Day 1 • New Delhi
Arrive at New Delhi international airport. We meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Day 2 • New Delhi
You will spend the day exploring the Indian national capital, formed by two distinct "cities". You will start with the colourful Chandni Chowk in the middle of which stands Jama Masjid, the largest mosque of India.
In the afternoon, the impressive Humayun's Tomb will be the starting point of your visit of New Delhi. Later, you will go for a stroll around India Gate and pass in front of Rashtrapati Bhawan, the presidential palace. Finally, you will visit the magnificent Qutub Minar, a minaret of red sandstone and a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art.
Day 3 • Delhi - Jaipur
After breakfast, you will depart to Jaipur, the pink city and state capital of Rajasthan. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and visit of the City Palace, the walls of which are home to a museum and the residence of today's royal family. Late afternoon will be free for you to stroll in the many bazars of the pink city.
Day 4 • Jaipur
This full day sightseeing will start with a stop in front of the astonishing Palace of Winds, a finely carved facade of pink sandstone behind which the ladies of the court used to hide when watching the parades in the street below.
Thereafter, you will leave for Amber Fort, the ancestral home of the Maharajas of Jaipur perched on a hilltop. You will explore the palace, a fabulous maze of courtyards, interior gardens and rooms decorated with mirrors and mosaics.
In the afternoon, you will visit Jantar Mantar, the amazing observatory that Jai Singh II built and where astrolabes and sundials form a surreal landscape. Late afternoon will be at leisure for a walk along the Man Sagar Lake.
Day 5 • Jaipur - Ranthambore
In the morning, departure by road to Sawai Madhopur National Park, better known as Ranthambore. Built on a former hunting reserve of the maharajas of Jaipur, the park extends over 400 km2 of lushly wooded hills and ravines. Arrive in Ranthambore and check into hotel.
Day 6 • Ranthambore
During the day, two outings in the park (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), will allow you to catch a glimpse of the lord of the manor: the tiger.
Day 7 • Ranthambore - Agra
Departure for Agra, capital of the Mughals and last stop on this golden triangle tour. On the way, stop in a village to visit one of the oldest baoli (wells) in northern India. Continuation to Fatehpur Sikri, the former capital of Emperor Akbar. Founded in the 16th century, Akbar abandoned it for Agra fifteen years after its completion, owing to a lack of water supply. The perfectly preserved city has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1986. Arrive in Agra and check into hotel. If time permits, visit the mausoleum of Itimad-ud-Daulah, nicknamed the “Baby Taj”. Built in the first part of the 17th century, it is said to have served as a model for the construction of the Taj Mahal. Unlike the Taj, the ornamentation is inlaid with polychrome marble.
Day 8 • Agra - Delhi
Early morning, you will visit the jewel of the Mughal Empire: the Taj Mahal. Ranked one of the seven wonders of the modern world, it is a universally admired masterpiece of the world's heritage. While visiting it, you will appreciate the genius of the architects and the work of the thousands of craftsmen who worked to achieve it in a record time of 16 years.
You will also go and visit Red Fort. The interiors form like a city with palaces, mosques and gardens, offering various architectural styles. After the visits, you will drive back to Delhi that you will reach at the end of the day, on time for your transfer to the international terminal for your onward journey.
