This amazing adventure through historic India takes us to some of the glorious country's most exciting sights. On our fascinating journey we discover thriving cities, spectacular palaces and forts, and have the chance to see a tiger in the wild. Our tour culminates with an exclusive night in a 200-year-old palace.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
We leave London Heathrow on our overnight flight to Delhi,
arriving in the morning of Day 2. We are then
transferred into the heart of bustling Delhi, where we spend two
nights at 4-star the Maidens Hotel, located on the banks of the
River Yamuna close to the quaint bazaars of Chandi
Chowk.
Today we explore Delhi, India's vibrant, hectic, awe inspiring capital city. We begin our tour with a rickshaw ride in Old Delhi. We visit Jama Masjid, a 17th century mosque which is the largest in India, before taking a fascinating rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Delhi's lively bazaar. As we head towards Chandi Chowk, we wind through a sea of pedestrians going about their everyday lives. We leave the enticing aromas of street food behind and move on to New Delhi, where we visit Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar - India's tallest stone tower. Other highlights include India Gate, the Parliament Building and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Early this morning we have our first experience of rail travel in India as we board the Shatabdi Express to Agra, home to the truly magical Taj Mahal. On arrival in Agra we visit the enormous Agra Fort, before crossing Agra by coach to visit the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Our sunset visit ensures we experience the building's magical aura as the sun's final rays catch the natural pink and red hues of the white marble. We leave the Taj Mahal after a truly captivating day and transfer to the Trident Hotel Agra, where we spend the night.
Today we travel by coach on an excursion to Fatehpur Sikri. Built in the 16th century as the brand new capital city of India, Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned after only 14 years of rule when local water supplies ran dry. The deserted city has been preserved in almost the exact state it was in 400 years ago and provides a vivid reminder of life during the time of the Mughal Empire. After time to explore, we continue to Bharatpur where we take lunch together at a local restaurant. Later we travel by train to Sawai Madhopur, where we transfer to the Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge, once a hunting lodge for the Maharajas, for a two-night stay.
Today we head into the Ranthambore National Park for an early morning game drive. Many rare creatures such as leopards and panthers can be found here including hyenas, marsh crocodiles and sloth bears. However, easily the park's most popular resident is the tiger. In fact, the park is one of the only places in India where the incredible tiger can still be found in the wild, thanks to the successful efforts of Project Tiger. To increase our chances of seeing all of the creatures, we embark on a second game drive in the afternoon.
Today we travel by coach to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. It is popularly known as the 'Pink City', as pink sandstone was used to construct the pretty buildings within the old city walls. On arrival, we check into our hotel for the next three nights, the Trident Hotel, located outside the city on the way to the Amber Fort and opposite Mansagar Lake. The rest of your day is free for you to explore at leisure.
This morning we embark on an exciting sightseeing tour of Jaipur. We head to the grand City Palace, which is home to the current Maharaja of Jaipur. The ornate building was completed in 1728, and is now enclosed by high walls and set in fine gardens. We also see the early 18th century Astronomical Observatory, a splendid complex featuring a number of early geometric devices for tracking locations of planets. We then see the spectacular Palace of the Winds, an opulent red and pink sandstone building created for royal ladies to overlook the city without being seen. Your afternoon is spent at leisure.
Today we transfer by coach to the ancient village of Amber, to visit the immense Amber Fort. Located high on a hillside, the fort was traditionally the royal stronghold, before Rajasthan's capital was relocated to Jaipur. After ascending by jeep, you are free to stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. The views of the great walls and fortifications on the surrounding mountains are stunning. The imposing exterior of the defensive building contrasts with the intricate and detailed interior of the rooms. Many of the rooms have beautiful wall paintings with mirrors and precious stones inlaid in the walls.
We travel by coach to the town of Patan today. On arrival, we are transferred by camel cart to the Patan Mahal Palace Hotel. Built around 1790 shortly after the battle of Badal-Mahal, the Patan Mahal Palace has been lovingly turned into a heritage hotel, and is ours for today and this evening. As befitting visitors to a palace, we receive a royal welcome when we reach the grounds, and are decorated with flowers and rangooli. This afternoon we enjoy a guided walking tour of Patan town, a wonderful opportunity to see life in an unspoilt rural Indian town, a world away from the hustle and bustle of the big Indian cities. There is then the opportunity to continue to Badal Mahal, an 800-year old palace, where we can admire the stunning views of the town and the surrounding mountains. Tonight we indulge in a gala farewell dinner in the grounds of our palace hotel, a fitting end to our Indian odyssey.
This morning we bid farewell to the Patan Mahal, and transfer by coach to Delhi International Airport. Here we connect with our flight back to London.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.
Extend your holiday with one of our fantastic holiday extensions available on this tour.
See available extensionsGet the most out of your trip with our detailed and informative guides.
