WILDLIFE TOUR: Explore India's famous Golden Triangle and go wild in Ranthambore National Park, searching for elusive Bengal tigers. Marvel at the breathtaking Taj Mahal in Agra and explore the beautiful Amber Fort in Jaipur, rickshaw ride through the bustling streets of Delhi and spend a night in a Maharaja's palace.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Delhi
Saturday. Welcome to India! On arrival in Delhi you’ll be transferred to our hotel where the rest of today is free to explore the capital as you please. Perhaps visit the striking Red Fort, which gets its color from the sandstone used in its construction during the 17th century. This evening we have a welcome meeting at 18:00 at the hotel to meet our guide the rest of the group.
Please note: If arriving the day before the tour commences, you may opt to join our 5am Backstreets of Delhi Morning Cycle add-on. Ride through the streets before the morning traffic and see highlights including Turkman Gate - one of the five remaining gates of Old Delhi.
Overnight: Delhi
Old & New Delhi sightseeing
Today we enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Old and New Delhi. In the old part of the city we visit Humayun’s Tomb and Jama Masjid, which is India’s largest and oldest mosque. We also visit the peaceful memorial of Raj Ghat - the site of Gandhi’s cremation. An eternal flame now burns here in his honor. Enjoy a thrilling rickshaw ride around the Chandni Chowk bazaar before our tour continues as we explore the highlights of New Delhi. Stroll down the ceremonial Rajpath and see the India Gate monument - a memorial to those Indian soldiers who died during the First World War. We enjoy a delicious Namaste dinner this evening.
Overnight: Delhi | Breakfast, Dinner
The Taj Mahal
Delhi - Agra. Say goodbye to Delhi today as we travel to Agra and explore the UNESCO-listed Agra Fort. Our day continues with a guided tour of the legendary Taj Mahal - India’s most famous site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This beautiful white mausoleum was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a tribute to his wife, who died tragically in childbirth. It remains the most extravagant symbol of love ever built and remains a bucket list destination for many travelers.
Overnight: Agra | Breakfast
The Princely state of Karauli
Agra - Karauli. Leaving Agra this morning, we travel to the eerie city of Fatehpur Sikri, which has laid abandoned for more than 400 years but is extremely well-preserved. We continue to the Palace Bhanwar Vilas in Karauli, which remains the home of the royal Maharaja. The site is now a heritage hotel and our home for the night. Explore the palace grounds at leisure and if we’re lucky, we may be able to join a tour led by the princess herself. The family are also lovingly restoring the City Palace which we visit this afternoon and you may opt to attend the evening Aarti (prayer).
Overnight: Karauli | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Jaipur
Karauli - Jaipur. Today we travel to the iconic Pink City of Jaipur, stopping at a local school en route to meet the pupils and teachers (if open). We operate our Change for Children program here and you may wish to bring some educational gifts to donate to the pupils (see trip notes). After our visit, we continue to UNESCO-listed Jaipur where the rest of today is at leisure. Perhaps enjoy a Bollywood movie at the Raj Mandir cinema, where there’s sure to be a lively atmosphere.
Overnight: Jaipur | Breakfast
Jaipur sightseeing
This morning you may wish to join an exciting Hot Air Balloon Over Jaipur. Climb into a hot air balloon and fly with the wind over palaces and fortresses, before we return to land and take a jeep ride up to the impressive Amber Fort. This site is laid out over four levels and overlooks the stunning Maota Lake. After our visit, we continue to a local cotton weaving house and tour the famous City Palace. The final stop of the day is to the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar space observatory, home to the world’s largest stone sundial.
Overnight: Jaipur | Breakfast
Ranthambore National Park
Jaipur - Ranthambore. Today we take a 3-4 hour drive to Ranthambore National Park, one of the Project Tiger reserves since 1973. The park plays an important role in the conservation of the iconic Bengal Tiger. We spend two days in the park and enjoy three included game drives in search of the endangered tigers, which can sometimes be seen pacing along the paths or resting in the sun. With three visits into the reserve, we have a great chance of spotting these incredible animals. Other wildlife in the park includes leopards, sloth bears, sambar, hyenas and crocodiles.
Overnight: Ranthambore National Park | Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 1, Dinner x 2
Return to Delhi
Ranthambore - Delhi. This morning we return to Delhi by train where the rest of the day is free to explore at leisure. You may wish to visit Akshardham, which stands the world’s largest Hindu temple.
Overnight: Delhi | Breakfast
Delhi
Monday. Our Indian adventure ends today with an included transfer to the airport.
Breakfast
Enjoy a Mumbai Breakaway!
Extend your stay with our 4 day/3 night Mumbai Breakaway add-on. Formally known as Bombay, exhilarating and charismatic Mumbai is the most populated city in the world, home of Bollywood and the setting of the Oscar-winning film ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’. Discover this city of contrasts where gleaming sky scrapers stand side by side with run down slums. Explore this bustling city and immerse yourself in the madness of Mumbai!
