Signature India | The Realm of Royals

Trace northern India’s regal heritage through gilded palaces, wild jungles, swirling chai steam and tiger gaze

Majesty flows through northern India: in the marble glow of the Taj Mahal, in the proud stride of the Bengal tiger, in the swirling steam of freshly poured chai. Led by your Signature Guide, journey through a land where rhythm meets royalty, tracing the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, and answering the call of the wild in Ranthambhore. This is a voyage of moments and connection, where every encounter reveals another facet of northern India’s enduring soul.

Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.

Signature Experiences:

• Greet dawn at the Taj Mahal, watching marble shift from blush to gold as your historian reveals its enduring love story
• Join an expert conservationist for an insightful talk, then game drive through Ranthambhore’s tiger lands, guided by a wildlife photographer
• Trace Jaipur’s royal legacy on a private exploration of the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, led by an expert historian

Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between a flower tour in Jaipur, an indigo workshop, a guided heritage walk through Amer’s foothills, or a leopard safari

Signature Stay: Enjoy the rare chance to stay in The Maharajas Lodge, a 1930s royal retreat reimagined with contemporary elegance, part of this trip’s refined accommodation portfolio

Signature Guide: Let your hand-picked Signature guide lead you to the country’s soul – sharing their home, heritage, and heart

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

We also weave Signature Legacy moments into your itinerary, so the positive impact of your trip lasts long after your stay. These are moments to remember which help people and nature thrive, ensuring you build a harmonious, positive connection with the places you visit.

On this journey, you can:

• Join the Wildlife Director of Nalla’s Ark Foundation for an engaging talk on Indian wildlife and conservation before a guided game drive in Ranthambhore National Park with a wildlife photographer.
• Engage with women-led and craft-based initiatives that celebrate creativity and empowerment, from Delhi’s Insha-e-Noor embroidery collective and Ranthambhore’s Dastkar Cooperative to Jaipur’s Nila House and Pink City Rickshaw Company, each fostering sustainable livelihoods and preserving India’s artistic heritage.

Is this trip for you?

We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.

Driving times: The longest travel time takes place on Day 6 (four hours) by private vehicle and Day 9 (3hr 50min) by train. All other journeys are under 2hr 30min.

Prebooking activities: An immersive adventure of your choice awaits on the Signature Day. All you need to do is prebook the activity at least 60 days before departure through our Signature Collection travel experts. Additionally, those arriving early on Day 1 can pre-book an optional guided tour of Safdarjung’s Tomb, priced from US$141, or join the Salaam Baalak Walk (price on request). Those departing late on the final day can join an optional guided tour of Qutab Minar, priced from US$200.

Wildlife: Ranthambore National Park is among India’s finest places to observe Bengal tigers in their natural habitat. Sightings, however, are never guaranteed − each safari offers its own moment of wilderness and anticipation.

Train Travel: Our train journeys are in air-conditioned Executive Chair Class from Delhi to Agra, and Standard Chair Class from Bharatpur to Sawai Madhopur.

Vaccinations and Health

India

You require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Proof of a polio vaccination may also be required by some visitors. Please confirm all requirements and recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

You may also want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in India. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approximately 6,560ft (2,000m), there is little risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips above 9,840ft (3,000m), 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.

Visa

India

To avoid possible problems at immigration, make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.

Travellers from the UK, US, CA and EU normally need a visa to enter India. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/india
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/india
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html

Travellers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA and EU, can apply at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

For more information on applying for your Indian Visa, including details required for your start hotel and local reference contacts, please click on this link: Indian Visa Information.

New Digital Arrival Card

Travellers from the UK, US, EU and Canada must also complete a Digital Arrival Card. This can be filled online up to 72 hours before arrival via the official Indian visa website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. This is separate from the Indian e-visa process and this remains the same. Physical cards will remain at the arrival airport until 1 April 2026, at which point the Digital Arrival Card will be made mandatory.

Food & Drink

This journey is designed to deepen your connection to Northern India through its food and drink. From an innovative welcome dinner to a private home-cooked meal shared with a family in Delhi, every encounter celebrates flavour and connection. Dine by firelight in Ranthambhore after a day in the wild and enjoy refined Rajasthani cuisine throughout.

Weather

During October/November and February/March/April, the days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low with little or no rain. Evenings in Delhi can be surprisingly cool. It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings in December and January and warm clothes are essential. Fog is also a real possibility during this period. Please note, night-time temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a little above freezing in December and January.