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Travel
Oct-Apr
Trip length
9 days
Flight time
8hrs 30 min
Currency
Indian rupee
Language
Hindi
For those tight on time, the illustrious Golden Triangle has long been a glorious snapshot of India in microcosm. But what’s the rush? We’ll ensure you marinate in India’s gilded treasures and also visit the iconic Ranthambore National Park Safari to see the big cats.
In short, this slice of India is sometimes summed by the three Ts: the Taj Mahal, tigers and traditions. Beginning in India’s capital Delhi, you’ll explore both its old and new faces with your own guide. Pair must-see sights like the mosque of Jama Masjid and the UNESCO-protected Qutub Minar with a deep dive into day-to-day Delhi life into one of India’s largest markets, before exploring the British influence in India’s capital.
Then, make a beeline for Agra, where you’ll whet your appetite with time at the Mughal marvel of Agra Fort before your day crescendos with a sunset experience at the Taj Mahal: India’s crowning architectural masterpiece. On the Taj Mahal trip, you’ll swap the wonder for the wilds of Ranthambore National Park – pausing at the ancient fortified city of Fatehpur Sikri along the way – where you’ll spend a couple of days seeking out its infamous Bengal tigers (as well as a supporting cast of leopards, striped hyenas and over 250 species of birds) on Jeep safaris.
The Golden Triangle’s final trident, Jaipur is your final stop. Take a Jaipur tour and stroll the numerous courtyards, halls and grand rooms of the Amber Fort, before also spying the City Palace in the heart of Jaipur’s Old City and the befuddling Jantar Mantar – the best-preserved medieval scientific observatory in India. You’ll realise this corner of the country can’t be simply boiled down to those three Ts. It’s far more complex and fascinating than that. Take a luxury holiday in India and see for yourself.
Explore Delhi
- Land in Delhi, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the Maidens Hotel for two nights.
- Head out on a full day guided tour of Delhi. Your guide will unravel Old Delhi’s charming history, culture and traditions through visits to its striking architecture like the Jama Masjid, Red Fort and the old-world bazaars of Chandni Chowk.
- Soak up the legacy the British left behind in New Delhi by admiring the India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Secretariat buildings. You’ll also see ancient treasures like the intricately carved Qutub Minar.
Mughal magic
- Leave Delhi and drive to Agra, staying at the Trident hotel for one night.
- Your private guide will transport you to explore the rust-red Agra Fort before witnessing the iconic Taj Mahal bathed in pastel hues at sunset.
- Enjoy a private guided tour of the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, one of the finest displays of Mughal architecture anywhere on the planet.
- Catch the train to Ranthambore where you’ll bed down in Ranthambhore Kothi for two nights.
In search of tigers
- Head out on three Jeep safaris across two days in Ranthambore National Park with an experienced naturalist. You’ll be keen to see its iconic Bengal tigers but keep your eyes peeled for rhesus macaques, sloth bears, nilgais and more.
- After your final morning Jeep safari, drive to Jaipur and check in to the Samode Haveli for two nights.
- The former home of the wealthy Samode family, Samode Haveli’s serene courtyards and walled gardens are ideal for some regal relaxation.
Jaipur’s jewels
- After breakfast, head out on a full day tour of Jaipur. Whizz up to Jaipur’s hilltop Amber Fort in a Jeep, which once served as the main residence for Rajput Maharajas. They each added to this grand fortress which today culminates in a dazzling collection of magnificent pavilions, courtyards and mirrored halls.
- You’ll also visit the grand City Palace and the bizarre Jantar Mantar observatory.
- Then, drive to Delhi for a day in the capital at your leisure, spending your final night in India at the Trident Gurgaon before flying back home to the UK.
