Rajasthan: Golden Triangle, Maharajas & Rickshaws
Group Tour
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Overview
Rajasthan is arguably the most colourful and culturally rich state in all India, home to much of the famous ‘Golden Triangle’ comprised of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Offering a comprehensive and varied experience at a comfortable pace, the tour starts with an exploration of both Old and New Delhi before heading south to Agra to visit the magnificent Agra Fort and to watch the sunset warm the iconic Taj Mahal.
From here we travel onwards to the bustling city of Jaipur, taking in some of ...
Rajasthan is arguably the most colourful and culturally rich state in all India, home to much of the famous ‘Golden Triangle’ comprised of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Offering a comprehensive and varied experience at a comfortable pace, the tour starts with an exploration of both Old and New Delhi before heading south to Agra to visit the magnificent Agra Fort and to watch the sunset warm the iconic Taj Mahal.
From here we travel onwards to the bustling city of Jaipur, taking in some of the most famous highlights in this part of India. From Jaipur, we then head off-the-beaten-track to experience the quieter side of life from a heritage palace in rural Rajasthan before returning to Delhi.
This is India at its most enticing - with Delhi, Agra, the Taj Mahal, Jaipur and her bustling bazaars, contrasted with an opportunity to get a genuine insight into rural Indian life, wandering the streets of Khandela and meeting the locals, this trip represents the perfect first timer's trip to India.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and rickshaws
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
4 nights x Superior
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
In Rajasthan you can generally experience some of the finest accommodation the subcontinent has to offer. From wonderful converted palaces to ancient castles and forts – you will not be disappointed. Indeed the accommodation that one uses in Rajasthan is one of the main joys of visiting the land of Kings. On this particular tour we will stay at 4 and 5 star hotels in both Delhi and Agra at the beginning of the trip, and a comfortable airport hotel in Delhi at the end of the trip. At other locations we’ll be in converted heritage palace hotels.
Please note that this is India and heritage properties are old buildings, and although possessing great character, certain facilities are sometimes not quite up to Western standards and therefore patience is occasionally required.
Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Delhi: New Delhi sightseeing
Day 1 Tour starts in Delhi: New Delhi sightseeing
The tour starts with a group welcome meeting at lunchtime. Rooms are available from 2pm, so we will check in if possible, before taking a drive through New Delhi – visiting Rajpath and India Gate as well as Humayun’s tomb, one of the best preserved Mughal monuments, commissioned by Humayun's son Akbar and designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiya. This evening we will head to Connaught Place for dinner.
Day 2 Delhi - Agra: Old Delhi highlights and transfer to Agra
Day 2 Delhi - Agra: Old Delhi highlights and transfer to Agra
This morning we will embrace the chaos and energy of the vibrant heart of Old Delhi! We'll walk past old crumbling havelis, jump on a rickshaw through the bustling market of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi’s oldest and most animated marketplace, see the vibrant street food stalls and visit the famous Jama Masjid mosque. We'll then continue to the imposing Red Fort, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and considered one of the most important buildings of Mughal architecture from that period. This afternoon we travel to Agra and check-in to our hotel in time for dinner.
Approx. 4 hours driving
Day 3 Agra: Ancient forts and palaces
Day 3 Agra: Ancient forts and palaces
This morning we will visit the magnificent Agra Fort, a vast riverside complex comprised of exquisite palaces and mosques. The fort was built by the Mughal emperor Akbar and overlooks the banks of the Yamuna River. Afterwards we'll take a Mughal heritage walk through the farming community of Kachhpura, led by a USAID-trained specialist guide. Highlights during the walk include the Humayun Mosque with its intriguing sandstone graves and the Gyarah Sidi (Eleven Steps), that is carved out of a single block of stone. Late in the afternoon we’ll head to the iconic Taj Mahal for sunset – an extraordinary time of day to visit as the marble takes on gold and pink hues making for a wonderful and atmospheric time to see this stunning mausoleum.
