Namaste and welcome to India! Delhi, the country’s breathtakingly vibrant capital, offers a dazzling introduction. From New Delhi’s java plum-lined boulevards and iconic, Lutyens-designed colonial architecture to the twisting streets, ancient minarets and aroma-filled bazaars of Old Delhi, it's a metropolis defined by contrast.
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Delhi has always stood at the crossroads of commerce and change – it has seduced countless merchants, mamluks, mystics, maharajas and master chefs over the millennia. This has left Delhi with a culinary tradition that’s ancient but agile, with a range unmatched anywhere else in the world. Here, ghee is liquid gold, fresh spices are king and the chole bhature (fried bread) is soft as a cloud and best enjoyed straight on the street.
After you pass through customs and immigration at Delhi International Airport (DEL) airport, you’ll be transferred to your spectacular five-star stay at Taj Palace, New Delhi. Dinner tonight is at your leisure, but the hotel offers some of the finest restaurants in the city, including Spicy Duck – serving Canton-Sichuan plates with plenty of kick – and the elegant Orient Express, themed after the iconic rail journey of the same name.
After breakfast, meet with your fellow travellers in the hotel lobby for a day of exploration, moving from pavement to palace in search of Delhi’s most delicious eats.
Start the morning with a visit to the magnificent Jama Masjid, a cherished oasis of calm in the heart of raucous Old Delhi. When the mosque’s construction was ordered by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century, the city was already named Shahjahanabad in his honour. The ‘Friday Mosque,’ constructed out of red sandstone and marble, was the last of his architectural triumphs.
Later, hop on an e-rickshaw and explore some of Delhi’s oldest streets in Chandni Chowk, an ancient market district that’s been trading since Shah Jahan’s time. Take a brief stop at Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market, and take in every extraordinary sight and smell, from massive sacks of herbs and spices to gleaming bronze pots filled with lentils and giant glass jars stuffed with chutneys, pickles and tea.
Old Delhi’s always had a serious reputation for good food and today you’ll discover the local flavours that make it great. Your walking tour introduces you to many of Delhi’s most famous street foods. Expect to graze your way through nankhatai (Indian shortbread biscuits), daulat ki chaat, aloo subzi, kuremal’s kulfi (Indian Ice-cream), Jain fresh fruit sandwiches and plenty of parantha, Punjabi flatbread stuffed with everything from fragrant mashed potato and herbs to flavour-packed paneer cheese and lamb.
Your tour finishes with lunch at Dharampura Haveli, a one-of-a-kind haveli – or traditional Indian mansion popularised during the time of the Mughals – recognised by UNESCO for its tremendous historical worth. Dining here is like stepping back in time – everything from the intricate interiors to the spectacular central courtyard looks as if it’s been transported from a time long ago. Surrounded by the haveli’s exquisitely furnished interiors, savour a specially curated chef’s tasting menu inspired by Chandni Chowk’s long and passionate romance with exceptional street food.
After lunch, it’s back to Old Delhi’s action-packed streets for a visit to the Raj Ghat, a memorial complex built in memory of Mahatma Gandhi. Then return to the hotel to enjoy a few hours of leisure before your welcome dinner at INJA.
Since opening in 2023, innovative house of fusion INJA has quickly risen to become one of Delhi’s hottest new restaurants. Equal parts ‘irasshaimase’ and ‘namaste,’ INJA seamlessly blends Japanese technique with Indian tradition to craft plates supercharged by reinvention. Dancing around your expectations, menu highlights include shrimp tempura served with fermented mango achar pickles, katsu sandos slathered in vindaloo curry sauce and maki sushi rolls stuffed with fried gobi cauliflower and crispy curry leaves. Precise, audacious, subtle and sensational, if you dine here tonight, it's guaranteed to rock your world.
After breakfast at the hotel, meet in the lobby for a day exploring New Delhi’s best.
Set out on each of the following guided experiences:
- Spirit of New Delhi Tour: Witness some of the city’s most iconic sights by coach bus – including India Gate, Parliament House and President’s House – before arriving at one of Delhi's most enduring architectural marvels, the Qutab Minar. Raised by sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak in the late 12th century to commemorate his victory over the Hindu Tomar Rajput dynasty, the minaret soars high above Delhi’s oldest walled city, Lal Kot, and today stands as a wonderful example of medieval Persian design. Spend some time walking the grounds surrounding the ruins and marvel at the site’s extraordinary history.
- Cooking Class at Saffron Palate: Learn to cook like a local. Saffron Palate’s emphasis on traditional, home-cooked Indian cookery has led it to become a long-time favourite for travellers seeking a greater understanding of the country’s cuisine. Held in the chef’s family home, today’s 90-minute hands-on demonstration is a casual and approachable introduction to a few of India’s favourite plates that you can easily replicate at home. Menus vary by season, but commonly include butter chicken, tikka masala and biryani.
