About the tour: India’s Golden Triangle – Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore

Fly to Delhi.

Upon arrival in Delhi you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will stay for two nights. The rest of the day is at leisure in Delhi. This evening a welcome dinner will be included at your hotel.

• Included meals: Dinner

Enjoy an included guided tour of the capital of India, Delhi, with its historic and often turbulent past. The city is sprinkled with monuments and sites of its past and present glories, including a drive past the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid and the pulsating and teeming bazaars of Chandni Chowk, all built by Shah Jahan when he moved his capital from Agra to Delhi.

Offsetting this are more modern symbols of present day Delhi, including Connaught Place, a thriving business hub; India Gate and its surrounding parks; the seat of Government, Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the presidential residence.

Also see Humayun’s tomb, an example of Mughal architecture, and Qutab Minar, a 13th century red sandstone minaret.

During the day we include lunch at a Delhi restaurant.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We leave Delhi and drive to the city of Agra for a two-night stay. This evening we include a visit to the Mughal garden of Mehtab Bagh, which provides breathtaking views of the Taj Mahal from the other side of the Yamuna River.

• Included meals: Breakfast

Join today's included excursion – one of the highlights of our tour – as we visit the extravagant Taj Mahal.

Built between 1631 and 1648 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this immense mausoleum of white marble and precious stone. Today, the Taj Mahal is widely regarded as a masterpiece of world heritage.

Few forts in the world have a more fascinating story to tell than the great fort of Agra, an outstanding example of Mughal architecture and the seat and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations.

Situated on the west bank of the Yamuna with incredible views of the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. This magnificent citadel of red sandstone encompasses within its high ramparts, an enormous complex of courtly building, ranging in style from the early eclecticism of Akbar to the sublime elegance of Shah Jahan.

Marvel at the lavishly decorated halls, courtyards and galleries including Jahangiri Mahal dating back to Akbar’s reign, the elegant marble hall of Khas Mahal, the royal baths of Sheesh Mahal, the lavishly decorated Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience) and the many-pillared Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience).

The other impressive monuments include the Nagina Masjid (Jewel Mosque) built by Shah Jahan for his harem, and the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and the octagonal tower of Musamman Burj, where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb and spent the last years of his life.

In this once-impregnable fortress, discover the many hidden rooms and immerse yourself in the grand legacy of the Mughals in India.

This evening you have the opportunity to join us for a sunset visit to the Taj Mahal. This excursion is highly recommended and extremely popular, therefore we recommend that this excursion is booked in advance at a cost of £35 per person.

• Included meals: Breakfast

We leave Agra this morning and head towards Jaipur where we will stay for two nights.

En route we visit the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. Built during the second half on the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only 10 years. Amongst its complex monuments and temples are the Buland Darwaza gate and one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.

• Included meals: Breakfast

We spend the day in the great city of Jaipur. Founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh, the Pink City of Jaipur is the capital of the rugged landscape of Rajasthan.

We start the day with an included visit to the magnificent Amber Fort and Palace. Located on the outskirts of the city, this was the original residence of the royal family of Jaipur, and is a fascinating amalgam of both Mughal and Hindu architectural styles.

We return to the city to continue our sightseeing tour, where we will see the City Palace Complex (the home of today’s ruling Maharaja), before having the opportunity to taste some local sweets in Jaipur’s vibrant bazaar.

• Included meals: Breakfast

We head to Ranthambore for a two-night stay. Nestling at the foot of the Aravalli Hills, the forests around Ranthambore were once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur.

Today the Ranthambore National Park is one of India's finest wildlife locations and an outstanding example of the implementation of Project Tiger, the most famous wildlife conservation project in India. The project was initiated to protect the diminishing population of Indian tigers, and now, the country is home to 70% of the world's tiger population.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we enjoy two jungle safaris in Ranthambore National Park. Famous for its frequent sightings of tigers, you may also spot leopards, sloth bears, Blue Bulls, Sambhar Deer, Marsh Crocodiles, Striped Hyenas and numerous species of birds.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning transfer to the railway station at Sawai Madhopur where we board the Janshatabdi train to Delhi, arriving early afternoon. We continue to our hotel for an overnight stay.

• Included meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

• Included meals: Breakfast