Day 1 & 2 Overnight flight from the UK to Delhi. Afternoon panoramic guided tour of New Delhi, visiting Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, the Viceroy's Residence, Parliament House and Lotus Temple.
Day 3 Tour Old Delhi, one of the city's most captivating areas, with a bamboozling orchestra of sights, smells, and sounds. Visit Jama Masjid mosque; take an exhilarating rickshaw ride; see Red Fort citadel and Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Afternoon flight to Amritsar.
Day 4 Visit the Golden Temple of Amritsar and the world's largest community kitchen where up to 80,000 pilgrims a day come to eat together as equals. Evening visit to Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan to see the colourful 'beating the retreat' ritual.
Day 5 Return to Delhi and travel by coach to Agra.
Day 6 Watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal. Afternoon independent sightseeing followed by an early evening guided tour of Agra.
Day 7 Travel by coach to Fatehpur Sikri, 'the world's most perfectly preserved ghost town', abandoned only 14 years after being built. Continue by train to Sawai Madhopur and then by coach to Ranthambore.
Day 8 Early morning and afternoon safari tours in Ranthambore National Park. and hopefully we will be lucky enough to spot one of the big cats. Lunch and dinner are included today. Home to tigers, leopards, crocodiles, mongeese and birds.
Day 9 Visit Abhaneri one of India's deepest and largest step wells. Continue by coach to Jaipur, with its Rajput architecture and pink city walls. Dinner at the ethnic Chokhi Dhani Village for Rajisthani flavours, puppet shows, folk dances, astrology and camel rides.
Day 10 Visit the Amber Fort and ascend to the imposing fort on a decorated painted elephant. Then Jal Mahal, the rajput style 'Water Palace' in Man Sarobar lake. Visit Hawa Mahal the most stunning sight in Jaipur. Afternoon flight to Bangalore
Day 11 Morning guided tour of Bangalore visiting Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens; Vidhana Soudha; and the Sri Nandi Bull Temple.
Day 12 Travel by coach to Hassan district for an afternoon visit to the Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebid.
Day 13 Travel by coach to the Coorg district amidst imposing mountains with a perpetually misty landscape. Visit Bylakuppe, 'Little Tibet', where exiled Tibetans established a base following China's invasion of Tibet. Visit to the Golden Temple with its three towering gold statues of Buddha.
Day 14 Visit Dubare Elephant camp project. A trained naturalist is on hand to explain the various aspects of Elephant history, ecology and biology. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 15 Leave Coorg by coach for Mysuru, city of palaces, gardens, shady avenues and sacred temples. With time at leisure after arrival.
Day 16 Morning guided tour of Mysuru including the Maharaja's Palace; St Philomena's Church; Sri Jauyachamarajendra Art Gallery; and Brindavan Gardens.
Day 17 Travel back to Bangaluru by coach with an en route stop at Srirangapatna. Afternoon flight to Cochin.
Day 18 Situated in the coastal state of Kerala, Cochin has been a port since 1341. The day starts with a city tour including a visit to the Jewish Town and the Dutch Palace. One of the highlights of our stay in Cochin is a fascinating display of Kathakali Classical Dancing.
Day 19 Travel by coach to Kovalam with an en route stop to enjoy a cruise of Kerala's backwaters on a converted rice barge.
Day 20 A day of leisure at Kovalam Beach. Kovalam is an internationally renowned resort with three adjacent crescent beaches.
Day 21 Fly to Mumbai for a city tour (time permitting) before flying back to the UK.
All tours are tailored to your requirements and can be adapted for travel by coach and/or air as you prefer. Occasionally itineraries change. Please see our current brochure or contact us for the latest version.