Explore the riches and culture of colourful India as you travel by train through its scenic delights. Discover the history of bustling Delhi, be amazed by the incredible Taj Mahal, visit the impressive Amber Fort, experience the thrill of tigers roaming free in Ranthambore National Park and marvel at the Pink City, Jaipur. This is a holiday of contrasts and is sure to leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Take a train around India’s Golden Triangle – the three most visited cities in the country’s north-west – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, dubbed ‘golden’ for the extraordinary wealth of cultural and historical splendour on offer in these fantastic cities
- Travel in comfort on the Shatabdi Express, the first of which was commissioned in 1988 to commemorate the centenary of India’s first prime minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s birthday, by the minister for railways
- Take the Shimla add-on and journey on India’s famous Toy Train with its 1920s carriages, at top speeds of 20mph
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- The services of an experienced Tour Manager
- Return flights to Delhi
- 7 nights half board
- Hotel porterage
INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
- City tours of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
- The Amber Fort
- Ranthambore National Park including three safari drives
ADD ON
SHIMLA BY TRAIN 2 NIGHTS FROM £415
Discover more of India’s stunning Golden Triangle on this spectacular add-on to Shimla.
You’ll travel by the scenic Shatabdi Express to Kalka and then join the Toy train to Shimla, passing through the foothills of the Himalayas. You’ll enjoy a guided tour and see some of the sights, as well as having time to make your own discoveries.
Please note that this add-on is accompanied by an English-speaking representative. Please speak to our Holiday Advisors for further information.
Your Accommodation
HOTELS
DELHI – CROWNE PLAZA (5-STAR) OR SIMILAR
2 nights half board. The hotel has two restaurants, cafe, pastry shop, lounge bar, outdoor swimming pool, gym, spa and beauty salon. Bedrooms have private facilities, TV, minibar, and tea/coffee makers.
RANTHAMBORE – NAHARGARH RANTHAMBORE (4-STAR)
2 nights half board. Situated near the old tiger sanctuary, this boutique heritage hotel has a swimming pool and restaurant. Rooms have air-conditioning, satellite TV, safe, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities.
JAIPUR – RAMADA HOTEL (4-STAR)
2 nights half board. This hotel is located in the business district and has restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
AGRA – JAYPEE PALACE (5-STAR)
1 night half board. Spread over 25 acres, the hotel has a swimming pool, health club, a spa and several restaurants and bars.
Your Itinerary
DAY 1 UK/DELHI
Fly to Delhi arriving late evening and check into your hotel for a two-night stay.
DAY 2 UK/DELHI
India’s capital city is full of delights and today we experience many of them on our full day tour. Delhi is split into two very different halves, the spacious open imperial city of New Delhi, created by the British in 1911, and the 17th-century walled city of Old Delhi. The broad avenues and noble buildings of the British Raj contrast with a host of historic treasures in New Delhi. There are many wonderful sights here, as you will discover, such as the impressive Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, and the imposing India Gate, both designed by Edwin Lutyens. We’ll also see the exquisite tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun and the tapering Qutab Minar tower. Standing at almost 240 feet, this splendid sandstone tower bears inscriptions from the Koran and intricate carvings. Later on, we step back in time as we visit Old Delhi, the city of the Mughal emperors. As we tour the city we experience some of the traditions of Indian life, particularly in the teeming Chandni Chowk bazaar. We will also see Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, and pay a visit to Raj Ghat, the site of Gandhi’s cremation.
DAY 3 AGRA
We board the Shatabdi Express early this morning for our journey to Agra. This fast train links many of India’s major cities and is an efficient and enjoyable mode of transport. Once in Agra, our full day tour takes us to India’s most famous of treasures, the Taj Mahal. This spectacular palace was built by the Emperor Shah Jehan in honour of his favourite wife. It is set in classical gardens with rippling pools and its white marble walls and decoration of semiprecious stones are truly breathtaking – a fitting celebration of the emperor’s love for his wife. We’ll catch another glimpse from the mighty Agra Fort, where Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his own son, spending his last days gazing at the mausoleum. Our final sight of the day is just outside the city, and is the impressive Sikandra mausoleum. This red sandstone and marble building is another example of exquisite Indian architecture.
DAY 4 FATEHPUR SIKRI & SAWAI MADHOPUR
We rejoin the Shatabdi Express this morning and travel to Sawai Madhopur via Fatehpur Sikri. Built in 1568 to celebrate the birth of the Emperor’s son, Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned just 13 years later. The city is famed for its pillared pavilions and the wonderful Palace Mahal, whose tiers once bore screens to provide cover for those inside. From here, we continue to Rathambore for a two-night stay.
DAY 5 RATHAMBORE
Commonly known as the Tiger City, Sawai Madhopur is home to Ranthambore National Park, a wildlife sanctuary famed for its tigers. Originally, this park was the private hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, but now it is open for all to enjoy. As well as the majestic tigers, hundreds of species of birds and other animals can be found here and we have the opportunity to spot them all on our morning and afternoon safaris today.
DAY 6 RANTHAMBORE & JAIPUR
A final safari, looking out for the elusive tigers, is enjoyed this morning before we transfer to the railway station to board the Indore Jodhpur Ranthambore Express to Jaipur. We arrive later this evening and check into our hotel for two nights.
