The Maharajas' Express & Treasures of India: Delhi to Mumbai

Begin your holiday in style with included airport lounge access before your overnight flight to Delhi.

On arrival, a private transfer will see you to your luxury landmark hotel, ideally positioned in the heart of the city. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the spa or poolside, before taking advantage of one of the excellent restaurants on site. Then, after a night's rest, you'll head out for a food walk curated by an expert chef. You'll be guided through crowded markets of Old Delhi, sampling traditional street food from some of the oldest haunts in the city – some established 120 years ago. Enjoy rickshaw rides and the buzzing atmosphere of the marketplace as you hop between food joints for a unique insider's view of Delhi's food culture. If there's time today, you'll also want to head out to explore, perhaps visiting the 16th-century Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Raj Ghat, the memorial site to Mahatma Gandhi.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Delhi's Safdarjung Railway Station to board the Maharajas' Express. You'll be welcomed on board by white-gloved attendants and shown to your opulent suite to begin your journey through India's Golden Triangle. Once you've settled in, make your way to the elegant dining car to enjoy a delicious brunch, accompanied by sweeping views of the village-dotted plains as the train makes its way to Agra. Disembark on arrival for a tour of the city's imposing Mughal fort – a palatial walled city, which was once the home of the great emperors of Mughal India, from Humayun to Shah Jahan. In the evening, return to the train for a sumptuous, wine-paired dinner.

An early start sees you leave the comfort of your luxurious cabin for a sunrise sightseeing tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Taj Mahal, India's enduring monument to love. Breakfast will then be served at an exclusive venue before you return to the train for lunch and a relaxing journey south to Ranthambore National Park. Once the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, this stunning region of jungle-clad hills and crumbling forts earned national park status in 1980, and has since become a flagship for Indian conservation. If you're lucky you may even catch a glimpse of one of the elusive tigers on a naturalist-led safari before returning to the train once more for dinner and an overnight journey to Jaipur.

Having travelled through the night, you'll wake for breakfast just as you enter Rajasthan's 'Pink City'. Then, a sightseeing tour will take in the best of this remarkable city, including the Amber Fort with its grand terraces and ramparts reflected in the mirrored waters of Maota Lake. There's also the stunning City Palace, the Jantar Mantar royal observatory and the spectacular Hawa Mahal – the Palace of the Winds. Elsewhere the city is a maze of markets and laneways, packed with wandering camels, buzzing autorickshaws and moustachioed traders; it's a colourful, chaotic insight into life in one of India's city greats. After lunch on board, spend an afternoon relaxing on board the train, or choose from a number of optional activities, from spa treatments to a round of golf. 

Enjoy a farewell breakfast on board the train, disembark in Delhi and transfer to the airport to board your flight to Udaipur. This romantic city is often called the city of lakes, considered an oasis in the heat of Rajasthan, ornamented with magnificent marble palaces. While you're here, perhaps enjoy an optional painting workshop to learn Jal Sanjhi, the centuries-old art of painting on water offering a window into India's treasured past. Alternatively, take a boat across to explore Udaipur or simply relax in your stunning accommodation, surrounded by the gentle waters of Lake Pichola. The following day, you'll be taken on a guided tour of Udaipur, visiting the Indo-Aryan Jagsih Temple and the gardens of Sahelion Ki Bari, before enjoying a peaceful lake cruise past the Jagmandir Palace.

After breakfast at your hotel, spend the morning at leisure before boarding your short flight to Mumbai. On arrival, you'll check in to your accommodation, a historic property with views of the Arabian Sea. The next morning you'll take a motor boat to the island of Elephanta, home to a magnificent cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. You'll also be taken to the Prince of Wales Museum and the Gateway of India, Mumbai's most-recognised landmark. A drive up to Malabar Hill offers sweeping views over Mumbai and the sparkling Arabian Sea, as well as stops at the Hanging Gardens, Kamla Nehru Park and the busy Crawford Market.

Today you'll transfer to the airport and enjoy complimentary lounge access before boarding your flight to the UK, arriving the same day.