Three days that link Delhi, Agra and Jaipur by road with one car, one driver and a licensed guide in each city. The Taj Mahal is seen at sunrise on day two, and Jaipur gets one full morning before the long drive back to Delhi. It is a brisk journey for people with little time who still want the three cities in the right order.
Highlights
What stays with you
Agra Fort and Itimad-ud-Daulah on the arrival afternoon
Taj Mahal at sunrise with a licensed guide
Fatehpur Sikri as a break on the road to Jaipur
Amber Fort and the City Palace in one Jaipur morning
One car and driver for the whole loop, hotels in the five-star or heritage category
Day by day
How the days go
Day1
Delhi to Agra
Drive: roughly three to four hours
Your driver meets you at the airport or your Delhi hotel and the car heads south on the Yamuna Expressway.
The drive is roughly three to four hours, and a short coffee stop around the midpoint breaks it up.
You reach Agra by lunchtime and check in to rest for a while.
In the afternoon your guide takes you to Agra Fort, the red sandstone fortress where the Mughal emperors lived, and you see the Taj in the distance from its riverside walls.
Then the car crosses to Itimad-ud-Daulah, a small marble tomb with fine inlay that many guests enjoy more for its quiet.
If the light is clear, the day can end at Mehtab Bagh, the garden across the river that faces the Taj.
Wear shoes that slip off easily and carry a light scarf for sun.
Day2
Taj Mahal sunrise, then Jaipur
Drive: roughly five hours
You leave the hotel before dawn so you are at the gate when the Taj Mahal opens.
Your guide walks you through the forecourt, the central platform and the side mosques while the marble shifts from grey to pink to white.
Plan about two hours inside, and keep the first ten minutes for simply looking.
Then it is back to the hotel for breakfast and a check-out.
The drive to Jaipur takes roughly five hours, with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned red sandstone capital of Akbar, where a guide is useful for finding your way.
Lunch is usually on the road.
You arrive in Jaipur by late afternoon, with time for a rest and, if you wish, an easy walk past the Hawa Mahal and the pink old city bazaars.
Note that the Taj is closed on Fridays.
Day3
Jaipur, then back to Delhi
Drive: roughly five to six hours
Breakfast is early because the best hours at Amber Fort are before the tour buses arrive.
Your guide takes you up through the gates to the Sheesh Mahal, the mirrored hall, and the courtyards with views over Maota Lake.
The car then drives into the old city for the City Palace, where the family museum and courtyards show how the maharajas lived, and the Jantar Mantar, the open-air observatory of giant stone instruments.
A quick photo stop at the Hawa Mahal is easy from the car.
After a late lunch you start the drive to Delhi, which takes roughly five to six hours depending on traffic at the city edge.
Your driver takes you to the airport or your hotel, so please tell us your onward time when we plan.
It is a long day, so keep a water bottle and a light layer in the car.
Note. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so the order of days may shift. December and January fog can flatten a sunrise.
Practical
Good to know
Three days means long drives on days two and three, roughly five hours each, so this suits people who are comfortable in a car.
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so we plan the sunrise visit for another morning when possible.
In December and January fog can flatten a sunrise, and the Taj may be faint until mid morning.
If your flight leaves late on day three you will have an easier evening; early flights need a different plan, so tell us when we plan.
The details
Included, and not
Included
Private air-conditioned car and English-speaking driver for all three days
Licensed local guide at the monuments
Hotel nights in Agra and Jaipur, arranged to the category you choose
Taj Mahal sunrise visit planned and timed for you
Bottled water in the car
Not included
Monument entry tickets (arranged on your behalf, paid at actual cost)
International and domestic flights
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Tips and personal expenses
Questions
Good to know
Is three days enough for the Golden Triangle?
It covers the three cities in a clean loop, but with long drives. You see the Taj at sunrise, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort and the City Palace. If you want more time in Delhi or Jaipur, a four or five day plan is more relaxed.
What happens if the Taj Mahal is closed on the day I arrive?
The Taj is closed on Fridays. If day two would fall on a Friday, we can shift the order or add a night so the sunrise visit lands on another morning. We confirm this when we plan.
How long are the drives between the cities?
Delhi to Agra is roughly three to four hours on the expressway, Agra to Jaipur roughly five hours with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, and Jaipur to Delhi roughly five to six hours. Your driver paces breaks around your wishes.
Do I get a guide in every city?
Yes. A licensed guide meets you in Agra and in Jaipur, and your car and driver stay with you throughout. Entry tickets for the sights above are arranged for you.
Rates on request
Tell us when you are travelling.
A short message is enough. We will come back with a plan, personally.
