Tea, tigers and the Taj Mahal in Northern India

Step off the plane in Delhi, where a private transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the heart of the city. Meet your guide and fellow travellers at the reception, then you’ll dive straight into the vibrant streets. India’s capital is alive with energy – as you’ll experience as you weave through tuk-tuks and spice stalls on your first walking tour of the city. On your first night, enjoy a true Indian feast in a downtown restaurant, getting to know your fellow travellers over regional dishes.

Today is all about embracing the chaos of Delhi. This is a city which has seen the rise and fall of many emperors, with grand monuments and palaces secluded in hidden courtyards. Weave through streets lined with haggling merchants and rich textiles, before enjoying lunch in a haveli (a historical courtyard in the traditional Indian style). In the afternoon, you’ll continue onwards to Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, a beautiful temple providing a free lunch for anyone who enters its doors, regardless of wealth or status. Then, the rest of the afternoon is all yours, whether you choose to spend it in the hotel pool or in Delhi’s lively food markets.

Leave the lights of Delhi behind you as you head south to the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh. Prepare for an unpredictable drive, with everything from sacred cows to goats-on-mopeds causing congestion. Upon arrival in Agra, check into your hotel, then the rest of the afternoon will be spent exploring the mighty Agra Fort. Overlooking the banks of the Yamuna River, the fort holds a palatial city within its red walls. Meander through the chambers and courtyards of this ancient palace, with the stories of past rulers brought to life.

This morning’s highlight? Undoubtedly the sight of the Taj Mahal aglow with sunrise. One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the palace was built in the 17th century under the command of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Breakfast will be awaiting you back at the hotel, then it’s time to travel south to Sawai Madhopur on a three-hour train ride. From here, you’ll drive into Ranthambore National Park, where you’ll check into your hotel for dinner. Your neighbours? The wild tigers of Ranthambore, who will just be waking up from their slumber.

Wake up in one of the best places to encounter wild tigers, which you’ll explore on a dawn safari in open-top jeeps. This is a fantastic time to spot these majestic predators in their natural habitat, prowling through long grasses or ambling along dusty tracks. If the tigers are feeling shy, you may catch a glimpse of some of the other inhabitants; the park is also home to leopards, sloth bears and hyenas, all roaming through the scenic landscape. Back at the resort, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. Then, as evening falls, head out into the jungle again for a dusk safari, just as the tigers are stirring for their nightly hunt.

This morning will see you make the four-hour journey to Jaipur, with its famously pink historical architecture. The capital of Rajasthan, you’ll be met with a rich array of colours and sounds in this dynamic city. And your hotel? A decadent palace, complete with lavish doorways and beautifully-preserved courtyards. Take a few hours to relax in the shaded pool or with an indulgent massage, before heading to the home of a local family for an evening cooking class. Learn how to make regional dishes, before sharing a home-cooked feast with your hosts and fellow travellers. This is an authentic taste of Jaipurian life.

This morning, you’ll have the option to enjoy a sunrise hot-air balloon ride (but please note that this is an optional extra). If, alternatively, you’d prefer a lie-in, the Old Town markets are at your disposal. And if you’re after a glimpse of spiritual life, why not pay a visit to Krishna Temple? Later on, you’ll explore one of Jaipur’s traditional artisan industries: textile printing. You may even get the chance to design your own stencil, before transferring your unique print onto a t-shirt. Then, the evening is yours to relax in your palatial hotel.

This morning, take a sunrise bike ride through the city, uncovering a side to everyday life that most tourists don’t get to see. Cycle into the oldest part of town, where you’ll come face to face with Jaipur’s iconic five-storey facade, the Hawa Mahal – poetically known as the Palace of the Winds. Park up here, before spending a few hours wandering through the Old Town sprawl. Later in the afternoon, make the two-hour journey into the countryside until you reach your new luxury fort in Bishangarh. Peached on a striking granite hilltop, this formidable castle-like hotel boasts incredible views over the Rajasthani countryside. Acclimatise to your new environment with a gentle hike through the Aravalli Hills – the oldest plateau range in India – pausing to enjoy a high tea picnic en route. Back at the fort, relax with a chai tea on the terrace, admiring the views of the Indian landscape at dusk.

We’ve left this morning free for you to enjoy your hotel at your own leisure, because we know this is an experience in itself. Sip on a mango lassi by the infinity pool, unwind in the spa with a hot stone massage, relax in the fragrant orchard or explore the fort walls – whichever way, you’ll feel as if you’ve slipped into a regal vision of 18th-century India. Feeling pampered and restored, it’s time to return to the madness of Delhi, where your adventure began. You’ll spend the evening dining with local professionals at a trendy bar, learning about modern, urban life in this electric city.

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel, then it’s time to make your own way to the airport. Of course, there’s plenty more of India to be experienced, so why not double up with our beach adventure in Kerala?