8-Day Golden Triangle Tour of India with Ranthambore Safari

Namaste and welcome on board! Our representative will be there to pick you up at the airport, and it should be a breeze from then on to get to the hotel. Shake off your flight-induced lethargy, lace your boots, and head out to the many wondrous sights that Delhi has on display. Keep half an eye on your watch, though, because your Group Leader will be meeting you at 6 pm to discuss the nitty-gritty of the tour.

Swap stories over an optional dinner with your fellow travellers after the meeting and prepare yourself for an exciting day tomorrow.

If you're looking for personal space, good luck finding that today! Delhi has a population of 17 million, and you'll be meeting a fair few of those on the Metro as we make our way to Old Delhi this morning. Push yourself through the morning commuters and emerge into a world where electric wires scribble the sky, tea vendors entice early birds, and people literally pop out from hidden alcoves of ancient buildings.

Walk up to the Jama Masjid to get an introduction to Mughal history, then negotiate the maze of alleys to enter the relative calmness of a Sikh temple.

Lend a helping hand at the temple's kitchen, then scramble aboard cycle rickshaws to take in the aromas that permeate the Spice Market. The Old Delhi tour ends here, but there's more to come in the evening as we visit one of our local friends for a home-cooked dinner.

Leave the bustle of Delhi and make your way to Agra in the early hours of the morning. On arrival, cross the threshold of the 16th-century Agra Fort and listen to the red walls echo tales of architectural ingenuity.

Slip in a visit to see a carpet maker weave his magic in an attempt to keep the tradition alive.

In the late afternoon, step into a dream itself as you get your first glimpse of the Taj Mahal.

Green fields and orchards greet us as we shed the remains of the cityscape and drive deeper into rural Rajasthan. Today we arrive at Ranthambore, snuggled comfortably between two ancient mountain ranges. It is here that the famous Royal Bengal Tiger stakes its claim as the king of the jungle and deigns to grant or dash the hopes of many who come to receive its audience. We have a long day ahead of us (approximately 7 hours' drive), and arrival is expected in the late afternoon.

Hunker down in your accommodation once you get there and enjoy the moment of silence your surroundings offer. We have an exciting hunt to look forward to tomorrow.

A shake of a paw, the dust rising off its feet, or a faint rustle in the reeds as the stripes of a tiger on the prowl merge with the forest - if you haven't seen this inches away from you and in the wild, you haven't lived! Brace yourself this morning as we embark on a hunt for the elusive tiger. If we're lucky, the forest reveals bears, leopards, deer, monkeys, and other residents. Don't worry if you don't get to see them, though; the spectacular landscape softened by an early morning light is still worth the alarm clock.

After a late breakfast, we drive to the Pink City of Jaipur (approximately 4 hours). There are no activities planned for the day in Jaipur, but a roller-coaster ride of a Bollywood film in the confines of Jaipur's oldest theatre might be a fun way to cap off your day.

Itinerary Disclaimer: The park is closed during the monsoons (July-September). In lieu of the safari, we will visit the Ranthambore Fort.

After breakfast, we will drive through the pulsating roads and ochre-coloured buildings of the Old City to visit its most iconic landmark, the Amber Fort.

Stop en route at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and the Jal Mahal (Water Palace) for a quick photo. Survey the ancient town of Amber from the ramparts of the fort and, when you're done, drop in at a fabric place and watch tribal designs come alive in pieces of cotton at the hands of a block print expert.

Visit a gem store to understand why the city is scattered with them and, while there, perhaps hunt for a bargain; limber up to the City Palace for more culture or take a detour to the atmospheric Galtaji, a favourite haunt of Jaipur's monkeys.

Today is effectively the last day of the tour as we ride back to Delhi (approximately 7 hours), but don't forgo the chance to case your memories of Jaipur by embarking on an exhilarating early morning balloon safari.

Join your fellow travellers for a last dinner together and clink your glasses to adventures shared and smiles stretched out for miles.

It's time now to bid farewell to your Group Leader and new friends, but not without a backpack full of memories. Departure transfers are included on the day. Check-out time in most hotels is 12 pm. Please confirm with your Group Leader or the hotel reception.