The Golden Triangle

Experience the intoxicating richness of Indian culture on this classic tour exploring the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It's exotic, chaotic, romantic and has fascinated travellers for years.

Marvel at the splendour of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, wander through forts and palaces with fascinating histories……and visit an elephant and bear rescue centre. Get caught up in the bustle and buzz of markets and bazaars or take a rickshaw ride through a bird sanctuary.

This is a perfect short trip for a first time visitors to India.

What's included

8 Nights 3-5 star hotels, heritage hotels and lodges
8 breakfast; 6 lunches; 2 dinners
All relevant transfers and transportation in private vehicles
BOA tour leader, driver(s), specialist guides at most sites
Entrance fees to activities included I the itinerary
Still/video camera fees at monuments
Airport transfers to/from designated airports on trip start and end date

What's not included

International airfares and relevant taxes
Visas
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Recommended vaccinations and other health protections
Optional activities in free time
Beverages and meals not included in the itinerary
Tips and gratuities
Laundry and other items of a personal nature

Gallery

Wildlife SOS Elephant Sanctuary, Mathura, India

Brahminy Starling, Keoladeo NP, Bharatpur, India

Itinerary

Day 1

Namaste Delhi

Namaste. Welcome to India. You will be greeted by our staff on arrival at Delhi's Indira Ghandi International Airport and driven to the five star Claridges Hotel, just a few minutes walk from Connaught Place in central New Delhi.

Your BOA adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 6.pm. Look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask at reception where it will take place. You will need to bring your passport and a copy of your travel insurance.

After the meeting we will head off to enjoy our first meal together.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: The Claridges, New Delhi or similar
Meals included: dinner

Included activities

Airport Transfer
Welcome Meeting 6.00 pm

Optional activities

Shopping in Janpath Market

Day 2

Private transfer to Agra

It is impossible to beat Delhi's traffic unless we leave very early indeed! The morning traffic rush transcends into an all day traffic jam and then the inevitable evening chaos. Safely out of Delhi's complicated network of roads, things calm down as a fast motorway heads south to Agra, driving through flat, rural farming communities. You will be escorted by a representative of BOA to Agra in a private vehicle, where awaits the rest of the group and 'Snowy', BOA's custom built Mercedes Benz all-terrain vehicle.

Drive times: 212 kms / 4-5 hrs approx
Accommodation: Taj Hotel, Agra or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

Private transfer from Delhi to Agra
Introduction to 'Snowy'

Day 3

Visit the iconic Taj Mahal & Agra's imposing Red Fort

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal is one of life’s unforgettable moments… the magical aura as the sun’s first rays catch the different hues in the white marble is simply stunning.

After a late breakfast at the hotel, we visit the very impressive Agra Fort, a marvel of architecture in red sandstone with walls standing over twenty metres high and with a huge moat surrounding it.

Agra is heaven for shopaholics and the afternoon is yours free to visit the many markets and craft areas or other attractive buildings and gardens in Agra. On the opposite bank of the Yamuna River is the Moon Garden an ideal point for viewing the Taj Mahal in romantic moonlight.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Taj Hotel, Agra or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

Taj Mahal
Agra Red Fort

Optional activities

Moon Garden or Mehtab Bagh
Shopping

More about Agra.......

Day 4

Say hello to a rescued elephant; take a cycle rickshaw around Keoladeo NP

Today is all about wildlife conservation and we hope you share our enthusiasm.

Wildlife SOS is a conservation non-profit in India, established in 1998 with the primary objective of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress in the country, and preserving India’s natural heritage. Close to Agra, Wildlife S.O.S. have two care facilities, one for Sloth Bears and the other for elephants. We take time to visit one or both of these facilities dependent on the groups preference before continuing on to Bharatpur.

Late in the afternoon we take cycle rickshaws and explore one of India’s best-known bird sanctuaries, Keoladeo National Park, commonly known as Bharatpur Bird Park.

Drive times: 86 kms / 3-5 hrs approx
Accommodation: Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

Wildlife S.O.S.
Agra Bear Rescue Facility
Elephant Conservation & Care Center
Keoladeo National Park
Cycle Rickshaw Tour

Optional activities

Bicycle Hire
Lohagarh Fort & Museum

More about Wildlife SOS, Bharatpur & Fatehpur Sikri....

Day 5

Visit Fatephur Sikri en-route to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur

Our day starts with the option of visiting Sunrise Point in Keoladeo NP before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

A short 25 kms from Bharatpur, we arrive at Fatephur Sikri, a perfectly preserved ghost city built at the height of Emperor Akbar’s reign. We will spend some time wandering around this old abandoned marvel of Mughal architecture before continuing on to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur.

Drive times: 230 kms / 4-6 hrs approx
Accommodation: Khandela Haveli, Jaipur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

Fatephur Sikri

Optional activities

Sunrise Cycle Rickshaw Tour
Sunrise Bicycle Tour

Day 6

Fly over the 'Pink City in a hot air balloon; explore the iconic sights of Jaipur

Why not start the day by floating across the skyline of Jaipur in a hot air balloon.

After breakfast we spend the day exploring several of the city’s famous landmarks with an old friend whose family has been synonymous with Jaipur and tourism for generations.

