- India Escorted Tours
- Essence of North India
Travelling from energetic Delhi to the ancient Mughal city of Agra and historic Jaipur, this immersive tour of India’s Golden Triangle and exotic Ranthambore National Park takes you through the country’s most iconic landmarks and awe-inspiring sights. Enjoy a thrilling rickshaw ride around Old Delhi spice-scented streets, marvel at the timeless romance of the Taj Mahal, and discover the pink-hued architecture of Jaipur, capital of royal Rajasthan. You'll also spend time in Ranthambore, where you'll have the chance to spot elusive, enchanting Bengal Tigers.
Depart on your overnight flight to Delhi International Airport.
Lunch & Dinner
On arrival in Delhi, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, getting to know your surroundings.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A full day tour of Delhi commences after breakfast, beginning with the historic Old Delhi in the morning. Lying side by side, Old Delhi dates back to the Mughal period, whilst New Delhi was built just over a hundred years ago. Travelling through the narrow and crowded streets on a rickshaw will transport you back in time, passing vibrant food markets of Old Delhi where bread makers bake delicious scented naan from the tandoor ovens and chai wallahs brew their sweet tea. A visit to the regal Red Fort gives you a sense of the lavish life once led by the former rulers before stopping for lunch in a local restaurant. Your tour will continue on to New Delhi to see the Mahatma Gandhi memorial and UNESCO listed 12th century Qutb Minar. Built on the foundations of Jain and Hindu temples, the complex was built in 1193 after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom and displays fine examples of Indo-Islamic architecture as well as the tallest stone tower in India. You will also drive past the India Gate, President's House, Parliament Building and visit the Birla Temple, made purely out of 2,000 tons of Rajasthani white marble.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, you will be driven to Agra arriving at your hotel in time for lunch. Despite being a small city, Agra was once the capital of the mighty Mughal dynasty whose strength manifested itself in the huge forts and buildings built to maintain its power. During the afternoon, you will visit the vast red sandstone Agra Fort. The colossal walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by the Mughals in 1573 and boasts gigantic pavilions, grand palaces and spectacular courtyards.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This magical day starts after breakfast with a tour of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. Words do not do this remarkable palace justice; it really must be seen to appreciate its stupendous beauty. Taking 17 years and 20,000 men to build, the heartbroken Mughal Emperor Shahjahan dedicated this stunning white marble monument of love to his deceased wife to enshrine her mortal remains. Lunch on the way to Ranthambore. Following this, you will begin your journey to Ranthambore National Park where you will spend the night.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Spread over 1,344 square kilometers, Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in Northern India. Once a famous hunting ground for the gallant rulers of Jaipur, today it is home to a variety of species including tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, jungle cats and many more. Depart your hotel for an early morning jungle safari (safari by canter) where you may even be able to spot the elusive tiger. You will return to your hotel for breakfast and lunch with some leisure time where you can take advantage of the hotel's outdoor swimming pool. A second safari (safari by canter) trip will follow in the afternoon to visit further areas of the park.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, today you will journey to the Pink City of Jaipur, which got its name from the distinctive earthy red-coloured buildings, painted to emulate the red sandstone architecture of the ancient Mughal cities. Lunch and dinner will be served at your hotel with the rest of the day as free time to relax or explore the largest city in Rajasthan.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, begin your first day in Jaipur with a visit to the spectacular UNESCO recognised Amber Fort, the ancient capital of the royal family until 1728, located just 11km from Jaipur. Spanning over four huge courtyards, you will travel to the centre of the fort by Jeep, passing snake charmers, harems of the Maharajah and the Palace of Mirrors along the way which all make for a truly unforgettable morning. After lunch at local restaurant you can visit some of the local bazaars and stalls for shopping. Try the Jal Mahal Road and Bapu Bazar for jewellery, handicrafts, textile and more, or wander the streets and sample the delicious and unique Rajasthani street food that Jaipur has to offer. Enjoy a traditional dinner before returning back to your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, a city tour of Jaipur takes in the major sights including the home of the royal family of Jaipur - The City Palace and the UNESCO recognised world heritage site Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory. Lastly, marvel at the hundreds of tiny windows on the facade of the Hawa Mahal, known to many as the Palace of Winds (drive past), where it is said that the women of the royal family could once watch the streets below without being seen. You will then commence your return journey to Delhi, stopping for lunch on the way. You will have dinner at your hotel.
Breakfast
After breakfast, you will have some free time before transferring to Delhi International airport in the afternoon for your return flight to the UK or to your chosen extension.
