Northern India is home to some of the country’s most iconic sites and this journey incorporates the very best of them before concluding with seven nights of relaxation beside the sea on a palm-fringed Maldivian island.
Starting in Delhi, experience the excitement and commotion of atmospheric Old Delhi then travel by high-speed train to Agra with its extraordinary collection of Mughal forts, tombs and palaces. Two nights will be spent wildlife viewing in Ranthambore National Park before continuing to regal Rajput capital of Jaipur. Flying south towards the equator, end your holiday in the Maldives next to the turquoise Indian Ocean.
Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bangalore – Maldives
Trip Highlights
- Agra is the setting for India’s grandest Mughal sites including the celebrated Taj Mahal
- Ranthambore is one of the best places in India to see the magnificent tiger in the wild
- Discover Jaipur’s City Palace complex of which the famous Hawa Mahal forms part
- Visit Fatehpur Sikri, the now abandoned capital city built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar
- Relax in the Maldives on a hideaway island of white-sand beaches and turquoise seas
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today depart the UK on the Emirates flight to Dubai.
Day 2
Arrive Delhi
Arrive into Dubai and connect onto the Emirates flight to Delhi where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. Delhi is India's capital and a city of two halves. Old Delhi was the heart of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries and today is an historic district of mosques, forts and antiquated monuments. By contrast New Delhi’s opulent government buildings, spacious tree-lined avenues and charming white-washed bungalows was purpose-built in the 1930s by the British as a colonial capital and remains the epicentre of Indian political power.
The Claridges New Delhi
The Taj Mahal Palace
Day 3
Delhi
This morning take a guided tour of Old Delhi to explore the area's dense network of alleyways, homes, bazaars and mosques. Visits include the crowded and colourful Chandni Chowk market, beautiful Jama Masjid, the Red Fort and Rajghat. In the afternoon visit New Delhi which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and is today home to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the Indian President, Rajpath and imposing India Gate.
- Breakfast
The Claridges New Delhi
The Taj Mahal Palace
Day 4
Delhi to Agra – by train
Today start early for the morning express train from Delhi to Agra where you will stay overnight. During a guided tour you will visit the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula as well as the impressive Agra Fort. You will also visit the magnificent Taj Mahal, which is arguably the greatest monument to love. Spend time admiring the incredible beauty and craftsmanship of this spectacular landmark.
- Breakfast
ITC Mughal
Day 5
Agra to Ranthambore via Fatehpur Sikri – 250kms
Leave Agra and visit Fatehpur Sikri which was once the capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and constructed of red sandstone. Afterwards continue to the Project Tiger Reserve at Ranthambore where you will stay for two nights. Running from the easternmost spur of the Aravallis to the Vindhya Range, Ranthambore is set in a valley of dry deciduous forest. The reserve supports a wide range of birds and mammals and, although the tiger is the main predator, leopard, jackal and hyena are also present as well as sambar, chital, wild boar, nilgai, chinkara and crocodile.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Khem Villas
Sujan Sher Bagh
Day 6
Ranthambore
Today visit the reserve at sunrise and sunset in the company of an expert naturalist. As with much of India the blend between nature and history is strong at Ranthambore with an abandoned 13th century fort the focal point of the park.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Khem Villas
Sujan Sher Bagh
Day 7
Ranthambore to Jaipur – 160kms
After a final early morning safari leave Ranthambore and continue by road to the colourful ‘pink city’ of Jaipur where you will stay for two nights. Planned by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1727, Jaipur is a colourful city of bazaars, palaces, havelis and forts. In the early evening take a guided walk through the bustling markets of the historic centre.
- Breakfast
Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Rambagh Palace
Day 8
Jaipur
Start the day with a morning drive outside of the city to visit picturesque Amber Fort which is set high on a ridge and surrounded by rugged hills. A Rajput capital for over 700 years there is much to see from well-tended gardens and elegant temples to the decorative private chambers of the Maharaja. In the afternoon return to Jaipur and visit the superb City Palace complex which is famously home to the beautiful Peacock Gate and famous Hawa Mahal – better known as the 'Palace of the Winds'. A visit will also be made to the Jantar Mantar which is the largest stone observatory in the world.
- Breakfast
Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Rambagh Palace
Day 9
Jaipur to Bangalore – by air
Today you will be transferred to Jaipur Airport in good time to catch your onward flight to Bangalore. On arrival you will be met and taken to a nearby airport hotel for an overnight stay.
- Breakfast
Taj Bangalore
Day 10
Bangalore to Male – by air / Male to Makunudu Island – by speedboat
After breakfast you will be taken back to Bangalore Airport to catch a non-stop flight to the Maldives. On arrival at Male Airport you will be met and taken by speedboat to Makunudu Island where you will stay for the next seven nights.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Makunudu Island
Baros Maldives
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives
Day 11-16
Makunudu Island
At leisure to relax and enjoy your hotel.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Makunudu Island
Baros Maldives
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives
Day 17
Male to the UK
This morning transfer by speedboat back to Male Airport in good time to catch the Emirates flight to Dubai. On arrival connect onto the Emirates flight back to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Discover the delightful Rajasthani desert city Jodhpur. Famed as India’s ‘blue city’, buildings in the old town are washed with light-blue paint which, from the ramparts of Meherangarh Fort, provides a special effect. Jodhpur is linked by road to both Jaipur and Udaipur.
