Signature India | The Realm of Royals

Welcome to Delhi, a city where empires rose, poets dreamed, and the rhythm of modern India beats through ancient walls. Complimentary arrival transfers are provided today, with VIP assistance to ease you through the airport and into another pace entirely. Those arriving early can take an optional guided tour revealing the gardens, hidden stairways, and painted ceilings of Safdarjung’s Tomb, the mausoleum of the Mughal viceroy of Awadh or visit the World Heritage site of Qutab Minar, an architectural marvel of the Delhi Sultanate and the tallest brick minaret globally. Alternatively, join the Salaam Baalak Walk, an inspiring initiative by an Indian non-profit that creates a nurturing environment for children who live and work on the streets. These activities are available to prebook on request. As evening falls, join your Signature Guide for a welcome reception at Indian Accent, among Asia’s most acclaimed dining rooms. Meet the chef and taste Delhi’s modern culinary artistry, where local tradition is reimagined with delicate precision.

Navigate Old Delhi’s labyrinthine lanes by rickshaw, where the air hums with temple bells and cardamom-laced spice. Pause at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to witness the quiet devotion of seva, before a refined lunch amid Connaught Place’s colonial arcades. Step through Humayun’s Tomb, an elegant prelude to the Taj Mahal, its red sandstone and symmetry echoing Mughal grace. In Nizamuddin, meet the women of Insha-e-Noor, preserving heritage crafts through delicate embroidery and block printing. As evening falls, gather in a Delhi home for a private cooking demonstration and dinner — a warm exchange of flavour and family.

Board a morning train to Agra, gliding past fields and villages as the rhythm of the rails reveals rural India in motion. On arrival, settle into a city once ruled by Mughal emperors, before joining a historian for a private tour of Agra Fort, where power and poetry meet in stone. Lunch follows at the Skydeck restaurant, with sweeping views of the Taj Mahal in the distance. As day fades, cross the Yamuna River to Mehtab Bagh (the Moonlight Garden) where the Taj Mahal is reflected in the still water. Dinner follows at the award-winning Peshwari restaurant, where the smoky aromas and robust spices of north-west India unfold in an evening of refined flavour.

Signature Experience: See daybreak at the Taj Mahal, as your personal historian unravels its enduring love story. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved Mumtaz, this 17th-century masterpiece glows with devotion, a monument where light, loss, and love endure in perfect symmetry. Return to your hotel for breakfast, then continue by road and rail via Bharatpur to Sawai Madhopur. Settle into our Signature Stay at The Maharajas Lodge, a heritage property originally built for the Jaipur royal family and your gateway to the Ranthambore National Park, one of the great tiger-watching destinations. Dinner is an unhurried affair before settling underneath the Ranthambhore stars.

Begin at Dastkar, an NGO where local artisans transform recycled materials into vibrant crafts that sustain households and preserve heritage. Signature Experience: Join the Wildlife Director of Nalla’s Ark Foundation for an illuminating conservation talk before venturing into Ranthambhore National Park with a wildlife photographer. Within this former royal hunting ground, search for Bengal tigers, leopards and sloth bears moving through rust-coloured brush. Return to the lodge for an evening slideshow with your photographer host, followed by dinner.

Begin with an exclusive early morning game drive alongside your wildlife photographer, the forest alive with birdcall and anticipation. Return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast and lunch before continuing by road to Jaipur, the famed Pink City. Later, follow your Signature Guide through lively bazaars, where spice mounds, block-printed textiles, and polished brass glint beneath fading light. Settle into the elegant Jai Mahal Palace, then dine at Cinnamon, where classic Indian flavours meet contemporary finesse.

Today is your Signature Day, where you can select an authentic, curated experience to connect deeply with Indian culture. You could: Venture into the first leopard reserve in India to spot elusive leopards and desert wildlife amid the Aravalli hills, a wild contrast to Jaipur’s palaces (approximately 5.30am-8am – seasonal timings vary, your Signature Guide will confirm locally) Trace Jaipur’s floral traditions on a guided walk through temple courtyards and flower markets, finishing with crafting edible-flower sweets (8.30am-11.30am) Walk the sacred foothills of Amer, from Ambikeshwar Mahadev Temple to the stepwell of Panna Meena ka Kund, ending with serene lake views of the fort (9am-1pm) Delve into Jaipur’s famed blue pottery craft in a hands-on session with a master artisan, creating your own glazed keepsake to take home (2pm-4pm) Join artisans at Nila House to learn natural indigo-dyeing techniques and the legacy of Jaipur’s textiles (2pm-5pm) Tonight’s farewell dinner takes place at Sarvato, an elegant fine-dining restaurant within Jaipur’s historic City Palace where a six-course tasting menu awaits. It’s a fitting finale to the regal spirit of Rajasthan.