Saturday. Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Delhi, included transfer to hotel. Reaminder of the afternoon/ evening at leisure. Overnight - New Delhi

This morning, our welcome meeting takes place. We’ll then enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Delhi, taking in the impressive Red Fort, Jama Masjid - India’s oldest and largest mosque, Raj Ghat - the site of Gandhi’s cremation and more. New Delhi, in contrast to Old Delhi, is a city of wide tree-lined streets, parks, fountains and roundabouts. It was built as the imperial capital of India by the British. Sightseeing of New Delhi includes the Rajpath, an immensely broad boulevard flanked on either side by ornamental ponds from India Gate. India Gate, the 42m high stone “Arch of Triumph”, was erected in memory of Indian soldiers who died in the First World War. Tonight, we enjoy a Namaste Dinner at a restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine. Overnight - New Delhi (B, D)

Delhi - Agra. Departing Delhi, we journey to Agra, once India’s Mughal capital. Here we explore the legendary Taj Mahal. Built entirely of white marble, the Taj Mahal has no peers. Continuing, we visit Agra fort, which boasts some of India’s finest Mughal buildings behind it’s fortified walls. Overnight - Agra (B)

Agra - Jaipur. En route to Jaipur, we visit the ghostly former Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri, abandoned due to lack of water. We enjoy lunch at Udai Vilas Palace in Bharatpur, before taking a walk in the traditional rural village of Peharsar. Later, in Jaipur, we visit a cotton trading/tailor shop where you can get clothing tailored for delivery to your hotel before we leave Jaipur! Overnight - Jaipur (B, L)

Today, we tour the City Palace, which boasts an interesting museum of regal attire and Jantar Mantar, an ancient astronomical observatory. En route to the City Palace, we’ll pass Hawa Mahal – the Palace of the Winds. Continuing, we travel to the 16th century Amber Fort.

An exotic elephant ride* transports us to the lofty fort, where we’ll enjoy a tour of this Rajput extravaganza. Shop for jootis (traditional Rajasthani curled shoes) Jaipur’s famous blue pottery, textiles and handicrafts around the City Palace or Hawa Mahal. Overnight - Jaipur (B)

Jaipur - Shekhawati region. Today, we drive to the semi-desert Shekhawati region. The small towns in this region became important trading posts, a lasting legacy of which are the beautiful painted havelis (mansions) constructed by wealthy merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries. Afternoon village walk and time to relax. Overnight - Surajgarh (B, D)

Shekhawati region - Delhi. Returning to Delhi, the latter part of the afternoon is free for you to relax or independently explore more of Delhi. Overnight - New Delhi (B)

Delhi - Goa. Hotel check out and included onward transfer to airport. Included flight to Goa and transfer to your accommodation at the 3 star Casa de Goa hotel. Overnight - Goa (B)

Free time for you to enjoy Goa your way. Thanks to its picturesque location on the Mandovi River, between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Goa is one of India’s prime destinations. The Portuguese, who claimed Goa as the seat of the Catholic Church in the East in the 1500s, controlled the area until 1961, when India invaded to liberate it. The state’s Portuguese past is most apparent in its plazas, cathedrals and architecture and a few Portuguese insist that Goa retains more old world heritage than most of Portugal.

A fun way to explore Goa is by renting a bike or scooter. They are easily available, but you must have an International Drivers License and provide passport details. Although best known for its massive stretch of magnificent, palm tree-lined beaches along the Arabian Sea coast, Goa offers other attractions, for example; the Portuguese Catholic Church of Old Goa, St. Anne’s Church (an ornate marvel from the 1600s) and the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The surrounding countryside is dotted with luxurious old estates built by wealthy Indians (many of whom converted to Catholicism), including Braganza Palace, which is open to the public.

Why not try your hand at cooking? Bolt-on a cooking course in a relaxed atmosphere at our custom–built kitchen in the heart of sunny Goa, where our expert chefs will teach you Indian culinary skills. We offer a hands–on, small group course with a dynamic and fun, yet informative approach to learning.

1, 3 or 5 day courses are available. The 1 day bolt-on will be a cooking session, the 3-day bolt-on will incorporate 2 cooking sessions and a market trip and the 5 day bolt-on will incorporate 3 cooking sessions, a market trip and a spice market trip. Overnight - Goa (B:5)

Friday. Tour arrangements end after breakfast, with hotel check out and onward departure transfer to the airport. Unless, of course, you’ve booked another week in the sun! (B)