India - the Himalayas to the Ganges

Start your Indian adventure with an overnight flight to Delhi.

Touch down in the Indian capital, Delhi, meet your tour manager and settle into your first hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Rise early this morning and set off on a guided tour of Delhi’s historic landmarks. This excursion encompasses all the city’s major historical landmarks, including the Jama Masjid Mosque, one of the largest in India, and Raj Ghat, Gandhi’s cremation site.

An exhilarating rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, in the heart of Old Delhi, is followed by time in New Delhi passing by the India Gate War Memorial, the Red Fort, with its soaring, scarlet walls, and the impressive Government buildings.

In the afternoon, visit the UNESCO-listed Qutub Minar, one of India’s tallest towers, which is situated at the site of Delhi’s oldest fortified city. You’ll also see the sixteenth century Humayun's tomb, an impressive example of Mughal architecture with lush Persian style gardens.

In the evening, return to your hotel to unwind and have dinner.

Leave Delhi behind this morning and enjoy a packed breakfast as you board a train for rural Kalka. Upon arrival, stretch your legs and step aboard the iconic ‘Toy Train’ for an onward journey, climbing through stunning mountain scenery to Shimla. You’ll be given a packed lunch for your rail journey.

This morning after breakfast, enjoy a tour of Shimla, the summer seat of the Indian government during the British Raj. The Viceregal Lodge, in which the map of Indian Partition was drawn, is your first stop, and you’ll be free to admire its teak-panelled interiors. You’ll then pass the Gaiety Theatre, with its distinctly colonial architecture, and if time permits, have a look inside before taking a leisurely stroll along Mall Road, one of Shimla’s main retail areas.

Spend time at Scandal Point, a traditional meeting place for locals and take the chance to browse the area’s local markets at leisure before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Enjoy breakfast in your Shimla hotel ahead of a drive to bustling Chandigarh, the shared state capital of both the Punjab and Hariyana, for an internal flight to Jaipur.

After landing in Rajasthan’s magnificent ‘Pink City’, you’ll be driven to your next hotel for check-in and dinner with your fellow travellers.

Rise early this morning and head for Amber, the former capital of the Rajput empire, on the outskirts of Jaipur. Here, by Jeep, you’ll climb the steep terrain to the towering Amber Fort, which watches over the city from its majestic hilltop position. You’ll explore the treasures of the Royal Halls of this 6th-century hilltop structure and take in the magnificent views from the red sandstone ramparts.

Today’s exploration of Jaipur then continues with a sightseeing tour. You'll visit the City Palace, a magnificent complex that blends Rajput and Mughal architectural styles and the Jantar Mantar, an ornate astronomical observatory, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 18th century. You'll also drive past the Hawa Mahal, or the ‘Palace of the Winds’, a striking pink palace with intricate latticework that allowed royal women to watch street processions without being seen.

This evening, return to the hotel for dinner.

This morning, you’ll head into the tiger-rich wilderness of Ranthambore National Park, one of the largest and most famous national parks in Northern India. This former royal hunting ground is now a key centre for ‘Project Tiger’, and its grasslands, streams, and pools are home to striped hyenas, sambar deer, sloth bears and, of course, the elusive and still endangered tigers of Ranthambhore. You'll then head to your jungle lodge for check-in, where lunch will be provided.

This afternoon, why not join an optional excursion to nearby Ranthambhore Fort? Perched at the top of a hill, ringed by a towering stone wall, this structure presents panoramic views of the national park once you’ve climbed the 273-step path.

Later, join your fellow travellers for drinks and an expert-led tiger talk, which will introduce you to the animals you’ll head out in search of tomorrow. Afterwards, enjoy dinner at the lodge.

You’ll rise early this morning as a day of delving into the surrounding wilderness is on the cards. Accompanied by a local, expert naturalist, go on your first jungle safari in an open-air vehicle. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of Royal Bengal tigers, hyenas, jackals, and leopards.

