India's Genuine Golden Triangle

Head into the real heart of Rajasthan on this Golden Triangle tour with a difference. From the frenetic streets of Delhi, to the rose-tinted buildings of Jaipur and marbled walls of the Taj Mahal, you’ll experience all the highlights while staying in family-run guesthouses offering a unique glimpse into local life. Dine with your hosts, hear stories about their heritage and learn all about the authentic culture of this fascinating region.

Itinerary
8 days

£1,450 - £1,575pp including international flights

Itinerary overview

Day 1

Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the ...

Day 2

Delhi

Enjoy a full day in the city today. When you If you’re feeling energetic, opt for a Delhi by Dawn...

Day 3

Delhi & Jaipur

After breakfast, transfer by private car to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. Painted rose to ...

Day 4

Jaipur

This morning is free to enjoy optional activities. Take to the skies in a hot-air balloon ride to...

Day 5

Jaipur & Agra

Travel to Agra this morning to see one of India’s true bucket-list sites – the Taj Mahal. Set on ...

Day 6

Agra

Set the alarm early this morning for a memorable sunrise visit to see Agra’s crowning glory, the ...

Day 7

Agra & Delhi

This morning enjoy the backdrop of the Taj Mahal before being driven to Delhi. Spend the rest of ...

Day 8

Delhi & departure home

Your tour comes to an end today. You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home or onw...

Another stop?

Andaman Islands, Goa, Kanha or Shimla

After a hectic week of sightseeing, we can recommend where to stay for some beach downtime.

Day 1

Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the capital. Formed from what were once seven separate cities, today Delhi is a vibrant metropolis with a string of impressive sights, from the Red Fort to the elaborate Jama Masjid Mosque. Choose from a range of optional local experiences, including a hands-on cooking lesson, or get to know your hosts at tonight’s guest house. You’ll be staying at a family-run homestay opened by the owner’s father, who was a colonel in the British Indian Army. Take in the sunset from the terrace and enjoy a traditional north Indian dinner prepared by your hosts as you get an insider glimpse into local life. Overnight at The Colonel's Retreat.

Day 2

Delhi

Enjoy a full day in the city today. When you If you’re feeling energetic, opt for a Delhi by Dawn tour to see the city come alive in the early hours. Alternatively, enjoy an optional culinary tour with a local food expert, take a rickshaw ride round Old Delhi’s higgledy-piggledy lanes or embark on a night tour of the neighbourhood to see its bazaars in a different light. Otherwise, head out to explore this captivating city on your own terms, before returning to your guest house for more stories (the colonel sometimes pops by, so if you’re lucky you might get to meet him). Overnight at The Colonel's Retreat.

Day 3

Delhi & Jaipur

After breakfast, transfer by private car to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. Painted rose to welcome the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria in 1876, this striking walled city is home to several colourful temples, as well as the famous Amber Fort. Explore independently or head out on a private tour; options range from an architectural walking tour to a cooking lesson at a local 19th-century guest house. Your home for tonight is Ikaki Niwas, a historic haveli house where you can enjoy neighbourhood walks with the family and tuck into meals prepared from the hotel’s 20-acre farm. Overnight at Ikaki Niwas.

Architectural Walking Tour

Jaipur

Join a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Jaipur to learn about its architectural jewels. The tour starts at 8.30am when it’s peaceful, before the bazaars and markets take over. This is when locals go to worship and you can join them at one of the city’s oldest temples, which is known for its 300-year-old fresco painting and set in a private family home. This begins a discussion about religion and architecture in Jaipur; where at a junction in the city, you get to see a Jain Temple, a mosque and a Hindu temple. Continue the walk at Broad Road, which was once used by the royal family, so it’s lined by grand houses. As you enter the winding by-lanes you’ll hear about Jaipur’s history as the first planned city in India, the vastu shastra and shilpa shastra architecture and havelis owned by artists, craftsmen and traders. You’ll get to meet some of these characters when you visit the metal-beating community who still work without technology, in the same way they have for 200 years. It’s fascinating to see how everything has been hand-created. Other key architectural sights on the tour include the City Palace, the Ayurvedic hospital and two huge, 10-foot-tall silver jars which belonged to a king of Jaipur. Guests love visiting a local family in their haveli to chat about life in Jaipur and meeting traditional bangle makers. You will end the tour with an immersion into some of Jaipur’s hectic markets. There’s the spice market with over 300 shops which draws buyers from far and wide, followed by the vegetable and flower markets. The flower market is always busy with people shopping for weddings and festivals. This tour is a great orientation of Jaipur; you’ll discover its architecture, religion and crafts and meet the locals, learning the stories and legends behind our city.