View our other add-ons available or check out our short stays. Can’t find what you’re looking for? get in touch, we can arrange private touring arrangements before or after your group tour.
For more information about visas, top travel tips, best time to travel and much more, browse our dedicated travel guide.
Prices & Dates
Departure dates marked with a 'G' are operating. All departure dates from 1 Apr 2023 are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. Prior to this date a departure is guaranteed with 4 persons. 'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single Room' prices are applicable to solo travellers or anyone wanting the privacy of a single room.
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Extra Prices
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Park Inn by Radisson New Delhi, Delhi
Set in the heart of one of the most popular neighbourhoods of Delhi, the Park Inn by Radisson offers a comfortable stay in India’s bustling capital. With contemporary guestrooms which feature en suite bathrooms, high speed Wi-Fi, air conditioning and flat screen TVs. Enjoy al fresco dining and drinks at the 24-hour RBG Bar & Grill, which serves tasty traditional Indian fare and international cuisine. After a busy day of sightseeing, unwind with a swim in the hotel's sparkling pool or work up a sweat in the fitness centre. Ideally located just 20 minutes from the airport and a short walk from a metro station, it's easy to reach popular sites such as the Lotus Temple, India Gate and Connaught Place.
Holiday Inn Mayur Vihar, Delhi
Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida is a modern hotel, located in the heart of bustling Delhi NCR. With Mayur Vihar Metro Station less than 550 yards away, providing easy access to the commercial hubs of Noida, South Delhi and Connaught Place. Comfort is guaranteed in the contemporary guest rooms, which feature an ergonomic chair, high speed WiFi, in room safe and LED TV. Relax and unwind in the outdoor infinity pool and workout at the 24 hour Fitness Centre. There's a choice of dining options, with Café on 3, offering Indian and international delicacies, overlooking the infinity pool and a beautiful alfresco area, while the Kylin Experience restaurant serves delicious Asian cuisine and tasty signature cocktails
Royale Regent Hotel, Agra
The stylish Royale Regent hotel offers views of the magnificent Taj Mahal from its rooftop pool, so guests can gaze at this World wonder while sipping on a cocktail and retreating from the hustle and bustle of the city. Each comfortable air-conditioned room features a minibar with tea and coffee making facilities, satellite TV as well as excellent en-suite facilities. Guests can also enjoy an array of flavours in the onsite garden or mutli-cuisine restaurant.
Bhanwar Vilas Palace, Karauli
Built in 1938, this stunning property is the residence of the Maharaja (181st in the Royal Dynasty) and Maharani of Karauli. Both the architecture and furniture have been designed in fitting with colonial styles and the property offers a fantastic insight into the history and elegance of a bygone era. The property offers deluxe rooms and luxury suites, each including a range of modern amenities such as a mini bar, a well-appointed ensuite and a plush king-sized bed. In the evenings, guests can tuck into an array of regional specialties as well as international cuisine in the hotel's restaurant.
Mandawa Haveli, Jaipur
Made of pink and red sandstone, the beautiful heritage-style Mandawa Haveli is a fine example of typical Rajasthani architecture. All rooms are well appointed with intricately carved wooden beds and king-size royal portraits, with modern amenities such as free WiFi and ensuite bathrooms. Spend an evening dining on continental, Indian or Rajasthani cuisine on the outdoor terrace or request a private, candlelit dinner on the rooftop under a star-studded sky. Well located in the heart of Jaipur city on Sansar Chandra Road, this hotel is just a few minute’s drive from the Palace of the Winds.
Ranthambore Heritage Haveli , Ranthambore National Park
Set amongst well-manicured gardens, the elegant Ranthambore Heritage Haveli is a beautiful boutique hotel located close to Ranthambhore National Park, in the village of Khilchipur. The comfortable guest rooms are well appointed with king-sized beds, large TVs and rain showers. The haveli also benefits from a multi-cuisine restaurant, complimentary Wi-Fi and an outdoor pool which is ideal for refreshing dip after a day of wildlife spotting.
This was a great our, not too big a group and a wonderful diversity of participants. I appreciated being able to contribute to the tip kitty and not have to be concerned with having "change" for tips.
Yusuf was an excellent tour director; very knowledgeable and continually making small adjustments to improve the flow of the visit. His willingness to talk about his personal experiences made the tour much more interesting. I appreciate being able to contribute to the school in Karauli and knowing the money will be used appropriately.”
