Experience the vibrant colours, sights and sounds of India during an iconic rail journey and a series of immersive tours, as you explore the gleaming Golden Triangle.

India’s sprawling capital formed by several ancient cities melding together through the centuries. Here you’ll find UNESCO world heritage sites sitting comfortably alongside innovative modern architecture like the florally inspired curves of the Lotus Temple. Immerse yourself in the colourful chaos of the streets. Sample the Mughlai cuisine, from Chaat to butter chicken, so delicious that it’s exported to the world or soak up the atmosphere of the city in the evening, when some of its most prominent buildings – such as India Gate - are beautifully illuminated.

In Old Delhi, explore the Jama Masjid Mosque, the largest in India, whose courtyard can accommodate 25,000 worshippers. Admire the well-preserved ramparts of the Red Fort and mingle with throngs of locals at Khari Baoli Street market. New Delhi is where you’ll see the Rashtrapati Bhavan - the official residence of the Indian President - and the Jantar Mantar observatory, which features the world’s largest stone sundial.

Prepare yourself for the one of the greatest love letters in the world – the Taj Mahal. Constructed by 20,000 artisans over a twenty-year period, this mausoleum was dedicated to Emperor Shah Jahan’s favourite wife, who died in childbirth. Made of polished white marble and inlaid with a king’s ransom of jewels, this is one of the world’s most recognisable buildings. Complementing this remarkable building is the symmetrical harmony of the garden which features fountains, marble benches and stone-paved raised pathways.

Your stay in Ranthambore will provide a fantastic opportunity to embark on an exciting and unforgettable game drive in a shared canter. Journey through the captivating landscape filled with glassy lakes, dense trees and ruins of ancient monuments as you keep lookout for the jungle’s majestic inhabitants. Available twice daily, and in the company of experienced guides who know the jungle and are very familiar with the behaviours of the wild animals of the park; you’ll enjoy close encounters with India’s wildlife in their natural habitat comprising of tigers, leopards, jackals, sloth bears and Indian wild boar.

Following breakfast in the hotel, you’ll check out and be driven to Jaipur, a journey which will take approximately 4 hours. En route to the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, you’ll stop for lunch before checking in to your hotel in the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur.

The mountain-top Amber Fort is one of the architectural gems of Jaipur and looks out over the tranquil Maota Lake. Inside is a visual feast of mirrored ceilings and embossed silver doors leading to ever grander rooms that have been designed with meticulous precision. Rajasthan’s mountain-fringed capital is also home to the Hawa Mahal, a building festooned with latticed balconies from which royal ladies could view the street below while preserving their modesty.

This morning, you will transfer back to Delhi where you will enjoy an evening of rest before your rail journey to Shimla embarks in the morning!

Following a train journey from Delhi to Kalka; you’ll begin your Shimla adventure by boarding the Kalka-Shimla toy train to ride along a UNESCO World Heritage Site railway track. This compact train whizzes through the Himalayas, zooming through 103 tunnels, over 700 Gothic bridges and angling around tight twists on this epic track. Upon arriving in Shimla, you’ll be transferred to the Taj Theog Resort & Spa Shimla for your hotel stay. Embrace stunning panoramic views of the magnificent Himalayas surrounded by towering conifers, cedars and oaks; dotted with snow-dropped lakes and rushing rivers; as you settle into the snug and generous surroundings of polished wooden walls, fine art and meticulous furnishings.

Today, you’ll experience a once-in-a-lifetime tour with a trail walk through the awe-inspiring Himalayas. Walking in the Himalayas is one of life’s great experiences. No mountains can match their beauty and majesty. In Himachal Pradesh, otherwise known as Devbhumi, the Land of the Gods, a beautiful hill state in northern India framed by the western Himalayas, you’ll venture out on your incredible walking trail, pausing at picturesque hill stations for a rest and to admire the compelling views. Surrounded by the mesmerising skylines of the Himalayan range, the walking trail is inhabited by conifers, cedars, broadleaved oaks and rhododendrons, and punctuated with apple orchards, hamlets, cultivated terraces, snow fed lakes and gushing rivers.

A treasured resort, this hillside city is a box of treats, ready to be discovered. Set in the foothills of the Himalayas, Shimla welcomes visitors to enjoy its cooler temperatures and wander uninterrupted along the Mall, a pretty paved walkway in which to experience this city up close. Unlike other cities, traffic is banned from the centre so you can absorb its calmer energy, scented by the nearby pine trees.

Fully-rested, today you’ll enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Shimla, exploring highlights including the Shimla State Museum, home to a grand collection of ancient historical sculptures, coins, paintings and photographs collected from all over the state; Vice Regal Lodge, an 1888 pile that was the official summer residence of the British viceroys; the Mock Tudor Library and Mall Road, the main street in Shimla. In the afternoon, you will return to Delhi for a further one-night hotel stay before your flight home tomorrow.

Your immersive Indian discovery complete, today you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight home, filled with memories.