11-Day Temples & Tigers of India Tour

Delhi, Ranthambore National Park safaris, Jaipur, Tordi village, Keoladeo NP, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal in Agra

This 11-day northern India tour makes use of our popular Incredible India tour itinerary but includes an extension to the Ranthambore National Park, where we’ll search for tigers and a variety of other wildlife that call this sanctuary home. All roads lead to India’s capital of Delhi, as we explore both its old and new side, before boarding a train south to Ranthambore, one of India’s most famous wildlife sanctuaries and was declared one of the Project Tiger Reserves in 1973. We’ll see a host of other wildlife here, which include marsh crocodiles and monitor lizards, sloth bear, wild boar, porcupines and jackals, leopards, jungle cats, monkeys and various species of deer and antelope. Birdwatching is a treat here as well, as its home to over 300 species of birds. While exploring Ranthambore, you’ll pass an old fort as we head out on a guided jeep or open-backed lorry safari, searching for the tigers and other wildlife that call this place home before we make our way to the Rajasthan’s capital city – Jaipur. Here, we’ll explore some of its major attractions, such as the the Amber Fort, City Palace and the Jantar Mantar Observatory before exploring the pink city's famous craft and produce markets on foot. A visit to the ancient Tordi Village is also on the cards and we’ll stay in a converted palace here. The remote village of Tordi gives us great insight into rural Indian life, before we head towards the world’s largest step well at Abhaneri. The step well, known as Chand Baori boasts 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. We’ll explore India’s unique wildlife once more, as we head to the Keoladeo National Park, where you can explore its wildlife-rich jungle from the back to a guided cycle rickshaw, giving us an excellent opportunity to take in its wealth of birdwatching opportunities. We’ll visit the strange and deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri before a local villager escorts us on a Mughal Heritage Walk through villages and farmland on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River to the Taj Mahal.The Mughal Heritage walking tour aids the local community with employment and new infrastructure. It also gives us great insight into village life in Agra and offers spectacular views of the Taj Mahal which are not normally seen. A sunrise tour of the Taj follows as well as a visit to Agra's huge Red Fort, before we head back to Delhi. Our final highlight is a visit to the Akshardham temple complex on the edge of the city. Accommodation is in a comfortable mid-range modern-style hotels in Delhi and Agra, mixed with heritage hotels converted from Havelis and Palaces in Jaipur and Tordi, and resorts on the edge of Ranthambore and Keoladeo National Parks.

