Luxury India Essential Tour

After early morning flight arrival and clearing customs, you will be welcomed by our tour guide, and transferred to your hotel. Note: Hotel check in is 1400 hrs.



India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its folds - the ancient with the modern. Amidst the fast spiraling skyscrapers the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many monuments stand as silent reminders to the region’s ancient legacy. The first impressions for any visitor traveling in from the airport are of a specious, garden city, tree-lined with a number of beautiful parks.



Afternoon lunch, proceed for an afternoon of sightseeing around Old & New Delhi. We will visit Jama Mosque (largest mosque in India), Raj Ghat (Gandi's resting place), Qhutub Minar (Victory Tower) and drive by the India Gate and President House. 



Overnight at hotel

In the morning, we will drive to Jaipur (260 km drive - 6.5 hrs). Check in hotel on arrival. 



Adorned with pink sandstone palaces, majestic forts and verdant green gardens against a scenic backdrop of the Aravalli hills, Jaipur represents the charm of India’s rich past and the sophistication of a flourishing metropolis.



Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II founded the city in 1727, when he decided to shift his capital from Amer. A renowned architect, astronomer, and avid scientist, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built his capital with geometric precision and made Jaipur one of the most well planned cities in India.



Evening: free to visit local market.



Overnight at hotel.

Begin your day with an early morning excursion to Amer Fort. Ascend the fort by jeeps. Situated around 11 kilometres from the main city, it is an impressive and splendid fort to visit. Photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of winds)



Afternoon: Visit The City Palace situated in Old city and which has now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, royal garments and weapons. It is still inhabited by the Maharaja's family. Close to the palace, you'll find one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh known as the Jantar Mantar. The observatory is in a pleasant garden with a 30-metre high sundial, it houses immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass.



Evening Optional: We may have a chance to enjoy a preview of the latest Bollywood movie in opulent theatre Rajmandir.



Overnight at hotel.

Morning: Drive to Agra. (240km, 6hrs drive). Enroute, we will explore Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted royal city.  



Afterwards we continue towards Agra.



The City of Agra is not only home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World - Taj Mahal but also houses other historical monuments, architectural grandeur ventures and the beautiful marbles, Agra thrives as one of the tourist destination in India. The city is known for its superb inlay work on marble by craftsmen supposedly with a lineage dating back to the Mughals. Agra’s handicrafts also include carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes.



On arrival visit the Red Fort. The mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards.



After Red Fort, we visit the beautiful Taj Mahal at sunset (*); built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal



(*Closed on Friday)



Overnight at hotel.

Today, in the morning, transfer to Agra Railway Station to board train for Jhansi (Bhopa, Shatabadi Express 07h55/ 10h45). Upon arrival in Jhansi, followed by drive to Khajuraho en-route visit of Orchha.Enroute, visit Orchha, a small town founded in 16th century along the Betwa River. Once the capital of Bundela rulers, Orchha is now a village set among a wonderful complex of well-preserved palaces and temples which date back to the 16th century.



After our visit, continue to Khajuraho. 



On arrival, check in and enjoy your day at leisure.

Enjoy your morning at leisure in Khajuraho.



Khajuraho is famous for its exotic temples. It is India's unique gift to the world, representing, a paean to life, to love, to joy, perfect in execution and expression. Every facet of life, has been captured in stone, testifying not only to the craftsman's artistry but also to the extraordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela Rajputs under whose rule the temples were conceived and constructed.



Later visit the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a group of Hindu and Jain temples. These are amongst the most beautiful medieval monuments in India. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, they have awed generations with their architectural brilliance, intricate carvings and, most famously, their erotic sculptures. 



Later drive to Varanasi, on arrival check in at pre booked hotel. Overnight at hotel.

In the morning, after breakfast, you will proceed to visit Varanasi.



Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. The antiquity of this city is veiled in immortal times and has been the centre of religion, learning and civilisation for centuries. This is the holiest place every devout Hindu to make a pilgrimage here, is the highest goal of life. A bath in the holy river Ganges is believed to free one from all sins and helps to achieve a higher rebirth.



In the afternoon, go on an excursion to Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon in the teaching of the "middle path" to Nirvana. Some magnificent stupas and other buildings were built during the rule of Emperor Ashoka. Also visit the Sarnath Museum (closed on Friday).



In the evening, witness the Aarti ceremony on banks of river Ganges.



Overnight at hotel.

Early this morning visit the Ghats (banks) of river Ganges to explore the area. Hundreds of people gather early in the morning to pray, meditate and the ritual bath - you will see this impressive spectacle from the boat. Enjoy boat ride on Ganges. 



After our visit return to the hotel for breakfast. Later visit temples before our transfer to the railway station to connect with the Intercity Express Train to Lucknow.



Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh and it has always been a multicultural city. Courtly manners, beautiful gardens, poetry, music, and fine cuisine are well known. Lucknow is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs. It is also known as the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India.



On arrival transfer to hotel for our overnight stay.

After breakfast we have a City Tour of Lucknow visiting world’s most unique architecture, 'Asifi Imambara' was built as a relief measure for a devastating famine in 1784. It provides employment to the subjects of the state by Nawab Asif-ud-Daula', the Husainabad Complex .



The Clock Tower is the highest Clock Tower in Asia and in some ways superior to its counterpart, 'Big Ben'. Drive past Sadat Ali Tomb and ‘Chatar Manzil’ – a part of this palace was built by a French architect, Claude Martin (the palace has restricted entry and can be seen from outside only).



Walk through the local market area and see the Chikankari work (special hand embroidery technique). Enjoy a short Tonga ride. There will be an option to taste and see the preparation of Tunda Kabab (a speciality of Lucknow) before we transfer to the railway station to connect with the train to New Delhi. 



Journey by train 12003 Swarna Shatabdi at 1535 / 2215hrs to Delhi.



On arrival, transfer to the airport to board your flight to onward destination.