Best of India & Sri Lanka: Land of the Taj & Tigers

Welcome to Delhi, a magnetic blend of old and new, and the capital of modern India. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Your day starts with an orientation drive to see India Gate and the Presidential Palace. Then, take a rickshaw ride through the alleys of Chandni Chowk, a captivating bazaar. Visit Jama Masjid and Qutub Minar, the world's tallest brick minaret, dating back to the 11th century. Next, explore Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi's largest and most prominent Sikh gurudwara (house of worship). Drive to Agra this afternoon. Your Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner at your hotel tonight.

Start your day with an incomparable sunrise visit to the famous Taj Mahal. This remarkable monument, commissioned by Sjah Jahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, took 22 years to build. Return to your hotel for some time at leisure. This afternoon, visit Agra Fort, a colossal, red sandstone UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising the spectacular Mughal Palace with audience halls, the Room of Mirrors, and the pavilion where Shah Jahan spent his last days.

Today, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the sandstone palaces, elegant courtyards, and victory gate of this ghostly place built in 1569 and deserted by its people when water was no longer available. Then, travel to Sawai Madhopur, gateway to Ranthambore National Park.

Explore Ranthambore National Park on a morning game drive in an open-air safari vehicle. In addition to Bengal tigers, the park is home to leopards, sambar deer, sloth bears, marsh crocodiles, striped hyenas, and more. Return to your resort where the remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy your jungle surroundings. You may wish to join an optional game drive this afternoon for another chance to spot wildlife.

Enjoy free time this morning. After lunch at the hotel, drive to Jaipur, often referred to as the “Pink City” for its distinctive rose colored buildings painted in the 19th century to welcome royal visitors.

Sightseeing today starts at Jantar Mantar, then explore the City Palace Museum with its collection of paintings, carpets, weapons, and costumes. Later, visit the legendary Amber Fort, the “Sleeping Beauty of Rajasthan.” This fortress-palace has a somber exterior that hides a richly ornate interior of royal apartments, including an alabaster Hall of Victory and a superb Chamber of Mirrors. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore Jaipur.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Colombo (via Delhi), Sri Lanka's capital city. Enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel tonight.

Depart Colombo by road, traveling inland to Habarana, located in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle. This afternoon, embark on an exciting jeep safari in Minneriya National Park, renowned for its large elephant gatherings, as well as spotted deer, water buffalo, and birdlife. The evening is at leisure to relax at your hotel.

This morning, visit the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dramatically rising above the surrounding plains. Explore the ancient citadel, frescoes, and landscaped water gardens before stopping for lunch. The afternoon is free; perhaps join an optional excursion to the nearby Polonnaruwa ruins.

Note:
Reaching the summit of Sigiriya Rock Fortress involves a steep climb with many steps. You may choose to enjoy the lower gardens and views at a more relaxed pace if preferred.

Begin the day with a visit to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site featuring centuries-old murals and statues set within limestone caves. Continue to a local spice garden, where you'll learn about Sri Lanka's prized spices. Later, arrive in Kandy, a jumble of culture, history, and colonial buildings. Visit the revered Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism's holiest shrines, and enjoy dinner at your hotel tonight.

Enjoy a hands-on Sri Lankan cooking class this morning, followed by lunch featuring the dishes you help prepare. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this green city, stroll around Kandy Lake, or relax at your hotel. If you're feeling energized tonight, tap along to the rhythms of an optional Kandyan drum and dance performance.

Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya this morning, renowned for its extensive collection of orchids, spices, and medicinal plants. Then, journey through the central highlands, stopping at Ramboda Falls along the way, before arriving in the elegant hill town of Nuwara Eliya, often referred to as “Little England.”

Set high above sea level and surrounded by rolling hills, Nuwara Eliya's cool temperatures, humidity, and rainfall provide the perfect climate for tea production. Today features a visit to a tea factory and plantation, where you'll learn about Ceylon tea production and enjoy a tasting. Later, enjoy time at Lake Gregory and take in panoramic views from Victoria Peak.

Board a scenic train journey to Ella, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful rail routes in the world. Continue onward to Yala National Park, stopping en route to view the famous Nine Arches Bridge, an engineering marvel set amid lush jungle scenery.

Rise early for a morning game drive in Yala National Park, home to leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife. Return to your lodge later in the morning. The afternoon is at leisure to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings or perhaps join an optional second game drive this afternoon for your chance to spot more wildlife.

Travel toward Sri Lanka's southern coast today, stopping en route at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home. Observe young elephants being rehabilitated before they are released back into the wild. Continue to Galle, where afternoon sightseeing includes the UNESCO-listed Galle Dutch Fort and its historic clock tower.

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Galle. You may wish to relax by the coast, explore artisan shops within the fort walls, or choose an optional stilt fishing experience. For a photo-worthy glimpse of coastal tradition, join an optional excursion to witness local fishermen practicing this time-honored technique, balancing gracefully above the surf as they fish from atop narrow wooden stilts.

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.