The Indian Splendour tour takes you on a journey to see India’s most wonderful and famous places. Aboard the Maharajas' Express train, this seven-day tour stops to visit the cities of Agra, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Mumbai.
The days are spent discovering India’s ancient treasures, phenomenal architecture, historical landmarks and beautiful scenery.
Whether it’s seeing the ivory masterpiece of the Taj Mahal at sunrise or enjoying a barbecue and cocktails in Bikaner’s Sand Dunes at sundown, the Indian Splendour tour cannot fail to delight. Other highlights include: touring Jodhpur on a tuk-tuk, a game drive in the Ranthambore National Park, discovering Udaipur by boat, and a delicious dinner at Jaipur’s former royal residence, the Rambagh Palace.
The Maharajas' Express has 14 spacious carriages, each aptly named after a precious stone. Taking inspiration from India’s royal families from a bygone era, the Maharajas' Express whisks you away to another world. Stepping on board, you’ll notice its ornate and opulent decor. Think sumptuous green leather sofas, mahogany wooden panelling, magnificent tapestries and plush linen. Teamed with all the latest mod-cons, the Maharajas' Express is truly an elegant and luxurious way to travel in India.
Aboard the Maharajas' Express, the Indian Splendour tour will take you on an authentic journey to discover India. Visiting its most famous places and landmarks, indulging in its mouth-wateringly good food, basking in its fabulously interesting heritage and vibrant culture, the Indian Splendour tour is an unforgettable experience.

Trip Highlights
- Visit the Taj Mahal and see India’s most magnificent landmark at sunrise
- Explore Bikaner’s mesmerising sand dunes and enjoy a delicious barbecue and cocktails in the desert
- Head out on a game drive at the wildlife reserve of Ranthambore National Park with the hope of spotting its elusive tigers
- Discover India’s most romantic city, Udaipur, aboard a boat on Lake Pichola
Start your Journey
Delhi - Agra
Your holiday begins by boarding the Maharajas' Express at the Delhi Safdurjung Railway Station. The train will depart from Delhi in the morning and journey to Agra. You’ll then enjoy a delicious brunch on board followed by a tour briefing.
The Maharajas' Express will arrive into Agra in the afternoon. Then, you will visit India’s most iconic monument, the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is an ancient love story, as it was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 in loving memory of his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
After taking in the wonder of this architectural masterpiece, you’ll return to Maharajas' Express. You then have a choice of optional activities before dinner. You can watch the Mohabbat The Taj Show at the Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Center. This dance-drama show retells the romantic tale of Emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife. Alternatively, if you would prefer to relax and enjoy some pampering, you can visit the spa at a nearby hotel.
Dinner will be served on board the Maharajas' Express. The rest of the evening will be free for you to enjoy at your own leisure.
Agra – Ranthambore
Today will begin with an early morning visit to the impressive Agra Fort. Behind its formidable red sandstone battlements lies the beautiful courtyards, mosques and palaces of the Mughal Empire.
After the visit, you’ll return to the Maharajas' Express where breakfast will be served. Then, the Maharajas' Express will depart from Agra, travelling to Ranthambore. Lunch will be served on board before arriving at the Ranthambore National Park.
You will then head out on an exciting game drive to explore this beautiful wildlife reserve. Surrounded by the Aravalli hills and the Vindhya Plateau, this park’s terrain is a mix of rocky plains and steep cliffs. What draws people to visit this wildlife reserve is the chance of spotting one of its majestic but elusive tigers. The game drive will be in an open-top 4X4 vehicle and you’ll be taken to the locations where the tigers are often found. Leopards, crocodiles, deers, sloth bears, hyenas, wild boars, and jungle cats can all be seen in Ranthambore National Park.
Afterwards, you’ll return to the Maharajas' Express, which will then leave for Jaipur.
Dinner will be served on board before the Maharajas' Express arrives in Jaipur.
Jaipur
Today, breakfast will be served on board the Maharajas' Express. Afterwards, you’ll head out for the day’s excursion of visiting Jaipur’s impressive Amber Fort. Behind the Amber Fort’s towering walls, lies a labyrinth of opulent palaces, halls, courtyards and gardens to explore.
After taking in Amber Fort’s impressive elaborate decor, you have a choice of optional activities. You can visit the royal residence of the City Palace Complex and the stone and marble observatory of Jantar Mantar, or take a Local City Tour. For something less active you could relax and unwind in a spa.
