Itinerary
Arrive Delhi, India
Welcome to India!
On arrival into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), you will be met by a local representative in the arrivals hall and transferred to your accommodation.
Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Meals: n/a
Accommodation: Rose Mallow Hotel 3* or similar
Delhi
Today you will be taken on a full day tour of Delhi.
As Old Delhi unfolds its historic charm, offering a glimpse into India’s rich heritage, culture, and traditions, the captivating New Delhi showcases the nation’s modern identity.
The tour begins with a visit to Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques, constructed from red sandstone and marble by over 5,000 artisans. Next, explore Chandni Chowk, Asia’s largest wholesale market, a bustling hub of shops, bazaars, and people (note that most shops remain closed on Sundays). Drive past the iconic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, before stopping at Raj Ghat, a simple yet profound memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.
The journey continues into New Delhi, reflecting the architectural legacy left by the British. The first stop is Humayun’s Tomb, a 16th-century masterpiece and the first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent, renowned for its Indo-Persian design and as a precursor to the Taj Mahal. The Imperial Delhi tour also includes a drive past India Gate, the 42-meter-high War Memorial Arch, along with the Parliament House, Secretariat buildings, and the Vice Regal Palace—now the official residence of the President of India.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Rose Mallow Hotel 3 or similar
Delhi
Agra
Depart Delhi after breakfast, en route to the historical and famous city of Agra – home of the picturesque Taj Mahal.
On arrival into Agra, you will be guided through both Agra Fort and then visit the Taj Mahal in time for sunset.
Agra Fort
Served as the capital and command center of the Mughal Empire until Shah Jahan relocated it to Delhi. The present structure is a fusion of architectural brilliance, shaped by successive emperors beginning with Akbar. Shah Jahan, renowned for his love of pristine white marble, added some of the most remarkable structures within the fort complex, while the outer ramparts were the contribution of Aurangzeb. Strolling through this vast fortress, surrounded by royal pavilions and grand audience halls, offers insight into the evolving aesthetics and architectural styles of the Mughal dynasty.
Taj Mahal (Sunset Visit)
The Taj Mahal transforms throughout the day, reflecting different hues as the sun moves across the sky. Its gleaming white marble façade shifts in colour—from a delicate pink at sunrise to radiant white at midday and a golden glow under the moonlight—making it a mesmerizing spectacle at all hours. One of the most enchanting moments to witness this play of colors is at dusk when the setting sun bathes the monument in breathtaking shades of pink, orange, and red, creating an unforgettable visual experience.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Crystal Inn 3* or similar
AgraBharatpurRanthambore National Park
Post breakfast, drive to Ranthambhore. Break journey at Bharatpur to stretch your legs and grab some snacks on the way and later continue your drive to Ranthambhore.
Ranthambore National Park, in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district, is one of India’s most popular wildlife destinations. Spanning 1,300 square kilometres, it features dense jungles, golden savannas, rugged cliffs, and serene lotus-filled lakes. Renowned as the best place to spot Bengal tigers in the wild, the park also shelters diverse wildlife, including sambar, gazelles, caracals, blackbucks, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Blending natural beauty with history, Ranthambore is home to ancient temples, crumbling ruins, and the majestic Ranthambore Fort, which offers breathtaking views of the landscape.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Abhyaran Resort and Spa 4* or similar
Optional tour: Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal
Experience the unique colours of the Taj Mahal as the sun rises, beating the crowds and heat of the day.
Start: depart hotel before sunrise (timing seasonal)
Duration: 1 hour
Optional tour: Afternoon canter (bus) safari at Ranthambore National Park
Enjoy an afternoon safari by canter in Ranthambore National Park which boasts a fantastic wildlife. Experience its lush forests that are home to Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai and over 250 species of birds. The safaris are booked through jungle authorities and offered on first come first serve basis.
There are limited canters, hence can’t be guaranteed.
Availability pending arrival into Ranthambore National Park.
Duration: 3 hours
Accompanied by an experience naturalist
Optional tour: Afternoon jeep safari at Ranthambore National Park
Enjoy an afternoon safari by canter in Ranthambore National Park which boasts a fantastic wildlife. Experience its lush forests that are home to Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai and over 250 species of birds. The safaris are booked through jungle authorities and offered on first come first serve basis.
