Beyond the Golden Triangle at Christmas with Shimla Add on

This thirteen-night escorted tour from Travelsphere covers Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, often known as India’s Golden Triangle, before continuing north by train to the cooler climes of Shimla in the Himalayas. The route includes New and Old Delhi, where the bustle and monuments like the India Gate and Jama Masjid provide two heavily contrasting faces of the city.

Highlights include a dawn visit to the Taj Mahal with time to appreciate its marble details without the crowds, two game drives in Ranthambore National Park in search of the elusive tiger, and a stay in a Jaipur heritage hotel. The Pink City itself offers the Amber Fort’s hilltop ramparts and a rickshaw tour of its old town led by women drivers, a small detail that speaks to the city’s evolving character.

A notable change of pace comes with a journey on the Shatabdi Express to Shimla, a former British colonial summer retreat. Time there includes a visit to the Vice Regal Lodge and a tour of Chandigarh’s Rock Garden. Rather than a breakneck itinerary, this holiday allows moments to relax or take a slower look at some fine sights along the way.