Flight to Delhi with major airline

Upon your arrival at Delhi International Airport, our team will be holding your name signage by “Cruise 1st and Perfect Travels” in the arrivals hall. You will be met and transferred to your Hotel for Check-in with welcome briefing. Our travel manager will then outline your wonderful itinerary ahead. Enjoy rest day at leisure. (BB)

Overnight stay in a hotel

Step-back in time and discover the glory of the great Mughal empire and British raj of India. Your own private guide will ensure you get an in-depth experience of these emblematic structures & traditions of the local culture. After Breakfast/Checkout you will be met by our expert Delhi Guide and our company Chauffeur, who will take you on a journey thru Old Delhi, founded as Shahjahanabad in 1639 as the capital of the great Mughal Empire. Our first stop will be old walled-city of Delhi. We will visit the marvellous red-sandstoned Jama Masjid Mosque built by Mughal emperor and maker of taj mahal – Shah Jahan in 1644 AD showcasing finest indo- islamic architectures. Afterwards, we hop-on a traditional Rickshaw Ride tour exploring real life, tangy flavours and buzz of the old city thru maze-like streets of Asia’s oldest spice trading markets in Chandni Chowk. Our ride ends with a photo-stop outside the imperial residence of Mughal empire and UNESCO heritage site The Red Fort, built in 1638 and rumoured to have the decapitated bodies of prisoners built into its foundations for luck. After tour we will drive (230 kms) to Agra aka the legacy city of Mughal-Empire and home of Taj Mahal (drive includes enroute stop for clean restrooms). Upon arrival our representative will meet you for Check- In at Hotel. Later, at the break of dusk special arrangements will be made for to visit the sacred Yamuna riverside – Mehtab Bagh Gardens for a picturesque Sunset Viewing of the Taj Mahal. Emperor Babur originally built it as the last in a series of 11 parks designed to protect the Taj from the erosive effects of the sand blown across the river and offers majestic sunset views of the great mausoleum as the gardens surrounding the Taj are perfectly aligned with the ones here. (BB)

Overnight stay in a hotel

Overnight stay in a hotel

At the break of dawn we will experience a sunrise grand tour of The Taj Mahal. You will be met by our expert Taj Mahal guide who will arrange eco-friendly pollution free vehicles for you to journey to the main gates of the Taj. Spanning an area of about 1,000 acres (400 hectares), this majestic architectural wonder offers incredible sights. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and combines Persian, Turkish and Indian architectural styles. On your guided tour, admire the structure’s magnificent construction, the intricate exterior and interior decor, the beautiful garden and the outlying red-sandstone buildings. Capture the changing faces of the Taj in different light conditions. Our expert guides will also help you find special vantage points for perfect photography moments of Taj. Afterward Taj tour we return back to hotel for Breakfast. Agra is the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire, of which Agra was the capital in the 16th century. This heritage city is famed for world’s rarest artwork called Pietra-Dura aka marble inlay work using semi- precious stones. Today we will visit an authentic art-gallery to unfold this secret and see how it’s made. Later, we will journey through the old-cities traditional houses, British raj colonies and Mughal architectures to arrive at India’s finest Mughal fortress - The Red Fort of Agra. A UNESCO world heritage site and the imperial residence of 16th century rulers of ‘Mughal Dynasty’. This 34-hectare red sandstone fortress dates back to 1080 AD and has seen many battles and dynasties. Explore fusion of Hindu - Islamic influences on its construction as you walk inside the fort with your guide and learn about the different functions of the buildings including the Moti Masjid (Pearl Fort), Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) and much more. (BB)

Today morning after Breakfast/Checkout you will be met and driven (240 km drive) by our company chauffeur to Jaipur, a historic pink washed city and gateway to India’s most flamboyant state - Rajasthan. (drive includes enroute stop for clean restrooms). Upon arrival you will be met by our travel manager for Check-in. Enjoy rest day at leisure (perhaps by the poolside or hotel spa treatments on your own). The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is awash in pink - the colour associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. Built in 1727 A.D. by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh JI, Jaipur displays a remarkable harmony and architectural splendour, most notably the renowned Palace of the Winds. The ancient heart of the Pink City still beats in its fairytale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and broad avenues that dot the entire city. When it comes to antiques and traditional craft of India, locals head straight to Jaipur, being the best place to find rare gemstones, embroidered textiles, pure pashminas, silk carpets and more. Today - tomorrow we might get a chance to visit a govt licensed authentic art-gallery (visits by appointment only). (BB)

