Beyond the Golden Triangle

This nine-night escorted tour by Travelsphere navigates the well-trodden path known as India’s Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur — with an adventurous detour into Ranthambore National Park. Starting in Delhi, the itinerary balances the old and new, from the 17th-century alleys of Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk, to New Delhi’s spacious boulevards and iconic India Gate.

A sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal captures its pale marble glinting as the sun climbs, before moving on to Agra Fort and the more delicate Baby Taj with its intricate marble screens. After a stop at the ghost town Fatehpur Sikri, the group heads to Ranthambore for morning and afternoon safaris through forest and waterfalls, watching for nests of birds, crocodiles and the occasional tiger or leopard.

The tour finishes with two days in Jaipur, including a hilltop visit to Amber Fort and a rickshaw ride in Old Jaipur, guided by a women-led social enterprise. The pared-back heritage hotel here offers a peaceful contrast to the city’s colour and noise. The final day loops back to Delhi for the flight home.