Tiger Safari & Golden Triangle Tour (9N/10D)
From $1,900£1,430€1,700A$2,730C$2,680
Prices are per person, twin share, private departure, and are rounded. They are estimates and vary with the accommodation you choose and the season. Contact us for a final price.
This itinerary is completely customisable, including accommodation that is not on our list. Speak to our safari specialists and they will design a fully bespoke journey around a romantic dinner in the forest, a family adventure or a serious wildlife photography expedition.
About This Tiger Safari
This Tiger Safari & Golden Triangle Tour pairs India's three great monuments with three days in Ranthambore National Park, where tigers hunt among the ruins of a tenth-century fort. In ten days you move from the Mughal grandeur of Delhi and the Taj Mahal at dawn to Jaipur's palaces and the forests of Rajasthan, in comfortable, chauffeur-driven private SUVs, with a VIP meet and greet on arrival.
Every journey is private and curated for you alone. Choose any hotel on our list in each destination, and your bespoke programme stays the same while the hotels and lodges change to suit the way you like to travel.
Each journey contributes to TOFTigers, winner of a Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award in 2025, supporting responsible tiger tourism and the communities that live beside the forest. The best time to travel is October to March for the monuments, while Ranthambore is open from October to June.
Destinations Covered
Delhi (3 nights), Agra (1 night), Jaipur (2 nights) and Ranthambore National Park (3 nights), with stops at Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri on the road between Agra and Jaipur.
What You Will Experience
- Three private jeep safaris in Ranthambore, led by an expert naturalist, the best chance of a daylight tiger sighting.
- The Taj Mahal at sunset on arrival and again at sunrise, before the crowds.
- Amber Fort, the City Palace and Hawa Mahal with a private guide.
- Old Delhi's lanes and Humayun's Tomb, with a private guide.
- Fatehpur Sikri and the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri, on the road to Jaipur.
- Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with langurs and peacocks.
Design your journey with a safari specialist
Every journey is private, bespoke and curated around you: share a few details and one of our safari specialists will be in touch within 24 hours.
Thank you
Your enquiry is with our safari specialists, who will be in touch within 24 hours to begin shaping your bespoke, curated journey.
Tiger Safari & Golden Triangle Itinerary: Day by Day
Safaris included: three private 4x4 jeep safaris in Ranthambore with an expert naturalist, one a day and alternating between afternoon and morning: an afternoon safari on Day 6, a first-light safari on Day 7 and an afternoon safari in a different zone on Day 8. A final early safari on Day 9 is available if you wish. If time allows during the day and park tickets are available, we can add further safaris at an additional cost.
Day 1: Arrival in New Delhi
A VIP representative meets you at the airport and guides you swiftly through formalities, and your chauffeur drives you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to rest; our concierge can arrange an early dinner.
Day 2: Old Delhi and Humayun's Tomb
A private guide leads you through the lanes of Old Delhi around Jama Masjid, then on through Lutyens' Delhi to Humayun's Tomb, the garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal. A long break in the afternoon leaves time to rest.
Day 3: Delhi to Agra and Agra Fort
Drive: about 4 hours (230 km)
Drive: about 4 hours (230 km). Cross the Yamuna Expressway to Agra and visit Agra Fort, the red-sandstone citadel of the Mughal emperors. In the evening, watch the Taj Mahal glow at sunset from Mehtab Bagh, across the river.
Day 4: Taj Mahal at Sunrise and Drive to Jaipur
Drive: about 5 hours (240 km)
Drive: about 5 hours (240 km). See the Taj Mahal when it opens, in soft light and thin crowds. Then drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's abandoned capital, and the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri.
Day 5: Amber Fort and the Pink City of Jaipur
Amber Fort before the heat, then the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and the Hawa Mahal. The late afternoon is at leisure, or with block-printing and jewellery artisans.
Day 6: Jaipur to Ranthambore National Park
Drive: about 4 hours (180 km)
Drive: about 4 hours (180 km). Arrive at Ranthambore National Park in time for lunch, then your naturalist briefs you on the park, its zones and the tigers that roam them before your first safari in the afternoon.
Day 7: Tiger Safari in Ranthambore
A tiger safari at first light with an expert naturalist, then a long lunch and a quiet afternoon at the lodge. Ranthambore is one of the few reserves where tigers are regularly seen in daylight around lakes, ruins and open grassland.
Day 8: Ranthambore Safaris and Ranthambore Fort
A guided visit to Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, fills the morning. In the afternoon, a safari explores a different zone of the park.
