Breakfast Incl. (B), Lunch Incl. (L), Dinner Incl.(D)

DAY 1 | Apr. 3, 2019 | Toronto - Delhi
Depart Toronto for your overnight flight to Delhi.

DAY 2 | Apr. 4, 2019 | Delhi
We will be met as we exit the arrivals terminal and transferred to the hotel for check in.

Overnight at The Imperial - Heritage room (2 nights)

DAY 3 | Apr. 5, 2019 | Delhi (B, D)
Following breakfast we commence our sightseeing tour of New Delhi.

When the British chose Delhi as their capital in 1911, they appointed two architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, to plan and build a new city to rival the fabled cities of the Mughals. New Delhi was thus built in true colonial style with tree-lined avenues, colonial bungalows, the Parliament House, the War Memorial Arch and the Viceregal Palace, now the official residence of the President of India. Alongside these British architectural gems are several monuments of other invaders including the second Mughal emperor’s mausoleum called the Humayun’s Tomb - the blue print of the Taj Mahal. This is a World Heritage Monument with beautiful gardens and water features.

We’ll also visit Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, built by Qutab-ud-din Aibak. Construction of Qutub Minar commenced in 1193, and the top most storey of the minaret was completed in 1386. The Qutab Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutab Complex. The complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi.

We will have a photo stop at the India Gate War Memorial and then drive through the Rajpath, the road which connects India Gate with the Viceregal Lodge (now the President’s Palace) and other government buildings. This place comes to life on January 26th every year when the Republic Day Parade takes place.

After the tour, the rest of the afternoon is at our own leisure and in the evening, we enjoy a set menu dinner at the hotel’s Spice Route restaurant.

DAY 4 | Apr. 6, 2019 | Delhi - Sawai Madhopur (B, D)
We have most of today at our own leisure with our rooms being available for use until 8 p.m. Tonight, we will be transferred to the railway station for our Deccan Odyssey train journey. We will receive a traditional Indian welcome and enjoy a refreshing welcome drink, prior to settling into our delightful cabins. Dinner will be onboard the train.

Overnight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (7 nights)

DAY 5 | Apr. 7, 2019 | Sawai Madhopur - Ranthambore National Park (B, L, D)
Prior to setting out for the day, we will have breakfast and then our first stop will be Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, which is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals. We will also visit a home of the friendly locals in this area, who are warm and welcoming and happy to show guests around their villages, giving deep insight into their daily lives.

Afterwards, we will return to the Deccan Odyssey, enjoy a leisurely lunch and then set out for a game drive. Ranthambore is home to several other species as well, including deer, boar, antelope and gazelles as well as
sloth bear, leopards and crocodiles and extensive bird life. After our game drive, we will relax with a high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the royal family of Jaipur. Then we return to the Deccan Odyssey, where we can relax with a drink before dinner onboard.

DAY 6 | Apr. 8, 2019 | Ranthambore National Park - Agra (B, L, D)
Arriving at Agra, you will realize that the Mughals were India’s greatest builders. After a leisurely breakfast on board, we will visit the Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan’s gift of love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world’s most wondrous monument. It took 20,000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum. Its exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels.

We will dine for lunch at a city hotel and afterwards our tour of Agra continues as we visit Itmad-ud-Daulah; sometimes called the ‘Baby Taj’, it is beautifully conceived in white marble, mosaic and lattice. Thereafter we proceed to Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture, and the seat of Mughal reign and administration for three generations. A visit to the Diwan-e-Am, ‘Hall of Public Audience’ and the Royal Pavilions is not to be missed.

Later, we have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments. Alternatively, instead of the markets, we have a choice to enjoy a spa
treatment at a hotel before completing your tour of this historical city.

In the evening we return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner.

DAY 7 | Apr. 9, 2019 | Agra - Jaipur (B, L, D)
Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs, Jaipur, the City of Victory, is surrounded by the rugged Aravali Hills, which are crowned by formidable forts and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. The city is a colourful oasis in the desert and you will notice a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people.

After breakfast we drive to Maharaja Mansingh’s 17th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. The fort is a sprawling complex of courtyards, halls and rooms adorned with beautiful paintings, precious stones and mirrors. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect. En-route to Amber Fort we visit the Palace of Winds, otherwise known as the Hawa Mahal, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving and a beautiful view of the city.

