Today board your international flight for Delhi. Arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport with a meet and greet by our representative who will assist by transferring you to your hotel. 

After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi beginning with a photo stop at the Red Fort. The walls of the massive Red Fort rise a daunting 33 metres (108 ft) above the bustle of Old Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power of former emperors. Very near to the fort is the 17th-century Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Walk through the famous bazaars of Old Dehli to experience the hustle and bustle. Visit Raj Ghat, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, a simple black marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation. In New Delhi, visit the India Gate, the memorial of the First World War and the road that leads from there to the President House, flanked by the houses of Parliament, the Secretariat building, the Birla Temple and Lotus Temple.

Today we make our way to Agra. Agra rose to fame in the 17th century as the capital of the Mughal Empire and was beautified with gardens, waterfalls, bathhouses and canals. In modern times, the city houses a thriving crafts industry, including marble inlay work and carpets. In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Agra which includes a highlight for many, the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal. Built in the mid-17th century by Shah Jahan following the death of his queen, this mausoleum is an eternal love poem written in stone. During the visit, you can admire the intricacy of the work of the 20,000 craftsmen who were brought from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy to build this astonishing monument.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart by road to Bharatpur to board the Jan Shatabdi Express train to Sawai Madhopur, the gateway to the famous Ranthambore National Park. Forget the over-crowded pictures of train travel you have seen on social media. Long distance train travel in India is a plesant experience with civilised, air-conditioned reserved seating. On arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in. If you want evidence of the Project Tiger conservation programme's success, Ranthambore National Park is a prime example as it is renowned for its tiger population.

Today, explore Ranthambore National Park on a safari after breakfast at the hotel. Ranthambore is located in what was originally the private hunting ground of the maharajas of Jaipur. The park features a varied geography of forested hills, sweeping grasslands and lakes, all under the shadow of the ruins of the hilltop Ranthambore Fort, more than 200 metres above the surrounding plain. The park’s Bengal tigers are renowned for being fearless and roaming the park during the day. Other residents include leopards, striped Hyenas, sambar and chital deer, jackals, sloth bears, wild boars and more. Break for lunch and return to the park in the afternoon for yet more animal sightings. After, return to the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart Agra and head to Jaipur, arriving in the ‘Pink City’ in the afternoon. Check-in on arrival and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel we head out for a tour of the Amber Fort. Located on a spur overlooking a lake, Amber Fort’s robust, time-ravaged walls appear imposing from the outside but they hide an interior packed with beautifully decorated palaces, temples and landscaped gardens. Be dazzled by the Sheesh Mahal, a room with its four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces. Return to the old city to visit the City Palace and the beautiful Chandra Mahal Palace and Mubarak Mahal Palace within, as well as the intricately decorated Peacock Gate. After, make a stop at the spellbinding Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds and the famous Johari bazaar known for its jewels and saris. We will also be visiting the Tripolia bazaar with bronzes, sculptures and lacquerware, the Bapu bazaar renowned for its perfumes and textiles, and Chandpol bazaar for pottery and bracelets.

After a leisurely breakfast, drive back to Delhi and transfer to the airport to board your flight to Sri Lanka. A warm welcome awaits you at the arrival lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport. You will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. 

This morning enjoy a late start allowing you to relax and prepare for the day ahead. We’ll leave the hotel around 9:30-10am bound for Sigiriya. This afternoon set out on an exclusively private jeep safari at the Minneriya (or Kauduala) National Park to witness the unique phenomenon of elephant gathering. During the dry season, from June to September, hundreds of elephants gather around the Minneriya Tank for water. Such a large number of elephants could not be sighted at one place, anywhere else in the world! Outside of these months and depending on the elephant migration patterns the safari will be conducted in one of the surrounding parks. This evening enjoy some sundowner pre-dinner Arrack (a local cocktail) or something else to suit your tastes.

This morning we climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion’s Rock), one of the most extraordinary artistic complexes of its time (477 – 498 AD). Declared as an UNESCO heritage site in 1982, this magnificent citadel allures artistic and architectural curiosity from around the globe. For lunch today, take part in a Cooking Demonstration of Sri Lankan rice and curry (5-6 curries) and enjoy this typical Sri Lankan lunch while overlooking the paddy fields. In the afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Medieval Capital City of Polonnaruwa. This was declared as an UNESCO heritage site in 1982. After the demise of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa became the middle historic capital of Sri Lanka (1017 – 1235 AD). This evening enjoy another round of sundowner pre-dinner Arrack (a local cocktail) or something else to suit your tastes.

This morning we leave for Kandy. Enroute, visit the Matale Spice Garden to learn about an important agriculture iconic to Sri Lanka. We then continue on to Kandy, the Hill Capital (1514 – 1815 AD). Originally known as Senkadagala, the city eventually came to be known as Kandy. Kandy was declared an UNESCO heritage site in 1988. The style and character of the Sri Lankan civilization at the time is well articulated in the heart of the city itself, with its lake, the temples including the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the well preserved ruins of the royal palaces. On arrival in Kandy spend the afternoon at leisure. Visit the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic with its guardian elephants - a deeply significant Buddhist site that contains a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre. This site draws thousands of pilgrims from across the world.

After breakfast we leave for the hill country town of Nuwara Eliya. Embark on the famous train journey which is supposed to be one of the most scenic and beautiful travel routes in the world. Apart from the breathtaking sceneries of the tea country and picturesque waterfalls, it is a chance for you to mingle with the local people. With the end of this unique experience comes your arrival in Nuwara Eliya, often referred to as ‘Little England’. This genteel highland community does have a rose-tinted, vaguely British-country-village feel to it with its colonial-era bungalows and British roots.

Please note: It is not possible to confirm the train ticket reservation due to the fact that Sri Lanka Railway has a manual system for reservations. Tickets can only be booked 30 days prior to departure. The 1st and 2nd class is basic but has air-conditioning. On the rare occasion the train is fully booked we’ll conduct the route by road.

Today, leave for Yala/Tissamaharama. On the way we will visit the Buduruwagala Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought. The statues date back to the 10th century. The gigantic Buddha statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe and a long streak of orange suggests it was once brightly painted. 

After checking in to our hotel spend your afternoon on a guided game drive exploring the dynamic wildlife and the most luxuriant plant life in Yala National Park. Being one of the largest parks in Sri Lanka, it is the ideal place to sight the rare and beautiful leopard! 

Please note: Sections of Yala National Park close due to conservation efforts each year between September and October. The closure dates are advised by the Sri Lankan government 1-2 months prior and differ each year. As Yala National Park is made up of multiple sections, if one section is closed due to conservation works we will visit one of the open sections.

This morning we leave for Colombo. Enroute we explore the Galle Fort and its Fortifications. This is a city that exudes a perfectly blended essence of past and present. Declared as an UNESCO heritage site in 1988, the presence of Portuguese, Dutch and English is very evident in the fascinating architectural styles of the Galle Fort. As we continue along to Colombo we will visit a Turtle Hatchery. There are only seven species of marine turtles in the world and five are found in the warm, clear waters off Sri Lanka’s coast. The five species are the Hawksbill turtle, Loggerhead turtle, Green turtle, Leatherback turtle and the Olive Ridley turtle.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Sri Lanka. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight home.

Arrive home today.