Highlights of India, Mumbai and the Golden Triangle

We arrive at the airport today where our holiday begins with a flight from London Heathrow to Delhi. Arriving early on Day 2, we're greeted by our local Indian Tour Manager who escorts us to our hotel. We enjoy the rest of the day to settle in, with dinner provided at the hotel.

Today, we discover the charms of Old and New Delhi today, on a full-day guided sightseeing tour. India's vibrant capital presents a heady blend of medieval, colonial and modern architecture and culture. Travel by rickshaw through the narrow streets of Old Delhi and admire Jama Masjid, the largest mosque of the country, before moving on to New Delhi, where the imposing India Gate, Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb, and the towering Qutab Minar await us.

Today we board India's first semi-high speed train, for a journey to Agra on the Gatimaan Express. Agra is a former capital of the Mughal Empire, and is famed worldwide for its fantastic ancient architecture, much of which has UNESCO World Heritage status.

After settling in at our hotel, we take a tour of the city, with a visit to two of its best known attractions: the imposing Agra Fort, and the incredible Taj Mahal. Constructed from pearlescent white marble and decorated with precious stones, the Taj Mahal is actually a mausoleum dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved queen of Emperor Shah Jahan, and dates back to the 17th century. We admire the intricate calligraphy carvings of poems and scripture from the Quran on our visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

We journey to the short-lived ancient capital of India, Fatehpur Sikri, for a sightseeing tour this morning. Abandoned after only 14 years due to a dwindling water supply, the city remains beautifully preserved to this day. This afternoon, we head off to Ranthambore on the Shatabdi Express train, checking in on arrival to our hotel.

We enjoy another highlight of our holiday today, with two game drives in Ranthambore National Park. Considered to be the best park in India for spotting the Royal Bengal tiger, the sanctuary is also home to over 300 species of birds, as well as crocodiles, deer, and monkeys.

Many other rare creatures can also be found here, including leopards, panthers, hyenas, and even sloth bears. Look out for the park's incredible range of wildlife as we explore on both morning and afternoon game drives, scheduled so as to increase our chance of a tiger sighting. In the evening, we enjoy a talk by a naturalist who is an expert on this national park.

This morning we travel to Jaipur, known as India's 'Pink City'. We check in to our hotel on arrival, and the rest of our day free to relax, or explore the city at your own pace.

On Day 8, we discover the city on a guided sightseeing tour. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur was founded in 1727, and is famed for an array of striking sights. We see the impressive Amber Fort, known for its artistic Hindu elements, and the Palace of the Winds, whose ornate façade once disguised the presence of courtly ladies who did not wish to appear in public.

This morning, we leave Jaipur behind on an internal flight to Mumbai, on India's west coast. India's financial capital, Mumbai has been a gateway to India since 1869, when the Suez Canal was opened, kick-starting a growing spice trade route with the Mediterranean. On arrival, we check in to our hotel, overlooking the sea. Later, we enjoy a cooking demonstration before dinner.

We discover Mumbai on an early morning walking tour, taking in Colaba Dock where fishermen throng after a night of fishing. Walking along the nearly-empty DN Road, we admire the colonial-era buildings on our way to Crawford Market, where we experience an authentic Indian bazaar. We also explore the localities of Byculla and Dadar before returning to the hotel for breakfast and some free time. Later, set out on a sightseeing tour by coach. Our tour includes the Gateway of India - an arch-monument from the colonial era, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus - a UNESCO-listed active railway station dating back to 1887 - and Mani Bhavan, Gandhi's former home. We also see Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat, an open-air laundromat where hundreds of washers wash clothes and linens in concrete wash tubs.

We bid farewell to India after breakfast, and we transfer to Mumbai airport, for our flight to London Heathrow. On arrival, our holiday comes to an end.