India's Golden Triangle & Shimla with Marari Beach Extension

Day 1

Begin your Indian holiday with an overnight flight from the UK to Delhi via Abu Dhabi.

Day 2

A coach will be waiting for you when you arrive in Delhi this morning, and will carry you to your hotel. After an included lunch, join your Tour Manager for a guided tour of Delhi. In the Old City you'll see the Red Fort (former home of the Murghal emperor), Jama Masjid Mosque and Raj Ghat, Gandhi's cremation site at Raj Ghat, and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk.Crossing into New Delhi, you'll enter a colonial city filled with traces of the British Raj. Highlights here will include the historic India Gate war memorial, Parliament House and the broad monumental avenue of the Rajpath.

Day 3

Head to Delhi airport to catch the short flight to Chandigarh. After lunch, we'll travel to Kandaghat in Himachal Pradesh where we'll board the train to Shimla. Relax as the 'toy train' winds its scenic way into the foothills of the Himalayas, along the narrow-gauge line opened by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, in 1903.Shimla itself is a delightful city. Its mansions, lawns, and cricket pitches retain the colonial atmosphere you'd expect of a place that was once the summer capital of British India. And your two nights here, in the magnificent Oberoi Cecil Hotel, is sure to be a real highlight of your trip.

Day 4

This morning we'll rejoin the 'toy train' for a short journey through the mountains to Tara Devi 's Hindu Temple. Enjoy lunch at Clark's Hotel, the first hotel of the now world famous Oberoi chain, before heading out for a guided tour of Shimla. We'll visit the Viceregal Lodge, where the Partition of India was mapped out, stroll across the Ridge (the road-cum-square that's the centre of community activity in Shimla) and see the very English spires of Christ Church before joining the crowds at Scandal Point, Shimla's traditional meeting place, for an afternoon gossip.

Day 5

Today we'll retrace our steps, heading back down to Chandigarh for the return rail journey to Delhi.

Day 6

After a morning drive to Jaipur, and lunch when we arrive in the city, you'll have the afternoon free to relax or join our optional excursion to Elefantastic. This conservation sanctuary is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary animals, and you'll the chance to get up close to some of its rescued elephants.

Day 7

Enjoy today's city tour of Jaipur will reveal the museums and ancient observatory of the City Palace complex, and view the ornate- many-windowed facade of the Palace of the Winds.Return to the hotel for lunch and time to relax and perhaps take a refreshing dip in the pool.Dinner tonight will be taken at the Nokha House, hosted by the Rathore family in traditional Rajasthani style.

Day 8

This morning we will leave Jaipur for Agra, India's City of Love. After lunch our first stop will be the pavilions, palaces and courtyards of Agra Fort. And from there we'll head to the Taj Mahal, the extraordinarily beautiful monument built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, where you'll have time to watch the sun set behind its delicate domes and spires.

Day 9

Today's early start will be rewarded by another unforgettable view of the Taj Mahal, from across the Yamuna River as the sun rises. We'll return to the hotel for breakfast, and then leave Agra behind as we head to Abhaneri. This ancient village is home to Chand Baori, one of the oldest and most intricate stepwells in India, its 13 storeys and 3500 steps offering access to water and much-needed refuge from the sun's heat. After lunch at Umaid Lake Palace, a Heritage resort hotel laid out in the style of a Mughal residence, and a tour of its 20-acre landscaped gardens, we'll continue to Ranthambhore National Park. This former royal hunting ground is now a key centre for Project Tiger, and its grasslands, streams and beautiful pools are home to striped hyenas, sambar deer, sloth bears and of course tigers.This evening, prior to tomorrow's adventures, enjoy a 'tiger talk' with a local naturalist.

Day 10

Today revolves around two open-air vehicle safaris in Ranthambhore National Park, one in the morning and one after lunch. Join an expert naturalist guide to search your surroundings for signs of tigers, leopards and the many other species that make their home in the park.

Day 11

This morning, rest and relax, or join the optional excursion to ancient Ranthambhore Fort, which sits atop hills above the National Park, and rewards those prepared to climb its 273 steps with stupendous views. In the afternoon we'll bid farewell to Ranthambhore, and make our way into the Aravali Hills, heading to the jungle resort of Vanaashyra. We'll stop en route at the fascinating ruins of Bhangarh Fort for a welcome tea or coffee, before continuing to Vanaashyra.

Day 12

Spend the day relaxing in the resort after your time spent sightseeing. Why not ride a camel-drawn cart into the local village and enjoy a cookery demonstration before dinner?

Day 13

Fly to ocean-side Kochi today, and transfer south along the coast to your hotel, beginning your four-night stay on Marari Beach. Check in, explore the hotel and unwind.

Day 14

Enjoy your first full day in Marari Beach. Choose to begin with a swim in the on-site pool or enjoy a relaxing Ayurvedic treatment, before exploring farther afield, with a walk along the golden beach. Later, dine in the hotel or explore the local area.

Day 15-16

Spend the next two days relaxing pool-side, soaking up Kerala's mellow atmosphere, or perhaps take out one of the hotel's bicycles and explore the local area at a leisurely pace. In the evening, enjoy dinner in the hotel and look back on your time and experiences in this wonderful country.

Day 17

This morning you'll return to Kochi's airport to begin your journey home via Abu Dhabi.