The Golden Triangle is India’s great overture, and this journey adds its perfect encore: wild tigers. So Delhi’s twin cities, the Taj Mahal at sunrise and Jaipur’s pink bazaars lead to dawn safaris in Ranthambore. Travel is by fast train and private car, with hand-picked hotels throughout. As ever, every day is private, guided and shaped around you. In short, it is the ideal first taste of India, with claws.
First, two nights in the capital ease you in gently. With your private guide, plunge into Old Delhi’s bazaars and Mughal monuments. Then, by contrast, tour the grand avenues of New Delhi, the city the British built after 1911. A cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk wakes every sense. Afterwards, your hotel restores calm.
Next, the morning express reaches Agra in ninety minutes. That afternoon, see Agra Fort, where Shah Jahan gazed across at his wife’s tomb, and the delicate Baby Taj. Then walk the villages over the Yamuna for a sunset view of the Taj Mahal itself. At dawn, stand before it as the marble blushes pink. Nothing in travel quite compares.
From Fatehpur Sikri, a train carries you to Sawai Madhopur and tiger country. Over four game drives in Ranthambore, you search ruined temples and lakes for India’s great cat. Alongside, expect deer, monkeys, sloth bear and superb birdlife. You stay at the wonderful tented Sher Bagh. With luck and patience, the forest delivers its star.
Then comes the Pink City. A walking tour threads the bazaars and artisan quarters, where craftspeople have worked since the city’s founding, before the City Palace and the Hawa Mahal. Later, stroll the Meena tribal villages beneath the Amber Fort, then explore the fort itself. Finally, an optional elephant evening at Dera Amer ends the day in the countryside. You stay grandly at Samode Haveli.
The route is deliberately well-paced. So trains replace long drives, and two-night stays are the minimum. Mornings carry the sightseeing, while afternoons stay flexible. As a result, ten days feel generous rather than rushed. Naturally, we adjust the tempo to you.
Hotels here match the journey’s spirit. So heritage havelis and a luxury safari camp replace anonymous chains. Equally, we can raise the stakes with palace icons throughout; our Rajasthan with Oberoi Hotels shows how. Either way, every property is one we know personally. Where you sleep shapes how you remember India.
This journey is made for first-time visitors. So it gathers the essential sights, adds wildlife and keeps logistics invisible. Families love the safari days, while couples love the sunrise Taj. For example, honeymooners often add a beach finale. In the end, it suits anyone who wants the classics done well.
From Jaipur, India opens in every direction. So fly south for Kerala’s backwaters, or finish on the sand with the Golden Triangle and Maldives. History lovers, meanwhile, add Varanasi on our Holy and Regal India route. Simply tell us your dream, and we will build it in.
Throughout, your guides look past the postcards. In Delhi, that might be a quiet lane or a working market. At Agra, it could be a sunset view from across the river. In Jaipur, it might be a craft workshop few tourists find. As a result, the famous triangle feels freshly discovered.
India’s expresses are part of the fun. So Executive Class carriages turn transfers into sightseeing, with chai service included. Your driver waits beside the carriage at every arrival. Meanwhile, the windows roll an ever-changing India past you. In short, the journeys entertain as much as the destinations.
Eating well needs no effort here. So Old Delhi’s parathas, Jaipur’s lassis and campfire dinners at Sher Bagh mark the route. Your guide knows which stalls are legendary and which to skip. Equally, gentler palates are always catered for. Come hungry either way.
We have run this route for years. So the guides, the train seats and the safari slots are all hand-picked. Our partners on the ground are on call throughout your trip. Meanwhile, we keep one eye on the tiger sightings reports. As a result, your first India simply works.
Above the park rises a tenth-century fort, and it makes the setting unforgettable. So tigers here pose against ruins rather than scrub. Photographers, in particular, treasure the combination. Even a quiet drive rewards the eyes. Few safaris anywhere look like this.
In the end, this route explains India’s pull in ten days. So the dawn Taj and the first tiger become lifelong stories. Many travellers book their second trip before flying home. Meanwhile, the country keeps its deeper chapters in reserve. As a result, the Triangle is rarely anyone’s last word on India.
Sightings are likely but never guaranteed. So we schedule four drives to give luck room. Patience is usually rewarded.
Ten days as designed. So every stop breathes, and the trains do the hard work. We can extend it freely.
Entirely. Every itinerary is private and shaped around you. Simply share your dates and interests, and we will craft the rest.
| £3500P.P | - | £6995P.P |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ease gently into the trip. On your first day, there is no need to do much. Instead, take a short walk to get your bearings. Then settle in and rest after the journey.
Today your private guide meets you for a tour of Old and New Delhi. As ever, we tailor it to your interests. First, explore the bustling bazaars and Mughal sites of Old Delhi. After lunch, continue to New Delhi. Here you see the imperial city the British built after moving the capital from Calcutta in 1911.
Board the morning train to Agra, departing at 08:10 and arriving at 09:40, in Executive Class. After lunch, explore the city with your private guide. First, visit Agra Fort, where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. From its walls he could see the tomb he built for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Next, see the Baby Taj, or Itmad-ud-Daulah, regarded as a forerunner to the Taj itself. Finally, as the day closes, walk through the villages across the Yamuna River. From here, the Taj glows at sunset from a very different angle.
The Taj Mahal is at its best at sunrise, slowly changing colour as the sun climbs. After breakfast, head to Fatehpur Sikri, a former Mughal capital. It was abandoned, reportedly for want of water, yet remains perfectly preserved. Then take the train from Bharatpur to Sawai Madhopur, departing 10:30 and arriving 12:55. Later, head into the park for an afternoon game drive. With luck, you make your first tiger sighting.
Today brings two game drives, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each outing reveals more of Ranthambore’s varied wildlife. You may see deer, monkeys and sloth bear. Meanwhile, the park’s many bird species are a constant delight. Patient drives are often the most rewarding of all.
After one more game drive, board the train at 10:40. You arrive in Jaipur by 12:40, in time for lunch. Then spend the afternoon at leisure. Alternatively, wander into the shops for which Jaipur is so famous.
This morning, your guide leads a walking tour through the bazaars and markets of the old town. Along the way, you reach the artisan quarters, where craftspeople have worked since the city was founded. Then see Jaipur’s great sights, such as the City Palace and the Palace of the Winds. Afterwards, the afternoon is yours to enjoy.
Take the morning to soak up the atmosphere at your own pace. In the afternoon, walk through the traditional Meena tribal villages beside the magical Amber Fort. After your walk, explore the fort itself. Finally, end the day with an optional elephant safari at Dera Amer, out in the rural countryside.
Board the late train to Delhi at 17:50, arriving at 22:00. There are earlier trains, though they run a little slower. On arrival, transfer down to Gurgaon for your final night.
Today you are taken to the airport in good time for your flight home. Alternatively, you can extend your time in India. We are always happy to suggest where to go next.
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. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.