Day 3
Included Delhi city tour and travel to Agra - Today's guided tour will introduce Delhi's vibrant Old City. Drive by the historic Red Fort, Jama Masjid Mosque and Raj Ghat – Gandhi’s cremation site close to the Yamuna River – and enjoy an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk.
You’ll also experience the grandeur of New Delhi, built by the British Raj to reflect the glories of the Empire. Highlights will include the historic India Gate war memorial and the vast boulevard of the Rajpath.
Later, after an included lunch in Delhi, travel to Agra, India's City of Love and site of the exquisite Taj Mahal. After a visit to the royal pavilions, palaces and courtyards of majestic Agra Fort, you’ll make your first visit to the Taj, a monument to undying love, to see it in all its glory at sunset and enjoy a guided tour.
Day 4
Included excursions to the Taj Mahal and Abhaneri, and travel to Ranthambhore - Start your day with the unforgettable view of the Taj Mahal at dawn, seen from across the Yamuna River. After breakfast, you'll journey to Abhaneri, a small town famed for its amazing baoris (stepwells). Discover the intricate beauty of Chand Baori, one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India, and its carved panels.
Leaving Abhaneri, you'll travel to Ranthambhore National Park, stopping en route for lunch at the sumptuous Umaid Lake Palace, a lovely heritage hotel and organic retreat that grows produce for its fine restaurant. Once the hunting ground of Indian princes, Ranthambhore is landscape of thorn trees, scrub and grasslands dotted with beautiful ponds, streams and lakes is a perfect habitat for the famous, elusive (and still endangered) Tigers of Ranthambhore, and other species.
Relax for the afternoon, then enjoy an evening tiger talk with a local naturalist: the perfect preparation for tomorrow's adventures.
Day 5
Included guided wildlife safaris - Today’s two canter (open-air vehicle) safaris in Ranthambhore Park are sure to be among the highlights of your entire holiday. In the company of a knowledgeable naturalist guide, you'll go in search of the park's most animal inhabitants: striped hyenas, sambar deer, sloth bears and, of course, tigers (and perhaps even a leopard).
Day 6
From Ranthambhore to Jaipur - Rest and relax this morning, or join our optional excursion to climb the gradual, 273 steps to ancient Ranthambhore Fort, which sits atop a 600-metre-high hill range, and offers stupendous views of the park below.
This afternoon, after lunch at the hotel, you’ll bid farewell to Ranthambhore and journey to the Pink City of Jaipur, where you'll stay for the next two nights.
Day 7
Included Amber Fort and Jaipur sightseeing - After breakfast, visit Amber, the ancient capital of the Rajput Empire. Climb by jeep to the city's vast sixth-century hill-top fort to wander its Royal Halls and take in the magnificent views from the ramparts. After an included lunch, you'll tour Jaipur to see the City Palace complex, with its museums and ancient astronomical observatory, and drive past the innumerable windows and screened balconies of the 18th-century Palace of the Winds.
This evening, enjoy dinner a special dinner at the Nokha House, hosted in traditional Rajasthani style by the Rathore family.
Day 8
From Jaipur to Vanaashrya - Bid farewell to Jaipur and journey across the desert plain into the Aravali Hills to the jungle-resort of Vanaashyra. En route you'll stop for a tea or coffee at Bhangarh, a ruined fort dating from the 17th Century.
This afternoon, take a camel cart to visit the local village and enjoy a pre-dinner cookery demonstration. You'll spend the night in a private cottage designed to give you a sense of the India of the past with the little luxuries of the present (like air conditioning).
Day 9
Relax in Vanaashrya - Enjoy today at leisure in Vanaashrya - swim in the pool or reflect on your journey through India.
Day 10
Fly home - After an included lunch at Vanaashrya, depart for Delhi and the return overnight flight home.
Day 11
Arrive in the UK - You will land back into the UK in the morning today.
Day 12
Overnight flight to India - Your Indian holiday begins with an overnight flight from the UK to Delhi.
