In Brief
| Flight - 1 night. Delhi - 1 night. Agra - 2 nights. Ranthambore N.P. - 2 nights. Jaipur - 3 nights. Delhi - 1 night. Amritsar - 1 night. McCleod Ganj - 2 nights. Shimla - 2 nights. Delhi - 1 night. |
Itinerary 1 (Jan-Apr 2012):
Day 1 Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Delhi.
Day 2 Morning arrival and transfer to the
central Hotel Royal Plaza. Afternoon orientation tour of Delhi including Lutyens’ India Gate, Parliament House, Raj Ghat, the Jama Mosque, driving past the Red Fort.
Day 3 Morning drive to Agra (5 hrs). Transfer to the Clarks Shiraz Hotel for a two-night stay. Optional half-day excursion to Agra Fort.
Day 4 Morning visit to the Taj Mahal. Afternoon optional excursion to Itmad-Daula, the tomb of Ghiyas Beg, the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble and inlaid with stones.
Day 5 After breakfast drive to the Ranthambore National Park (6 hrs) visiting Fatehpur Sikri en route, for two nights at the Ranthambore Regency Hotel.
Day 6 Morning and evening game viewing drives.
Day 7 Optional early morning game drive or take an optional hot air balloon ride (Oct-Mar only) before driving to Jaipur (4 hrs) and
the heritage Hotel SMS
for three nights.
Day 8 A full-day sightseeing of Jaipur including the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Observatory and view the ‘Palace of the Winds’, the Hawa Mahal, built in 1799 to enable the women of the court to watch street processions, while remaining in a strict state of purdah.
Day 9 At leisure for further exploration of this fascinating city. Optional evening Sound & Light show at the Amber Fort.
Day 10 Drive from Jaipur to Delhi (6 hrs) and overnight at the Ashok Country Resort.
Day 11 Morning transfer to the railway station to board the Shatabdi Express train (air-conditioned Chair Class) to Amritsar (6 hrs). Early evening visit to Wagah Border Point for the ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony. Optional Palki ceremony. Overnight at Hotel Ranjit Savasa.
Day 12 A city tour includes the Golden Temple. Travel by road to McCleod Ganj (6 hrs / 1,700m) for two nights at the modest but well located Surya Resort.
Day 13 Visit the Tibetan Monastery and museum. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 14 Visit Kangra Fort and Museum. Drive to Shimla (8 hrs / 2,000m) for two nights at the Clarkes Hotel.
Day 15 Morning tour of Shimla including a visit to the Vice Regal Lodge and a stroll along the Mall. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 16 Travel on the ‘Toy Train’ from Shimla to Solan (5 ½ hrs), and continue to Kalka by road to connect with the train to Delhi (4 hrs). Dinner will be served on board. Transfer to the Hotel Royal Plaza
for a final night in Delhi.
Day 17 Early afternoon flight to London arriving later the same day.
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