India’s Golden Triangle, Tigers and Shimla

We depart London Heathrow on our flight to Delhi.

We arrive in the Indian capital late this morning for a one-night stay. Delhi is one of India's most colourful and exciting metropolises, where the old and new exist harmoniously. We experience the city in a unique way, travelling on pink tuk-tuks, run entirely by women, a wonderful introduction to lively Delhi. Later, immerse yourself in this vibrant metropolis with some free time, or maybe relax at the hotel after your journey.

We leave Delhi on the Shatabdi Express to Kalka. Here we board the UNESCO-listed, narrow-gauge 'Himalayan Queen', also affectionately referred to as the Toy Train. Covering a journey of 60 miles, we pass through lush green countryside in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas, crossing hundreds of bridges and powering through 102 tunnels on our way to Shimla. The train moves at a leisurely pace, so there's time to soak in the beautiful scenery. Alternatively, you may choose to make this journey by car. The mountain town of Shimla was once the summer capital of the British Raj and enjoys a cooler climate than India's bustling cities, and on arrival we check into our hotel for three nights.

Our day begins with an informative talk from expert guest speaker, author and historian Raaja Bhasin, whose spellbinding stories of his home town bring to life the history of Shimla. Our exploration of Shimla continues with a sightseeing tour that takes in much of its colonial heritage. We start at the Viceregal Lodge, the summer seat of the viceroys until the 1940s, and we also visit the Sankat Mochan temple. An afternoon stroll takes us past the town's Gaiety Theatre, the Victorian-Gothic Christ Church and Scandal Point, so named as it was once a popular place for people to gather and share gossip.

Today is free for you to explore at your own pace. One option is to take a trip to Kufri for stunning views across the mountains, followed by a high tea lunch at Wildflower Hall. Alternatively, you might like to soak up some of your natural surroundings with a hike around the surrounding pine forests or up Summer Hill for fantastic views. Once the sun sets, perhaps make your way to Lakkar Bazaar, a long stretch of open-air stalls selling traditional woodwork and souvenirs.

We make the return trip on the Shatabdi Express to Delhi for two more nights, checking into our hotel on arrival.

Visiting Old Delhi, we take a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of the bazaar to Chandni Chowk. We also visit Jama Masjid - India's largest mosque, Raj Ghat - a simple but moving memorial to Gandhi, and we pass Delhi's iconic Red Fort. Later, we take a sightseeing tour of the wide, leafy avenues and impressive Mughal and colo-nial architecture of New Delhi. On our tour we see the India Gate war memorial, the grand Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mughal Emperor Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar - India's tallest stone tower.

We join the Gatimaan Express bound for Agra this morning. On arrival, we check into our hotel for the night before visiting the imposing Agra Fort, built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. Built on a hill above Agra, its centrepiece is a tower with a marble balcony where Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last days imprisoned. Inside the fort are some exquisite specimens of Mughal architecture, including the Moti Masjid. Later we travel across the city to the spectacular Taj Mahal, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Built by Shah Jahan in 1653 in memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, this iconic white marble building is a monument to undying love and is regarded as the world's finest example of Mughal and Persian architecture.

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 almost remains exactly as it was over 400 years ago, giving us an insight into the opulent lifestyle of the Mughal era. After a guided tour, we continue to Ranthambore National Park, our base for the next two nights.

For Christmas Departure - Tiger spotting in Ranthambore - Leaving Agra by coach, we travel direct to Ranthambore National Park, enjoying a picnic lunch enroute. Covering an area four times the size of Malta, this is 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. After checking in to our hotel for two nights, we experience a highlight of our holiday as we board open-topped safari vehicles - called 'canters' - to embark on a game drive through the park. Returning to 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. This evening we gather for a Christmas Eve dinner in our hotel.

Please Note - For selected departures that depart on a Sunday please see the Additional Information section below to see the running order of the itinerary.

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. We are given a talk by a naturalist at the hotel before our first game drive in open-topped safari vehicles - called 'canters'.

For Christmas Departure - Christmas Day in Ranthambore - Waking up in tropical Rajasthan on Christmas Day, we have a full day at leisure to spend as we wish. We can embrace the festive spirit as well as having the benefit of relaxing by the pool. Throughout the day we can join in with the festivities, and enjoy the breakfast, lunch and a celebratory dinner available at the hotel.

Please Note - For selected departures that depart on a Sunday please see the Additional Information section below to see the running order of the itinerary.

We are treated to another game drive today, increasing our chances of seeing other native wildlife, such as sloth bears, hyenas, macaques, wild boar and even leopards. Of course, we also hope to see another tiger or two and, accompanied by local experts who know the animals' daily movements almost as well as their own, we have a good chance of doing so. This afternoon, we continue to beautiful Jaipur, attending an authentic Aarti Fire Ceremony at the Birla Temple before checking into our hotel for two nights.

For Christmas Depature - Morning Safari and Hindu fire ceremony - This morning we set out on an early morning 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. 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.

Please Note - For selected departures that depart on a Sunday please see the Additional Information section below to see the running order of the itinerary.

Discovering the 'Pink City' of Jaipur on a full-day sightseeing tour, we travel by Jeep, first seeing the Amber Fort, located high on a hillside overlooking Maota Lake. We have the chance to explore the ornate rooms of the palace complex, before we experience the city in a unique way, travelling on pink tuk-tuks, run entirely by women, a wonderful way to explore Jaipur. Next, we continue our tour to the City Palace, home to the current Maharajah of Jaipur, and to an early 18th-century Astronomical Observatory. We also drive past the Palace of the Winds, a stunning façade built in 1799 whose intricately latticed windows were designed to allow the ladies of the royal household to look over the streets below without being seen.

We returning to Delhi by coach for a final time, spending the night at the same hotel as before.

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to London Heathrow.