Experience highlights
On your Old Delhi tour, spy the red sandstone wonder Jama Masjid
Stay at the Maidens Hotel in Delhi, a retreat steeped in old-world elegance
The Curzon Room, the Maidens Hotel's restaurant, is a meal accompanied by Raj nostalgia
Wander among the bazaars of Chandni Chowk, India's largest market
Move on to New Delhi, where your first stop will be the towering Qutub Minar
You'll also visit Humayun's Tomb, the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent
Spy the British influence in India as you take in the grand India Gate
Move onto Agra, staying in the tranquil surrounds of the Trident
Admire Agra Fort, one of the finest Mughal fortresses in India
Savour the milky white hues of the Taj Mahal at sunset
Stroll the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri with your own guide
Stay at Ranthambhore Kothi right on the edge of Ranthambore National Park
Embark on three Jeep safaris in the national park in search of its fabled Bengal tigers
You can also spy sloth bears, leopards and Hanuman langurs in Ranthambore National Park
Follow in the decandent footsteps of the upper-class Samode family with a stay at Samode Haveli in Jaipur
The rooms in this former family retreat are filled with mosaics and family photographs
Explore the Amber Fort with your guide, once an outpost for several Rajput Maharajas
Be in awe of its maze of courtyards, halls and pavilions
Wander the salmon-pink City Palace in Jaipur
Your guide will explain the oddities surrounding the bemusing Jantar Mantar observatory
Enjoy a night among the Mughal-inspired magnificence of the Trident Gurgaon in Delhi before your flight home
Book your tailor-made cultural India itinerary
Where you’ll stay
Maidens Hotel
Ever since it was built in 1903, the whitewashed Maidens Hotel has retained an old-world charm that’s nothing short of magnetic. Its palm-shaded gardens are a luxurious way to relax away from the urban drama of Delhi, while dinnertime at The Curzon Room is a meal steeped in nostalgia as several photographs whisk you back for a sepia-tinged glimpse of the Raj’s heyday at the turn of the twentieth century. Despite its sanctuary-like feel, the Maidens Hotel is only a short distance from sights like Humayun’s Tomb and India Gate.
Trident Agra
Set a mile from the magnificent Taj Mahal, the Trident is a genial retreat encased within languid landscaped lawns, flowerbeds and a pool that is perfect for wallowing in, especially if you’ve had an early start visiting the Taj. Its red sandstone façade, ornamental table lamps and wall art are all inspired by the Mughal architecture that is typical of Agra. In the evenings, the gardens are alive with charming entertainment that include a magician, working potter and even a puppet show.
Ranthambhore Kothi, Ranthambhore National Park
Cocooned by lush jungle and overlooking a natural lake, Ranthambhore Kothi is right on the fringes of its namesake national park. Its beige and seafoam-green accommodation are modelled on colonial British bungalows and their interiors effortlessly combine class and charm. The serene gardens, swimming pool and calm courtyards are an idyllic place to relax, especially after an exciting day on safari in Ranthambore National Park. At Ranthambhore Kothi, you’re only ever fifteen minutes from the thick of the tiger-spotting action.
Samode Haveli, Jaipur
Once a decadent manor house for the aristocratic Samode family and dating back over 150 years, Samode Haveli was one of the first of its kind to be converted into a boutique hotel in Jaipur. Its palatial interiors have gloriously been kept intact, none more so than the delicate eighteenth-century hand-painted murals in the dining room. The rooms themselves are bedecked with mosaics, painted arches and family photographs, while the leafy courtyards, walled gardens and tranquil pool are all regal places to relax, just like the Samode family would have done.
Trident Gurgaon, Delhi
A contemporary take on a Mughal palace with its huge sandstone dome, all of the features in the Trident Gurgaon appear to be slightly larger and more elaborate than normal. There are towering doors, cathedral-like colonnades and brass snakes for handles – just the way a king or queen would like it. The yawning marble hallways, shimmering silks, incense-scented courtyards and luxurious floral displays accentuate the palatial grandeur further in one of Delhi’s earliest resort hotels and where attention to detail is everything.
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