Afterwards, you’ll return to the Maharajas' Express and lunch will be served on board. For the rest of the afternoon, you are free to explore the beautiful treasures of Jaipur at your own leisure. A delicious dinner will be enjoyed at the five-star heritage hotel, Rambagh Palace. The Maharajas' Express will then depart for the overnight journey to Bikaner.
Bikaner
Today, breakfast will be served on board the Maharajas' Express. As the train continues on its way to Bikaner, you can enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside vistas.
After the Maharajas' Express arrives into Bikaner, there are a choice of optional activities that you can take part in. You can either go on a Local City Tour and learn more about this vibrant desert town or visit the Lalgarh Palace and Museum. Lunch will then be served on board the Maharajas' Express.
After lunch, you’ll head to one of India’s most impressive fort complexes, Bikaner’s Junagarh Fort. It was built in 1589 by Raja Rai Singh and it is a network of marble and red sandstone palaces, courtyards, pavilions and balconies.
After stepping back in history, the evening will be spent discovering Bikaner’s sand dunes.
Here, you will enjoy a barbecue, folk dancing, and cocktails at sundown. Afterwards, you’ll return to the Maharajas' Express and the train will depart for Jodhpur.
Jodhpur – Udaipur
Before the train arrives in the city of Jodhpur, breakfast will be served on board. This morning, there is a choice of optional activities for you to enjoy. You can take a tour of the Bishnoi Village; visit the Umaid Bhawan Palace and the royal cenotaphs at Jaswant Thada; enjoy a Local City Tour; or simply unwind and relax in a spa.
Lunch will be served on board the Maharajas' Express. After lunch, you will visit one of the largest and best-preserved forts in India, the formidable Mehrangarh Fort. Perched atop a rugged cliff, the Mehrangarh Fort sits 400ft above Jodhpur’s skyline and offers breathtaking views across the city.
After discovering this ancient marvel, you will join a walking tour at the Old Clock Tower. The lively tour guides will tell you about Jodhpur’s fascinating history and vibrant culture. They will share stories from the past, fun facts, and inform you on the great things to see and do in the city. It’s a wonderful introduction to the city and what better way to finish the tour, than with a ride in one of Jodhpur’s tuk-tuks.
Later on, you will head to the Hanwant Mahal or Khass Bagh for an exclusive cocktail dinner. Afterwards, you will return to the Maharajas' Express where the train will depart and journey to Udaipur.
Udaipur
Today, breakfast will be served on board and the train will arrive in Udaipur around mid morning.
Udaipur is known as India’s most romantic city and with its beautiful palaces and serene lakes, it’s not hard to see why. Fittingly, your first excursion of the day is aboard a boat on Lake Pichola followed by a visit to the City Palace. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a visit to the Crystal Gallery, which houses a rare crystal collection from the 19th century. It has a wonderfully magical story, too. The collection, which includes crystal chairs, sofas, tables and even a bed, was ordered by Maharana Sajjan Singh from England in 1877. Sadly, it arrived after the maharana had died. What’s incredibly exceptional about this collection is that it remained undiscovered, stored still in the boxes it was sent, until a hundred years later. It’s Udaipur’s very-own precious time capsule.
Lunch will be served at the Satkar Hall of Fateh Prakash Palace. Afterwards, you’ll return to the Maharajas' Express, where the train will depart for Mumbai.
For your final journey on board the Maharajas' Express, you will enjoy an Indian Evening. Dinner will be served on board.
Mumbai
Today, breakfast will be served on board, as the Maharajas' Express journeys to Mumbai. You can enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside from your cabin. Lunch will be served on board before the train arrives at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja Terminus in Mumbai. You will disembark and bid farewell to the Maharajas' Express, as your journey comes to an end.
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Includes
- Board basis is Full Board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- All meals, soft beverages, house brands of Indian wines, beer and spirits, complimentary tea, coffee, and mineral water on board, butler service, transport, and guide services for sightseeing
- Cost of travel and accommodation
- Entrance fee (excluding video camera fee) for monuments and palaces and entertainment
- Guided off train excursions and game drives as illustrated in the itinerary, inclusive of entrance fees, park fees, transport and services of an English-speaking local guide
- Taxes, including 5% Government Service Tax (subject to change)
Excludes
- Insurance, telephone calls, laundry, alcoholic beverages (apart from the house brands of wines, spirits, beer served in the restaurants and bar)
- Video and professional still camera fees, SPA Car, Business Car Facilities and other items of personal nature
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