Day 1: Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi in the late evening. After you have cleared immigration and customs formalities, you are met outside the International Arrivals Hall and transferred to the hotel. Overnight at HOTEL IMPERIAL.

Days 2: In Delhi

After breakfast, spend the day exploring India’s capital. In Old Delhi, visit the Red Fort, built in 1648 during the reign of Shah Jehan in red sandstone, which gave the fort its name. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque, built of red sandstone and white marble in the middle of the 17th century. Chandni Chowk (Silver Street), once the imperial avenue down which Shah Jehan rode at the head of lavish cavalcades, is today bustling with shops, stalls and silversmiths' ateliers.

In the afternoon, sightseeing of New Delhi includes a visit to India Gate, built in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War. Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy is today the official residence of the President of India and Parliament House, an unique circular building with huge colonnades, houses the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Connaught Circus is the commercial hub of New Delhi. One of Delhi’s most striking monuments is the 70-meter high Qutb Minar, which looms majestically across the wide plains of Delhi. Overnight at HOTEL IMPERIAL.

Day 3: Delhi To Khajuraho

After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight 9W 723 departing Delhi at 1040 hours and arriving Khajuraho at 1300 hours. You are met on arrival and transferred to the hotel.

After lunch, take a tour of the temples. Khajuraho is renowned the world over for its fine temples, built between 950 and 1050 AD, which are among the most creative examples of Indian architecture. Only 22 of the original 85 temples survive today. The most popular theme is woman: reflective, playful, amorous. The carvings also depict gods in cosmic evolution, griffins, nymphs, beasts, demons in revolt and the several emotions of man - fear, doubt, jealousy, ardent love and consummate passion.

The western group, contained within a fenced enclosure, is well maintained as a park. The large Lakshmana Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and is one of the earliest of the western enclosure temples, dating from 930-950 AD. It is also one of the best preserved, with a full five-part floor plan and four subsidiary shrines. The Vahara Temple, dedicated to Vishnu’s boar incarnation (Vahara avatar) faces the Matangesvara Temple and has a huge solid and intricately carved figure of the boar incarnation, dating from around 900 AD. The Kandariya Mahadev Temple is not only the largest but also artistically and architecturally the most perfect. Build between 1025 and 1050 AD, it represents Chandela at its finest.

The Mahadeva Temple is small and mainly ruined. However, it houses one of Khajuraho’s best sculptures - a fine sardula figure caressing a lion. The Devi Jagadamba Temple was probably originally dedicated to Vishnu, but later changed to Parvati and then Kali. The Chitragupta Temple is unique in being dedicated to the Sun God, Surya. The Matangesvara Temple, standing next to the Lakshmana Temple, is not within the fenced enclose, because it is still in everyday use, unlike all the old temples. Overnight at HOTEL CHANDELA.

Days 4: Khajuraho To Bandhavgarh

After breakfast depart for Bandhavgarh National Park. The 6- to 7-hour drive is interesting, passing through forested and agricultural land. The road crosses the Ken River, a tributary of the Ganges. Some stretches of the river have been declared a sanctuary for the gharial - a rare fish-eating crocodile. Also pass through the small town of Panna, famous for its diamond mines. From Satna, the mid-way point, turn off on a subsidiary road across the ridges of the Vindyachal to Bandhavgarh National Park. On arrival check in at the Camp.

In the late afternoon take a jeep ride in the park to view some of the game found here: Cheetal (Spotted deer), Sambar, barking deer, Chowsingha (four-horned antelope), wild boar, Nilgai (blue bull), wild boar, langur, Rhesus macaque, Dhole (Asian wild dog) and a variety of birds. In the evening there is a slide show or lecture on the park and its flora and fauna, with resident naturalists always on hand to answer any queries you may have. Dinner and overnight at BANDHAVGARH JUNGLE CAMP.

Day 5: At Bandhavgarh

Early morning visit to the Park in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger and other game. Bandhavgarh is renowned, and justly so, for the relatively easy sighting of tiger, especially by daylight. Before returning to the camp for breakfast, you can visit some of the ancient monuments found here, including a huge 10-meter status of Vishnu, reclining on a bed of serpents. There are also several ancient cave dwellings in the area - the inscriptions on their walls have yet to be identified. The rest of the morning is at leisure. Lunch at the camp.

In the afternoon take another jeep drive in the Park. With a road network of over 200 km, it is possible to cover every habitat type in the park. Return to the Camp for dinner. Overnight at BANDHAVGARH JUNGLE CAMP.

Day 6: Bandhavgarh To Umaria, Train To Agra

Early morning game viewing safari in the park. Return to the Camp for breakfast. The rest of the morning is at leisure. Lunch at the camp.