DAY 7 JAIPUR
Jaipur was founded in 1727 and is remarkable for the beauty of its sandstone buildings, tinged with pink and ochre. Our day starts with a visit to the stunning 17th-century Amber Fort which houses temples, pavilions and royal apartments on the outskirts of the city. Our afternoon tour will take us to see the City Palace with its seven storeys and seven courtyards, and the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, where ladies of the court could watch, unseen, the public processions in the streets below. Emperor Jai Singh consulted the stars before building Jaipur, and the elaborate, if enigmatic Jantar Mantar observatory stands testimony to his belief in astronomy.
DAY 8 DELHI
This afternoon transfer to the railway station for your return journey to Delhi. On arrival we transfer to the airport for your flight home.
DAY 9 UK
Arrival in the UK.
Travel Extras
We know that picking your dream destination is the biggest part of making your perfect holiday come true. But there are a number of other decisions that have to be made such as where to park at the airport and who to change your money with, to name but a few. So to really get every aspect of your holiday sorted we have set up a one stop travel shop and useful links section for you to organise all your travel needs, leaving you to concentrate on having a memorable and relaxing holiday with Page & Moy.
Holiday Extras - save up to 60%
You can benefit from access to Holiday Extras, a separate company that can organize a whole range of services from airport hotels and secure airport parking to VIP liunges in airports, and more, at 23 airports across the UK.
To book go to http://www.holidayextras.co.uk/pageandmoy.html.
If you find the same parking facility or hotel for less within seven days of booking, tell Holiday Extras and they will match the price or refund the difference. Conditions apply.
top
Airport Lounges from Lounge Pass
Start your holiday off refreshed and relaxed by taking advantage of our VIP airport lounge offer, available at a number of airports, both here and abroad. From as little as £15 each, you’ll enjoy a peaceful and tranquil environment, where you can enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks, read the papers, check your email or simply relax and watch TV until your flight is called.
For details, please click here.
top
Casual Clothing from Lands’ End
Lands' End offer an extensive range of high quality casual and tailored clothes for men and women. Choose from their selection of jackets, knitted tops, trousers, dresses, skirts and more.
For details, please visit www.landsend.co.uk
top
Photography from Jessops
Jessops is the UK's leading specialist photographic retailer. With great on-line savings on hundreds of products, including digital cameras, camcorders, lenses, batteries and much more, plus free delivery on mainland UK orders over £75, Jessops has all your photographic needs covered.
For details, please visit www.jessops.com
top
Travel Accessories from Travel with Care
Travel With Care offers a comprehensive range of travel accessories, with everything you need for your holiday. From First Aid, DVT Prevention and Healthcare to money belts, wallets, waterproofs, toiletries, alarm clocks, and much, much more.
For details, please visit www.travelwithcare.com
top
Getting you there - European Holidays
Fly direct from your local airport Giving you choice is one of our main priorities, so when it comes to flights, instead of offering just Heathrow or Gatwick as departure airports, whenever possible we offer to fly you direct from your nearest airport to your holiday destination either free or for a supplement of just £29 per person.
top
Choice of 20 airports
You have the choice to fly direct to your holiday destination from up to 20 regional airports throughout the UK for a supplement of no more than £29 per person return.
top
Regional connecting flights to London from only £69
If you can’t fly direct to your destination from your local airport (see individual holiday details), usually you will have the choice of taking a regional connecting flight to Heathrow or Gatwick from as little as £69 per person return. If your connecting flight and your flight from Gatwick or Heathrow is with British Airways or British Midland, your luggage will automatically be checked through to your final destination, so there’s no need to collect or check your luggage in twice.
Fly from:
Aberdeen, Belfast, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Newquay
top
Make your own way and save up to £150 per person
You may want more flexibility to make your own travel arrangements to combine your trip with visits to friends and relatives or travel from an airport which we do not offer. If so, why not take advantage of our make your own way option. We offer a reduction of £150 off many of our holidays to allow you to make your own arrangements, if that is what you want. Details of where this option is available are shown on each holiday.
Please remember that these arrangements do not include flights or transfers and you will need to make your own travel arrangements at the beginning and end of your holiday.
top
Getting you there - Worldwide Holidays
To get your holiday off to a great start, we offer a range of transfer options with our compliments.
You can choose from the following options:
1. Experience door-to-door travel with Page & Moy (2009 departures only)
If you live within a 250-mile drive of your departure airport, we will arrange for a taxi to pick you up from your door and take you to the airport, and drop you home on your return, with our compliments.
2. FREE Connecting flights
If you live further than 250 miles from the airport, or if you prefer, you can opt to transfer to the main departure airport by a connecting flight from an airport closer to home (subject to availability).
3. FREE National Express coach travel
Alternatively, why not choose coach travel on the extensive national express network, with over 1,200 collection points nationwide. What’s more, we’ll pay for your ticket!
4. FREE airport car parking (2009 departures only)
If you would prefer the flexibility of travelling independently to the airport, we are pleased to offer
the option of free parking at your departure airport.
top