After landing in India’s beautiful capital Delhi; you will feel right at home as you are met by our representative after exiting baggage claim. He will transfer you to the hotel and make sure that everything is perfect for your stay.

Delhi, India’s capital and political hub is the perfect mix of the old and the new and is now a buzzing cosmopolitan city full of shopping, ancient monuments and is a showcase of India’s architecture, religion, shopping and culture. There is much to see and do in Delhi. Seven cities have existed here since the 10th Century and it has been ruled over by Rajputs, Turks, Afghans, Mughals and the British. Delhi is two cities in one. The first is the Old Delhi of the Mughals, created by Shah Jehan and still a medieval palace of forts, mosques and bazaars, whilst the second is New Delhi.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, you will meet your guide at the hotel and proceed for sightseeing of Old Delhi. The tour will take you to Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India. Drive past the magnificent Red Fort - a marvel in red sandstone and Chandni Chowk, once an imperial market of the Mughal royalty, and is now a mix of vintage stores, bookstores, niche eating joints and amazing silver stores. You will also enjoy a sometimes bumpy, but always fun, rickshaw ride around Old Delhi’s bustling market place of Chandni Chowk.

This afternoon is dedicated to a sightseeing tour of New Delhi and its many architectural marvels. Visit Qutab Minar, a gracefully hand-carved 234-foot tapered tower, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time for 1,500 years. Next, visit the tastefully renovated mausoleum of Emperor Humayun - a combination of Persian and Indian styles of architecture. Then proceed to Lutyens Delhi, driving past India Gate (war memorial), the President's residence, Parliament House and Secretariat Buildings.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, at the time advised by your representative you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. On arrival in Varanasi, a representative, holding a sign with your name, will meet you in the arrivals area upon exiting baggage claim and will transfer you to your hotel.

Varanasi, also known as Kashi and Benares, is the world’s oldest living city, a spiritual city where you will see all the rituals of life and death being carried out in the public. For the pious Hindus, the city has always had a special place in their heart. In the afternoon enjoy an excursion to Sarnath (Closed on Friday), where Buddha proclaimed the law of faith. It was here that he taught the keys aspects of Buddhism: the four noble truths, the eightfold path and the middle way philosophy. Here Buddha encouraged followers to avoid extremes of austerity or pleasure. The remains of monasteries date from the third century BC to the first century AD. Sarnath, about 10km from the holy city of Varanasi, is the place where Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon. The celebrated Mantra, ‘Buddham Sharanam Gachhami’, owes its origin to Sarnath.

In the evening you will go on a lovely boat ride on the Ganges to witness the Aarti (prayer) ceremony. From the boat you will be able to watch people come to the Ghats to offer prayers and float tiny oil lamps on the river - a very pretty and interesting sight indeed! Return to hotel for overnight.

Overnight at the hotel

The lovely experience of the evening will be repeated in a completely different light as you will take an early morning boat ride on the river Ganges and return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, you will explore the city of Varanasi as you visit the Bharat-Mata temple, the only temple dedicated to Mother India. Located in the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus, the Bharat Mata temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. The statute of Bharat Mata is built in marble and is a model of undivided India, depicting its geological landscape. The most peculiar thing about the Bharat Mata Temple is that instead of the customary gods and goddesses, it houses a relief map of India, carved out of marble. Now that’s worth worshipping indeed!

After seeing Varanasi, at the time advised by your representative, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Khajuraho. On arrival in Khajuraho, the representative, holding a sign with your name will meet you in the arrivals area upon exiting baggage claim and transfer you to your hotel.

Khajuraho oozes with passion, eroticism, dance and music in its sculpture and images of the temples. The 9th to 12th century temples of Khajuraho stand testimony to the architectural geniuses during the times of Chandela dynasty. Situated in Madhya Pradesh, India, the 85 temples were built in North Indian 'Nagara' style of architecture, though only 20 of them have survived the ravages of time.