Day 4

Jaipur

This morning is free to enjoy optional activities. Take to the skies in a hot-air balloon ride to enjoy a different perspective of the city, high up away from the hustle and bustle below. You may wish to embark on an optional walking tour of Old Jaipur’s haveli homes and temples or wander these blushed streets independently. In the afternoon, you’ll be driven to Amber Fort – a sprawling, UNESCO-listed palace, built from sandstone in the 16th century on a hill overlooking the city. Wander its cobbled paths, historic ramparts and elaborate halls – among them the Sheesh Mahal, or mirror palace. Built by Shah Jahan (who commissioned the Taj Mahal), this opulent, marbled hall is covered in sparkling mirrors inlaid into the walls and ceilings. Return to your guest house for another memorable evening with your hosts. Overnight at Ikaki Niwas.

Architectural Walking Tour

Jaipur

Join a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Jaipur to learn about its architectural jewels. The tour starts at 8.30am when it’s peaceful, before the bazaars and markets take over. This is when locals go to worship and you can join them at one of the city’s oldest temples, which is known for its 300-year-old fresco painting and set in a private family home. This begins a discussion about religion and architecture in Jaipur; where at a junction in the city, you get to see a Jain Temple, a mosque and a Hindu temple. Continue the walk at Broad Road, which was once used by the royal family, so it’s lined by grand houses. As you enter the winding by-lanes you’ll hear about Jaipur’s history as the first planned city in India, the vastu shastra and shilpa shastra architecture and havelis owned by artists, craftsmen and traders. You’ll get to meet some of these characters when you visit the metal-beating community who still work without technology, in the same way they have for 200 years. It’s fascinating to see how everything has been hand-created. Other key architectural sights on the tour include the City Palace, the Ayurvedic hospital and two huge, 10-foot-tall silver jars which belonged to a king of Jaipur. Guests love visiting a local family in their haveli to chat about life in Jaipur and meeting traditional bangle makers. You will end the tour with an immersion into some of Jaipur’s hectic markets. There’s the spice market with over 300 shops which draws buyers from far and wide, followed by the vegetable and flower markets. The flower market is always busy with people shopping for weddings and festivals. This tour is a great orientation of Jaipur; you’ll discover its architecture, religion and crafts and meet the locals, learning the stories and legends behind our city.

Day 5

Jaipur & Agra

Travel to Agra this morning to see one of India’s true bucket-list sites – the Taj Mahal. Set on the banks of the Yamuna River, Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire until Emperor Shah Jahan shifted it to Delhi, and traces of its imperial history remain in much of its architecture today. En route you’ll have the option to visit Fatehpur Sikri, a walled city built from red sandstone that was once the Mughal capital. Otherwise, spend the day exploring Agra at leisure and settle into tonight’s accommodation – a brightly-coloured guest house run by a local tour guide and his wife, where home-cooked vegetarian meals are served at a shared table. Overnight at The Coral Tree.

Taj Mahal & Agra City Tour

Agra

On this tour you will two major attractions, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Start at Agra Fort where your guide will explain in detail how the Mughal dynasty created this paradise of beautiful gardens, fountains and architecture. You will go through several gates to a palace called Jahangiri Mahal where inside you can discover all the different architectural influences, not just Islamic, but also Jain and Hindu. Next, head to the Octagonal Tower from where you can see all the way to the Taj Mahal. Next you will head to the Taj Mahal stopping at the Mehtab Bagh gardens which enjoy magnificent panoramas of the glorious ivory-white structure. As you get closer, the Taj Mahal’s landscaped gardens will come into full view, lined with abundant trees, fountains, symmetrical paths and canals. You will then be in front of one of the most beautiful buildings ever made. The façade has been designed to impress from every angle with perfectly aligned arches and beautiful stonework decorated with flowers and inscriptions of verses from the Koran. The interior contains more architectural marvels such as the huge marble domed tomb. You will have some free time to explore at your own pace and there will be plenty of photo opportunities.

