Later, we explore Shimla by car and see the Viceregal Lodge, a striking 19th-century Elizabethan-style mansion, and the Sankat Mochan temple. After lunch, we take a stroll along the mall to the town's Gaiety Theatre, the Victorian-Gothic Christ Church, and Scandal Point - so called because it was where people would traditionally meet to gossip.

Day 6 is free to explore Shimla at leisure. There's an optional tour to Kufri where we admire the views over the Himalayas followed by a high tea lunch at Wildflower Hall.

We leave Shimla in the morning, making the journey back down the mountains through stunning scenery to Chandigarh. Here we join the Shatabdi Express to Delhi for another night at the Oberoi Maidens Hotel.

This afternoon, we visit Delhi's National Rail Museum, which tells the history of India's railways. Afterwards, we transfer to our hotel train, the Palace on Wheels, for an enchanting journey in carriages decked in traditional Rajasthani style. After a vibrant welcome ceremony at the station, we settle into our comfortable cabins. We enjoy dinner together in the restaurant car.

Our first stop is the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur, where we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the city is often referred to as the 'Pink City' after the buildings were painted pink in the 19th century to celebrate a visit by Prince Albert. Our sightseeing here includes the imposing Palace of the Winds, whose ornate façade once enabled the ladies of the royal court to observe life in the street below whilst remaining in 'purdah', a social practice in which women were hidden from public observation. We also explore the City Palace and the Astronomical Observatory. After a visit to the magnificent Amber Fort, one of 3 hilltop forts that dominate the hills above Jaipur.

During the night, our train continues to Ranthambore. We leave the train to visit Ranthambore National Park on Day 10. One of the largest national parks in India, this is one of the best places to see the Bengal tiger, largely thanks to the conservation efforts of Project Tiger. We head out on a morning game drive with hopes of spotting this majestic creature as well as a plethora of other native wildlife. Afterwards, we board the train to Chittorgarh where we see the majestic hilltop fort, the Tower of Victory, and the intricate Tower of Fame.

The Palace on Wheels reaches Udaipur this morning where we take a city tour by coach. We have lunch at a local hotel before cruising on the serene waters of Lake Pichola, an artificial lake created in 1362 AD. On our return to Udaipur, we rejoin the train.

On Day 12, we arrive in Jaisalmer, a historic walled town in the Thar Desert. We take a city tour, exploring the beautiful merchants' houses with intricately-carved sandstone façades. This afternoon, we enjoy a drive in 4x4's, traversing the sandy desert. We stop to admire the sun setting beyond the sand dunes, while sipping our afternoon tea. Later, we enjoy dinner and a cultural performance at a local hotel before the train sets out for Jodhpur.

On Day 13, we arrive in the 'Blue City' itself, enjoying a tour that includes, the grand Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, an ornate cenotaph of a Rajput king, and Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum. After soaking up the atmosphere and architecture reminiscent of stately Indian court life, we enjoy lunch in a local hotel. Later, we re-board the train for the journey to Agra.

The Palace on Wheels stops at Bharatpur and we have the option of visiting its famous bird sanctuary. Later, we arrive in Agra, where we disembark for the final time. After leaving the Palace on Wheels, we visit Agra Fort, a majestic red sandstone citadel, and the captivating Taj Mahal, an iconic white marble masterpiece. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is the world's finest example of Mughal and Persian architecture. We transfer to Clarks Shiraz hotel for high tea, before boarding the coach to return to Delhi. On the afternoon of Day 15, we fly back to London Heathrow.