Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

Delhi, India’s capital, is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and has a total population of more than 16 million people. A colourful, busy, teeming, chaotic metropolis, it is packed with museums, art galleries, historic sites, shops and bazaars. It would take a lifetime to discover all that is Delhi. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Spend today sightseeing with a local guide. Of course, it would be impossible to see all that Delhi has to offer in a day.  Your tour will give you a broad overview of this exciting city – taking in the major sights from Old Delhi, which is a mix of ancient monuments and modern commerce, to New Delhi with its stately government buildings in wide tree-lined avenues.

Transfer to the station to board the train to Sawai Madhopur, the nearest station to Ranthambhore National Park. You will be met on arrival and drive to your accommodation.

After lunch, take a walk up to the 10^th century cliff top Ranthambore Fort. Explore its splendid ruined interiors comprising a number of palaces, step wells, and a celebrated Ganesha temple (still used today). Enjoy the spectacular views from the ramparts.

Head into Ranthambhore for early morning and late afternoon shared jeep safaris today.

The park is home to a number of animals and a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, in addition to the tiger – which most visitors come to see. Although tiger sightings are not guaranteed – you have a better chance of seeing them here than in other parts of India because here they are famously unfazed by jeep loads of humans with cameras!

This morning take an excursion to Soorwal Dam (7 kms) for bird watching.

Return to your hotel for breakfast and afterwards pay a visit to the Dastkar Crafts Centre, which trains local women to make patchwork quilting and appliqué and offers exceptional work at reasonable prices. This is a praiseworthy attempt to combat poverty in villages bordering the park.

Depart Ranthambhore this morning for the 3-hour drive to Jaipur, the vibrant Rajasthani capital, surrounded by rugged hills topped by formidable forts. One of India’s most popular places to visit, the ‘Pink City’ of Rajasthan is enclosed by embattled walls, contains palaces, gardens and museums as well as bazaars where gems and jewellery, enamel and brassware, blue pottery, embroidered leather footwear, rugs, fabrics and saris are just some of the items to be found. One can easily spend 3 or 4 days in Rajasthan should there be time!

Spend this morning sightseeing with a local guide. Visit the City Palace, and the Maharaja’s astronomy park, complete with oversized and remarkably accurate sun dials.  End your tour at Amber Fort, said to have been named for the many inlaid jewels and gemstones in the decorations of its inner sanctum.

Afternoon free for a wander through the old city or a spot of bargaining/shopping in the local bazaar.

Drive to Agra today, a city with a royal past and home to the finest examples of Mughal architecture in India.

Its most sublime and famous monument, the Taj Mahal, attracts tourists from world over as well as ever corner of India, who flock to this icon to see the one and only Taj Mahal.

Visit the Taj Mahal this morning with an expert local guide who will explain all the intricacies, history and myth of this amazing monument.

Afterwards pay a visit to Agra Fort, which is an architectural wonder itself and arguably the most impressive fort in India.

Return to Delhi today – approximately a 6 hour drive – and transfer to the airport for your flight home or to another Indian destination.