× Our children's prices are now 25% lower than the adult cost for Exodus-operated guided trips, and that goes for ages up to 16 years!
Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Depart London. Flights usually depart London in the evening. Day 2 Arrive Delhi; afternoon sightseeing in Delhi. Arrive at Delhi airport and transfer to our hotel. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel in the morning. After lunch we will have a guided sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, starting with the dramatic Red Fort (if you arrive in Delhi on a Monday you will visit an alternative site as the Red Fort is closed). It is here where we begin to learn about the Mughal Empire. The fort is named for its mighty enclosing walls made of red sandstone and was built as a palace for the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan, between 1638 and 1648. Unfortunately he didn't live here because his disloyal son, Aurangzeb, imprisoned him in Agra Fort (which we'll visit tomorrow) when he seized power. The fort underwent change during the British rule when the British military cleared out most of the buildings to use them as barrack blocks for the colonial army. After the Red Fort, we then visit the mind-blowing Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque), also built during the time of Shah Jahan. The central open courtyard is said to hold thousands of people. You can also climb one of the minarets for a fantastic view of Delhi. Today the mosque is still a major meeting place for Delhi's Muslim population and it offers a unique insight into Indian culture and daily life in Delhi.Comfortable Hotel Day 3 Early morning train to Agra; sightseeing including Agra Fort; afternoon free. Today we have our first train ride on the famous Indian railway! No trip here would be complete without this experience. The trains are often busy and people are always eager to strike up conversation. This is a fantastic experience for the whole family and a fantastic opportunity to meet friendly locals. We leave Delhi in the morning and take the early train to Agra (journey time approx. 2 hrs, departing at approx. 06:00 hrs), where we visit some of the most famous sites in the world. We first visit the imposing Red Fort of Emperor Akbar, where Shah Jahan was imprisoned for 8 years by his son. Within the mighty sandstone walls is a beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces of his successors; his son Jehangir and grandson Shah Jahan. The fort is mind boggling for children to look at; courtyards, fountains, double fortified walls, pavillions, cupolas and crenellations. This fort was originally built for military purposes, but Shah Jahan later transformed it into a beautiful palace. There will be free time after to look at the variety of local handicrafts on offer, including jewellery, inlaid and carved marble, carpets and clothes.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal; to Fatehpur Sikri, former capital of the Mughal Empire; on to Bharatpur for lunch and cooking demonstration at a local home; evening free. A very early start to see the incredible spectacle of the sunrise over the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan built this beautiful monument in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze both adults and children; the white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun throughout the day. After our visit it's time to leave Agra and drive to Bharatpur via the deserted ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri (approx. 3 hours driving in total). This is a great place to have fun and explore. Formally the capital of the Mughal Empire, this wonderfully preserved 'ghost town' was constructed by Emperor Akbar between 1570 and 1585. This impressive and well-preserved citadel became his capital in 1571, but this only lasted 14 years. In 1584, Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri to secure his outlying territories, leaving this city much as we see it today. The site is one of the most atmospheric in northern India. It's positioned on a ridge overlooking a modern village below and the wonderful state of preservation provide us with a taste of this city's majestic past. We then continue to Bharatpur for lunch, where we sample traditional Rajasthani cuisine in a local home. We'll also have a cooking demonstration to learn how the food is prepared.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 5 Morning explore bird sanctuary by cycle rickshaw - the park has more than 360 species of bird; afternoon transfer to Sariska National Park. An early start to catch the best of the bird life that inhabits the park. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the bird sanctuary at Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a truly relaxing experience and a world away from the bustling cities that we have just visited. This region was originally semi arid only filling with water during the monsoon season. The Maharaja of Bharatpur diverted water from a nearby irrigation canal and it was converted into a bird sanctuary in 1956. There are now over 360 species of birds to be found there including an array of Egrets, Ducks, Coots, Storks, Kingfishers, Owls, Eagles and Harriers. We spend our time exploring the park by cycle rickshaw, a traditional form of transport in India, unlike anything we use at home! Leaving Bharatpur behind we then drive to Sariska National Park, nestled in the Aravali Hills (5 to 6 hr journey).Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Nature walk; village visit. Early morning nature walk (3 hours). The Sariska National Park is home to a variety of wildlife including deer, wild boar, hyenas, crocodiles, leopards and much more. Bird life includes parakeets, storks, eagles, owls and the peacock (India's national bird). In the afternoon we explore the local area including the Alwar Museum, boating on Saliserh Lake and a visit to a local village.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Morning game drive; to Jaipur. After a morning game drive we leave the park and drive to the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur (approx. 