Golden Triangle & Beyond Led by Rashida Sharif

Friday 21st March – Saturday 05th April 2025

Rashida has been in education for over 35 years. During this period, she has held senior positions in schools and local authorities including Senior Advisor and as Director for Inclusion. She has been inspecting schools across the age range and settings, including special schools and initial teacher education (ITE) for over 25 years. Up until September 2012 Rashida was one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) employed by Ofsted. Whilst with Ofsted she led the inspections of many local authorities and of primary and secondary schools and academies. She has a strong school improvement background.

Rashida has led many successful tours to India particularly for headteachers and other staff to establish links with schools in India including twinning Sandwell with Amritsar. Some of these links continue with staff and students regularly visiting each other’s schools and homes. These links have helped staff and students to both enrich their school curriculum and their own lives socially, culturally, and spiritually.

Rashida is delighted to invite you to some of her favourite places in India, which she continues to visit regularly. The journey begins in City of Delhi both the old and the new, India’s largest Mosque – Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, the oldest Muslim monument in India and the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s moving cremation site. The visit also includes Baha’i Lotus temple, Delhi’s most innovative breath-taking modern structure where people from all cultural and religious backgrounds come to experience stillness, peace, and tranquillity. Other places include Shimla, Amritsar, Jaipur and of course the visit cannot be complete without visiting one of the wonders of the world, The Taj Mahal, and the impressive Agra Fort. In all these wonderful places there will be the opportunity to visit a range of schools both primary and secondary as well as the famous historical landmarks.

The Itinerary

DELHI – AGRA – BHARATPUR – RANTHAMBHORE – JAIPUR – AMRITSAR – SHIMLA – DELHI

Meal Code: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner

Jama Masjid, Delhi

DAY 1: FRIDAY 21ST MARCH 2025: FLY TO DELHI

Departure from London Heathrow to Delhi by British Airways direct flight.

Departures from regional UK airports are available please contact us for details.

DAY 2: SATURDAY 22ND MARCH 2025: ARRIVE IN DELHI AFTERNOON OLD DELHI SIGHTSEEING

Early morning arrival in Delhi. Meeting, assistance on arrival, then transfer to hotel. Relax before late afternoon sight-seeing, including a rickshaw ride to Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. A light walk through Kinari Bazaar in Chandani Chowk and then visit Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, the oldest Muslim monument in India, and the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s moving cremation site.

DAY 3: SUNDAY 23RD MARCH 2025: NEW DELHI SIGHTSEEING & A WALK WITH SALAAM BALAK TRUST

Morning sightseeing of dynamic New Delhi including the visit to Lotus Temple, Delhi’s most original modern pure white marble structure and the India Gate. Also drive past the Parliament Buildings & President’s House.

Afternoon city walk with Salaam Baalak Trust. This tour is about two hours conducted by the children who used to live in the streets of Delhi before joining our Trust. Guides for the walk are adolescents who have been fully trained as local guides and who want to improve their communication and speaking skills. City Walk gets the children's stories heard and gives people a view of their world through their eyes. Led by a teenager at the Trust, the City Walk covers the streets of the inner city of Paharganj and the area around New Delhi Railway Station. The respective child is someone who once lived and worked on the streets. This makes the tour special and personal for the tour guide. You will experience a tour far from the typical tourist places and cover lesser-known attractions. City Walk is an example of how a volunteer's creativity can translate into a unique and enduring programme, which is both popular and economically viable. Over the last 19 years, thousands of tourists have taken the Walk and empowered several children, thus helping them to join mainstream.

Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh

DAY 4: MONDAY 24TH MARCH 2025: TRAIN TO AGRA & AFTERNOON SIGHTSEEING

Early morning transfer to Nizammudin railway station to board Gatimaan Express at 08:10, Arriva at 09:50 in Agra and transfer hotel Grand Imperial. Afternoon, sightseeing tour of Agra, visit the Agra Fort- seeing the many varied architectural styles of the complex, built by successive Mughal rulers & the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula. Time allowing, we will visit Mehtab Bagh and view Taj Mahal at Sun set from across the river.

DAY 5: TUESDAY 25TH MARCH 2025: SUNRISE VISIT TO TAJ MAHAL & DRIVE TO BHARATPUR ENROUTE VISIT FATEHPUR SIKRI & TRAIN TO RANTHAMBHORE

Early morning, enjoy a breath-taking sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal to watch the sun slowly caress the white marble, awakening the day and distant memories. Back to the hotel for breakfast, check out and drive to Bharatpur (02 hrs drives en route visiting the deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri). Hot lunch will be served at The Bagh Bharatpur, after lunch at Bharatpur, board your train to Ranthambore by Shatabdi Express at 15:50. Arrive in Ranthambore at 18:20 in Ranthambore Transer to The Ranthambhore Aangan for two-night stay.

DAY 6: WEDNESDAY 26TH MARCH 2025 – MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES IN RANTHAMBHORE NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in a shared jeep (06 pax sharing a jeep). The variety of habitat gives rise to a wonderful mix of animals to spot – the grassland plateau is home to the Gaur (Indian bison) and four-horned Antelope, whilst in dense clumps of forest shy jungle cat and civet roam. Here Project Tiger is actively pursuing conservation projects in the park, increasing the chance to see Tiger.

