• Experience the character of Old Delhi on a rickshaw and walking tour, weaving through the narrow alleyways and exploring Delhi’s oldest mosque.
• See the Taj Mahal up close and wonder at the intricate optical illusions that decorate the marble on this sumptuous masterpiece of Indian architecture.
• Tour the spectacular hillside Amber Fort and wonder at the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), where the walls are covered in a mosaic of reflective and coloured glass.
• Take a break from bustling cities in rural Rajasthan, where you can catch your breath and spend the night in the faded opulence of your heritage stay.
• This trip is perfect for people short on time, as long travel days are kept to a minimum on an itinerary that hits several icons of North India.

• This compact trip packs a lot in. It’s the shortest Indian tour we run in our Original style, perfect for those with little time and a desire to do the most with it. If you are after a more leisurely trip in North India, enter trip codes HHSR, HHSU, or HHSC on our website.
• India can get extremely hot in the summer. While we aim to do our walking tours early in the morning when it’s cooler, remember to keep water on you and to bring a hat, sunscreen, a long-sleeved shirt, and anything else that will protect you from the sun.
• Part of travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. We visit a number of temples on this trip and to enter them you must have clothes that cover to wrists and below the knee.

Day 1: Delhi

Namaste! Welcome to India. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive with hours (or days) to spare, consider striking out on your own, perhaps to visit the World Heritage-listed Humayun's Tomb. A great (and tasty) way to get under the city’s skin in very little time is to book an Urban Adventure like the Delhi City Food Crawl. After the 6 pm meeting, head out for an optional meal with your group at a local restaurant.

 Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)

 Add on activities:

• Delhi - Humayun's Tomb - INR600
• Delhi - Delhi Food Walk Urban Adventure - INR3500
• Delhi - Red Fort - INR600
• Delhi - Gandhi's Delhi Urban Adventure - INR2700

Special information: It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Day 2: Delhi

Join your group leader on an excursion through Old Delhi. Ride the city’s metro system, and then hop in a rickshaw to the once water-filled square of Chandni Chowk. Discover the Jama Masjid, Delhi’s oldest mosque, before learning about the history of the Sikh religion at the Sheeshganj Gurudwara.

 Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)

 Included activities:

• Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
• Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
• Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking tour

Day 3: Jaipur

Travel by private vehicle into Rajasthan and on to its capital, Jaipur (approximately 5 - 6 hours). A friendly, busy city crammed with palaces and bazaars full of jewellery, textiles and folk arts, Jaipur is a favourite for many travellers. Our suggestions are to stop by the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), then head over to Jaipur's Royal City Palace and explore its extravagant rooms and apartments. Later, discover one of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur.

 Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)

 Included activities:

• Jaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour

 Add on activities:

• Jaipur - City Palace - INR800
• Jaipur - Jantar Mantar Observatory - INR200
• Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema - INR400

Day 4: Jaipur

Choose to take an early morning hot air balloon experience, often a highlight of visiting Jaipur. Ballooning can be done over Jaipur on the morning of day four between September and June. Mid-afternoon visit the Amber Fort. Set on a hilltop overlooking Maota Lake, the fort is an authentic example of Rajput architecture and the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) is one of its more spectacular buildings.

 Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)

 Included activities:

• Jaipur - Amber Fort

 Add on activities

• Jaipur - Balloon Safari - USD280

Day 5: Karauli

Leave the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur behind and drive to the village of Suroth Mehal in Karauli (approximately 5-6 hours). This delightful town was founded in 1348 and is packed with rural ambiance and traditional temples. Take a guided walk around the Old Quarter, interacting with friendly locals and learning about rural Indian life off the tourist trail. Be sure to visit the eclectic market stalls along the way and sample some seasonal local sweets made from Indian ingredients, including petha (pumpkin), jaggery (organic sugar), peanut brittle, and gazak (sesame seeds). Stay in a restored heritage property tonight where dinner is included.

 Accommodation: Heritage Property (1 night)

 Included activities

• Suroth Mehal - Village Walk

Day 6: Fatehpur Sikri – Agra

On the journey to Agra, stop en route at the one-time capital of the Mughal empire, Fatehpur Sikri (approximately 4 hours). Its stunning mosque displays both Persian and Hindu design and is secured by a 54-metre high entrance. Once in Agra, there’s the option of visiting the marble tomb that was saved for the greatest of the Mughal Emperors, Akbar's Mausoleum. The day then culminates in a visit to the Taj Mahal, built in the 1640s as a memorial to the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan.

 Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)

 Included activities:

• Fatehpur Sikri - Guided tour
• Agra - Taj Mahal

 Add on activities:

• Agra - Additional entries to Taj Mahal - INR1300

Day 7: Delhi

In the morning, take a guided tour along the banks of the Yamuna River to the iconic Agra Fort. Originally designed by Emperor Akbar in 1565 to be a military structure, it was converted into a palace during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign and later became his prison. Perhaps stop for lunch at Sheroes Hangout, a vegetarian & vegan cafe. This beautiful cafe is a one of kind social enterprise providing employment and opportunities for women who were the victims of acid attacks. In the early afternoon, take the 3-4 hour journey back to Delhi by private bus. Arrive back at the hotel with enough time to freshen up and decide where to enjoy one final dinner with the group.

 Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)

 Included activities

• Agra - Agra Fort
• Agra - Sheroes Cafe Visit

Day 8: Delhi

There are no activities planned for the final day and you're able to depart the accommodation at any time. Check out time from the hotel is 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. If you decide to stay an extra couple of days, there are plenty of activities in and around the city to enjoy.

 Add on activities:

• Delhi - Home-Cooked Delhi Urban Adventure - INR4000
• Delhi - Culture Vulture Delhi Urban Adventure - INR2500

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2. Hot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate from September 1st to April 30th and last approximately 60 mins. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments, and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your joining meeting on day 1 of your trip. Payment must be made by cash in either INR/AUD/USD/GBP only and is USD$260pp (subject to change). Flights are subject to availability and weather conditions (tickets are fully refundable in case of bad weather).

3. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.

Price is per person, based on sharing a room and includes: 

• 8 day India's Golden Triangle tour
• Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
• Transport: Private vehicle, Shuttle bus, Cycle rickshaw, Auto rickshaw, Metro
• Accommodation: Hotel (6 nights), Heritage Property (1 night)
• Included activities:
  • Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
  • Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
  • Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking tour
  • Jaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour
  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
  • Suroth Mehal - Village Walk
  • Fatehpur Sikri - Guided tour
  • Agra - Taj Mahal
  • Agra - Agra Fort
  • Agra - Sheroes Cafe Visit

Please ask us about:

• Flights from Cork, Dublin or Shannon - we will source the best available fares for your travel dates.
• Travel insurance
• Extend your holiday with a stay in Delhi or continue to another part of India

Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply. 

For more information please call us on 021 427 7094 or 0818 300 204, email info@shandontravel.ie, request a call back using the red button or submit an enquiry through the form below.