Tiger safari: Rajasthan & Ranthambore holiday

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights Delhi
• 2 nights Agra
• 2 night Ranthambore
• 3 nights Jaipur
• 2 nights Mumbai

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport. Flights from the UK generally land in very late at night or early the following morning, for the purpose of this itinerary we will assume you land on the evening of the same day.

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Included: International flight, arrival transfer, hotel

Day 2: Full day tour in Delhi

Begin your first day in India with a full day tour of Delhi where you’ll take a cycle rickshaw through the Old City.

Pass the opulent Red Fort and head down the Chandni Chowk, the main avenue through the city which is a maze of alleys, crowded bazaars and colourful street vendors. Watch barbers trimming beards and jewellers selling their wares as you sail past on your way New Delhi where the wide British built boulevards give way to shady gardens and open parks. You’ll visit Parliament House and the India Gate before heading back to your hotel.

Included: Hotel, breakfast and day tour of Old and New Delhi, including a cycle rickshaw and metro ride

Day 3: Drive Delhi to Agra (Approx. 210kms, 4-5hrs)

After breakfast you’ll be driven to Agra, around 4-5 hours away. Spend the afternoon relaxing at your hotel after the journey before going to Mehtab Bagh later that evening where you can enjoy the sun setting behind the majestic Taj Mahal.

Included: Hotel, breakfast, private car with driver and entry to the Mehtab Bagh

Day 4: Full day in Agra

Today you’ll take a guided tour of the city, stopping first at the world famous monument to love – the Taj Mahal.

Legend has it that when this great masterpiece was completed, the architect’s hands were cut off so he could never recreate another building so beautiful. After exploring this iconic Indian building you’ll visit the Agra Fort where you will be taken through the chambers of this royal residence. The deep red of the fort is an impressive sight – it is almost a walled city in its own right and contains the largest treasury in India.

Included: Hotel, breakfast, full day tour of Agra including the Taj Mahal & Red Fort

Day 5: Drive Agra to Bharatpur (Approx. 57kms, 2hrs) and take train on to Ranthambore

This morning you’ll be driven to Bharatpur, stopping for a visit to Fatehpur Sikri, an abandoned Imperial city where the architectural grandeur has to be seen to be believed. As you wander through the empty streets and perfectly preserved buildings you’ll learn about its mysterious abandonment just a few years after it was built.

After lunch you’ll continue on to Bharatpur where you will board the train to Ranthambore, approximately a 2.5 hour journey. On arrival you’ll be transferred to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Included: Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner, private car with driver, entry to Fatehpur Sikri, train to Ranthambore

Day 6: Full day at the Ranthambore National Park

Waking up in Ranthambore is a wonderful experience; before breakfast you’ll be off on your first game drive, eyes peeled for wildlife in the early morning mist.

Ranthambore National Park is famous for tigers and conservation efforts mean that the population here is stable if not increasing. If you’re lucky you’ll spot one of these magnificent creatures as well as the more common residents of the park like sambar deer, monkeys and peacocks. Returning for breakfast you’ll spend the day at leisure at the hotel before taking another game drive through the park, hopefully seeing some of the animals you might have missed this morning!

Included: Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner, 2 game drives with a guide

Day 7: Ranthambore National Park to Jaipur (Approx. 150kms, 4-5 hrs)

After another early morning game drive to take in the splendour of Ranthambore one last time, you’ll embark on the leisurely drive to Jaipur, where you’ll check in for 2 nights. Known as the Pink City, Jaipur is the colourful capital of Rajasthan and is the perfect place to spend your evening wandering amongst the bazaars and markets.

Included: Hotel, breakfast, 1 game drive with a guide, private car and driver

Day 8: Full day in Jaipur

After breakfast you’ll take a half day excursion around the famous Amber Fort, a glorious example of the Rajput architecture of the area.

You’ll go up to the fort in a jeep to admire the royal halls decorated intricately with ivory and mirror mosaics and paintings – the grand palace of a kingdom never conquered. This afternoon you’ll venture into the city to visit the City Palace Museum, full of the robes of royal princes and the weapons from their many battles before looking around the Palace of Winds, a five storied wonder of latticed screens, domes and spires.

Included: Hotel, breakfast, morning tour of the Amber Fort, afternoon tour of the city

Day 9: Free day in Jaipur

Today is yours to enjoy Jaipur, perhaps exploring some of the areas you didn’t see yesterday like the Govind Devji Temple or the bustling street food markets of the city? If you would like you could join a Heritage Walk of the Jaipur Bazaar (not included).

Included: Hotel, breakfast

Day 10: Jaipur to Mumbai (overnight train)

After a morning relaxing in Jaipur you’ll be transferred to the railway station to catch your overnight train to Mumbai. Trains were brought to India by the British and are the most popular way to get around the country so enjoy this classic journey as you sail through the countryside to Mumbai, arriving at around 8am the next day.

Included: Breakfast, private car with driver, sleeper train with breakfast

Day 11: Full day in Mumbai

Arriving in Mumbai this morning you’ll be transferred over to your hotel to spend the morning relaxing. In the afternoon you’ll embark on a half day city tour, taking in this pulsating city which began as a natural harbour inhabited by fishermen which the British quickly built up into a globally important harbour city. It is a dazzling mix of old and new, the thriving metropolis of India’s financial centre as well as the traditional Hindu temples. Visit the gateway of India and the Crawford Market as you enjoy your final day in India.

Included: Private car with driver, hotel, afternoon city tour

Day 12: Depart Mumbai

Your time in India has come to an end, so after breakfast you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Hopefully this snapshot of India has left you with many wonderful memories! Flights land back into the UK on the same day.

Included: Breakfast, departure transfer