Day 6

Agra

Set the alarm early this morning for a memorable sunrise visit to see Agra’s crowning glory, the Taj Mahal. Commissioned in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his late wife, this marble masterpiece is best seen at dawn, when the sky turns peach above its elaborate domes. Wander the gardens to admire its architecture before exploring the interiors, inlaid with semi-precious stones and inscriptions. Afterwards, opt for a guided walking tour through Old Agra, pedal around local villages on a cycling trip or embark on a heritage-themed tour to learn more about the women of the Mughal dynasty. Overnight at The Coral Tree.

Taj Mahal & Agra City Tour

Agra

On this tour you will two major attractions, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Start at Agra Fort where your guide will explain in detail how the Mughal dynasty created this paradise of beautiful gardens, fountains and architecture. You will go through several gates to a palace called Jahangiri Mahal where inside you can discover all the different architectural influences, not just Islamic, but also Jain and Hindu. Next, head to the Octagonal Tower from where you can see all the way to the Taj Mahal. Next you will head to the Taj Mahal stopping at the Mehtab Bagh gardens which enjoy magnificent panoramas of the glorious ivory-white structure. As you get closer, the Taj Mahal’s landscaped gardens will come into full view, lined with abundant trees, fountains, symmetrical paths and canals. You will then be in front of one of the most beautiful buildings ever made. The façade has been designed to impress from every angle with perfectly aligned arches and beautiful stonework decorated with flowers and inscriptions of verses from the Koran. The interior contains more architectural marvels such as the huge marble domed tomb. You will have some free time to explore at your own pace and there will be plenty of photo opportunities.

Day 7

Agra & Delhi

This morning enjoy the backdrop of the Taj Mahal before being driven to Delhi. Spend the rest of the day taking in the city under your own steam or choose from one of several tours. Options range from a photography workshop capturing the city’s spice markets to an evening tour of Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk market. Overnight at The Colonel's Retreat.

Chandni Chowk by Night

Delhi

Exploring Chandni Chowk by night gives you a chance to understand the real spirit of Delhi. It’s like a movie unfolding around you, a whirl of architecture and food, history and business. At night, it’s less crowded so there’s more opportunity to engage with locals and after sunset, Chandni Chowk glows and glitters with store lights. There’s a maze of different streets to discover that specialise in everything from silver and spices to saris and glass bangles. If you want to buy something, you guide will help you haggle, which is a ritual in Old Delhi. The tour starts at around 5.30pm exploring on foot, as your guide explains the evolution of Old Delhi. You’ll see various businesses and have the opportunity to sit with people and hear about their lives. You might meet the ear-cleaning-man, who wears a red hat and carries tools to remove wax from people’s ears – it’s a great photo opportunity as is the chai vendors swirling tea in their metal pans. As you walk, your guide will point out religious landmarks like the Sunehri Masjid and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a Sikh temple with a community kitchen. The highlight of the trip though is always the food. You will have dinner at Karim’s (guest to pay directly), a restaurant that serves Mughlai cuisine. It was set up in the 1940s by Karim, a chef who served in the kitchen of a Mughal emperor and wanted to introduce this food to ordinary people. The dishes have a Persian influence and include lots of bread and kormas, all cooked in an open kitchen. Afterwards, wander around the street food area where you can sample desserts like bread pudding and mango ice cream. You’ll get to try everything from samosas to chai – food is a very important part of experiencing Old Delhi.

Day 8

Delhi & departure home

Your tour comes to an end today. You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home or onward travel.

Another stop?

Andaman Islands, Goa, Kanha or Shimla

After a hectic week of sightseeing, we can recommend where to stay for some beach downtime.

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Guide price information

Low Season

01 Apr - 30 Sep

£1,450pp

High Season

01 Jan - 31 Mar, 01 Oct - 31 Dec

£1,575pp

Guide price information is based on the included flights from London, accommodation, transport and experiences detailed in the itinerary above. Guide prices do not include optional things to do. Call us for up to date prices – the cost of your holiday depends upon the time of year you travel, how long you go for, preferred departure airport, airlines, hotels and things to do. Based on 2 people sharing.