Thereafter we will visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes and carpets. Walk across to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, astronomical observatory built in the 18th century by Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh II. A wondrous achievement for its time, the observatory gives accurate readings even to this day. Afterwards we will lunch at a city hotel.

Following lunch, we can choose to participate in either a spa treatment at a palace hotel or have the opportunity to explore the colourful bazaars of the Pink City, which offer a wide range of ethnic handicrafts produced in the city-centre and its outskirts.

Later we return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner.

DAY 8 | Apr. 10, 2019 | Jaipur - Udaipur (B, L, D)
The Deccan Odyssey rolls into Udaipur in the morning. Set on the shores of the placid Lake Pichola, Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, and arguably one of the most romantic cities of India, surrounded by scenic hills. Enjoy your breakfast as you admire the picturesque landscape of the Aravali Hills.

We will then disembark to visit the famous City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Later, we board a ferry to ride on Lake Pichola to reach Jagmandir, a 17th century Palace located on an island on the picturesque lake, for an exquisite lunch.

After lunch, we return to Deccan Odyssey for a short rest before embarking on a walking tour through the old city of Udaipur, before returning to the Deccan Odyssey for a relaxed evening and dinner onboard.

DAY 9 | Apr. 11, 2019 | Udaipur - Vadodara (B, L, D)
Today we arrive at the capital of the Gaekwads, Vadodara, located along the seasonal river Vishwamitri.

We have breakfast onboard the Deccan Odyssey and the rest of the morning is at leisure to enjoy the facilities onboard.

After an early lunch, we will disembark and proceed to visit Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the only complete and unchanged pre-Mughal Islamic city in India. This concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties is cradled in an impressive landscape.

We drive to the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, originally constructed as a school for the Maharaja's children. A large number of works of art are displayed in the museum including a collection of the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and other renowned European Masters as well as a collection of sculptures in marble and bronze.

Afterwards, we enjoy high tea and a traditional folk performance at the resplendent Laxmi Vilas Palace, built in 1890, and the residence of the Royal family even today. Reputedly four times the size of Buckingham Palace, its overwhelming Durbar Hall boasts a Venetian mosaic floor, Belgian stained-glass windows and walls with intricate mosaic decorations. The palace also houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta by Fellici.

Return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner.

DAY 10 | Apr. 12, 2019 | Vadodara - Aurangabad (B, L, D)
Aurangabad, named after the last Great Mughal Aurangzeb, is an industrial town in Maharashtra and a typical base for visiting the exceptional Ellora Caves, a World Heritage Site. The city itself has deep Mughal influences and there are several monuments of note here including the Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-ka-Makbara and the city’s 52 gates, each with its own history.

Today brings a late start, leaving the morning free for us to enjoy a relaxed breakfast and some of the activities available on board.

Later, as we lunch, the Deccan Odyssey arrives at Aurangabad, from where a scenic drive takes us to the Ellora Caves, carved into the side of a basaltic hill 30 km from the city. The finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India, the site encompasses 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating from the 4th to 5th century AD. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre Hindu, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The most remarkable is the Kailash temple, meant to be a replica of Shiva’s celestial abode on Mt. Kailash. It is the best example of rock-cut architecture and an engineering marvel.

After exploring Ellora, we return to the Deccan Odyssey and relax with a sun downer at the Mumbai-Hi before dinner is served.

DAY 11 | Apr. 13, 2019 | Aurangabad - Mumbai - Toronto (B)
Early this morning following breakfast, we disembark at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Mumbai.

Upon arrival at the railway station, we are met and transferred to our hotel. On the way we have time to stop for a photo at the largest open-air laundry, Dhobi Ghat, which is still popular with the locals despite the invention of the washing machine!

We continue onwards to the ancient Banganga Temple Complex, considered to be one of Mumbai’s holiest sites and the oldest surviving structure in the city. We can walk about the small crumbling stone-turreted temples and shrines, with flower-garlands that surround a rectangular pool of holy water.

Upon arrival at the hotel there is time to relax before our transfer to the airport for departure flight home.