Highlights of India Your itinerary Start Location Visited Location Plane End Location Cruise Train Over night Ferry Day 1 and jewellery makers, and sample some of the delicious street food offerings sold on Arrive Delhi (3 Nights) every spare inch of street space. Welcome to India's colourful capital city, Delhi. At once peaceful and bustling, Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner ancient and modern, Delhi is possibly unlike anywhere you've likely ever been Day 6 before, and needs to be seen to be believed. Where else in the world can you find ancient relics of multiple bygone eras rubbing shoulders with gleaming new shopping Jaipur ­ Ranthambore (2 Nights) malls, whilst hawkers, cows, rickshaw drivers and people all compete for space in There will only be one question on everyone's lips this morning as you leave Jaipur the narrow lanes of Old Delhi! Arriving today you'll transfer to your hotel before behind and head to Ranthambore National Park ­ will you spot the mighty Bengal meeting up with your Travel Director and fellow guests to learn the lay of the land. Tiger? Claiming 1334 square kilometres of wild jungle, Ranthambore is the best Briefing complete, you'll then be treated to your first taste of Indian cuisines over place in Rajasthan for tiger spotting, especially as tiger numbers are now on the dinner with the group. rise. Formerly a maharaja hunting ground, there are now around 67 tigers roaming the park, although sightings are not always guaranteed. After settling in to your hotel The Suryaa New Delhi Hotel - you'll head out on your first game drive in the hopes of spotting these beautiful beasts. Travelling through the park with a local ranger, you'll also have the Included Meals - Dinner opportunity of spotting wild boar, sloth bears, hyenas, leopards, monkeys, deer and Day 2 around 300 species of bird. Whether you spot a tiger or not, be sure to enjoy this Delhi Sightseeing truly magical experience before heading back to your hotel for dinner. The winding streets, lively bazaars and delicious flavours of Old Delhi await you this Hotel - Ranthambore Heritage Haveli morning as you head out for a city sightseeing tour. Embrace the hustle and bustle as you experience this real slice of India, then listen out for a collective sigh as you Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner catch your first look at the imposing Red Fort, built by Emperor Shah Jahan during Day 7 his Mughal reign and serving as the residence of emperors for 200 years. From here we'll visit the magnificent red sandstone carved Jama Mosque, another pocket of Ranthambore Sightseeing calm and Delhi's largest mosque. Take your time exploring here before hopping on a It will be an early start this morning as you head back into the park for your second cycle rickshaw that will weave you through the lanes of Old Delhi before heading on game drive. Sunrise is arguably the best time of the day for tiger spotting, so be to New Delhi to experience a different side of the city. Drive past grand government sure to keep your eyes peeled. Heading back to the hotel for breakfast you'll then buildings and India Gate before finishing up at Humayun's Tomb, another relic of the have time to relax and soak up a few rays by the hotel pool before venturing back Mughal reign. Rich in memories after a busy day, this evening if then yours to enjoy into the wilderness for your third and final game drive. Alongside the wildlife, the park as you please. also offers a wealth of history, most notable in the 10th Century Ranthambore Fort that's nestled right in the centre of the park, plus ancient forts, mosques and hunting Included Meals - Breakfast pavilions that all add to the mystery of this gorgeous land. Dinner tonight will be at Day 3 your hotel. Delhi Free Day Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Today gives you the chance to unearth Delhi at your own pace, indulging your own Day 8 unique cultural curiosities. Foodies, you'll likely be keen to join our food tour of Old Delhi, where you'll get to wander through the maze of the old spice market, feeling Ranthambore ­ Agra (1 Night) the heat of a thousand chillies tickling your nose as you taste exotic pickles and From tigers to the Taj, today's journey will bring you one step closer to the sample edible silver. Enjoying lunch with a local family at their haveli, you'll then visit undisputed icon of India. Heading out of Ranthambore this morning you'll stop for the UNESCO World Heritage listed Qutub Minar. Keen to dive deeper into Delhi's lunch at the royal city of Bharathpur, known for its abundance of forts, palaces and rich history? Why not choose our optional trip to Nizamuddin, a former 14th century lush parks. Arriving into Agra and after settling in to your hotel, your afternoon is free village that developed around the shrine of a Sufi saint. Known for its narrow lanes, to delve into this bustling city. Perhaps choose to join our optional visit to the tombs, cuisine and spiritual music, you'll learn more about the area with the help of UNESCO listed Agra Fort. Another fine example of Mughal craftsmanship, the vivid a local guide from the Hope Project, visiting the stepwell and tomb of 'India's red sandstone fort dates back to 1565 and comes complete with fairy tale palaces, Shakespeare' Mirza Ghalib. beautiful gardens and views of the magnificent Taj Mahal in the distance. If city exploring is more your thing, take a wander around the busy chowks to sample Included Meals - Breakfast delectable Indian sweets and shop for marble goods, head to a rooftop bar and soak Day 4 up the scene. This evening and to see off those who are heading to Varanasi Delhi ­ Jaipur (2 Nights) tomorrow in style, opt to join our farewell dinner for a feast of Indian delicacies. Leaving Delhi behind this morning you'll venture on the state of maharajas, kings and Hotel - Clarks Shiraz opulence, Rajasthan. One of India's wealthiest regions and arguably one of its most beautiful, Rajasthan is a firm favourite amongst visitors for its rich culture, glorious Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch cities and shopping opportunities. Keep your eyes peeled on your way into the 'pink Day 9 city', Jaipur, as you watch daily life unfolding before your very eyes. Settle in to your hotel, then relax or perhaps head out to discover the capital of Rajasthan for Agra ­ Delhi yourself. High up on your agenda should be a visit to the City Palace. Nestled in the Today's the day and what a way to near the end of your trip! Heading out at dawn heart of the Old City, this ornate complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings you'll make your way to the Taj Mahal to enjoy one of the most memorable sunrises blends Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, the crowning glory of which are the four of your life. A thousand times more impressive in real life, watch as the rising sun ornately painted doors of the Pitam Niwas Chowk, which represent the four seasons. paints the glistening white marble shades of pink and gold. Described by Rudyard Keen to get your hands­on Jaipur's famous gems, textiles and handicrafts? The Kipling as 'the embodiment of all things pure', the Taj was built by Shah Jahan in bustling Old City chowks are literally bursting at the seams with goodies. 1632 as a testament to lost love for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in child birth. Heading inside the mausoleum you can walk around the tombs of both Jahan Clarks Amer Hotel - and Mumtaz, whilst exploring the complex you'll discover the perfect symmetry of the building and perhaps snap a photograph on the 'Diana seat'. Feeling distinctly in Included Meals - Breakfast awe you'll then head back to your hotel for breakfast and a morning of relaxation Day 5 before making the final drive to Delhi this afternoon. Jaipur Sightseeing Hotel - Ibis New Delhi Aerocity Early risers will have the chance to witness a morning ritual of the Hindu community today, with an optional visit to one of the country's most important Krishna temples Included Meals - Breakfast to watch as worshippers offer their prayers to Lord Krishna. Back at the hotel you'll Day 10 then tuck into breakfast before heading out to visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Amber Fort with the group. Set atop a hill and once the residence of Rajput Depart Delhi rulers, this extensive palace of glistening white marble and yellow and pink With memories of glistening mausoleums, pretty pink cities and tiger tracks still sandstone is a real gem of Rajasthan. From here you'll then make a stop at the icon fresh in your mind, your trip will come to an end today. Transferring to Delhi of Jaipur, the Hawa Mahal. Known as the Palace of Winds, this distinctive 5 storied International Airport for your onward flight, we hope you're leaving with big smiles and building of glorious latticed windows was built as a way of allowing the ladies of the hearts filled with kind Indian hospitality! royal household to watch the comings and goings of the city below. With the rest of the day then free, perhaps opt to join our heritage walking tour for a deeper insight Included Meals - Breakfast into the culture and community of the Old City. Visit flower markets, silver bazaars HERE'S A SAMPLE OF YOUR CHOICE OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE ON DAY 5 AVAILABLE ON DAY 3 Aarti Ceremony at the Birla Temple Experience India’s rich spirituality at the Birla Mandir, one of the most Old Delhi Food Tour and Dinner famous temples in Jaipur, dedicated to the Hindu Gods, Lord Vishnu and Prepare yourself for the best kind of sensory overload as you take a food Goddess Lakshmi.