Use discount code TOUR200 at the checkout to save £200 per person on selected tours departing in June 2026, July 2026, August 2026, September 2026, October 2026, November 2026, December 2026, January 2027, February 2027, March 2027, April 2027, May 2027, June 2027, July 2027, August 2027, September 2027, October 2027, November 2027 and December 2027
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Our tour guide, Hemant, absolutely made the trip; his knowledge, enthusiasm, and kindness were amazing.
Gill Pout
22 AprilJaswan Singh was our tour guide. He was excellent. We knew exactly what was happening all the time. Very informative about monuments and sites. He made our trip outstanding.
Mandy Drake
12 AprilOur guide, Hemant, was wonderful and absolutely made the trip. He is such a knowledgeable and fun man - so genuinely thoughtful and kind as well. I would say that the itinerary, our guide Hemant, and our wonderful group made the trip the best holiday I have ever had! Would highly recommend!
Rachel King
01 AprilThe whole tour was amazing, and our guide, Giri, was superb. Hotels were first-class, and the food was very good. We saw so many unbelievable sites and cannot put into words the atmosphere we experienced.
Brian Jewell
30 MarchMy wife and I had wanted to visit India for a long time, and this trip delivered in every way. It was full of fun, from tiger spotting in Ranthambore to rickshaw and jeep rides. The food was great, and so were the guides. Well done, Mercury - 10 out of 10 from us and excellent value for money.
Derek & Joanne Martin
27 FebruaryOur guide, Giriraj, was absolutely fantastic. He was friendly, professional, and very well informed, often adding a personal perspective that really enhanced our experience.
Ann Burniston
19 FebruaryThis was a trip of a lifetime for us. Mercury holidays do all the hard work, and you just turn up. You will not be disappointed. We met some wonderful people in our group who also spoke highly of Mercury Holidays. Our guide, Giri, was fantastic - excellent knowledge, great sense of humour, and went above and beyond with small touches that made our experience a trip of a lifetime. The tour driver, Dharmendra, was excellent; we felt so safe, and his assistant, Mithilesh, was a true gent, providing excellent service.
Samira Wall
29 OctoberMy 21-year-old granddaughter accompanied me on the trip and she also enjoyed everything. Our tour group was of mixed ages and everyone got on really well. The guide, driver and assistant were all excellent. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the places we visited and kept us entertained on our journeys with stories about Indian culture. Taj Mahal was probably my favourite place - photos don’t do it justice.
Elaine Russell
24 SeptemberGreat group and a lovely size - 14 of us. Excellent informative and attentive guide Mr Yogender Singh along with his driver and helper who ensured we were comfortable, safe, and well informed at all times. Highlights of the trip include the jeep ride around Jaipur, the first sight of the Taj Mahal, and getting to see so much normal life in India as we covered so much distance both in the city and countryside.
Sandra Taylor
14 SeptemberOverall, the holiday was memorable and I met some really great people. I would recommend an escorted tour to friends. The Taj Mahal was somewhere I have always wanted to visit, that was my highlight. Travelling around Jaipur in jeeps and the Amber Fort was also great fun and interesting.
Helen Jerzak
01 SeptemberThis is a fantastic trip that gives an insight into the way of life and iconic sights of Northern India that are programmed into this whistle-stop tour. Every day is different and will keep you fully occupied even whilst on the long coach journeys. If you are thinking of booking this trip, just do it. An excellent trip through Northern India seeing some of the iconic sights and the magnificent Bengal Tigers, which although pot luck to see, we saw 9 - should not be missed.
Gary Syevens
07 JuneThe destinations were amazing as was our tour guide, Mr Giriraj Singh, who was so knowledgeable and made our trip complete. You need to book this tour everyone - we saw so many monuments, experienced authentic Indian cooking and people were so friendly. I definitely recommend this tour.
Margaret Leatherday
21 MayI cannot recommend this holiday highly enough. A wonderful experience all around. I wish to give out the highest praise for our wonderful tour guide GiriRaj Singh. His knowledge, organisation, politeness, and care for our group was exceptional at all times. He made the holiday brilliant for us.
Sharon Smart
17 AprilThe tour was well organised and it was great to see some wildlife at Ranthambore, as well as the forts and Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was truly magical. If you are offered any extra places to visit by the tour guide, do it! Our tour guide VJ was absolutely fantastic and nothing was too much trouble for him. He ensured everyone got to see and do everything they wanted. He was knowledgeable and made sure we felt safe e.g. he took us to the cash point and helped us cross the busy roads in India.
Emma Banham
22 MarchThis was an excellent tour, well organised, and a tremendous value for money. As a single traveller I always go to Mercury first as you do offer a lot of single rooms on most of your tours which is very appreciated by me. I have travelled with you before, and will definitely travel with you again. In fact, I have booked for Peru in Nov 2025 already!
