Tour Overview
A Golden Triangle tour from UK is one of the best first trips to India. It takes in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, three cities full of history, colour and very good food. This 7-night itinerary adds two nights in Pushkar, a small holy town on a lake in the Aravalli hills, so you finish the holiday somewhere quieter. You travel throughout in a private air-conditioned car with your own driver, and you can change the pace whenever you like.
At Rajasthan Tour Services, we’ve been showing British travellers around Rajasthan for years from our office in Jaipur. This plan is built on what they tell us works: good timings, sensible driving distances, and enough free time to take it all in.
Tour at a Glance
| Day | Route | Distance / Drive Time | Key Experiences | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Delhi | Airport transfer | Meet-and-greet, rest, evening at Connaught Place | Delhi |
| Day 2 | Delhi sightseeing | Full day in the city | Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb | Delhi |
| Day 3 | Delhi → Agra | 230 km / 3.5–4 hrs | Agra Fort, Baby Taj, sunset at Mehtab Bagh Agra |
|
| Day 4 | Agra → Jaipur | 240 km / 5–6 hrs with stops | Taj Mahal at sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, Chand Baori stepwell | Jaipur |
| Day 5 | Jaipur sightseeing | Full day in the city | Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar | Jaipur |
| Day 6 | Jaipur → Pushkar | 145 km / 2.5–3 hrs | Bazaar stroll, evening aarti at the ghats | Pushkar |
| Day 7 | Pushkar sightseeing | Local | Brahma Temple, Savitri Temple ropeway, desert sunset safari | Pushkar |
| Day 8 | Pushkar → Delhi | 400 km / 7–8 hrs | Transfer to Delhi Airport for your flight to the UK | — |
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Delhi
There are direct flights from London Heathrow to Delhi, which take roughly 9 hours. When you land at Indira Gandhi International Airport, our representative will meet you in the arrivals hall holding a name board and take you to your hotel.
You’ll probably be tired after the flight and the 5½-hour time difference (4½ hours during British Summer Time), so this day is kept free. If you feel like it in the evening, walk around Connaught Place or have a gentle dinner of North Indian food. Ask for it “less spicy” until you’ve found your feet.
Overnight: Delhi
Day 2
Old and New Delhi Sightseeing
After breakfast your guide takes you to Old Delhi. You’ll see Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques, then take a cycle-rickshaw through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, which is full of spice stalls, silver shops and sweet makers. Guests regularly tell us this is the most memorable hour of the whole trip. Drive past the Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (it’s closed on Mondays).
In the afternoon you move on to New Delhi:
- Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
- Humayun’s Tomb, the Mughal garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal
- Qutub Minar, a 73-metre tower of red sandstone built in the 12th century
- A drive past India Gate and the government buildings designed by Lutyens
Overnight: Delhi
Day 3
Delhi to Agra (approx. 230 km / 3.5–4 hours)
Leave after breakfast and drive down the Yamuna Expressway to Agra. In the afternoon, visit:
- Agra Fort, a huge red sandstone fort and UNESCO site. From here Shah Jahan, who was imprisoned by his son, could see the Taj Mahal.
- Itimad-ud-Daulah, often called the “Baby Taj”, with very fine marble inlay
- Mehtab Bagh at sunset, a garden across the river with a quiet view of the Taj
Overnight: Agra
Day 4
Taj Mahal at Sunrise, then Agra to Jaipur (approx. 240 km / 5–6 hours with stops)
Get up early to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the marble turns soft pink and the crowds are much smaller. Shah Jahan built it in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and it was finished in the mid-17th century. Please note that the Taj Mahal is closed every Friday. We plan around this, so let us know your dates early.
Go back to the hotel for breakfast, then set off for Jaipur. On the way you stop at:
- Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar’s abandoned red sandstone capital, with the huge Buland Darwaza gateway
- Chand Baori at Abhaneri, a stepwell from the 9th century with around 3,500 steps arranged in perfect geometry. It’s one of our favourite stops, and few tour groups bother with it.
Arrive in Jaipur by early evening.
Overnight: Jaipur
Day 5
Jaipur, the Pink City
Jaipur’s walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today you see the best of it:
- Amber Fort, a hilltop fort with the Sheesh Mahal, a hall of mirrors (go early to miss the queues)
- Jal Mahal, a photo stop at the palace that seems to float on Man Sagar Lake
- City Palace, still partly home to Jaipur’s royal family
- Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory and UNESCO site
- Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, whose façade has 953 small windows
Spend the evening shopping in Johari Bazaar for jewellery or Bapu Bazaar for textiles and mojari shoes. Our tip: haggle politely, and start at around half the asking price.
Overnight: Jaipur
Day 6
Jaipur to Pushkar (approx. 145 km / 2.5–3 hours)
After a relaxed breakfast, drive to Pushkar, a small town round a sacred lake. After the big cities it feels completely different. Check in and stroll through the main bazaar, then make your way to the ghats for the evening aarti, a ceremony with lamps, bells and chanting at sunset.
Please bear in mind that Pushkar is a holy town. Meat, eggs and alcohol are not served there, and you take your shoes off before you step onto the ghats.
Overnight: Pushkar
Day 7
Exploring Pushkar
Visit the Brahma Temple, one of very few temples in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma. Then take the ropeway up to Savitri Temple for panoramic views over the lake and the desert beyond.
In the late afternoon, head out on a camel or jeep safari into the sand dunes to watch the sun go down. If you travel in October or November, ask us about the famous Pushkar Camel Fair.
It’s an extraordinary sight, but hotels book up months ahead.
Overnight: Pushkar
Day 8
Pushkar to Delhi Airport and Departure
After breakfast you drive back to Delhi (approx. 400 km / 7–8 hours) for your flight home to the UK. If you’d rather not spend that long on the road, there are two alternatives:
We’ll choose the best option based on your flight time.
Highlights of Golden Triangle Tour from UK
See the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the light is soft and the crowds are smaller.
Take a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi’s busy spice and silver lanes.
Explore Amber Fort and the Pink City, including Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal and City Palace.
Watch the evening aarti on the ghats of Pushkar Lake, with lamps, bells and chanting at dusk.
Ride a camel into the Pushkar sand dunes to watch the sun set over the desert.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ What's Included
- Hotel Accommodation.
- Daily Meals as per package.
- All Sightseeing and transfers by Air-Conditioned Vehicle
- Driver Allowance, Fuel, Parking Charges, Toll and Interstate Taxes.
- Child below 5 years is complimentary (without extra bed).
✗ Not Included
- Meals & drinks other than specified in Package.
- Expenses of personal nature such as portages, tickets.
- All entrances, camera fees, guide & driver tipping.
- Insurance Cover.
- Any Air/Train/Bus fare.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Delhi, Agra and Jaipur are among India’s most visited places, and travelling with a private driver and vetted guides makes things even easier. Take the usual care with your belongings in busy markets.
Of course. You can add Ranthambore for a tiger safari, Udaipur for its lakes, or an extra night anywhere. Every tour by Rajasthan Tour Services is tailor-made.
Yes. It’s a comfortable pace for a first visit, with no more than one long drive on any day apart from the return to Delhi.
It takes place in October or November each year, depending on the Hindu lunar calendar, and finishes on Kartik Purnima (the full moon). Get in touch and we’ll confirm the dates for your year.
