Discover, Plan & Go!

ITINERARY IN DETAIL:

DAY 1 ARRIVE DELHI

You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Taj Palace Hotel

DAY 2 DELHI

This morning is at your leisure to recover from your long flight. Take an afternoon tour of Old Delhi, exploring the Red Fort, Jama Masjid mosque, with its marble domes and splendid minarets, Raj Ghat (where Gandhi was cremated), the Ashoka Pillar and Chandni Chowk Bazaar, where craftsmen sell their wares. This evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner with entertainment.

Overnight: Taj Palace Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 3 DELHI

In the morning, visit New Delhi, a city designed and built by the British in the 1920’s. The afternoon is at leisure.

Overnight: Taj Palace Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 4 DELHI-JAIPUR

After breakfast, drive to the Pink City of Jaipur

Overnight: Castle Mandawa

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 5 JAIPUR

Take an early morning ride by elephant-back to the ramparts of Amber Fort, a spectacular fortress that protects a complex of palaces, temples and exquisite marble and mirror halls and apartments. The “pink city” of Jaipur is one of India's most fascinating cities. There you will also see the Hava Mahal (Palace of the Winds), a high and intricately carved wall behind which women of the court were sequestered while watching processions. You will visit Jantar Mantar (Observatory) and the City Palace, which contains an excellent collection of Rajasthani costumes, miniatures and an armoury of Rajput weapons.

Overnight: Castle Mandawa

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 6 JAIPUR-RANTHAMBORE

You will drive to Ranthambore National Park this morning. Although it is one of the smallest reserves in India, Ranthambore boasts an impressive array of wildlife and is one of the best places in India to view tigers in the wild. In addition to tiger, you may see leopard, sambar, blue bull, hyena, sloth bear, wild boar and some of the 300+ species of birds that nest in the park. Your hotel, a former hunting lodge, is located in lovely grounds, a short drive from the national park.

Overnight: Dev Vilas

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 7 RANTHAMBORE

You will spend the full day game viewing, with morning and afternoon excursions.

Overnight: Dev Vilas

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 8 RANTHAMBORE-AGRA

This morning you will visit the tiny bird sanctuary at Bharatpur. After lunch, visit the beautiful walled city of Fatehpur Sikri, built to commemorate the birth of Akbar’s son. The complex was completed in 1574 but abandoned only fourteen years later. Of particular interest are the red stone mosques, courtyards and the palace where Akbar reputedly played chess using slave girls as pawns. Afterwards you will continue on to Agra.

Overnight: Jaypee Palace

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 9 AGRA

Agra, with its laid-back life style and its immense wealth of architecture, handicrafts and jewellery, is among the most remarkable cities in the world. You will visit the Taj Mahal, the most perfect architectural monument in the world, erected by Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal. In addition, you will see the fort at Agra, with its impressive elephant gates.

Overnight: Jaypee Palace

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 10 AGRA-JHANSI-KHAJURAHO

Today, travel by train to Jhansi, and then by road to Khajuraho.

Overnight: Radisson

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 11 KHAJURAHO-VARANASI

The sculptures of the temples of Khajuraho are ensconced in wall niches. Masterpieces of Indian art, including provocative maidens, dancers, musicians and embracing couples adorn these buildings of worship. In the afternoon, you will fly to Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world. Formerly known as Benares, the city remains the centre of the Hindu faith.

Overnight: Taj Ganges

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 12 VARANASI

Early this morning, you will board a launch for a cruise on the Ganges to the 2-kilometre stretch of bathing “ghats,” or steps, that lead into the river. Later, you will visit the buried city of Sarnath, a major Buddhist centre believed to be the birthplace of the Gautama Buddha.

Overnight: Taj Ganges Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 13 VARANASI-DELHI

This morning, visit the local bazaars selling the famous Benares silks and other handicrafts. In the afternoon you will fly to Delhi and, on arrival, transfer to your airport hotel (rooms are available to refresh). Later, transfer back to the airport in time for your late evening flight home.

Hotel for refreshing

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 14 DEPART DELHI

NOTE: Flights back to North America normally leave in the early morning hours on this day.