Udaipur is one of India’s most beautiful cities. Set around picturesque Lake Pichola, a highlight is the Maharaja of Udaipur’s City Palace complex which houses palaces, temples and grand royal apartments. There are regular flights to Delhi and elsewhere in India.
Extend your tour and travel east from Delhi to Varanasi, India’s holiest city. A centre of pilgrimage for over two millennia, Varanasi is a magical place. Attend an evening aarti religious ceremony and view pilgrims performing morning religious rituals in the Ganges.
Travel north from Delhi, by rail or air, to Amritsar. Epicentre of the Sikh religion, Amritsar is the setting for the famous Golden Temple which is a highlight of any visit to the city. Explore the complex during the day and in the evening return to witness the nightly Palki ceremony.
Guide to Price
17 days from £5995 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Private car with English speaking driver in India
- Sightseeing with local English speaking guides
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
- Return speedboat transfers in the Maldives
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £5995
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways currently fly non-stop from London to the Maldives. There are a range of alternative airlines which include Emirates, SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airlines connecting in Dubai, Colombo or Doha.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from London to the Maldives take approximately 10 hours. Flights with stops en-route take from 12 to 15 hours.
Time Zone
The Maldives are +5 hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
British nationals can obtain a tourist visa for up to 30 days on arrival in the Maldives.
Do’s & Don’ts
Alcohol is available only on the resort's islands but is prohibited elsewhere. It is advisable not to buy any on the flight or at the duty free shops en route to the Maldives as it will be confiscated on arrival at customs.
The use, possession or distribution of vaping products is prohibited. If found with a vaping device, it will be confiscated.
If you need regular medication a valid medical prescription, issued by your registered medical practitioner, is required. Without one you may not be able to take the medication through customs.
Dress standards are generally informal but tourists should be sensitive to local dress requirements when visiting non-resort areas. A degree of modesty while sunbathing is required even on resort islands.
Money
The Maldives' currency is the rufiyaa, which is made up of 100 larees. Notes are available in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 or 500, although the two and five-rufiyaa notes are rare. Coins are in denominations of one and two rufiyaa and 10, 25 and 50 larees. However, many visitors to the resorts will never see rufiyaa with US dollars commonly used and accepted everywhere. Cash and credit cards are accepted and, unless otherwise specified, US dollars are preferred. Some resorts which are popular among European visitors will also accept Euros.
Tipping
There are no clearly-defined rules to tipping in the Maldives. A service tax of 10-12.5% is added to almost everything, from minibar drinks to snorkelling trips. In many places, this means there is no need to tip additionally but, in some cases, the people serving you personally will expect a tip. Leave a tip for room staff including the butler if there is one. Acceptable currencies for tips are US dollars, local currency and Euros. It is not usually necessary to tip bar staff or waiters as the tip is added to your bill.
Food & Drink
The resorts in the Maldives usually offer a wide variety of international cuisine. Locally, fish is common and the most popular is tuna, including skipjack, tunny, yellowfin and frigate. All is caught locally and prepared in several ways including boiled, sun-dried or smoked. Tuna is also used as a filling. Another popular local delicacy is garudiya, a traditional fish soup, often with chillies, onions and curry flavourings. It is served with rice, onion, lemon and chilli. Coconuts are also used in many recipes – in particular for desserts – and rice too is popular either boiled or ground into flour. A flat bread called roshi, like an Indian chapatti, generally accompanies meals.
Accommodation
There is a huge range of accommodation to choose from in the Maldives from exclusive island retreats offering barefoot luxury to larger more family-friendly resorts. As each hotel is a self-contained island resort they all have their own restaurants and bar and, depending on the specific property, spa and water sport facilities too. The Anantara Dhigu Resort is a fantastic option if you wish to travel with your family, Baros Island Resort is perfect for those seeking intimate luxury whilst the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa is consistently known to be one of the best five-star options and is a short speedboat ride Male Airport.
Shopping
Shopping on the Maldives is limited as the majority of visitors spend most of their time on the resort islands. Local gifts at the hotel can be bought and if visiting the main island of Male local jewellery and fabrics may be found.
Suggested Reading
The Footprint and Rough Guide offer a good general introduction to the Maldives. Some other suggestions include: ‘Maldives: The Very Best Of’ by Michael Friedel ‘A Brief Guide to the Maldives’ by Adrian Neville ‘Maldives’ by Stefania Lamberti ‘Maldives, God's Masterpiece on Earth’ by BK Adhitya
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on the Maldives the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
Thank you for an epic and amazingly unforgettable holiday
SC & DC - Maldives - April 2023
Just wanted to say thank you for such an epic and amazingly unforgettable holiday experience. We made some fantastic family memories...and it was exactly what I wanted and needed.
Thank you so much...for the time and effort that you spent on getting this right for me and dealing will all my questions and emails.
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