Today depart from Australia or New Zealand for Delhi, India! Upon arrival, meet the tour representative and be transferred to your hotel for check-in.
Please note: Due to flight scheduling and availability, some departures may occur on day 0. Affected customers must be at the airport the night before. Flight times will be indicated on your final documentation which you will receive prior to departure.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini, an IHG hotel or similar
Meals included: In-Flight
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Old and New Delhi. Visit Raj Ghat (where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated); Red Fort (made famous by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan) and Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, which has three great gateways, four angle towers and two minarets constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. Continue onwards to Chandni Chowk, the main street of Old Delhi in the colourful shopping bazaar, and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the colourful market! Next up is Laxminarayan Temple, a site dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and good fortune. India Gate is a 42m high stone of triumph and is a war memorial. The tour continues with a visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the palace-like building home to the President of India. Afterwards visit the beautiful Lotus Temple, also known as the Bahai Temple. Adherents of any faith can visit, pray or meditate. Finish the day back at your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini, an IHG hotel or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, travel to Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur check in to your hotel for the evening, where dinner will be provided, as part of this 295-km day of travel.
The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is instantly recognisable for its pink-washed buildings - a colour associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. This beautiful city, along with Agra and Delhi, forms what is known as the Golden Triangle of India’s tourist circuit. Jaipur is a city where royalty still lives in the grandeur of its palaces, where fighting for the honour of the clan has never been a need but a way of life, and where treating guests as gods have been a tradition from time immemorial. There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur’s colourful bazaars, where you can shop for distinct Rajasthani textiles and colourful trinkets. The beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments, and heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas, are all worth a look.
Overnight: ITC Rajputana/Hilton/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast; Dinner
Today enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Jaipur. Begin with a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Located 11 kilometres from Jaipur, it was the old fort of the Kachwaha clan of Amber. The fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and looks even more attractive because of the Maota Lake in the foreground. The fort itself is an incredible sight to behold, and its clear reflection on the lake is so beautiful, that it looks like an illusion.
This afternoon, visit the City Palace, the former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. Jantar Mantar is the largest of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh. The Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds was constructed for the royal ladies to watch royal processions without being seen. Finish with an Indian costume-tying demonstration and visit Lakshmi Narayan Temple before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: ITC Rajputana/Hilton/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, depart for Agra on this approximately 250 km day. On the way, visit the impressive Chand Baori Step Well. The water of this massive, ornate stepwell from the 8th & 9th centuries was reached by 3,500 steps and makes for a very impressive sight.
On arrival in Agra, check-in at your hotel. After you have settled into the hotel, enjoy a tour of the Gurudwara Guru Ka Tal (Sikh temple) in Agra. Here you will have the chance to join a traditional langar (Sikh community cooking).
Agra is the quintessential Mughal City, where the world marvels at the epitome of love, beauty and sacrifice, the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world. So awe-inspiring is the monument that Agra has been immortalised as the 'City of the Taj'. As visitors walk down the narrow bustling streets, they cannot help but wonder, if the man contentedly smoking a hookah, is a direct descendent of some bygone Mughal.
Overnight: ITC Mughal/Marriott/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour visiting the world-famous Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.
Afterwards, visit Agra Fort (the Red Fort). The historical monument was built in the 16th century. It will stand near the gardens of the Taj Mahal. It was built by Akbar and covers a total area of 380,000 square meters. More than 4000 workers and 8 years of hard work resulted in Agra Fort. Many impressive structures like Moti Masjid, Jahangir Mahal, Machchhi Bhawan, Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khass and Khas Mahal are present inside the Agra Fort.
Finish the day back in your hotel.
Overnight: ITC Mughal/Marriott/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning you may choose to revisit the Taj Mahal for an unforgettable sunrise experience before breakfast at the hotel (optional trip, not included) or stay and enjoy the morning at leisure before departing back to Delhi on this approximately 205km day. On arrival, check-in at your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini, an IHG hotel or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Australia or New Zealand.
Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight
Today depart from Australia or New Zealand for Delhi, India! Upon arrival, meet the tour representative and be transferred to your hotel for check-in.
Please note: Due to flight scheduling and availability, some departures may occur on day 0. Affected customers must be at the airport the night before. Flight times will be indicated on your final documentation which you will receive prior to departure.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini, an IHG hotel or similar
Meals included: In-Flight
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Old and New Delhi. Visit Raj Ghat (where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated); Red Fort (made famous by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan) and Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, which has three great gateways, four angle towers and two minarets constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. Continue onwards to Chandni Chowk, the main street of Old Delhi in the colourful shopping bazaar, and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the colourful market! Next up is Laxminarayan Temple, a site dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and good fortune. India Gate is a 42m high stone of triumph and is a war memorial. The tour continues with a visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the palace-like building home to the President of India. Afterwards visit the beautiful Lotus Temple, also known as the Bahai Temple. Adherents of any faith can visit, pray or meditate. Finish the day back at your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini, an IHG hotel or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, travel to Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur check in to your hotel for the evening, where dinner will be provided, as part of this 295-km day of travel.
