India
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Day One: Welcome to India
Arrive at Delhi International Airport to a traditional greeting of marigold garlands, followed by a private transfer to your hotel. After check-in, your private trip through Delhi starts at the President's House. You'll travel by tuk-tuk down the grand boulevard of Rajpath (King’s Way) to the imposing India Gate, before heading to frenetic Connaught Place. Here, washermen (dhobi walas) soak hotel sheets, restaurant tablecloths and myriad clothing in the old-fashioned outdoor laundries tucked between the monuments. Have a drink at the perfectly-preserved, turn-of-the-century United Coffee House; or visit the Gandhi Smriti museum, where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last days of his life. Come evening, it’s time for a culinary trip by tuk-tuk, tasting some of the city’s best street food and heading behind the scenes to meet some of the chefs, bakers and families who have been providing fabulous food here for generations.
Overnight in Delhi
Classic - The Surya
Premium - Le Meridien
Deluxe - Oberoi New Delhi
Meals included: None
Day Two: Discovering Agra
You’ll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the station for the 8:00am Gatimaan Express train, scheduled to arrive in Agra at 9:30am. Then it’s time to explore this buzzy city of monuments and markets, once the capital of the grand Mughal Empire. Make for its second most famous UNESCO World Heritage site first – Agra Fort. Built as a military defence in the 16th-century, this imposing, red-brick building was converted into a palace by Shah Jaden a century later. Marvel at its marble stonework and countless courtyards, then drive through the city, past bustling bazaars and through tuk-tuk traffic jams, to Itimad-ud-Daulah, the tomb of a Persian nobleman that’s nicknamed the Baby Taj. Enjoy a free evening, before tomorrow’s early start.
Overnight in Agra
Classic - Double Tree by Hilton
Premium - ITC Mughal
Deluxe - Oberoi Amarvilas
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Three: Marvel at the Taj Mahal
You’ll rise before dawn to visit the Taj Mahal in the glorious Indian sunrise, when its marble exterior is at its most beautiful, reflecting the rose and golden tints of the sky. A monument to love built more than 350 years ago, the Taj was commissioned by Shah Jahan to commemorate his third wife, who died in childbirth. It took 20,000 craftsmen more than 18 years to complete. Return to the hotel for breakfast and check-out. On the way, visit Fatehpur Sikri, the ghost-town capital of the Mughal dynasty, abandoned only a few years after it was built: the haunting 'ruins' are still in perfect condition. The rest of the day will be spent travelling to Ranthambore: you’ll arrive at your hotel in time for dinner.
Overnight in Ranthambore
Classic - Treehouse Anuraga Palace
Premium - Nahargarh
Deluxe - Oberoi Vanyavilas
Meals included: Breakfast; dinner
Days Four & Five: Tiger Time
Spend two days wildlife-spotting in Ranthambore National Park, once the hunting grounds of the Maharajah of Jaipur. Wake early both mornings, for game drives in your own exclusive private vehicle in search of the park’s animals with an expert naturalist guide – it’s the best time to spot the region’s famed diurnal tigers, as well as leopards, jackals, sloth bears, samba deer and mongoose. Return to the hotel by 10.00am for breakfast and time to relax, before a longer afternoon drive through the wilderness. You’ll pass through rugged terrain, with rocky ridges, hills and open valleys dotted with lakes and pools.
Overnight in Ranthambore
Classic - Treehouse Anuraga Palace
Premium - Nahargarh
Deluxe - Oberoi Vanyavilas
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner (each served both days)
Day Six: Inside the Imperial City
Time to head north again, on the 7:05am train to Delhi from nearby Sawai Madhopur railway station. Arrive at 12:30pm, and check into your hotel before exploring more of the city. New Delhi was designed by the British in the 1920s, but the history and buildings of Old Delhi go back much further, as you’ll discover at the 16th -century tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayan, a UNESCO World Heritage site set in grand, ornamental gardens. You’ll then visit the 12th-century red sandstone minaret of Qutab Minar, still the world’s tallest brick minaret and a popular site with locals and visitors alike. Finally, after a day pounding the sites, feast on a delicious dinner at the home of a local family, who will show you how to recreate a Indian feast on your return home.
