Classic Golden Triangle Tour With Beach Stay In Sri Lanka

Highlights Of India And The Amazing Beaches Of Sri Lanka

India’s Golden Triangle can be combined with a beach holiday on the lovely tropical island of Sri Lanka. This is a fabulous opportunity to experience both the history and culture of India with the idyllic beauty of Sri Lanka.

Upon arrival in Delhi explore the sights of the great capital city, including the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the teeming bazaars of Chandni Chowk. With an afternoon drive through tree lines avenues of New Delhi, you can also appreciate Sir Edwin Lutyen’s architectural masterpieces of the British Raj such as the Parliament Buildings and Presidents House.

The Red Fort Of Agra is one of India’s most important historic monuments, as it was the seat of Mughal power for many centuries.. A visit to the Taj Mahal nearby will undoubtedly be the great highlight of any tour of India.

The Pink City of Jaipur is a fabulous introduction to princely Rajasthan. The City Palace is full of historic artefacts and includes buildings such as the famous Hawa Mahal, or Palace Of Winds.

An evening flight from Delhi Airport reaches the paradise of Sri Lanka, probably the most beautiful island in the world, with a unique culture and exquisite beaches.

Day 01

Depart UK

Depart UK – Overnight flight.

Day 02

Delhi

The Manor

Relax On Arrival At Delhi
Relax on arrival at your hotel inside a leafy and exclusive area of Delhi.

Early Evening Rickshaw Ride Through Old Delhi
Let India take hold of your senses with a Cycle Rickshaw Ride through the teeming bazaars and markets of Chandni Chowk. At one end is the huge Jama Masjid mosque (1656).

As the last seat of power of the Mughal Empire, The Red Fort Of Delhi (1639) is an interesting introduction to India’s forts and palaces.

Day 03

Delhi

The Manor

Drive Through Lutyen’s Imperial New Delhi Experience the wide open spaces of imperial New Delhi, with its ordered governmental buildings and blossoming avenues. Those with an appreciation of colonial architecture can marvel at Lutyen’s buildings such as Viceroy's House (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and India Gate, one of Delhi's most famous landmarks.

A great way to sample the ambience of the colonial era would be to stop for tea at the lovely Imperial Hotel or Claridges.

Sights Of Southern Delhi
Driving east and south you come across Humayun's Tomb (1570) and the Qutub Complex, dominated by the Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world (239 ft), and an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture.

If you plan your day carefully you can also see Rajghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as new landmarks of Delhi such as the Akshardham and Lotus temples.

Day 04

Agra

The Trident Agra

Akbar’s Tomb At Sikandra
The impressive tomb of Akbar The Great (1612) lies conveniently on the roadside near Agra.

Private Guided Tour Of The Red Fort At Agra The 16th century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort Of Agra was built by Akbar the Great (1556-1605) and is in fact a walled palace that remained India’s premier city for almost two centuries.

The powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses many fairytale palaces within its 1.5 mile-long enclosure walls, including the Jahangir Palace, the Khas Mahal, audience halls such as the Diwan-i-Khas and the Sheesh Mahal (The Glass Palace) which is inlaid with thousands of mirrors and was once the dressing room of the harem.

Day 05

Jaipur

The Trident Jaipur

The Amazing Beauty Of The Taj Mahal
The world’s greatest monument to love – the Taj Mahal. lies overlooking the River Yamuna. The Taj was built in 1631 by Emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his favourite wife. To truly appreciate the wondrous Taj Mahal and its many moods, you should aim to visit it at dawn or dusk when the reflection of the sun changes the colour of the dome from white to shades of pink.

The Tomb Of Itmad Ud Daulah (1622)
A lovely surprise in Agra is this delightful tomb of a nobleman that is often called the ‘mini’ Taj Mahal.

Fatehpur Sikri
The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri (1570) was the capital of Emperor Akbar between 1570 and 1585. The city was abandoned, for reasons still not understood, after only fifteen years and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved, a complete medieval fortress of red sandstone, with vast central squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces and formal gardens.

Laxmi Vilas At Bharatpur
The Laxmi Vilas Palace (1887) is an ideal place to have lunch on the way to Jaipur.

Day 06

Jaipur

The Trident Jaipur

The Fabulous Amber Fort And Palace
After breakfast leave for Amber (pronounced Amer), 7 miles from Jaipur with one of the most fantastic settings in the whole of India.

Here, the Amber Fort (1592) lies cradled in picturesque and rugged hills with a long line of ramparts and battlements leading up to the Jaigarh Fort in the distance.

The forbidding exterior of Amber Fort belies an inner paradise with palaces that are a beautiful fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture. The top attraction here is the chance of an Elephant Back Ride to ascend to the top.

Private Guided Tour Of Jaipur City Palace The old Pink City of Jaipur has a stunning backdrop of ancient forts and palaces that stand as dramatic testimonials of a bygone era and a reminder of their lingering romance. Seven gates into the old city remain, one of which leads into Johari Bazaar - the famous jewellers' market that has the best selection of precious stones in India.

The magnificent City Palace built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 is enclosed by high walls and set amidst courtyards with fine gardens.

The City Palace is now a vast museum with exhibits that have lost none of their splendour. Royal retainers, clothed in turbans and full livery, still guard the principal halls and entrances with fine displays of royal costumes and armaments.

The Palace of the Winds or Hawa Mahal (1799) is Jaipur’s most famous landmark originally built to offer the women of the court a vantage point from which to watch the activity in the bazaars below.

The Jantar Mantar (1734) is a fascinating astronomical observatory that is also well worth visiting.

Day 07

Beach Stay In Sri Lanka

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT FROM DELHI –
COLOMBO

3 HR 25 MIN

To Sri Lanka’s Beaches
Return to Delhi Airport to take a direct flight to the
beautiful tropical island of Sri Lanka.

Beach Resorts In Sri Lanka

Negombo - 20 Min
The nearest beach resort to Colombo Airport, only 20 minutes away has a long and wide sandy beach, lined with bars and restaurants. A lively location with a good mix of top end and budget accommodation.

Wadduwa And Kalutara - 2.5 Hours
Quiet, relaxed beaches with long swathes of coconut palms that hide luxurious resort hotels. Good for excursions to the interior.

Bentota - 3.5 Hours
The most famous resort in Sri Lanka, is also where the best beaches in Sri Lanka start, and contains some of its best resort hotels too.

Galle - 5 Hours
If you want amazing beaches, you need to travel to the Deep South of the island. Here the sea is a brilliant shade of blue and the historic port of Galle is the focal point.

NOTE: You can choose as many beach nights as you require.

Depart Chennai

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