Family India Discovery

On arrival in India, you and your family will be welcomed with bright garlands of marigold flowers. After settling into your hotel, you’ll head off on a Three Religions tour, where you’ll get the chance to learn about the country’s melting pot of faiths, cultures and languages via myriad temples and cathedrals. The next day, you and the family will take a guided food walk, led by a renowned local chef, discovering the tastes and smells of different Indian street foods. In the afternoon, discover New Delhi at your pace, along with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Humayun’s Tomb.

Board your train to Agra and, on arrival there, roll up your sleeves and volunteer with Wildlife SOS at the Agra Elephant Rehabilitation Centre. Here you’ll get up-close to these gentle giants, which have been rescued from trade and circuses. Children will love learning more about the rescue of the elephants (and bears at the Bear Rescue Centre) and meeting their keepers too. Later, at Mehtab Bagh, take in beautiful sunset views around the incredible Taj Mahal. Think that’s impressive? Then you’ll love sunrise; the next day, set your alarm for early o’clock and watch as this iconic marble palace dramatically changes colour. After breakfast, you’ll visit Agra Fort and the Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah, then, in the evening, you can opt to buy tickets for the Mohabbat the Taj show – a theatrical spectacle.

The next day, drive to Bharatpur, check into your hotel and relax. The following morning, head to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, found at the confluence of two rivers. This former hunting ground is now home to many species of birds including herons, storks, cormorants, sandpipers and eagles, as well as wild boar, deer, mongoose, Asian palm civets smooth-coated otters and golden jackals. Bring your camera, keep your eyes peeled, and see what you can spot among the foliage.

Take the train to Ranthambore, a national park home to the most majestic of big cats: the Bengal tiger. Spotting a tiger here is not as rare as you might think, and this is one of the best places in the world to see them in the wild. Enjoy a morning game drive through the forests, hills, valleys and pools with a naturalist guide, stopping off to visit the fort as you go. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for that tell-tale flash of orange fur!

Drive on to your final stop, Jaipur, ready to explore the sights and sounds of the beautiful old town. Jaipur is also known as the Pink City due to the overriding colour of its buildings – don’t forget your camera! The next morning, explore the Amber Fort, and then spend the afternoon taking in the glittering interiors of the City Palace Museum. The following day you’ll be heading to Sanganer, the small township famous for its handmade paper and textile industries, where you can try your hand at block printing. You can even take home your creation – the kids will love it! In the afternoon, make your way to Dera Amer for an elephant interaction experience where the whole family will get to feed, wash and walk with the resident elephants – a not-to-be-missed activity. Later, tantalise your taste buds as you join a local family for a tasty cookery demonstration.