The most iconic monuments of India from the Taj Mahal, Amber and Agra Fort to palaces and abandoned cities including classic hotels and special Indian experiences
Flight - 1 night
Delhi - 2 nights
Jaipur - 3 nights
Agra - 2 nights
Delhi - 1 night
A classic introduction to the treasures of the Golden Triangle and legacies of maharajas and Mughals, this tour also offers an insight of authentic India, its culture and customs; encompassing less-visited sites and including the experience of train travel in the country, where tranquil rural scenes from the window are in sharp contrast to all the buzz of a bazaar on the station platforms. The journey begins at the top of the triangle, where the streets of Old Delhi are studded with numerous historic monuments, colonial buildings are joined by tall towers in the greenery and avenues of 20th-century New Delhi, the country’s capital, and dusty markets vie with shiny malls. Jaipur, at the south-western angle point, was the film set for the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and is home to the huge Amber Fort and elegant pink palaces; where pockets of calm punctuate a chaos of street scenes, and where we dine with a local family. Landmarks on our eastward journey include the 9th-century ingenuity of the Abhaneri step-well; and the relics of Fatehpur Sikri city, eerily deserted for 400 years; en-route to Agra and the most famous monument of all, the immense, inimitable, Taj Mahal, lauded by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the world’s heritage.
Cultural & Countryside
Jules Verne Sightseeing
7 UNESCO Heritage Sites
Solo Group Departures
Local Expert Guide
Cocktail at the Polo Bar and dinner at the Rajput Room of Rambagh Palace, former home of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Enjoy a cooking demonstration and dinner with a local family; tea at a colonial house and sunset rooftop drink with views of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Day 1 Fly overnight from your chosen airport to Delhi.
Day 2 On arrival, transfer to the charming 5-star Maidens Heritage Hotel for a two-night stay. An afternoon city tour passes the stately India Gate arch, parliament building, and Viceroy’s House, and includes a visit to the National Museum, exhibiting thousands of objects from the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation; and to Ghandi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Ghandi, who spent the last few months of his life in this building. Enjoy a ‘welcome’ drink with your group.
Day 3 View the Red Fort as you drive to visit landmarks including the Raj Ghat memorial to Gandhi, marking the place of his cremation; the 17th-century, Jama Masjid (‘Friday mosque’), the second-largest mosque on the Indian sub-continent, facing Mecca, and raised thirty steps above the street; the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, UNESCO listed as the first garden-tomb in India; and the adjacent Sunder Nursery Heritage Park, dating from the 16th century, and home to six garden-tombs. (B, D)
Day 4 Take the early morning train to Jaipur (5hrs). The chaotic capital of Rajasthan, and the regal 18th century ‘Pink City’, Jaipur is a paradox of opposites and extremes. Visit the Albert Hall Museum of Rajasthan, the striking Indo-Saracen structure set outside the city wall and housing a treasure trove of artefacts from ceramics to jewellery and fabrics. Enjoy a cooking demo and dinner with a local family. Three nights at the 4-star Trident Hotel. (B, D)
Day 5 Take to the air to see the Pink City and its surrounds on an optional balloon ride this morning (£225, bookable locally, dependent on weather). Drive to nearby Amer to visit the Amber Fort, known for its huge, gated ramparts and Hindu design, and crowning a small hill overlooking Maota Lake; and view the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) with its wall of windows, from which the women could observe unseen. Free time to explore independently, perhaps to join the haggling and hustling at colourful spice stalls and artisan shops. Enjoy a cocktail in the Polo Bar and dinner at Rambagh Palace. (B, D)
Day 6 This morning, visit the beautiful Birla Mandir Hindu Temple; the pink-walled City Palace, home to the former royal family, its temples and pavilions spread between courtyards and gardens; and the 18th-century Jantar Mantar Observatory, UNESCO listed as India’s most significant site for observation of astronomical positions. Afternoon at leisure, or join an optional walking tour of Old Jaipur city, with its many temples and historic ‘haveli’ houses, encircling intimate inner courtyards and encircled by formal outer grounds (£35, pre-bookable). (B, D)
