Meet & greet, transfer to hotel: Welcome to India! You will be met on arrival in Delhi by a local representative and introduced to your private driver. Together they will take you to your city hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Haveli Hauz Khas (Deluxe Room)

Guided tour of Old & New Delhi: This morning, meet up with your guide and set out to explore Old Delhi. Start at Jama Masjid which is the largest mosque in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. Its construction started in 1644 and it ended up the final act of architectural extravagance of legendary ruler Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who also built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. Head outside the mosque and into the surrounding bazaars (closed on Sundays), which can be explored on foot or by rickshaw. Here you can witness centuries-old arts and crafts, where present owners may be of the 6th or 7th generation to ply the family trade. There are many typical and fascinating businesses here, including a marvellous old-fashioned shop where you can test Indian perfume (attar) from cut-glass bottles. You may also saunter through the main bridal street of Old Delhi, Kinari Bazaar, with its dazzling display of embroidered silk wedding sarees, beautiful bangles and colourful turbans for the bridegroom. Move on to the Khari Baoli, which is all about spices, and where dealers of rice, dal, dry fruits, nuts, and saffron have traded for more than 150 years. The smell of the spices will remain with you even after you have left the market and at this point you may want to stop for lunch (payable locally).

In the afternoon, you will explore New Delhi taking in Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar and a drive through Lutyens’ New Delhi. Humayun's Tomb is yet another magnificent Mughal building built in 1565-66 and set in a square enclosed garden. This finely proportioned sandstone and marble structure served as a model for the Taj Mahal. Dominating the ruins of the earliest existing settlement of Delhi is the city's famous landmark - the Qutab Minar. This imposing victory tower (73 m) has five storeys, each marked by intricately carved projections or balconies. Elaborately carved pillars embellish the courtyard of the nearby mosque, at the centre of which is the amazing Iron Pillar (4th-5th century A.D). Round out the day with a drive or walk through Lutyens’ New Delhi, taking in the India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhawan (President's House), and Parliament House. After the sightseeing you will return to the hotel for some time at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Haveli Hauz Khas (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Train journey to Agra: Early this morning, you will be collected from the hotel by your driver and transferred to New Delhi station. Here you will board the 8.10am Gatiman Express train, which arrives into Agra Cantanoment station at 9.50am. You will be booked into a 1st Class AC seated carriage for this journey. A simple breakfast will be supplied on board. At the other end you will be met by a new driver and guide who will take you straight to on a tour of the main sites.

Guided tour of the Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays) has been described as a 'tear on the face of eternity’ and is an enduring monument of love. The unique beauty of Taj Mahal is its blend of grandeur: a massive overall design, matched with immaculately intricate execution. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in the memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal complex took 22 years to be completed and is today counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. Coated in shimmering white marble, the Taj is a mirror of daylight conditions and in the late afternoon it is bathed in delicate hues of amber and cream, giving way to a rich golden red as the sun falls. You then have the option of visiting the nearby Agra Fort. Many of the events which led to the construction of the Taj Mahal took place in the famous Agra Fort. Construction of the Fort was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565, with embellishments continually added until the time of his grandson Shah Jehan. The magnificent palaces, towers, bastions, ramparts and gateways symbolise the power of the mighty Mughals, and with its red sandstone wash Agra Fort is a striking partner to the Red Fort in Delhi. 

Road journey to Chambal: After the sightseeing, you will leave Agra and press on by road to the Chambal Valley. Heading east out of the city, this will be a journey of around 1.5 hours. You will arrive at your lodge in the mid-afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Chambal Safari Lodge (Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning Chambal River Safari: The National Chambal Sanctuary is located around 22 km or 35 minutes' drive from the Chambal Safari Lodge. The sanctuary is set in a very picturesque backdrop, framed by the ravines and sandbanks. The calm waters of the Chambal River are best explored by boat: the gentle pace of this river safari is designed to provide spectacular sightings of the gharials, muggers & turtles basking in the sun; the many migratory and resident birds flying sorties; and perhaps occasional glimpses of Gangetic river dolphins breaking surface.