Overnight in Delhi
Classic - The Surya
Premium - Le Meridien
Deluxe - Oberoi New Delhi
Meals included: Breakfast; dinner
Day Seven: To the Himalayas
After breakfast, you will be transferred by private taxi to the airport, to board your onward flight to Dehradun, the gateway to the Indian Himalayas. On arrival you'll be transferred to your hotel in Rishikesh, and have the rest of the day at leisure to settle in to the wondrous natural setting.
Overnight in Rishikesh
Classic - Ganga Kinare Boutique Hotel
Premium - Aloha in the Ganges
Deluxe - Ananda in the Himalayas
Meals included:
Breakfast
Day Eight & Nine: Time to Relax
The next two days are at your leisure, and can be as active or as relaxed as you want them to be. All the hotels chosen provide a variety of activities and facilities; from adrenalin-fuelled white water rafting and wildlife safaris to calming yoga classes and spa treatments (see below for more specific hotel details).
Overnight in Rishikesh
Classic - Ganga Kinare Boutique Hotel
Premium - Aloha in the Ganges
Deluxe - Ananda in the Himalayas
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Ten
After a final breakfast, you'll transfer back to Dehradun Airport for your flight to Delhi, where your experience ends.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation
Classic - Ganga Kinare Boutique Hotel
The Ganga Kinare is nestled right on the banks of the Ganges and Rajaji National Park, one of North India’s expansive sanctuaries and a melting pot of diverse flora and fauna. Guests here can stroll along the river, and soak in the sights of the mountains in a tranquil and peaceful setting. The hotel has comfortable rooms with partial views of the river, a selection of activities such as white water rafting, yoga, birdwatching, biking and even performs its own private Ganga Aarti ritual evening morning and evening which guests are welcome to join in with, to purify themselves in the holy river.
Premium - Aloha in the Ganges
Aloha in the Ganges is a beautiful hotel, also sitting on the banks of the holy Ganges. Its infinity pool overlooks looks the river and the jungle surrounding it, and the atmosphere here is palpably calming. The Superior Garden View Rooms are spacious and warmly decorated and have direct access to the pool and overlook the river valley. The hotel runs rafting trips, rock climbing and bungee jumping, as well as waterfall trekking, temple trips and daily yoga and meditation. The spa provides a selection of treatments, massages and Ayurvedic rituals and wellness services, making this a great place to get in touch with both nature and yourself.
Deluxe - Ananda in the Himalayas
Ananda in the Himalayas is a place like no other, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas on a repurposed Maharaja’s Palace Estate. It is surrounded by forest and overlooks Rishikesh from it's prime position above the town. As a dedicated yoga and meditation retreat, Ananda is a tranquil paradise where you can truly become one with yourself. They have a vast menu of programmes including workshops with holistic masters, Ayurvedic experiences, Tibetan Kuu Nye, Reflexology and Aromatherapy, Himalayan Crystal cleansing and Vedanta Philosophy, plus activities like trekking, rafting and Ganga Aarti rituals.
Overall meals included: 11 Breakfasts; 2 lunches; 4 dinners
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers and train tickets, unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
- 4 x safari game drives through Ranthambore National Park in private vehicle with driver and expert naturalist guide
- Culinary street food experience by rickshaw in Delhi
- Return flights Delhi - Dehradun - Delhi
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 251 0425 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Optional extras listed
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the holiday
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
SUITABILITY FOR FAMILIES : Suitable for families with adult kids.
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 251 0425
If you would like the thrill but don't have time for the chill, check out our 7-day Taj Mahal & Tigers experience here!
To check out all our India trips, click here!
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £450 per person and take approximately 8.5 hours depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
Experience start point: New Delhi (DEL). Suggested arrival by 11am.
End point: New Delhi (DEL).
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