The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is instantly recognisable for its pink-washed buildings - a colour associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. This beautiful city, along with Agra and Delhi, forms what is known as the Golden Triangle of India’s tourist circuit. Jaipur is a city where royalty still lives in the grandeur of its palaces, where fighting for the honour of the clan has never been a need but a way of life, and where treating guests as gods have been a tradition from time immemorial. There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur’s colourful bazaars, where you can shop for distinct Rajasthani textiles and colourful trinkets. The beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments, and heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas, are all worth a look.
Overnight: ITC Rajputana/Hilton/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast; Dinner
Today enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Jaipur. Begin with a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Located 11 kilometres from Jaipur, it was the old fort of the Kachwaha clan of Amber. The fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and looks even more attractive because of the Maota Lake in the foreground. The fort itself is an incredible sight to behold, and its clear reflection on the lake is so beautiful, that it looks like an illusion.
This afternoon, visit the City Palace, the former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. Jantar Mantar is the largest of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh. The Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds was constructed for the royal ladies to watch royal processions without being seen. Finish with an Indian costume-tying demonstration and visit Lakshmi Narayan Temple before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: ITC Rajputana/Hilton/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, depart for Agra on this approximately 250 km day. On the way, visit the impressive Chand Baori Step Well. The water of this massive, ornate stepwell from the 8th & 9th centuries was reached by 3,500 steps and makes for a very impressive sight.
On arrival in Agra, check-in at your hotel. After you have settled into the hotel, enjoy a tour of the Gurudwara Guru Ka Tal (Sikh temple) in Agra. Here you will have the chance to join a traditional langar (Sikh community cooking).
Agra is the quintessential Mughal City, where the world marvels at the epitome of love, beauty and sacrifice, the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world. So awe-inspiring is the monument that Agra has been immortalised as the 'City of the Taj'. As visitors walk down the narrow bustling streets, they cannot help but wonder, if the man contentedly smoking a hookah, is a direct descendent of some bygone Mughal.
Overnight: ITC Mughal/Marriott/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour visiting the world-famous Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.
Afterwards, visit Agra Fort (the Red Fort). The historical monument was built in the 16th century. It will stand near the gardens of the Taj Mahal. It was built by Akbar and covers a total area of 380,000 square meters. More than 4000 workers and 8 years of hard work resulted in Agra Fort. Many impressive structures like Moti Masjid, Jahangir Mahal, Machchhi Bhawan, Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khass and Khas Mahal are present inside the Agra Fort.
Finish the day back in your hotel.
Overnight: ITC Mughal/Marriott/Oberoi Trident or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning you may choose to revisit the Taj Mahal for an unforgettable sunrise experience before breakfast at the hotel (optional trip, not included) or stay and enjoy the morning at leisure before departing back to Delhi. On arrival, you will transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Varanasi. On arrival in Varanasi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
The city of Varanasi is situated along the west bank of the Ganges in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Called Banaras by the British, Varanasi is an important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. The city finds mention in the great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It was a flourishing trade centre when Buddha came to Sarnath, about 10 km away, to preach his first sermon in 500 BC. The renowned American novelist Mark Twain once wrote, “Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”. Right from ancient times, Varanasi has stood as a symbol of Hindu renaissance and preserved the rituals and traditions of Hindu philosophy. Down the ages, pilgrims from distant lands have come to Varanasi in search of divine blessings. In the evening, witness the glittering Aarti ceremony at the Ganges.
Overnight: Taj Ganges or similar, Varanasi
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, enjoy a boat cruise on the river Ganges. After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Varanasi’s temples. The banks of the Ganges, considered to be a sacred river by the Hindus, is the centre of much of the religious activity that occurs in the city. The ghats built along the banks of the river for such religious activity also form a major source of attraction here. Some of the other interesting places you will see on the panoramic city tour are Alamgir Mosque, Durga Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Banaras Hindu University and the Archaeological Museum.
In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the city of Sarnath, just 10 km from Varanasi. Sarnath is a highly revered Buddhist pilgrimage centre. It is believed that after reaching enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. The great Dhamek Stupa and several other structures stand testimony to the importance the place enjoyed at that time. The Chaukhandi Stupa is the place where, during his first visit to Sarnath, Lord Buddha met his first five disciples.
The area is a treasure trove of archaeological findings, such as Dharmarajika Stupa and Mulagandha Kuti Vihar. The smooth glistening pillar established by Emperor Ashoka in 273-232 BC marks the foundation of the Buddhist Sangha and the Lion Capital atop this pillar is now India’s National Emblem. Also, visit the Pillars of Ashoka and a Tibetan Temple.
Finish the day back at your hotel where you may enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Taj Ganges or similar, Varanasi
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight back to Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation where you can spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini, an IHG hotel or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Australia or New Zealand.
Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight