Highlights
- Happy by day two or we'll bring you home with a full refund
- A wonderful tour of northern India’s ‘Golden Triangle’
- See the breathtaking Taj Mahal bathed in soft morning light, gazing in awe at the simple purity of its white marble and the exquisite craftsmanship of its inlay work
- City tours of both Old and New Delhi seeing all the major sights
- Enjoy a guided tour of the 400-year-old deserted Moghul city of Fatehpur Sikri
- Driving safari in Ranthambore National Park, the best place in India to spot the elusive tigers
- Explore the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, capital of the desert kingdom of Rajasthan with a guided city tour
- Marvel at the extraordinary location and beauty of Amber Fort, home of one of India’s most powerful maharajas
- Stay in an original Rajasthani fort, converted into a stunning Heritage Hotel
- Hand-picked accommodation rated three to five-stars, including all local taxes, with breakfast and eight meals included
Inclusions
- The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement (date dependant). The price includes:
- Nine nights’ accommodation in three, four or five-star hotels
- Daily breakfast and seven meals
- Scheduled flights to/from Delhi
- All transfers
- All local accommodation taxes
- All flight taxes
- All touring as mentioned
- All local transport by train or coach as described
- Hotel porterage of one item of luggage per person
- The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
- Included excursions are guided tours of New and Old Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, two game drives in Ranthambore, Jaipur city tour and a visit to the Amber Fort.
- Visa not included.
1
Airport check-in for your overnight flight to Delhi.
2
On arrival, we transfer to the five-star Le Meridien Hotel for one night. After a short rest we commence our guided tour of New Delhi. The city centre, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1911, is bisected by wide, tree-lined avenues, a hub which clearly reflects the Raj legacy and home to the former Viceroy’s Palace, now the Presidential Palace. Heading down the imposing Rajpath, we pass India Gate and the Parliament building. We’ll visit some of Delhi’s older monuments, including the Qutub Minaret, started in 1199, which is the tallest stone built tower in India. Nearby is Humayun’s tomb, an outstanding example of Moghul architecture and the first mausoleum of its type, pre-dating the more widely known Taj Mahal by nearly a century. A buffet dinner is included tonight.
3
This morning we continue our city tour, first visiting Old Delhi, starting with the Raj Ghat, a fittingly simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. We continue past the imposing walls and battlements of the great Red Fort before visiting the Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. We leave Delhi in the afternoon for our drive to Agra, arriving at our four-star Oberoi Trident hotel, in the late afternoon.
4
We rise early to catch the sun rising over the Taj Mahal. In the soft morning light, as the mist rises from the Yamuna River behind it, the Taj Mahal seems to float, mirage-like, above the surrounding landscape. A combination of extraordinary beauty, symmetry and history makes this wonder of the world one of the most amazing monuments on the planet and you will have plenty of time to admire it from all angles. Moving on, we continue our tour with a visit to the vast red sandstone Agra Fort. Completed in 1573, it was the headquarters of the Moghul Empire, boasting vast size and opulence, its buildings make it more of a walled palace than a fort. In the evening you have the option of completing a wonderful day with another visit to the Taj Mahal, to witness the shrine at sunset.
5
Leaving Agra this morning we continue towards the ancient abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, built in 1571, as Emperor Akbar’s imperial capital. Although it was mysteriously abandoned just 15 years later, it remains in a remarkable state of preservation, with numerous palaces, wide courtyards and beautiful carvings. We stop for lunch (included) at the the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Bharat before going on to the railway station to catch the Shatabdi Express for our comfortable two and a half hour journey to Ranthambore National Park. Originally the private hunting preserve of Maharajahs, its 400 square kilometres of forested rolling hills, valleys and lakes form a unique ecosystem. Started in 1973, India’s famous Tiger Project was created to protect the country’s tiger population. Despite many difficulties, the tigers of Ranthambore have survived and numbers have stabilised. Our hotel for the next two nights is the comfortable family-run three-star Ranthambore Regency on full board basis.
6
An early start this morning is worth the sacrifice as we head out to the park for our safari using specially built, 20-person, open-top four wheel drive vehicles known as ‘canters’. After many years of conservation, Ranthambore is now the best place to spot tigers in India, but the reserve is about more than tigers – over 300 bird species have been counted including impressive crested eagles, painted stork and wild peacocks. The park’s residents also include large numbers of sambars, the largest Asian antelope, as well as marsh crocodiles, wild boar and rare sloth bears and leopards. Look out for the playful troop of black-faced langur monkeys near the main entrance gate. We return to our hotel in the late morning, with time to relax before and after lunch. In the afternoon we take our second trip into the park for another chance to spot the elusive tigers. Dinner is included this evening.
7
Leaving Ranthambore after breakfast we head north to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. Our afternoon tour will cover all the major highlights of this ancient city. The famous Hawa Mahal, known as the Palace of Winds, is one of our first stops before we continue to the Astronomical Observatory constructed in 1726 and on to the City Palace, still home to the present Maharajah of Jaipur, where we’ll view collections of costumes, carpets, paintings and the impressive armoury. Our hotel for the next two nights is the new four-star Hilton Jaipur.