Day 7 Enjoy the journey by road from Jaipur, visiting the village of Abhaneri and its astonishing Chand Baori ‘step well’, 30-metres deep, with a pattern of perfectly symmetrical steps leading down to the water; stopping for lunch in Bharatpur, at the heritage hotel Laxmi Vilas Palace; and exploring the magnificent Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri. A fortified enclave of temples and monuments, built entirely of red sandstone, the UNESCO listed city was founded in 1571, and completely abandoned in 1610. Continue to Agra for two nights at the 4-star Tajview Agra. (B, L)
Day 8 Begin the day with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. With acres of print and galleries of pictures of this romantic icon, it needs no introduction, yet a first sight of it still thrills. Visit the 16th-century Agra Red Fort, a UNESCO listed and lavishly opulent palace, set beside the Yamuna River and encompassing the perfect and peaceful Pearl Mosque; and the ‘baby Taj’, Itmad-ud-Daulah, a forerunner of its more famous monument; with a view of the Taj Mahal from the Mughal gardens. Take tea with a local family at a British-era colonial house, and later enjoy a rooftop drink, with sunset views of the jewel in Agra’s crown. (B, D)
Day 9 Return to Delhi (5hrs), and visit Qutab Minar, the 73m-tall ‘tower of victory’, built in the 12th century, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a ‘farewell’ dinner close to the Qutab Minar. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Pullman. (B)
Day 10 Transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)
Notes
This is a full itinerary with some visits on foot with uneven surfaces and inclines.
Established in 1903 as one of the first hotels of Delhi and recognized as a Heritage Hotel in 1994. Its architecture is the most glorious illustration of old-world European charm with its colonial impressions. Restaurants, bar, pool, gym and WiFi (free). 55 air-conditioned rooms with hairdryer, mini-bar, safe, tea/coffee making facilities and TV.
A 4-star hotel situated en route to Jaipur’s famous Amber Fort. Restaurant, bar, pool, gym, spa and WiFi (free). 132 air-conditioned rooms with hairdryer, mini-bar, safe, tea/coffee making facilities and TV.
A 4-star property, the Tajview's unique style are complemented by Agra's glittering monument to love, the Taj Mahal. Restaurants, bar, pool, gym, WiFi (free). 100 air-conditioned rooms with hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.
A 5-star hotel named after the famous 'Mauryan' dynasty. Restaurants, bar, gym, pool, spa and WiFi (chargeable). 438 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, satellite and tea/coffee making facilities.
Time to relax or see even more of India!
No one can cover all of India on one tour, so why not make the most of your time in India by choosing further experiences?
We invite you to customise your tour by adding one or more extensions from our great range shown on the following pages. Relax in a resort or discover more of India with our specialist guides.
Also please consider adding extra nights before the tour if you would like to draw breath after the flight to India or stay on to reflect, relax or explore independently. Extra nights can also be added to most extensions. Please talk to one of our knowledgeable Personal Travel Experts to let us know what you are looking for and they will work out the best way. Sometimes extra transfers, internal flights and nights are recommended or needed, and sometimes two extensions can be combined into a more logical sequence.
2023
Saturdays
per person in a twin/double room
Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow
2024
Saturdays
per person in a twin/double room
Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow
Supplements per person
Single Supplement
Double for sole use £345 (Sep £225)
Flight Options
British Airways from Heathrow - On request
Emirates from Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham or Glasgow - On request
Virgin Atlantic Premium Class – On request
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class – On request
Optional Excursions
Old Jaipur City £35
Extension Options
We offer a wide variety of pre- and post-tour extensions, click here for more information.
Pre/post tour extra nights and transfers are available.
Privately Guided
Privately guided tours are on request, please call to discuss your requirements
Tour Only
Save £800
Arrival or departure transfer add £24
Price Includes
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 8 nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 6 dinners, itinerary as described, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Not Included
Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, overseas airport taxes, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
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