Morning pickup in Delhi and a drive down the Yamuna Expressway to Agra, about three to three and a half hours. After checking in, explore Agra Fort with your guide, the red sandstone palace from whose Musamman Burj tower Shah Jahan gazed at the Taj in his final years. In the late afternoon, cross the river to Mehtab Bagh to watch the sun set behind the Taj Mahal, with the monument reflected in the garden's pool. Evening at leisure in Agra.

An early start for sunrise at the Taj Mahal, entering as the gates open for the best light and the quietest hour on the platforms, with your guide to tell its story. Return for breakfast, then either visit the Baby Taj, the marble tomb that rehearsed the Taj's design, or drive out to Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's abandoned capital, on the way back. Reach Delhi by evening.