India’s Golden Triangle with Ranthambore National Park

Day 1 - Delhi

Join your tour group at the hotel. We head out on an afternoon sightseeing tour of New Delhi, to soak up the sights and sounds. We’ll see the India Gate memorial, built to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died during the Great War, and pass the official residence of the President of India. Later we’ll continue to UNESCO-protected Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world.

Day 2 - Delhi - Agra

Our morning tour focuses on Old Delhi. We’ll visit the black marble memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the grand Jama Masjid - one of India’s largest mosques - as well as a Sikh temple and the historic Red Fort, the former residence of the Mughal Emperor. In the afternoon, we’ll take the fast train to the riverside city of Agra.

Day 3 - Agra

Have your very own Princess Diana moment in front of the white marble Taj Mahal today. This great world wonder dates back to the glory days of India’s Mughal emperors. It took 20,000 skilled labourers to create this mausoleum and memorial to Shah Jahan’s favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Some see it as a sad and mournful creation, but others celebrate the romance and love behind its story. After a morning here, we move on to Agra’s imposing fort - a walled city of palaces, mosques, halls and residences occupied for more than 900 years.

Day 4 - Agra - Ranthambore

This morning we'll depart Agra for Ranthambore, with a stop to Abhaneri Step Well (also known as Chand Baori) on the way, where there'll be time to stop and buy lunch. We'll continue to Ranthambore National Park, known for its 1,000-year-old fort (which is surrendering slowly to the encroaching jungle), its picturesque lakes and, of course, its Bengal tiger reserve. This evening there'll be a tiger talk with a local naturalist.

Day 5 - Ranthambore

Ranthambore National Park is a wildlife haven, and we’ll head out in search of leopards, monkeys, birds and sloth bears on two game drives today. As we take in the sounds and smells of the jungle, we may even spot the shy and elusive Bengal tiger - a greater possibility nowadays thanks to the conservation work of the Ranthambore Foundation.

Day 6 - Ranthambore - Jaipur

After a morning of leisure, we’ll make our way north-west to Jaipur, known as the ‘pink city’ for its rose-red palaces.

Day 7 - Jaipur

A full-day tour of Jaipur reveals why this great city is considered one of India’s foremost cultural attractions. After an early start, we drive up to the Amber Fort, a beautiful sandstone palace perched on a hilltop. We’ll tour the fort, then head to the foothill lake. Keep your eyes peeled for elephants - they sometimes like to bathe in the lake. Back in Jaipur itself, we’ll explore the City Palace (a fusion of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture) and the 18th-century Jantar Mantar observatory, and admire the latticed façade of the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds.

Day 8 - Jaipur - Delhi

The morning is free or if you'd like, you can visit Birla Temple in Jaipur. This afternoon we’ll journey from Jaipur back to Delhi for our final night.

Day 9 - Delhi

After one last cup of chai, say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.