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

DAY 7: THURSDAY 27TH MARCH 2025– MORNING GAME DRIVE & DRIVE TO JAIPUR

Early morning game drive and later drive to Jaipur 3 to 4 hrs drive. On arrival in Jaipur check at The Shahpura House for three nights.

DAY 8: FRIDAY 28TH MARCH 2025– JAIPUR SIGHTSEEING

Morning drive to 10th Century Amber Fort guarded by watches Towers on the surrounding craggy hills where you will ascend this hilltop Fort in a Jeep. Later visit Hawa Mahal . the Palace of Winds, with its 953 intricately decorated small windows – jharokhas. Also visit City Museum, and the Jantar Mantar, the superb Astronomical Observatory built in 1724.

DAY 9: SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2025– VISIT TO THE SCHOOL OF HINDI & YOGA

Morning visit the School of Hindi and Yoga. Afternoon explore the markets seeking out delightful miniature paintings or revisit a favourite haunt. Or you can opt for Pink City Rickshaw Tour.

Jalliawalan Bagh, Amritsar

DAY 10: SUNDAY 30TH MARCH 2025– FLY TO AMRITSAR VIA DELHI

Early morning transfer to Jaipur airport to board your flight to Amritsar via Delhi by Indigo airlines 0725, arrive Amritsar at 1330. On arrival at Amritsar, transfer to Hotel Hyatt Regency for two nights.

DAY 11: MONDAY 31ST MARCH 2025 – AMRITSAR SIGHTSEEING

Morning sightseeing of Amritsar, including Partition Museum called as a People's Museum to remember all those who lost their homes or loved ones at the time of partition and pay a visit to Golden temple. You can opt to have a simple lunch at the Langer, a largest community kitchen in the world feeding around 75,000 people a day free. It is not just a meal; it is an experience soaked in spirituality and divinity.

Afternoon visit to a Nihangs' Sikhs school for Martial art performance (subject to availability). Or an optional visit to Wagha Boarder.

DAY 12: TUESDAY 01ST APRIL 2025– DRIVE TO SHIMLA

After early breakfast drive to Shimla. This is a long drive between 7 – 8 hours with rest stops enroute. On arrival at Shimla, Check into The Woodvill Palace for three nights.

DAY 13: WEDNESDAY 02ND APRIL 2025 – SHIMLA SIGHTSEEING & AFTERNOON SCHOOL VISITS

Morning, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Shimla, visit the Hill station with its decided British air, wander down to the mall to the Gaiety Theatre and mock Tudor houses. Walk to the imposing Vice Regal Mansion with its pretty English garden.

After lunch visit some of the various Christian schools of Shimla perhaps The Bishop Cotton School, Auckland House School, Convent of Jesus and Mary or Launceston Christian School. (arrangements to be confirmed)

Christ Church, Shimla

DAY 14: THURSDAY 03RD APRIL 2025 – SHIMLA DAY AT LEISURE

Day at leisure to explore the beautiful town of Shimla.

DAY 15: FRIDAY 04TH APRIL 2025 – TOY TRAIN TO KALKA & SHATABADI EXPRESS TO DELHI

Board Toy train at Shimla for a scenic journey upto Kalka Station and then board the air-conditioend Shatabadi Express train for Delhi. Evening arrival in Delhi and transfer to The Colonel's retreat for overnight stay.

DAY 16: SATURDAY 05TH APRIL 2025 – FLY TO LONDON

Early morning transfer to the airport to board your British Airways flight to London or a regional UK airport.

TOUR COST

Tour Cost

The cost per person sharing a twin or double room £2,995.00

Single room supplement £825.00

Email :- enquiries@soulofindia.com | Call Us: 020 8901 7630

How to book this tour

Read our Booking Terms and Conditions

Email : enquiries@soulofindia.com | Call Us: 020 8901 7630

Travel Insurance

It is essential to have adequate travel insurance in place before your departure. This should be appropriate for your age, health and destination you are visiting.

Cost Includes

  • International flights with British airways in economy class.
  • Internal flights in economy class with 23 Kg checked in baggage
  • Train reservations in air-conditioned chair car.
  • Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary, sharing twin or double or double room with Single occupancy with en-suite facilities.
  • Daily breakfast and dinner at all hotels. Lunch in Bharatpur and all meals in Ranthambhore.
  • All arrival, departure transfers, long drives and sightseeing by a chauffeur driven private air-conditioned coach.
  • Services of a local English-speaking representative for all arrival and departure transfers to assist you at the airports and railway station.
  • Services of English-speaking guides and local specialists during sightseeing as specified in the itinerary. Entrance fees to all monuments during sightseeing as specified in the itinerary
  • Complementary Mineral water while travelling & sightseeing
  • 100% protection of payment by our ATOL & ABTA Licences.

Cost Does Not Include

  • India visa fee. E-tourist visa is now available for citizens of most countries including USA. On confirmation of booking, we will send you a step-by-step guide how to apply for the visa.
  • Any expenses of a personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, beverages etc.
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Camera fees at monuments and other places of interest.
  • Travel Insurance: It is essential to have adequate travel insurance in place before your departure. This should be appropriate for your age, health and destination you are visiting.
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