India’s Taj Mahal and Tigers - Premium Adventure

Experience Overview

With the three cities of the Golden Triangle, Bengal tigers of Ranthambore and countless grand fortresses, the north is India at its most evocative. Led by an expert tour leader, we explore it in style: enjoying high tea in sight of the Taj Mahal, staying in the 15th-century Neemrana Fort-Palace and dining with a charming family. Add to that the everyday wonders – smiling locals, whizzing rickshaws and flavoursome curries – and you will see why North India is such a favourite with our groups.
Profile
— Accommodation: 9 Premium nights (hotels) — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Travel by air-conditioned private bus and train — Support TOFTigers’ campaign to protect biodiversity and restore habitat
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 9 Premium nights (hotels) — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Travel by air-conditioned private bus and train — Support TOFTigers’ campaign to protect biodiversity and restore habitat
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. It is ideal for culturally curious travellers eager to explore and experience as much as possible. We cover the highlights of northern India in a short time, which means the itinerary is generally fast paced – prepare for some long days and early starts. India can be challenging, while the heat and bustle of some cities can be a little overwhelming. That said, there are peaceful spots and you will undoubtedly return with memories to last a lifetime. Journey times: The times stated in the day-to-day itinerary are driving times and do not include photo, tea, comfort or lunch breaks. Journeys can sometimes take longer due to traffic or road damage. Additionally, fog is common in December and January, which can sometimes slow us down. Departures in these months may also experience train delays or cancellations. If a severe delay occurs, the group travels on a comfortable private bus instead. Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean that work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published, so it is not possible to warn you when work is taking place. Festivals: Holi and Diwali Some departures coincide with Holi and Diwali, both fascinating times to visit India. We will seek opportunities to see the festivities, though we cannot guarantee what will be happening locally during our trip – the festivals are celebrated in different ways throughout the country. Holi typically involves people throwing coloured powders and water at each other and smearing powder on each other’s faces. This tends to be done in local communities and families, so it is not always possible to be involved (though you may see the colourful results of this boisterous festival on the streets). During Holi, local monuments and markets close, so departures over Holi have a slight adjustment to the itinerary. In Jaipur, sightseeing is limited, so where necessary we include a cultural day to see local musicians and dancers perform; there may also be an opportunity to join in: playing with colours, dancing, and enjoying food and drinks. You can also purchase the traditional white kurta outfit to look the part and avoid getting your clothes covered in the coloured powders. During Diwali, the festival of lights to mark the start of the Hindu New Year, people may illuminate their houses and shops and sometimes celebrate on the streets with fireworks. It lasts up to five days, though it is difficult for us to predict what will be happening in the areas we visit. Where something is happening, we seek opportunities to witness the festivities.
Group Description
Our Indian team of leaders has proved very popular with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show you around their country.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts and six dinners are included in this trip. India is famous for its food and there is ample opportunity to try various curries such as the familiar tandoori, biriyani and rogan josh. If you are a vegetarian, India is a great destination. There are wonderful desserts and excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink. Allow at least 1,400-2,400 rupees (US$16-US$28) per day for lunch and dinner. In most towns we visit, there is a good selection of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western food. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approximately 300 rupees (approximately US$4). Mineral water is widely available, but drinking water is provided in a large container in the bus to reduce our use of plastic, so please bring your own refillable water bottle.
Transportation
We use a private minibus and train for our journey. Road journeys: Air-conditioned private minibus.Express train to Bharatpur: Bookedon the Jan Shatabdi ExpressGame drives: In 4WD jeeps, usually with up to five people per vehicle. We always request our groups to stay together, but based on the local authorities allocation system, on occasion there may be non-group members sharing the jeep with you. Please note: You must provide your passport information at time of booking to ensure the game drive permits can be secured. Any bookings made within 90 days prior to travel are subject to availability. At this time, we endevour to secure the 4WD jeeps; however, if not available you will be booked onto a 22-seater shared canter instead. Please note: Fog is common in December and January. Departures in these months may experience severe train delays or cancellations. If a severe delay occurs, the group will travel on a private comfortable bus instead. 
Joining Instructions
Key information  Start hotel: The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa, Sector 4, Gole Market, New Delhi, Delhi 110001 Phone: +91 11 42500200 Recommended arrival time: Aim to arrive by 5pm. There will be a welcome briefing and group dinner in the evening Airport: Delhi Airport (DEL)  Getting to the start hotel  The start hotel is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.   Catching your return flight  Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Delhi Airport (DEL) from the end hotel.  Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts. 
Weather Information
During October/November and from March to April, the days are normally hot (around 30C-35C/86F-95F) and nights slightly cooler (18C-24C/65F-75F) but humidity is very low and little or no rain falls so it’s a great time of year to travel to this part of India. From December to early February, it gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings (sometimes dropping to 6C/43F) and warm clothes are essential. During this time, nightly temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a little above freezing. The evenings and early mornings (particularly at Ranthambore National Park) can be surprisingly cool and damp too, so come prepared for both cold and warm temperatures during winter. In July, August and September, expect very hot days and warm nights (28C-40C/82F-104F). Rain is also likely at any time from the end of June until September and can be very heavy. However, it moderates the temperatures and humidity.
Spending Money
Many sites now charge a small fee for video cameras (handy cams) and you should allow another 665 rupees (approximately US$9) for these. Also allow at least 570 rupees (approximately US$8) per day for personal expenditures, such as soft drinks. There are shopping opportunities throughout this tour and we suggest you take money for souvenirs. During your trip, it is likely your local guides will offer to take you to emporiums and handicraft workshops. Guides often assume visitors want to shop, it is very much part of the culture, but if you do not wish to go, please make this clear to your guide and tour leader at the time. Many people find this a great opportunity to buy local handicrafts, silk and carpets but you may prefer the free time to recharge at the hotel or explore independently. Optional excursions There are plenty of opportunities for local excursions and cultural experiences throughout this trip, some of which are detailed in the daily itinerary. For an overview of the optional extras, please see below: Delhi (start or end of trip): — Three-hour Qutab Minar tour: Approximately 2,500-6,500 rupees (US$30-US$78) per person (depending on the group size) Qutab Minar is a 240ft (73m) high victory tower built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi’s last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five distinct levels and at the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque built in India. A 23ft (7m) high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque; it is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled. Price includes transportation, local guide, tipping and monument entrance. Neemrana Fort Palace: — Camel ride: 660 rupees (US$7.90) per person — Camel cart ride (maximum four persons per cart): 1,540 rupees (US$18.50) per cart — Vintage car ride (maximum four persons per car): 2,200 rupees (US$26.40) per car
Tipping
Tips for local support staff are included on this Premium Adventure – this normally covers drivers, local specialist guides, certain hotel staff, and serving staff for included meals. Amounts are in line with the local standard. Tips for the tour leader are not included. The amount, and whether to tip at all, is entirely at your own discretion, but if you wish to show your appreciation, we suggest around 330-415 rupees (US$4-US$5) per person per day.

Highlights