There are limited jeeps, hence can’t be guaranteed.
Duration: 3 hours
Accompanied by an experience naturalist
Ranthambore National ParkJaipur
This morning you will embark on a canter safari through Ranthambore National Park, which boasts fantastic wildlife.
Explore the lush forests teeming with diverse wildlife, including Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, and over 250 species of birds. The safari lasts approximately three hours and is guided by an experienced naturalist. Bookings are managed by the jungle authorities on a first-come, first-served basis, and due to the limited availability of canters, reservations cannot be guaranteed.
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Jaipur.
Upon arrival, check into your hotel before heading out for an evening bazaar walk, where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture and bustling markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Park Ocean 4* or similar
Optional tour: Upgrade to jeep from canter for Ranthambore National Park safari
The canter safari is included in your tour package – why not upgrade to the small, more nimble and less occupied jeep.
Optional tour: Evening bazaar, cuisine & crafts of Old Jaipur
From its creation in 1727 the royal families and nobles of Jaipur patronised the craftsmen and artisans of the city. These traditions continue to this day and as a result modern day Jaipur is considered by many as the craft capital of India. Traditional methods are still used to produce many valuable and highly prized items. Using skills passed down through generations, artisans and master craftsmen can be seen in the areas of Ghat Darwaza and Vishveshwar ji.
On this fascinating evening walk mingle and talk with the locals whilst sampling some of the regions culinary delights; try pakoras, aloo tiki, samosa and sweets from some of the city’s most popular street food vendors. Observe local artisans in their workshops; jewellers and silversmiths, gold and silver foil makers.
The iconic Hawa Mahal also called the Palace of the Winds is the meeting point at which this walk begins.
Duration: 2 hours
Start (Oct to Mar): 4:30pm
(Apr to Sep): 5:00pm
Jaipur
In the morning, take a short drive from Jaipur to the historic capital of Amber to explore the magnificent Amber Fort.
In the afternoon, embark on a city tour of Jaipur, featuring some of its most iconic landmarks. Visit the City Palace, a breathtaking complex of grand palaces, lush gardens, and intricately designed courtyards adorned with exquisite artwork and carved doorways. The palace museum showcases a remarkable collection of rare manuscripts, weaponry, royal costumes, carpets, and miniature paintings.
Next, walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. It is one of five such observatories he constructed and continues to provide remarkably accurate astronomical readings even today.
Conclude your tour with a photo stop at the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal), an architectural marvel known for its intricate lattice windows and stunning façade.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Park Ocean 4* or similar
Optional tour: Pink City Tuk-Tuk ride
Explore the alleys and streets of Jaipur in the local style in an auto-rickshaw, also popularly known as Tuk-Tuk (a three-wheeled taxi). Drive around the old city with its colourful shops, latticed windows houses and rose pink colour streets. Witness the architectural marvels, ethnically dressed men and women. The rickshaw ride offers an insight into the local life.
Start: 2:30pm (flexible timings)
Duration: 1 hour
Optional tour: Saree draping for women
Guest learns how to wear a saree, dress up like a gracious Indian lady. Guests also gets to take a saree along with matching blouse and a petticoat to take away as a memorable gift from India, along with priceless photographs looking beautiful in a saree in our ethnic heritage hall or garden!
Start (flexible timing): 4:00pm
Duration: 1 hour
Optional tour: Safa tying for men
For the men, we offer the Safa, a headscarf that is even longer than a saree! This intricately layered turban brings vibrant color and grandeur, making your memories of Rajasthan even more special.
Start (flexible timing): 4:00pm
Duration: 1 hour
Jaipur
Today is spent at your leisure to explore the city either by yourself or by partaking in any or all of the optional tours below.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Park Ocean 4* or similar
Optional tour: Old Temples and Havelis walk
Experience the religious life of local communities by visiting colourful temples, interact with residents over tea and snacks in their home and discover some of the architectural wonders of this fascinating aspect of Jaipur. This walk has been carefully designed to offer a rewarding and enriching experience in the walled city of Jaipur. Enjoy this interactive experience to meet the residents and gain an insight into traditional ways of life.
