Wild & Wonderful India

Guests arrive today and will be met at the airport and chauffeured to our deluxe city-center hotel to enjoy their complimentary pre-tour overnight.

After breakfast, guests have this entire day to enjoy as they wish in India's vibrant capital. Explore on your own taking advantage of our hotel's convenient location close to the historic India Gate and bustling Connaught Place - or simply relax. Our other travelers will be arriving today.

After breakfast, you'll join our engaging native-born guide for a full-day tour of India's vibrant and endlessly fascinating capital. Focusing this morning on the sights and sounds of Old Delhi, you'll begin with Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Then hop aboard a traditional pedicab - a delightful way to immerse in the colors and rhythms of the city. Hop off at the bustling and fragrant Spice Market and explore among the many vendors as our guide offers insight into India's enduring cultural and culinary traditions. Then continue your exploration with the historic landmarks of New Delhi, starting with the India Gate – built in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War. Drive along the elegant Rajpath past Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Viceroy's residence and now the official home of the President of India. At Qutab Minar, you'll discover the tallest brick minaret in the world – a graceful, fluted, tapering tower completed in the 14th century with beautiful terra cotta embellishments and balconies. Tonight, you'll enjoy an a la carte dinner at our hotel.

After breakfast, you'll embark on a scenic southward journey to Agra, the venerated 16th-century capital of the Lodhi Dynasty. Check in on arrival and then visit the Agra Fort. Behind the impressive 1.5-mile long fortress walls that surround the complex, you'll discover lovely grounds, historic mosques, grand audience halls and fairytale palaces. Dating back to the 16th century and reflecting elements of both Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, this fort is more aptly described as a magnificent, walled palatial city. End your sightseeing across the Yamuna River at Mehtab Bagh.

Arise early this morning for a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. You of course already saw this renowned "Monument to Love" yesterday evening, but the strikingly iridescent and translucent façade of the Taj Mahal offers a different but equally enchanting experience in the sharper light of early morning. Check out after breakfast and visit the palatial, perfectly preserved ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, built and abandoned in the 16th century. After lunch, continue to the historic town of Sawai Madhopur and check in to our evocative hotel. Enjoy an a la carte dinner this evening.

Most travelers visit this world-famous reserve in a traditional Indian canter, an open-air bus that seats 20 people. But our exclusive safari drives find you in special open-air jeeps that seat only 4 to 6 guests. There's an experienced naturalist guide in each jeep and these vehicles are faster and much more maneuverable than the canter! They can even take you off-road for more rewarding up-close wildlife encounters. Today, you'll venture deep into the wild beauty of the reserve on early morning and late afternoon safari excursions - when the animals are most active. Ranthambore's residents include sloths, bears and hyenas, and with luck and sharp eyes, you might even encounter the elusive Bengal Tiger! In between our game-viewing expeditions, you can relax at the lodge and take advantage of its evocative ambiance and romantic setting.

After a leisurely breakfast, the morning is yours to enjoy the historic ambience and lush landscaped grounds of our lodge. After lunch, you'll embark an overland journey through the timeless landscapes of the Rajasthani countryside. On arrival in Jaipur, India's fabled Pink City, check in to our resort where the rest of your afternoon and evening are free to enjoy as you wish.

Founded in the 11th century and beautifully constructed from yellow and pink sandstone and gleaming white marble, the spectacular Amber Fort just outside of town stands in testament to the once-powerful and the never-conquered Rajput Kingdom. Entering through the towering Sun Gate, your fascinating guided tour reveals lavish courtyards, beautifully decorated halls and the dazzling Chamber of Mirrors. Back in the city, you'll see Hawa Mahal, the oft-photographed Palace of Winds. Built at the end of the 18th century and comprised of delicately latticed windows, its ingenious design allowed women of royal families to remain concealed while they observed the hustle and bustle of the street below. At the City Palace Museum, our knowledgeable guide will enhance your tour of its extensive and carefully curated collection including miniature paintings, ancient weapons and traditional Rajasthani royal costumes. You'll also visit Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in 1726. You're sure to be astounded by these architectural stone instruments – skillfully designed and constructed to measure time, predict eclipses and track the movements of the stars and planets; the largest instrument stands 90 feet tall and all are amazingly accurate. Jaipur is known for the extraordinary skill of its artisans and after sightseeing, you'll have time to explore the city's colorful bazaars. Brilliantly tie-dyed fabrics, miniature paintings, finely carved statues, metalwork and pottery are some of the many things you see.

After breakfast, journey back to Delhi where day use rooms have been reserved for you at our deluxe hotel. Located close to the airport, it offers a relaxing and convenient place to refresh before your onward flight.