4-5 hour journey). Rajah Jai Singh decided to abandon his nearby fortress and palace at Amber in 1727 and laid out a planned city of broad avenues, built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. The 'Pink City of Jaipur' is one of the most attractive and colourful cities in India, and children will be fascinated by the camels, cows, bullock-carts and monkeys that can be seen roaming the streets. In the afternoon you can explore the city or take advantage of the hotel's swimming pool.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Sightseeing day including Amber Palace. Today we explore Jaipur, returning to the hotel after lunch. In the centre of Jaipur is one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments, including the world's largest sundial at 27m tall and just two seconds out! Others are made of marble and brass and all provide some fantastic photo opportunities. A few miles from the main city is the splendid Amber Palace, rising above a lake. The imposing hilltop fort contains large courtyards and interiors with fine decoration. The rest of the day is free for relaxing, exploring or shopping. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as wooden and cloth puppets, carved wooden camels, silver trinkets, durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones, leatherwear etc.; it will be difficult to leave a workshop without buying anything! Brightly coloured Indian clothing, bangles and bindis can be found at the markets, as well as turbans for boys (people will happily show you how to put one on!) There is also the option to visit Chokhi Dhani later in the afternoon; a purpose-built village that captures the vibrant spirit of Rajasthan, with folk music, dancing, puppet shows, fire acts, magic shows, camel rides and a traditional Rajasthani dinner. With play areas for the younger children, there is plenty to do here to keep the whole family entertained.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 To Pushkar; optional camel cart ride passing through traditional villages. This morning we travel to Pushkar (approx. 3-4 hours), a Hindu pilgrimage town and home to the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. The town is steeped in mysticism and we can take a late afternoon camel cart ride (optional), passing through traditional villages as the sun goes down. For something different, kite flying is a fun alternative. Many of the shops in Pushkar sell these, should you wish to give it a go.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Morning free to explore; afternoon train to Delhi; arrive in the evening. The morning we visit Brahma temple and the holy lake of Pushkar so that we can really soak up the unique atmosphere of this religious town. We then drive to the nearest train station at Ajmer and travel by train for approx. 7 hrs to Delhi, arriving in the evening at approx. 22:40 hrs.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 Fly to London. We depart Delhi in the morning for the daytime flight back to London. The arrangements for those not flying with the group end after check out. Meals included: Breakfast
India Visas are required if you are British and for most other nationalities. For UK residents full details of the visa process can be found here. Other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. If your trip visits Ladakh, in the very north of India, or Sikkim in the northeast, do not mention this on your Indian visa application. This can sometimes slow down or even cause the embassy to reject your visa. When you reach immigration, you are required to pick up an immigration form. If you have an e-visa, ensure you stand in the correct queue - please follow the signs to the e-visa booth (in Delhi this is at the back of the immigration hall). You will need to fill out an additional form at the booth - please make sure that you have the details of your start hotel ready (these details can be found on your Final Joining Instructions).
India There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approx. 2000m, there is low to no risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips going to altitudes of over 3000m there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the TRIP NOTES for further information.
Hotels We spend 9 nights in a mixture of standard and comfortable hotels throughout this trip. All hotels are air-conditioned, centrally located and generally have excellent facilities. All hotels have swimming pools. Single accommodation available on request from GBP170
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Reviewed August 2016 Bernadette Flynn Trip: Taj Tigers & Temples - Summer Itinerary Taj Tigers and Palaces Good trip, very interesting What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Taj Mahal & visit to a small rural primary school What did you think of your group leader? Bali was exceptional, a real asset to Exodus. He was warm and very friendly, very thoughtful, a very good organiser, nothing was too much trouble for him. I cant imagine a better guide. Is there anything else you would like to add? I liked the attempt to minimise our use of plastic water bottles, 1 bottle each issued at the start of the trip and this was topped up by the guide throughout, meant that we all used 1 bottle each (rather than at least 1 each day). I think it very unlikely that many people would bring this bottle back to the UK, so I think it would be good if Exodus could organise that these bottles could be collected and recycled in India. I also think we should have a fridge in each hotel room (to keep the water cold), 2 hotels didnt have this. Also, our 16 year old daughter shared a room with us (you dont let under 18s have their own room) but on a number of occasions, she had a single mattress on the floor rather than a proper single bed. This might be suitable for a 5 year old child but a 16 year old does need a proper single bed. The local guide in Jaipur was almost impossible to understand (didnt understand 75% of what he said (he was with us for 2 days).the day we went to the rural primary school was a waste (the primary school was the only good thing-it lasted about 40 minutes), we went to a reservoir to boat. the boats werent there so we coudlnt go boating & the reservoir wasnt worth a visit anyway....the whole day felt as though we were marking time, apart from the school visit. Our guide Bali was amazingly good throughout.
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