Magic of the Golden Triangle - 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi

Welcome to Delhi, the bustling and fascinating capital of India! We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where we'll go through all the details of the tour and answer any questions you may have.

The rest of the day is yours to relax, wander through the neighborhood, or go exploring. First settled in the sixth century BCE, Delhi is one of the oldest living cities in the world and has seen the rise and fall of many kings and dynasties, including the British Empire. There is plenty to see and do in this vibrant and bustling metropolis, where modern-day skyscrapers rub shoulders with street markets, ancient palaces and fortresses, and monuments to the past. 

Day 2: Old Delhi Sightseeing & Food Tour

After breakfast, head out into the heart of the old city on a sightseeing tour around Old Delhi's fascinating ancient monuments, narrow streets, and bustling bazaars. Make your way past the dramatic Red Fort to Jama Masjid, a majestic 17th-century red sandstone and white marble mosque that was built by Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal.

After exploring the mosque, which is one of India's biggest, take an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the famous Chandni Chowk market and visit some of the fascinating bazaars, where you will go on a culture and food tour and learn about the history of the city and the market while trying a variety of delicious food, including jalebis at a 140-year old jalebi shop, paranthas and lassi at the Paranthe Wali Gali, and chai (tea) in one of the most authentic teashops in Old Delhi.

Once you have had our fill, continue the tour with a visit to Raj Ghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, the "father of India," and onto New Delhi, where we will drive along the Rajpath past all the British colonial-era government buildings and the Presidential Palace and India Gate, which was built as a memorial to all the Indian soldiers who were killed fighting for the British Indian Army in the World War I.

Round off your day of sightseeing with a trip to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most famous Sikh houses of worship in Delhi. The beautiful white marble gurdwara is also home to one of the biggest community kitchens in Delhi, which feeds between 15,000 and 30,000 people of all races and religions every single day. Opt to help the volunteers in the giant kitchen or just take a tour to see how hundreds of people can work together to create thousands of nutritious and delicious meals for the devotees, pilgrims, and visitors who make their way to the temple every day.

Day 3: Transfer to Agra, Cycling & Sightseeing Tour

After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal and ancient capital of the Mughals, before heading out on a cycling tour through the beautiful countryside and local villages.

One of the best ways to experience authentic India, this local cycling tour will take you through the villages behind the Taj Mahal, where you'll be able to witness this impressive feat of architecture from new and unique perspectives. See the traditional rituals and pujas, and the ways of life here that have been unchanged for centuries, with children going to school and the farmers working in their fields.

Following your tour, pay a visit to the imposing and impressive Agra Fort, a perfect blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture and red sandstone and white marble.

Day 4: Transfer to Karauli via Fatehpur Sikri

It's an early start today to get to the Taj Mahal in time to watch the sunrise over one of India's most beautiful and iconic buildings. Completed in 1653, it took 20,000 craftsmen 22 years to build this breathtaking memorial to love, and it stands the test of time as a beautiful monument to the everlasting nature of love today.

After breakfast, make your way to the historic city of Karauli, with a stop en route to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fatehpur Sikri. Built by Mughal Emperor Akbar as one of his capitals, this beautiful city with its red sandstone frescos and fascinating architecture was abandoned in 1585. Take a tour through the site, exploring the five-story Panch Mahal palace, the Jama Masjid mosque, the Buland Darwaza (Gate of Victory), and the tomb of the famous Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti.

After the visit to Fatehpur Sikri, continue onto the historic town of Karauli, our home for the night. Once you arrive, head out on a quick tour around the city to check out the faded grandeur of Karauli City Palace, which was the home of the royal family from the 14th century until 1938. You can also visit the Kaylan Temple and Madan Mohal Jl, a 17th-century temple dedicated to Lord Krishna that was built on the banks of the Bhadravati River.

Day 5: Karauli to Jaipur

This morning, head out into the countryside around Karauli for a unique look into the farming industries in Rajasthan. Tour through small villages and visit a couple of farms before heading to Jaipur, the Pink City, and the capital of Rajasthan.

Jaipur is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe. and is famous for its fascinating blend of Hindu, Jain, and Mughal styles and striking temples, palaces, and forts. Built by Jai Singh II, who moved the capital from nearby Amer to Jaipur in 1727, Jaipur is one of Rajasthan's most interesting cities, with plenty of history, culture, and art.

Day 6: Jaipur Sightseeing Tour, Visit Local Women Artisans

The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur, has been known as the Pink City after Maharajah Ram Singh ordered the city to be painted pink—the color of hospitality—in honor of Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales's visit to India in 1867. Today, head out on a sightseeing tour of the city, including a trip to nearby Amer to see the Amer Fort. Stop to admire the impressive and imposing  Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) as you pass by on your way out of town. Built in 1799, the palace's unique design allowed the ladies of the royal court to look out at street parties and parades without being seen by the people below.

Before the capital was moved to Jaipur and the royal residence to the City Palace—which we will visit later—Amer Fort was the home of the royal family for nearly 700 years. The majority of the royal palace we see today was built in the 16th and 17th centuries and showcases the opulence of the time, with ornate halls including the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) and the Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure), with channels of cascading water running through the center of the room offering an early form of air conditioning.

After exploring the historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed fort and palace complex, return to the city and visit the current residence of the Jaipur royal family, the City Palace, before heading to Jantar Mantar, an early 18th-century astronomical observatory built by Jai Singh II.

In the afternoon, meet some local female artisans from Jaipur who practice the art of block printing—one of the oldest printing techniques in India. Try your hand at making your own handkerchiefs from Rajasthani woodblocks. While you work, chat with the women and learn more about their lives and what it's like to live in Jaipur, as well as ask them any questions you have about their craft and entrepreneurial skills.

Day 7: Transfer to Delhi

After a leisurely breakfast, say goodbye to the beautiful Pink City and make your way through the beautiful Rajasthani landscapes back to the hustle and bustle of the capital city, Delhi.

The journey should take around five or six hours. You should arrive in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is yours to relax, wander around and go exploring, do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs, or feast on delicious food and chai (tea) before saying goodbye to India and beginning your onward journey in the morning.

Day 8: Depart Delhi

It's the final day of your tour, and it's time to say goodbye. Enjoy the last glimpses of India as we drive from the city to the airport, armed with pockets full of memories and cameras full of photographs of all the magical places we've been.

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