India's classic first journey links three cities that together tell the story of the Mughal emperors, the Rajput kings and the British Raj. In Delhi you move from the lanes of the old walled city to the broad avenues of Lutyens' New Delhi. In Agra you see the Taj Mahal at sunset and again at sunrise, along with the great fort and garden tombs of the Mughals. In Jaipur, the Pink City, you ride up to Amber Fort and explore palaces, an observatory and bustling bazaars.
The tour travels at an easy pace, with fast trains to Agra and back from Jaipur, a scenic drive through Fatehpur Sikri and the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri, and free time in each city to shop or simply rest. Every tour is private and can be tailored to your dates, hotels and interests.
Welcome to India! On arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, our representative meets you after customs and escorts you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest after your journey.
A full day with your guide exploring two very different Delhis. The morning is spent in New Delhi. Visit Humayun's Tomb, the 16th-century garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal, and the soaring Qutub Minar, a 73-metre tower begun in the 12th century. Drive along Kartavya Path past India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Parliament buildings of Lutyens' Delhi.
Then visit Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi's most important Sikh shrine, with its golden dome and sacred pool. Here you can see the langar, the community kitchen where volunteers prepare free meals for thousands of visitors every day, whatever their faith. Please cover your head and remove your shoes before entering.
In the late afternoon and evening, discover Old Delhi, the walled city of Shahjahanabad built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Stop at Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and drive past the red sandstone walls of the Red Fort. Visit Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques, then board a cycle rickshaw for a ride through the lanes of Chandni Chowk, alive in the evening with spice sellers, sweet shops and centuries-old havelis.
After breakfast, transfer to the station for India's fastest train, the Gatimaan Express, reaching Agra in under two hours. You are met at the station and drive to Sikandra to see the tomb of the great emperor Akbar, set in gardens where deer roam freely.
After checking in to your hotel, visit the exquisite Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, often called the "Baby Taj". Built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father, it was the first Mughal building faced entirely in white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. In the late afternoon, cross the Yamuna to Mehtab Bagh, the Moonlight Garden, for a peaceful view of the Taj Mahal as the sun sets behind it.
Rise early for the most magical moment of the tour: the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the white marble glows soft pink and gold and the gardens are at their quietest. Built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it took over 20 years and some 20,000 craftsmen to complete. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Later, visit Agra Fort, the massive red sandstone citadel of the Mughal emperors. Within its walls are marble palaces, audience halls and the octagonal tower where Shah Jahan spent his last years gazing across the river at the Taj. The afternoon is free for shopping for marble inlay, carpets and leatherwork, with the car at your disposal.
Drive west to Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone city built by Akbar as his capital in the 16th century and abandoned only a few years later. Its palaces, courtyards and the great Jama Masjid with the white marble tomb of Sufi saint Salim Chishti remain beautifully preserved.
Continue to the village of Abhaneri to see Chand Baori, one of the deepest and most striking stepwells in India, with thousands of steps descending 13 storeys in perfect symmetry, and the nearby Harshat Mata Temple. Arrive in Jaipur in the late afternoon and check in. The evening is free, with the car at your disposal.
In the morning, drive out to Amber Fort, the hilltop palace-fortress of the Kachhwaha Rajput kings, and ride up to its gates by jeep. Inside, wander through courtyards, gateways and the dazzling Sheesh Mahal, the Hall of Mirrors. On the way back, stop to photograph the Jal Mahal water palace.
In the afternoon, tour the Pink City. Visit the City Palace, still home to the royal family, and Jantar Mantar, the 18th-century astronomical observatory and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then stop for photos of the honeycombed façade of the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds. In the evening, join a guided walk through Jaipur's bazaars, tasting local food and meeting the craftsmen behind its famous jewellery, textiles and block prints.
An early transfer to Jaipur railway station, with a packed breakfast, to board the Vande Bharat Express, one of India's new generation of fast, comfortable trains. On arrival at Delhi Cantonment station you are met and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for last-minute shopping or relaxing before your journey home.
Transfer to Delhi International Airport in time for your flight home, or onward to your next destination in India. Tour ends with happy memories!
Train numbers and timings are indicative and confirmed at the time of booking. Itineraries can be adjusted for monument closing days, your travel dates and special interests.
A private tour, quoted individually for 1 traveller or more.
Tell us your dates and preferred hotels, and we will send a detailed quote, usually within 24 hours.