Day 9: Ranthambore to Delhi
Drive: about 7 hours, or by train from Sawai Madhopur, which we can arrange
Drive: about 7 hours, or by train from Sawai Madhopur, which we can arrange. Take a final early safari if you wish, then begin the journey back to Delhi. Our concierge can book a farewell dinner in the capital.
Day 10: Departure from Delhi
Your chauffeur-driven private SUV takes you to the airport, with a VIP escort through departures.
A note from our planners: the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so we arrange your Agra days around it. Ranthambore is closed during the monsoon, so this journey runs between October and June.
Where You Stay
Every hotel and lodge for this journey is listed below by destination, each with a label that describes its style. There are no fixed packages: you may choose any hotel in each destination, and our safari specialists will gladly arrange a stay that is not on this list. Every property is handpicked and has been used by us over many years.
Delhi (Days 1, 2 and 9)
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Colonel's Retreat (Boutique).
A family-run guest house in a townhouse in Defence Colony, on quiet, tree-lined avenues in central Delhi. It was begun some twenty years ago by a retired army colonel and is now run by his son and daughter-in-law, with dinner served on the roof terrace.
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ITC Maurya (Luxury).
A landmark of the Diplomatic Enclave, known for its restaurants, among them Bukhara, long celebrated for its north-west frontier cuisine, and Dum Pukht. It offers established comfort and polished service in the heart of the capital.
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The Oberoi, New Delhi (Luxury).
Opened in 1965 on Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, overlooking Humayun's Tomb on one side and the Delhi Golf Course on the other. Its interiors take their inspiration from Lutyens' New Delhi, and it has a wellness sanctuary, indoor and outdoor pools and several restaurants.
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Roseate House (Luxury).
A contemporary hotel of 216 rooms in Aerocity, about 4.5 km from the international airport, which makes it a practical first or last night. It has a rooftop infinity pool, a spa and a fine dining restaurant, Kheer.
Agra (Day 3)
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Tajview (Luxury).
A hotel on Fatehabad Road, a short drive from the Taj Mahal, with views of the monument from selected rooms. It is a comfortable, well-run base for a visit to the Taj at sunrise and the old city.
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ITC Mughal (Luxury).
A sprawling hotel in Taj Ganj, set in landscaped gardens, with architecture and interiors inspired by the Mughal courts. It has a spa, a pool and several restaurants, among them Peshawri, known for its north-west frontier cooking.
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The Oberoi Amarvilas (Luxury).
A Mughal-inspired hotel only a short distance from the Taj Mahal, with terraced gardens, reflecting pools and views of the monument from its rooms and terraces. A spa, a pool and fine restaurants complete a stay that is among the finest in Agra.
Jaipur (Days 4 and 5)
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Dera Mandawa (Boutique).
A small, family-run guest house in Jaipur with a handful of rooms and suites. It is known for its hands-on cultural experiences, from block printing and mural painting to cooking demonstrations, and for early walks near Amber Fort.
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Jai Mahal Palace (Heritage).
Built in 1745 as the residence of Jaipur's prime minister and now a palace hotel, set in around 18 acres of Mughal-style gardens. Its arcades, courtyards and pool recall the city's royal past, and it is a short drive from the Pink City.
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Rambagh Palace (Heritage).
The former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, opened as a hotel in 1957 and set in 47 acres of gardens. Marble halls, peacocks on the lawns and a long tradition of royal hospitality make it Jaipur's most celebrated address.
Ranthambore (Days 6 to 8)
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Dev Vilas (Eco-Luxury).
A wildlife lodge close to the main entrance of Ranthambore, with rooms and tented bungalows among mango and guava orchards and views towards the Aravalli hills. It has a swimming pool, a courtyard and a relaxed dining room.
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Khem Villas (Eco-Luxury · Recommended).
A lodge on about 30 acres at the edge of Ranthambore, where grassland, lakes and woodland have been carefully restored. Villas, thatched cottages and canvas tents are designed with the land in mind, with farm-style organic meals and naturalist-led activities on site.
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Sujan Sher Bagh (Luxury Tented Camp).
A camp of twelve canvas tents and two suites in the style of the colonial-era hunting camps, only minutes from the park entrance. It has a pool overlooking the park's buffer zone, a spa and meals made with produce from its own gardens.
