Luxury Private Journeys - Introduction to India ULIN09

Personal Highlights:

• Private tours of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
• Enter the Amber fort on the back of an Elephant
• View the Taj Mahal from your own hotel balcony at dawn, dusk and in between
• A private tour of the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri

Day 1 Depart USA

Today you depart on your overnight flight to Delhi the capital city of India and a charming blend of historic past and vibrant present so much so the that city is informally divided into Old Delhi and New Delhi.

Day 2 Welcome to India

You arrive late in the day and met by your guide who will assist you in getting to the car that will take you to The Imperial, your home for the next three nights  and where a good night's rest awaits

Day 3 Delhi and the Historic Red Fort

Since you arrive in Delhi late in the previous day, we have left the entire morning free for you to catch up on your sleep. After lunch, your guide will pick you up for a personalized tour of old Delhi. you will see the old fort built in 900 BC with walls close to a mile in length. you will also see the famous red fort named for the red stone from which it was built. It was here that the British deposed the last Mughal ruler and also the location from which it's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared India's independence from Britain. You will also visit the site of the cremation of Gandhi, the non-violent leader of Indian independence. Tonight enjoy an intimate welcome dinner at the hotel's famed restaurant " The Spice Route" considered as one of the top ten restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveler.

Day 4 Highlights of Imperial Delhi

After Breakfast your guide will pick you up for a visitation to the highlights of New Delhi noted for its wide avenues and mix of classical Mughal architecture and the design of the British Raj, particularly those buildings designed by Sir Edwin Luytens, the chief architect of Imperial India. During your trip you will view India Gate, Luytens' memorial to the over 70,000 Indian soldiers killed in World War I and also home to the eternal flame honoring Indian soldiers who died during the 1971 war with Pakistan. You will also see Rathtrapati Bhavan which was built in 1929 as the home of the British Viceroy. At its peak, it took 2,000 people to maintain it. You will also visit Humayun's Tomb, the first major example of Mughal architecture in India and an inspiration for the Taj Mahal. After lunch you return to the hotel to relax or enjoy its many amenities

Day 5 Scenic Drive to Agra

After an early breakfast, your guide is waiting with your car for the four hour drive through the Indian countryside to reach Agra, site of one of the most recognized monuments in the world, the Taj Mahal. your lunch at the hotel offers your first chance to view this great edifice since your hotel is about 2,000 feet from the monument and all rooms overlook it.

Day 6 Enjoying Agra and the Taj Mahal

Rising early, you meet your guide who will take you the short distance to the Taj Mahal to see it at sunrise. After your visit you return to the hotel for breakfast before continuing your private tour. Agra is an old city and was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. While its significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1634, its architectural wealth has secured its place in history and in the minds of travelers. A pleasant town with a languid pace of life, Agra is renowned for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes. You will visit the Agra Fort before returning to the Taj Mahal to view it as the sun sets.

Day 7 Fatehpur Sikri and Jaipur

You have the chance to view the Taj Mahal one last time over breakfast in the restaurant  but then it will be time for your guide to pick you up for your next destination the "pink city" of Jaipur. On the way, however you stop to visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Built in red sandstone in a blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture, the city was built by Emperor Akbar to be a sister capital to Agra but was abandoned fourteen years after its creation supposedly because of a lack of water. Today it is a ghost city but its architecture is in perfect condition. After the visit and lunch along the way you arrive at your hotel, once the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur. This evening will be fun as your enjoy dinner at "Steam" a restored steam engine with a Victorian style station creating an exciting entertainment venue.

Day 8 The Pink City and the Amber Palace

Since it was color-washed in pink to celebrate a visit by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, Jaipur has been nicknamed the "pink city". Your exploration today will take you to the Amber Palace which you enter on an Elephant. Inside the fortress are amazing rooms inlaid with precious stones. After lunch at a local restaurant you will visit the Hawa Mahal or "Palace of the Winds" five stories of intricate carving from which former members of the royal household could observe the "common folk' at the nearby markets. You will also visit the City Palace and its display of ancient weaponry and the 18th century observatory, the Jantar Mantar. This evening a change of pace as you visit the grand dining room of the hotel's Suvarna Mahal with Rennaissance paintings on the ceiling, liveried serving staff and live classical music. The chefs offer selections from the various royal houses of India.

Day 9 Jaipur to Delhi

You have the morning to relax and have lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon your guide will be waiting to take you to the airport for your flight to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, you will be met and transferred an airport hotel where a day room has been reserved. After you have had a chance to rest, your guide will return to the hotel to assist you as you check-in for your late evening or early morning flight back to the USAB, L

Day 10 Arrive in the USA

You arrive back in the USA today.

Services Included

• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary
• Baggage handling at all hotels
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest informationregarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round