Local village & temple tour: In the evening, you will be taken to visit the heritage village of Holipura and visit the medieval temples of Bateshwar. Holipura village, located at the edge of the Yamuna Ravines, near Bateshwar, is a stronghold of the Chaturvedi clan who claim descent from the Greek soldiers of Alexander’s army. Many of the clan rose to positions of great prominence and built substantial havelis (grand homes) to announce their arrival. Built over a period of time, with influences ranging from Mughal to Colonial and adapted to a rural scenario, the havelis have a unique architectural blend and are a beautiful synthesis of myriad traditions. Several are inhabited by the descendants of the original owners, retaining a certain character and charm. The village is a microcosm of rural Indian life with the symbiotic relationships of the inhabitants reflected in its layout. The walk through Holipura is conducted by a member of the village community, culminating in refreshments at their home.

You will then travel upriver by boat to the ancient settlement of Bateshwar, situated on a crescent bend of the Yamuna river. More than 40 temples dedicated to the glory of Shiva glisten along the ghats of the river. A multitude of architectural styles, time periods and historical events are reflected in these simple shrines. The ghats are evocative of Varanasi and the temples of Pushkar, and a very evocative sight as the dusk falls across the river.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Chambal Safari Lodge (Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Road journey to Gwalior: After breakfast, you will meet your driver again and continue by road to Gwalior. This is a journey of around 140km and will take around 3.5 hours depending on local traffic. On arrival in Gwalior, head straight to your hotel to check in and enjoy some time at leisure.

Gwalior Fort sound and light show: After spending the afternoon at leisure, you will meet your private driver in the hotel lobby and together make the short journey to the amphitheatre at Gwalior Fort. Here, you will enjoy the 45-minute sound and light show, before returning to your hotel to enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Taj Usha Kiran (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Gwalior: Today, you will be joined by a private guide for a tour of historic Gwalior. Start, where else, at the city’s imposing chief attraction – the majestic Gwalior Fort. This sandstone Fort has been the scene of many momentous events: imprisonments, battles, sieges, and self-immolations. Entrance to the Fort is via a steep road, flanked by rock-carved statues of Jain Tirthankaras. The magnificent outer walls of the Fort still stand, two miles in length and 35 feet high, bearing witness to its reputation as one of the most invincible forts of India. Once within the Fort you will explore the 15th century Man Singh Palace; built by Raja Mansingh Tomar for his queen Mriganayani, comprising of vast chambers, music halls, dungeons, gardens, and ponds. Nearby is the 15th century Gujari Mahal, a monument to the same queen, which has survived an almost total state of preservation. The interior of the Mahal houses an archaeological museum, filled with rare ancient antiquities, some of which date back to 1st century AD. Still within the Fort you will visit the Suraj Kund - built by Suraj Sen to pay his respects to the Hermit Gwalipa – and then on to the 11th century Sas Bahu temple, and the 9th century Teli Ka temple.

Later in the afternoon, you will visit Gwalior’s other principal attraction, the Jai Vilas Palace. This is the residence of the Scindia royal family, one of the wealthiest families in India. Around 35 rooms of their palace have been converted into an evocative museum, where one truly can witness how the other half live. Particular highlights include the majestic chandeliered Durbar Hall, as well as an elaborate silver serving train, complete with cut glass wagons which served guests as it chugged around the table on miniature rails.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Taj Usha Kiran (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Orchha: After breakfast, you will be picked up by your private driver and hit the road for the picturesque town of Orchha. The journey will take around 2.5 hours depending on local traffic. On arrival, you will have time to check in to your hotel to freshen up.

