Upon arrival at the airport you will be transferred to the hotel where assistance will be provided for check-in. You’ll have time to get settled in and relax before joining your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

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Note: If you wish to spend more time in Delhi, ask your Personal Vacation Manager about the optional hotel extension, which will add one night to your Delhi hotel stay.

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After breakfast, you will have a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi. Modern Delhi is a chaotic tapestry of medieval fortifications, Mughal mausoleums, crowded bazaars, and colonial-era town planning. Start our tour of Old and New Delhi with a drive past the Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an old fort of the 14th century, the 17th-century Jama Masjid Mosque, and the magnificent Red Fort. Visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Then see New Delhi as you drive past the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, through the impressive Rajpath to the World War I Memorial Arch and the India Gate. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Qutb Minar with its 72-meter-high minaret. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and the remainder of your afternoon at your leisure. Rejoin the group again this evening for dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, depart by motor coach for Agra where you will have lunch upon arrival. We will then make our way to the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and undoubtedly one of the world’s most iconic structures. The soft hues of white marble against a dusty blue sky reflect on the water, creating a breathtaking image. There is no doubt that this special moment will be one of the highlights of your trip! The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. Construction of the Taj began the following year and, although the main building is thought to have been built in eight years, the whole complex was not completed until 1653. After our visit to the Taj Mahal is complete, return to the hotel for dinner.

This morning we will visit the Agra Fort. With the Taj Mahal overshadowing it, one can easily forget that Agra has one of the finest Mughal forts in India. Construction of the massive red-sandstone fort, on the bank of the Yamuna River, began by Emperor Akbar in 1565. Further additions were made using white marble. The fort was built primarily as a military structure, but Shah Jahan transformed it into a palace, and later it became his gilded prison for eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized power in 1658.

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After visiting the Agra Fort, board our coach for the drive to Jaipur. Enroute, a visit will be made at Fatehpur Sikri, a magnificent fortified ancient city that was the short-lived capital of the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Akbar visited the village of Sikri to consult the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti, who predicted the birth of an heir to the Mughal throne. When the prophecy came true, Akbar built his new capital here, including a stunning mosque—still in use today—and three palaces for each of his favorite wives, one a Hindu, one a Muslim and one a Christian (though Hindu villagers in Sikri dispute these claims). The city was an Indo-Islamic masterpiece and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A stop for lunch will be made in Bharatpur before continuing to Jaipur. Check-in and have a leisurely dinner at the hotel.

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This morning we travel seven miles north of Jaipur to visit Amer Fort (also known as the Amber Fort), a honey-colored fortress, in the Aravalli hills. The somber exterior belies the richness of the royal apartments, which open on to striking views of the gorge. It also possesses a Chamber of Mirrors. The Hall of Victory presents a galaxy of decorative art—panels of alabaster with fine inlay work. After working up an appetite, indulge in a delicious lunch. Then, enjoy some free time to peruse the stalls at the local bazaar. Return to your hotel, a former palace, for dinner.

After breakfast, you will have a half-day tour of the city of Jaipur. Visit the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), an elaborate building encrusted with delicate honeycomb screens and carved balconies from which the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could view the world outside. Visit Jai Singh’s Observatory, Jantar Mantar, built in the 17th century by the founder of Jaipur who, besides being the prince was also a soldier, astronomer and builder. Then visit the City Palace—part of which is a museum displaying Rajput and Mughal paintings, rare manuscripts and Royal costumes. After exploring Jaipur, return to the hotel via an exciting common mode of transportation in India, a TukTuk ride (an auto rickshaw) with time to prepare for a celebration of the senses.

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After refreshing at the hotel, you will enjoy a special culinary experience. Indulge in traditional dishes as you’re transported to a world of splendor and timeless charm. More than a meal, this is a sensory journey through the heart and soul of India’s vibrant culinary landscape.

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After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Mumbai. Experience true grandeur at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the iconic sea-facing landmark in Colaba, South Mumbai. This flagship 5-star Taj hotel offers you splendid views of the Arabian Sea and Gateway of India, the most famous monument in Mumbai. After checking in to the hotel, join your fellow travelers for a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant.

During this full-day tour of Mumbai, you will see all the “must see” sites of Mumbai, and more! Departing the hotel, you will set off on a walking tour of some of Mumbai’s best-preserved Colonial buildings from the days of British rule. Sites include the Asiatic Library (Old Town Hall); St. Thomas Cathedral, the city’s first Anglican Church and the oldest British-era building standing in Mumbai; Flora Fountain, which was built in 1864 and depicts the Roman goddess Flora; High Court, one of the most distinguished High Courts in the country and housed in a beautiful Gothic building; and Mumbai University. Continue walking towards the David Sassoon Library, then board the coach for a drive to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formally Victoria Terminus Station), an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. The first train in India departed from this station in 1853. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a scenic drive past the Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest outdoor laundromat, and the Mani Bhawan residence, where Mahatma Gandhi lived between 1917 and 1934. The leader formulated his philosophy of satyagraha (nonviolent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign from this house. Return to the hotel where you will enjoy some time to relax before dinner.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the port, where you will board the Celebrity Millennium for a 12-night cruise to Singapore.

Ports of call include Goa (Mormugao), India; Colombo and Hambantota, Sri Lanka; Phuket, Thailand; Penang and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia; and Singapore.

Enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarking and starting your tour. Today, you will drive past Padang field at the Cricket Club, one of the world’s more picturesque sports grounds. At Parliament House, Supreme Court and City Hall, glimpse at landmarks of Singapore’s colonial past and journey to independence; these buildings have borne witness to many pivotal events in the nation’s history. The tour continues with a visit to the Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples on the island, built with donations from the early Chinese immigrant workers before driving past Chinatown. You will continue to the National Orchid Garden, located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Botanic Gardens boast a sprawling display of 60,000 orchid plants comprising of 400 species and more than 2,000 hybrids. You will also visit Chinatown with fascinating temples and traditional turn-of-the-century shop houses before continuing on to Little India where you will be enthralled with the scent of spices, jasmine, orchid garlands and exotic fruits.

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Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before taking in the breathtaking views from the Skypark observation deck, located 57 stories above the city, atop the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Your last stop will be at the Long Bar inside the fully restored historic Raffles Hotel for a taste of Singapore’s unofficial national drink that was invented here in 1915, ‘the Singapore Sling’. As the saying goes, “If you have not been to Raffles, you have not been to Singapore”. Conclude at your hotel for check-in this afternoon.

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Check out of the hotel transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Note: If you wish to spend more time in Singapore, ask your Personal Vacation Manager about the optional hotel extension, which will add one or two nights to your Singapore hotel stay.

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