Day 1, Welcome to Delhi. Airport to hotel transfer included Once we arrive in Delhi, a staff member will be there to meet and greet us, before transferring us to our hotel for the day. We’ll have some time to settle in, introduce you to the local area and arrange a collection time for tomorrow. | OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel | EXTRAS: Extra day in Delhi - pre-tour, Single Room Supplement Day 2, Exploring Old and New Delhi Our day starts with a tour of India’s capital city of New Delhi. Our first stop is the towering India Gate, India’s answer to France’s Arc de Triomphe, before we make our way past some of its important governmental buildings such as Parliament, the Bangla Sahab Gurudwara Sikh Temple and Humayun's Tomb - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll then board a metro train to Old Delhi, to explore is bustling markets and bazars such as the Chandni Chowk and the Chawri Bazar, the latter well known for its unique paper, copper and brass creations. Once afternoon comes around, you’ll be treated to some of Delhi’s finest street food cuisine before hopping on a rickshaw ride to explore the Jama Masjid Mosque - one of India’s largest mosques. | OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 3, To Sawai Madhopur via train We say goodbye to Delhi as we board a train to Sawai Madhopur which is about five hours away. Sawai Madhopur is the home of the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. Look out the window and take in the rural countryside and farmlands, much different to the busy city life in Delhi. On arrival, we’ll be taken to a wildlife lodge close to Ranthambore to settle in and get some rest, as we have an early start tomorrow and possibly our first glimpse of tigers in the national park, which is a sanctuary for these magnificent cats. | OVERNIGHT: Ranthambore hotel | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 4, The tigers of Ranthambore Today is all about game drives in the Ranthambore National Park, as we head out on morning and afternoon game drives, giving us an excellent opportunity to spot tigers and the host of other wildlife which calls this protected area home. We’ll head out in a jeep or in a canter - an open backed truck, which gives us a chance to head deeper into the park. We’ll also stop at the ancient ruined fort, beautifully elevated on a natural hummock and towers at 200 metres high. It's not hard to understand exactly why it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. | OVERNIGHT: Ranthambore hotel | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5, The Pink City of Jaipur. Optional activity available From Ranthambore, we’ll make our way to Rajasthan’s capital city of Jaipur, where we’ll visit the Amber Fort, made out of sandstone in the 16th century for the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber. We’ll explore its stunning architecture, its towering fortress walls and marble palace. We’ll then go on a Lassi tasting experience, which is a rich, yoghurt based drink, either made sweet or salty and is often flavoured with ground or roasted cumin as well as fruit. It’s a great pairing with spicy foods. We’ll check into our hotel for the night, or as an optional extra, you can head out to the Raj Mandir Cinema to watch a Bollywood movie. | OVERNIGHT: Jaipur hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 6, Exploring Jaipur You can either choose to sleep a little later, or you have an option of enjoying a hot air balloon ride over Jaipur, giving you an aerial view of its stunning architecture. We’ll then head out into the city, visiting Jaipur’s most popular tourist attractions, such as the Jantar Mantar monument - India’s biggest astronomical observatory, before making our way to the manicured gardens of the City Palace, which was once the royal seat of the King of Jaipur and the leader of the Kachwaha Rajput clan. After lunch, we’ll visit Jaipur’s popular craft markets, where you’ll watch jewellers, silversmiths and bangle-makers craft all sorts of beautiful creations, before visiting its bustling fruit, vegetable and spice markets. | OVERNIGHT: Jaipur hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Jaipur Day 7, A visit to the Tordi Village. Optional activities available YWe’ll start our day with a visit to the rural Rajasthan village of Tordi, founded in the 16th century by Th. Akhey Singh, a descendant of the Khangar Singh, who overthrew the regional chief and built a hilltop fortress here, with its ruins still available today. The family still lives in the palace and in a fort built on the plains below. We’ll stay in a wing of the palace that has been customised for guests. Our village exploration will also take us to a temple, a school and a potters house. As an addition, you can do optional activities such as camel cart riding, a jeep safari to a 300-year-old step well, a visit to a shepherds village, watch the sun go down at the Tordi Sagar Dam or if you’re looking to do something more strenuous, a hike to the 400-year old Tordi Fort for snacks and drinks. Horse riding and henna hand art activities are also available. | OVERNIGHT: Tordi Garh hotel | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 8, The world's largest step well & birdwatching in the Keoladeo National Park We leave Tordi and head towards the Keoladeo Ghana National Park via Bharatpur - one of the best birdwatching destinations in India. On our way here, we’ll stop at the Abhaneri step well - the largest of its kind on the planet - boasting approximately 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. We’ll have some time to settle in at our accommodation for the day, before enjoying a guide cycle rickshaw ride through the Keoladeo Ghana National Park - formerly a duck hunting reserve but now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home to over 360 species of birds. Keoladeo is also a stopover for the birds who partake in the Central Asian migration, especially for wintering water birds and the endangered Siberian Crane and its huge heronry which in good years can host more than 20,000 nesting birds of various species. Its also home to other wildlife such as wild boar, black buck, sambar, chital, mongoose, porcupine, several different wild cats, and some huge pythons. | OVERNIGHT: Hotel next to Keoladeo National Park | MEALS: Breakfast Day 9, The first sight of the Taj Mahal. Optional activity available After a wonderful time in Keoladeo, we make our way to the ancient city of Agra - the home of the Taj Mahal. Agra was once the capital of the Mughal between 1572 and 1585 and is the only Indian city to have three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. We’ll have some time to relax and settle in, before spending the afternoon exploring the Mughal Heritage Walk through the ancient village of Kachhpura and surrounding farmland on the banks of the Yamuna River. The Mughal Heritage walk was created by a local NGO to provide employment and new infrastructure to the locals. We’ll also tour the village, learning about the local cottage industry for leather shoe making which helps Agra export shoes all over the world. We’ll also visit some of the lesser known, but still important Mughal Era Monuments. Our day ends with a visit to Mehtab Bagh Park, as we witness the spectacular sight of the Taj Mahal at sunset. Watch how the colours of the Taj changes as the sun goes down, as we find out just why it’s listed as one of the seven wonders of the world. This evening you have an option to join a Hindu family for a vegetarian Thali cooking lesson and meal tonight before settling in at your hotel for the night. | OVERNIGHT: Agra hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Cook with a Hindu family in Agra Day 10, A Taj Mahal sunrise and a multimedia water show We have an early start today, as we make our way to the Taj Mahal for a spectacular tour of this towering monument, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan over the period of 22 years. Sunrise is a great time to visit the Taj Mahal, as the light changes the colours of the Taj Mahal. We’ll have a tasty breakfast, before making our way to Agra Fort - a massive complex with a rich history. It was the home of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638 when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. After exploring the Agra Fort, we’ll have some lunch before driving to Delhi to visit the Swaminarayan Akshardham New Delhi - a Hindu mandir and a spiritual-cultural campus. It houses a millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture and architecture. The entire area of Akshardham spreads over 23 acres and it includes parks, rides, lakes, sculptures and shrines. One of the main attractions here is the Sahaj Anand water show - a multimedia water exhibition, which makes use of multicoloured lasers, under-water flames, video projection, water jets combine to provide a captivating experience which tells the story of Kena Upanishad - a Vedic Sanskrit text. | OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 11, Bon Voyage! Airport transfer included You have some free time to buy any gifts for your loved ones back home before we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home. Additional half day tours are available this morning if you have a later flight, and extension options are also available. | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Goa beach extension, Extra day in Delhi - post-tour, Spinmonkey cycling tour, Varanasi extension