Day 1 – Arrive Delhi
Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Stay two nights at The Claridges.

Day 2 – Delhi
Tour Old and New Delhi, beginning with a visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque and Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. See the Red Fort and visit Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb, then drive on past India Gate and the Parliament buildings. (B,D)

Day  3 – Delhi – Jaipur
A leisurely drive from Delhi to the pink city of Jaipur. Stay two nights at the Jaipur Marriott. (B,D)

Day 4 – Jaipur
Visit the magnificent Amber Fort, situated on a ridge just outside Jaipur. Travel by jeep for the climb up to the main gate. Tour the chambers and hallways of the palace, known for its excellence in design and decoration. Return to Jaipur to visit the City Palace Museum and the ancient Observatory. (B,D)

Day 5 – Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra
Drive to Agra, stopping on the way to visit the deserted red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri. Stay two nights at the Jaypee Palace. (B,D)

Day 6 – Agra

Visit the uniquely beautiful Taj Mahal where perfection can be seen from almost any angle. Also visit Agra Fort before an afternoon at leisure. (B,D)

Day 7 – Agra – Lucknow
Board the Shatabdi Express for the train ride to Lucknow. On arrival, tour the grand buildings and monuments, including Bara Imambara, Shah Nazaf Imambara, Lucknow Residency and Husainabad Imambara. Stay one night at Vivanta by Taj. (B,D)

Day 8 – Lucknow – Varanasi
Traverse Uttar Pradesh on the Intercity Express train to Varanasi, arriving early afternoon. Time at leisure before an evening visit to the River Ganges, witnessing Aarti at the ghats. Stay two nights at the Gateway Ganges. (B,D)

Day 9 – Varanasi
Varanasi epitomizes the chaos and colour of India. Lively bazaars, bright silks, festivals, temples, palaces and a rich spiritual legacy – all can be found here. Take an early morning boat ride on the sacred Ganges, followed by breakfast, a visit to the temples, and an excursion to the Buddhist pilgrimage site at Sarnath. (B,D)

Day 10 – Varanasi – Kolkata
Leisure time in Varanasi. This afternoon fly to Kolkata in West Bengal. Stay two nights at the Lalit Great Eastern. (B,D)

Day 11 – Kolkata
Kolkata is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of East India. See reminders of the British Raj in the architecture and streetscapes on a tour of the city, visiting Victoria Memorial, St Paul’s Cathedral, Kali Temple, and Nirmal Hirday, the hospice founded by Mother Teresa. (B,D)

Day 12 – Kolkata – Chennai
This afternoon, fly south to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Stay two nights at the Vivanta by Taj Connemara. (B,D)

Day 13 – Chennai
Visit Fort St George, built in 1653, and San Thome Cathedral, named for St Thomas the Apostle. Tour the Museum and Art Gallery. In the afternoon, tour nearby Mahabalipuram, an idyllic seaside village with a fine collection of temples and sculptures. (B,D)

Day 14 – Chennai – Mysore
Travel by train this morning to Mysore, arriving at 1 pm. Stay two nights at the Royal Orchid Metropole. (B,D)

Day 15 – Mysore
Visit the Maharaja’s Palace and the Chamundi Hills for views over the lakes, parks and palaces of Mysore. See the Keshava Temple at Somnathpur, covered in ancient stone sculptures. (B,D)

Day 16 – Mysore – Cochin
Drive to the airport at Bangalore for a flight to Cochin on the southwest coast. Cochin has prospered as a busy port city trading in spices, coffee and timber. The involvement of the Portuguese, Dutch and British over the years is evident in its architecture. Stay one night at the Eighth Bastion. (B,D)

Day 17 – Cochin – Alleppey
After breakfast drive to Alleppey for an overnight cruise on a houseboat on the picturesque backwaters of Kerala. Relax on board as you glide by rural settlements and fishing villages. Stay one night on an air-conditioned Deluxe Houseboat. (B,D)

Day 18 – Alleppey – Cochin
Disembark after breakfast and drive to Cochin. On a city tour visit the waterfront to see the Chinese fishing nets, the Jewish Synagogue, the Dutch Palace, and St Francis Church which is believed to be the oldest European church in the country. Attend a vibrant Kathakali dance performance this evening. Stay one night at the Eighth Bastion. (B,D)

Day 19- Cochin- Mumbai and depart
Early morning flight north to Mumbai. See the major sights of this thriving city – Gateway of India, Jain Temple, Hanging Gardens, Chowpati Beach, Kamla Nehru Park, Mani Bhawan and Dhobi Ghat. For your convenience, day use of a room at the Holiday Inn International Airport is reserved for you to rest and refresh before an evening exit flight. (B,D)