This is only a suggested itinerary, but it is one of the most popular itineraries guests do when they visit India for the first time. It gives a perfect balance of seeing the forts and palaces that Rajasthan is so famous for, the imitable Taj Mahal and a chance to head through the jungle hoping to spot a tiger in the wild. Naturally we can tweak and change any element of this journey, but at least it gives a starting point to help the ideas flow. We can tailored the day-to-day experiences to ensure you have the most incredible time, using hand-picked private guides to never offer the standard way of seeing India, but what really will make you smile. This might be seeing the Taj Mahal from the other bank of the Yamuna River the night before giving you another angle to see this amazing building, and completely away from other tourists (of course you can see it the following day at sunrise). In Jaipur, we will take you on an interesting immersive walk through the markets and artisan quarters, seeing more of the local life that just seeing the more famous sights. You can go on a short walk in the tribal villages outside of Jaipur, seeing women in traditional colourful saris, and men farming the land with bullocks. Of course you’ll see the classic sights like the City Palace, Amber Fort and so forth, but India has so much more to offer, and we love let it reveal itself a little more. You’ll have your own private driver throughout, meaning we can be flexible with what you see and do, and you’ll stay in charming boutique hotels or opt for the glamorous palaces – we always select the places that are just right for you. You can of course use the itinerary as a starting point to add on other places you want to visit in India, whether it is heading to the colonial hill-station of Shimla, or a beach-stay in Goa. The possibilities are endless, and so do let us know what you would love to see and do in India, and we will make a reality.
| £2565 | - | £5675 |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Gold |
| Days | Location | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1-2 | Delhi | The Manor The Imperial Hotel |
| Day 3 | Agra | ITC Mughal The Oberoi Amarvilas |
| Day 4-5 | Ranthambore National Park | Khem Villas Sher Bagh |
| Day 6-8 | Jaipur | 47 Jobner Bagh Taj Rambagh Palace |
| Day 9 | Delhi Airport | Fly Home |
Fly to Delhi and spend your first day very much getting into the swing of things. You might want to take a quick walk to get your bearings.
You’ll be met by your private guide and taken on a tour of Old and New Delhi, which will be tailored around your interests. Explore the bustling bazaars and Mughal sites of Old Delhi before having lunch and continuing to New Delhi, seeing the Imperial city that the British created after they moved the capital from Calcutta in 1911.
Get the train to Agra which departs at 0810 arriving at 0940, you’ll be in Executive Class. After lunch, you’ll then explore the city with your private guide, seeing Agra Fort where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb, looking out over the tomb he built for his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. You’ll then see the Baby Taj, or Itmad-ud-Daulah, so called because it was seen as a pre-cursor to the Taj Mahal itself. As the day draws to a close, take a leisurely walk through the traditional villages on the opposite side of the Yumana River to the Taj Mahal, seeing it as the sun sets from a very different angle.
The best time to see the Taj Mahal is at sunrise as the Taj slowly changes colour as the sun rises. After breakfast in the hotel, you’ll head to Fatehpur Sikri, a former Mughal capital that was left deserted when they were said to run out of water and is still perfectly preserved. Take the train from Bharatpur to Sawai Madhopur which departs at 1030 arriving at 1255. You can head into the park for an afternoon game drive, hopefully making your first tiger sighting!
You’ll head out on a morning and also an afternoon game drive, and hopefully seeing more and more of the varied wildlife that Ranthambore has to offer from deer, monkeys, sloth bear and an array of bird species.
After another game drive, you’ll board the train at 1040 arriving into Jaipur at 1240 in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure, or wander into to the shops as Jaipur is so famous for.
This morning your guide will meet you and take you on a walking tour through the bazaars and markets of the old town. You’ll see the artisan areas, where traditional workers have based themselves since Jaipur was founded. See the main sites of Jaipur, such as the City Palace and Palace of the Winds before spending the afternoon at leisure.
You might want the morning to leisurely soak up the atmosphere, and in the afternoon, take a walk through traditional Meena tribal villages that lie beside the magical Amber Fort. After your walk, visit the fort and end your day with an optional elephant safari through the surrounding rural countryside at Dera Amer.
Take the late train at 1750 to Delhi arriving at 2200 (there are earlier, but slightly slower trains). Transfer down to Gurgaon for you final night.
Today, you will be taken to the airport in time for your flight home. Alternatively you can extend your time in India.
Perfect for a first-time visitor to India, delve into the classic highlights of Rajasthan; marvelling at the Taj Mahal, heading out on a tiger safari, exploring the hidden side to the bustling cities of Jaipur and Udaipur, and also having time to experience Rajasthan’s magical rural heartlands.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch.