Golden Triangle and Andaman Islands: 14 Days of the Taj Mahal and Havelock Beaches

Arrive in Delhi

Your driver meets you outside the arrivals hall at Indira Gandhi International Airport with a sign bearing your name and takes you to your hotel. Bank ATMs and mobile phone counters are in the arrivals area if you need rupees or a local SIM; your driver will wait. The drive in is a first look at New Delhi's wide, tree-lined avenues.

After a long flight, the best plan for the first day is very little. Check in, rest and adjust to Indian time; staying awake until a normal bedtime helps with jet lag. If you land early and feel fresh, an easy walk in Lodhi Garden, where 15th- and 16th-century tombs of the Sayyid and Lodi sultans stand among lawns and old trees, is a gentle introduction to the city. In the evening, see India Gate lit up after dark.

Keep the first dinner simple. Delhi is known for rich North Indian cooking such as dal makhani and tandoori kebabs; for the first few days, stick to freshly cooked hot food and bottled or filtered water.

Your coordinator in Mumbai will call or message to welcome you, confirm tomorrow's start time and answer any questions.

• ArrivalMeet and greet at the airport; private transfer to your hotel
• AfternoonRest, or an optional walk in Lodhi Garden
• EveningFree, with an early night before tomorrow's sightseeing

OvernightDelhi. See the hotel options below.

Old and New Delhi with your guide

Start in Old Delhi, the walled city built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. Climb the steps of the Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques, then take a cycle-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, a tangle of lanes selling silver, saris, sweets and spices. Walk on to Khari Baoli, the great spice market, and pass the red sandstone walls of the Red Fort.

After lunch, cross into New Delhi. Humayun's Tomb, finished around 1570, is the garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the 73-metre Qutub Minar, begun around 1200 and also UNESCO listed, then drive along Kartavya Path past the President's House to India Gate.

For a quieter moment, add Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the Sikh temple whose community kitchen serves free meals to thousands of visitors daily.

Wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees and shoes that slip off: they come off at the Jama Masjid and the gurudwara, where heads are also covered (scarves are provided). The Red Fort is closed on Mondays, so your guide plans around it. Old Delhi is the place to try street food with your guide, from stuffed parathas to hot jalebis.

• MorningJama Masjid, cycle-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, the spice market and the Red Fort
• AfternoonHumayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar
• EveningIndia Gate, then dinner at leisure

OvernightDelhi.

To Agra and the Taj Mahal in the afternoon light

Drive south to Agra on the Yamuna Expressway after breakfast and check in to your hotel. Agra is famous for petha, a translucent sweet made from ash gourd, and for rich Mughlai cooking; lunch is a good time to try a korma or a plate of kebabs.

Before the Taj, explore Agra Fort, the red sandstone citadel of the Mughal emperors, with its white marble palaces overlooking the Yamuna. From the Musamman Burj, the octagonal tower where Shah Jahan spent his last years as his son's prisoner, you can see the Taj across the river.

In the late afternoon, visit the Taj Mahal with your guide, when the low sun warms the white marble and the long shadows show off its carvings and inlay of semi-precious stones. Built between 1632 and 1653 by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it is the most famous building in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Taj is closed on Fridays, so we plan your dates around it, and only a small bag is allowed inside. If you would like to see it again at sunrise tomorrow, your guide can arrange it.

• MorningDrive from Delhi to Agra
• AfternoonAgra Fort
• Late afternoonThe Taj Mahal with your guide

OvernightAgra, 1 night, in a hotel with Taj Mahal views in the Premium tier.

Fatehpur Sikri and the Pink City

After breakfast, drive west and stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone capital Emperor Akbar built in the 1570s and abandoned soon after, probably for lack of water. Walk through its palaces and courtyards: the Diwan-i-Khas, with a single carved pillar supporting a central platform, the five-storey Panch Mahal, and the courtyard laid out as a giant board for the game of pachisi.

Next door, pass through the Buland Darwaza, the Gate of Victory, into the great mosque. In its courtyard stands the white marble tomb of the Sufi saint Salim Chishti, with screens of marble lattice as fine as lace; visitors tie threads to them when making a wish. Shoes come off at the mosque, so wear socks if the stone is hot.

Continue into Rajasthan through a flatter, drier landscape of mustard fields and low hills. If you have energy, make a short detour to Abhaneri to see the Chand Baori, a deep stepwell lined with thousands of steps. Arrive in Jaipur in the late afternoon. The evening is free; your hotel can arrange a rooftop dinner with views of the old city, and you can try Rajasthani dishes such as dal baati churma or laal maas.

• MorningFatehpur Sikri with your guide
• AfternoonDrive to Jaipur; optional Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri
• EveningFree

OvernightJaipur, 2 nights.

