The Golden Triangle & Ranthambore Tour

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart from either Birmingham, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Heathrow or Manchester with Emirates – you can choose the most convenient airport for you at no extra cost. These all include a change of aircraft in Dubai. You also have the option to fly direct to Delhi with Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow at no extra cost.
In-flight meals and drinks included

Day 2: Delhi, 3 nights

All Emirates flights travel via Dubai, while Virgin Atlantic flights travel directly to Delhi. Once you’ve landed in Delhi, you’ll be transferred to your first home from home in India, the five-star Hyatt Regency hotel. This evening is a great opportunity to enjoy a welcome drink and get to know your Tour Manager and fellow travellers, ready for the adventures that lie ahead.
 In-flight meals and drinks included

Day 3: Delhi

Our first destination in our Indian adventure is Delhi, the perfect introduction to the country, offering a blend of the traditional and modern. A rickshaw ride through Old Delhi starts off our day, taking us past many of the city’s historic treasures. Our rickshaw journey will travel via the opulent Red Fort, an impressive Moghul palace, Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, and Chandni Chowk, a lively market burst with colour. We will also visit the imposing India Gate and Parliament House in New Delhi before stopping for a spot of lunch at the Olive Bar & Kitchen. The afternoon will see us take in the landmarks of New Delhi, demonstrating how the city has become a melting pot of religions and cultures. These include Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutub Minar, a towering minaret made from red sandstone and white marble, dating back to the 13^th century and measuring 75 metres high.
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 4: Delhi Freedom Day

The first of our Freedom Days during our time in India, where you are welcome to spend your day as you like. Our Distant Journeys Tour Manager will be there for you to offer any advice on the local area, from what to do to where to eat, and can also help with any excursions or arrangements you may need. One suggestion is to visit two of the most architecturally impressive temples in India, the Lotus Temple and the Akshardham Temple, or alternatively enjoy an introduction to the country’s many languages, cultures and religions. There is also the option to take a tour of the markets and schools of Delhi, with local street children leading the way – part of a project supported by the Salaam Baalak trust. This evening, you can also choose to dine in one of three excellent restaurants personally chosen by us, each offering their own take on the delectable Indian cuisine.
Breakfast included

Day 5: Jaipur, 3 nights

This morning we begin our journey to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. En route we visit the excellent Heritage Transport Museum for an interesting journey through the evolution of India’s motor industry on a self-guided tour. Later, we continue to Jaipur, the colourful capital of Rajasthan, and to the Trident Hotel Jaipur, offering stunning views of Mansagar Lake and Jal Mahal.
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 6: Jaipur

After breakfast, we travel a short distance to meet our waiting Jeeps, which take us to the majestic Amber Fort. Set amidst the hills and overlooking the Maota Lake, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a fabulous example of Rajput architecture. Later, we stop for a photo opportunity at the beautiful façade of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). This afternoon visit the City Palace Museum with its blend of Rajasthani and Mughal Art, and the awe-inspiring Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in 1726 which still provides accurate information to this day. This evening, should you wish, there is the option to take one of two wonderful dining experiences; a dinner under the stars, surrounded by bushland and the Aravali Hills, or enjoy a cooking demonstration and dinner in the home of a local Rajasthani family.
Breakfast included

Day 7: Jaipur Freedom Day

Explore Jaipur at your own pace with a Freedom Day, where you can sit back and relax or take in as much of the city as you wish. A heritage walking tour through the old city, showcasing the local trades and crafts, is one of our optional activities for today. We also offer the chance to visit a local organic farm and watch a live cookery demonstration, or to learn all about the ancient art of hand block printing and the manufacture of the area’s famous Blue Pottery. This evening we will enjoy a meal to remember at the delightful 1135AD. Here you can dine like royalty, as this acclaimed restaurant is set within the Amber Fort’s historic ramparts.
Breakfast and dinner included

Day 8: Ranthambore, 2 nights

Leaving Jaipur behind, we journey on to Ranthambore National Park. Once the private hunting ground of the Maharaja, the park is now celebrated for its wildlife conservation, and in particular its majestic tigers. After lunch, we board our open canter vehicle for our first safari. Whilst the elusive tiger is the park’s most famous inhabitant, keep an eye out for sambar deer, marsh crocodiles, sloth bears, monkeys, leopards and more than 250 species of birdlife. Our accommodation for the next two nights is the delightful Nahargarh Fort Hotel, built in the style of a traditional Rajput hunting palace. Dinner this evening is at our hotel.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 9: Ranthambore

This morning we rise early, ready to explore another fascinating area of the National Park. We will travel through more of Ranthambore again in the hope of seeing more of the amazing wildlife, including the elusive tigers. Returning to the hotel for breakfast, the rest of the day can be spent as you please. After a few busy days of exploration, a spot by the hotel pool may be the perfect place to enjoy some R&R, before enjoying a barbecue dinner surrounded by picturesque views of the hotel grounds at twilight.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 10: Agra, 2 nights

After breakfast we make our way to Bharatpur, where we enjoy lunch in the tranquil and peaceful Laxmi Niwas Palace. We continue our journey to Agra where we discover Fatehpur Sikri, an imperial city of the Mughal dynasty. Built in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri was deserted after only 14 years of rule. The abandoned city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, providing a wonderful insight into life in the time of the Mughal dynasty. We continue on to Agra and our hotel, the Trident Agra.
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 11: Taj Mahal

Agra is home to India’s most iconic attraction, the Taj Mahal, so our morning begins with a visit to this magnificent monument. The Mughals were at the peak of their power and wealth during Shah Jahan’s reign and it is said that over 20,000 stone carvers, masons, and artists from across India, Turkey and Iraq were employed to build this monument to love on the banks of Agra’s Yamuna River. After a wonderful visit to the Taj Mahal, we visit the impressive red sandstone Agra Fort which was the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. Embracing grand halls and palaces, the country was governed from here for many years. Our afternoon has been left free to spend as we please. This evening, there is an opportunity to experience Mohabbat The Taj show, depicting the romantic story of the Emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Breakfast included

Day 12: Delhi, overnight

For those that wish, you can rise early for another opportunity to view the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Our vantage point is from across the river at Mehtab Bagh or ‘Moonlit Gardens’, which provide some incredible photo opportunities. Following breakfast in the hotel, we travel with our local tour manager back to Delhi. Staying at the Pride Plaza Hotel, our afternoon is free to take in any last-minute souvenir shopping.
Breakfast included

Day 13: Depart India – arrive UK

We’ve sadly come to the end of our Indian adventure, flying back to our chosen airport in the UK. Emirates flights will fly via Dubai before arriving at the airport of your choice, while Virgin Atlantic flights fly direct to London Heathrow.
Breakfast and in-flight meals and drinks included