Cox and Kings Golden Triangle & Shimla

– 5-star accommodation
– Flexible extensions, room and flight upgrades available
– Small group size – average 14 people (max 18)
– Direct international flights with British Airways
– Express train travel in air-conditioned executive class
– Transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
– Experienced local tour manager
– 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 10 dinners
– Guided sightseeing & all entrance fees
– Porterage at airports and stations
– Free day in Jaipur & Shimla for independent exploration

– Explore Jaipur while staying in a maharajah’s former hunting lodge
– Watch the sunset over the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh gardens
– Ride the toy train to Shimla
– Dine with views over Old Delhi

Day 1: Fly to Delhi
Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Delhi.
(No meals)

Day 2: Delhi
Arrive in Delhi in the morning and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi, including the Jama Masjid mosque and Raj Ghat. In the early evening, dine at Haveli Dharampura and enjoy a dance perfomance.
(Dinner)

Day 3: New Delhi • Agra
Morning tour of New Delhi with a drive past India Gate and the former viceregal residence, both very fine examples of British imperial architecture. Continue to the tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun and the Qutb Minar tower. Afternoon drive to Agra
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 4: Agra
Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. After breakfast, visit the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah and Agra fort. Evening visit to Mehtab Bagh, a 400-year old Mughal garden on the banks of the Yamuna, to see the sun set over the Taj Mahal.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 5: Fatehpur Sikri • Jaipur
Continue to the pink city of Jaipur via the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri. En route, enjoy lunch at the Laxmi Vilas Palace. Stay 3 nights at Ramgarh Lodge, a maharajah’s former hunting lodge.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 6: Jaipur
After breakfast, visit the ancient palace of Amber fort and then the City Palace in the afternoon, home of the present maharajah.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 7: Jaipur
A day at leisure to relax. Explore Jaipur’s many bazaars or choose from a range of optional excursions.(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 8: Chandigarh
Explore the Birla Mandir Temple before flying to Chandigarh.
(Breakfast)

Day 9: Shimla
Take the morning express train to Kalka followed by the narrow gauge mountain railway toy train ride to Shimla. Stay at the Oberoi Cecil in Shimla, the British summer capital during the Raj era, for 3 nights.(Breakfast and dinner)

Days 10: Shimla
Explore the historic mall and listen to the stories behind its many colonial buildings while making your way to the Vice Regal Lodge
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 11: Shimla
Day at leisure. Option to explore Shimla on a nature walk. Alternatively, enjoy afternoon tea at the Oberoi Wildflower Hall or take an optional visit the princely state of Dhami to spend the day with the noble family, birdwatching and enjoying their stories over lunch.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 12: Delhi
Drive to Chandigarh this morning and connect with the express train to Delhi. Stay overnight at the Taj Palace and enjoy a farewell dinner
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 13: Fly to London
Morning transfer to the airport. Fly to London.
(Breakfast)

Taj Palace, Delhi
The Taj Palace is spread out over two and a half hectares of lush gardens in New Delhi. Guestrooms are spacious and elegantly designed with subtle touches of Mughal-era influence. Guests have a wide variety of dining options to choose from, including several multi award-winning restaurants.

Ramgarh Lodge, Jaipur
Built in the late 1930s, The Ramgarh Lodge was once the favourite hunting retreat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Located around 40 km from Jaipur, this rustic lodge set in the forested Aravalli exudes an air of history. The lodge was converted into a hotel in the late 1980s and is now managed by the Taj group of hotels. All 13 rooms and suites are spacious, comfortably furnished, combine history with contemporary style and overlook either the rugged Aravalli Mountains or the landscaped gardens.

The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla
The hill stations provided a cool retreat for the Raj during the heat of the Indian summer. This heritage is captured by the Oberoi Cecil, which provides a luxurious base from which to explore the surrounding town and countryside. A view of the hills and forests is offered from many of the hotel’s 71 rooms. The restaurant serves both Continental and Asian cuisine other facilities include a health club, which offers massages and herbal treatments.

The Trident Agra, Agra
The Trident Agra is set in beautiful gardens and is only a short distance away from the Taj Mahal. The hotel is built of red stone, reminiscent of the Mughal era, and is designed around a landscaped central courtyard with swimming pool and fountains. The hotel features a multi-cuisine informal brasserie as well as an alfresco Italian restaurant. Features: 138 rooms, Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants, bar, fitness centre, beauty salon, gift shop.