Taj Mahal and the Treasures of India

Explore India’s greatest treasures as you visit the timeless Taj Mahal, seek the graceful Bengal tiger and witness a holy rite beside the sacred Ganges

Land Journey

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Package Details
Itinerary
Terms and Conditions

India is a lively land of vivid colours and endless activity. It is also a profoundly spiritual place with a proud heritage and extraordinarily diverse scenery. From the intense bustle of Mumbai and Delhi, you’ll journey through the Rajasthani countryside and gain a fascinating glimpse into rural life. Stay at the country’s most iconic hotels, some converted from royal palaces, travel deep into the wilderness in search of the elusive Bengal tiger, and take an intimate look at life and death in the sacred city of Varanasi, where devout pilgrims flock to the holy Ganges to bathe in the sacred water and cremate their loved ones.

Package Inclusions:

Journey Highlights

Stay in former palaces, including iconic royal residences such as the lavish Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur and the grand Rambagh Palace in Jaipur
Embark on a private sunset boat cruise on Lake Pichola, your palace hotel seemingly floating on the water beneath an orange-hued sky, and cap it off with a refreshing cocktail
Behold the glorious Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset
Set out on private safaris in Panna National Park, home to the elusive Bengal tiger, and enjoy an exclusive talk on conservation by a member of the local Pardhi community
Observe priests performing an aarti ceremony on the banks of the Holy Ganges in Varanasi
Experience the diverse appeal of India’s great cities, from Delhi, a centre for politics and, with its enduring British influence, a blend of old and new

Journey Details

Internal air included: Mumbai/Udaipur; Khajuraho/Varanasi/Delhi
This journey contains some active elements.
Minimum age is 10 years.
First group event: welcome briefing at 12:00 p.m. on Day 2.
Last group event: end sightseeing at 5:00 p.m. on Day 13.
Departures are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 guests.

INCLUDED IN EVERY LUXURY SMALL GROUP JOURNEY

English-Speaking Resident Tour Director and Local Guides
Hand-Selected Luxury Accommodations
Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
Travelling Bell Boy Luggage Handling
Breakfast in Bed on Select Days
Full Breakfast Daily; Select Lunches and Dinners
Your Choice of Activity on Design Your Day
Traveller’s Valet Laundry Service
Internet Access
Entrance Fees, Taxes and All Gratuities Except Resident Tour Director
24/7 A&K On-Call Support
Guaranteed Departures with Just Two Guests

Advertised price valid for travel between March, April, May 2024

Alternate travel dates available subject to price fluctuations. Please call us for a price!

Itinerary

JOURNEY

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Mumbai, India

Arrive in Mumbai, where you are met by an Abercrombie & Kent representative and transferred to your hotel.

The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

Day 2: Mumbai | The Gateway of India

Explore the city’s classic sites, including the Gateway of India, whose design reflects India’s Muslim and Hindu traditions. Visit the Prince of Wales Museum and Mani Bhawan, dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi. Next, see the Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest open-air laundry, a wonderful spectacle to behold. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner.

The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai | Meals: BD

Day 3: Udaipur | Cruise to Jag Mandir

Fly to Udaipur and settle into your stunning palace hotel set in the middle of scenic Lake Pichola. After time to relax, embark on a private cruise past Jag Mandir, a marble palace on an island in Lake Pichola. Then, admire the vibrant sunset from your island hotel on a Scenic Sundowner followed by dinner.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur | Meals: BD

Day 4: Udaipur | Splendours of the City Palace

Visit the stunning City Palace, a marble complex that offers unforgettable views of the lake. Continue to the Crystal Gallery in Fateh Prakash Palace. Stroll through the Sahelion Ki Bari (Garden of the Maids of Honor) before returning to the hotel.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur | Meals: BL

Day 5: Jaipur | Gardens & Temples

Fly to Jaipur and check in to your hotel, the former residence of the Maharajah of Jaipur. Later, explore the City Palace, a unique and arresting complex of several palaces, pavilions, gardens and temples. Located within the palace’s gates is the Mubarak Mahal, or “Auspicious Palace,” which contains textiles including the royal formal costumes, Sanganeri block prints, Kashmiri pashminas and silk saris. Then, visit Jantar Mantar, an open-air array of astronomical instruments.

