Adventurous India & Magical Maldives

DAY 1 International Flight

Head to the airport in London for your direct flight to Delhi. The flight time is around eight-and-a-half-hours and there are plenty of airlines flying this route so you have several options. Let us know your preferences and we will pick the best times and carrier for you. For the purpose of this itinerary you'll land late at night and be privately transferred to a city centre hotel in Delhi for the night, though if you prefer, you can also fly overnight and land early the next morning.

DAY 2 To Agra

Leave Delhi behind today in favour of the architecturally beautiful Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. The journey is around three-and-a-half-hours by private car so you'll arrive in time for lunch. This afternoon, you will then be met by a guide for a tour of the city. Starting at the beautiful Agra Fort your local guide will give you an introduction to the history of this stunning fort-cum-palace which once also served as a rather less luxurious prison. Next up on your tour is the exquisite white marble Itimad-ud-Daula tomb, known as the 'mini Taj Mahal' and often considered the forerunner to India's most famous building.

As the light begins to fade the tour will then end in the pretty Mehtab Bagh (moonlight garden), where you will have stunning and un-crowded sunset views of the Taj Mahal from across the Yamuna River.

DAY 3 To Ranthambore

Today your Indian journey continues south to Ranthambore National Park, though not before you visit the iconic Taj Mahal at sunrise. This is the best time to visit because the crowds are smaller and the morning sunlight reflects beautifully on the marble, mirroring the monument in the still waters surrounding it. As you sit and peacefully watch the sunrise your guide will fill you in on the Taj's history, including how it took 22 years to build. After breakfast back at the hotel, meet your driver for the hour-long journey to Bharatpur railway station to catch the train for Sawai Madhopur, on the way stopping to stretch your legs at the red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri, once the Mughal imperial capital before being abandoned. The train journey is then just over two hours long and when you arrive you'll be met by one of our team and taken to your lodge on the edge of Ranthambore National Park. Settle in for the evening while enjoying views of lush forests and swaying grasslands, knowing there could be tigers close at hand.

DAY 4 To Jaipur

Today begins with one last game drive in the park, where you'll hopefully tick off any animals you missed yesterday. After breakfast you will then be privately transferred to Jaipur, which is around three-and-a-half-hours north west of Ranthambore. The rest of today is then yours to settle in to your new hotel and do a little exploring in the fascinating 'pink city'. For dinner our handy Dossier will come in handy and recommends several restaurants for you to choose from and which our Concierge can book for you.

DAY 5 To the Maldives

This morning you will be privately transferred to Jaipur airport to board the two hour flight to Bangalore. From here you can then connect on to the Maldives with another two hour flight to Male. After a day of travelling you will land in Male and be greeted by a member of our on the ground team, who will escort you to your hotel. We work with several luxurious hotels in the Maldives and can recommend which will suit you best. Some hotels require an additional sea plane transfer to get there, while others you can take a speedboat - whichever you are doing we will make sure all runs smoothly and you arrive at your hotel in time for dinner.