Grand Tour of India

Depart with Etihad Airways from London Heathrow. Manchester flights may be possible, but could involve a longer connection in Abu Dhabi. Please call for details.

After transiting in Abu Dhabi, we arrive in Delhi and transfer to either the heritage-styled Maidens Hotel, or the delightful Leela Ambience Hotel. This evening, we enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Manager and fellow travellers.

Today, we explore Old and New Delhi. Begin the day with a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi; travel via the lavish Red Fort – palace of the Mughal Empire. Visit Jama Masjid, India’s largest and most spectacular mosque, and experience Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colourful market of the old city. It’s an action-packed morning, concluding with a street food walk in Old Delhi, showcasing a range of authentic Dilli food bursting with all sorts of mouth-watering flavours. We continue to New Delhi to visit the iconic India Gate and celebrated Parliament House and continue to Humayun’s Tomb. Our tour concludes at a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 13th century masterpiece, Qutub Minar – India’s famed red sandstone and white marble minaret.

Tour Highlight

After breakfast, we transfer to New Delhi Railway Station to board our train to Kalka. From Kalka, we board the UNESCO recognised Toy Train on its meandering journey through the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains towards Shimla, famed for being the summer retreat of the British colonial government in the 19th century. This distinctive train offers incomparable views of the surrounding landscapes. We spend our next two nights at the iconic Oberoi Cecil Hotel.

Our day begins with a visit to Kufri, a tiny hill station located near Shimla, renowned for its wonderful views and walking trails. Later we enjoy a leisurely walking tour around Shimla, witnessing heritage buildings including the Gaiety Theatre, a restored Gothic construction extraordinarily adorned with papier-mâché! Our tour also visits the General Post Office, and Viceregal Lodge, the most historically significant colonial building of the region, displaying incredible architecture. Later, we have the option to join the Sleeping Beauty Trail, where more of Shimla’s history will be revealed.

Bidding farewell to magical Shimla we journey to Chandigarh in a series of smaller vehicles, which are best suited to the mountainous terrain. Following lunch, we continue to the heritage city of Amritsar, where its magnificent Golden Temple and beautiful blend of culture, history and tradition await. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Le Meridien Amritsar.

Tour Highlight

Undoubtedly our highlight today is a visit to the magnificent Golden Temple, one of the most spiritual places in India. We explore the complex, including the incredible community kitchens which produce up to 20,000 meals per day, all prepared by local volunteers. We continue to Jallianwala Bagh, a historic garden and memorial of great national importance. We also experience the Partition Museum. Telling stories through oral histories, personal artefacts, letters, photographs, and original documents of the millions affected during the Partition of 1947. This afternoon we venture to the India – Pakistan border. Here we enjoy a musical spectacular known as the beating retreat ceremony, a mesmerising show that is bound to thrill!

After breakfast, we travel to the airport and board our flight to Delhi. On arrival, we journey to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Our home for two nights is the conveniently- located, first class Agra Trident Hotel.

Tour Highlight

We start our day with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, India’s most iconic monument. The Taj Mahal is carved from stunning ivory-white marble and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mughals were at the peak of their power and wealth during Shah Jahan’s reign and it is believed that over 20,000 stone carvers, masons and artists were employed to build this monument to love and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Later, we continue to Agra Fort, a commanding 16th-century red sandstone fortress. The remainder of the day is at leisure, to relax or explore Agra’s many other delights.

We depart Agra this morning bound for Ranthambore National Park. En route, we visit the famous Chand Baori Step Well, built over a thousand years ago. Enjoy lunch in the lush, rustic countryside setting of Umaid Palace. Spread over 20 acres of leafy land, this organic retreat is a relaxing indulgence far from the bustle of the city. We continue to Ranthambore, and our home for the next two nights, either the Ranthambore Kothi Hotel or The Tigress Hotel. This evening, we prepare for the exciting day ahead with a fascinating tiger talk by an expert local naturalist.

We begin the day with an early safari in Ranthambore National Park by shared canter vehicles. Ranthambore is one of the largest national parks in northern India, and renowned for its majestic Bengal tigers. We hope to witness these magnificent and elusive predators roaming in their natural habitat. Later this afternoon we continue exploring the park further. Keep a look out for some of Ranthambore’s other wildlife including crocodiles, sloth bears, monkeys, sambar deer, and over 250 species of bird, whilst taking in the stunning scenery.