Afternoon tour of Orchha: Later in the afternoon, you will meet with your private guide to explore Orchha. The afternoon, tour will start with the three most beautiful palaces within the fort complex. The Jehangir Mahal was built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo in the 17th century to commemorate the visit of Mughal emperor Jehangir to Orchha. The Raj Mahal was built by Madhukar Shah, the deeply religious predecessor of Bir Singh Ju Deo. The plain exteriors of this palace give way to interiors with exquisite murals on a variety of religious themes. The Rai Parveen Mahal was built for Rai Praveen, a poetess and musician, who was the beautiful paramour of Raja Indramani (1672-76).

Continue on to visit some of the town’s best temples starting with the Ram Raja Temple, with its soaring spires and palatial architecture, it is surely one the most unusual in India and is also the only temple in the country where Lord Rama is worshipped as a King. The Chaturbhuj Temple, built upon a massive stone platform, has beautifully carved exteriors with lotus emblems and other symbols of religious significance. The Laxmi Narayan Temple is an interesting synthesis of fort and temple, its interiors contain the most exquisite of Orchha's wall paintings, which are in an excellent state of preservation. The lovely town also has 14 beautiful Chattris (cenotaphs) or memorials to the rulers of Orchha, lined up on the Kanchana Ghat of the River Betwa.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Amar Mahal (Super Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Train to Bhopal: This morning, you will meet your private driver and be transferred to Jhansi Railway station, just a 20-minute drive away, to board the Shatabdi Express train to Bhopal. The train departs at 10.45 and arrives in Bhopal at 13.55.

Transfer to Satpura National Park: On arrival in Bhopal, you will be met by a new private driver and driven direct to Satpura National Park. The journey will take around 3.5 hours depending on local traffic. On arrival, check in to your lodge and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Reni Pani Jungle Lodge (Luxury Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning and afternoon safaris in Satpura National Park: Today, you will be taken for two safaris in the national park, to be conducted around dawn and dusk when the climate is most amenable, and the wildlife is at its most active. Both will be conducted in open top jeeps as in small groups with other guests in the lodge, accompanied by specialist local naturalists. During the middle of the day, you will be at leisure to enjoy the facilities or undertake some additional activities arranged through the lodge.

Satpura is classified as part of the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests eco-region and forms part of a zone of steady transition between the forests of eastern India and Western India. Apart from the tiger and the leopard, the area is also home to Gaur - the Indian Bison, to the Sloth Bear, to several species of deer, the Chausingha or four-horned antelope, and the Nilgai antelope, the wild dog, the wolf, the hyena and the Rhesus Macaque. The Malabar Giant Squirrel and the Mouse Deer, unusual species for Central India, have also been spotted here. Among the smaller mammals reported are the Indian Civet, the Palm Civet, the Indian Porcupine, the Bengal Fox, the Black-naped Hare, the Jungle cat and the Rusty Spotted Cat. The park is home to a diverse ecosystem and thus provides a habitat for migrant waterfowl, including Bar-headed Geese, the Pintail, the Garganey, the Pochard and the Ruddy Shelduck. Birds of prey such as the Black Eagle, the Rufous-bellied Eagle, the Shahin Falcon, Bonelli’s Eagle, and the Mountain Hawk Eagle have often been sighted. These are more than 300 oft-spotted bird species in Satpura region.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Reni Pani Jungle Lodge (Luxury Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning safari and afternoon jungle walk in Satpura National Park: Early this morning and again in the afternoon, you will be taken for two further shared safaris inside the National Park. Today will be a mix of transport used, with a jeep for the morning drive followed by a jungle walk in the evening. These additional visits will allow further opportunities to take in the broad variety of wildlife, and of course provide an extra chance to spot the elusive tiger. The safari will be taken around dawn and dusk, when temperatures are cool and wildlife are at their busiest. The interim time will be at leisure to relax and enjoy the facilities of your lodge.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Reni Pani Jungle Lodge (Luxury Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Road journey to Bhopal, via Bhimbetka: This morning, you will meet your private driver and make the journey to Bhopal via Bhimbetka. After a journey of around 2.5 hours, you will arrive at Bhimbetka which houses some of the earliest forms of Indian art dating back to the Stone Age. The site is spread over a large area and has more than 700 rock shelters, of which over 400 have paintings. The earliest human activities are known from the numerous stone tools including hand-axes, cleavers and pebble tools.