Hawa Mahal (The Palace of the Winds), Iswari Minar Swarga Sal (Heaven Piercing Minaret), the City Palace, also known as the Pink Palace and Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory are all included in our day.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Khandela Haveli, Jaipur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

Hawa Mahal (The Palace of the Winds)
Iswari Minar Swarga Sal (Heaven Piercing Minaret)
City Palace (Pink Palace)
Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory

Optional activities

Hot Air Ballooning
Shopping

More about Jaipur.......

Day 7

Explore the immense Amber Palace; drive to Delhi

We drive 11 kms north of Jaipur, past the Jal Mahal (Water Palace) sitting in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, to the imposing and fabulous Amber Fort and Palace.

From Jaipur to Delhi the drive is through quite undulating and dry country but, as we get closer to Delhi, it becomes flatter and greener. Be prepared for us to come to a grinding halt when we hit the edges of Delhi and are greeted by the chaotic Delhi traffic!

Drive times: 310 kms / 4-6 hrs approx
Accommodation: The Claridges, New Delhi or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

Amber Palace & Fort

Day 8

City tour of Old & New Delhi

Delhi is a frenzy of culture and colour, a vibrant, crazy and chaotic capital city, all of which you will discover on our city tour. A historians paradise, Delhi is home to a phase in history that speaks out from every nook and corner of the city. The memories of the glorious age of the Mughal rulers is still alive, with most of their architectural glories still standing as a witness of an era gone by.

Our day will include Bahai Lotus Temple, the impressive Red Fort, Jama Masjid a 17th century mosque, Rajghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Ghandia, Humayun Tomb, India’s parliament house, India Gate and Qutab Minar.

After a long day of exploring we end with a group meal together to say goodbye to those leaving in Delhi and hello to those joining us.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: The Claridges, New Delhi or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch | dinner

Included activities

Bahai Lotus Temple
The Red Fort
Jama Masjid
Rajghat
Humayun Tomb
Sansad Bhavan
India Gate
Qutab Minar
Group Farewell Dinner

Optional activities

Shopping in Janpath Market

More about Old & New Delhi.......

Day 9

Farewell and end of trip

The tour ends after breakfast and your morning is free until it is time to transfer to the airport. We thank you for choosing to travel with us… Best Of Asia Overland, the specialists in ‘Adventure in Comfort’, welcome you anytime.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Not included
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

Airport Transfer

Travel Guide to India

Accommodation in India

Map of India

Essential Travel Information

Before booking your BOA trip, please ensure that you have read both this information and BOA Booking Conditions.

Essential Travel Information

Details

Duration: 9 days

Start Location: New Delhi, India

Dropoff Time: New Delhi, India

Highlights

AGRA - Witness sunrise over the iconic Taj Mahal
WILDLIFE SOS - Say hello to a rescued elephant and meet their new family.
BHARATPUR - Take a cycle rickshaw ride around a sanctuary for birds.
FATEPUR SIKRI - Wander around a perfectly preserved ghost city.
JAIPUR - Fly high over the 'Pink City' and see its famous sites from a hot-air balloon.
DELHI - Experience the hustle and bustle of both Old and New Delhi as we explore its historic sites.

Client Reviews

"Had a wonderful trip to Nepal last September. Vehicle, accommodation and sightseeing were tops. Ben and his crew obviously know the country inside out and took us to many places not visited by tourists and gave us many opportunities to meet and mingle with the delightful locals. Would urge anyone to give it a go."

- Rick

Australia
"Having done several trips with Ben Grayling, of which one was a fantastic trip through Nepal, I highly recommend you put a couple of weeks (or more) aside and join in on one of these "once in a lifetime adventures"

- Mike

USA
A FANTASTIC TRIP!! Wonderful people, magnificent unspoiled countryside. We were so lucky to visit areas few tourists see. Ben is a very safe driver and knows the country like the "back of his hand". We had lots of fun and would thoroughly recommend BOA Overland. We can’t wait for our next trip."

- Liz

Australia
“As an experienced overland traveller I found BOA to be of the highest standards in comfort, efficiency, safety, and excitement. The driver was well informed, spoke well about the subjects of which he was highly knowledgeable and was pleasant to all of the passengers. I would highly recommend BOA for anyone who wants to travel this part of the world and would not hesitate to employ their services should... Read More

- Phil

Canada
"I had been hunting for years for an overland trip that encompassed Nepal, the Sikkim area of North India and Bhutan, and then came across BOA's trips, that ALSO continued into Bangladesh. Amazing. Every day was a thrill, and inspiring in so many ways. The trucks are customised, and several notches up from the average overland vehicles you may have travelled on. My trip was an exploratory, and so... Read More

- Nick

UK
"The group was small, diverse and interesting, a good thing when travelling together for several weeks. We knew that we were in for a great trip when we met the “diehards”, those who had travelled with Ben before. Nepal is a fascinating country and Ben’s driving skills and first hand knowledge of different areas, customs and beliefs was invaluable. We enjoyed meals at the most unlikely places. Krishna our... Read More

- Ian and Ann

Australia
"BOA gave me good value, a well paced trip with an itinerary and experiences I wouldn't have done on my own. I can't say enough good things about the trip leader and I look forward to future trips with BOA."

- Andrea

USA