Satta was a brilliant tour guide the tour was an amazing experience and On the Go didn’t fail on anything. Thank you for a wonderful trip and another life changing memory. We were so lucky to be there for the Holi festival and Satta arranged a last minute itinerary to replace the school holiday trip which had to be cancelled due to closure for the holiday. What fun we had to return to childhood covering each other in powder colour to the sound of a DJ and drums. The hot air balloon trip was superb and the pilot was experienced and gave me great confidence. I saw the sunrise from the air and we were welcomed with banana bread and Chai on arrival. The Taj Mahal was exquisite and I enjoyed every minute. The food was delicious and with all the right precautions I didn’t suffer from Delhi belly. I wish I could eat curry everyday and have learned so much about Indian food. I saw tigers on the safari and a menagerie of animals on the streets. The Hindu values were interesting and the sad part was the slums and the poor beggars. Thank you OTG and I will be back for another adventure soon!”
Yusef was very knowledgeable about the sites and areas we visited. He was also helpful at all times.”
The tour overall exceeded my expectations. I thank you. I have no negatives and I really appreciated the effort and time by everyone with On the Go. The experiences in Agra [Taj and Fort Agra], Jaipur [Amber Fort] and Ranthambore [Seeing a Tiger/wildlife and the change in Scenery from urban to national park] were wonderful.
MERELY OBSERVATIONS:
Observations include time on the bus seemed excessive. I thought maybe we were limited in the places to eat while traveling and this may have been a reason to drive out of the way on a couple of the days. I realize our trip was altered due to hotel accommodations, but I also felt the sequence of the destinations could have reduced time on the bus.
The accommodations were good. I felt most places were fairly modern and relatively clean. There was plenty of bottled water and I never felt dehydrated during the trip. The hotel in Jaipur [Mandawa Haveli] was by far the best maintained. The hotel in Karauli was in the need of a renovation [Bhanwar Vilas Palace].
Everyone on the tour was wonderful. I am not sure how you can ensure such a wonderful array of fellow tourists. Everyone was mature, professional with a good sense of humor.
Yusef worked hard and should be recognised. Even with a good group there are always challenges. The Bus driver was fantastic and should receive a nice bonus. I feel he never took excessive risk and made wise road/driving decisions. Please make sure On the Go retains his services and rewards him.
I hope to use On the Go in my future travels. I have referred you to others. My next overseas trip may not be for another 18 months, but I will strongly consider On the Go. ”
Sammy was a great guide. From the info meeting to the goodbye in Jaipur he was in control. Even though we were in a 'tourist bubble', Sammy made sure we were not sheltered from our environs, he took on on walks in the cities, encouraged us to explore shops and try a tuk-tuk. He was also great for any advice on where to eat and shop. He shared relevant info throughout the trip. Sammy made the trip enjoyable.
The overall trip was amazing. I was nervous going to a country so different than what I've ever experienced but the tour guides made it easier. One of the highlights for me was the village walk in Karauli, I got an appreciation for how people live and work. ”
Great driver Mr. Balbir Singh cared for this tiny group of 3 women. He was a wonderful tour guide in between our step-on guides each day. I felt safe and well guided thanks to his extraordinary efforts. Superb guide Atiq for Agra and Fatehpuri Sikri. Less than wonderful guide day 1 in Delhi, also a Mr. Singh.”
Yousef was one of the most informative and nicest tour guides I've ever had. Really knowledgeable and really helpful. Couldn't praise him enough.
The tour as a whole was very good if a little compact. For me personally I would have taken out a visit to the silk factory and gem store and replaced this with perhaps free time for exploring in Jaipur. I would also perhaps offer clients the option to upgrade in Ranthambore from the canter to a jeep with a sun roof as it's extremely hot in April.
Overall great trip and would definitely use On The Go again.”
This Tour was very well organised and there was always someone available to help us.
The hotels we stayed in were lovely and well equipped.
The food was good and there was plenty. It was also great that there was always water available on the bus transfers.
The only thing we found especially being our first Tour with your Company, was that we were literally on the go all the time and there was downtime.
Also, the group we travelled with was a lot larger than we were expecting - 24 persons. ”
Yusuf was excellent, very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.”
We enjoyed the tour. Everything was well organised and our tour guide Sami was very helpful and kind. We had to return to Delhi one day before the rest of the group and everything was catered for. Our guide accompanied us to the train station on the 11th November and waited with us until the train arrived. Also, a complementary packed lunch was provided for us to eat on the train. A room at the Piccadilly hotel was reserved for us on the 11th November and a taxi drove us to Delhi airport on the 12th November to fly to Goa. Very good and professional service. Caroline Shaw was also very helpful and replied to all my queries promptly. ”
At a Glance
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This was a great our, not too big a group and a wonderful diversity of participants. I appreciated being able to contribute to the tip kitty and not have to be concerned with having "change" for tips.
Yusuf was an excellent tour director; very knowledgeable and continually making small adjustments to improve the flow of the visit. His willingness to talk about his personal experiences made the tour much more interesting. I appreciate being able to contribute to the school in Karauli and knowing the money will be used appropriately.”
