Golden Triangle

On arrival, you will be met and assisted through immigration and customs and then privately transferred to Delhi to you hotel.  The next morning, you will meet your guide who will escort you throughout your trip in India.  Today you will go on a fascinating tour to see the work of a charity that support street children.  You will be led by a guide that once attended the centre and knows the area and work they do so well.  Not only meet some of the children they are working with, but also hear stories of the heritage of Delhi.  Later in the afternoon, journey into the Old City where and walk through the bustling streets and vendors selling and trading.  In the heart of the Old City, you reach Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in Delhi.

The next day, after a leisurely morning, visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the Sikh temple in Dehli.  It is a fascinating complex of a pool, temple, kitchen and dinning area.  You will visit all areas, learning about the Sikhism and Guru Har Krishna.  The kitchen is a highlight where volunteers are welcome to help prepare the lunch that the temple serves to hundreds every day, 365 days a year.  Wander around and try your hand at flipping chapatis or stirring huge pots of dhal.

Return to the hotel for the evening.

An early rise this morning to catch the train from Delhi to Agra.  On arrival, you will be transferred straight to the Taj Mahal in order to avid the crowds.

The first sighting of the Taj is mesmerising.  The impressive scale and elegant lines through a hazy Indian morning is incomparable. Take a few minutes to drink it all in.  With your guide, walk around the whole complex, hearing about the history and construction.

Checkin to your nearby hotel that has views of the Taj.  Spend the afternoon here, enjoying the glorious swimming pool and a cool drink or two.

A drive of 5.5hrs this morning west to the pink city of Jaipur.  Famous for its colourful culture, forts, palaces, and lakes the city basks in the glory of a rich and eventful past.  Shopping is also a highlight here and you can spend many hours finding treasures to take home.

Check-in to your hotel, one of the finest palace hotels of India that was opened by Maharaja of Jaipur in 1957.

Spend the next three nights in Jaipur taking in the sites including a tour of the City Palace, Amber Fort and the landmark Hawa Mahal.  Also a visit to a beautiful elephant sanctuary and accompanying them on their daily walk should not be missed!

Transfer south to the area of Nimaj to an idyllic haven comprising of eleven tents on a dam, overlooking a lake teeming with birds.  The next few days are spent relaxing and enjoying the peaceful local farming and wetland area teaming with birds.

Today drive west to Jodphur, the second largest city in Rajasthan and known as the blue city.  Take a tour of the Old City and Bazaar stopping the crafts shops along the way.

The next take, you will privately visit the Meherangarh Fort which has a fascinating history and wonderful views of the city.

Drive south to the area of Jawai where the landscape is made up of craggy boulders, water bodies and green fields that is home to leopards, wildlife and migratory birds.  Stay in African style tents for the next two nights.  Go on morning and evening game-drives in 4×4 vehicles with excellent expert guides.  Learn how the local Rebali shepherds and community live in harmony with the leopards.  Watch the incredible sunset with a gin and tonic in hand, from the top of the boulders before returning to camp for a delicious dinner.

After an early morning game-drive, you will transfer to Udaipur making a stop to visit the Jain temples at Ranakpur.  This temple is a living one, with devotees visiting the many shrines to perform rituals, chant and meditate.  The 1144 marble pillars of the temple are all uniquely and intricately carved.

Continue to the Udaipur where you will take a short boat ride to the Lake Palace, the ‘floating palace’ that was formerly the summer residence of the royals of Udaipur.  It is one of the most romantic and historic hotels.

If you can manage to pull yourself away from the luxury of the palace, visit the City Palace, a sprawling palaces, made up for four connecting palace that have been built over the last three centuries.  Extraordinary displays of craftsmanship can be found in the latticed work, miniature paintings and stained glass.

Transfer to the Udaipur Airport in time for the flight to Delhi where you will connect onto the direct flight back to London.