India – Tigers & the Taj Mahal with Three-night Varanasi & the Ganges Extension

Your Indian holiday begins with an overnight flight from the UK to Delhi.

Arrive in Delhi, this morning, to be greeted by your Tour Manager, and transferred to your hotel. Later, after some time to freshen up, join your tour manager on a guided tour to the sixteenth century red sandstone and marble Humayun's tomb, an impressive example of Mughal architecture with lush Persian style gardens.

Today's guided tour will introduce Delhi's vibrant Old City. Drive by the historic Red Fort, Jama Masjid Mosque and Raj Ghat – Gandhi’s cremation site close to the Yamuna River – and enjoy an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk.

You’ll also experience the grandeur of New Delhi, built by the British Raj to reflect the glories of the Empire. Highlights will include the historic India Gate war memorial and the vast boulevard of the Rajpath. You’ll finish this morning’s sightseeing with a stop at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of India’s most significant Sikh temples. See the temple’s grand façade mirrored in its nearby sarovar (reflecting pool) and marvel at the impressive marble walls and golden domes of this remarkable landmark.

Later, after an included lunch in Delhi, travel to Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’. After checking into your hotel, and taking dinner with your fellow travellers, enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.  

After breakfast, visit Amber, the ancient capital of the Rajput Empire. Climb by jeep to the city's vast sixth-century hill-top fort to wander its Royal Halls and take in the magnificent views from the ramparts. After an included lunch, you'll tour Jaipur to see the City Palace complex, with its museums and ancient astronomical observatory, and drive past the innumerable windows and screened balconies of the 18th-century Palace of the Winds.

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

Depart Jaipur this morning, after enjoying breakfast at the hotel, and travel to Ranthambhore National Park, stopping en route for lunch at the sumptuous Umaid Lake Palace, a lovely heritage hotel and organic retreat that grows produce for its fine restaurant. Once the hunting ground of Indian princes, Ranthambhore is landscape of thorn trees, scrub and grasslands dotted with beautiful ponds, streams and lakes is a perfect habitat for the famous, elusive (and still endangered) Tigers of Ranthambhore, and other species.

Relax for the afternoon, then enjoy an evening tiger talk with a local naturalist: the perfect preparation for tomorrow's adventures.

Wake early this morning and board your vehicle to explore the wilderness of Ranthambore National Park, an opportunity to explore the untamed landscapes alongside your knowledgeable naturalist guide.

As the sun rises over the treetops, you’ll venture off to witness the park’s incredible biodiversity. Keep your eyes peeled for the Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, jackals, wild dogs, and hyenas that call Ranthambore National Park home. Your naturalist guide will share their expertise, providing insights into the behaviour, habitats, and unique characteristics of the animals you encounter.

Breakfast will then be served back at the resort followed by some time to relax, perhaps by the swimming pool before lunch.

Later, gear up for an afternoon safari game drive – another chance to spot more animals on your wish-list and survey more of the prey-rich woodlands and bird species before dinner in the evening.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before setting off for Agra, India's City of Love. There’ll be a comfort break along the way, and you’ll be able to find lunch before continuing along the road.

Upon arrival in Agra, take in the royal pavilions, palaces and courtyards of majestic Agra Fort, which has stood watch over the city for over 500 years and was once the royal residence of the city’s Mughal emperors. You’ll then head out under the evening light to the Taj Mahal, a monument to undying love, to see it in all its glory at sunset and enjoy a guided tour.

This evening, check into your hotel and enjoy dinner at your leisure.  

Early this morning, you’ll be taken to Mehtab Bagh – a garden complex away from the bustle of the city and on the opposite side of the Yamuna River, showcasing a splendid view of the Taj Mahal in all its glory as the sun rises.

You’ll then return for breakfast at the hotel and afterwards, drive to Chand Baori Stepwell in Abhaneri, which was built over 1,000 years ago and is one of the biggest stepwells in the world. With intricately geometrically designed staircases, this architectural wonder serves as a source of water and a place of respite in the desert heat. Also of interest will be the Harshat Mata Temple, an ancient place of worship dedicated to the goddess of happiness and joy, Harshat Mata.

A stop for lunch will be enjoyed at Umaid Bhawan Palace, a hotel set in an opulent building that was once home to the Jodhpur royal family. You can enjoy your meal while looking out over the beautiful, manicured gardens.

Following lunch, journey across the desert plain into the Aravali Hills to the jungle-resort of Vanaashrya, where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Enjoy a leisurely start to the day with breakfast at the hotel and the rest of the morning at you own pace, perhaps with a swim in the pool or time spent reflecting on your journey through India.

This afternoon, take a camel cart to visit the local village and enjoy a pre-dinner cookery demonstration. You'll spend the night in a private cottage designed to give you a sense of the India of the past with the little luxuries of the present (like air conditioning).

Return to the hotel this evening for a farewell dinner and unwind ahead of your flight home.

Enjoy a final breakfast in Vanaashrya before boarding a coach for the drive back to Delhi airport. From here, fly to the sacred city of Varanasi, located on the banks of the River Ganges.

Upon arrival, travel to your hotel and settle in before heading to the ghats this evening to witness the Aarti ceremony. This daily ritual takes place at sunset along the banks of the River Ganges, where priests perform a traditional prayer involving lighted lamps, chanting, and music. The ceremony is an important part of Hindu worship and offers an insight into the spiritual life of Varanasi.

Wake up in Varanasi and make your way to the banks of the Ganges for a boat ride downstream. Here, under the rising sun, you’ll experience this sacred river and its idyllic surrounding landscapes at their most serene. Pass the city’s riverside ghats, which number 84 in total, and learn about their use in religious ceremonies. As the city rises from its sleep, you’ll enjoy a snapshot of life in Varanasi.

Return to the hotel for a late breakfast and a few hours to relax before heading back into the heart of the city. Begin at the Benaras Hindu Campus, one of India’s finest universities. This grand building, founded in 1916 by Annie Besant, a key proponent for Indian independence, has since become a major research centre.

Continue to Shri Viswanath Mandir, a major temple and shrine for Indian Hindus, where you’ll learn more about the religious history and the faiths that coexist in Varanasi. Your final stop, the Sankat Mochan Temple, worships the monkey god, Hanuman, and showcases Uttar Pradesh’s traditional Hindu architecture.

Sarnath, a popular Buddhist pilgrimage spot on the outskirts of Varanasi, will be the backdrop for the afternoon’s exploration. Join a friendly local guide for a tour of the town’s assorted stupas, temples, and ruins. Learn about the region’s colourful history with a stop at the Sarnath Museum, which showcases a vast collection of archaeological finds and Buddhist relics. 

After some time to explore the town’s rich Buddhist heritage, return to Varanasi and unwind.

After breakfast, travel to Delhi airport for a day flight back to the UK.