Day 4 Agra - Jaipur: Mughal and ancient wonders
Day 4 Agra - Jaipur: Mughal and ancient wonders
This morning we start our full day journey towards Jaipur, visiting the stunning Chand Baori Stepwell and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fatehpur Sikri on the way. A truly amazing site, Fatehpur Sikri is a simply enormous palace complex built by Emperor Akbar the Great, only to be deserted 10 years after it was finished. We will have time to explore here before continuing on to Chand Baori, one of the largest and deepest stepwells in India. The stepwell was designed in the 9th century to give residents easy access to clean ground water at the foot of the well, and soon also became a place of refuge during the hottest months when people could enjoy the cooler temperatures down in the stepwell in comparison to street level.
Day 5 Jaipur: Palace, observatory and cooking class
Day 5 Jaipur: Palace, observatory and cooking class
Often referred to as the 'pink city', Jaipur was first painted terracotta pink in 1876 to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria to the city. This morning we head to the fascinating and beautifully ornate City Palace Museum, built by the founder and namesake of the modern city Jai Singh II. We’ll then visit Jantar Mantar, the UNESCO listed Royal Observatory before leaving you free for lunch and the afternoon where'll you'll be able to visit the local bazaar or relax at the hotel. We'll meet up again later today for a wonderful evening of culinary delights! We will learn about the traditions and flavours of Rajasthani cuisine and the basics of Indian cooking during a cooking class and demonstration after which we'll join our hosts for a delicious meal, the perfect end to an incredible evening.
Day 6 Jaipur - Khandela: Rural rickshaw ride and Amber fort
Day 6 Jaipur - Khandela: Rural rickshaw ride and Amber fort
This morning we start the day with a charming rickshaw ride around Jaipur with the Pink City Rickshaw Company, an initiative that supports local women from low-income communities to earn a living. We will ride with the ladies to some local spots around the city then join them for some chai. Next, we visit Amber Fort, the Rajput masterpiece perched on a hillside overlooking the city. This colossal fort was built by Raja Man Singh I in the 16th century and is known for its artistic style, blending both Hindu and Rajput elements with its large ramparts, series of gates and cobbled paths. After lunch we’ll start our journey to our accommodation in rural Rajasthan.
Approx. 3 hours driving
Day 7 Khandela: Village Walk and high tea
Day 7 Khandela: Village Walk and high tea
Our time at Castle Khandela provides us with an opportunity to get a genuine insight into rural Indian life. Today we have the opportunity to go on a guided village walk to meet the residents and explore the shops, havelis and markets of the local area. A camel cart safari gives the opportunity to explore further afield, or you may wish to take some time to relax and enjoy the surroundings of our hotel. In the afternoon we will have high tea at a stepwell on the hotel's nearby organic farm before finishing the day with dinner back at the hotel.
Day 8 Return to Delhi
Day 8 Return to Delhi
This morning we start our journey back to Delhi. On the way we stop for lunch at the ancient village of Neemrana whose fort has been converted into an elegant heritage hotel. After a delicious lunch with a view over the village and the Aravalli Mountains, we'll complete our journey back to the Indian capital, basing ourselves this time at a hotel conveniently located near to the international airport, and enjoy our final evening together.
Approx. 5 hours driving
Day 9 Tour ends in Delhi
Day 9 Tour ends in Delhi
The tour ends this morning in Delhi
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
The Claridges, Delhi
The Claridges has been a veritable treasure in Lutyens Delhi since the 1950's. Amidst the rush of new modernity, the soul of The Claridges lives on. Refurbished, redesigned and revitalized, the hotel now offers guests an experience that is new and yet so familiar. The hotel is also in an excellent location just a short auto ride from Khan Market and not much further to Connaught Place. Under current management, the hotel has a blend of tradition and modernity. Leading designers of international repute have helped enhance the heritage and elegance of this four star hotel. There are 132 different rooms and suites, all designed with an elegant blend of 19th century character and contemporary style. Wine and dine to your heart's content in the Dhaba, inspired by rustic Punjabi villages; the Jade, serving Chinese-Cantonese cuisine; Sevilla, for all your tapas needs; Pickwicks, a multicuisine buffet that is always open; Ye Old Bakery, where the corn pudding is a must try; or the Aura, a romantic, dimly lit bar. There is also a refreshing outdoor pool, indoor gym and relaxing spa to enjoy at the end of a busy day.