After an exciting morning, you’ll be taken back to the hotel for breakfast followed by time to relax, perhaps with a dip in the swimming pool ahead of an included lunch. In the afternoon, set off on another safari, alongside your guide, learning more about the local flora and fauna living across the diverse terrain as you go. If you’re lucky, you might also catch another glimpse of the native tigers.

This evening, dinner will be served at the hotel.

Your time in the jungle will come to an end after breakfast this morning as you take a scenic drive to Agra, India’s iconic ‘City of Love’.

On the way, pause in Abhaneri and enjoy some time to explore Chand Baori, one of the biggest stepwells in the world. With intricately geometrically designed staircases, this architectural wonder serves as a source of water and a place of respite in the desert heat. Adjacent to the stepwells, you’ll find the Harshat Mata Temple, an ancient place of worship dedicated to the goddess of happiness and joy, Harshat Mata.

You’ll then continue to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal.

Rise early this morning for one of the undeniable highlights of your time in Northern India. Heading out in the dawn light, you’ll visit the Taj Mahal, the famed monument of eternal love, glistening as the sun rises over the city. This UNESCO-listed mausoleum, encircled by expansive Mughal gardens, is one of the country’s greatest architectural achievements and a wish-list spectacle, completed in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Your visit will be brought to life on a guided tour.

Afterwards, head back to the hotel for breakfast. Your next stop today will be the imposing Agra Fort, a grand sandstone fortress and an intricate maze of courtyards, palaces, and mosques within the Mughal fort. Here, you’ll learn about the building’s regal history on a guided tour before heading back to the hotel for the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Later, you can opt to return to the Taj at sunset to see its grand facades in a different light. Dinner will be served at the hotel this evening.

Today, travel by the Vande Bharat Express to Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India, nestled on the banks of the sacred Ganges River. Spend some time relaxing by the pool this afternoon.

Wake up in Varanasi and make your way to the banks of the Ganges for a cruise by the ghats. Here, under the rising sun, you’ll experience this sacred river and its idyllic surrounding landscapes at their most serene. Pass the city’s riverside ghats, which number 84 in total, and learn about their use in religious ceremonies. As the city rises from its sleep, you’ll enjoy a snapshot of life in Varanasi.

Return to the hotel for a late breakfast and a few hours to relax before heading back into the heart of the city. Begin at the Benaras Hindu Campus, one of India’s finest universities. This grand building, founded in 1916 by Annie Besant, a key proponent for Indian independence, has since become a major research centre.

Continue to Shri Viswanath Mandir, a major temple and shrine for Indian Hindus, where you’ll learn more about the religious history and the faiths that coexist in Varanasi. Your final stop, the Sankat Mochan Temple, worships the monkey god, Hanuman, and showcases Uttar Pradesh’s traditional Hindu architecture.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and, settle in for dinner at the hotel this evening. For further insight into the Hindu traditions of Varanasi, join an optional evening Varanasi cycle of life night walking tour alongside an expert local guide who will explain the Hindi beliefs around life and death. This tour will take you around the ghats, that lead down to the mighty Ganges. Often used for funeral rites and processions, these ceremonial staircases are sacred to the city’s Hindu population, and you’ll learn about their importance as you go.

Sarnath, a popular Buddhist pilgrimage spot on the outskirts of Varanasi, will be the backdrop for a morning’s exploration. Join a friendly local guide for a tour of the town’s assorted stupas, temples, and ruins. Learn about the region’s colourful history with a stop at the Sarnath Museum, which showcases a vast collection of archaeological finds and Buddhist relics. After some time to explore the town’s rich Buddhist heritage, return to Varanasi and unwind with an afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, head to the ghats to experience the Aarti ceremony. This daily ritual takes place at sunset along the banks of the River Ganges, where priests perform a traditional prayer involving lighted lamps, chanting, and music. The ceremony is an important part of Hindu worship and offers an insight into the spiritual life of Varanasi.

After breakfast at the hotel, board a short internal flight back to Delhi. Upon arrival, you’ll be driven to your final hotel in the suburb of Dwarka.

This evening, enjoy a final dinner with your fellow travellers.

Following breakfast, travel to Delhi airport in the morning for your flight back to the UK.