Delhi, Agra & Jaipur, 5 Nights

Met at the airport and taken to the hotel. If you reach Delhi in good time, a gentle first outing is a drive past India Gate and the government buildings along Kartavya Path, lit in the evening; otherwise the day is left free. Delhi traffic can be heavy, so we plan sightseeing for the next day rather than squeeze it in. Dinner is on your own, and Delhi is a good place to eat well, whatever your dietary needs.

Begin in Old Delhi: the Red Fort's walls from the outside, a cycle-rickshaw through the lanes of Chandni Chowk, and the Jama Masjid's courtyard, where you must dress modestly. After lunch, Humayun's Tomb, the Mughal garden tomb that the Taj Mahal drew upon, and the Qutub Minar, a 13th-century victory tower. The day ends with a drive past India Gate. Most Delhi monuments are open daily, though the Red Fort closes on Mondays (and the Taj Mahal in Agra on Fridays).

The drive to Agra on the Yamuna Expressway takes about 4 hours, leaving after breakfast. After a rest, Agra Fort, the red-sandstone fortress and palace of the Mughal emperors, where Shah Jahan was kept until his death with a view of the Taj in the distance. At dusk the Taj appears across the river from Mehtab Bagh, a garden on the far bank, and the light is lovely if the sky is clear.

The Taj Mahal opens about half an hour before sunrise and is closed on Fridays, so we shuffle days if this one falls on a Friday. Going early means softer light and fewer crowds. After breakfast, a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's red-sandstone capital from the 1570s, abandoned within a few years, and then onto Jaipur, arriving by late afternoon. The evening is free, or you can take a walk by the old bazaars.

Start early at Amber Fort, on its ridge above Maota Lake, where mirrored halls and courtyards are best seen before the tour buses arrive. Go up by jeep or on foot; we do not offer elephant rides. Return through the city to the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar observatory with its giant stone instruments, and a photograph of the Hawa Mahal from the street. The afternoon is for the bazaars: block-printed fabrics, jewellery and blue pottery.

After breakfast and checkout, the drive back to Delhi takes about 5 hours, depending on traffic at the city edge, so we ask you to book your flight for the evening or later. We drop you at the airport. If you have a late-night flight and some time, we can stop at a roadside restaurant on the highway for lunch or tea. For earlier flights, let us know and we will advise on staying an extra night in Delhi.