From a cultural point of view, perhaps no other country on earth has as much to offer as India. During the imperial days of the British Raj, first-time visitors were staggered by the beauty of buildings such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Palace of the Winds in Jaipur. Today’s traveller – young or old - can expect to experience a similar sense of wonder on visiting these monuments, which still retain their classic elegance. This great family trip not only includes visits to the great Moghul sights, you’ll also spend time cruising on a converted rice barge on the Malabar backwaters, go on a tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park and experience the hustle, bustle, noise and colour of day to day Indian life by using local transport such as rickshaws and trains. A perfect introduction to incredible India!

After your flight, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation in Delhi and check in. Delhi is a city of contrasts. The present metropolis is the eighth city to have been founded on this site; its predecessors have been largely razed to the ground. After a chance to freshen up and have some lunch, this afternoon you’ll take a guided sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi is bustling and vibrant, a network of narrow streets and alleys teeming with people. Mosques and temples are squeezed into unlikely places between shops and market stalls. You’ll visit the Jami Masjid (Friday mosque), Delhi’s largest mosque. Not only is it a place of religious worship, but also a lively meeting place for the city’s Muslims and a fascinating insight into Delhi’s way of life. In Old Delhi you travel by local transport, the rickshaw (own expense), to ply your way through the crowds and down to the impressive Red Fort. A fascinating contrast awaits as you head into New Delhi. Its wide boulevards and imposing buildings conjure up images of the British Empire at its peak. You visit the main sights - Parliament House, President House and India Gate before returning to your hotel. Hotel - 1 night

NB: Our group flights into Delhi are occasionally scheduled to arrive in the very early hours of day two.  In these instances a hotel room and breakfast will be arranged for you.

This morning, you’ll make a very early start for your train journey to Agra, alternating with Delhi as the capital of the Moghul Empire, the city’s past is inextricably linked with the most famous of India’s rulers. Today it is best known as the home of the Taj Mahal but further along the banks of the river Yamuna, you visit Agra Fort. It was from here that the Moghul Empire was ruled and you spend some time exploring the nooks and crannies within. The afternoon is left free for you to wander at leisure, or relax.
Hotel – 1 night (Swimming Pool – may be closed in winter) (B)

You will have plenty of time to explore the Taj Mahal, the masterpiece which shelters the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Many people believe it to be the most perfectly proportioned building ever constructed; at first glance it appears to be simply white marble, but closer inspection reveals that the surface is inlaid with a profusion of semi-precious stones which form stylised flowers and bowers. Words fail to do it justice; only by visiting it can you appreciate its exquisite beauty.

You'll set off taking the road leading to Fatehpur Sikri, some 38km (about two hours) away. Along the way are the remains of the Kos Minars - wayside markers which survive only as crumbled towers, pointing the way to this city built of rich red sandstone. Akbar the Great built Fatehpur Sikri, (the ‘City of Victory’), outside Agra as a tribute to a sage who foretold the birth of three sons. He duly moved his court to this new capital, only to abandon it after 15 short years because the water supply deteriorated. Today its rose-coloured walls provide the visitor with an unforgettable impression of the majesty of a 16th century royal court.

You continue by road to Bharatpur and then take the three-hour train journey to Sawai Madhopar and Ranthambore National Park, arriving tired, but rewarded. 
Hotel - 2 nights (Swimming Pool – may be closed in winter) (BD)

This morning you take a flight to Cochin. Arriving early afternoon, you head to Guruvayur where you'll visit the Punathir Kota Elephant Camp – undoubted fun for the kids who will be able to get up close and personal with these gentle giants. Elephants are loved, revered, groomed and are an integral part of Kerala culture and daily life. Over forty elephants are groomed at the Punathir kota ( kota means 'fort') and are brought as ritual offering to the temple. You can spend a whole afternoon with these huge mammals here. Watching the naughty baby elephants' playful antics is an entertaining experience. The place provides you an opportunity to watch how the sick elephants are medically treated in the traditional manner. You can also watch the training given to the elephants for various ritualistic performances.  Hotel – 1 night (B)

The area is also home to a small community of Jews whose descendants sailed into exile some 2,000 years ago - a synagogue still remains. You’ll pay this a visit before travelling to Alleppy (approx 1.5hrs) where you board a houseboat to begin a cruise through the complex system of beautiful lagoons and canals known as the ‘Malabar Backwaters’. These waterways are the principal means of communication and trade for scores of homes and villages. Along the banks, at jetties and ferry stops, there's often a wonderful array of produce ready for market - sacks of cashews are piled high next to coconuts.

Your houseboat is a converted kettuvallam (rice barge) constructed in a traditional way from anjali (jackfruit) wood. ‘Kettu’ means knot and ‘vallom' means boat. These giant 80-foot long crafts have been adapted to provide simple but comfortable accommodation. The decks are carpeted with coir matting and furniture made from cane which is of typical southern style. Each boat has an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew, usually comprising two oarsmen and a cook. Traditional lanterns are used as lights. Houseboat – 1 night (BLD)