Golden Triangle and the Maldives
Overview
- Duration: 11 days / 10 nights
- Departures: Private, any date
- Group size: Private, from 2 travellers
- Accommodation: Comfortable 4★ hotels and heritage properties in India, and a 4–5★ island resort in the Maldives
- Countries: India, Maldives
See the Taj Mahal and the forts and palaces of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, then fly to the Maldives for five slow days on an island resort.
This eleven-day journey suits couples and honeymooners who want both sides of a trip: some of the great sights of India and then genuine rest by the sea. It also works for anyone visiting India for the first time who would like to end with a beach rather than another city.
The first half follows the classic Golden Triangle. You spend two nights in Delhi, take a fast train to Agra for the Mughal fort and the Taj Mahal at sunrise, then drive to Jaipur, the pink city of Rajasthan, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri on the way. After two nights among Jaipur’s forts and bazaars, you fly to the Maldives for five nights on an island resort.
The pace in India is steady, with early starts to see the monuments before the heat and crowds. In the Maldives, there is no schedule: we suggest a few optional activities, but the days are yours.
A few honest notes. The drive from Agra to Jaipur takes about four to five hours, broken by the stop at Fatehpur Sikri. The journey to the Maldives is a full travel day, and your island transfer depends on where your resort is: a speedboat for islands near Malé, a seaplane for the further atolls. We choose the resort with you, based on how far you are happy to travel, the kind of beach and reef you like and your budget. Some monuments in India close one day a week, so we plan the order of your sightseeing around this.
We can add two nights at Ranthambore for jeep safaris in tiger country, though sightings are never guaranteed, a night in Udaipur, or more island days. Tell us what matters most to you and we will plan around it.
Day-by-day itinerary
Welcome to India. Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel in Delhi. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight. If you arrive early, a quiet evening walk in the Lodhi Gardens, among old tombs and lawns where local families stroll, is a gentle way to begin.
Overnight: Delhi
Start early in Old Delhi with your guide. Visit Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, then explore the lanes around Chandni Chowk by cycle rickshaw. After lunch, drive through the broad avenues of New Delhi past India Gate, and visit Humayun’s Tomb, the garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal. End at the Qutub Minar if time allows.
Overnight: Delhi · Meals: Breakfast
Take a fast morning train to Agra, about two hours. With your guide, explore Agra Fort, the great red sandstone fortress of the Mughal emperors, with views along the Yamuna River towards the Taj Mahal. In the late afternoon, walk in the gardens of Mehtab Bagh, across the river, to watch the Taj change colour as the sun sets.
Overnight: Agra · Meals: Breakfast
Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the marble glows softly and the gardens are calmer. Return for breakfast, then drive west to Jaipur, about four to five hours. On the way, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone capital built by the emperor Akbar and left not long after. Arrive in Jaipur in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Jaipur · Meals: Breakfast
Drive about half an hour to Amber Fort, on a ridge of the Aravalli hills above a lake, and explore its courtyards and mirrored halls. Stop at a nearby step-well, then return to the old walled city. See the City Palace, the astronomical instruments of Jantar Mantar and the honeycomb façade of the Hawa Mahal. Finish with a walk through the bazaars.
Overnight: Jaipur · Meals: Breakfast
Today you leave India for the Maldives, usually on a flight that connects through Delhi or another Indian city. On arrival at the airport island next to Malé, you are met and transferred to your island resort by speedboat or seaplane, depending on where it is. Seaplanes fly only by day, so after a late arrival you spend tonight near the airport instead.
Overnight: Maldives (island resort) · Meals: Breakfast
Wake up to the sound of the sea. Today has no plans at all: swim in the lagoon, rest in the shade or take a walk around the island. Many resorts have a house reef close to the beach, where a mask and snorkel reveal colourful reef fish in the shallows. Watch the sunset from the beach or your terrace.
Overnight: Maldives (island resort) · Meals: Breakfast
Join a snorkelling trip by boat to a nearby reef, where you may see reef fish, rays and turtles, although sightings depend on luck and conditions. Divers can arrange a dive with the resort’s dive centre. In the late afternoon, a sunset cruise on a traditional dhoni is a peaceful way to see the atoll, and dolphins are sometimes spotted.
Overnight: Maldives (island resort) · Meals: Breakfast
Spend the day as you choose. You might take a picnic to a sandbank, book a spa treatment, try kayaking or paddleboarding in the lagoon, or simply do nothing at all. Many resorts can arrange a private dinner on the beach. Your specialist can suggest options when we know which island suits you best.
Overnight: Maldives (island resort) · Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a final full day in the Maldives. Take one more swim on the house reef, visit a local island with a guide if your resort offers it, or simply read by the water. On local islands, dress modestly away from designated beaches. In the evening, enjoy a last sunset over the lagoon before packing for your journey home.
Overnight: Maldives (island resort) · Meals: Breakfast
Transfer back to the airport by speedboat or seaplane, timed to your international flight. If your flight leaves later in the day, you can take a short guided walk in Malé, the compact capital, to see the coral-stone Old Friday Mosque, the fish market and the harbour, before your driver takes you to the airport. End of your trip.
Overnight: — · Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
- Accommodation with breakfast in India and at your island resort
- Private airport and hotel transfers in India
- Private car and driver for sightseeing and road journeys in India
- Local English-speaking guides for sightseeing in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
- Fast train from Delhi to Agra
- Flight from India to Malé
- Speedboat or seaplane transfers between Malé airport and your island resort
- Entrance fees to the sights in the itinerary in India
- 24/7 support during your trip
Not included
- International flights to India and home from the Maldives
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed (half board or full board can be added at your resort)
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities, such as diving, excursions and spa treatments
Good to know
Sample itinerary: we adapt the route, hotels and dates to you and confirm everything in your written quote. Best December–March, when the weather suits both India and the Maldives.
In India, you take a fast train from Delhi to Agra, about two hours, and travel by private car with your own driver from Agra to Jaipur, about four to five hours. You then fly to Malé, usually connecting through Delhi or another Indian city; routes and timings change with the season, so we confirm them when we book. From Malé airport, islands close by are reached by speedboat and more distant atolls by seaplane, which flies only in daylight.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on where your resort is. Islands close to Malé are reached by speedboat, often in under an hour, while more distant atolls are reached by seaplane or a domestic flight and a boat. Seaplanes fly only by day, so with a late arrival you may spend a night near the airport first.
Yes. It pairs five busy days of history in India with five nights of rest on an island, and the order means you finish relaxed. We can add special touches, such as a private dinner, and choose a room with direct access to the lagoon.
December to March works well for both countries, with cool, dry days in north India and the drier season in the Maldives. October, November and April are also possible, with warmer weather. The India guide has more on the seasons.
This sample includes breakfast, but resorts offer half board, full board and all-inclusive plans. Meals on a resort island are only available at the resort, so many travellers choose half or full board, and we include your choice in the quote.