Amber Fort and the Pink City

Drive out early to Amber Fort, the hilltop palace of the Kachwaha rulers and part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan, before the heat and the tour buses arrive. Walk up through its courtyards to the Sheesh Mahal, the Hall of Mirrors, whose ceilings are set with thousands of tiny mirrors that sparkle in the light of a single flame. We take you up by jeep, not by elephant. On the way back, stop to photograph the Jal Mahal floating in Man Sagar Lake.

In the afternoon, explore the walled old city, founded in 1727 and painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales. See the honeycomb façade of the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds; the City Palace, still home to the former royal family, where two enormous silver urns stand in the hall of private audience; and the Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century observatory with a giant stone sundial and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

End with an hour in Johari and Bapu bazaars for jewellery, textiles and block prints, or watch the sunset from Nahargarh Fort above the city. For a snack, try pyaaz kachori, a spiced onion pastry, or ghewar, a honeycomb-like sweet.

• MorningAmber Fort and the Hall of Mirrors; photo stop at the Jal Mahal
• AfternoonHawa Mahal, City Palace and the Jantar Mantar
• EveningOld city bazaars, or sunset from Nahargarh Fort

OvernightJaipur.

Back to Delhi before the islands

Enjoy a slow morning in Jaipur, with time for a last visit or some shopping. Good choices are the Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur's oldest museum, in a grand Indo-Saracenic building, or the bazaars of the old city: Johari Bazaar for jewellery and Bapu Bazaar for block-printed cotton, leather slippers and quilts. Jaipur's blue pottery and hand-block printed textiles are light to pack and make good gifts.

Then drive back to Delhi on the highway through the Aravalli hills and the farmland of northern Rajasthan and Haryana, stopping at a roadside dhaba for tea or lunch. You spend the night at a hotel near the airport, ready for tomorrow's flight to the Andamans.

Use the evening to repack for the islands. Domestic airlines usually allow about 15 kg of checked baggage in economy, so we can store anything you do not need for the beach and return it to you later, or you can pay for extra weight. If you prefer, we can book a flight from Jaipur to Delhi instead, about an hour, to shorten the day.

• MorningFree in Jaipur; museum or bazaars
• AfternoonDrive to a hotel near Delhi airport
• EveningRepack for the islands

OvernightDelhi, near the airport.

Fly to the Andaman Islands and sail to Havelock

Fly from Delhi to Port Blair, nonstop or with one stop, crossing the Bay of Bengal. Port Blair, officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in 2024, is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Our representative meets you at Veer Savarkar International Airport and takes you to the harbour for the ferry to Havelock Island. Keep your passport handy, as foreign visitors are usually asked to register on arrival in the islands.

The air-conditioned catamaran glides past green islands for an hour and a half or more, depending on the service. The sea in the Andamans is a clear blue-green, and on a calm day you may see flying fish skipping away from the bow. On Havelock, your driver takes you to your resort near Radhanagar Beach. Kick off your shoes; the pace of the trip changes completely from here.

Watch your first Andaman sunset from the beach. Come early: it is one of the earliest in India, often around 5 to 5.30 pm in winter, because the islands lie far to the east but keep Indian time. Dinner is a good moment for the islands' seafood, such as grilled fish, prawns or crab with coconut.

• MorningFlight from Delhi to Port Blair
• AfternoonFerry to Havelock Island
• EveningCheck in, sunset on the beach and a seafood dinner

OvernightHavelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), near Radhanagar Beach.

Radhanagar Beach

Spend the whole day at Radhanagar Beach, also called Beach No. 7: a long curve of white sand backed by tall tropical forest, with calm, clear water from October to April. Swim, read in the shade of the trees and walk to the quiet rocky end of the beach at Neil's Cove, where the water is especially clear.

Mornings are the quietest time, before the day visitors arrive. There are changing rooms and simple cafés near the entrance, and stalls selling fresh coconut water and cut fruit. Lifeguards patrol the main stretch; swim between their flags and follow their advice if the waves pick up. The sun is strong even when it feels mild, so bring a hat, a long-sleeved top and plenty of water, and use a reef-safe sunscreen.

The forest behind the beach is home to many birds; look up for parakeets and listen for the calls of hornbills or drongos. Stay for the sunset, when much of the island gathers on the sand to watch the sky change colour. It comes early here, so be on the beach by about half past four in winter.

• MorningSwimming at Radhanagar Beach; walk to Neil's Cove
• AfternoonShade, reading and swimming
• SunsetOn the beach

OvernightHavelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), near Radhanagar Beach.

Snorkelling and coral reefs

The Andamans have some of the best-preserved reefs in India, with hard and soft corals, turtles, reef fish and, in places, manta rays. Today, join a snorkelling trip to a nearby reef, or try scuba diving for the first time with a certified instructor. If you already dive, you can join two guided dives at well-known sites around Havelock, such as Johnny's Gorge or Dixon's Pinnacle, depending on conditions and your experience.

Dive centres on Havelock run PADI and SSI courses, from a short Discover Scuba session to full open-water certification over three or four days. Tell us before you travel and we will reserve your place. Boats usually leave early, when the sea is calmest and visibility is best, and the water is warm all year, so a thin wetsuit or rash vest is enough. Never touch or stand on coral, and take a seasickness tablet before the boat if you are prone to it.