Christine Price
18 FebruaryThe order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
Important: Please note that all mobile phones are banned from India’s National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Phones will need to be left at the hotel when you are on safari. You will still be able to bring cameras into the parks and reserves to take photos.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
A visa is required for entry into India. British Citizen Passport Holders will need to obtain a tourist visa. You can apply for an E-visa no more than 30 days in advance. Your E-visa must be valid for your whole trip so please ensure the expiry date is for the whole duration of your stay. Alternatively you can visit The Indian Visa Application Centre in London: 142-148 Goswell Road, London, EC1B 7DU. We also work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. Additionally, you will need to complete an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before your arrival. This can be done on the Indian visa website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months before you enter India. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed e-ticket or boarding pass, along with your passport, is required for entry into Indian airports. Ensure you print your tickets before travelling, as digital copies on mobile devices are not accepted. It's also recommended to carry your invoice with flight details for reference.
Please note we will require your APIS/Passport information at least 2 months in advance to pre purchase your Safari passes, this can be uploaded via our website on "Manage My Booking".
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off vehicles, including trains, boats and coaches (or cars on private tours). The tour pace of Essence of North India is rated Intermediate. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, using various modes of transport and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in a variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in India is the Rupee or Rs. The Rupee is a closed currency and officially you are not allowed to take any cash out of India. US Dollars and GBP are also widely accepted in India should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. There are restrictions on taking Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to take any amount of Indian currency into the country. You can take cash or travellers' cheques (in pounds sterling or another foreign currency) and/or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees once in India. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in your local currency. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country.
As normal practice you will be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card you may be asked for a cash deposit. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £100 - £200 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases. Please also bear in mind that there will be several shopping opportunities throughout your tour.
It is customary to tip your guide and driver. This is at your discretion, but we recommend you allow approximately £4-£5 for each guide and £2-£3 for each driver per person per day. It is asked that you tip in pounds and not local currency, please do not give coins as these are difficult to exchange. Your guide will also ask you for £1 or £2 a day to add to a kitty this is for the porters, waiters etc throughout your tour.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10 and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour. A national guide will meet you on arrival and accompany you throughout your trip. In certain cities, local guides will join you to provide expert insight based on the sites visited.
For private tours, you will travel with either a Driver Guide or a Driver plus local guides. They will accompany all sightseeing. Private tours can depart any day of the week, subject to transport schedules and attraction opening times. These tours follow the brochure itinerary unless otherwise advised and include all listed meals, sightseeing, and excursions.
Safari Vehicles
Your safari will be taken in a canter, this is a large open roofed truck that seats up to 20 people. Safari drivers take you to areas of the park where wildlife are more likely to be seen but as with all wildlife experiences nothing can be guaranteed. Please note that many paths inside the park are bumpy and dusty.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and India. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
A triple room is available but please note that this will be a twin room with a fold away bed for the 3rd passenger.
Breakfast is always a combination of Indian and western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner will be taken in local Indian restaurants. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian and non-spicy meal options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, two bottles of drinking water will be provided on touring days.
There are some dry hotels in India, and some hotels where alcohol can be consumed on the premise but must be brought in from outside. Your guide will pre-warn you of this and if anyone in the group would like to purchase drinks before getting to the hotel then we will arrange for you to visit a local shop and get what you need wherever possible.
Dry days are when the sale of alcohol is not allowed. Most of the Indian states observe these days on major national festivals/occasions such as Republic Day in January, Independence Day in August and Gandhi Jayanti in October. Dry days are also observed during elections in India.
During visits to Churches/Temples please note long trousers or skirts should be worn to cover knees, Long sleeved tops should be worn to cover shoulders and ladies should bring a scarf to cover your head. In the Golden Temple and any other Gurudara visit it is also mandatory for men also to cover their head with a scarf.
Please note that plastic bottles are banned in the national parks so keep a reusable water bottle for your tour.
Please note that all mobile phones are banned from India’s National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Phones will need to be left at the hotel when you are on safari. You will still be able to bring cameras into the parks and reserves to take photos.
On your arrival in Delhi you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Jayasree Travels and Tours, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Jayasree Travels and Tours representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
If you need to contact Jayasree Travels and Tours, during your stay the details are:
F 341-Ground Floor, Lado Sarai, New Delhi, 110030.
Contact number: 0091 9526188860/ 0091 995 898 8719
Emergency contact information
Telephone number 24 hr:
Biju Unnikrishnan 0091 952 618 8860, Ms Jayasree Vikraman 0091 974 700 5888, Mrs Samitha Azhar 0091 974 471 3380, Mrs Rekha Anil 0091 9744813380, Mr Amit Bhardwaj 0091 995 898 8719
E-mail: biju@jayasreetravels.com
