Spirit of North & South India - Summer 2021

Agra: Inside Agra’s red sandstone fortress, witness the fairytale palaces, audience halls and mosques of the Mughal rulers.

Agra: Visit the majestic Taj Mahal, bathed in the first rays of dawn, and learn about this romantic national icon.

Agra: Head on the Mughal Heritage Walk and meet the locals who reside close to the Taj Mahal.

Bhraratpur: Enjoy a ride on the express train from Bhraratpur to Ranthambore.

Ranthambore: Venture inside this former royal hunting ground and enjoy two game safaris with a naturalist.

Jaipur: Watch girls threading garlands to be used for offerings, when you visit the flower market. Marvel at the sights and smells as you explore the spice market.

Jaipur: During a city tour with your Travelling Concierge see the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds and visit the Jantar Mantar, the Royal observatory built in 1726.

Jaipur: Meet the ladies of Pink City Rickshaw as they take on on a city tour of Jaipur. Listen to their stories of growing up in the slums to proudly developing their skills to be part of to be part of this inspiring opportunity. If you need more this is another: Headline: AGRA Visit the majestic Taj Mahal, bathed in the first rays of dawn, and learn about this romantic national icon.

Kochi: During your city orientation see the oldest Jewish Synagogue in the Commonwealth and the murals of Mattancherry Palace.

Kochi: Attend a performance of traditional Kathakali dance.

Alleppey: Cruise the backwaters of Alleppey, journeying through waterways and past traditional villages.

Kumarakom: Explore Kumarakom Your Way - choose between harmonising your mind and body in a yoga class or for those wanting to unwind, indulge in a rejuvenating massage.

Kumarakom: Rise early for a fascinating bird watching experience at the Bird Sanctuary.

Vaikom Village: Guided by boat, explore the narrow canals of one of the oldest townships in Kerala and with many spots untouched by modernity.

Mumbai: Take a cruise to Elephanta Island and enjoy the scenery.

Mumbai: Meet the ‘Dabbawalla’ in Mumbai and know the intricate details of the magnificent tiffin service which has been in existence for almost 130 years!

Fly to Mumbai: Relax and enjoy your flight to Mumbai.

Agra: A luxury hotel, which lies a whisper away from the breath-taking Taj Mahal. Only a short walk away from the Eastern Gate of this fabled monument this hotel offers the perfect place to relax and take in views of the Taj from the infinity pool.

New Delhi: Old world charm blended with contemporary style, the Taj Mahal Hotel is an established hotel with a prime address in the leafy Lutyens’ diplomatic quarter. Situated amidst 6 acres of landscaped grounds and featuring modern Indian-style decor, perfect for city exploration.

Ranthambore: The Nahargarh Ranthambhore lies nestled at the foot hills of Aravalli Range neighbouring the Ranthambore National Park. The hotel boasts modern facilities and a superb restaurant offering global cuisine.

Jaipur: Set in 18 acres of Mughal style gardens, Jai Mahal Palace showcases Rajasthan's stunning heritage. Savour authentic flavours of royal Indian cuisines at Cinnamon restaurant or unwind with a relaxing treatment at Jiva Spa.

Kumarakom: Kumarakom Lake Resort, a collection of low-slung villas with red tile roofs, surrounded by palm trees, clustered around a long and winding 250-meter, free-form swimming pool. At the coastal end of the resort, an infinity pool seems to reach out into Lake Vembanad itself.

Mumbai: Situated in Mumbai, India’s financial captial, the elegant Oberoi hotel offers magnificent views of the ocean and 'Queen’s Necklace' lights along the shoreline. With its striking modern architecture, fitness facilities and exquisite restaurants, it presents an idyllic getaway in the centre of a vibrant, must-visit city.

Jaipur: Savour a locally-inspired high tea in a private living room of the Maharaja, within the Jaipur City Palace. Explore rooms not open to other visitors and see the spectacular crystal table handcrafted by renowned artisan René Lalique.

Delhi: Explore Delhi Your Way with a choice to either meet a well-known chef for a local foodie walk in Old Deli, where you’ll witness the creation of Delhi’s famous street food snacks or a visit to Qutub Minar, a UNESCO world Heritage Site, with lunch.

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Delhi: Visit the 12th century Qutub Minar, and see the tallest brick minaret in the world before enjoying lunch.

Delhi: Join a well-known chef for a culinary exploration of Delhi streets where you will tantalise your taste buds. Experience a wide variety of foods and learn the effect that mixing different flavours has on the palate as you sample Indian delicacies from local stallholders.

Jaipur: Step in the side lanes of old Jaipur and see the highly skilled local artisans who are passionate about passing their crafts on to preserve this slice of the cultural heritage.

Jaipur: Focus on the art of block printing and blue pottery as you visit a workshop.

Kumarakom: Indulge in a rejuvenating massage.

Kumarakom: Harmonise your mind and body by taking part in a yoga class.

: Your Well-Being Director takes a proactive approach to your welfare ensuring all well-being regulations are met. On tours fewer than 20 guests, your Traveling Concierge will act as your Well-Being Director.

: Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travelling Concierge's, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.

: Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

: We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.

: Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

: Truly experience India by travelling during one of its famed festivals. On select departures, in the fall you can experience Diwali, which means “row of lights” and is honored by all Indians, regardless of faith.

: Truly experience India by travelling during one of its famed festivals. On select departures in spring, experience the ancient Hindu celebration of Holi, known for its colorful parades.

Delhi: View the monuments of Old and New Delhi when you drive out to Red Fort, the former home of the Mughal emperors. Cruise down the Rajpath to see India Gate and Parliament House.