8
This morning another highlight, on a tour of highlights: you’ll visit the immense Amber Fort, located in the hills just a short drive out of Jaipur. Sampling all the most fascinating sights, our guided tour includes the sections reserved for the Maharajah’s wives and concubines as well as the remarkable hall of mirrors, with tiny delicate convex mirrors embedded like a mosaic in the walls and ceilings.
9
After breakfast, we bid goodbye to Jaipur and head north, deeper into the interior of rural Rajasthan. We pass numerous small villages and towns on our way to the Sekhawati region of the state and the village of Alsisar. This was once part of India’s Silk Road and over the years the merchants here grew very rich, building a large number of luxurious mansions known as ‘havelis’, to display their wealth through the magnificence of their frescoed walls. Although most of these have now been abandoned, the imposing and luxurious residence of the local kings has been lovingly restored into an amazing Heritage Hotel, the Alsisar Mahal, where we stay for the night with a buffet dinner. A maze of winding corridors, cool courtyards and arched colonnades, lead to the charming rooms, all different, but most are spacious and some with four-poster double beds. Rooms are air-conditioned, with bath or shower, but no TV. In the afternoon we take a guided walk through the village to explore the best examples of the havelis that lie just outside the walls of the Alsisar Mahal. Dinner is included tonight.
10
After breakfast we head back to Delhi and the last night of our tour, at the Le Meridien Hotel. Dinner is included this evening.
11
In the morning we will transfer to the airport for our flight home, arriving back in the UK to reflect on a once-in-a-lifetime tour.
5* Le Meridien - New Delhi
Recognised as one of the ‘100 icons of Delhi’ as a city landmark is the atrium glass building of the 5 star Le Meridien, located in the heart of New Delhi. Nearby within walking distance is the historic landscape of Lutyens Delhi great for exploring the sights, sounds and aromas of this area. Featuring one of the highest roof top restaurants in the city, dining choices include two speciality restaurants serving Indian and Chinese cuisine or the option of all day dining international cuisine, as well as the coffee bar serving light snacks. After a day’s sightseeing relax and take a temping signature cocktail in the Nero Bar. Alternatively, there is Henri’s Bar specialising in malts and whiskies. 24 hour room service is also available. Other facilities include an outdoor pool and fitness centre. For a complete Spa experience the 4th floor features the Three Graces by Amatrra Spa. The 358 rooms are contemporary and cosy with en-suite bath or shower room, hair dryer, air-conditioning, mini fridge/bar (extra charge), safe, iron/board, TV, tea/coffee making facilities, complimentary wifi. (Swimming pools in India: are generally not heated and some may not be usable during the winter months).
4* Oberoi Trident Hotel - Agra
The four-star Oberoi Trident Hotel is located in quiet surroundings, near to the Taj Mahal. Managed by the famed Oberoi group, this low-rise modern hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens with water features and a swimming pool. The hotel grows all its own vegetables and the contemporary-style restaurant offers both buffets and a la carte Indian and continental cuisine, as well as popular wood-fired pizza oven. There is also a small lobby bar and fitness room. All 137 comfortable rooms overlook the Mogul-style gardens or pool and are air-conditioned, with en-suite bathroom, hairdryer, minibar, satellite TV, safe, wireless internet (extra charge) and tea/coffee-maker.Swimming pools in India: most outside pools are not heated and may not be usable in the winter months.
5* Jaipur Marriott Hotel - Jaipur
This modern hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and spa, the hotel has 2 restaurants offering a selection of international and local fishes, a café/bakery and a bar serving drinks and snacks. The 374 modern stylish air-conditioned rooms all have bath, shower, hairdryer, minibar, safe, iron/board, cable TV, tea/coffee-maker and Wi-Fi. Swimming pools in India: most outside pools are not heated and may not be usable in the winter months.
3* Ranthambore Regency - Sawai Madhopur
The three-star Ranthambore Regency Hotel is a charming family-run, low-rise hotel located close to the entrance of the National Park. Built around lush, well-tended gardens with a small pool and plenty of quiet shady spots to relax in, this is one of our clients’ favourite hotels for its low-key informal atmosphere and personal service. There is also a large lounge with bar and a small shop. All guests are on full board basis and the hotel’s buffet restaurant offers a wide selection of (mild!) regional Indian dishes and western options. All 42 rooms are spacious and air-conditioned, with en-suite bathroom, hairdryer, cable TV, wireless internet (extra charge), mini-fridge, tea/coffee-maker and look out into the gardens.Swimming pools in India: most outside pools are not heated and may not be usable in the winter months.
Heritage Alsisar Mahal - Alsisar
The heritage-class Alsisar Mahal is located by the village of Alsisar in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. You are really in the middle of rural India here and a stay at this charming property gives you an insight into the India of yesteryear. The hotel can be described as a half-palace, half-castle property, entered through ancient, heavy wooden doors which lead into a wide courtyard encircled by domed roofs and overhanging balconies. There is an open-air pool, spa, traditional bar, billiard room and restaurant. All the 51 air-conditioned rooms are different in style and size, many with antiques and extra large marble bathrooms. In keeping with the style of the property there are no TVs. Swimming pools in India: most outside pools are not heated and may not be usable in the winter months.