A Journey Through India

We arrive into Delhi and transfer to the delightful Leela Ambience Hotel. This evening, we enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Manager and fellow travellers to become acquainted and learn more about our forthcoming adventures.

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing as we explore Old and New Delhi. Begin the day with a pleasant rickshaw ride through Old Delhi, travelling via the lavish Red Fort – palace of the Mughal Empire. Visit Jama Masjid, India’s largest and most spectacular mosque, and experience Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colourful market of the old city. It’s an action-packed morning, concluding with a street food walk in Old Delhi, showcasing a range of authentic Dilli food bursting with all sorts of mouth-watering flavours. We continue to New Delhi to visit the iconic India Gate and celebrated Parliament House, before finishing our tour at Humayun's Tomb.

Following breakfast, we enjoy a leisurely walking tour around Shimla, witnessing heritage buildings including the Gaiety Theatre, a restored Gothic construction extraordinarily adorned with papier-mâché! Our tour also visits the General Post Office, and Viceregal Lodge, the most historically significant colonial building of the region, displaying incredible architecture. The remainder of the day is ours to explore this historic hill station.

Whilst our day has been left free for independent exploring, for those interested we may join our guide to visit Sankat Mochan Temple. Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, this temple is known for its splendid architecture and fabulous views. This afternoon we highly recommend joining the optional Sleeping Beauty Trail. Our walk is on Elysium Hill, the highest of one of seven hills that surround Shimla. We pass by the famous Lakkar Bazaar, home to numerous stalls selling an array of Himachali handicrafts, followed by visits to several of Shimla’s historic buildings.

Bidding farewell to magical Shimla we journey to Chandigarh in a series of smaller vehicles, which are best suited to the mountainous terrain. At Chandigarh, we board our flight to Jaipur, arriving into the city late afternoon. Upon arrival we transfer to our home for the next two nights, the Marriott Jaipur.

Following breakfast, we travel a short distance to meet our waiting jeeps, which take us to a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the magnificent Amber Fort. Set amidst dramatic pink hills and overlooking Maota Lake, the nostalgic Amber Fort is a fabulous example of Rajput architecture. Later, we embark on a city sightseeing tour, visiting the stunning City Palace; Jantar Mantar, the famed astronomical observatory dating back to 1734; and a drive past the distinctive Hawa Mahal, an extraordinary pink and red sandstone palace, widely known as the ‘Palace of Winds.’ To finish our day, we enjoy a cooking demonstration and dinner at a local family home, providing a unique opportunity to experience traditional local life.

We depart Jaipur this morning bound for Ranthambore National Park. On arrival we check into our accommodation, the Ranthambore Regency Hotel or the Ranthambore Bagh Palace. Located on the fringe of Ranthambore National Park, the hotels provide the perfect base for our next adventure. This afternoon, you may choose to relax at our hotel, or take a tour of Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evening, we prepare for the exciting day ahead with a fascinating tiger talk by an expert local naturalist.

We begin the day with an early safari in Ranthambore National Park by shared canter vehicles. Ranthambore is one of the largest national parks in northern India, and renowned for its majestic Bengal tigers. We hope to witness these magnificent and elusive predators roaming in their natural habitat. Later this afternoon we continue exploring the park further. Keep a look out for some of Ranthambore’s other wildlife including crocodiles, sloth bears, monkeys, sambar deer, and over 250 species of bird, whilst taking in the stunning scenery.

Bidding farewell to Ranthambore this morning, we journey to Abhaneri. Unique to India, Chand Baori is a 13 storey, 1300-year-old stepwell, constructed with mind-blowing geometry and aesthetics. We visit the Hindu temple of Harshat Mata Mandir, before taking lunch at a local restaurant. We continue our journey to Agra and the Grand Mercure hotel, where we spend the next two nights.

Following a leisurely breakfast, we head to the airport for our flight to Mumbai. On arrival we transfer to the five-star Trident Hotel Nariman Point, which will be our home for the next two nights.

This morning, we take a short tour of Mumbai, visiting Mani Bhawan, a museum dedicated to Gandhi; the Prince of Wales Museum; Victoria Terminus; the open-air laundromat Dhobi Ghat; and the iconic Gateway of India. This afternoon has been left at our leisure. Why not join an optional tour across the Bay of Mumbai to visit the Elephanta Caves, an intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva.

It's goodbye Mumbai, as we fly to Madurai today. Madurai is a lively and ancient city on the Vaigai River, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. We check in to our hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott, for our two night stay and this afternoon is reserved for leisure, whether it be venturing out to explore Madurai or relaxing by the hotel pool.

Our journey south continues this morning as we make our way towards Thekkady. As we traverse the mountainous countryside of thick jungle and vast carpets of tea bushes, the aroma of spices fills the air. Later we arrive at our hotel, the delightful Cardamom County Hotel, where we stay for the next two nights. As the remainder of the day has been left to enjoy the surroundings of our hotel, why not treat yourself to an Ayurvedic therapeutic treatment?

Following breakfast, we explore a spice plantation, where the mystery and history of the Indian tea and spice industry will be revealed. Later, enjoy a tranquil cruise on Periyar Lake (subject to water levels) through the scenic Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, where the surrounding forests are thriving with a range of colourful birdlife and wildlife, including elephants and sambars. We complete our day experiencing a 2,000 year old traditional Kathakali dance.

We awake to the tranquillity of the Keralan backwaters, where we enjoy breakfast onboard our houseboat. Disembarking, we begin our journey to the coastal village of Mararikulam. Known for its palm-lined beaches and stretches of golden sand it’s an ideal spot to relax and rejuvenate. On arrival we transfer to the Marari Beach Resort or Xandari Pearl Beach Resort. Both hotels are beautifully set amidst coconut groves, where you can relax and soak up the serene surroundings.

Our day is at leisure to spend as we please. Maybe take a morning stroll along the beach, or relax by the hotel pool. Alternatively, enjoy a traditional Ayurvedic treatment at the hotel spa.

Following breakfast, we travel to the colourful port city of Cochin. On arrival, we first visit Mattancherry Palace, also known as the ‘Dutch Palace’, to admire its exquisite murals, before continuing on to enchanting Fort Cochin, where Chinese fishing nets line the shore. We overnight at the Taj Cochin International Airport Hotel.

Our magical adventure through India comes to a close as we bid farewell to our travelling companions and travel to Cochin Airport for our onward flight back to the UK.