Itinerary

1. Day 01: Arrive in Delhi

   • Meet the tour guide, who will greet you with folded hands (the traditional namaste!) and transfer you to the hotel.
   • Spend the rest of the day free.

   Overnight: At a hotel (2 nights)

2. Day 02: Explore Delhi

   • Start our morning tour with an exploration of New Delhi and a visit to Humayun’s Tomb, built in 1572 as the first garden tomb in India. Humayan’s Tomb inspired several major architectural innovations, including the Taj Mahal. 
   • Go to the famous India Gate, followed by the Houses of Parliament, before venturing into Old Delhi, where we take a drive past Red Fort, built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jehan. Most of the Mughal forts were “Palace Forts“, as these were also the official residences of the royalty. 
   • Embark on a walking tour through the bazaars at Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi’s oldest and busiest market. 
   • Drive to the monumental Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. 
   • End the day at Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. In the evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local Indian restaurant. (B, D)

   Note: Red Fort is closed on Monday, and Chandni Chowk is closed on Sunday.

3. Day 03: Delhi - Agra

   • Start with a visit to Birla House, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi before Nathu Ram Godse assassinated him in 1948.
   • Witness the stunning ancient minaret of Qutb Minar and its monuments. Built-in the early 13th century, the magnificent red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 meters high. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art and two mosques. 
   • Drive to Agra. On arrival in Agra, we check into our hotel.

   Overnight: At a hotel in Agra (2 nights) (B, D)

   Note - Birla House is closed on Monday.

4. Day 04: Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

   • Start the day with a sunrise visit to one of the most well-known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. An immense mausoleum of white marble was built between 1631 and 1648. Built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and a universally admired masterpiece of world heritage. Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna in a vast Mughal garden, this funerary monument combines elements and styles of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture.
   • Return to the hotel for breakfast. Following some rest time, we visit Agra Fort. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses the spectacular imperial city of the Mughal rulers. Explore fairy-tale palaces, audience halls and two very beautiful mosques.
   • Visit Fatehpur Sikri. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, this stunning complex was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. Just 10 years after its construction, the city with its beautiful temples, mosques and monuments was abandoned due to lack of water. Surprisingly, many structures are still in existence and used even today, including one of the complexes. The evening is free to explore this small town, Agra, home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

   Meals: (B, D)

5. Day 05: Agra - Ranthambore

   • Continue the adventure as we set off for Ranthambore, the former hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Ranthambore National Park boasts one of India's largest and most diverse collections of wildlife species. Its rugged terrain and dense deciduous forests also offer stunning panoramas. 
   • Have lunch at our lodge in Ranthambore. We then take an adventurous safari through the park, spotting tiger, nilgai, chausingha, chital, chinkara, wild boar, jungle cat, rattle, hyena, porcupine and the black-faced langur. About 150 bird species can also be found here, including migratory birds that arrive in winter. The safari lasts for about 3 hours. The evening is a fun time with the other guests and the resort team.

   Overnight: At a hotel (1 night) (B, L, D)

6. Day 06: Ranthambore - Jaipur

   • Take another safari through the park early morning with our eye out for these majestic animals. Ranthambore was established as a game sanctuary in 1955 and declared a Project Tiger reserve in 1973. Spotting Ranthambore’s famous Royal Bengal Tigers in their natural habitat is an awe-inspiring experience.  
   • Drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur is also called the Pink City since most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone. In the evening, we enjoy dinner followed by a unique Rajasthani cultural dance show.

   Overnight: At a hotel (2 nights) (B, D)

7. Day 07: Jaipur

   • Feel like the royalty of yesteryear with a journey to the Amber Fort, located in a picturesque valley among the Kalikho Hills. Known as the gem of Jaipur, this imposing fort dating from the late 16th century was never attacked or invaded. Built from a combination of yellow and pink sandstone and white marble, the fort includes distinguished halls, intricate carvings and ornate gardens. 
   • Return to Jaipur to visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art. 
   • Stop at the stunning Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved façade, and the Jantar Mantar, a historic astronomical observation site boasting instruments used to star-gaze with the naked eye. The evening is free to enjoy the one-of-a-kind shopping of the bazaars. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. 

   Meals: (B, D)

8. Day 08: Jaipur - Delhi

   • Drive to Delhi after an amazing tour of the Golden Triangle with Ranthambore. Here we check in at ITC Welcome Hotel Dwarka, New Delhi, for day rooms until 8:00 PM. 
   • Have a farewell dinner, and after that, we are transferred to the international terminal for your flight home. We bid farewell after a memorable journey into incredible India's history, culture, art and architecture.  

   Meals: (B, D)