From the Mughal monuments and desert palaces of the Golden Triangle to the ancient rock fortress, sacred temples and misty tea country of the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’. Explore Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, then fly to Colombo and journey through Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, Kandy and the hill country before returning to the coast.
On arrival at Delhi, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.
Full-day sightseeing of Old and New Delhi. Visit the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, and enjoy a cycle-rickshaw ride through the busy lanes of Chandni Chowk.
In the afternoon, see the wide avenues of Lutyens’ New Delhi — Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate, Humayun’s Tomb and the 12th-century Qutub Minar. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.
Morning drive to Agra, the city of the Mughals. After check-in, visit the magnificent Agra Fort, the main residence of the Mughal emperors, and watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal from the Mehtab Bagh gardens across the river. Overnight stay at the hotel in Agra.
Early morning visit to the Taj Mahal, the marble monument to love built by Shah Jahan. After breakfast, drive to Jaipur, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s abandoned red-sandstone capital, on the way. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaipur.
Full-day sightseeing of the ‘Pink City’. Visit Amber Fort, with an optional elephant ride up to the ramparts, the City Palace museum and Jantar Mantar observatory, and photograph the pink-sandstone facade of Hawa Mahal. Evening free to browse the bazaars. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaipur.
Morning drive back to Delhi. Rest of the day is free for shopping or relaxing before the international leg of your journey. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.
After breakfast, transfer to Delhi airport for your flight to Colombo. On arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Colombo or Negombo. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Drive north into the Cultural Triangle. Stop at a village market and visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site with five caves of gilded Buddhas and painted ceilings. Continue to Sigiriya. Overnight stay at the hotel in Sigiriya.
Early morning climb of Sigiriya Rock, the 5th-century royal fortress, past the Mirror Wall and the Lion’s Paws gateway to the summit. After lunch, visit Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital with its Gal Vihara rock carvings, then continue to Kandy. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most revered Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka, and drive around Kandy Lake. See the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya and a gem museum, and in the evening enjoy a Kandyan cultural dance performance. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
Drive through emerald tea country to Nuwara Eliya, ‘Little England’, with a stop at a tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is made and taste a fresh cup. Afternoon free to stroll around Gregory Lake. Overnight stay at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Descend from the hill country to the coast, with a stop at Ramboda Falls. On arrival in Colombo, enjoy a city tour — Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square, Galle Face Green and the Pettah bazaar. Overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo.
After breakfast, transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport in time to catch your onward flight. Tour ends with memories of two remarkable countries.