- Lunch at Cafe Lota: Head to Delhi’s historic National Crafts Museum for lunch at one of the city’s true hidden gems, Cafe Lota. The restaurant’s menu celebrates the sheer diversity in India’s culinary heritage, from Himachal Pradesh's lesser-known micro-cuisines in the snow-capped far north to yoghurt and cashew-based curries from palace-peppered Rajasthan. A special lunch menu, exclusively curated for this tour, means that you’ll be in the perfect position to taste your way across the subcontinent.
- Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple: Visit New Delhi’s magnificent Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, one of the country’s most famed Sikh gurdwaras (houses of worship), known for hosting a langar, or community kitchen, that freely feeds up to 40,000 pilgrims a day. Built of white marble and topped with gleaming golden domes, it’s an extraordinary sight. Within, watch in wonder as thousands of Sikh cooks work tirelessly to prepare and serve the meals.
Dinner tonight is at the Taj Palace, New Delhi's celebrated onsite restaurant LOYA. Offering an authentic taste of North India’s spectacular, fire-kissed cuisine, served with all the drama and gusto it deserves, LOYA's regional-focused menu ranges from the Himalayas to Kashmir in a delicious celebration of the region's best.
After a lavish breakfast, meet your fellow travellers in the hotel lobby for your journey south to Agra – approximately 4 hours southeast by coach bus.
Welcome to Agra! Nowhere is the legacy of the Mughal Empire more visible than here. Let Agra’s magic whisk you away to an era of princes and palaces, sultans and servants. Though the royal court was shifted to Delhi in 1658, the city’s echoing glory is still admired today. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure, or alternatively enjoy a sunset tour of Itmad-ud-Daulah, the first Mughal tomb to be built entirely out of marble and known locally as ‘The Baby Taj', and then head to the Taj Mahal viewpoint to admire the dramatic setting of the sun.
Dinner tonight is at PESHAWRI, a fine dining establishment dedicated to showcasing the flavours of India's rugged northwest frontier. Elegant yet cosy, the restaurant is owned by the SAME chefs behind Delhi's world-famous Bukhara restaurant, and both venues have an identical commitment to preserving and celebrating the art of tandoor cooking.
Awaken before dawn and set out to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Widely considered the world’s greatest monument to romantic love, this extraordinary tomb was built by Shah Jahan as a testament to his love for his favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed entirely out of white marble, it took 20,000 craftsmen twelve years to complete. Today it’s considered the single greatest achievement across the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture. Watch in awe as the sun rises above the horizon, draping the Taj Mahal in a thousand shades of pink, orange and gold.
Return to the hotel at approximately 9am for breakfast, departing at approximately 11am for the journey westward to Ranthambore National Park (approximately 5 hours), stopping for lunch along the way.
Once a royal hunting ground of the Maharajas, Ranthambore National Park is now a vast wildlife reserve wedged between the Aravalli and Vindhya hill ranges and famous for its Royal Bengal tiger population. Note the imposing hilltop Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century and widely considered one of the toughest fortresses in India, and its Trinetra Ganesh Temple within, constructed to honour Ganesha, the divine remover of obstacles.
Check in to your park accommodation, boutique hotel Taj Sawai, Ranthambore. With just 56 rooms and suites, the hotel delivers intimate, hand-curated luxury to the wild heart of Ranthambore. Effortlessly chic, with bold modern lines and nods to the region’s fascinating history, it’s the perfect luxury retreat after days spent soaking up the park’s natural majesty.
Wake early for a sunrise safari, and a slightly better chance of sighting the elusive Bengal tiger. As the first rays of dawn paint the sky with hues of gold and orange, embark on a breathtaking adventure through one of India's most iconic wildlife sanctuaries in an open-air vehicle, travelling through rugged terrain – and tiger territory – in search of the wild animals that call Ranthambore home. From elusive leopards resting in the dappled shade to rare birdlife and raucous monkeys, the park offers a safari experience to rival any in the world.
Returning to your hotel for breakfast, enjoy the morning and afternoon at leisure. Savour an hour or two spent by the hotel’s beautiful central pool or enjoy a wellness treatment at the J Wellness Pavillion before your included lunch.
As dusk falls, glimpse another side to Ranthambore as you embark on an exhilarating evening of adventure and another game drive. Accompanied by an expert naturalist guide, venture deep into the wilderness in search of the majestic Bengal tigers and a wealth of other remarkable wildlife, including striped hyenas, sambar deer, jackals, sloth bears and a vibrant array of bird species that grace the park's diverse ecosystem. You'll be amazed at how different the park seems at this hour – with shadows pulled long and predators prowling on the hunt, discover a wonderful opening to the evening.
Return to the Taj Sawai for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Rise early and embark on an optional hike to Ranthambore Fort. The park is famously home to countless ruins, each giving a fascinating glimpse into life as it once was in the region, and this trek offers the perfect chance to appreciate the national park’s unique mix of natural wonder and beguiling history.
After lunch at the hotel, journey to Jaipur (approximately 4 hours). The capital of a desert state, Rajasthan, Jaipur is often called the ‘Pink City’ due to its countless rose-coloured buildings. It’s the result of Maharaja Ram Singh ordering most of the buildings painted pink – long considered the colour of hospitality in India – to honour the arrival of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1876. (He was pleased!) Today Jaipur is famous for its sprawling bazaars – considered some of the finest in the country – and extraordinary Rajasthani architecture.