Prices
| Two guests sharing, per person | $1,900£1,430€1,700A$2,730C$2,680 |
|---|---|
| Two guests sharing, total for two | $3,800£2,860€3,400A$5,460C$5,360 |
| Solo traveller | $3,540£2,660€3,160A$5,080C$4,990 |
| Single supplement | $1,640£1,230€1,460A$2,350C$2,310 |
Estimated prices, per person, based on two guests sharing one room, one safari vehicle and one car. A solo traveller pays the per-person price plus the single supplement. Prices vary with the accommodation you choose and the season, and are rounded. Contact us for a final price. See what is included
Tailored Leisure & In-Lodge Experiences
- Photography with Your Naturalist: guidance on light and positioning for tiger and bird photography.
- Village and Farm Walk: meet the communities beside the park and see how conservation supports local livelihoods.
- Ranthambore Fort at First Light: a guided visit to the ramparts, temples and lakeside ruins.
- Spa and Wellness: an Ayurvedic massage or a quiet hour at the pool after the afternoon safari.
- Jaipur Workshop: a private session with block-printing artisans or gem cutters.
Something Else in Mind? Our safari specialists can arrange any wildlife activity you would like, depending on the destination and your accommodation, such as a dedicated birding morning, a leopard-focused excursion or a private naturalist talk on tiger ecology.
Dining & Reservations: our private concierge secures reservations at the finest restaurants each city has to offer, including hard-to-book tables, and arranges private dinners for special occasions. Share your tastes, whether a celebrated tasting menu or classic Mughlai cuisine, and we will arrange every detail.
Popular Fauna
- Mammals: Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, jungle cat, Indian fox, rhesus macaque and common langur
- Reptiles: marsh crocodile and monitor lizard
- Birds: crested serpent eagle, Indian eagle-owl, painted spurfowl, Indian peafowl, spotted owlet and kingfishers around the lakes
Sightings vary by season and are never guaranteed, but tigers are seen regularly in daylight.
National Parks & Wildlife Reserves
- Ranthambore National Park: about 392 sq km of dry deciduous forest, lakes and ruins in eastern Rajasthan, centred on a tenth-century fort. The park is open from October to June and closed during the monsoon.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, Agra: Shah Jahan's white marble memorial to Mumtaz Mahal and the red-sandstone citadel of the Mughal emperors.
- Humayun's Tomb, Delhi: the 16th-century garden tomb that set the pattern for the Taj Mahal.
- Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra: the capital Akbar built and abandoned within a generation, preserved almost intact.
- Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar, Jaipur: a Hill Fort of Rajasthan above Maota Lake, and an 18th-century observatory of giant stone instruments.
- Ranthambore Fort: one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, standing above the forest on a rocky hilltop.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Nine nights of handpicked accommodation, with breakfast in the cities and full board at the Ranthambore lodge
- VIP meet and greet on arrival in Delhi
- All transfers and drives in comfortable, chauffeur-driven private SUVs
- Three private 4x4 jeep safaris in Ranthambore, one a day, with an expert naturalist, and park entry fees
- Private guides and entrance fees for the monuments on the itinerary
- Our private concierge for restaurant reservations and special occasions
Not included: international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, personal gratuities, laundry and personal expenses, premium alcoholic beverages, camera fees, additional safaris beyond those listed (arranged on request, subject to park ticket availability), and experiences marked “on request”.
Possible Extensions
Keoladeo Birding: two nights in Bharatpur for one of the world's great wetland bird reserves, a short drive from Ranthambore and Agra.
Ladakh Snow Leopard Safari Extension: fly to Leh for a winter search for the elusive snow leopard.
Tiger Safari & Golden Triangle Tour FAQs
When is the best time for a tiger safari and Golden Triangle tour?
October to March is the most comfortable season for the monuments, and Ranthambore is open from October to June. Tigers are often easier to see in the warmer months of April to June, when animals visit the waterholes.
How likely am I to see a tiger in Ranthambore?
Ranthambore is among the most reliable parks in India for tiger sightings, and daylight sightings are common. With three safaris, in the morning and the afternoon, you have three chances, and more can be added, though sightings are never guaranteed.
What should I know about the practicalities?
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so we plan the Agra days around it. Drives are long but comfortable: Delhi to Agra is about 4 hours, Agra to Jaipur about 5 hours and Jaipur to Ranthambore about 4 hours. Carry photo identification for park entry.
Is this tour suitable for families and first-time visitors to India?
Yes. The pace is gentle, the vehicles are private and our safari specialists can adapt the programme for children, older travellers or serious photographers.
How do I book a bespoke tiger safari and Golden Triangle tour?
Contact our safari specialists, who will curate the journey around your dates, your choice of hotels and any special occasions. All tours are private.