Grand Tour of India

We arrive in Delhi and transfer to the delightful Leela Ambience Hotel. This evening, we enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Manager and fellow travellers.

Today, we explore Old and New Delhi. Begin the day with a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi; travel via the lavish Red Fort – palace of the Mughal Empire. Visit Jama Masjid, India’s largest and most spectacular mosque, and experience Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colourful market of the old city. It’s an action-packed morning, concluding with a street food walk in Old Delhi, showcasing a range of authentic Dilli food bursting with all sorts of mouth-watering flavours. Next, we visit New Delhi to view the iconic India Gate and celebrated Parliament House before continuing to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Humayun's Tomb and Bangla Sahib temple.

Our day begins with a visit to Kufri, a tiny hill station located near Shimla, renowned for its wonderful views and walking trails. Later we enjoy a leisurely walking tour around Shimla, witnessing heritage buildings including the Gaiety Theatre, a restored Gothic construction extraordinarily adorned with papier-mâché! Our tour also visits the General Post Office, and Viceregal Lodge, the most historically significant colonial building of the region, displaying incredible architecture. Later, we have the option to join the Sleeping Beauty Trail, where more of Shimla’s history will be revealed.

Bidding farewell to magical Shimla we journey to Chandigarh in a series of smaller vehicles, which are best suited to the mountainous terrain. Following lunch, we continue to the heritage city of Amritsar, where its magnificent Golden Temple and beautiful blend of culture, history and tradition await. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Le Meridien Amritsar.

After breakfast, we travel to the airport and board our flight to Delhi. On arrival, we journey to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Our home for two nights is the conveniently-located, first class Agra Trident Hotel.

We depart Agra this morning bound for Ranthambore National Park. En route, we visit the famous Chand Baori Stepwell, built over a thousand years ago. Enjoy lunch in the lush, rustic countryside setting of Umaid Palace. Spread over 20 acres of leafy land, this organic retreat is a relaxing indulgence far from the bustle of the city. We continue to Ranthambore, our home for the next two nights, at either the Ranthambore Bagh Palace or the Tigress Hotel. This evening, we prepare for the exciting day ahead with a fascinating tiger talk by an expert local naturalist.

After a leisurely morning we enjoy a safari in Ranthambore National Park by shared canter vehicles. Ranthambore is one of the largest national parks in northern India, and renowned for its majestic Bengal tigers. We hope to witness these magnificent and elusive predators in their natural habitat. Keep a look out for some of Ranthambore’s other wildlife including crocodiles, Sloth bears, monkeys, Sambar deer and over 250 species of bird, whilst taking in the stunning scenery.

We embark on our second safari, departing early this morning, to explore the park further in our search for the incredible wildlife roaming the lands and waters. After lunch we continue our journey to the opulent ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, where we will stay at the Marriott Jaipur.

Following breakfast, we travel a short distance to meet our waiting jeeps, which will take us to a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the magnificent Amber Fort. Set amidst dramatic pink hills and overlooking Maota Lake, the nostalgic Amber Fort is a fabulous example of Rajput architecture. Our afternoon is at leisure to spend as we please, before enjoying a cooking demonstration and dinner at a local family home, providing a unique opportunity to experience traditional local life.

Today, we embark on a city sightseeing tour, visiting the stunning City Palace; Jantar Mantar, the famed astronomical observatory dating back to 1734; and drive past the distinctive Hawa Mahal, an extraordinary pink and red sandstone palace, widely known as the ‘Palace of Winds.’ This afternoon we visit the Bollywood Theatre, Raj Mandir Palace, considered the finest cinema hall in Jaipur, known for its opulent interiors. Later this evening, why not take an optional guided walk and visit the old stables which were converted into a market? Closely observe the gathering of local milk-sellers, promoting their products for the production of delicious Indian sweets, or meander through the neighbouring eateries serving local delicacies.

Following breakfast, we leave Jaipur behind and begin our journey to Udaipur, the crown jewel in the state of Rajasthan, and commonly known as the ‘City of Lakes’. Following lunch we continue our journey, arriving in Udaipur late afternoon. Our next two nights will be spent at the Trident Hotel, or the charming Chunda Haveli.

Sightseeing today includes the City Palace, Rajasthan’s largest citadel; Jagdish Temple, a Hindu shrine dating back to 1651; and a drive around Fateh Sagar Lake and Sahelion-ki-Bari. Enjoy a vegetarian lunch of authentic local Mewari cuisine at the delightful Garden Restaurant. This evening, we join a boat ride on Lake Pichola, and visit Jag Mandir, the Lake Garden Palace.

After a leisurely morning exploring beautiful Udaipur further, we fly to Mumbai. On arrival we transfer to the Trident Hotel Nariman Point or Hotel President, which will be our home for the next two nights.

This morning, we take a short tour of Mumbai, visiting Mani Bhawan, a museum dedicated to Gandhi; the Prince of Wales Museum; Victoria Terminus; the open-air laundromat Dhobi Ghat and the iconic Gateway of India. This afternoon we join a pleasant boat ride across the Bay of Mumbai to visit the Elephanta Caves, an intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva.

Following breakfast and a leisurely morning, we transfer to the airport to board our flight to Cochin. Cochin is the Malabar Coast’s most historic port, and traditionally the place from where India’s invaluable spices were shipped to Europe. On arrival we transfer to the centrally located Vivanta Ernakulam hotel.

Our day in Cochin begins with a visit to see Mattancherry Palace’s exquisite murals. We also experience the entrancing Fort Cochin, where Chinese fishing nets line the shore. This evening, experience a show with a 2,000 year old history, during a traditional Kathakali dance performance. Later enjoy an Anglo-Indian cookery lesson and dinner at a local family house.

We bid farewell to our houseboat and begin our scenic journey to Thekkady. As we traverse through the mountainous countryside of thick jungle and vast carpets of tea bushes, the aroma of spices fill the air. Later we arrive at our hotel, the wonderful Spice Village, located in a spice garden within the cool highlands of Periyar. Tonight experience a traditional, ancient Indian martial arts performance, prior to dinner.

This morning, we explore a spice plantation to discover the mysteries of the Indian tea and spice industry. After lunch we enjoy a tranquil lake cruise (subject to water levels) to take in the sights and sounds of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. We keep our eyes peeled for elephants, Sambar deer and the exotic monkey, Nilgiri langur, as well as 260 recorded species of birdlife.

We return to the Vivanta Ernakulam Hotel for our final night in India. Enjoy dinner as we bid farewell to our travelling companions of the last three and a half weeks.

With memories to treasure of this colourful country, it is time to head to Cochin Airport, for our onward flight home.