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Lily Brough

Travel Specialist

020 7808 6788

020 7808 6788

Save up to £250pp on The Golden Triangle & Shimla

Valid for travel on select departures. Book by 23 December 2024.

For Ts&Cs and availability, please speak to one of our travel specialists.

Lead Price
From £3245pp
Duration
13 days & 12 nights
Itinerary Type
Group Tour
Holiday Type
General Interest
Tour Highlights

The Golden Triangle & Shimla

Experience a taste of India on this outstanding introductory tour of the country’s most celebrated sights. Exploring the Golden Triangle, this journey combines imperial Delhi with the legendary Taj Mahal at Agra and a 3-night stay in the princely city of Jaipur, culminating in the beautiful hill station of Shimla.
Dates and prices

Itinerary

YEAR:
DAY 1: Fly to Delhi
- +

Fly to Delhi

Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Delhi with Virgin Atlantic. (N)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, L*: Packed lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

DAY 2: Delhi
- +

Delhi

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to the Le Meridien for 1 night. Visit the Jama Masjid mosque and explore the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi by cycle rickshaw. Tour of New Delhi, including a drive past India Gate and the former viceregal residence. Welcome dinner at Haveli Dharampura, enjoy a dance performance, and take in views of the Red Fort and Jama Masjid from the upper terrace. (D)

Accommodation: Le Méridien New Delhi
DAY 3: New Delhi - Agra
- +

New Delhi - Agra

Visit Humayun’s Tomb, and the Qutb Minar tower. Drive to Agra and stay at the Trident Agra (or similar) for 2 nights. (B, D)

Accommodation: Trident Hotel Agra
DAY 4: Agra
- +

Agra

Sunrise visit to the spectacular Taj Mahal before exploring the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah and Agra Fort. Visit Mehtab Bagh (‘Moonlight Garden’), for sunset over the Taj Mahal. (B, D)

Accommodation: Trident Hotel Agra
DAY 5: Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
- +

Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur

Continue to Jaipur via the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri stepwell. En route, enjoy lunch at the lavish Laxmi Vilas Palace. Stay 3 nights at a converted royal hunting lodge, Ramgarh Lodge (or similar). (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Ramgarh Lodge, Jaipur - IHCL SeleQtions
DAY 6: Jaipur
- +

Jaipur

Morning visit to Amber Fort and the Anokhi Museum. Afternoon visit to the striking City Palace, home of the present maharajah and the curious Jantar Mantar observatory. (B, D)

Accommodation: Ramgarh Lodge, Jaipur - IHCL SeleQtions
DAY 7: Jaipur
- +

Jaipur

A day at leisure to relax. Perhaps explore Jaipur’s bazaars seeking out traditional Indian crafts, including jewellery, silver, and silk. (B, D)

Accommodation: Ramgarh Lodge, Jaipur - IHCL SeleQtions
DAY 8: Chandigarh
- +

Chandigarh

Explore the Birla Mandir Temple before flying to Chandigarh. Selected as the new capital of Punjab in 1948, Chandigarh was designed by Swiss architect Le Corbusier and completed in the early 1960s. Stay for 1 night at the Taj Chandigarh. (B)

Accommodation: Taj Chandigarh
DAY 9: Shimla
- +

Shimla

Take the early morning Kalka Shimla Express narrow-gauge toy train to Shimla, passing through stunning mountains. Enjoy the panoramic views from the vistadome carriages, which have windows on the ceiling. Stay 3 nights at the WelcomHeritage Elysium Resort & Spa (or similar) in Shimla, the British summer capital during the Raj era. (B, D)

Accommodation: WelcomHeritage Elysium
DAY 10: Shimla
- +

Shimla

Explore the historic mall and listen to the stories of its many colonial buildings while making your way to the Viceregal Lodge. (B, D)

Accommodation: WelcomHeritage Elysium
DAY 11: Shimla
- +

Shimla

Day at leisure. Option to explore Shimla on a nature walk from the house where Rudyard Kipling wrote Plain Tales from the Hills to the gallery of a Shimla painter. Alternatively, enjoy afternoon tea at the Oberoi Wildflower Hall, or visit the former princely state of Dhami to spend the day with its noble family, birdwatching and enjoying their stories over lunch. (B, D)

Accommodation: WelcomHeritage Elysium
DAY 12: Delhi
- +

Delhi

Drive to Chandigarh and connect with the train to Delhi. Stay overnight at the Le Meridien and enjoy a farewell dinner. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Le Méridien New Delhi
DAY 13: Delhi - London
- +

Delhi - London

Fly to London with Virgin Atlantic. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, L*: Packed lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

DAY 1: London - Delhi
- +

London - Delhi

Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Delhi with Virgin Atlantic. (N)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, L*: Packed lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

DAY 2: Delhi
- +

Delhi

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to the Le Meridien for 1 night. Visit the Jama Masjid mosque and explore the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi by cycle rickshaw. Tour of New Delhi, including a drive past India Gate and the former viceregal residence. Welcome dinner at Haveli Dharampura, enjoy a dance performance, and take in views of the Red Fort and Jama Masjid from the upper terrace. (D)

Accommodation: Le Méridien New Delhi
DAY 3: Agra
- +

Agra

Visit Humayun's Tomb, and the Qutb Minar tower. Drive to Agra and stay at the Trident Agra (or similar) for 2 nights. (B, D)

