Old and New Delhi, Taj Mahal, Agra, local village in Suroth Mahal, Pink city of Jaipur, hill top fort, Abhaneri step well, Tigers in Ranthambore Natio
Highlights
Old and New Delhi, Taj Mahal, Agra, local village in Suroth Mahal, Pink city of Jaipur, hill top fort, Abhaneri step well, Tigers in Ranthambore National Park
Itinerary
Once you arrive in Delhi, you'll be met by one of our local staff, who will transfer your hotel. Once you're settled in, we'll run through the tour itinerary for the next few days, brief you on the local area and arrange a time to collect you tomorrow.
OVERNIGHT:
Delhi hotel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
Extra day in Delhi - pre-tour
Single room supplement (INSGTT)
Your day starts with a morning tour of India's capital, New Delhi. Built on the banks of the Yamuna river, New Delhi is a beautiful blend of a historical past and a vibrant present.
We start at India Gate in the centre of New Delhi, a 42-metre high "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway, a war memorial built to commemorate the 82,000 soldiers who partook in the undivided Indian Army. We'll drive past various government buildings such as the President's Palace and the Parliament of India, before passing Humayun's Tomb - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Bangla Sahab Gurudwara Sikh Temple.
We'll stop at Connaught Place Station and join the locals on the metro to Old Delhi where we'll walk through one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk, before exploring the narrow streets of Chawri Bazar which specialises in selling brass, copper and paper products. Throughout the afternoon our guide will also introduce you to the wide range of street food snacks and delicacies so you can get your first authentic taste of the delicious and varied Indian cuisine. Our walking tour will also take in a rickshaw ride and the Jama Masjid mosque, one of the largest in India.
OVERNIGHT:
Delhi hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
We head to Agra this morning, home of the famous Taj Mahal. After arriving in Agra we'll make a stop for lunch at the Sheroes Hangout Cafe The cafe was set up by the Chhanv Foundation and is run by victirms of acid attacks. The cafe works to raise awareness of acid attacks in India and to empower those who have sadly been the victims of these heinous crimes. Prior to gaining employment in the cafe, many of the 'Sheroes' led solitary lives, rarely going outside due to shame associated with their scars. At Encounters Travel we're proud to support such an organisation, which has the sole aim of helping these women find acceptance, a supportive community and a means of income. Lunch will be included whilst at the cafe.
Once you've checked in into your hotel, we'll spend the afternoon on a Mughal Heritage Walk through the ancient village of Kachhpura and surrounding farmland on the banks of the Yamuna River across from the Taj Mahal and Red Fort. This walk has been designed by a local NGO and helps support the local community through employment and new infrastructure. During the walk one of the villagers will give a guide to their village life, the layout of their homes, with living, cooking & religious areas, the farming done, and the local cottage industry for leather shoe making which helps Agra export shoes all over the world. You'll also see some lesser known but important Mughal era monuments. Finally today we'll stroll around the park at Mehtab Bagh - originally built by Emperor Babur as the last in a series of 11 parks on the Yamuna River's east bank, before taking in the magnificent sight of the Taj Mahal at sunset.
A special evening option is available today, where you can join a Hindu family for a Vegetarian Thali cooking lesson and meal.
OVERNIGHT:
Agra hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch
EXTRAS:
Cook with a Hindu family in Agra
We start today early for our tour of the Taj Mahal. Truly one of the wonders of the world this elaborate monument to love was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and took over twenty-two years to complete. Sunrise is a great time to visit as the light changes gradually with the colours of the Taj changing too.
After breakfast we leave the region's popular tourist areas and head into the heart of rural Rajasthan to the small town of Suroth. The property was a former palace, now welcoming guests as a hotel, but retaining its heritage charm, with rooms painted with murals.
The afternoon sees us exploring the village, interacting with the local villagers, getting invaluable insight into seeing their way of life. Our walking tour will pass by local shops, down narrow streets, we'll visit a small temple and perhaps even visit a local barber shop where you can have a shave or head massage. In the evening we'll have a cooking demonstration before enjoying dinner at the hotels restaurant.
OVERNIGHT:
Suroth Mahal heritage hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS:
None
Today we head to Jaipur, the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan in Western India. Enroute, we'll visit the Abhaneri step well, the largest and deepest step well in the world, which boasts 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. You may recognise this as the place that Sonny tried to express his feelings for Sunaina in the recent movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
The remaider of the day in Jaipur will be free to explore at leisure or join one of our optional
EXTRAS:
A fun option this evening is to head out and watch a Bollywood movie at the Raj Mandir cinema.
Another good choice for this evening is to visit a local family in their home for a cooking demonstration and dinner together.
OVERNIGHT:
Jaipur heritage hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Hot air balloon in Jaipur
Jaipur Bollywood Movie - Raj Mandir Cinema
Jaipur Cooking demo and dinner with local family
You have an option of going on an early morning hot air balloon ride over Jaipur, flying over its palaces, forts and lakes - a truly mesmerising experience.
If you chose to sleep a little later, your morning starts with a visit to the Amber Fort, the jewel in Jaipur's crown - an ancient fortress built on a hilltop in the 16th century dedicated to the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber. Be mesmerised by this majestic architectural wonder, with its pink sandstone and marble palace shining in the sun. It's massive fortress walls sprawls across the hills, with many seeing a resemblance of the Great Wall of China.
Later, we return to the city for a tour of Jaipur, as we visit the strange Jantar Mantar monument, a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II between 1724 and 1730. Jaipur was the first planned city of medieval India and we'll also explore its City Palace. Built by Raja Man Singh during 1729-1732 AD, the City Palace was once the seat of kings as it was from here that they ruled the region. This tangle of courtyards, manicured gardens and exceptionally crafted mahals is one of the most revered attractions in India.