Late afternoon, take a last foray into the park. After an early dinner depart on the 34 km drive to Umaria railway station to board the Mahakaushal Express train, departing at 2130 hours for Agra. Overnight ON THE TRAIN.

Day 7: Agra To Bharatpur

0610 hours: the train arrives Agra. You are met on arrival and transferred to a hotel for wash and change. After breakfast visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna river, enclosed by forbidding 20-m high walls, with a 12-m moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors - Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan - helped create this massive structure which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture. The highlight of your trip will probably be a visit to the Taj Mahal, surely the greatest monument to love and one of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 labourers worked for 17 years to build this edifice, constructed by emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Marble was brought from Makrana, near Jodhpur and precious stones of onyx, amethyst, malachite, lapis lazuli, turquoise, jade, crystal and mother of pearl were carried to Agra from Persia, Russia, Afghanistan, Tibet, China and the Indian Ocean.

In the afternoon depart on the one-hour drive to Bharatpur. En route stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted sandstone city, which was the glorious but short-lived imperial capital of Akbar, the greatest of Mughal emperors. Lying on a rocky ridge, it is today a haunting complex of empty palaces, forts and mosques. A variety of architectural styles are found, since craftsmen representing many schools were employed.

On arrival in Bharatpur, check in at the hotel. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is formally known as Keoladeo Ghana, after the ancient Shiva temple in the heart of the forest. Spread over 29 square km of shallow lakes, scrub and woodland, it was initially developed in the late 19th century as a wildfowl hunting preserve by the royal family of Bharatpur. Today it is one of the most spectacular waterfowl sanctuaries in the world.

After lunch take a cycle rickshaw or a boat ride in the park. Among the variety of water and other birds which gather here are the painted stork, egret, pelican, ibis, cormorant, darter, grey and white heron, sarus crane and purple moorhen. The exotic migrants from Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet and further afield are the barheaded geese from China, the Siberian crane and greylag geese form the Arctic. Innumerable ducks dot the low-lying swamp - coot, mallard, pochard, dabchik, brahminy, teal and spoonbill. Islands and forested hillocks break the water and embankments criss-cross the marshland, making for easy viewing. Apart from birds, other species include the nilgai (blue bull), sambar, wild boar, hyena, cheetal (spotted deer) and porcupine. Large rock pythons can be seen sunning themselves after hibernating for months. Dinner and overnight at LAXMI VILAS PALACE.

Day 8: Bharatpur To Ranthambore

After breakfast depart on the 6-hour drive to Ranthambore National Park. On arrival check in at the hotel in time for lunch. Ranthambore is situated at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Since becoming one of the original 11 areas under Project Tiger in 1973, the park has recovered much of its previous natural glory. The blend between nature and history is strong in this park - the fort, temples, tanks and other relics are a constant reminder of man's involvement in the area. The fort commanded a large region and up to the late 13th century was the centre of a Hindu kingdom. During the 18th century the area was protected as a hunting area for and by the Maharajas of Jaipur and it is thanks to an extension of this protection that the park exists today. In the late afternoon take a jeep safari in the park. Ranthambore has an impressive range of animal species within its 392 sq. km, including sambar, cheetal, nilgai, chinkara, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, leopard and the highly endangered Royal Bengal Tiger. The rich birdlife reflects the range of flora on which it feeds. During the winter months, the lakes attract a variety of migrant water birds. Dinner and overnight at SAWAI MADHOPUR LODGE.

Day 9: At Ranthambore

Early morning and late afternoon game viewing drives in the park. All meals and overnight at SAWAI MADHOPUR LODGE.

Day 10: Ranthambore To Jaipur, Fly To Delhi

After an early breakfast depart on the 3-hour drive to Jaipur, one of the best-planned cities in India, built of rose-pink sandstone by the great astronomer-king Jai Singh II in 1727. Visit the City Palace, which stands in the centre of the city. Part of it is still the Maharaja's residence, while most of the complex has been developed into a museum containing rare manuscripts, fine specimens of Rajput and Mughal paintings, royal apparel and an armoury. Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is the landmark of Jaipur. It stands on one of the main streets, a curious building, elaborate and fanciful, built of pink sandstone with a delicate honeycomb design. Rising five storeys high, it is composed of semi-octagonal overhanging windows, each with its perforated screen, which allowed the ladies of the court to look onto the main street without being seen. Jantar Mantar observatory, built by Jmaharaja ai Singh II, has huge stone instruments devised to study the movements of the sun, moon and planets and are incredibly accurate. There is time to wander through the colourful bazaars, a veritable collector's paradise where you can watch ancient craft forms.

Late afternoon transfer to the airport to board flight 9W 722 departing Jaipur at 1740 hours and arriving Delhi at 1820 hours. You are met and transferred into town for dinner, before returning to the International airport in the late evening for your onward flight.