Day 13
Arrival in Delhi and included Qutub Minar visit - Arrive in Delhi, this morning, to be greeted by your Tour Manager, and transferred to your hotel. Later, after some time to freshen up, join your tour manager on a guided tour to the striking Qutub Minar, the highest tower in India, consisting of five storeys with projecting balconies. This tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forms part of a complex, which is situated at the site of Delhi’s oldest fortified city.
Day 14
Included Delhi city tour and travel to Jaipur - Today's guided tour will introduce Delhi's vibrant Old City. Drive by the historic Red Fort, Jama Masjid Mosque and Raj Ghat – Gandhi’s cremation site close to the Yamuna River – and enjoy an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk.
You’ll also experience the grandeur of New Delhi, built by the British Raj to reflect the glories of the Empire. Highlights will include the historic India Gate war memorial and the vast boulevard of the Rajpath.
Later, after an included lunch, you’ll bid farewell to Delhi and travel to the Pink City of Jaipur, where you'll stay for the next two nights.
Day 15
Included Amber Fort and Jaipur sightseeing - After breakfast, visit Amber, the ancient capital of the Rajput Empire. Climb by jeep to the city's vast sixth-century hill-top fort to wander its Royal Halls and take in the magnificent views from the ramparts. After an included lunch, you'll tour Jaipur to see the City Palace complex, with its museums and ancient astronomical observatory, and drive past the innumerable windows and screened balconies of the 18th-century Palace of the Winds.
This evening, enjoy dinner a special dinner at the Nokha House, hosted in traditional Rajasthani style by the Rathore family.
Day 16
Travel to Ranthambhore with optional Ranthambore Fort excursion and included tiger talk - This morning, travel to Ranthambhore National Park. Once the hunting ground of Indian princes, Ranthambhore is landscape of thorn trees, scrub and grasslands dotted with beautiful ponds, streams and lakes is a perfect habitat for the famous, elusive (and still endangered) Tigers of Ranthambhore, and other species.
Rest and relax upon arrival, or join our optional excursion to climb the gradual, 273 steps to ancient Ranthambhore Fort, which sits atop a 600-metre-high hill range, and offers stupendous views of the park below.
This evening, reconvene at the lodge for an evening tiger talk with a local naturalist: the perfect preparation for tomorrow's adventures.
Day 17
Included guided wildlife safari - Today’s two canter (open-air vehicle) safaris in Ranthambhore Park are sure to be among the highlights of your entire holiday. In the company of a knowledgeable naturalist guide, you'll go in search of the park's most animal inhabitants: striped hyenas, sambar deer, sloth bears and, of course, tigers (and perhaps even a leopard).
Day 18
From Ranthambhore to Agra - Today, after lunch at the hotel, you’ll bid farewell to Ranthambhore and journey to Agra, India's City of Love and site of the exquisite Taj Mahal. After a visit to the royal pavilions, palaces and courtyards of majestic Agra Fort, you’ll make your first visit to the Taj, a monument to undying love, to see it in all its glory at sunset and enjoy a guided tour.
Day 19
From Agra to Vanaashrya - Start your day with the unforgettable view of the Taj Mahal at dawn, seen from across the Yamuna River. After breakfast, you'll journey to Abhaneri, a small town famed for its amazing baoris (stepwells). Discover the intricate beauty of Chand Baori, one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India, and its carved panels.
Leaving Abhaneri, you'll journey across the desert plain into the Aravali Hills to the jungle-resort of Vanaashyra. En route you'll stop for a tea or coffee at Bhangarh, a ruined fort dating from the 17th Century.
Day 20
Relax in Vanaashrya - Enjoy this morning at leisure in Vanaashrya, perhaps with a swim in the pool or time spent reflecting on your journey through India.
This afternoon, take a camel cart to visit the local village and enjoy a pre-dinner cookery demonstration. You'll spend the night in a private cottage designed to give you a sense of the India of the past with the little luxuries of the present (like air conditioning).
Day 21
Fly home - After an included lunch at Vanaashrya, depart for Delhi and the return overnight flight home.
Day 22
Arrive in the UK - You will land back into the UK in the morning today.