Enjoy a morning at leisure to spend as you please. After lunch we continue our journey to Jaipur, and the deluxe Trident Hotel. This evening enjoy a cooking demonstration and dinner at a local family home, providing a unique opportunity to experience traditional local life.

Following breakfast, we travel a short distance to meet our waiting jeeps, which will take us to a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the magnificent Amber Fort. Set amidst dramatic pink hills and overlooking Maota Lake, the nostalgic Amber Fort is a fabulous example of Rajput architecture. Our afternoon is at leisure to spend as we please. In the evening, why not take an optional guided walk and visit the old stables which were converted into a market? Closely observe the gathering of local milk-sellers, promoting their products for the production of delicious Indian sweets, or meander through the neighbouring eateries serving local delicacies.

We embark on a city sightseeing tour, visiting the stunning City Palace; the famed astronomical architecture dating back to 1734, Jantar Mantar; and a drive past the distinctive Hawa Mahal, an extraordinary pink and red sandstone palace, widely known as the ‘Palace of Winds.’ This afternoon we visit the Bollywood Theatre, Raj Mandir Palace, considered the finest cinema hall in Jaipur, and famed for its opulent interiors.

Following breakfast, we leave Jaipur behind and begin our journey to Udaipur, the crown jewel in the state of Rajasthan, and commonly known as the ‘City of Lakes’. Following lunch we continue our journey, arriving in Udaipur late afternoon. Our next two nights will be spent at the Trident Hotel, or the charming Chunda Haveli.

Sightseeing today includes the City Palace, Rajasthan’s largest citadel; Jagdish Temple, a Hindu shrine dating back to 1651; and a drive around Fateh Sagar Lake and Sahelion-ki-Bari. Enjoy a vegetarian lunch of authentic local Mewari cuisine at the delightful Garden Restaurant. This evening, we join a boat ride on Lake Pichola, and visit Jag Mandir, the Lake Garden Palace.

After a leisurely morning exploring the beautiful Udaipur further, we fly to Mumbai. On arrival we transfer to the five-star Trident Hotel, Nariman Point, which will be our home for the next two nights.

This morning, we take a short tour of Mumbai, visiting Mani Bhawan, a museum dedicated to Ghandi; the Prince of Wales Museum; Victoria Terminus, open-air Laundromat; Dhobi Ghat and the iconic Gateway of India. This afternoon we join a pleasant boat ride across the Bay of Mumbai to visit the Elephanta Caves, an intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva.

Today there is an optional pre-breakfast tour of Mumbai by dawn, where we take a special peek into the underbelly of working Mumbai. Following breakfast and a leisurely morning, we transfer to the airport to board our flight to Cochin. Cochin is the Malabar Coast’s most historic port, and traditionally the place from where India’s invaluable spices were shipped to Europe. On arrival we transfer to the Fern Ecotel Hotel.

Our day in Cochin begins with a visit to see Mattancherry Palace’s exquisite murals. We also experience the entrancing Fort Cochin, where Chinese fishing nets line the shore. This evening, experience a show with a 2,000 year old history, during a traditional Kathakali dance performance. Later enjoy an Anglo-Indian cookery lesson and dinner at a local family house.

Tour Highlight

Our travels today take us to Alleppey for one of the true highlights of our tour – an overnight experience on a traditional, thatch-roofed ‘kettuvallam’ houseboat. Journey through the Keralan backwaters with their labyrinth of canals, waterways, coconut groves, rice fields, hidden temples and tiny islands. This incredible adventure is one we will savour for many years to come!

We bid farewell to our houseboat and begin our scenic journey to Thekkady. As we traverse through the mountainous countryside of thick jungle and vast carpets of tea bushes, the aroma of spices fill the air. Later we arrive at our hotel, the wonderful Spice Village, located in a spice garden within the cool highlands of Periyar. This evening experience a traditional, ancient Indian martial arts performance, prior to dinner.

This morning, we explore a spice plantation to discover the mysteries of the Indian tea and spice industry. After lunch we enjoy a tranquil lake cruise (subject to water levels) to take in the sights and sounds of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. We keep our eyes peeled for elephants as well as sambars, nilgiri langur monkeys, and the 260 recorded species of birdlife.

We return to the Fern Ecotel Hotel, for our final night in India. Enjoy dinner as we bid farewell to our travelling companions of the last three and a half weeks.

Early morning, we travel to Cochin Airport for our flight with Etihad Airways, which travels via Abu Dhabi. We arrive into our chosen airport later today.