Exclusive India’s Golden Triangle & Oberoi Hotels

Meeting the Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London Heathrow, this exquisite small-group exploration of India begins with a flight to Delhi.

Travelling overnight, you can look forward to a spectacular discovery of palaces, wildlife and history that bring the heritage and culture of this dazzling country to life. From Delhi and colonial Shimla to the iconic Taj Mahal and tigers of Ranthambore National Park, the fascinating sights of India await - all enhanced by luxurious accommodation and exclusive excursions.

Touching down in India this morning, we are transferred to our first hotel. Ranked as one of the best hotels in Asia, the five-star Oberoi is located near the UNESCO-listed Humayun's Tomb and manicured Sunder Nursery.

As India's capital, Delhi is a colourful and exciting metropolis where old and new exists in harmony. With the day free to unwind or explore the nearby sights, you can take advantage of the hotel's excellent facilities. Relax beside the outdoor or indoor pool, or maybe treat yourself to spa treatments.

This evening, we gather for our first dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

• Dinner

After an early breakfast at our hotel, we embark on our first journey. Transferring to New Delhi station, we board the AC Chair Class carriages of the modern Shatabdi Express and travel the 170 miles to Kalka in a little over four hours.

In Kalka, we take our seats on the Rail Motor Car. Introduced in 1928 for the Viceroy of India, this private one-carriage vehicle climbs up into the Shivalik Hills. Admiring the Himalayan scenery on the winding and leisurely ascent, we are served lunch onboard as the picturesque route crosses hundreds of bridges and traverses 102 tunnels. Our destination is Shimla, the former summer capital of the British Raj.

On arrival, we are transferred to our historic five-star hotel which has enjoyed wonderful views across the valleys and hills for more than a century. The centre of Shimla's social scene during the Raj, this hotel remains popular today with our customers. This evening, we enjoy dinner together in the hotel's restaurant.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Author and historian Raaja Bhasin joins us after breakfast to present informative and spellbinding stories about his hometown. We put this newfound knowledge of Shimla to good use later as we are taxied around this historic town in private cars.

Our sightseeing begins at the Viceregal Lodge, Shimla's most significant building. As the summer residence of the Indian Viceroy, the leader of the British Raj, many important moments occurred here, including the discussions which lead to the Partition of India in 1947. This elaborate stately home has sat at the top of Observatory Hill since 1888. Today, it is surrounded by manicured gardens and offers fantastic views of cedar-dappled hills.

Next, we visit the colourful Sankat Mochan Temple, a serene complex dedicated to Hindu god Hanuman, where we admire idols to deities including Rama, Shiva and Ganesha. The tour continues after lunch at our hotel as we stroll to the Gothic revival Gaiety Theatre. This irrefutably British hall has seen many famous people tread its boards, including Rudyard Kipling and Robert Baden-Powell.

Later, we enjoy dinner back at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A free day in this nostalgic Himalayan hill town presents a multitude of opportunities. Staying amid the fresh mountain air and tree-covered slopes, you could visit nearby Kufri. From here, you might like to indulge in the luxury of a high-tea lunch in the evocative surroundings of Wildflower Hall.

There is an optional excursion available to the Him Chatterjee Art Gallery to discover the artworks of this renowned local artist. Alternatively, take a leisurely stroll down Mall Road and the Ridge, the centre of Shimla's colonial town. Enjoy great views from Scandal Point - so named as it was once a popular place for people to gather and share gossip - before admiring the charming Children's Library and stately Christ Church. With classic British architecture, these buildings wouldn't look out of place around a peaceful English village green. In the afternoon, you could also make your way to Lakkar Bazaar, a long stretch of open-air stalls selling traditional woodwork and souvenirs.

This evening, we regroup at our historic hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our time in scenic Shimla comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Travelling by private car to Chandigarh, we navigate a twisting route amid incredible scenery of the Himalayan foothills, with verdant valleys fading into the haze.

As one of the earliest planned cities in post-independence India, Chandigarh boasts many buildings designed by renowned modernist architect Le Corbusier. After stopping for lunch here, we board the train in AC Chair Class for our return journey to the capital. Enroute, we can observe daily life in the state of Haryana, where buzzing towns give way to pastoral rural scenes and the occasional temple.

Arriving back in Delhi, we are transferred to the five-star Oberoi hotel for a two-night stay, enjoying dinner at the hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Founded in 1648, after Shah Janan moved his capital here from Agra, we uncover Delhi's attractions on a sightseeing tour with a local guide today. Travelling by coach, we first head to Jama Masjid to view one of India's largest mosques. After a short rickshaw ride through narrow streets of Chandni Chowk bazaar, we pass the striking Red Fort and the simple but moving Gandhi memorial, Raj Ghat.

There is free time over lunch before we explore New Delhi's colonial architecture, designed in part by Edwin Lutyens. Its ceremonial centre, Kartavya Path, contains the India Gate triumphal arch and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of India's president. After a visit to the grand 16th-century tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun, we conclude our tour at the Gandhi Smriti Museum. Anti-colonial nationalist and nonviolent campaigner Mahatma Gandhi spent his final days here, until he was assassinated in 1948. We learn about the life of the man who Indians call the 'Father of the Nation' through informative artefacts and personal items.

We return to our hotel this evening in time for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast is served in our hotel this morning, before we drive to the royal city of Jaipur. As the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur brims with history and has long been associated with maharajas. As the citizens prepared for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, the local ruler - Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II - decided to paint the city in shades of resplendent pink, the colour of hospitality. The prince, who later became King Edward VII, named Jaipur the 'Pink City' and this moniker has remained ever since.

