Start with hotel pickup in Delhi, and relax as you make the roughly 3-hour journey to Agra by private, air-conditioned vehicle.
On arrival, stop at Mehtab Bagh, sometimes known as the ‘Moonlight Gardens,’ laid out alongside the River Yamuna facing the Taj Mahal. Enter the gardens (own expense), and enjoy a stroll to soak in the spectacular, sweeping views of the Taj.
Next, continue to the Red Fort, Agra’s 16th-century walled Mughal fort-palace, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Head inside (own expense) and explore the richly decorated palaces, pavilions, and chambers, all built in Hindu, Islamic, and central Asian designs.
View highlights including the Pearl Fort and Mirror Palace, and see the octagonal tower where Shah Jahan, the emperor who ordered the building of the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned within view of the masterpiece he commissioned.
Afterward, enjoy lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant, and then visit a local family home to change into your traditional Indian clothes. Get outfitted in the beautiful garments, including turbans for men and saris for women, and then continue to the Taj Mahal.
Wearing your Indian finery, head inside (own expense) and marvel at the magnificent monument, with its marble domes and towers shimmering like a mirage. Then, cross the gardens and admire the marble terraces, arcades, and inner hall close-up, as well as the outlying red-sandstone monuments.
As you explore, hear the love story behind the building. Learn how Shah Jahan commissioned it as a mausoleum for his beloved late queen, Mumtaz Mahal, and how it took 20,000 workers 22 years to build.
Be sure to capture plenty of photos in your Indian dress, and afterward, change back into your everyday clothes for your return drive to Delhi. Your tour then concludes with a hotel drop-off.
