Grand Tour of India

Day 2 : Delhi

Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, complete immigration formalities, collect your luggage and clear customs. At the terminal exit, meet your First Class Holidays representative, who will be holding a board displaying your name. You will then be transferred to your accommodation. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 3 : Delhi

Join your local guide for a full-day tour of Delhi, exploring the historic Old City and New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid and see the Red Fort, then experience the lively lanes and markets of Chandni Chowk by cycle rickshaw.

Continue to New Delhi for photo stops at India Gate, the Government Buildings and Rashtrapati Bhawan. Later, explore the Qutub Complex in Mehrauli, including the impressive Qutub Minar, and enjoy the site as it is illuminated at dusk.

Day 4 : Agra

After breakfast, transfer to Nizamuddin Railway Station to board the Gatimaan Express to Agra. On arrival, meet your representative before setting out with a local guide on a Colonial Walk, discovering a lesser-known side of the city’s history.

Visit Agra Fort, built from red sandstone by Mughal Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573. Later, head to Mehtab Bagh Gardens for views of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River, particularly beautiful at sunset.

Day 5 : Ranthambore National Park

Rise early to visit the Taj Mahal, when the monument is often at its quietest. After breakfast, travel by road to Ranthambore, a journey of approximately 152 miles and five and a half hours. En route, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the former capital of Emperor Akbar, dating from the late 16th century. Continue to Ranthambore and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 6 : Ranthambore National Park

Set off early on a shared Canter safari in Ranthambore National Park, one of India’s best-known reserves for tiger spotting. Return for breakfast, then head back into the park this afternoon with a naturalist. Alongside its tiger population, the park is home to abundant birdlife, crocodiles and diverse plant life.

Day 7 : Jaipur

Visit Dastkar, an NGO that supports traditional Indian craftspeople, including women from rural communities, while helping preserve the country’s craft heritage. After an early lunch, drive to Jaipur, approximately 114 miles away, taking around four hours.

This evening, enjoy a cooking demonstration at Ikaki Niwas before sharing dinner with an Indian family and learning more about local cuisine and hospitality.

Day 8 : Jaipur

Travel to Amber, the ancient capital, to explore the magnificent Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Jaipur’s historic Walled City to visit the City Palace, with its palaces, gardens, courtyards and museum.

Continue on foot to Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh II. Its instruments were designed to measure time, predict eclipses and track the movements of stars and planets.

Day 9 : Cochin

Transfer to Jaipur Airport for your flight to Cochin via Hyderabad. On arrival, transfer to your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 10 : Cochin

Discover Cochin’s spice-trade history on a guided walk through Fort Cochin. Continue on a half-day city tour, visiting the Dutch Palace and the Jewish Synagogue in Jew Town. See the iconic Chinese fishing nets, visit St Francis Church, associated with Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, and admire the pastel interiors and carved wooden panels of Santa Cruz Church.

Later in the afternoon, enjoy a performance of traditional Kathakali dance.

Day 11 : Munnar

Drive to the picturesque hill town of Munnar, approximately 78 miles away and around three and a half hours by road. Set in Kerala’s Idukki district at an altitude of around 6,000 feet, Munnar was once a favoured summer retreat during the British Raj. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 12 : Munnar

Visit the Tea Museum and Tea Factory to learn more about the region’s tea-growing heritage. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 13 : Thekkady

Drive to Periyar, also known as Thekkady, approximately 87 miles away and around three and a half hours by road. Located in Kerala’s Idukki district, Thekkady is known for Periyar National Park and its spice plantations, which grow black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.

This evening, watch a performance of Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s traditional martial art, believed to date back more than 2,000 years.

Day 14 : Thekkady

Take a guided walk through a local spice plantation, exploring terraced gardens and learning about the spices grown in the region. This afternoon, enjoy a shared boat ride on Periyar Lake.

Day 15 : Houseboat

Travel by road to Alleppey, approximately 96 miles away and around four hours. En route, stop at a working rubber plantation to see the traditional process of rubber tapping and enjoy a walk through the grounds.

Continue to Alleppey, the gateway to Kerala’s famous backwaters, and board a traditional Kettuvallam houseboat for an overnight journey. Built using materials such as jackfruit wood, palm wood, coconut fibre and bamboo, these boats offer a memorable way to explore the waterways.

Day 16 : Mararikulam

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and transfer to Mararikulam, approximately nine miles away and around 30 minutes by road. En route, visit the heritage home of a local family involved in waste recycling. Explore their Coir Museum before visiting the family home.

After a warm welcome, you will have the opportunity to dress in traditional attire, with a saree for women and a kurta-dhoti for men. This takes around 30–45 minutes, followed by lunch with the family. Continue to Mararikulam and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 17 : Mararikulam

Enjoy a full day at leisure. No transportation is included today.

Day 18-19 : Cochin - UK

Transfer to Cochin International Airport, approximately 46 miles away and around two and a half hours by road, for your overnight flight to the UK via Abu Dhabi.