Day 1 - Arrival in Amritsar: 

Buckle up for the time of your life from the moment you arrive in Amritsar airport. After immigration, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Be sure to look out of your window to marvel at Amritsar’s unique landscape, which is at the centre of the Sikh religion. You will have time to unwind at the hotel until the afternoon, when you will be taken to Wagah Border to witness the retreat ceremony at the boarder between India and Pakistan. Watch on as soliders from both sides lower the flags during the ceremony, which is a daily military practice that has been followed since 1959. After a fascinating afternoon, you will head back to your hotel for an overnight stay.  

 

Day 2 – Amritsar: 

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes today, to prepare for a busy day of sightseeing around Amritsar. While walking to Golden Temple from Town Hall, you will have a chance to see many interesting food stalls. Your taste buds will be flowing when you witness the making of an Indian sweet dish known as Jalebies. See chiefs deep fry a wheat flour batter into pretzel shapes and then soak it in sugar. The sweets are served warm or cold and are famous for their chewy texture.  You will also have a chance to see a host of treats being prepared such as lassi, rice and a host of sweets. You will also visit Jallianwala Bagh, which commemorates the hundreds of innocent Indians killed or wounded by British bullets in the most notorious massacre under their rule. Next you will visit the highlight of the day – a trip to the famous Golden Temple. A guide will take you to its community kitchen where 75,000 devotees enjoy a meal every day at the temple. There will be an opportunity to sample the food yourself before returning to your hotel for a short rest.  Later, you will enjoy a cooking demonstration, which will be followed by dinner at the hotel. 

 

Day 3 – Amritsar to Chandigarh: 

Today, you will wake up early to check out of your hotel and travel towards Chandigarh. As you check-out, you will collect a packed breakfast from the hotel’s reception so that you can eat on the way there. Next, you will be transferred to Amritsar Railway Station to board the express train to Chandigarh.  Relax in the air-conditioned cabin, as you look out of the window and see India’s landscape unfold before your eyes.  Once you arrive at Chandigarh Railway Station, you will be met by our friendly representative, who will drive you to Shimla. Next, you will have the option of visiting Parwanoo for lunch at the Timber Trail Resort. Surrounded by high hills, the resort greets all its visitors with salubrious air, picturesque beauty, inspiring greenery and grand comforts. Once you have rested, you will head to Shimla for check in to your hotel. You will have free time to independently explore the area. You will adore Shimla, which is one of India's most popular hill resorts, buzzing with a happy flow of Indian vacationers and full of relics of its previous life as the summer capital of British India. Traffic is banned from the central part of town, so walking is pleasant – even when huffing and puffing uphill. Be sure to check out Mall Road, which is walking distance from your hotel. 

 

Day 4 – Shimla: 

Make sure you enjoy a hearty breakfast this morning to fuel up for a busy day of exploring. Your morning tour of Shimla will start with a trip to Vice Regal Lodge, which was the summer residence of the Indian Viceroy, the British Raj leader, who governed the whole of the Indian subcontinent between 1888 and 1946. Next, you will see the most famous Hindu temple - Jakhu. You will also enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Mall to Scandal Point passing Christchurch and the Gaiety Theater. Be sure to stop and snap photos of these wonderful sights before enjoying an afternoon at leisure. In the evening, you will enjoy a cooking demonstration at the hotel before feasting on a delicious dinner.

 

Day 5 – Shimla & Kalka: 

Start the day with a delicious breakfast, before checking out and proceeding  to Shimla Railway Station for the Himalayan Toy Train to Kalka. You will enjoy a packed lunch from the hotel for the train journey where you will enjoy a scenic ride. Once you arrive at Kalka station, your  guide will meet and assist you in boarding the Shatabdi train to Delhi, where you will enjoy a pre-packed dinner for the train journey. Once you arrive in Delhi station, you will be taken to your hotel to unwind. You will have time to freshened up, before exploring  this vibrant city by yourself. You will adore wandering through India’s capital, which was the magnet that drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and the British. The fascination with Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and rebuilt it at least seven times. Today, the twin cities of Old and New Delhi still intrigue Indians and tourists alike. 

