Arrival in Delhi
Arrive in Delhi and a transfer will take you to your hotel with country-club vibes located in the heart of the city. Recover from the journey with a drink by the swimming pool or perhaps on the palm-studded lawn. Here you can enjoy all the mod cons from a 4,000-square-foot spa and state-of-the-art gym. Or the hotel’s multiple restaurants catering to just about every taste whether you’re craving burgers or bao buns. Overnight at The Claridges.
Things to do:
Claridges: where luxury reigns supreme
Home from home at the Colonel’s Retreat
Stay at Haveli Dharampura, a family-run heritage hotel
The Imperial: A dip into Delhi's history
Delhi
Delhi’s riot of colour and culture is calling. One of the best (and exhilarating) ways of getting your bearings is an optional rickshaw ride around Old Delhi’s buzzing bazaars immersing yourself in the manic alleys and making pitstops for deep-fried street snacks. You may prefer a Five Senses city tour ticking off landmarks such as Humayun’s Tomb and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh temples. Here you can help serve chapatis to some of its 30,000 daily devotees, a most humbling experience. Overnight at The Claridges.
Things to do:
Claridges: where luxury reigns supreme
Tour Old Delhi by rickshaw
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: a glittering beacon of harmony and faith
Delhi & Jaipur
It’s an early morning transfer to the station before hopping on the train to Jaipur, a fun way of seeing the landscapes unfold and allowing that little bit more freedom for families (and teens with itchy feet). After four-and-a-half hours, arrive in the Pink City and transfer to your old-world haveli with bags of opulence and charm. Think courtyards, a swimming pool and a 4th-floor rooftop from which you can see kites soaring above the tangled city canopy. To heighten the drama, we’ve included a trip to the Amber Fort evoking the time of maharajas and elephant driven invasions with an optional tour to see hidden parts of the palace. Overnight at Samode Haveli.
Things to do:
Samode Haveli: a royal abode
Experience the magnificence of Amber Fort
Dera Mandawa, Jaipur’s top heritage homestay
Oberoi Rajvilas: an emblem of Rajasthani culture
Jaipur
You have the day free to explore in whatever way suits your clan be it independently or on an optional guided city tour. For a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, why not try a hot air balloon ride at dawn over Jaipur’s dusky pink hues and heritage monuments. For a later wake-up call, ease yourself into the city on a guide-led exploration seeing architectural marvels such as The City Palace and Jantar Mantar observatory. In the evening, we would always recommend a cooking demonstration at a local home. Budding chef or not, it’ll make you want to be one after an evening on the festooned rooftop having eaten some of the most perfectly fried pakoras you may just ever taste. Overnight at Samode Haveli.
Things to do:
Samode Haveli: a royal abode
The hot air balloon ride with a red-carpet arrival
Supper on the roof at Ikaki Niwas
Jaipur & Sariska
A transfer will journey you to the Sariska area and its tiger reserve in approximately 3 hours. Break up the journey stopping at Chand Baori, the oldest and deepest surviving step well in Rajasthan and visually mind-warping. Next stop is Bhangarh, a supposedly haunted fort where you can stretch your legs re-enacting Indiana Jones in the enclaves of the foothills. Continue for 40 minutes to your rural lodge and unwind in the courtyard with a drink by the campfire. Overnight at Sariska Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
A rural retreat at Sariska Safari Lodge
Sariska
Tall hazy forest, jade coloured streams and rocky outcrops are the backdrop to fun-filled Jeep drives into the 300-square-mile Sariska Tiger Reserve. There’s nothing more bonding than bumping along jungle paths with little between you and the wild. The thrill of spotting a flash of auburn hair through the tall tufts of bamboo adds to the thrill in this tiger terroir. This morning a private game drive with the help of an expert naturalist is included. While the chance of spotting a tiger is never guaranteed (they are notoriously elusive) you’ll be treated to other resident wildlife such as sloth bears, sambar deer and the wide variety of wondrous birdlife. The afternoon is left free whether you choose to go on an extra game drive or relax at the lodge. Otherwise you can enjoy optional activities such as excursions to the area’s many archaeological treasures, perhaps the ancient city of Viratnagar and its Mughal-era crumbling monuments. Overnight at Sariska Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
A rural retreat at Sariska Safari Lodge
Tiger territory and jungle forts with Sariska Safari Lodge
Sariska & Agra
Take a five-and-a-half-hour transfer to Agra. En route there will be stops to stretch your legs and you'll no doubt be glued to the window watching India's landscapes cinematically unfold. There's Wi-Fi in the car too so you can capture those vital Instagram-Tik Tok moments. Your hotel tonight boasts views of the Taj Mahal from the swimming pool. After a long journey, the rest of your day is yours to relax or explore at your own stead. Should you wish to acquaint yourself with the local culture, one optional activity would be a walking tour following the fascinating achievements of some of Agra’s renown women including Itmad ud Daulah, aka ‘baby Taj’ built by Mehr-un-Nissa, one of the most famous royal women of her era. Or why not take a bike ride into the countryside dotted with grazing buffalo and where you can meet traditional potters and carpet weavers who reside in the rural villages. Overnight at Taj Hotel & Convention Centre.
Things to do:
Oberoi Amarvilas: a window onto the Taj Mahal
The Agra countryside bike tour
Discover the untold stories of Agra’s Mughal women
Agra & Delhi
It’s a crack-of-dawn start today for the finale trip, a visit to the iconic Taj Mahal. Nothing can prepare you for this moment, seeing its ivory-white facade positively gleaming in the rosy morning sun. While most visit in the later part of the day, you can marvel at its dwarfing marble architecture, intricate inlay and immaculate landscaped gardens with far smaller crowds – a family selfie on the Princess Diana bench is obligatory. After a good amount of time here, take a 2-hour train back to Delhi and check-in to your hotel. The evening is free to celebrate the end of your trip. Overnight at The Claridges.
Things to do:
Claridges: where luxury reigns supreme
Taj Mahal at sunrise
Delhi & Departure
Today, a transfer will take you all to the airport for onward travel.
Another stop?
If you want to extend your adventure, we recommend finishing your holiday with a beach stay in Goa
Extensions
Taj Fort Aguada: a Goan classic