Overnight stay in a hotel

Step-back in time and enjoy many spellbinding sights to discover the chivalrous Rajput era and its battle- scarred heritage. After Breakfast our expert Jaipur guide will meet you for briefing on your heritage program for the day. We will proceed towards the city outskirts (10 Km drive) and enter the ancient town of Amer that offers remarkable Rajput-Mughal architectures. The picturesque situation of Amer at the mouth of a rocky mountain, in which nestles a lake, has attracted travellers including renowned French botanist Victor Jacque Mont. We will explore UNESCO world heritage site and a must see of Jaipur! The Amber Fortress. Our Jeep Safari begins to climb the uphill located fort passing thru the vibrant local life residing inside the fort walls. Following ethical tourism we discourage elephant rides. Built in 16th century by Rajput commander Raja Man Singh I, the fortress offers magnificent hilltop views with an intricate mirror palace and fine blends of Hindu-Rajasthani architecture. Inside we will visit Jai Mandir, a chamber of glittering mirrors, and Shila Devi Temple. Stop by Diwan-e-Aam, an 18th-century monument known as the Hall of Public Audience, and its counterpart, Diwan-e-Khas, a Mughal- and Rajasthan-style monument known as the Hall of Private Audience. Afterwards we will drive you to the heart of Jaipur’s city-centre. Enroute we will take a photo-stop outside Water Palace - Jal Mahal located in the centre of Man Sagar Lake housing various migratory birds and surrounded by Aravalli Ranges. Our tour continues as we will arrive at Astronomical Observatory - Jantar Mantar, begun by Jai Singh II in 1728 that is a collection of bizarre giant architectural astronomical instruments built for measuring the heavens and features the world's largest stone sundial. The name is derived from the Sanskrit yanta mantr, meaning 'instrument of calculation'. Here our expert Guide will teach you how these bizarre instruments work to measure celestial objects. Next we will reach at the iconic City Palace & Museum of Jaipur. A complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings, the impressive City Palace is right in the centre of the Old City. Built in 1700 AD by King - Raja Jai Singh II, this Palace is a paradise of royal heritage history housing rare galleries from British Raj to the Rajput Era. Its architecture is a fusion of Indian, Mughal, Rajput to European styles, and you can see such grandeurs in every nook and corner. Inside the complex we will explore the Pitam Niwas Chowk, where four glorious gates represent the seasons, from Peacock Gate of autumn, to Lotus Gate of summer. Beyond this chowk (square) is a private palace, the Chandra Mahal, which is still the residence of descendants of the royal family. The Mubarak Mahal, built as a reception centre for visiting dignitaries showcases multi-arched and colonnaded construction by renowned architect Sir Swinton Jacob. Finally The Armoury Room, housing the country’s best collection of weapons and ceremonial items elegantly engraved. Our heritage tour concludes with a Tuk-Tuk Tour in the streets of downtown Jaipur. Chaos and amusement goes hand-in-hand here, so feel free to take a photo-stop anywhere in this maze-like market. Inside bazaar we will arrive at Jaipur’s most distinctive landmark, The Palace of Winds - Hawa Mahal. Built in a unique pink-coloured beehive design that is certainly hard to miss. We will witness its 958 intricately designed windows that were built for the Maharanis to witness processions and exploring the city life from a high-rise without being seen. Before sunset we will return back to Hotel enroute taking a photostop outside the Albert Hall Museum, full of artwork and curios unique to this region. Centrally located in the midst of lush Ram Niwas Gardens of Jaipur, Albert Hall Museum with its intricate interiors is a treat to eyes especially when lit up during the evening with its exterior, passages and corridors illuminated with glorious colourful lighting. (BB)

After Breakfast/Checkout you will be met by our expert company chauffeur who will take you on a scenic journey to New Delhi (250 Km) (drive includes enroute stop for clean restrooms). Upon arrival you will be met by our travel manager for Check-in and briefed for your next day airport pick-up schedules. Later in the afternoon we will arrive at the Lutyens city called New Delhi, designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and set-up in 1931 by viceroy of India Lord Irwin as a political hub. This colonial city with its European influences was a power symbol of the British Empire. We will explore fine works of Sir Edwin Lutyen, that later became the fabric and features of modern India. We cover New Delhi’s most imposing sites such as Gandhi Smriti, the remembrance home - museum of Mahatma Gandhi; here on 30th Jan 1948 the father of India was assassinated. Ceremonial boulevard Raj Path designed by Lutyens in 1921 taking similarities from the Champs Elysee of France. Here we explore princely State Houses and architectures of North - South Block incl India Gate, a 42m-high stone memorial arch pays tribute to 70,000 soldiers of British Indian Army who died in the first world war. Presidents estate Rashtrapati Bhawan, former home to the British viceroy and today the largest residence of any head of state in the world. The House of Parliament, designed by Sir Herbert Baker in 1912 to construct a new administrative capital of British India. We will also cover the sacred Gurudwara Bangla Sahib that is one of the most prominent Sikh houses of worship in Delhi. Here we will experience a traditional Sikh Kitchen and its Langar Ceremony, where sacred meals are served regardless of caste, creed or religion. We will witness or if preferred we participate in the cooking ceremony to feed over 10,000 people a day. Imagine massive cooking pots stirred by strong- armed men with spoons the length of oars. (BB)

Overnight stay in a hotel