Trident Agra, Agra
A reliable contemporary option in Agra, this four-star hotel is built from red stone reminiscent of the Mughal era and is well placed for visits to the Taj Mahal. It has a stylish lobby with a great intimate bar and restaurant, a large outdoor pool in the courtyard surrounded by gardens to enjoy when you are not sightseeing. The 135 rooms are well appointed and have views of the gardens and pool. The wood fire beckons at the al fresco Italian dining experience, using fresh ingredients from the hotel’s own garden. Discover the dishes of the Moghul emperors, including mouth-watering curries and kebabs, at the restaurant. Escape the bustle of the city and relax at the wellness centre, using Western, Ayurvedic and Oriental techniques. The fitness centre and swimming pool are ideal for blowing off some steam before sipping on a cocktail contemporary bar.
Diggi Palace, Jaipur
This lovely hotel is a simple heritage hotel and centrally located from all the major sights. Rooms include a desk and a flat-screen TV. With a private bathroom, rooms at Hotel Diggi Palace also provide free WiFi and the rooms provide a wardrobe and a kettle. A continental, buffet or Asian breakfast can be enjoyed at the property. The in-house restaurant serves Indian cuisine.
Castle Khandela, Khandela
Set in the ancient town of Khandela in Northern Rajasthan, home to centuries of Rajput dynasties, Castle Khandela has been turned into a heritage hotel offering traditional elegance in a rural Indian setting. As a guest at Castle Kahandela, one can expect to meet Dr Singh, present day owner and descendant of a family who’s inhabited the castle for nearly 500 years. Despite the somewhat neglected aspect of the exterior building, the rich cultural heritage is apparent in the architecture and decor, characterised by traditional wooden furniture and beautiful carved windows which adorn the hotel’s 15 rooms. Similarly marble floors run under a vaulted gateway alongside the central courtyard, while a rooftop bar/restaurant offers beautiful views of the countryside although some may regret the absence of a swimming pool. However Castle Khandela is the only accommodation in town, implying that tourism is new to the region and as such there is an opportunity to get a genuine insight into rural Indian life, wandering the streets of Khandela and meeting the locals, without the hassle one would expect in more touristy places.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
The Pink City Rickshaw Company
This is a not-for-profit initiative aimed at providing innovative employment opportunities for women from low-income households in and around Jaipur. The goal of the company is to empower these local women, breaking the stereotype of a woman’s role in India, by providing them with the opportunity to develop a career in what would ordinarily be a very competitive and male-dominant industry, and drastically improving their livelihoods. All the rickshaws are electric, taking a big step to help fight India’s pollution problems. This modest tour offers the perfect opportunity to respectfully observe daily life whilst also supporting a forward-thinking, eco-friendly form of tourism that also strives to empower women in the area.
Wild Frontiers, through our foundation, have funded the purchase of two new electric rickshaws and trained five local ladies to be driver/guides. Continuing our support of the project and its sustainability, on this tour we enjoy a rickshaw tour with the Pink City Rickshaw Company through the backstreets of Jaipur.
www.pinkcityrickshawcompany.com
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| VS 300 | London Heathrow (LHR) 18:05 | Delhi Airport (DEL) 08:25 |
| VS 301 | Delhi Airport (DEL) 10:45 | London Heathrow (LHR) 15:15 |
Visas & Vaccinations
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently require an e-visa for India.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to India. For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
Between October and March the temperature should be very pleasant, with a day time average of around 15-25C dropping in the evening to around 5-10C. At other times the temperature is likely to be much hotter, with high levels of humidity and a day time average of around 35C dropping in the evening to around 25-30C. Even in the summer it still may be cooler in the early mornings so it is always worth bringing an extra warmer layer of clothing with you.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional. Whilst we will not cover huge distances on foot, it is worth noting that sightseeing often involves walking on uneven ground and climbing irregular steps.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 8350 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.