Please Note - Sunday Departures
Below is the running order for Days 9, 10 and 11 for departures
that depart on a Sunday.
Day 9 - Fatehpur Sikri
Leaving Agra by coach, we stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a perfectly
preserved red sandstone city built in the 16th century as India's
political capital but abandoned after only 14 years due to lack of
water. Remarkably, the city remains almost exactly as it was more
than 400 years ago, giving us an insight into the opulent lifestyle
of the Mughal era. After a guided tour, we enjoy lunch before
continuing to Ranthambore National Park, our base for the next two
nights. On arrival at our hotel, we are given a talk by a
naturalist who explains about the wildlife that calls Ranthambore
home, and the preservation efforts that are taking place.
Day 10 - Tiger spotting at Ranthambore National Park
We experience a highlight of our holiday as we head into
Ranthambore National Park, one of the best places in the world to
spot a Bengal tiger in its natural habitat. Declared a Project
Tiger Reserve in 1973, the park is a favourite among wildlife
photographers and tourists, as it's possible to see one of these
majestic creatures basking in the sun or sauntering through the
wilderness. Boarding our open-topped safari vehicles - called
'canters' - we embark on a game drive through the park. After lunch
at the hotel, we set out again on our afternoon safari, increasing
our chances of seeing other native wildlife, such as sloth bears,
hyenas, macaques, wild boar and even leopards. As we are guided by
local experts who know the animals' daily movements almost as well
as their own, we have a good chance of seeing an elusive Bengal
tiger.
Day 11 - Hindu fire ceremony in Jaipur
There is a free morning to relax by the hotel's delightful pool.
This afternoon, we continue to beautiful Jaipur, attending an
authentic Aarti Fire Ceremony at the white marble Birla Temple
enroute. This mesmerising ritual uses fire and incense to offer
devotion and blessings to Hindi deities and is accompanied by
lively dances and songs. We check in to our 5-Star hotel in central
Jaipur for two nights, where we also have dinner this evening.