DELHI - MADAWA - BIKANER - JAISALMER - JODHPUR - UDAIPUR - JAIPUR - AGRA - DELHI

Discover the irresistible delight of Royal Rajasthan - the desert state of India with a history of royalty, grandeur and courageous battles as rich and colourful as the arts and culture that have succeeded it.  Our journey takes us into the heart of Rajasthan, where your accommodation is in the palaces of the Maharajahs. Staying in these places gives visitors a real feel of how life was lived here. We immerse ourselves in the ancient and splendorous culture of the cities of this desert state with its forts and palaces, absorbing the many religious images that give India's its rich cultural fabric today.

This two week itinerary allows an intense and meaningful search into India's rich cultural past, unravelling the many tangled religious threads and discovering the history behind the many battles that took place over Rajasthani territory.  These are memories to last a lifetime.

ITINERARY

DAY 01  DELHI 
On arrival in Delhi you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel.

DAY 02  DELHI 
After breakfast at the hotel, we head out by car for a comprehensive tour of Delhi.  We visit the beautiful Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.  From here we go to the imposing Mughal Red Fort and Ghandi Samadi (the hallowed cremation ground of Ghandi), before taking a walk through the labyrinth of frenetic streets that make up Chandni Chowk, the vivid, colourful bazaar abuzz with the life and soul of Old Delhi.

After Old Delhi, the tree-lined boulevards of New Delhi seem startlingly spacious.  We stop for lunch in Connaught Place, which houses many famous restaurants with a good choice of different cuisine. After lunch we start our tour of New Delhi at the enchanting Laxmi Narayan Temple, and take a drive past The Presidents House to India Gate. We spend time enjoying the peace and tranquillity of Humayan's Tomb, and marvelling at the Bhai Temple (a perfect lotus-shaped temple) and Qutab Minar.

In the evening there is time for shopping before viewing a spectacular light and sound show at the Red Fort.  We return to the hotel for dinner and rest.

DAY 03  DELHI - MANDAWA 
Today we set off by car for the desert state of Rajasthan into the Shekawhati region.  Mandawa is a small but busy and colourful market town and has some of the best havelis (palaces) in the region.  On arrival, check into your hotel – itself a former palace - and spend the remainder of the day visiting the stunning havelis and wandering around the township.

DAY 04  MANDAWA - BIKANER
Leave by car to Bikaner, an ancient city on an old camel route. 
On arrival you will be welcomed at your accommodation and the afternoon is spent visiting the Junagarh Fort and a camel breeding farm.

DAY 05  BIKANER - JAISALMER
Set off early by car to Jaisalmer, which is like taking a journey back in time.  After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free to soak up the amazing ambience of this desert city.

DAY 06  JAISALMER
We spend the morning visiting two of Jaisalmer’s famous havelis.  In the afternoon we venture deep into the sand dunes beyond the city to marvel at the awesome desert landscape, a photographer's paradise.

DAY 07  JAISALMER - JODPHUR 
In the morning we head for the fortress city of Jodphur, right on the edge of the Thar Desert.  On arrival we check into your hotel, the famous Umaid Bhawan. Umaid Bhawan is a former Maharajah’s palace, and staying there gives visitors a real feel of how life was lived here.  The afternoon is spent visiting the massive Meharnagarth Fort and exploring its fascinating museum.

DAY 08  JODPHUR - UDAIPUR 
This morning we drive to Udaipur, often called Rajasthan’s most romantic city. We check into one of the palace hotels and then explore the ornate Palace Museum.

DAY 09 UDAIPUR 
A day at leisure to absorb the peace and tranquillity of Pichola Lake, or to explore the many temples and palaces which provide the backdrop to Udaipur's thriving performing arts scene.

DAY 10  UDAIPUR - JAIPUR 
This morning we leave for Jaipur – the Pink City.  On arrival we check into your hotel and the rest of the day is free to enjoy this bustling colourful city. The bazaars provide a vibrant shopping buzz and the sights and sounds of everyday life here are thrilling.

DAY 11  JAIPUR 
Today we take a short drive outside the city walls to Amber Fort, a magnificent achievement of Rajput architecture.  Ride up to the fort in style on the broad back of an elephant, and once again taste life lived consistently for centuries. Afterwards we return to Jaipur and visit the City Palace, or the Palace of Winds.  Nearby, the Royal Observatory was built by the Maharajah Jai Singh, who had a passion for astronomy.

DAY 12  JAIPUR - AGRA   
Today we drive to Agra, home to India’s most famous monument – the Taj Mahal. Outside Agra, we stop and visit the city of Fatephur Sikri. Fatepur Sikri was abandoned when the town’s water supply dried up, and taking a wander through its deserted streets is a surreal yet valuable experience.  At Agra, we check into the hotel and head out for the Taj Mahal at dusk, viewing the sunset under the gaze of teh Taj Mahal from the opposite bank of the river. 

DAY 13  AGRA - DELHI 
We spend some time here taking in this heart-stopping and magical place, starting at the immortal Taj Mahal.  We spend several hours exploring this sacred sight and learning its history before exploring Agra’s Red Fort set high above the city.  In the afternoon we set off for our journey back to Delhi.  In Delhi, transfer to your hotel.

DAY 14  DELHI 
We transfer to the airport or station for your onward journey.  Tour ends.

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Standard accommodation on a room-only basis.

All transfers by car including pick-ups and drop-offs at start and end of tour.

All sightseeing tours as specified.

Tour Cost
Per Person on Twin Sharing :  -  USD $ 803