Rambagh Palace, Jaipur | Meals: BD

Day 6: Jaipur | Design Your Day

View the Palace of the Winds — built so the women of the royal household could observe street life without being seen. Explore the Mughal-style Amber Fort, a red sandstone and marble palace that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.

Practice Yoga During a Private Session at Rambagh Palace.

Visit Digantar Vidyalay to interact with the students at an innovative school supported by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy.

Discover the Bazaars of Jaipur, taking in the vibe of local life and shopping for keepsakes from your journey.

Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Rambagh Palace, Jaipur | Meals: BL

Day 7: Agra | Visions of the Taj Mahal

Drive to Agra, observing the colourful rural life of Rajasthan on your journey. Upon arrival, catch your first glimpse of the breathtaking Taj Mahal from your luxurious room. Visit the Taj Mahal in the late afternoon, as the setting sun bathes it in a soft orange glow.

The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra | Meals: BL

Day 8: Agra | Spectacular Agra Fort

Return to the Taj Mahal the next morning, when the rising sun lends a warm pink tint to its marble face. Visit the Agra Fort, once the prison of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal after the death of his beloved wife.

The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra | Meals: BD

Day 9: Panna National Park | Into the Wild

Board a train to Jhansi. After lunch, continue to remote Panna National Park, a haven for India’s wildlife, and check in to your wilderness lodge. Then, on an A&K-exclusive experience, meet with a member of the local Pardhi community to learn their role in efforts to restore the Bengal tiger to the park.

Pashan Garh, Panna National Park | Meals: BLD

Day 10: Panna National Park | Tiger Tracking

Rise early for a 4x4 game drive in Panna National Park, spotting crocodile and searching for tiger. Learn how a conservation program has grown the park’s tiger population, increasing the odds of a sighting. Return to the lodge to savour a Chef’s Table experience featuring an Indian cooking demonstration, as your lodge’s chef prepares local dishes for lunch. Enjoy another game drive before returning to Pashan Garh for dinner.

Pashan Garh, Panna National Park | Meals: BLD

Day 11: Khajuraho & Varanasi | India’s Holiest City

Drive to Khajuraho to see all of life — joy, love, divinity, war — depicted in detail on every inch of its 85 Hindu and Jain temples. Then, fly to Varanasi, a city of more than a thousand temples and shrines, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. At dusk, beside the Ganges River, witness the aarti ceremony. Chanted prayers and rhythmic drumming fill the air as you watch lantern-bearing priests bid the gods and goddesses a restful slumber.

Taj Ganges, Varanasi | Meals: BLD

Day 12: Varanasi & Delhi | Private Sunrise River Cruise

Rise early for a private sunrise cruise on the Ganges River to observe activity along the ghats (stone steps leading down to the river), where locals and pilgrims cleanse themselves, literally and spiritually. Later, fly to Delhi for a farewell dinner.

The Oberoi, New Delhi | Meals: BD

Day 13: Delhi | Exploring the Old & the New

Visit the great Jama Masjid, the most important mosque in India, completed in 1656. Then, Ride Like a Local by rickshaw through the narrow alleys and stalls of Chandni Chowk bazaar, one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, a vital part of the daily life of locals and a must-see destination for visitors. After lunch, tour New Delhi, including Humayun’s Tomb, the last resting place of an esteemed 16th-century Mughal emperor and an architectural precursor of the Taj Mahal.

The Oberoi, New Delhi | Meals: BL

Day 14: Depart Delhi

Transfer to the airport early this morning for your flight home, or begin your post-tour extension to Kathmandu.

Meals: B

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions apply: All prices are quoted in Australian dollars, based on per person double occupancy unless stated otherwise, and inclusive of all taxes and discounts. All prices & itineraries are current as at 05/05/2023 & subject to change without notice. Prices are subject to change due to availability, currency fluctuations, fuel price, and tax increases. Price includes any stated bonus nights, upgrades & package savings, if applicable. All passports, visas, travel permits, and vaccinations are the responsibility of the travelling passenger to secure prior to travel. Travel packages advertised may include multiple products provided by several suppliers to provide a travel itinerary. Each component of the package will be treated independent of each other, and the specific terms & conditions of each product supplier will apply. Hotels may charge resort fees, or a security bond not included or mentioned in this package, payable direct upon check-in.