The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
The history of Mumbai and The Taj Mahal Palace are dramatically intertwined. The hotel is Mumbai's first harbour landmark (built 21 years... Read more
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.
Journey Highlights
**Combine your experience of the Taj Mahal and the Treasures of India with two days at the world-famous Pushkar Fair. See painted and adorned camels; peruse stalls selling camel tassels and woven gypsy dowry bags; and witness Hindu devotees as they throng the ghats around Pushkar Lake in order to bathe and cleanse their sins. Click here for more information.
Arrive in Mumbai, where you are met by an Abercrombie & Kent representative and transferred to your hotel.
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
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
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
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
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
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.
Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur | Meals: BL
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Transfer to the airport early this morning for your flight home, or begin your post-tour extension to Kathmandu.
Meals: B
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.
Please note that alternative accommodations for Days 5-6 will be featured on the following departure date: Nov 24, 2024. Guests will be staying at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur.
Please note that alternative accommodations for Days 3-4 will be
featured on the following departure date: Oct 23,
2024. Guests will be staying at Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur.
Talk to one of our expert Journey Designers or your travel agent about booking this tour as a private journey for your own small group with family or friends. Or, if you would prefer to travel privately, find out more about creating the perfect bespoke Tailor-Made Journey based on this itinerary.
Contact one of our Journey Designers to start planning your itinerary.
The history of Mumbai and The Taj Mahal Palace are dramatically intertwined. The hotel is Mumbai's first harbour landmark (built 21 years... Read more
Wonderful in every detail, the Taj Lake Palace was built between 1743 and 1746, and was originally a lake island palace named Jag Niwas... Read more
This historic palace, having undergone an extensive refurbishment, exudes a regal elegance – from its antique chandeliers to the peacocks... Read more
The Oberoi Amarvilas is recognised as the leading luxury hotel in Agra. Built in a style inspired by Moorish and Mughal architecture, the... Read more
Tucked into a rocky outcrop with views of the Vindhya Hills and 200 acres of private jungle, the opulent Pashan Garh lodge, a Taj Safari ... Read more
From its fabulous location in the heart of New Delhi’s cosmopolitan metropolis, the Oberoi New Delhi offers a central base for exploring ... Read more
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy
Dec 15, 2024 - Dec 28, 2024 |
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Price AU$26,200pp | Single Supplement AU$12,300 | Internal Air (From) Included | Availability Call for Availability | Enquire |
Dec 22, 2024 - Jan 4, 2025 |
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Price AU$28,555pp | Single Supplement AU$13,840 | Internal Air (From) Included | Availability Call for Availability | Enquire |
Terms & Conditions
Save 50% on the single supplement on select 2024 Small Group Journeys departures. Offers subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.
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