We spend the remainder of the day walking in the walled city to discover some of Jaipur's famous crafts markets and craftsmen in action such as jewellers, silversmiths, textile workshops and bangle makers. Our tour will include a blockprinting workshop, where we learn the ways in which fabric is decorated using this ancient method and we'll also have a gemstone demonstation.
OVERNIGHT:
Jaipur heritage hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Hot air balloon in Jaipur
We leave Jaipur today and head to Ranthambore National Park, which is named after Ranthambore fortress, located within its boundaries. If you're looking to see tigers in the wild, this is the place to be. In 1973, the park was established as a sanctuary for the tigers and to help decrease the fatal interactions that were increasing between humans and tigers.
We'll have our first chance to see Tigers this afternoon as we join a shared canter for game drive through the park.
OVERNIGHT:
Ranthambore Heritage hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS:
None
We'll head back out on an early morning game drive, giving you the best opportunity to see India's tigers in their natural habitat, but keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife such as leopards, sloth bears, black bucks, flying foxes, Indian porcupines, striped hyenas, jackals, jungle cats, wild boar, civets, desert cats, macaques, mole rats, and many more species.
We'll be transported through the jungle in an open-backed truck (shared canter), which allows us to travel deep into the park, as we search for India's unique wildlife. We'll also visit the ruined fort located within the boundaries of the park, which is beautifully elevated on a natural hummock, which towers at just over 200 metres high. The ancient ruined fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the afternoon you'll have some free time to relax or you could consider booking additional private jeep or shared game drives within the park.
OVERNIGHT:
Ranthambore Heritage hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
EXTRAS:
None
We'll say goodbye to Ranthambore and board a train back to Delhi. Our preferred service is the Kota Jan Shtabad leaving at 0725. The train ride will last for about five hours, but it's one of the best ways to experience the beauty of India, as you make your way past the rural countryside and farmlands as well as the bustling city life as you approach the capital.
Once we arrive in Delhi, you'll be transferred to your hotel and have some free time in the afternoon for last minute shopping or exploration. You could also join our optional tour to the Hindu Akshardam Temple.
OVERNIGHT:
Delhi hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
You have some free time to buy any gifts for your loved ones back home before we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home. Additional half day tours are available this morning if you have a later flight, and extension options are also available.
OVERNIGHT:
N/A
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Goa beach extension
Extra day in Delhi - post-tour
Spinmonkey cycling tour
Varanasi extension
included with
All accommodation in mid-range hotels and heritage properties
All transport and transfers in AC vehicles
24-hour airport arrival and departure transfer service
Sightseeing tours and activities as per the itinerary
Delhi Tour, Rickshaw Ride & Street Food Sampling in Delhi
Agra Sheroes Cafe, Mughal Heritage Walk and Taj Mahal visit
Suroth Mahal Village tour & cooking demonstration
Jaipur Amber Fort, City Tour & craft workshop
Ranthambore Shared Canter Game Drives in search of Tigers
Services of a local tour leader and specialist local guides
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
excluded by
International flights (available on request)
Visa fees
Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
Tips for driver and/or tour guide
Entrance fees (allow approx. US$90)
Any other items not mentioned above
Extras /
Upgrades
Single Room Supplement; Hot air balloon flight in Jaipur; Kingdom of Dreams Bollywood evening in Delhi
Detailed Description
Explore the sites of the iconic Golden Triangle before going on search for Indian tigers in Ranthambore National Park on this 10 day Indian adventure.
Your adventure starts in Delhi, where we take in both the new and old sides to the city. Old Delhi, the home of the Mughal Empire in centuries past, boasts a wealth of fascinating history, beautiful architecture and of course, great street food, while New Delhi's architecture, religious sites and modern aspects form an intriguing contrast. No visit to Delhi is complete without an exciting ride in a rickshaw or a taste of the world famous street food, that's why we've included these experiences at no additional cost!
Moving on to Agra, we'll firstly visit the Sheroes cafe for lunch, a great little NGO, supporting victims of acid attacks which we're proud to support. We'll then join a local villager who will escort us on a Mughal Heritage Walk through villages and farmland on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River to the Taj Mahal. This walking tour supports the local community and provides a fascinating insight into village life in Agra as well as providing great views of the Taj Mahal not normally seen. A sunrise tour of the Taj then follows before we head out into the countryside for a night in a converted palace and explore the village and surroundings, getting a real feel for rural Indian life.
As we move on to Jaipur, we visit the huge Step Well at Abanheri with its 3,500 steps and 13 stories (you might recognise it from the Great Exotic Marigold movie). Whilst in the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, capital of the arid state of Rajasthan, we'll visit the Amber Fort, City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory before exploring the city's famous craft and produce markets on foot and join a block printing workshop.
After leaving the members of the group heading back to Delhi, we move on to Ranthambore National Park.The park is one of India's most famous, and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. As well as the tigers, which are the main attraction for most people, there is a multitude of other wildlife including over 300 species of birds, marsh crocodiles and monitor lizards, and 30 mammals including sloth bear, wild boar, porcupines and jackals, leopards, jungle cats, monkeys and various species of deer and antelope.
Ranthambore also hosts an old fort which is interesting to pass on the way through the park. We take guided safaris through the park by canter (open backed lorry), before taking a ride on India's extensive rail network as we head back to Delhi where the tour comes to an end.
The accommodations used on this tour have been carefully selected and include modern properties in Delhi and Agra and heritage hotels in Jaipur, Hinduan and Ranthambore
