Central India: Hill Forts & Palaces

Depart the hotel early this morning to catch the train to Gwalior. You will arrive in Gwalior before midday, where you will be welcomed by your local guide. Following some time to rest at your hotel, you will spend the afternoon exploring the imposing hilltop Fort of Gwalior. Enclosed within the fort is the Mansingh Palace, once home to the Hindu ruler and his eight wives, with circular towers and intricate design work. Outside the fort you will also visit the Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Temples — they are intricately designed and are dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva respectively.

The day starts with a morning city tour of Gwalior. In the central square there is an array of different architectural styles and influences to see before heading through the narrow, teeming lanes and through the various markets, where you can spot locals having henna tattoos applied or jostling for lassis. Finally, before returning to your hotel, head to Jai Villas and Scindia Museum, an opulent palace built in 1874. The palace is festooned with furniture from France and Italy, and the two Belgian chandeliers weighing several tonnes will definitely catch your eye. The afternoon is at leisure.

You will be met at your hotel and taken to the local train station for the train to Bhopal. Arrive in Bhopal early afternoon where you will be assisted to the hotel. Freshen up, after which you will have a short tour of Bhopal's historical sites. Echoing the Mughal magnificence of Lahore, Peshawar and old Delhi the streets of the old town are a colourful labyrinth of narrow alleys and noisy bazaars, spectacular mosques and exquisite palaces, such as the towering Taj-ul-Majid with its reflection shimmering in the adjacent lake.

This morning you will be driven north to Sanchi to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist stupas. You will then visit Udayagiri (Risen Mountain), one of India's most important archaeological sites, its nearly 20 rock cut caves are protected monuments managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. Udayagiri is famous for a series of rock-cut caves and temples dating back to the Gupta Period (350–550 CE), a formative era for Hindu religious ideas.

You will be picked up by your driver from your hotel in Bhopal and transferred to Satpura National Park, stopping at the Bhimbetka rock shelters on the routes. These caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and may have been inhabited as early as 30,000 years ago. There are remarkable Palaeolithic paintings of animals, people and scenes from daily life. On arrival at the park you will be transferred to your lodge, Reni Pani, one of India's finest eco-lodges.

Spend the morning in Satpura on a boat safari along the Narmada River — a remarkable experience that allows views of crocodiles, birds and the shoreline wildlife that river safaris reveal. This afternoon a jeep safari into the park's interior forest.

A full day in Satpura combining a morning walking safari — Satpura is one of very few parks in India to offer walking safaris — with an afternoon jeep drive through the park's varied landscapes of sal forest, bamboo groves and grassland.

Drive to Bhopal airport for the flight to Hyderabad. Evening in Hyderabad.

Drive south to Bijapur, the remarkable medieval Sultanate city. Visit the extraordinary Golgumbaz — the second largest dome in the world — and the elegant Ibrahim Rouza, the most beautiful monument in Bijapur.

Drive through the extraordinary North Karnataka landscape via the 6th-century rock-cut cave temples at Badami to Hampi — arriving in the late afternoon.

Full day exploring Hampi's extraordinary UNESCO Heritage ruins — Vittala Temple with its famous stone chariot, the Royal Enclosure, and the remarkable boulder landscape of the former Vijayanagara capital.

Drive from Hampi to Goa through Karnataka's western coast. Arrive in Goa for a relaxed final stretch.

Explore Old Goa's remarkable UNESCO Heritage churches — the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral — before relaxing on Goa's beautiful beaches.

After breakfast the tour concludes. Goa airport has direct connections to the UK and Gulf states.

Yes — this route is well-established with excellent hotels and infrastructure, and our experienced guides and drivers handle every practical detail. First-time visitors consistently find it a superb introduction to India.

Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers throughout. For longer distances we use India's excellent express trains or domestic flights where they improve the journey.

Absolutely. Duration, hotels, route and experiences can all be tailored to your preferences and budget — this itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed product. Contact us to plan your ideal trip.