Temples & Tigers Adventure

We arrive in Delhi, complete airport formalities and meet our local representative who welcomes us to the capital. We transfer to our city hotel, settle in and prepare for the start of our journey. You have free time to rest after your flight – later, we come together for a briefing on the days ahead.

We take in New Delhi’s signature sights – India Gate, stately government buildings and the serene Humayun’s Tomb. We ride the metro with locals from Connaught Place to Old Delhi, then wander through Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar to soak up the colour and bustle. We hop on a cycle rickshaw to glide along the narrow lanes, watching daily life unfold past shops, temples and market stalls.

We leave Delhi and drive through rural Uttar Pradesh towards Agra, passing small towns and fields on the way to the city of the Taj Mahal. We pause at Sheroes Hangout Café – run by survivors of acid attacks – for an included lunch that supports this community project. We join a guided heritage walk through Kachhpura village and surrounding farmland across the Yamuna from the Taj Mahal, learning about local life, traditional housing and small–scale industries. Later, we stroll through Mehtab Bagh – a riverside garden opposite the Taj Mahal – and enjoy atmospheric sunset views across the Yamuna.

At first light we visit the Taj Mahal, when the soft dawn glow bathes its marble and the crowds are at their thinnest. We hear the story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal while admiring intricate inlay and carving. We then drive into rural Rajasthan to the small town of Suroth – leaving the main tourist trail behind – to reach a heritage palace hotel. With our guide we explore village life along traditional streets and browse local shops, glimpsing daily rhythms. Before dinner we enjoy a cooking demonstration at Suroth Mahal – learning how classic dishes are prepared in this evocative historic setting.

We continue towards Jaipur with a stop at the Abhaneri stepwell. At Chand Baori – one of India’s largest and deepest stepwells – we admire the mesmerising geometry and the scale of this ingenious water system.

We explore Amber Fort – a hilltop palace complex overlooking Jaipur – wandering through ornate courtyards and grand halls of marble and sandstone. We delve into the city’s heritage at Jantar Mantar and the City Palace. We join a block printing workshop to watch designs being hand stamped onto fabric, then create a simple pattern of our own with carved wooden blocks.

We drive from Jaipur to Ranthambore National Park, rich in wildlife, and head out on a shared canter to explore the reserve – keeping our eyes peeled for Bengal tigers and other species.

We set out at dawn – the best chance of spotting tigers and other wildlife in the cool of the morning.

We travel back to Delhi by train, watching rural landscapes and small towns slip by the window. On arrival, you have free time to unwind – a chance to rest after the journey. Later, we meet our representative for a briefing on the days ahead.

You have time at leisure in Delhi to rest after your journey. We meet our local representative for a briefing on the days ahead – then we transfer to Delhi Airport in good time for your international departure.