After time exploring Bhimbetka, you will hit the road to Bhopal, a journey of around an hour, to check-in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jehan Numa Palace Hotel (Imperial Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Sanchi: This morning, you will meet with your private guide and driver and together make the journey to visit Sanchi an important place of Buddhist pilgrimage.

Although Sanchi had no direct connection with the life of Buddha, it was the great emperor Ashoka, Buddhism's most famous convert, who built the first stupas here in the 3rd century B.C., and succession of stupas and other religious structures were added here until the 12th century A.D.

The stupa began as a hemispherical earthen burial mound built over the remains of a religious teacher or holy man. The cult of stupa was taken up by Buddhism, and, Ashoka Maurya (3rd century BC) constructed many stupas over the relics of the Buddha all over India.

During the period between the Mauryas and the Guptas (3rd century BC to 3 century AD) as Buddhism grew and won the patronage of powerful kings, the older mud mounds were greatly enlarged and sheathed with stone. The original wooden fencing was replaced with elaborate stone railings and ornate gateways (torans). Of these early stupas the stupa at Sanchi is particularly noteworthy.

Afternoon tour of Bhopal: Upon returning to Bhopal, you will have time with your guide to explore some of the city’s sites. Bhopal is a very old city, founded in 10th century by the legendary Raja Bhoj who is credited with having constructed the lakes around which the city is built. There is a lot to see in the city so depending on the time available and your interests one may explore Bhopal in its various aspects.

One of the most unique national institutes in India, Bharat Bhawan is a centre for the performing and visual arts, attracting artists and performers from all over. The centre houses a museum of the arts, an art gallery, a workshop for fine arts, a repertory theatre, indoor and outdoor auditoria, a rehearsal room and libraries of Indian poetry, classical and folk music. The art museum displays contemporary art, paintings and sculptures by eminent artists and tribal and regional art, which include bronzes, terracotta and toys made by the local tribes.

The beautiful Taj-ul-Masajid is one of the largest mosques in India and a visit is highly recommended. It is best known for its two massive white-domed minarets and three white domes over the main building.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jehan Numa Palace Hotel (Imperial Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Maheshwar: After breakfast, meet with your private driver who will drive you to Maheshwar. This will be a long journey of around 6 hours depending on traffic, but the journey will be interspersed with rest stops. On arrival, check into the Ahilya Fort and relax at leisure for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ahilya Fort (Princely Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Days at leisure: These days are yours at leisure to relax or choose to participate in any of the activities and excursions organized by the hotel (included with your room rate). Various activities available at the property include:

• Tour of the ancient town of Maheshwar
• A boat ride along the Narmada River to visit the numerous temples and ghats
• Visit the island temple of Omkareshwar

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Ahilya Fort (Princely Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Road journey to Indore Airport, via Mandu: After breakfast, you will be picked up by your private driver and a local guide and together make your way to Mandu, a journey of around 1.5 hours. Mandu is the largest standing fortified city in the world and nothing can prepare the visitor for their first glimpse of its walls. With a total circumference of about 75 km, these walls have remained relatively unchanged for 300 years.

Known as the 'city of joy', Mandu has had a chequered and varied history. Mandu was founded in the 10th century by Raja Bhoj and was ruled by several dynasties over the period. The fort is entered through Bhangi Gate, a portal so designed that it would be a fool-hardy enemy who dared a frontal assault. The 75 monuments in Mandu lie in a few distinct groups, the most important of which are the Royal Enclave, the group around the village of Mandu and the Rewa Kund Group.

After ample time exploring the fortified city, you will be taken direct to Indore airport in time to check in for your onward domestic flight.

Flight: 6E6409 Indore - Delhi 16.55 - 18.40

Private transfer: You will be met on arrival in Delhi and taken to the nearby Aerocity complex to spend a final night at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pullman New Delhi Aerocity (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast