Take a fascinating journey into the geographical, historical and cultural heart of India.  The one and only Taj Mahal and the famously erotic temples of Khajuraho are highlights of this trip, which also takes in the sacred cities of Varanasi and Pushkar, the Mughal cities of Agra and Orchha, and the regal Rajput cities of Jaipur and Udaipur.

From the energy of north India’s vibrant cities to tranquil havens in the countryside, this trip covers the well-known highlights of North India while also incorporating some lesser known places with their slower way of life. It provides opportunities to appreciate a variety of everyday, uniquely Indian experiences, with plenty of time to explore according to your interests and at your own pace.

Day 1 Delhi

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Delhi, India's capital and a city of more than 16 million people – half of whom appear to have come to the airport for your arrival – is a colourful, busy, chaotic city packed with museums, art galleries, historic sites, shops and bazaars. It would take a lifetime to discover all that is Delhi.

Day 2 Delhi

Spend today sightseeing. Head to Old Delhi, a mix of ancient monuments and modern commerce. Visit Jama Masjid, India’s greatest mosque; take a cycle-rickshaw ride through crowded bazaars to the famous shopping street of Chandni Chowk; and visit Raj Ghat, the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Continue on to New Delhi, including the stately government buildings and Presidential Palace; visit the modern Ba’hai temple; end the day at the towering minaret of Qutab Minar.

Day 3 Varanasi

Board a flight to Varanasi today. Being one of the most sacred places for Hindus to visit, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi has a distinctly ancient and religious feel. In the late afternoon take a guided boat ride to view the evening ‘Aarthi’ ceremony from the river, where priests and many devotees gather to perform a beautiful candle-lit puja (Hindu ritual).

Day 4 Varanasi

In Varanasi, life and various activities revolve around the river. The city stirs before dawn when thousands of pilgrims come down to the river to offer early morning prayers. This morning take a guided walk by the Ganges, enjoying a spectacular view of sunrise over the river, and the sight of the city coming to life. Afternoon free.

Day 5 Khajuraho

Ancient, narrow lane ways – many leading down to the ghats or steps that descend into the water of the Ganges – are crammed with shops, homes, games of cricket, cows, temples and much more. Enjoy a day free to explore this uniquely Indian city before boarding the overnight train to Khajuraho.

Day 6 Khajuraho

On arrival in Khajuraho you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The famously erotic temples of Khajuraho are one of India’s gifts to the world; beautiful physical manifestations of the images conjured up by the Karma Sutra. Spend this afternoon exploring some of the significant monuments. In the evening there might be an opportunity to attend a sound and light show at the temple complex.

Day 7 Orchha

Depart Khajuraho today for the 4-hour journey to Orchha, a deserted royal citadel on a rocky island on the Betwa River.  The city is dominated by a series of magnificent 17th century temples, which are still in use today and are visited regularly by thousands of devotees.  Check in to your hotel on arrival. Afternoon free.

Day 8 Orchha

Spend this morning sightseeing. The soaring spires of Ram Raja Temple and the well-preserved murals of the Lakshmi Naraya Temple are especially worth a visit, as are the 14 beautiful cenotaphs, which are lined up on the River Betwa. Afterwards take a short walk to the nearby village of Ganj for a picnic lunch and possibly a swim in the river - upstream from Orchha, so the water is clean!

Day 9 Agra

Transfer to the station for the train to Agra. Four hundred years ago, two great Mughal  monarchs transformed the village of Agra into a city befitting the glory of the mighty Mughal Empire, one of them building a monument unrivalled for beauty – the Taj Mahal.  This afternoon visit Agra Fort, which is an architectural wonder in its own right.  [Image: Maggie Ball].

Day 10 Karauli

Rise early to enjoy the sight of the magnificent Taj Mahal by the light of dawn.  Afterwards begin a 5-hour drive to the small town of Karauli, with a visit en route to the deserted red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri. Built by Emperor Akbar as his capital in the late 16th century, it was abandoned promptly after completion, leaving it in a particularly well-preserved state.  [Image: Nir Nussbaum].

Day 11 Karauli

This morning, take a jeep safari to the nearby rugged Kaila Devi Game Sanctuary with its beautiful scenery and assorted wildlife, stopping on the way to visit the popular temple of Kaila Devi.  In the afternoon take a camel cart ride through the nearby village with its handicraft shops selling lacquer work, bangles, wooden toys, bamboo items, and  traditional sweets.

Day 12 Jaipur

After breakfast begin the 4 to 5 hour drive to Jaipur.  The capital and 'pink city' of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a friendly, busy town, with its palaces and bazaars full of jewellery, textiles and folk-based arts and handicrafts. Check in to your hotel on arrival  and remainder of the day free to relax and enjoy the heritage accommodation, or take a walk through the nearby colourful bazaars.  [Image: Koshyk].

Day 13 Jaipur

Spend this morning sightseeing with visits to Amber Fort, the photogenic Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), the still inhabited City Palace, and Maharaja Jai Singh's astronomy park. In the afternoon, there is the option to visit to the famous Raj Mandir cinema to catch a Bollywood film, or to go shopping in the local bazaars, where bargaining is as much a part of the fun as the purchase.

Day 14 Pushkar

Drive 3 hours to Pushkar, a city blessed with a variety of religious and cultural threads. In a search for his abode on earth, Lord Brahma – believed by Hindus to be the creator of the world – performed the supremely spiritual ‘Vedic Yagna’ here. The main temple – one amongst 500 – is one of the few Brahma temples in the world, making it a special place of pilgrimage for Hindus. [Image: Claude Renault].

Day 15 Jojawa

After breakfast begin the 4-hour drive to the small village of Jojawar - a hidden gem in the countyside - and Rawala Jojawar heritage hotel. Afternoon free. You may like to explore the village on foot accompanied by one of the hotel staff guides – this is a great way to experience village life in Rajasthan.

Day 16 Jojawa

Take a one-hour local train ride this morning. It climbs, through beautiful forests, from the station at the start of the hill section up to the highest station in the Aravallis – the Kambli Ghat. Late afternoon embark on a jeep safari to the homesteads of the Rabaris, an ethnic camel herding group, and into farms and through villages where time seems to have stood still.

Day 17 Udaipur

After breakfast begin the 4 hour drive to Udaipur, a lovely historic city, situated on a lake and hemmed in by the lush Aravalli hills. The city's palaces, gardens, ghats, temples and painted houses match the beauty of the setting.  Afternoon free. Udaipur is a pleasant place for an evening sunset stroll and dinner at a restaurant overlooking the lake. [Image: Maggie Ball].

Day 18 Udaipur

Built along three lakes and ringed by green hills, Udaipur has been called a ‘Venice of the East’. This morning take a city tour including visits to the City Palace – a majestic architectural marvel towering over Lake Pichola – and the 350-year-old Jagdish temple.  In the late afternoon enjoy a sunset boat-cruise on the waters of placid Lake Pichola.

Day 19 Udaipur

Transfer to the airport for connecting flights home or to another Indian destination for further travel.