The Golden Triangle

1. 1–2

   Days 1–2

   Arrive Delhi

   We depart the UK on an overnight flight. Upon our arrival in Delhi, we will be met by our friendly Trip Leader and transferred by coach to our hotel in the city. After a short rest, and chance to freshen up, we will head out on a rickshaw ride to explore the old city—a truly Indian experience! Sights on our tour will include: Chandni Chowk the oldest spice bazaar in the city and Raj Ghat, the cremation place of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of modern India.

2. 3

   Day 3

   Train to Agra

   Rising early we’ll catch a morning train to Agra. Gazing out of the train window is a wonderful way of seeing the countryside and watch the locals as they go about their daily lives. On arrival in Agra we’ll have the chance to visit Agra Fort which lies across the Yamuna River. It was here that Aurangzeb, the third son of Shah Jahan, kept his father under house arrest. It offers a fantastic view of the Taj Mahal from the little octagonal tower at the fort. After this we will visit the amazing Taj Mahal, the seventh wonder of the world, up close. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj is his glowing tribute to his lady love Mumtaz Mahal. It is often considered the most complete and perfect of the wonders of the world.

3. 4

   Day 4

   Fatepur Sikri and Karauli

   After departing Agra this morning we will head towards Karauli. En-route we will make a stop at the one-time capital of the Mughal empire, Fatehpur Sikri. This is a very relaxing place to visit as we wander amongst the features of the deserted ancient city. Time permitting, we will also visit a Mosque and Hindu temple just opposite.

   We will stop for lunch along the way and arrive in Karauli later in the afternoon. Here, we will stay in a beautiful Heritage Hotel and after we have had a chance to settle in our Trip Leader will take us on a walk through the village. This delightful town was founded in 1348 and is packed with rural ambience and traditional temples. This is a genuine experience of rural India and the locals are always happy to see us.

4. 5

   Day 5

   Jaipur

   This morning we will make our way to Jaipur, a friendly, busy town crammed with palaces and bazaars full of jewellery, textiles and folk-based arts. Jaipur is a favourite for many travellers. Upon our arrival we will check into our hotel before heading out to explore this exciting city. We will have the opportunity to see the outside of many historical buildings and to explore the famous pink markets—did you know Jaipur was painted pink in 1876 by Maharaja Ram Singh to welcome Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales as pink denotes the colour of hospitality! Later, we will visit one of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. ’Jantar Mantar’, as these are known are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a fascinating insight into 18th Century astronomy. In the early evening we will take another exhilarating rickshaw ride to the famous Raj Mandir Cinema where we will be able to experience one of the greatest delights of Indian Culture – a Bollywood movie! Be prepared for plenty of singing, dancing and catcalls for the bad guys!

5. 6

   Day 6

   Jaipur to Delhi

   On our last day in Jairpur we will drive up into the hills to the old capital of Amber and explore the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort. Built in 1592 and constructed in red sandstone this attractive and opulent palace is laid out over four floors with a courtyard on each. Famous for elephants walking through its doors this palace is the most popular tourist attraction in Jaipur. We’ll have plenty of time to explore each level of the palace. We will then have a free afternoon to enjoy the city before catching an evening train back to Delhi.

6. 7–8

   Days 7–8

   Return to UK

   Today we will be transferred to the airport to wave farewell to our Trip Leader and beautiful India ready for our return flight to the UK arriving day 8. This whirlwind tour of India’s sights will certainly have whetted our appetite to explore more of this spectacular country.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.