India Golden Triangle & Wildlife Tour - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Jaipur

Welcome to India! Your trip begins on arrival at Jaipur Airport, where a local representative will meet you and take you to your hotel. As you enter the "Pink City" of Jaipur, named for the pastel-washed stucco of many of its principal buildings, you'll notice the distinctive clothing of the local people.

Men often wear loose-fitting white clothing with a crimson or saffron pagari (turban), wound from one strip of cloth and tied in many different styles. Women wear colorful shawls, skirts, and sarees, often decorated and embroidered with mirror thread. After an afternoon of soaking up the sights and senses of atmospheric Jaipur, you'll check into your hotel and spend the evening relaxing. 

Day 2: Explore the "Pink City" & Take a Local Cooking Class

Today's guided tour of Jaipur starts with stop at the beautiful 18th-century Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), an imposing five-story pink sandstone structure. You'll then head to the ancient capital of Amer and its UNESCO-listed Amer Palace Fort; this imposing hilltop fortress was built as the royal residence over a thousand years ago and is famous for its iconic Indian-Muslim design and spectacular views of the city and lake below. Explore the Sheesh Mahal (Mirrored Palace) and the Jai Mandir (Hall of Glory) before finding a spot to people-watch and bask in the elegant, historic surroundings. 

After exploring the fort, you'll head back to Jaipur to visit the City Palace with its perfect blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, which is still home to the royal family today. You'll end the city tour with a trip to the Jantar Mantar, a giant 17th-century Solar Observatory and astronomical treasure house. Later, you'll visit Nahargarh Fort, which stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the city of Jaipur. 

You can add the optional experience of a market visit, a cooking class, and dinner with a local family to experience Jaipur's famed food culture this afternoon. Browse stalls laden with produce and spices at the market, where your guide will explain the essential ingredients needed to create key Indian dishes. You'll learn to cook a typical Rajasthani meal with chewy breads, two or three tasty vegetarian dishes, and a couple of desserts. Afterward, you'll feast on your delicious dishes while chatting about daily life in Jaipur with the family.

Day 3: Spot Tigers on an Afternoon Game Drive at Ranthambhore National Park

After breakfast, you'll transfer to Ranthambore and check in to your hotel. You'll be able to spend the morning at leisure and prepare for the first game drive of your trip. In the afternoon, you'll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the gates of Ranthambore National Park. 

Located between the magnificent Aravalli and Vindhya mountain ranges, this former hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur is now a protected reserve with the largest population of tigers in India. Once you've arrived at the park, you'll head out on an open Jeep to spot tigers, monkeys, deer, crocodiles, and birds like purple herons, kingfishers, cormorants, and parakeets. Post-safari, you'll be transferred back to the hotel and have the evening to relax and relive your day of adventures.

Day 4: Hop on a Morning Game Drive, Transfer to Agra

This morning you'll be up bright and early for a transfer back to Ranthambhore National Park and another morning game drive. Any chances you missed yesterday photographing tigers in their natural habitat, you'll get again, as you drive around the park for a second time. 

In the afternoon, a transfer takes you from Ranthambore to Agra, where you can check in to your hotel and relax. Set on a curve of the holy Yamuna River, Agra is one of the three cities in India's Golden Triangle. It grew in prominence under the rule of the Mughal Empire in 1526, and reached its zenith between 1556 and 1658 when it became a leading center of art, science, commerce, culture, and notable architecture. Today, the bustling, historic city is best known as the home of the iconic Taj Mahal.

Day 5: See the Majestic Taj Mahal at Sunrise

It's an early start today for a sunrise visit to the spectacular Taj Mahal, built in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The beauty and symmetry of the Taj Mahal never fail to impress, and a dawn visit means you'll experience the color-changing effects of the rising sun on the monument's dazzling white marble.

Later you'll return to your hotel for a sumptuous breakfast and prepare for your afternoon cycle trip. You'll leave the hustle and traffic of the city behind you as you get out into the Indian countryside by bike. There'll be around 6 miles (10 km) of cycling, with plenty of opportunities to stop and meet the local people and see their daily lives. During the tour, you'll catch some unique views of the Taj Mahal and take a boat ride on the Yamuna River along the monument's riverbank. 

After your morning cycle trip, you'll walk through the historic back streets of Agra. Highlights include Jama Masjid, the biggest mosque in the city, Chimman Lal Poori Wala, a 185-year-old local sweet shop where you can see various sweets being made, and the Rawatpara Spice Market. The tour ends at the banks of the river at Gyarah Seedi (a former astrological observatory) to view the Taj Mahal at sunset. Following the tour, you'll big Agra farewell and join your driver for the four-hour transfer to Delhi, where you'll check in to your hotel for the evening.

Day 6: Explore Delhi's Historic Architecture & Red Fort

Embark upon a full day of sightseeing today in India's capital. You'll begin in Old Delhi, the city's historic heart, influenced by the great Mughals who once ruled from the ramparts of the majestic Red Fort. You'll visit the Jama Masjid, India's most extensive 17th-century mosque, and take an exhilarating rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk. This bustling market was the center of the city in Mughal times.

In the afternoon, stop for a delicious lunch and then head to the New Delhi area to visit the India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India), and Parliament House. Look out for other colonial buildings built during the British era and designed by renowned British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in the first half of the 20th century. You'll end your tour with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Humayun's Tomb, built in 1546 as a mausoleum for the second Mughal emperor Humayun.