Highlights of India, Mumbai and the Golden Triangle

We meet at London Heathrow ahead of our overnight flight to Delhi.

Landing in the Indian capital, we transfer to our hotel for the next two nights and you're free to settle in, relax or begin exploring.

We begin sightseeing in this chaotic yet charming city, with a guided tour of Old and New Delhi. This vibrant metropolis is a heady blend of medieval, colonial and modern architecture and culture. To really absorb the atmosphere here, we travel by rickshaw through the narrow streets of the historic bazaar to Chadni Chowk, where the aroma of Indian spices floats on the air. We also visit Jama Masjid, to see India's largest mosque - Raj Ghat, a simple but moving memorial to Gandhi - and visit the city's iconic Red Fort. Later we explore the wide leafy avenues of New Delhi, where we see the imposing India Gate, Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb and Qutab Minar - India's tallest stone tower.

We board India's first semi-high-speed train, the Gatimaan Express, for our journey to Agra - a former capital of the Mughal Empire, renowned for its fantastic ancient architecture and UNESCO World Heritage status. After settling into our hotel for the night, we take a tour of the city, visiting two of its best-known attractions: the imposing Agra Fort and the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal. Constructed from pearlescent white marble and decorated with precious stones, the Taj Mahal is a 17th century mausoleum dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved queen of Emperor Shah Jahan. During our visit we have a chance to see the intricate calligraphy carvings of poems and scripture from the Quran.

Leaving Agra by coach, we stop at Fatephur Sikri, a perfectly-preserved red sandstone city which was built in the 16th century as India's political capital, but abandoned after only 14 years due to a lack of water. The city remains almost as it was 400 years ago, giving us an insight into the opulent architecture of the Mughal era. After a guided tour of the ancient streets and buildings we continue to Ranthambore, aboard the Shatabdi Express, our base for the next two nights.

We enjoy another highlight of our holiday today, taking two game drives in Ranthambore National Park. Considered the best park in India to see the elusive Royal Bengal tiger, the sanctuary is also home to hundreds of species of birds, crocodiles, deer and monkeys. Other rare creatures that roam its forests and scrublands include leopards, panthers, hyenas and even sloth bears. Look out for the park's incredible range of wildlife as we travel through the park with an expert guide, in the early morning and after-noon, to increase our chance of a tiger sighting. This evening, we are given a talk by a local naturalist - a specialist on the 515 square miles of Ranthambore and the animals which live there.

Travelling to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur for two nights, after checking into our hotel, you're free to unwind or head out into the city independently.

We explore Jaipur on a guided tour today. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur was founded in 1727 and is famed for its beautiful sights and distinctive pink buildings which were re-painted in the 19th century to celebrate a visit from Prince Albert. We see the impressive Amber Fort, on the edge of Maota Lake - one of three ancient hilltop forts above Jaipur, known for its intricate Hindu artistry and a complex collection of underground passages, courtyards and gateways. We also drive past the 18th century Palace of the Winds, with its stunning façade and latticed windows which were designed to allow the ladies of the royal household to look out over the streets below without being seen.

We transfer to the airport and board our internal flight to Mumbai, home for the next two nights. Set on India's west coast beside the Arabian Sea, this colourful city of contrasts is famous as the birthplace of Bollywood and has a thriving financial and commercial district. A gateway to India since the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Mumbai became the heart of the spice trade between the sub-continent and the Mediterranean. We have the chance to taste some of these delicious flavours ourselves at this evening's cooking demonstration held at our hotel.

Our day begins at day break with an extraordinary dawn walking tour that gives us an authentic insight into Mumbai life. We start at the Colaba Dock, where fishermen gather after a night at sea. Continuing along the almost empty Dadabhai Naoroji Road - usually the nerve centre of the city - we pass colonial-era buildings on our way to Crawford Market, an authentic Indian bazaar, filled with people shopping for ingredients. We also explore the vibrant neighbourhoods of Byculla and Dadar before returning to the hotel for breakfast and some free time. Later, we set out on a sightseeing tour by coach which includes the Gateway of India, an arched monument from the colonial era, the impressive Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a 19th century UNESCO-listed railway station, and Mani Bhavan, Gandhi's former home. Our final stop is Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat, an open-air laundromat where hundreds of dedicated washers clean clothes the time-honoured way - with elbow grease and concrete tubs.

Bidding farewell to India, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to London Heathrow.