Opulent India with Oberoi Hotels

Explore northern India in style visiting the key highlights of the Golden Triangle and Shimla, the pine-scented summer capital of the British Raj. You'll stay in a luxurious collection of Oberoi hotels reputed for next-level service, opulent design and extraordinary attention to detail. Meanwhile discover Delhi in depth, witness the Taj Mahal in the golden sunrise and explore Jaipur, the Pink City, including the impressive Amber Fort. The western Himalayas are waiting where you'll carve through spectacular mountain scenery on one of India’s famous toy trains.

Itinerary
6 nights

£4,095 - £5,550pp including international flights

Itinerary overview

Day 1

Arrival in Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the ...

Day 2

Delhi

Discover the highlights of India’s capital city on a full day tour of Old and New Delhi. Start in...

Day 3

Delhi & Agra

Drive south to Agra (approximately 4 hours) where your hotel boasts uninterrupted views of the ic...

Day 4

Agra & Jaipur

Rise early for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching the sun rise over the spectacular Ta...

Day 5

Jaipur

This morning is free to enjoy optional activities. This could be a hot-air balloon ride for a rom...

Day 6

Jaipur

Enjoy a full day at leisure, either enjoying the opulence of your hotel or alternatively taking t...

Day 7

Jaipur & Shimla

Fly to Chandigarh and transfer up the winding colourful road to Shimla (approximately 4 hours), w...

Day 8

Shimla

After breakfast, transfer to Shimla station for a ride on the famous toy train, Himalayan Queen. ...

Day 9

Shimla

You have the day free to relax and enjoy the hotel's exquisite facilities, or take the chance to ...

Day 10

Shimla & Delhi

Transfer to Chandigarh airport (approximately 4.5 hours) to board your flight back to Delhi. On a...

Day 11

Delhi

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home or onward travel.

Day 1

Arrival in Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the capital as you please. Once made up of seven separate cities, today Delhi is a vibrant metropolis full of textured history, culture and colour. Your base for the next two nights is one of the finest hotels in the city where you can dine in the award-winning restaurants or recover from the journey in the pampering spa. Otherwise, set out and explore the Chandni Chowk market, especially atmospheric after dark, dining at a local hotspot known for lip-smacking Mughlai cuisine. Overnight at The Oberoi New Delhi.

Chandni Chowk by Night

Delhi

Exploring Chandni Chowk by night gives you a chance to understand the real spirit of Delhi. It’s like a movie unfolding around you, a whirl of architecture and food, history and business. At night, it’s less crowded so there’s more opportunity to engage with locals and after sunset, Chandni Chowk glows and glitters with store lights. There’s a maze of different streets to discover that specialise in everything from silver and spices to saris and glass bangles. If you want to buy something, you guide will help you haggle, which is a ritual in Old Delhi. The tour starts at around 5.30pm exploring on foot, as your guide explains the evolution of Old Delhi. You’ll see various businesses and have the opportunity to sit with people and hear about their lives. You might meet the ear-cleaning-man, who wears a red hat and carries tools to remove wax from people’s ears – it’s a great photo opportunity as is the chai vendors swirling tea in their metal pans. As you walk, your guide will point out religious landmarks like the Sunehri Masjid and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a Sikh temple with a community kitchen. The highlight of the trip though is always the food. You will have dinner at Karim’s (guest to pay directly), a restaurant that serves Mughlai cuisine. It was set up in the 1940s by Karim, a chef who served in the kitchen of a Mughal emperor and wanted to introduce this food to ordinary people. The dishes have a Persian influence and include lots of bread and kormas, all cooked in an open kitchen. Afterwards, wander around the street food area where you can sample desserts like bread pudding and mango ice cream. You’ll get to try everything from samosas to chai – food is a very important part of experiencing Old Delhi.

Day 2

Delhi

Discover the highlights of India’s capital city on a full day tour of Old and New Delhi. Start in Old Delhi, visiting Jama Masjid, with an open courtyard able to accommodate 25,000 worshippers. Turn up the pace navigating the Chandni Chowk's maze-like bazaars by cycle rickshaw, the best way to gain ground and soak up the atmosphere. In the afternoon, you'll visit Humayun’s tomb, its immaculate geometry and beautiful gardens reportedly inspiring the Taj Mahal. We've included a stop at the soaring minaret of Qutab Minar during the evening so you may catch it at its prettiest, illuminated against the darkening sky. Overnight at The Oberoi New Delhi.

Day 3

Delhi & Agra

Drive south to Agra (approximately 4 hours) where your hotel boasts uninterrupted views of the iconic Taj Mahal. This afternoon, you have free time for some exciting optional activities such as a visit to the 16th-century Agra Fort, an impressive red sandstone monument that houses fairy-tale palaces, grand audience halls and two white marble mosques. Alternatively, discover the untold stories of Agra’s Mughal women on a local walking tour, or gain a different perspective of Agra on a countryside bike excursion where you’ll get to meet the rural-dwelling locals and even enjoy unique views of the Taj Mahal minus the crowds. Overnight at The Oberoi Amarvilas.

Day 4

Agra & Jaipur

Rise early for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching the sun rise over the spectacular Taj Mahal, Agra’s crowning glory glittering in the dawn. Wander the gardens to admire its architecture before exploring the interiors inlaid with semi-precious stones and inscriptions. After breakfast, head west to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, Rajasthan’s capital, and a journey of approximately 6 hours. You'll stop en route at Fatehpur Sikri, a walled city built from red sandstone that was once the Mughal capital. On arrival in Jaipur, check in to your palatially designed hotel set in 32 acres of exquisite gardens with peacocks roaming around. Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas.