Our five-star hotel is on the outskirts of this regal city and was proclaimed as the world's best hotel in 2024. Arriving in the afternoon, there is time to enjoy the fantastic facilities, including pools and a spa. Reflecting the opulence of Rajasthani maharajas, the red sandstone Rajvilas contains modern villas backdropped by traditional architecture and lush greenery.

After a free afternoon and early evening, we enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we travel through Jaipur, passing the ornate façade of the Hawa Mahal enroute to the remarkable Amber Fort - believed to have been built for the Rajput maharajas around 1600. Ascending the hill by Jeep, it's possible to spot camels and decorated elephants.

We have the chance to explore the palace complex and its enchanting Jaleb Chowk courtyard. With intricately decorated walls, ornamental Charbagh gardens and rugged views of surrounding mountains, this is a majestic reminder of India and Rajasthan's glorious history.

There's free time for lunch, before we embark on a charming journey in pink rickshaws. Operated entirely by women, this is part of a social enterprise project to provide the city's women with the opportunity for their own livelihoods. Our destination is the sprawling 17th-century City Palace that showcases exquisite Mughal and Rajput architecture. After a visit to the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar, an early 18th-century astronomical observatory and world's largest sundial, we return to our hotel for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving our Jaipur hotel after breakfast, we drive towards Ranthambore and check in to our five-star hilltop hotel an hour from the national park. Dating from the 14th-century and originally owned Rajasthani royals, this amazing palace complex has been carefully restored into lavish accommodation blending historic elegance with modern luxury.

After lunch, we set out on safari in nearby Ranthambore, the largest national park in north India and considered one of the best places to view the majestic Bengal tigers. In exclusive jeeps with five passengers and an expert guide, we head into this evocative wilderness in search of wildlife in their natural habitats, including leopards, hyenas and caracals. In vehicles that are quieter, quicker and more comfortable than others, this intimate experience gives us a better chance of spotting the incredible animals.

We then return to our historic hotel in the evening for dinner, after which you could enjoy a stroll around the grounds. Native species of flora are being reintroduced and you may also be fortunate to witness a glorious sunset from this breathtaking vantage point.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A leisurely morning with breakfast included provides the opportunity to further enjoy the hotel's amenities. Take a dip in one of the pools, be pampered at the on-site spa or greet the day with a yoga lesson on the ramparts.

Around noon, we regroup as an expert naturalist joins us to provide knowledgeable insights about the wildlife that calls Ranthambore home. Afterwards, we return to our exclusive jeeps and head back out into the national park. Declared a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973, it is a favourite among wildlife photographers due to the broad range of wildlife that can be seen wandering the land. While spotting an elusive Bengal tigers sauntering through the wilderness or basking in the sun is the star attractions, there are many other incredible animals to keep an eye out for. Guided by experts who know the movements of the native wildlife, we can hope to see anything from cobras and crocodiles to nilgai and jackals.

Returning to our hotel after this memorable experience, we gather for dinner, over which we can discuss the day's sightings.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Checking out from our hilltop fort hotel after breakfast, we travel by comfortable coach northeast towards Uttar Pradesh.

A traditional lunch is served at the Laxmi Palace Vilas, an elegant heritage hotel built in the 1850s as a home for a prince. Continuing to Fatehpur Sikri, we stop to explore this perfectly preserved red sandstone city constructed under the orders of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great in the 16th century. Built as India's political capital, it survived just 14 years before being abandoned due to lack of water. Remarkably, this deserted city remains almost exactly as it was more than 400 years ago, giving us an insight into the grandiose lifestyle of the Mughal Empire.

Arriving in Agra, we check in to our palatial five-star hotel in time for dinner this evening. Inspired by Mughal architecture, with fountains, reflecting pools and pavilions, the luxurious Oberoi Amarvilas offers unrestricted views of the Taj Mahal less than half a mile away. From your balcony, you can admire the timeless sight of its domes rising above the treeline as the sun sets.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rising early, we head straight out for an exquisite experience. Among the first people there, we bask in the striking sight of sunrise over the Taj Mahal.

With the soft light of morning bathing the white marble, this otherworldly occurrence is the most sensational way to see this UNESCO World Heritage site in all its spectral glory. Much quieter at this time, we can reflect on the jaw-dropping beauty of this testament to undying love as the sun casts is magical glow over its domes, minarets and arches. Built by emperor Shah Jahan to honour his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the 'poetry in marble' of the Taj Mahal is regarded as the pinnacle of Mughal architecture.

Returning to our hotel for breakfast, we then proceed to Agra's other UNESCO-listed wonder - Agra Fort. The centrepiece of this historic complex is the Musamman Burj, an octagonal tower where Shah Jahan spent his final years imprisoned, in view of the Taj Mahal. This afternoon, we close the sides of India's Golden Triangle as we return to Delhi, enjoying our final dinner at the Oberoi.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

India and its stunning Golden Triangle has been revealed through spellbinding palaces, spectacular wildlife and luxurious hotels. Exclusive excursions have transported us to Shimla in the Viceroy's private train, taken us into the wildlife-rich habitats of Ranthambore and allowed us to enjoy sunrise over the Taj Mahal. Being guided through Delhi and Jaipur on rickshaws and tuk tuks provided an authentic glimpse into the bustling cities.

Checking out of our Delhi hotel for the final time after an early breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight back home. Landing at London Heathrow, your luxurious exploration of India comes to a conclusion.

• Breakfast