The afternoon is free to rest or return to the beach. Diving is tiring, so plan an easy evening and plenty of water.

• Early morningSnorkelling or scuba diving trip
• AfternoonFree
• EveningEasy evening

OvernightHavelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), near Radhanagar Beach.

Spa and beach day

Book a treatment at your resort's spa, perhaps an Ayurvedic massage or a coconut-oil body ritual, then spend an unscheduled afternoon by the pool or on the sand. After a day of diving and boat trips, a slow massage with warm oil is a good way to ease stiff shoulders and sun-tired skin. Morning is the best time for it, before the heat of the day.

This day deliberately has nothing else in it. Many guests say it is the one they remember best. Sleep late, swim when you feel like it and eat when you are hungry. If you want to move a little, take a slow walk along the shoreline at low tide, when rock pools appear with small crabs and fish.

In the late afternoon, watch the light change over the Andaman Sea from the beach or a shaded terrace. Dinner can be as simple as fresh fish grilled with lime and chilli, eaten outside under the stars. It is also a good evening to check tomorrow's boat time to Elephant Beach.

• MorningSpa treatment
• AfternoonFree; pool or beach
• EveningSunset and an easy dinner

OvernightHavelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), near Radhanagar Beach.

Elephant Beach by boat

Take a short boat ride from the Havelock jetty to Elephant Beach, where a shallow reef starts just off the sand, making it one of the easiest places in the Andamans to snorkel. It is ideal for beginners and children, and life jackets are provided. Look for parrotfish, clownfish among the anemones and brightly coloured giant clams. Glass-bottom boat rides and other water sports are available on the beach for those who prefer to stay dry.

The bleached trunks of trees felled by the 2004 tsunami still lie along parts of the shore, a reminder of how exposed these islands are. If the weather is dry and you enjoy walking, you can instead reach the beach on a forest trail of about 45 minutes, returning by boat. Go in the morning, when the sea is calmer and the beach is less crowded.

Back on Havelock in the afternoon, rest or rent a bicycle to explore the island's quiet roads, paddy fields and villages, settled largely by families from Bengal after independence. Stop at a village tea stall on the way.

• MorningBoat to Elephant Beach; snorkelling over the shallow reef
• AfternoonFree, or a bicycle ride around the island

OvernightHavelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), near Radhanagar Beach.

A free day on the island

A completely free day: revisit your favourite beach, try sea kayaking through the mangroves, take a second dive, or simply do nothing at all. Kayak trips usually run in the early morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the water calm; some operators also offer night trips to see bioluminescent plankton glowing in the water.

For something different, Kalapathar Beach on the east coast is good for sunrise and quiet walks. Its name comes from the black rocks along the shore, and the road there runs past villages and paddy fields.

If you have energy for a longer outing, take a ferry of about an hour to Neil Island, now Shaheed Dweep, Havelock's smaller and even quieter neighbour. Hire a cycle or auto-rickshaw to see the natural rock bridge at Laxmanpur, best visited at low tide, and the calm, shallow water of Bharatpur Beach, then return by the afternoon ferry. We can book the tickets for you; ferry times depend on the season and the weather.

• DayFree to relax or choose an activity
• OptionalKayaking, Kalapathar Beach or a day trip to Neil Island

OvernightHavelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), near Radhanagar Beach.

Back to Port Blair and the Cellular Jail

Take the ferry back to Port Blair and check in to your hotel. Staying the last night here keeps your flight home safe from any ferry delays.

In the afternoon, visit the Cellular Jail National Memorial, the colonial prison where Indian freedom fighters were held in solitary cells in the early 20th century. Completed in 1906, it was built with seven wings radiating from a central tower so that no prisoner could see another; three wings survive. Its museum is moving and important, and from the top of the central tower there are views across the harbour to Ross Island. In the evening, stay for the sound and light show telling the prison's story, usually given in Hindi and English.

If time allows, visit Ross Island, now Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, by short boat ride before the jail: the former British headquarters of the islands, whose church, bakery and officers' houses are slowly being reclaimed by banyan roots, with deer and peacocks wandering the paths. Port Blair's markets sell local spices and cashews, but remember that coral and shells must not be taken out of the islands.

• MorningFerry back to Port Blair
• AfternoonOptional Ross Island; Cellular Jail National Memorial
• EveningSound and light show

OvernightPort Blair, 1 night.

Fly home from Port Blair

Transfer to Veer Savarkar International Airport, about 15 minutes from your hotel, for your flight to Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata or another Indian city, connecting to your international flight. Allow plenty of time between flights, ideally at least three hours, as island flights can be delayed. If you dived during the trip, remember that you should not fly within 18 to 24 hours of your last dive; we plan the final days with this in mind. Keep sunscreen and any liquids over 100 ml in your checked luggage.

• MorningTransfer to Port Blair airport