12-Day India Golden Triangle for Over 60s

Arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Private transfer to your hotel in the Lutyens' Delhi diplomatic quarter. Priya meets you for a welcome dinner on the hotel terrace — an introduction to Indian cuisine and to the twelve days ahead.

An early morning departure for Old Delhi — the Mughal city built by Shah Jahan in 1639, a labyrinth of medieval lanes, mosques and bazaars that has changed little in essence for 400 years. The Red Fort's extraordinary fortifications and palace apartments; the Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque); the Chandni Chowk spice market. Priya navigates by cycle rickshaw through the lanes. Lunch at Karim's near Jama Masjid — feeding Old Delhi since 1913. Afternoon free at the hotel.

New Delhi is entirely different from Old Delhi — the broad boulevards and imperial buildings of Lutyens' Delhi, the political heart of the world's largest democracy. Morning visits to Humayun's Tomb (the precursor to the Taj Mahal, in a magnificent garden complex) and the Qutub Minar (the 73-metre minaret begun in 1193 — the oldest standing monument in Delhi). India Gate in the late afternoon, when the city's residents gather for evening walks. Dinner out with Priya.

A 3.5-hour morning drive south through Uttar Pradesh to Agra — the Mughal capital built by Akbar and perfected by his successors. After a rest and lunch, a late afternoon visit to the Taj Mahal: the western light turns the white marble gold, then rose pink, then deepens to amber as the sun sets. Priya provides the historical narrative of Shah Jahan's love story and twenty-two years of construction. Dinner at a rooftop restaurant with a Taj Mahal view.

A 5.30am departure for the Taj Mahal sunrise — the definitive experience. In the early morning light, with the mist on the river and the monument glowing in the first golden hour, there are simply no words. Priya gives you time and space before beginning the narrative. After the sunrise, the Taj Mahal interior and the intricate pietra dura stone inlay work on the cenotaphs. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Afternoon visit to Agra Fort — the massive red sandstone fortification where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his own son and died looking at the Taj Mahal from his window.

A morning drive 40km west to Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar's abandoned capital, built in 1571 and deserted just 14 years later when the water supply failed. A perfectly preserved Mughal ghost city of extraordinary architectural beauty: the Panch Mahal, the Diwan-i-Khas and the Jama Masjid. Priya's explanation of Akbar's extraordinary court — where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians were invited to debate theology — makes this one of the most intellectually stimulating stops on the tour. Afternoon free.

A morning drive west through Rajasthan to Jaipur — the Pink City, capital of the Rajput maharajas and one of the most colourful cities in Asia. The entire old city was painted terracotta pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, and the colour has been maintained ever since. Check in to your hotel. Evening walk through the illuminated old city bazaars.

Morning at Amber Fort — the magnificent hilltop fortress of the Kachhwaha Rajputs, approached by jeep up the winding road (no elephant rides). Priya's narration of the Rajput warrior history and the extraordinary mirror hall (Sheesh Mahal) is exceptional. Afternoon at the City Palace in the heart of the old city — the largest private collection of royal artefacts in Rajasthan. Free evening.

Morning at Jantar Mantar — the extraordinary astronomical observatory built in 1734 by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Nineteen architectural instruments of extraordinary precision (the world's largest sundial can tell the time to within two seconds). Priya's explanation of the science is one of her finest presentations. The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) — the extraordinary five-storey pink sandstone facade of 953 latticed windows built so royal women could observe street life unseen. Afternoon free.

A completely free day. Priya's recommendations: the Albert Hall Museum (finest museum in Rajasthan), the old city textile bazaars where the block-printing tradition is still practised, the gem cutting workshops in Johari Bazaar, or simply the extraordinary pool at Rambagh Palace. One of the most beautiful free days on any tour.

Morning domestic flight back to Delhi. Afternoon at Khan Market — India's most sophisticated shopping area for books, spices, handicrafts and textiles. This evening, Priya's farewell dinner at a contemporary Indian restaurant in the Hauz Khas village — the meal that answers the question: "What have we been eating all this time and how do we make it at home?"

Private transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport for your homeward flight. Twelve days in India — a beginning.