Day 1: Delhi

Upon pickup from your hotel or Delhi International Airport (arrivals terminal after baggage claim), your driver will transfer you by private, air-conditioned vehicle to your 5-star accommodation to check in. The remainder of the day is free for you to rest or explore as you wish.

Overnight: 5-star ITC Welcomhotel Dwarka

Day 2: Delhi – Agra

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide takes you by private vehicle on a 4-hour drive to Agra for sightseeing in the afternoon at the iconic Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Once you’ve settled in at your hotel and eaten lunch (own expense), head out to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Taj Mahal, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Taking more than 20 years and 20,000 men to complete in the mid-17th century, the domed mausoleum was commissioned by Shah Jahan as an expression of love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The white marble of this extravagant monument was quarried 200 miles away and transported to the site by a fleet of 1,000 elephants. Listen as your guide discusses this exemplar of Mughal architecture — a style borrowed from many traditions including Islamic, Turkish and India — and share knowledge about its Persian designer.

Afterward, learn about the intricate design of the 16th-century Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture. Emperor Akbar had the red sandstone fort erected on the eastern banks of Yamuna River, where it acted as a Mughal Empire stronghold for several generations. Walk around the complex to see the impressive quarters and the mosque added by Shah Jehan, and view the outer ramparts added by Aurangzeb.

Overnight: 5-star ITC Mughal in Agra

Day 3: Agra – Ranthambore (B, D)
Following breakfast at your hotel, leave Agra by comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle and relax on the 6.5-hour drive to Ranthambore, a distance of nearly 185 miles (300 km).

Upon arrival, you’re transferred to your hotel, where you can enjoy dinner and an evening at your leisure.

Overnight Wildlife Resort in Ranthambore

Day 4: Ranthambore

In the early morning, you’re driven to Ranthambore National Park for your first jungle safari in a private Jeep. Enjoy a thrilling, 2- to 3-hour game drive over national park terrain, accompanied by a trained naturalist.

Ranthambore National Park is a major wildlife destination that attracts photographers and animal lovers. The forests around the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort — once the private hunting grounds of the maharajas of Jaipur — were established by the Indian government as a game sanctuary in 1955. Declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973, Ranthambore became a national park in 1980 and remains an outstanding example of the country’s conservation efforts.

The park is one of the best locations in India to see Bengal tigers in their natural habitat. Your vehicle moves along special routes where tiger sightings are most common. The tigers can be spotted easily, even during the daytime, as they roam around, bask in the sun, hunt and care for their young ones. In addition to these large jungle cats, the park is also home to a range of other animal species such as jackals, mongooses, sloths, bears, peacocks, gazelles and wild boars.

After your game drive, head back to your accommodation for breakfast and enjoy free time until lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, embark on a second jungle safari in a Jeep before returning to the hotel to retire for the evening, including dinner.

Overnight Wildlife Resort in Ranthambore

Day 5: Ranthambore – Jaipur

After breakfast at your hotel in Ranthambore, hop in your comfortable vehicle for the 3-hour drive to Jaipur. After check-in, take off for an afternoon city tour of the bustling metropolis, whose origins can be traced back to the reign of Jai Singh II in the 18th century.

The City Palace is your first stop in Jaipur. You’ll appreciate the decorative art and carved doorways in this awe-inspiring complex including exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards. In addition, the palace museum houses a fine collection of rare manuscripts, armory, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings.

Walk with your guide to the adjacent stargazing observatory of Jantar Mantar. Built in the late 1720s, it is one of five astronomical wonders constructed by the renowned astronomer, Maharaja Jai Singh, and it makes accurate predictions even to this day.

Complete your tour with a visit to the Mubarak Mahal Textile Museum before heading back to your hotel.

Overnight 5-star ITC Rajputana in Jaipur

Day 6: Jaipur – Delhi

Start your day with a guided exploration of Amber Fort after breakfast. Drive just outside Jaipur to the ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous fort. Maharaja Mansingh — Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful general — started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century, and it was the seat of power before the City Palace was constructed in Jaipur. Surrounded by fortified battlements, the hilltop palace overlooks Maota Lake.

An elephant will spare you the trouble of reaching the fortress on foot. Outfitted with traditional Indian draperies, this majestically clad animal clambers up to Amber Fort, where you can then stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls with your guide. Many of the rooms have delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamp’s light reflects off mirrors, lighting up the room.

In the early evening, you’re taken to the railway station to board a train back to Delhi (an approximate 5-hour trip). When you arrive, you’ll be taken to your hotel.

Overnight 5-star ITC Welcomhotel Dwarka in Delhi

Day 7: Delhi
Following a delicious hotel breakfast, head out for a final sightseeing tour with your guide. Visit India’s highest minaret, Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage site constructed with marble and red sandstone.

After a look at its inscriptions with verses from the Qur’an, hop back in your private vehicle and drive along Rajpath (King’s Way), passing under India Gate, a tall stone archway built as a memorial to Indian soldiers who died in World War I. Take this official boulevard toward the parliament building and the presidential residence of Rashtrapati Bhavan as your guide shares interesting commentary along the way.

Your Golden Triangle journey ends when you take the provided transport to your next hotel or the airport.