Taj Mahal by Sunrise

Agra

The Taj Mahal is a magnificent monument to love and one of the world’s most recognised buildings. One of the best ways to view this iconic landmark is at sunrise, marvelling as the first rays of morning light bathe it in a pearly pink glow. A magical and truly unforgettable spectacle.

Day 5

Jaipur

This morning is free to enjoy optional activities. This could be a hot-air balloon ride for a romantic view of the city or you may choose an optional walking tour of the old city's history-rich havelis and temples. In the afternoon, you’ll be driven to the Amber Fort – a sprawling, UNESCO-listed palace once the local seat of power. Built in the 16th century, located high on a hill surrounded by the Aravalli mountains, you can wander its cobbled paths, imposing ramparts and elaborate halls. Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas.

Day 6

Jaipur

Enjoy a full day at leisure, either enjoying the opulence of your hotel or alternatively taking the chance to explore the city on one of our exciting optional experiences.

Architectural Walking Tour

Jaipur

Join a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Jaipur to learn about its architectural jewels. The tour starts at 8.30am when it’s peaceful, before the bazaars and markets take over. This is when locals go to worship and you can join them at one of the city’s oldest temples, which is known for its 300-year-old fresco painting and set in a private family home. This begins a discussion about religion and architecture in Jaipur; where at a junction in the city, you get to see a Jain Temple, a mosque and a Hindu temple. Continue the walk at Broad Road, which was once used by the royal family, so it’s lined by grand houses. As you enter the winding by-lanes you’ll hear about Jaipur’s history as the first planned city in India, the vastu shastra and shilpa shastra architecture and havelis owned by artists, craftsmen and traders. You’ll get to meet some of these characters when you visit the metal-beating community who still work without technology, in the same way they have for 200 years. It’s fascinating to see how everything has been hand-created. Other key architectural sights on the tour include the City Palace, the Ayurvedic hospital and two huge, 10-foot-tall silver jars which belonged to a king of Jaipur. Guests love visiting a local family in their haveli to chat about life in Jaipur and meeting traditional bangle makers. You will end the tour with an immersion into some of Jaipur’s hectic markets. There’s the spice market with over 300 shops which draws buyers from far and wide, followed by the vegetable and flower markets. The flower market is always busy with people shopping for weddings and festivals. This tour is a great orientation of Jaipur; you’ll discover its architecture, religion and crafts and meet the locals, learning the stories and legends behind our city.

Day 7

Jaipur & Shimla

Fly to Chandigarh and transfer up the winding colourful road to Shimla (approximately 4 hours), where your base for the next two nights is a charming hotel established in the 1800s when the British Raj appointed this mountainous city as their summer capital. Enjoy some spectacular valley views with pine trees rolling into the distance. Spend time exploring the historic town, swimming laps in the pool or unwinding in the spa with a herb-infused massage, the perfect antidote to an invigorating walk in the neighbouring forest. Overnight at The Oberoi Cecil.

Day 8

Shimla

After breakfast, transfer to Shimla station for a ride on the famous toy train, Himalayan Queen. You’ll snake through cedar forests, past waterfalls and mountain peaks before reaching Kandaghat station below. Drive back to Shimla and enjoy a short introductory tour of the town visiting the Viceregal Lodge where the British Raj planned the Partition of India. Gather your thoughts perhaps returning to the hotel along the Mall Road, Shimla's historic high street, traffic-free and lined with mock Tudor buildings. Overnight at The Oberoi Cecil.

The Scenic Route to the Summer Capital of Shimla

Shimla

There are two ways to get to Shimla. One is on a road – the quickest option - and the other is along a snaking railway track through the Himalayan mountains aboard the UNESCO toy train. This route was carved by the British Raj who appointed Shimla as its summer capital. The whole journey from top to bottom takes around five and a half hours, but you will be shown the most scenic portion of the route. Starting in Shimla, at an elevation of around 7,000 feet you will board the 10.30am train towards the small town of Taradevi sitting at approximately 6,000 feet. Curving around the mountain at a leisurely pace of 11 kilometres per 45 minutes. it gives you ample time to soak up the stunning views from all angles, the breeze carrying the scent of pine through the open windows. You’ll cross picturesque bridges that have stood the test of time and whenever the train passes through a tunnel all the Indian passengers shout with excitement!

Day 9

Shimla

You have the day free to relax and enjoy the hotel's exquisite facilities, or take the chance to learn about Shimla’s literary and artistic heritage on a cultural walking tour. The trail takes you through meadows, brooks, grasslands and forests finishing at an art gallery founded by the legendary local artist, Sanath Chatterjee. Overnight at The Oberoi Cecil.

Day 10

Shimla & Delhi

Transfer to Chandigarh airport (approximately 4.5 hours) to board your flight back to Delhi. On arrival , you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the evening is free to relax at the hotel. Overnight at The Oberoi Gurgaon.

Day 11

Delhi

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home or onward travel.

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Guide price information

Low Season

16 Apr - 30 Sep

£4,095pp

High Season

10 Jan - 15 Apr, 01 Oct - 19 Dec

£5,550pp

Peak Season

01 Jan - 09 Jan, 20 Dec - 31 Dec.

Holiday season prices may vary. Please contact your Personal Travel Expert for prices.

Guide price information is based on the included flights from London, accommodation, transport and experiences detailed in the itinerary above. Guide prices do not include optional things to do. Call us for up to date prices – the cost of your holiday depends upon the time of year you travel, how long you go for, preferred departure airport, airlines, hotels and things to do. Based on 2 people sharing.

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