India - Tigers & the Taj - 11 days from £1999

Accommodation

Crowne Plaza Today Okhla, Delhi (4-star)
2 nights (days 2 & 10)

Holiday Inn, Jaipur (4-star)
2 nights

Tiger Moon Lodge, Ranthambore (3-star)
3 nights

Jaypee Palace Hotel, Agra (4-star)
2 nights

Please note: Details of your confirmed hotels will be advised in your final documentation, which will arrive approximately two weeks before departure.

Itinerary

Day 1: UK/Delhi

Fly overnight to Delhi, arriving on day 2. Throughout your holiday, your Tour Manager and local Specialist Guide will be able to point out all the best places to find mementos of your experience. They will also introduce you to the delicious authentic Indian cuisine.

Day 2: Explore the streets of Old Delhi

The ancient walled city of Old Delhi is our destination today. Also known as Shahjahanabad, Old Delhi was built by its namesake, Shah Jahan, at the end of the 17th century. Inside the walls, you’ll find the spectacular Red Fort and vibrant Chandni Chouk, the street that runs through the heart of the town lined with stalls and shops selling all manner of goods, from spices and sweets to books, clothes and even electronics. Pay your respects at Raj Ghat, the simple black marble memorial to Mahatma Gandhi at the site of his cremation and admire Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, stood atop a hill with three impressive marble domes. Overnight Delhi.

Meals: Dinner

Day 3: New Delhi to Jaipur

Where Old Delhi is a maze of narrow streets and enticing markets, New Delhi, built by the British in the 1920s, is a city of beautiful wide boulevards and attractive green parks and gardens. Amongst the modern architecture, however, remain some historic landmarks, including Humayun’s Tomb and the amazing brick minaret of Qutub Minar. After 20 years of construction New Delhi was finally completed only for the British to be uprooted and relinquish the subcontinent in 1947. After an included lunch, your journey continues to Jaipur - known as the ‘Pink City’. The capital of the colourful state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a well planned and precisely laid out city. Monuments of its Rajput rulers can be seen at every turn interspersed with the many shops and markets in what is widely regarded the shopping capital of India.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 4: Morning jeep safari at Nahargarh

There’s an early yet rewarding start this morning as you board jeeps and travel through the forest of Nahargarh Biological Park. Here we enjoy breakfast at Sura Ki Baori, the step well, making sure you keep an eye out for Asiatic lions and sloths on this former stop on the ancient silk route.

Discover Jaipur & the Amber Fort

The imposing outer walls of the Amber Fort hold no clue towards the spectacular interiors you’ll find inside. From magnificently mirrored halls to beautifully carved marble panels and exquisite paintings, it feels like there’s no end to the grandeur of the Amber Fort as you’re walking around its maze of rooms. Discover the sights of Jaipur this afternoon on our guided tour. You’ll have the chance to explore the incredible collections of the City Palace Museum, admire the inspiring 18th century Jantar Mantar observatory and see the Hawa Mahal, the iconic Palace of the Winds. Overnight Jaipur.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 5: Relax with a sundowner at Balas Sanctuary

Travel to Ranthambore National Park, then for an evening with a difference, we head into the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary in the stunning Aravalli Hills. From your viewpoint at Balas, in the heart of the sanctuary, enjoy a relaxing sundowner drink as you watch for some of the incredible wildlife resident here. Overnight Ranthambore.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Days 6 - 7: Tiger spotting in Ranthambore National Park

The centrepiece of India’s Project Tiger initiative, Ranthambore National Park is simply jaw-dropping in its beauty. And the wildlife is the icing on the cake. Our four game drives give you ample opportunity to spot Ranthambore’s famously inquisitive tigers – with little fear of humans, they have been known to waltz right up to safari vehicles. But if you don’t spot any tigers, don’t worry, there is plenty of other wildlife for you to admire, from foxes and hyenas to some incredibly rare birds. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Ranthambore Fort at the heart of the park.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 8: Bird-watching in Keoladeo National Park

After travelling by train to Bharatpur, you’ll step aboard rickshaws for a journey around the Keoladeo National Park, formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once a royal hunting reserve, but these days instead of gunshot, the only sound you’ll hear is that of the 230 species of bird that live here.

Visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri

Faded Moghul grandeur awaits as you visit this ghost city of red sandstone buildings. Although deserted for over 400 years, it’s surprising how well preserved the city is. As you wander around its streets, stop a moment to reflect on the history of the city that took 15 years to build, yet was deserted only 14 years after its completion. Overnight Agra.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 9: Experience the Taj Mahal

India’s most famous and iconic landmark, so much has been written about the Taj Mahal, and so many photographs and films portray its image it is easy to feel as if you’ve already been there countless times already. No amount of research can quite prepare you for your first sighting of this shimmering white masterpiece, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate the life of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Surrounded by lush, immaculately kept gardens, the beautiful mirror pool and running streams, it really is an honour to visit and explore the entire mausoleum complex. This afternoon you will have time to relax, enjoy the surroundings of your hotel and reflect on your experiences over the last few days.

Watch a performance of the story of the Taj Mahal

During the evening, take your seat for a performance of Mohabbat the Taj, a spectacular re-enactment of the life and love of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Overnight Agra.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 10: Explore New Delhi with children from the Salaam Baalak Trust

We leave the world of adulthood behind when you are joined by former street children who work with the Salaam Baalak Trust who take us on a short guided tour of Paharganj and the New Delhi railway station. They will take you on a journey into their world, uncovering hidden pockets of history in the places you’d least expect. All proceeds go towards this non-profit making organisation, which supports street and former street children in Delhi. Overnight Delhi.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 11: Dehli/UK

Return flight to the UK, arriving the same day.

Meals: Breakfast