DAYS 1-2 DELHI

On your arrival at the airport in Delhi you will be met and transferred to your hotel, then it’s up to you, spend the rest of your day exploring or relaxing before devoting day 2 to soaking up the fascinating sights and sounds of Delhi on our full day tour.

Delhi’s mix of old and new is sure to awaken the senses. Emerge yourself in Old Delhi and find the energy and colour of this walled city pulsating with the hustle and bustle of bazaars and narrow lanes which twist and turn between tall, leaning houses. Contrast old with new as you enter cosmopolitan New Delhi, Luyten’s landscaped city. It is known for its formal parks, the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen) and the India Gate. Visit the Qutab Minar, the 72.5 m high tower dating back to 13th century and Humayun’s Tomb, built in the 16th century and architecturally the fore runner of the Taj Mahal.

Delhi Highlights
• Full day tour of Old & New Delhi
• Jama Masjid
• Qutab Minar
• Humayun’s Tomb

Accommodation & Meals
2 nights at The Claridges (Deluxe Room) or similar. (B)

DAY 3 AGRA

Today we’ll be heading to Agra by train, a great way to see India.

Highlights
• Tomb of Akbar
• Agra Fort.

Sikandra is home to the resting place of arguably one of India’s greatest emperors, Akbar the Great. Akbar was a great connoisseur of arts and one of his greatest architecture construction was his own tomb. Akbar oversaw the tomb’s construction during his lifetime and his son Jahangir completed it in 1612 after Akbar’s death.

Agra, the home 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, was established as a city in 1475 but it was after its capture by Lodi’s that the foundations of the Mughal Empire were laid.

Akbar also built the first red sandstone fort of North India in the form of Agra Fort which provides a fascinating fusion of Hindu and Islamic influences throughout its construction. It was here the Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal was imprisoned after being deposed by his son

Accommodation & Meals
1 night at ITC Mughal (Chamber of Emperor) or similar. (B, L, D)

DAYS 4-6 AGRA/FATEHPUR SIKRI/RANTHAMBORE

Highlights
• Taj Mahal
• Fatehpur Sikri

Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is architecturally stunning and you’ll get the chance to see it at its best during a sunrise visit. Sunrise will give you the best light to take photos of this truly memorable site. The Taj is a white marble memorial built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years to be completed

After breakfast we’ll start our journey by private transfer to Ranthambore stopping at Fatehpur Sikri: the red sandstone city, Emperor Akbar built as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. We’ll also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.

Ranthambore National Park is one of the best parks to get up close and personal with tigers, the tigers here are more habituated to tourists than many of the other parks in India, tigers are often seen during the day and are famous for hunting in full view of safari vehicles.

A huge fort, after which the park is named, towers over the park atop a hill and ruins of bygone eras are scattered all over the jungle, which give it a unique, wonderful and mixed flavour of nature, history and wildlife.

Each day you’ll enjoy jungle safari’s at dawn and dusk, the best times for viewing and photographing tigers, the rest of your time can be filled enjoying a leisurely swim, a relaxing walk or catching up on your sleep.

Finding tigers requires acute hearing rather than a reliance on sight. The resident naturalists listen for the distinctive warning call from chital and monkeys when they sense a tiger approaching. The call alerts the wildlife and our guides to the tiger’s location. Tigers are not the only wildlife you will see in this fantastic national park, leopard, striped hyena, jackals, sloth bear, macaques, langur monkeys, sambar and chital deer, gazelle, wild boar, mongoose, Indian hare, monitor lizards are all present here.

Accommodation & Meals
3 nights at Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge (Superior Charm) or similar (B, L, D, except Day 3 where lunch is at your own expense)
Or upgrade to Sher Bagh, a luxury tented safari given a certificate of excellence and Travellers Choice award on Trip Advisor for £382 pp

DAYS 7-8 JAIPUR

Travel by road to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan

Jaipur Highlights
• Amber Fort
• Hawa Mahal
• Bazaar Walk

Jaipur: The “Pink City” You can spend your first afternoon here at leisure before visiting the Amber Fort on the morning of day 8 to stroll through its grounds and structures. The present Amber Fort palace complex was commenced in 1592 under the reign of Raja Man Singh, commander of Akbar’s army and a member of the emperor’s inner circle of nine courtiers. There’s a short, yet steep ascent, to reach the Amber Fort, you have the choice of reaching it by foot or why not enjoy a ride on an elephant to the top where you can enjoy magnificent views of Jaipur, Maotha lake and the original city walls. One of the fort’s most striking features is the Hall of Mirrors. When the palace was occupied by royalty, the hall could be lit at night by a single candle reflected in thousands of tiny, intricate mirrors.

The Amber Fort isn’t the only sight worth visiting in Jaipur and you’ll also be able to visit:
Jantar Mantar – This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh
City Palace – A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture
Hawa Mahal – The ornamental facade of this “Palace of Winds” is a prominent landmark in Jaipur.

We’ll finish our day with a walk through the great bazaars, a labyrinth of colourful alleys where artisans make puppets, bangles, and other local handicrafts. You will visit the jewellery market – Johari Bazaar, explore architecturally interesting havelis (mansions), and stop by bangle shops in Maniharonka Rasta and the flower sellers near Choti Chaupar.

Accommodation & Meals
2 nights at Samode Haveli (Deluxe) or similar (B)

DAYS 9-10 DELHI

After breakfast you’ll head back to Delhi via road.

On day 10 we bid you a fond farewell and transfer you to the airport to board the flight for your onward journey.

Accommodation & Meals
1 night at Radisson Blu Plaza or similar (B, on day 10 only)

NOTE: TAJ MAHAL CLOSED ON FRIDAYS

* Key to Accommodation
B = Bed & Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

Subject to availability we use the following hotels for our guests

B = Bed & Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

What’s included:

• Accommodation on twin sharing basis at hotels mentioned or of a similar category. Rooms will be their standard ones unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to substitute accommodation of an equivalent standard if the accommodation shown is not available during your travel dates
• Meals as specified in the detailed itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch & D=Dinner).
• Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi, • elephant ride at Amber Fort, Jaipur (uphill)
• Jungle safaris at Ranthambore by 4x 4 open jeep
• Battery van ride at Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal from their respective parking area.
• Services of English speaking local guide in Delhi & resident naturalist and park guides in national parks.
• Train from Delhi to Agra in the air conditioned executive class.
• Entrance fees including ASI monuments and national parks.
• Mineral water during all transfers, drives, sightseeing
• Meeting / assistance at the time of arrival and departure at airport and during check in/out at hotels in major cities.
• 3.09% Govt. Service Tax on Total Bill.

What’s not included:

• International flights. We are happy to help you book these or you can arrange your own.
• Insurance
• India visa fee
• Meals or drinks except those specified in the detailed itinerary
• Any services of accompanied escort (supplement advised, if required).
• Tips and gratuities
• Purchases of a personal nature
• Still/video camera fee if any
• Any expenses incurred due to any unforeseen situation or any other reason beyond our control including acts of god, change in government tax policy etc.