Highlights of India

Day 1: Arrive Delhi, India

On arrival into Delhi Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, Delhi is contemporary and a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind. 

Day 2: Delhi

Spend today sightseeing around Old and New Delhi. This fascinating city has been in existence since the 6th century BC and has seen ups and downs from the rule of the Pandavas right up to the British Raj. 

Drive past Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India with a courtyard that can hold  25,000 worshippers. Enjoy a rickshaw ride in the busiest market in Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk.   Drive past the Red Fort, the former residence for the Mughal royal family. Later, drive past President House and other government buildings before you head to Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. This simple memorial marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, commissioned by his wife in 1562, this was the first garden tomb built in the Indian sub-continent where the Persian architect used red sandstone on a large scale. 

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3: Delhi to Agra

Travel by road to Agra today. On arrival visit the Red Fort, commissioned in 1565 by Akbar. The beautiful yet forbidding structure is a handsome example of Mughal architecture.   In the afternoon, the famous Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world.  This giant marble mausoleum too over 21 years to build and was created as a symbol of Emperor Shah Jehan’s devotion to his beloved wife.  Distance Travelled: 204km / Approx 4.5 hours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4: Agra to Fatehpur Sikri and Jaipur

Travel towards Jaipur, stopping enroute to visit Fatehpur Sikri, just west to Agra. Fatehpur Sikri is a small city founded by a 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar, also known as ‘The City of Victory’. Today Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a fine example of an amalgamation of various architectural styles.  On arrival in Jaipur, the remainder of your day is at your leisure.

Jaipur is the capital (and largest city) of Rajasthan, also known as ‘The Pink City’ built with sandstone and blushed with pink paint in 1876 to welcome a visit from the British royals. Distance Travelled: 250km / Approx 5 hours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5: Jaipur

Today is a busy day exploring colourful Jaipur on a sightseeing tour.  Head towards Amber Fort, stopping to view the elegantly carved Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). Visit Amber Fort, a classic, romantic Rajasthani fort palace with rugged, aged exterior walls, yet an opulent embellished interior.  Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir (Hall of Victory) with the famed Sheesh Mahal – a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces.

Your afternoon begins with a visit to the Maharaja’s City Palace which commands almost 1/7 of the area of the city.  This former Royal residence has now been partially it converted into a museum including the Armory Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, near the gate of the city palace which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world.  

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Jaipur to Goa

Today you will be transferred from to Jaipur Airport for a flight to Goa (not included in price). On arrival in Goa you will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of your day is at your leisure. Goa was conquered by the Portugese in 1510 and they have left behind traces of culture and customs which combined with simple local lifestyles created the quintessential Goan way of life. Goa is known for its Gothic churches, crumbling forts, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, folk music and the famous afternoon siesta! 

Meals included: Breakfast

Days 7-8: Goa

Today, enjoy a half-day historical tour of north Goa. Visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus which contains the tomb and mortal remains of St Francis Xavier who was on a mission to spread Christianity in the Portuguese colonies of the East. Visit the Church of St. Cajetan, built by Italian friars who were sent to the kingdom of Golconda to preach Christianity.  The Church of St. Francis of Assisi has carved woodwork and old murals depicting the life of St Francis. The Se Cathedral is the largest of the churches in Old Goa, built in the Portuguese-Gothic style with a Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior. Also visit St. Monica, Goa’s only convent for nuns. Located here is the Museum of Christian Art, showcasing the richness of Indo-Portuguese Christian art from Goa.

Later, enjoy a leisurely walk through Goa’s Latin Quarter (Fontainhas), home to the last Portuguese families of Goa. Here you can shop for Portuguese crockery, glassware, art and clothing. Afterwards, feast your eyes on exotic lush greenery and the rich turquoise-blue color of the Mandovi River, as you cruise down its calm waters. Next, take a trip to Calangute Beach and Baga Beach.

Meals included: Breakfast daily

Day 9: Goa to Mumbai

Transfer to Goa Airport for your flight to Mumbai. On arrival in Mumbai you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Mumbai. This is the largest city in India located on the west coast.  Vibrant Mumbai ‘The City of Dreams’ is filled with unique bazaars, hidden temples, excellent street food and premier dining, and is the home of Bollywood.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10: Mumbai

Today you explore Mumbai on a sightseeing tour.  Visit the Gateway of India, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. Next, visit the Prince of Wales Museum which houses a priceless collection of art, sculpture, china and other antiques. Drive past the Victoria Terminus, Mumbai University and Rajabai Clock Tower. Make a photo stop at Dhobi Ghat, the open-air laundry of the city. Drive past Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach, the Parsi Towers of Silence and Malabar Hill. Visit Mani Bhavan, the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi.  

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 11: Depart Mumbai, India

Transfer to Mumbai Airport today for your onward flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

We have a number of other suggested India itineraries, or we can also tailor a trip for you. Here are some ideas:

The Golden Triangle – 6 Days  Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

Ancient India – 10 Days  Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi

India North to South – 12 Days  Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Cochin & Kerala

India Culture & Wildlife – 8 Days  Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore National Park, Jaipur

Forts and Palaces of India – 10 Days  Delhi, Agra, Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur and Udaipur