India’s Golden Triangle, Tigers & Shimla

Your tour of India's Golden Triangle and the Himalayan foothills begins at London Heathrow. Meeting the Tour Manager and the rest of our group, we board a direct evening flight to India. This captivating country dazzles with a heady mix of sights, scents and spirituality. India has a deep and rich heritage, and our tour takes in its colonial history - from the wide avenues of New Delhi to the hill town retreat of Shimla - along with the grand monuments and palaces of Agra, Jaipur and the wildlife of the magnificent Ranthambore National Park.

Landing in Delhi late this morning, we transfer to our five-star hotel where there's a chance to unwind. Delhi is one of India's most colourful and exciting metropolises, where old and new exists in harmony.

After free time to relax and possibly to explore the local surroundings, we regroup this evening for dinner in our hotel restaurant.

• Dinner

Early this morning, we transfer to New Delhi station for our first experience of India's railways. Boarding the AC Chair Class carriages of the Shatabdi Express, we travel the 170 miles to the town of Kalka in a little over four hours.

From here, we board the World Heritage, narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen, affectionately known as the 'Toy Train'. With a picnic lunch provided, we begin our meandering route through the scenic Shivalik Hills. Travelling at a leisurely pace, our train crosses hundreds of bridges and enters 102 tunnels enroute to the relaxed hill town of Shimla. For those who would prefer, you can take the trip up to Shimla by car.

Formerly the summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla has a cooler climate than the bustling city of Delhi. On arrival, we check in to our historic five-star hotel which has provided wonderful views across the valleys and hills for over a century. The centre of Shimla's social scene during the Raj, the hotel remains popular today with our customers. This evening, we dine in the hotel restaurant.

Please Note - For departures 11th & 14th February and 9th November we will stay at the WelcomHotel Elysium Shimla hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Author and historian Raaja Bhasin presents an informative talk full of spellbinding stories about his hometown and its role during British rule. Discussing the history of Britain in India, Raaja provides expert insights into key moments such as the 1857 uprising and the legacy of the East India Company.

On a sightseeing tour in private cars, we put our knowledge to good use, first at the Viceregal Lodge, Shimla's most historically important building, now surrounded by manicured gardens. As the summer residence of the Indian Viceroy, the leader of the British Raj, a fifth of the world's population was ruled from here between May and September each year. This elaborate stately home has sat at the top of Observatory Hill since 1888 and was the setting for discussions which lead to the Partition of India in 1947.

Next, we visit the colourful Sankat Mochan Temple, a serene complex dedicated to Hindu god Hanuman. The tour continues at the Gothic revival Gaiety Theatre, an irrefutably British hall that has seen many famous people tread its boards, including Rudyard Kipling and Robert Baden-Powell. Later, we dine back at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is spent at leisure among the fresh mountain air and beautiful tree-covered slopes of Shimla. One option is to take a trip to Kufri, where the sense of entering the elemental Himalayas really dawns. Although a resort with many amenities, visiting Kufri really feels like you are heading off the beaten track. From here, indulge in the luxury of a tea experience in opulent Wildflower Hall.

Alternatively, you might prefer to uncover Shimla independently. Still reflective of India's character, there's a much more leisurely pace of life compared to the bigger cities, inspired by the cooler climate. Stroll down Mall Road and the Ridge, the centre of colonial Shimla, and enjoy great views from Scandal Point - so named as it was once a popular place for people to share gossip - before admiring the Children's Library and stately Christ Church. With classic British architecture, these buildings wouldn't look out of place around a peaceful English village green. In the afternoon, you could make your way to Lakkar Bazaar to view traditional woodwork and souvenirs.

This evening, we regroup at our hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our time in the Himalayas draws to a close after breakfast this morning. Leaving Shimla, we return down the mountains in private cars, navigating the twisting route amid the beautiful scenery of verdant valleys.

We stop to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to Chandigarh Junction railway station, where we board the train in AC Chair Class for our journey back to Delhi. We can observe daily life in the state of Haryana from our windows - from buzzing towns to pastoral rural scenes. We may even be able to spot the occasional temple en route to the bustling city.

We arrive back in New Delhi in the late afternoon and make our way to the hotel for check-in, before dinner this evening. Overnight New Delhi.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Founded in 1648, after Shah Jahan moved his capital here from Agra, today we uncover Delhi's attractions on a sightseeing tour with a local guide. Travelling by coach, we first head to Jama Masjid to view one of India's largest mosques. After a short rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Chandni Chowk bazaar, we pass the striking Red Fort and the simple but moving Gandhi memorial, Raj Ghat.

There is free time over lunch before we explore New Delhi's colonial architecture, designed in part by Edwin Lutyens. Its ceremonial centre, Kartavya Path, contains the India Gate triumphal arch and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of India's president. After a visit to the opulent 16th-century tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun, we conclude our tour at the Gandhi Smriti Museum. The peaceful campaigner Mahatma Gandhi spent his final days here, until he was assassinated in 1948. We learn about the life of the man who Indians call the 'Father of the Nation' through informative artefacts and his personal items.

We return to our hotel this evening in time for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A highlight of our tour awaits today. Leaving Delhi on the Gatimaan Express after breakfast, we travel to Agra in AC Chair Class. On arrival, we head straight to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - the Taj Mahal.