Accommodation: Trident Hotel Agra
DAY 4: Agra
- +

Agra

Sunrise visit to the spectacular Taj Mahal before exploring the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah and Agra Fort. Visit Mehtab Bagh ('Moonlight Garden'), for sunset over the Taj Mahal. (B, D)

Accommodation: Trident Hotel Agra
DAY 5: Jaipur
- +

Jaipur

Continue to Jaipur via the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri stepwell. En route, enjoy lunch at the lavish Laxmi Vilas Palace. Stay 3 nights at a converted royal hunting lodge, Ramgarh Lodge (or similar). (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Ramgarh Lodge, Jaipur - IHCL SeleQtions
DAY 6: Jaipur
- +

Jaipur

Morning visit to Amber Fort and the Anokhi Museum. Afternoon visit to the striking City Palace, home of the present maharajah and the curious Jantar Mantar observatory. (B, D)

Accommodation: Ramgarh Lodge, Jaipur - IHCL SeleQtions
DAY 7: Jaipur
- +

Jaipur

A day at leisure to relax. Perhaps explore Jaipur's bazaars seeking out traditional Indian crafts, including jewellery, silver, and silk. (B, D)

Accommodation: Ramgarh Lodge, Jaipur - IHCL SeleQtions
DAY 8: Chandigarh
- +

Chandigarh

Explore the Birla Mandir Temple before flying to Chandigarh. Selected as the new capital of Punjab in 1948, Chandigarh was designed by Swiss architect Le Corbusier and completed in the early 1960s. Stay for 1 night at the Taj Chandigarh. (B)

Accommodation: Taj Chandigarh
DAY 9: Shimla
- +

Shimla

Take the early morning Kalka Shimla Express narrow-gauge toy train to Shimla, passing through stunning mountains. Enjoy the panoramic views from the vistadome carriages, which have windows on the ceiling. Stay 3 nights at the WelcomHeritage Elysium Resort & Spa (or similar) in Shimla, the British summer capital during the Raj era. (B, D)

Accommodation: WelcomHeritage Elysium
DAY 10: Shimla
- +

Shimla

Explore the historic mall and listen to the stories of its many colonial buildings while making your way to the Viceregal Lodge. (B, D)

Accommodation: WelcomHeritage Elysium
DAY 11: Shimla
- +

Shimla

Day at leisure. Option to explore Shimla on a nature walk from the house where Rudyard Kipling wrote Plain Tales from the Hills to the gallery of a Shimla painter. Alternatively, enjoy afternoon tea at the Oberoi Wildflower Hall, or visit the former princely state of Dhami to spend the day with its noble family, birdwatching and enjoying their stories over lunch.† (B, D)

Accommodation: WelcomHeritage Elysium
DAY 12: Delhi
- +

Delhi

Drive to Chandigarh and connect with the train to Delhi. Stay overnight at the Le Meridien and enjoy a farewell dinner. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Le Méridien New Delhi
DAY 13: Delhi - London
- +

Delhi - London

Fly to London with Virgin Atlantic. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, L*: Packed lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Sorry, this itinerary is not Available on the selected date
Please try using different date to see our available options

The Cox & Kings signature experiences

  • Explore Jaipur while staying in a maharajah's former hunting lodge  
  • Watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh gardens 
  • Ride the toy train to Shimla in vista-dome carriages 
  • Dine with views over Old Delhi 

Important information

Optional activities
These activities can be pre-booked or booked locally and incur an additional charge. Please speak to one of our expert travel consultants.
Private & tailor-made travel
This itinerary can be taken privately on a date that suits you. Alternatively, it can be tailored to your exact requirements. So, should you want to spend longer in a particular location, or add another experience or destination, we can make all the arrangements for you. Please contact our travel specialists for guideline prices.
Guaranteed departures
Where a tour date shows ‘Guaranteed departure’, this tour is guaranteed to run. For all other departure dates, once the minimum number of people booked has been reached, this tour is also guaranteed to run. Our sales consultants will be able to advise how many people are booked for your chosen date at the time of enquiry, giving you the confidence to book safe in the knowledge your tour will go ahead.
Dates and prices
Unless otherwise stated, the tour prices and upgrade supplements are all per person in pound sterling, based on two people sharing a twin/double room. The online price is a guideline price; your final quote may differ due to flight availability, and you may be asked to pay a flight supplement.
Moderate activity level:
Medium pace, some longer travel days, with uneven terrain and longer walks requiring good fitness and mobility

What's included

  • Small group size - average 14 people (max 18)
  • 5-star accommodation
  • Flexible - extensions, room & flight upgrades available
  • Direct international flights with Virgin Atlantic
  • Express train travel in airconditioned executive class
  • Transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
  • Ride in air-conditioned vista-dome carriages which give great views of the surrounding landscape
  • Experienced local tour manager
  • 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 10 dinners
  • Guided sightseeing & entrance fees
  • Porterage at hotels and train stations
  • Free day in Jaipur & Shimla for independent exploration

Is your preferred tour date fully booked?

Please call or submit an enquiry about late availability.

Private journey option: guideline prices

Low season from £3,185 | Guide price month: February - March

High season from £3,395 | Guide price month: October - November

Single supplement from £895

Looking for a holiday that’s tailored to you?

You can take any group tour on a private basis, or have us create a holiday just for you – with your preferred dates, activities and accommodation.

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Most Cox & Kings group tours include pre- or post-travel options for those wishing to explore further, for longer.
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Small groups promise a more personal touring experience. That’s why Cox & Kings maintains a maximum group size of 18 guests on most tours, and an average of just 14.

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