Indias Golden Triangle & ShimlaEscorted Tour, India

Discover the glorious cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, Ranthambhore’s tigers and the Raj-era comforts of India’s most famous hill station.

Combine a tour of the classic sights of India’s capital and the wonders of Rajasthan with a journey back in time to Shimla, the quintessentially colonial haven high in the Himalayan foothills. Begin in Delhi, before journeying on to Shimla, the former summer capital of the Raj. The Pink City of Jaipur, with its extraordinary Fort and palaces, Agra’s majestic Fort and peerless Taj Mahal, and stays in famed Ranthambhore Park and a wonderful jungle resort complete this unforgettable journey.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Watching the sun set (and rise) behind the Taj Mahal

Riding the "toy train" from Kandaghat to Shimla

Searching for Ranthambhore's tigers on two included safaris

Discover the sights of New Delhi

Enjoy a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi

Stay in the five-star Oberoi Cecil Hotel – an institution since the days of the Raj

See Jaipur's Palace of the Winds

Enjoy dinner hosted by a local family in Jaipur

Ride up to Amber Fort for exceptional views

See Chand Baori, Abhaneri’s astonishing stepwell

Stay in the beautiful resort of Vanaashyra

Enjoy an Indian cookery demonstration

WHAT'S INCLUDED

11 nights' dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation in a series of four-star and five-star standard hotels in Delhi (2 nights), Shimla (2), Jaipur (2), Agra (1), Ranthambhore (2) and Vanaashrya (2), plus two nights on the aircraft

Lunch each day

Return scheduled flights to Delhi via Abu Dhabi

All rail travel in India

Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers throughout

Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

ITINERARY

Day One – Fly to India

Fly overnight from the UK to Delhi.

Day Two – Included Delhi city tour

You'll arrive in Delhi, this morning, meet your tour manager and transfer to your first hotel. After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of some of the city’s major sights, including the historic Red Fort, Jama Masjid Mosque and Raj Ghat (Gandhi’s cremation site), as well as the Raj-era grandeur of New Delhi. Complete the day with an exhilarating rickshaw ride before dinner at the hotel.

Day Three – Travel into the Himalayas

This morning you'll catch the train to Chandigarh. From here, you'll journey up to Kandaghat to board the "toy train" to Shimla. Relax as the narrow-gauge route winds its scenic way into the foothills of the Himalayas, along the line opened by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, in 1903, to where the magnificent Oberoi Cecil Hotel waits to welcome you.

Day Four – Included Shimla hill-station tour

You’ll rejoin the "toy train", this morning, for a short journey through the mountains to Tara Devi’s Hindu Temple. Enjoy lunch at Clark’s hotel, the first hotel of the now world-famous Oberoi chain, before heading out for an afternoon guided tour of Shimla. You'll visit the teak-panelled rooms of Viceregal Lodge - a former British summer retreat and where the map of Indian Partition was drawn up. Other highlights will include the high, open space of the Ridge, dwarfed by the Gothic spires of the very English Christ Church and offering superb views of the distant peaks, and the shops of Mall Road. You'll pass the colonial Gaiety Theatre, and join the throng at Scandal Point, Shimla's traditional meeting place.

Day Five – From Shimla to Delhi

Today you'll retrace your steps, heading back down to Chandigarh for the return rail journey to Delhi.

Day Six – Drive to Jaipur and optional Elefantastic visit

After a morning drive to Jaipur, and lunch when you arrive in the city, you'll have the afternoon free to relax or join the optional excursion to Elefantastic. This conservation sanctuary is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary animals, and you'll the chance to get up close to some of its rescued elephants.

Day Seven – Included Jaipur city tour

After breakfast you'll visit the former Rajput capital, Amber, and its vast fort, climbing by jeep to visit the Royal Halls and take in the magnificent views from the ramparts.

After lunch, you'll take a guided tour of Jaipur to see the City Palace museums and ancient astronomical observatory of the City Palace, and drive past the 18th-century Palace of the Winds with its ornate windows and screened balconies.

This evening, enjoy a special dinner at historic Nokha House, hosted in traditional Rajasthani style by the Rathore family.

Day Eight – Included visit to the Taj Mahal

Bid farewell to Jaipur after breakfast, and journey to Agra, the fabled City of Love. After a visit to the royal pavilions, palaces and courtyards of majestic Agra Fort, you’ll make your first visit to the incomparable Taj Mahal, a monument to undying love, to see it in all its glory at sunset.

Day Nine – Travel from Agra to Ranthambhore National Park

Awaken early to pay a second visit to the Taj Mahal, watching the sun rise over it from across the Yamuna River. You'll return to the hotel for breakfast, and then leave Agra behind as you head to Abhaneri. This ancient village is home to Chand Baori, one of the oldest and most intricate stepwells in India, its 13 storeys and 3500 steps offering access to water and much-needed refuge from the sun's heat.

After lunch at the sumptuous Umaid Lake Palace heritage hotel, you'll continue to Ranthambhore National Park. This former royal hunting ground is now a key centre for Project Tiger, and its grasslands, streams and beautiful pools are home to striped hyenas, sambar deer, sloth bears and of course tigers.

This evening, prior to tomorrow's adventures, enjoy a tiger talk from a local naturalist.

Day 10 – Included Ranthambhore wildlife safaris

Today’s two canter (open-air vehicle) safaris in the Park are sure to be highlights of your entire holiday. Join a knowledgeable naturalist guide to search your surroundings for signs of tigers, leopards and other species in their natural environment.

Day 11 – At leisure, or optional Ranthambhore Fort tour

Rest and relax this morning, or join our optional excursion to Ranthambhore Fort, climbing the gradual, 273-step path to take in the stupendous views.

Later, journey into the Aravali Hills and head to the jungle resort of Vanaashyra, calling en route at the fascinating ruins of 17th-century Bhangarh fort.

Day 12 – Day at leisure

Rest and relax at Vanaashyra, then enjoy an afternoon camel-cart ride and a cookery demonstration before a farewell dinner at the resort.

Day 13 – Fly back to the UK

After a leisurely morning and lunch, you'll begin the journey back to Delhi where you'll check in for your evening return flight to the UK via Abu Dhabi.

Day 14 – Land in the UK

Arrive back in the UK, this morning.

Indias Golden Triangle & Shimla is located in Escorted Tour, India. Accommodation rating is the operators own rating and may not be the official rating. Hotel details correct at 12/03/2021