Our holiday starts at the group hotel in Delhi. A single timed transfer is provided from the airport. After settling in and lunch, we have an afternoon sightseeing tour of Old Delhi by vehicle, foot and cycle rickshaw. We will visit the majestic Jama Masjid, the principle mosque of Old Delhi. Built in 1656 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India.

Later, we take a cycle rickshaw ride through the old marketplace at Chandni Chowk, exploring the network of stalls of this bustling bazaar, and experiencing the true flavour of urban India, full of fascinating new sights, sounds and smells. We then drive past the Red Fort to marvel at its sheer size and dominance on the way to visit Raj Ghat, the memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi before returning to our hotel.

This morning, we have an early transfer to New Delhi Railway Station for the Shatabdi Express to Agra. Travelling on this fast tourist train is a very comfortable experience. It has air-conditioned carriages fitted with aircraft type seats and, during the 2-hour journey, we will be served breakfast and refreshments. Outside the window, a fascinating landscape rolls by offering glimpses of rural life in India. Arriving in Agra, we transfer to our hotel where we can have some lunch and perhaps a quick swim.

The first stop of our afternoon is a guided tour of Agra Fort, which is more a walled city than a fort, boasting several grand buildings and ornamental gardens. We have some free time to explore the local bazar. At sunset we visit the Taj Mahal, and marvel at how the changing light of sunset projects its colours across the white marble of this stunning memorial.

After breakfast, we transfer to Bharatpur. The drive is about an hour and we stop en route at the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. This splendid fortified settlement was built in the 16th century, but was abandoned after its water supply dried up.

We continue onto Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. This famous sanctuary is host to thousands of different birds; some 230 different species and is a mosaic of grasslands, woodlands and open wetlands. It is free of motor vehicles with only cycling and walking allowed. We have a cycle rickshaw ride observing some of the enormous cranes, pelicans, geese, duck and eagles. We then transfer to our hotel to relax in the gardens and cool off in the swimming pool. This evening, our guide will prepare an entertaining quiz about what we have seen at the Taj Mahal and the birds at the sanctuary.

This morning we have some time to relax and swim in the pool. After lunch, we drive to Ranthambore (approximately 5 hrs). Although trains are also available here, they can be fairly unreliable on this route. If we have time on arrival we can visit the Ranthambore Fort. Our hotel is situated on the edge of the reserve, nestled between the green Araveli Hills.

Today, we will go out and explore the reserve in 4X4 jeeps, usually shared with other tourist groups, or canters with an expert naturalist who has worked closely with the park authorities to save tigers and other wildlife in the area. Their knowledge and skills will give us the best chance of spotting a tiger, though of course nothing can be guaranteed in the wild. The best time for game spotting is early morning or just before sundown when the animals visit the watering holes and we have two game drives included, one at each end of the day. Our resort accommodation nearby provides our base during the day and the pool will offer respite from the midday heat. The local children are also always keen for a game of cricket and our guide may be able to organise an impromptu match!

Ranthambore summer (Jul-Sep) amendment:

Please note that the central Ranthambore National Park zones are closed in the summer months of Jul, Aug and Sep. During these months game drives are restricted to the buffer zones known as Swai Mansingh Sanctuary. In this sanctuary wildlife is seen, but you are unlikely to see a tiger.

After breakfast, we drive around 3 hours to Jaipur, the famous regional capital of Rajasthan, also known as the 'Pink City'.

After checking into our hotel (and possibly a quick swim), we go out to the local cinema to watch a Bollywood movie. These films are in the Hindi language and are usually along the theme of a romantic musical with a lot of singing and dancing. Without speaking Hindi, these movies can still be understood with their beautiful costumes, dancing and singing, all set with the backdrop of colourful India (we may choose to leave the film early). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we visit the impressive Amber Fort, perched strategically on a hill just outside the city. The fort is a labyrinth of secret passageways and courtyards and our guided tour will last most of the morning. We return to Jaipur for lunch and in the afternoon we visit the City Palace, an observatory and the Palace of the Winds.

As the sun starts to go down, the local colourful bazaars come alive and we can pick up some souvenirs or just browse the stalls. This evening we visit a local Rajasthani family for a cookery demonstration learning about the different spices and curries of India. We have dinner and overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast, we leave Jaipur and head south-west for our 2-3 hours journey to reach Ajmer. From here, we turn off the main highway and climb for 20 minutes into the Araveli Hills to reach the spectacular location of Pushkar.

On arrival, we check into our comfortable hotel and in the afternoon we can try our hand at camel driving. Anyone who does not wish to take part may prefer wander around this interesting town, enjoying its special ambience or relax around the tranquil hotel pool. After the short camel cart ride, we will visit explore parts of this mystical and spiritual town.

This morning we can relax at the hotel and enjoy the grounds and the swimming pool. We could also visit some more temples or have a look around the local bazaar.

After lunch, we transfer the short distance to Ajmer, where we catch the mid-afternoon train to Delhi. The journey back will give us an opportunity to review and reflect on an incredible adventure, packed with experiences and memories that will stay with us for ever. As the sun goes down, dinner is served on the train and we arrive back in Delhi shortly before 11 pm. From the railway station, we transfer to a hotel near the airport for our final night in India.

Our holidays ends after breakfast at the hotel in Delhi. A single timed transfer to Delhi Airport is included.