How much does it cost?

From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

It is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from London Heathrow to Jaipur and back.

What is the maximum group size?

The maximum group size is 30 travellers.

When does the tour run?

Great Rail Journeys operates 19 departures from September 2026 through April 2028. Scheduled months are September, October, November, December, January, February, March, and April.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

India's Golden Triangle, Tigers & Shimla

14-day India tour: Delhi, Shimla Toy Train, Taj Mahal, tiger safaris, Jaipur

Great Rail Journeys operates India's Golden Triangle, Tigers & Shimla, a 14-day escorted tour departing from London Heathrow and returning from Jaipur. The journey combines the architectural wonders of India's Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) with the colonial hill station of Shimla in the Himalayas. A UK Tour Manager stays with the group throughout, guiding daily activities and managing logistics. Travellers ride four named trains, including the UNESCO-listed Himalayan Queen narrow-gauge railway, which winds through the Shivalik Hills from Kalka to Shimla via 102 tunnels and hundreds of bridges. The itinerary mixes guided sightseeing (Delhi's Jama Masjid and Red Fort, the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, Fatehpur Sikri's red sandstone palace), wildlife experiences (two safari drives in Ranthambore National Park seeking Bengal tigers and leopards), and cultural moments such as a historian's talk on British Shimla and rides in female-operated pink tuk-tuks through Jaipur. Nights are spent in 4 and 5-star hotels; most stops last two or three nights, creating a balanced pace. This tour suits guided travellers seeking luxury accommodation, rail variety, and both cultural landmarks and wildlife encounters in a single journey.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Certain departure dates (11th and 14th February, 9th November) have different Shimla hotel accommodation; confirm your assigned property when booking.
Day 10 safaris may be scheduled as two safaris followed by a morning at leisure on Day 11, depending on the departure date.

Day by day

Day 1
Overnight flight from London to Delhi
Meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow for an evening flight to Delhi.
Day 2overnight: Delhi
Arrival in India's bustling capital, Delhi
Transfer to a five-star hotel in Delhi with free time before dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Shimla
Into the Himalayas on the UNESCO-listed 'Toy Train'
Shatabdi Express to Kalka, then the narrow-gauge 'Toy Train' up to Shimla, checking in to a historic five-star hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Shimla
Uncovering the history of colonial Shimla
Talk from historian Raaja Bhasin, then a sightseeing tour taking in the Viceregal Lodge, Sankat Mochan Temple and Gaiety Theatre.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Shimla
A free day to explore Shimla
A day at leisure with options including Kufri, Mall Road, Scandal Point and Lakkar Bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Delhi
Returning down the mountains to Delhi
Private cars back down to Chandigarh, then AC Chair Class rail back to New Delhi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Delhi
Discovering Delhi, India's bustling capital
Sightseeing tour taking in Jama Masjid, a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, India Gate and the Gandhi Smriti Museum.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Agra
Royal Agra and the Taj Mahal
Gatimaan Express to Agra in AC Chair Class, guided tour of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9overnight: Ranthambore
The deserted Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri
Visit the abandoned red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri, lunch at Laxmi Palace Vilas, then on to Ranthambore.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10overnight: Ranthambore
On safari in Ranthambore National Park
Talk from a naturalist, then an afternoon open-topped 'canter' safari in Ranthambore National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11overnight: Jaipur
Early morning safari and on to Jaipur
Early morning safari in Ranthambore, then coach to Jaipur.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12overnight: Jaipur
The 'Pink City' of Jaipur
Sightseeing including the Palace of the Winds, Jantar Mantar and City Palace, plus a pink tuk-tuk ride operated by women.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13overnight: Delhi
Jaipur's Amber Fort and return to Delhi
Jeep ride up to the Amber Fort, then coach back to Delhi for the final dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14
Homeward bound
Picnic breakfast and transfer to the airport for the direct flight back to London Heathrow.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Ride the Himalayan Queen narrow-gauge 'Toy Train' from Kalka through 102 tunnels and hundreds of bridges in the Shivalik Hills to Shimla.
Day 4Historian Raaja Bhasin presents a talk on Shimla's role as the British Raj's summer capital, followed by a sightseeing tour of the Viceregal Lodge and Gothic Gaiety Theatre.
Day 8Travel by Gatimaan Express in AC Chair Class from Delhi to Agra and tour the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.
Day 10Afternoon safari in open-topped canter vehicles through Ranthambore National Park in search of Bengal tigers, leopards, and hyenas.
Day 12Ride through Jaipur's pink-painted streets in female-operated tuk-tuks, then visit the Palace of the Winds and Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
12 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
AC Chair Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Direct return flights from London Heathrow to Delhi
Breakfast and dinner each day, 6 lunches
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Delhi to Agra
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Railfrom $3,299

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: It is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from London Heathrow to Jaipur and back.
What is the maximum group size?: The maximum group size is 30 travellers.
When does the tour run?: Great Rail Journeys operates 19 departures from September 2026 through April 2028. Scheduled months are September, October, November, December, January, February, March, and April.