Day 1 UK-Delhi

After taking your VIP door-to-door travel service to the airport, fly overnight to Delhi.

Day 2 Delhi

Transfer to the 5-star New Delhi Aerocity hotel (4Q) for an overnight stay. Enjoy a late lunch snack and the chance to relax, before dinner at your hotel. L, D

Day 3 Delhi-Amritsar

Fly to Amritsar (one hour), where you stay for the next two nights at the 5-star Taj Swarna (4Q). B, D

Day 4 Amritsar

This morning, a sightseeing tour visits Jallianwalah Bagh, the scene of a massacre in 1919 when General Dyer of the British Indian Army notoriously ordered his troops to fire on a gathering of unarmed people, killing hundreds of them. Visit the Durgiana Hindu temple, which is sometimes referred to as the 'Silver Temple' because of its beautifully carved silver doors.

You'll also visit the Golden Temple – the Sikh's most sacred monument – and the community kitchen nearby which provides free meals for up to 10,000 pilgrims and visitors every day! This afternoon, you'll travel to the border town of Wagah to see a changing of the guard ceremony – a military spectacle involving troops from both India and Pakistan which has taken place every evening at sunset since 1959. B, D

Day 5 Amritsar to Chandigarh

Set off on a long but rewarding journey to Chandigarh – the hub of northern India (140 miles, four hours). Spend the night at the centrally located 5-star Taj Chandigarh (4Q). B, D

Day 6 Chandigarh-Shimla

Travel to Shimla– dubbed the 'Queen of the Hills' thanks to its setting 2,200 metres above sea level amid the foothills of the Himalayas (69 miles, three hours and 30 minutes).

The town was once the summer capital of the British in India, and its ties with the British Raj has left a legacy of splendid colonial edifices and quaint cottages. You'll spend the next four nights at the 4-star Oberoi Clarkes Hotel (4Q), a Heritage Grand Hotel and one of the oldest hotels in the city. B, D

Day 7 Shimla

A morning sightseeing tour visits the Mall – Shimla's bustling commercial area, which is a pleasant place for a stroll. During your tour you'll see many reminders of the Raj, and you'll head to Observatory Hill to see the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, the summer home of the British Viceroy in India and the base from which the British Raj was ruled. The Partition Agreement was negotiated here, and visitors have included Gandhi and Nehru. The last resident Viceroy was Lord Mountbatten.

You'll also see Scandal Point, believed to be where the daughter of a British Viceroy eloped with the then Maharaja of Patiala in the 19th century, and the Christ Church – the second oldest church in Northern India. The afternoon is free for a little independent exploring. B, D

Day 8 Himalayan Queen Express

Step aboard the Himalayan Queen Express for an unforgettable train journey along the UNESCO-listed Kalka-Shimla railway. You'll travel through spectacular scenery as this narrow gauge train winds its way through the lower Himalayas.

You'll continue by road up to the Tara Devi temple where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views. B, D

Day 9 Shimla

You can recharge your batteries during this day at leisure, but if you're feeling energetic, you can join an exhilarating guided walking tour up to Jakhoo temple.

The walk will cover a total of five kilometres with some steep uphill stretches, but from Jakhoo Peak you'll be able to enjoy panoramic views and see the temple complex dedicated to Lord Hanuman. B, D

Day 10 Shimla to Delhi

Leave Shimla and travel to Chandigarh Railway station (69 miles, three hours and 30 minutes) to board the Shatabdi Express for Delhi (four hours).

You spend the next two nights at the 5-star The Suryaa hotel (3Q), New Delhi. B, D

Day 11 Delhi

An included sightseeing tour explores the highlights of Old and New Delhi.

In Old Delhi you'll be taken to the Raj Ghat – a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi – and Jama Masjid which is the largest mosque in India. You'll also have the opportunity to explore bustling Chandni Chowk market. It's then on to New Delhi, where you'll visit the 12th-century Qutab Minar – Delhi's oldest monument which is entirely hand-carved. You'll also visit the impressive mausoleum of Emperor Humayun. Your sightseeing tour will drive past the India Gate – a war memorial dedicated to Indian soldiers, the President's residence, parliament house and the Secretariat buildings, an interesting blend of Victorian and 20th-century architecture. B, D

Day 12 Delhi-Agra

Today will be quite busy as you travel by train from Delhi to Agra (two hours), staying overnight at the 4-star Courtyard by Marriott (4Q).

Enjoy a visit to Agra Fort, a walled city of red sandstone encompassing royal pavilions, mosques and carved marble buildings. You’ll also see the Itimad-ud-Daulah tomb – often referred to as the ‘Baby Taj’. Later today, see the famous Taj Mahal, built in 1560 by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz. Celebrated for its beauty and magnificence look forward to seeing this iconic building at sunset.

This evening perhaps join an optional excursion to ‘Mohabbat The Taj Show’, which tells the love story behind the building of the Taj Mahal. B, D

Day 13 Agra-Delhi-UK

You’ll transfer early this morning Delhi airport (134 miles, four hours) for your return flight and included door-to-door travel service home. B