Described as poetry in white marble, the UNESCO-listed mausoleum complex was built by emperor Shah Jahan to honour his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and is regarded as the pinnacle of Mughal architecture. On a guided tour, we discover why this iconic structure is considered to be the most beautiful building ever built.

Later, we check in to our five-star hotel, where there is time to relax before visiting the imposing red sandstone Agra Fort. The centrepiece of this historic complex is the Musamman Burj, an octagonal tower with a marble balcony where Shah Jahan spent his last eight years of his life imprisoned, in view of the Taj Mahal. Inside the fort are some exquisite specimens of Mughal architecture, including the Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque.

After a day sightseeing, we return to our hotel for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Agra after breakfast this morning, we board a comfortable coach as we travel to the perfectly preserved red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri. Constructed under the orders of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great in the 16th century it acted as India's political capital for just 14 years before it was abandoned due to lack of water.

Remarkably, this deserted city remains almost exactly as it was more than 400 years ago, giving us an insight into the opulent lifestyle of the Mughal Empire and Akbar himself. On a guided tour, we visit the emperor's private chambers and the Palace of Jodha Bai, as well as the Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of Private Residence - famed for its carved central pillar often called the Lotus Throne.

Continuing into Rajasthan, we stop at the Laxmi Palace Vilas, built in the 1850s as a home for a prince, where we enjoy a buffet lunch. Later, we travel on to Ranthambore, checking in to our hotel for two nights and gathering for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A naturalist joins us after a relaxed morning to deliver a talk on the region's renowned wildlife. Heading out after lunch, we begin a highlight of this trip to India.

In modern open-topped vehicles called 'canters', we embark on a safari into Ranthambore National Park. Previously the private hunting grounds of the maharajas, the park was declared a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973, and has become a favourite among wildlife photographers and tourists as it's possible to spot a mighty Bengal tiger in the wild. These regal animals are elusive, but - with the help of our knowledgeable guide - we may be lucky to see one basking in the sun or sauntering through the wilderness.

While Bengal tigers are the main attraction, Ranthambore National Park is also home to a whole host of species. With leopards, hyenas, caracals, crocodiles, mongooses, cobras, pythons and jackals prowling the landscape, our safari should prove memorable. We return to the hotel before dinner this evening.

*On certain departures, we will have two safaris on this day, followed by a morning at leisure on Day 11

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hopping back into the open-topped vehicles, we set out on an early morning safari in the pristine wilderness of Ranthambore National Park. Heading out early increases our chances of seeing wildlife, such as sloth bears, macaques, wild boar and leopards. Guided through this evocative landscape by a local naturalist who understand the animals better than anyone, we hopefully have a chance of seeing an elusive Bengal tiger.

After breakfast back at our hotel, there is time to relax before lunch. This afternoon, we leave the Ranthambore National Park and make the journey by comfortable coach to beautiful Jaipur. Enroute, we can enjoy a moving picture of rural Rajasthan from our windows.

On arrival in Jaipur this evening, we check in to our modern five-star hotel on the edge of the city, where we have dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As the citizens of Jaipur prepared for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, the local ruler - Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II - decided to paint the city in shades of resplendent pink, the colour of hospitality. The prince, who later became King Edward VII, named Jaipur the 'Pink City' and this title has remained ever since.

Our sightseeing tour of this historic and colorful city begins with one of Jaipur's most renowned sights - the Palace of the Winds. Its incredible five-story façade of pink and yellow sandstone is latticed to reveal a stunning honeycomb effect. Next, we visit to the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar, an early 18th-century astronomical observatory, before we view the Mughal and Rajput architecture of the 17th-century City Palace.

Afterwards, we experience Jaipur in a unique way as we ride through the sights in pink tuk tuks. Operated entirely by women, the tuk tuks are part of a social enterprise project to provide the city's women with the opportunity to create their own livelihoods. The rest of the day is at leisure, and you could unwind at our hotel or explore Jaipur's excellent shops.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following breakfast this morning, we travel to the remarkable Amber Fort, believed to have been built for the Rajput maharajas around 1600. On our journey, it is possible to spot camels and decorated elephants.

Nearing the Amber Fort, we board Jeeps up to hilltop entrance. The serene UNESCO-listed palace first appears almost as a mirage, floating above the Aravalli Hills and overlooking Maota Lake. Here, there's a chance to explore the ornate rooms of the palace complex and its enchanting Jaleb Chowk courtyard. With intricately decorated walls, ornamental gardens and rugged views of surrounding mountains, it's easy to be spellbound by this reminder of India and Rajasthan's glorious history.

This afternoon we close the sides of the Golden Triangle as we are transferred by coach back to Delhi. Returning to our five-star hotel, we gather this evening for dinner, marking the final night of this exquisite Indian adventure.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Over the last two weeks, India and its stunning Golden Triangle has been revealed through magical palaces, spectacular wildlife and colonial past. From the cool Himalayan foothills around Shimla to the dazzling landscapes of Rajasthan, we've experienced the contrasts and cultures of northern India. Discovering Delhi and Jaipur on rickshaws and tuk tuks gave us an authentic glimpse into the bustling cities, while guided tours allowed us to admire the beauty of the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort and the wildlife of Ranthambore.

Checking out of our Delhi hotel with a picnic breakfast this morning, we transfer to the airport for our direct flight back home. On arrival at London Heathrow, your Indian exploration reaches its conclusion.

• Breakfast