Delhi: Take a tour of Jama Masjid with your Traveling Concierge. Feel the majesty of the largest mosque in India with its three great gates, 40-metre-high minarets, and a courtyard large enough for 25,000 devotees.

Delhi: Jump into the hustle and bustle of Old Delhi by taking an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the busy streets of Chandni Chowk. Let the city’s sights and sounds swirl around you as you’re transported in traditional style.

Agra: Visit the impressive fortress in Agra and delve into the history of the Mughal Dynasty, who ruled their empire for over 300 years. See the glorious mosques and fairytale palaces such as the Sheesh Mahal within its protected walls.

Delhi: Visit a Sikh temple and community kitchen, where meals are given out to locals and travelers. Those of the Sikh faith regularly open their place of worship to those in greater need.

Agra: Meet the community living in the shadow of the Taj Mahal when you take a Mughal Heritage Walk. Discover hidden gems of the area and learn about daily life in the ancient village with impressive vistas of India’s most famous monument. Through this initiative the community is supported from tourism to improve their living conditions.

Agra: Rise in the morning light to view one of the greatest monuments in the world, the grand Taj Mahal. With the light of dawn and fewer visitors, you can fully appreciate its grandeur in peace, accompanied by only the birds and monkeys.

Ranthambore: Sit back and relax on the express train from Bharatpur to Ranthambore. Enjoy the scenic vistas of northern India as you are transported door-to-door in just a few hours. Experience the quickest way to travel in India, as small villages and plantations whizz by.

Ranthambore: With an expert naturalist, seek out a rare sighting of tigers in their natural habitat on your dawn and dusk safaris in the maharajahs’ former hunting grounds. Witness a wealth of local animals as you search for those elusive stripes.

Jaipur: Ascend by jeep to stroll through the intricately designed complex of courtyards and halls of Amber Fort. Enjoy the shimmering walls and ceilings and wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and receive a special blessing at this 16th century residence.

Jaipur: Meet the ladies of Pink City Rickshaw who will take you on a tour of Jaipur. Hear their stories from growing up in the slum to becoming part of this unique initiative where they have become shareholders in their own company. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience advances SDG 5: Gender Equality. The ladies of Pink City Rickshaw got the chance to rise from the slums and turn their lives around ultimately becoming shareholders in their own company.

Jaipur: Enter the towering gates to the City Palace Museum for a look back through time at chandeliers, cannons, chariots and incredible murals. Built between 1729 -1732, this glorious complex is still home to the Jaipur royal family and young king.

Jaipur: Visit the colourful cavalcade of the fresh flower and spice market.

Jaipur: Explore Hawa Mahal alongside your Traveling Concierge and marvel at its incredible 953 windows. The unusual facade of this Palace of the Winds was designed to allow ladies of the court to look out on the street below while hidden from view.

Kochi: Discover the city of Kochi with an orientation tour which takes in Paradesi Synagogue, the largest in the Commonwealth, before visiting the 16th century Portuguese Mattancherry Palace, renowned for its beautiful murals of Hindu mythology and legends.

Kochi: Delve deeper into the cultural heritage of Kochi by attending a Kathakali performance. This colorful show is one of the world’s oldest forms of theater and the vibrant costumes, transformative make up, amazing dancing and vocal acrobatics make it unmissable.

Alappuzha: Cruise the backwaters of Alleppey on a waterwheel houseboat to get an inside view of life on its shores. Journey past lush rice paddies and coconut plantations where people work daily, and enjoy a wonderful lunch onboard as you make your way to your luxury resort.

Backwater Ripples: Start the day early with a bird-watching tour at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary where you will be given the chance to view some of the fantastic migratory birds which flock to the Himalayas and find home in the acres of woodland.

Mumbai: Take a cruise from Mumbai to Elephanta Island to see the six metre statue of Sadhashiva and the warren of carved cave temples which date back to AD 450, earning the island UNESCO World Heritage status.

Mumbai: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage protected ancient cave temples with depictions of Lord Shiva hewn from basalt rock. These extraordinary carvings date back as far as the 5th century and were recently restored. Human settlements from 2 BC have been recovered here.

Mumbai: Meet the Dabbawalla in Mumbai to learn more about the intricate details of the magnificent tiffin service that keeps the city going! Without any technology, these delivery men have been providing home cooked food to the masses for over 130 years.

Jaipur: Dine in the elegant surroundings of 1135 AD, one of Jaipur’s most revered local restaurants, offering fine Indian dining served amid opulent royal interiors with stunning sunset views. Hear traditional music playing as you indulge your palate.

Jaipur: Savour an exquisite Highlight Dinner created by head chef Kuldeep Rajvanshi using expertise developed over 30 years of dedicated service at Jai Mahal Palace hotel at its pan-Indian restaurant, Cinnamon.

Kochi: Learn the art of home cooking, Kerala style, as you meet a local cooking instructor who will demonstrate the techniques of preparing traditional recipes of the region.

Vaikom Village: Have lunch with a local in Viakom Village. You will be introduced to village life and given the opportunity to try your hand at weaving with pineapple leaves or coconut husks before you are invited to share lunch in their home.

Mumbai: Say goodbye to Mumbai in style with a showcase of Indian cuisine at your Celebration Dinner. Enjoy your final feast as you share tales and make toasts to the experiences you’ve had and memories you’ve made along your amazing journey.

Dining Summary: 14 Breakfast (B), 9 Dinner with Wine (DW), and 7 Lunch (L)

Jaipur: Enjoy a private access tour around Jaipur City Palace including the maharajah’s personal living room, normally off limits to visitors. Savour an Indian inspired high tea on the regal terrace after viewing the spectacular handcrafted crystal table by René Lalique.