Start:
(Oct to Mar) 8:30am
(Apr to Sep) 8:00am
Duration: 2 hours
Optional tour: Cooking demonstration in a local home followed by lunch or dinner
In this tour, visitors will be taken to a Rajasthani home for a demonstration and tasting of traditional home-style Indian cooking. A full meal will be demonstrated, and visitors can choose to participate in cooking or merely watch and learn.
Before visiting the home, visitors will take a walk through a local bazaar with one of the family members, to learn about the ingredients and essentials of Rajasthani cooking.
Lunch start: 11:30am
Dinner start: 6:30pm
Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours
JaipurDelhi
Today, return to Delhi.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Rose Mallow Hotel 3* or similar
Delhi
Varanasi
This morning, you will be met and transferred from your hotel to Delhi Airport in time for your included flight to Varanasi.
On arrival into Varanasi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Starting at the cosmic heart of Kashi, the radiant City of Light, immerse yourself in its sacred rites and rituals. Wander through ancient pathways leading to the revered temples and mosques of Hindus and Muslims, and witness the timeless cremation ceremonies at Manikarnika, the burning ghat. A key highlight is Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, believed to house the first of the jyotirlingas—sacred pillars of light that emerged from the earth. Yet, few realize that this temple has been reconstructed four times in three different locations, with two former sites now bearing mosques. Embark on a journey to uncover the original foundations of this luminous city.
This evening, experience the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti as you sail along the sacred river, seeking her blessings. Your boat will pause at the ideal vantage point, offering an unobstructed view of this captivating ceremony— a divine ritual that marks the day’s end.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Rivatas by Ideal 4* or similar
Varanasi
Before breakfast, you will head out onto the River Ganges on a boat.
Varanasi is one of India’s holiest and most captivating destinations, where the sacred River Ganges shapes its unique culture, intertwining life and death. The best way to experience the city’s spiritual essence is with an early morning boat ride along the Ganges. Observe the bustling ghats, where devotees gather in prayer, believing that bathing in the holy waters washes away sins, while the ashes of the departed are scattered into the river to break the cycle of reincarnation and guide the soul toward enlightenment.
Afterwards, return to your hotel where the remainder of the day is spent at your leisure or taking part in some/all of the optional excursions.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Rivatas by Ideal 4* or similar
Optional tour: Guided visit to Sarnath
Take a short drive to Sarnath, one of the four major Buddhist pilgrimage sites, where Buddha delivered his first sermon. The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, a devoted supporter of Buddhism, commissioned the construction of grand stupas, monasteries, and an inscribed pillar. However, these structures fell into obscurity by the 12th century due to the decline of Buddhism and Muslim invasions. Rediscovered by British archaeologists in the early 19th century, Sarnath now attracts devotees from around the world.
Start: 10:00am
Duration: 3 hours
Note: Sarnath Museum is closed on Fridays
Optional tour: Tour of the northern bazaars and hidden alleys
Wander through the narrow lanes of the city’s northern quarter, where shops, temples, and daily life remain untouched by time, with some residents having never left their streets for years. Discover a lesser-explored part of the city and the riverside, where the great mystic Kabir once composed his poetry. Visit the site where an 8th-century Krishna temple once stood before being demolished and replaced by a mosque. This bustling bazaar is a maze of winding alleys, sure to leave even the most seasoned traveler disoriented.
Start: 3:00pm
Duration: 3 hours
Optional tour: "Death and rebirth" night tour
This walk offers a journey into the mystical essence of life and the afterlife in Varanasi, leading to ‘Mahashmashana’—Shiva’s great cremation ground. Traverse from the realm of the living to the sacred spaces where the dying find solace. If undertaken during the day, the walk includes a small puja at the Sankata Devi Temple, dedicated to the goddess of sorrows and a powerful demon slayer. For those walking at night, the experience concludes with witnessing the ritual worship service at Sankata Devi Temple.
Start: 7:30pm
Duration: 3 hours
Depart VaranasiDelhi
Today marks the end of your time on tour in India as you are transferred to Varanasi Airport in time for your included flight back to Delhi.
Upon arriving into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), you will commence your own arrangements.
Please note: we recommend not booking departure flights out of DEL Airport prior to 6:00pm local time.
Meals: Breakfast