In the afternoon, you will proceed for sightseeing of Khajuraho temples. Built about one thousand years ago, under the generous and artistic patronage of the Chandela Rajput kings of Central India, 85 temples, magnificent in form and richly carved, came up on one site, near the village of Khajuraho. From 950 AD - 1050 AD saw the completion of all the temples, in an inspired burst of creativity. Today, of the original 85, only 22 stand. You will also visit the Kanderiya Mahadeo Temple which is also a UNESCO world heritage site to see the intricate carving and beautiful bas relief that for which these temples are famous.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, drive to Jhansi (180kms, 4½hrs). En route visit Orchha. Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput chieftain, Rudra Pratap, who chose this stretch of land along the Betwa River as an ideal site for his capital. Of the succeeding rulers, the most notable was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo who built the exquisite Jehangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful chhatris. From here the view of soaring temple spires and cenotaphs is spectacular. In Orchha you will also visit Jehangir Mahal. Built in the 17th century to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha, its strong lines are counter-balanced by delicate chhatris and trellis work, the whole conveying an effect of extraordinary richness.

After your visit to Orchha, you will be driven to Jhansi railway station to board the Shatabdi Express that departs Jhansi at 18.50hrs for Agra, arriving at 20.30hrs. This Express service is an extremely efficient way of travelling to Agra and a great deal quicker than by road. On arrival in Agra, a representative, holding a sign in your name will meet you on the platform and assist you with your bags and transfer.

And here in Agra you will see the seventh wonder of the world, Taj Mahal! Words fall short to describe this glorious monument that makes Agra one of the most famous cities of the world! At the time of the Mughals, during the 16th and 17th Centuries, Agra was the capital of India and the majority of its superb monuments date from that era. Today, it’s a bustling, chaotic city that still retains many of its old-world characteristics and charm.

Overnight at the hotel

This morning you will visit the Taj Mahal. Built by Emperor Shah Jehan in memory to his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal, this is the ultimate tribute to love ever transcribed in architecture. With the rising sun, experience the magic of marble as it unfolds before you. Please note that Taj Mahal is closed on Friday.

Later you will also visit Agra Fort commissioned by Emperor Akbar in 1565. The high red stone monument stretches for around one and a half miles. The palace is a notable for its smooth blending of Hindu and central Asian architectural styles. See the Diwan-i-Am (hall of public audiences), Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audiences), the Khas Palace, the Sheesh Mahal (palace of mirrors), the Shah Jahani Mahal (Shahjahan’s Palace), Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir’s Palace) and the Akbari Mahal (Akbar’s palace) inside the fort.

After your visit to Agra, you will continue to Agra Fort railway station to board the Shatabdi Express departing Agra Fort at 16.20hrs for Jaipur, arriving at 19.50hrs. Please note that the Shatabdi train does not operate on Thursdays.

On arrival in Jaipur, the representative, holding a sign in your name, will meet you on the platform, assist you with your baggage and transfer you to your hotel.

Jaipur is an essential stop in any tour of Rajasthan. The old walled section of the city is known as the Pink City; thanks to its bright pink buildings that were painted so to welcome England’s Prince Alfred in 1853. Some of the buildings still retain the pink that earns the city its sobriquet. Jaipur is one of India’s newer cities, founded in 1727, and was settled by Jai Singh II, the Maharaja of the Kuchwaha Rajputs, who decided that when the Mughal power was on the decline to move from his outmoded hillside fortress at Amber to establish a new capital on the plains further south.

The Pink City was built in only eight years. Much of it was designed by Jai Singh himself, including the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar, a fascinating astronomical observatory with massive instruments that were used to predict the monsoon and identify the movements of the stars. Most impressive is a gigantic sundial that is accurate to the nearest two minutes. All seven gates into the old city remain, one of which leads into Johari Bazaar - the famous jewellers’ market that has the best selection of precious stones in India.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit Amber Fort. The highlight of this visit will be an elephant ride to climb up the hill, on which this fort is built. Amber Fort is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace, with its rugged walls and fascinating nooks. From a Jacuzzi for the kings to private chambers of the queens, to the gardens for the princes to the play areas for the courtesans - the palace is full of surprises and you can truly imagine what life inside the fort was like. On your way back, stop at Hawa Mahal - Palace of Winds, for a brief stop for photographs and as it is in the heart of Jaipur’s shopping district, to buy souvenirs.

In the afternoon visit the City Palace complex. The City Palace is the former residence of the royal family, a part of which has been converted into a museum. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the old city. One of the major attractions is the Armory Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. The observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.

Evening could be spent shopping or relaxing at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel

After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive back to Delhi airport (260kms, 6hrs). On arrival in Delhi, you will be met by the representative at the International airport, who will assist you to board your onward flight.