A grand fifteen-day loop through the land of maharajas — from the Mughal monuments of Delhi and Agra to the pink forts of Jaipur, the holy lake of Pushkar, lakeside Udaipur, the Blue City of Jodhpur, the golden sands of Jaisalmer, the desert fort of Bikaner and the painted havelis of Mandawa. Expect palaces, sunset camel safaris and a night in a tent camp on the dunes, with long scenic drives between each stop.
Welcome with a Namaste! On arrival at Delhi airport, our representative will meet and greet you, then escort you to your pre-booked hotel and assist with check-in formalities. The rest of the day is free at leisure to relax or explore the city on your own. Overnight in Delhi.
After breakfast at the hotel, set off on a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi. In Old Delhi, visit Raj Ghat, the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India; and the Red Fort, once the most opulent fort and palace of the Mughal Empire. Enjoy a cycle-rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk. In New Delhi, see Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar, then drive along the ceremonial avenue, Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath), past India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and the Lotus Temple, ending with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Overnight in Delhi.
After breakfast, drive to Agra (205 km, approx. 5 hrs), the capital of the Mughal Empire under Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Check in to your hotel, freshen up, and begin a city tour with the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built of white marble, it reflects the sunlight and shifts in colour through the day, so it looks different every time you see it. Continue to Agra Fort, with its wonderful palaces and halls, and finish at Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb, also known as the Baby Taj, built by Noor Jahan, wife of Emperor Jahangir, in memory of her father. Overnight in Agra.
After breakfast, drive to Jaipur (238 km, approx. 5 hrs), the Pink City and capital of Rajasthan. En route, visit Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar's deserted capital, and explore its beautiful red-sandstone architecture and the white-marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti. Our representative welcomes you at your Jaipur hotel. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Rajasthani dinner at a local restaurant, with Rajasthani folk dance, music and other entertainment. Overnight in Jaipur.
After a hearty breakfast, head to Amber Fort, set on the Aravalli hills on the outskirts of Jaipur; for a royal touch, you can ride an elephant up to the fort (optional, subject to availability). Also visit Jaigarh Fort, whose main attraction is the Jaivana cannon, one of the largest cannons on wheels in the world, said to have been fired only once. Return to the city for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, tour Jaipur: the City Palace, a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture; the Hawa Mahal, a five-storey semi-octagonal facade with 953 windows; and finally Jantar Mantar, the largest of the astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the early 18th century. Overnight in Jaipur.
After a lavish breakfast, drive to Pushkar (150 km, approx. 3 hrs). Legend holds that Lord Brahma, the creator of the world, performed a Vedic yagna here. Pushkar is also world famous for its annual fair, held around Kartik Purnima in October–November, when people from across the country gather to buy and sell cattle of different breeds. On arrival, check in and rest for a while, then take a city tour: the Brahma Temple, one of the very few temples in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma, and Pushkar Lake, where you can take a holy dip and admire the ghats, around which some 500 temples in varied architectural styles have been built. In the evening, visit the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer, then drive back to Pushkar. Overnight in Pushkar.
After breakfast, drive to Udaipur (270 km, approx. 5 hrs), the most romantic city of India, set around its blue lakes and once the capital of the Mewar rulers. On arrival, check in at your hotel and, in the evening, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Overnight in Udaipur.
After breakfast, set out to see Udaipur. Visit Saheliyon Ki Bari, the ‘Garden of the Maidens’, built in the 18th century; the City Palace, whose main part is now a museum, including the Krishna Vilas collection of miniature paintings; the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, with its rich collection of folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, musical instruments and paintings; and the Jagdish Temple, built in 1651, the largest and perhaps the most beautiful temple in Udaipur. Finish at Fateh Sagar, an artificial lake. Overnight in Udaipur.
After a lavish breakfast, drive to Jodhpur (260 km, approx. 6 hrs), the erstwhile capital of Marwar, arriving in the afternoon. Spend some time in comfort at the hotel, then later in the day visit the Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum. The rest of the evening is free for independent activities. Overnight in Jodhpur.
After breakfast, enjoy a jeep safari to a Bishnoi village, home to a community unique in India that follows a vegetarian way of life and strictly prohibits the killing of animals; get a glimpse of the rural life and lifestyle of its people. Later, tour Jodhpur: the splendid Mehrangarh Fort, the marble memorial of Jaswant Thada, and the Clock Tower. Overnight in Jodhpur.
Drive to Jaisalmer (295 km, approx. 7 hrs), the Golden City in the heart of the Thar Desert. For years Jaisalmer remained largely untouched and unexplored; today it is one of the most visited destinations in India. The evening is free to explore the town and settle into the calm desert atmosphere. Overnight at a heritage hotel in Jaisalmer.
After breakfast, tour Jaisalmer, beginning with Jaisalmer Fort, a hilltop fortress and one of the world's few ‘living forts’, where families still reside within its walls. Then see the havelis scattered around the town, among the best known the 19th-century Nathmal Ki Haveli, the magnificent Patwon Ki Haveli and the distinctive Salim Singh Ki Haveli. In the evening, drive to the Sam Sand Dunes for a camel safari across the Thar Desert at sunset, with breathtaking views. Dinner and overnight at a Swiss tent camp at Sam Sand Dunes.
After an early breakfast, drive to Bikaner (320 km from Jaisalmer), arriving in the afternoon. Check in at the hotel and, by early evening, visit the spectacular Junagarh Fort and its palaces. Overnight in Bikaner.
After breakfast, visit a camel breeding farm and the Karni Mata Temple, also known as the Rat Temple, in Deshnok village. Then continue to Mandawa (180 km, approx. 3 hrs) in the Shekhawati region, popularly known as the ‘open-air art gallery’ of Rajasthan for the marvellously frescoed walls of its havelis. On arrival, check in at your hotel and spend the evening wandering the lanes of Mandawa, exploring the artwork all around. Overnight in a heritage hotel at Mandawa.
After breakfast, tour Mandawa, visiting some of its notable painted havelis with frescoes and murals, such as the Chokhani, Saraf and Ladia havelis and many more. By afternoon, drive to Delhi (263 km, approx. 6 hrs) and transfer to the airport for your onward journey.