 

Day 6 -  Delhi:  

Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant colours of India today as you enjoy a tour of Delhi. Your adventure will start inside Old Delhi, when you will visit the 17th century Jama Masjid. You will enjoy a moment of quiet reflection, before walking through the narrow lanes of colourful and bustling Chandni Chowk. You have the option of taking a rickshaw ride through the bazaars, and feeling the exhilaration of having the wind in your hair. Get down from the rickshaw and explore the spice market where you can touch, taste and purchase the various spices. This will be followed by a visit to Paranthe Wali gali, to dine at the famous Karim’s restaurant. Next  you will also visit the Mughal Empire’s Red Fort for a photo stop, before visiting Raj Ghat, which is where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. In the afternoon, you will unravel the charms of New Delhi. You will drive past The Presidential Palace, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys, and then pass India Gate, which is a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war. You will also drive along the Rajpath past the Parliament House and secretarial buildings. Next you will visit Qutab Minar, the 12th century tower of victory built by a slave king and prototype of all minars towers in India. Next, you will explore the 16th century Humayun’s tomb, a precursor to the Taj Mahal. Later in the evening, you will be taken for the dinner with an Indian family, before heading back to your hotel for an overnight stay.  

 

Day 7 – Delhi to Jaipur: 

Prepare to be completely blown away by the beautiful archticture of Jaipur when you travel here by car. Once you arrive in the afternoon, you will have the day free to explore as you wish. Later in the evening you will be taken for the stroll of Old Jaipur where you can talk with the locals while sampling some of the regions culinary delights. The fragrant scent of spices that fill the air will enchant and delight your senses. Be sure to try pakoras, aloo tiki, samosa and sweets from some of the city’s most popular street food vendors.  

 

Day 8 – Jaipur: 

Today you will peel back the stunning beauty of Amber Fort this morning when you visit this hilltop fortress. You will take in the stunning view as you arrive at the imposing fort on a decorated elephant or on a jeep. Get off and explore this magnificent fort, which comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, as well as white marble. It is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. After a busy morning, you will enjoy a Rajasthani thali lunch at a local restaurant, before continuing your sightseeing in the afternoon. You will be impressed by a visit to the Maharaja’s City Palace, which boasts a complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings. Next you will explore the Jaipur Observatory before driving past the Hawa Mahal, which is now little more than a façade. It is encrusted with delicate screens and carved balconies from which the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, used to sneak views of the outside world.  In the evening, the culinary experience will continue when you will enjoy an evening cooking demonstration with a local family, which will be followed by a delicious dinner. 

 

Day 9- Jaipur to Agra: 

This morning you will visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Discover how this was the capital of the Mughal empire between 1571 and 1585 during the reign of Akbar. After filling your camera with snaps of this fascinating place, you will continue onto Agra. Get ready to be awe-inspired by the majestic of Agra, and learn how it was once a small village on the banks of the Yamuna, before it was transformed by two great Mughal monarchs - Akbar and his grandson Shah Jehan. Today, you will see for yourself how it is now a world of contrasting edifices of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys, and bustling streets. You will be impressed by how Agra still retains the irresistible charm that made this the favourite city of the Mughals. After checking in to your hotel, you will have time to freshen up before heading out to a local market in the evening. Soak up the heady atmosphere of colours, lights and aroma as you peruse the bazaar that sells everything from spices to clothes. 

 

Day 10- Agra: 

Get ready for the most spectacular morning of your life, when you wake up early to see the sunrise against the iconic Taj Mahal. It is widely considered to be the most beautiful building in the world, and today you will finally see for yourself how the Taj Mahal’s stunning architecture, garden design, painting, and calligraphy are all an embodiment of Mughal art. Learn how this epic site was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan to enshrine the mortal remains of his beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal. At the time, specialists were brought in from as far away as Europe to produce the exquisite marble screens and inlay work - made with thousands of semiprecious stones. You will return back to the hotel for breakfast, before checking out and heading to Agra Fort. Here you will discover how this stunning landmark was constructed along the bank of the Yamuna River began by Emperor Akbar in 1565. Further additions were made by his grandson Shah Jahan, using his favourite building material – white marble. The fort was built primarily as a military structure, but Shah Jahan transformed it into a palace, and later it became his gilded prison for eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized power in 1658. Once you have taken photos of this landmark, you will travel to Delhi for check-in at your hotel. 

 

Day 11- Departure: 

Relish in a leisurely breakfast on the final day of your holiday. You may have an opportunity to go shopping to pick up a last-minute souvenir. Later, you will be taken to the airport for your flight back to the UK. As you buckle-up, your mind will be buzzing with the amazing adventures you have encountered during your stay. If you would like to extend your stay or travel onwards to another destination, travel in a premium cabin, or upgrade your hotels, please speak with our highly knowledgeable Travel Specialists for more information.