Check in to Taj Amer, Jaipur, offering spectacular views over the region's ancient Aravalli Range and rooms with peacock-feather flourishes. The evening is at your leisure, but we recommend making a reservation at one of the hotel's wonderful onsite restaurants, including all-day dining eatery Shamiana, extravagant Chinese imperial-themed restaurant House of Ming and lavish sushi-meets-cocktail-bar House of Nomad.
After breakfast, meet in the lobby for a day exploring Jaipur city, ancient and modern.
Set out on each of the following guided experiences:
- Soul of Jaipur Walking Food Tour: Enjoy a walk through Jaipur’s old city, beginning with a visit to a local vegetable, fruits and flowers market. You’ll have a chance to sample some of the city’s most revered eateries, including the original Lassiwala – serving clay mugs brimming with lassi, a yoghurt drink now beloved across India – and taste kota kachori, or sweet and spicy deep-fried snacks. Allow the morning to organically diverge into a street food tour, with frequent stops for jalebi, traditional slow-cooked carrot halwa (a popular North Indian dessert), bright paneer and street-poured chai.
- Lunch at Dera Mandawa: Dera Mandawa, a heritage hotel originally built to house royal emissaries when they came to attend court in Jaipur, offers the perfect place to stop for lunch. Peek behind the curtain as you join a hands-on cooking class, learning about authentic family recipes with ingredients and techniques that are growing rarer in modern-day Rajasthan. Learn about traditional Indian masalas (spice blends), bake bati buried beneath the earth and try a local delicacy – jungli maans, a centuries-old mutton curry developed for stranded hunters.
- High Tea at Dzurt Patisserie: Savour a decadent French patisserie high tea at Dzurt Patisserie and Cafe, with macarons and petit fours aplenty.
- Patrika Gate Photo Stop: Stop for a photo opportunity at the iconic Patrika Gate, built in modern times to honour the seven original gates that led to the walled city of Jaipur.
Return to the hotel for time at leisure before dinner this evening at Samode Haveli. An oasis of quiet in the heart of bustling Jaipur, the traditional Indian mansion is arranged around a series of intimate, garden-filled courtyards. Originally built centuries ago as a residence of the rulers of Samode – once a small town on the outskirts of Jaipur – it is still occupied by their descendants, who have converted their one-time palace into a boutique luxury hotel. Traditional Rajasthani plates given a fine-dining spin star in this meal – it’s an experience that will take you back to Jaipur as it once was.
Enjoy a lavish breakfast at the hotel before another day of wonder and discovery, starting with a tour of Jaipur’s mesmerising Amber Fort, perched on a small hill just outside city limits. Comprising of an extensive palace complex built almost entirely out of red sandstone and marble, the fortress stands as a spectacular example of combined Mughal and Rajput architectural genius and offers wonderful views over Maota Lake’s glasslike waters.
Continue to Jal Mahal, the Floating Palace, for a more traditional insight into Rajput design. Set amidst a sprawling garden estate, the palace holds a priviliged position at the centre of Man Sagar Lake, its foundations dipping deep beneath the surface. When admired from land, its symmetry is startlingly beautiful.
Tucked away in the heart of Jaipur’s Johri Bazaar (Jeweller’s Market) – surrounded by stone-setters, carvers, textile houses and master craftsman – The Johri offers an ideal place to stop, sit and savour the moment. Lunch is a delicate affair, with a seasonally focused menu of organic vegetarian dishes ranging from watermelon salads topped with tandoori-spiced fruits and fresh mint to decadent pan-fried potato croquettes served with lashings of parmesan cream. Be sure to sample the restaurant’s extraordinary cocktail menu – for the perfect midday aperitif, go for the Nazariya, a negroni riff spruced up with a splash of watermelon.
After lunch, stop for a quick photo at Hawa Mahal, called The Palace of Winds, built to allow ladies of the royal court to observe processions without being seen by the public.
Your final sightseeing stop for the day is at the extraordinary Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built at the turn of the 18th century. It’s a shining testament to the astronomical knowledge of the Mughal prince Jai Singh II. The observatory was used to accurately calculate the time of day – in effect, it is the world’s largest sundial.
On your return from the observatory, enjoy a few hours at leisure before dinner.
Tonight, join your tour companions for one final farewell dinner together, celebrating with a royal thali at the historic Raj Palace. Set in the Swapna Mahal, a grand dining room originally built to imitate the grand houses of the French and English nobility, you’ll be served the Maharani Thali (queen’s platter), consisting of authentic royal cuisine from across all of India. Traditionally consisting of various small dishes designed by the empire’s best Ayurveda-trained chef-doctors, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate your odyssey through India’s Golden Triangle.
Rise early and enjoy one final breakfast in Jaipur before your included return flight to Delhi International Airport (DEL) and your ownward journey.