A 14 DAY FULLY ESCORTED PRIVATE TOUR IN THE BEAUTIFUL CULTURAL STATE OF RAJASTHAN, 4/5* OR HERITAGE HOTEL, HALFBOARD MEALS. £1,795 PER PERSON.
CODE IR14D
Best time to go : November to March
Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Udaipur – Jodhpur via Ranakpur – Jaisalmer – Bikaner – Nawalgarh - Delhi .

 

Rajasthan ( The Land of the Kings ) is the largest state in India and boasts an unrivalled variety of historic cities, hilltop fortresses, magnificent palaces, ancient bazaars, shimmering lakes, deserts & mountains, friendly people, handicrafts of all descriptions and a rich display of the most dazzling and vibrant colours imaginable. Coupled with the nearby attractions-both ancient and modern- of Delhi and the unsurpassed beauty of the Taj Mahal this offers the experience and the holiday of a lifetime.

Price includes: international flights, hotels as above or similar with daily breakfast, transfers by private air conditioned cars, English speaking local guides, admission fees, daily lunch, internal flights, express train, Taj Mahal at sunrise in Agra, elephant ride in Jaipur, visa to India. Single room supplement is £250 per person.

Price excludes :  insurance, meals, camera fees, tipping and any service not specified. Please add £160 for departures in Dec & January.

Day 1 : Departure from London Heathrow

Day 2 : DELHI ( L ). On arrival in Delhi meeting with our representative and transfer to 4* Hotel Hans Plaza. After lunch guided city tour in Old Delhi including the magnificent 17th century Red Fort and Rajghat – Mahatma Gandhi memorial then to New Delhi’s Capital Complex for the Rashtrapati Bhawan – once the British viceroy’s home, now residence of India President - Parliament House, Rajpath ceremonial causeway, and India Gate war memorial, Humayun’s Tomb - mausoleum of the 2nd Great Mughal said to be the forerunner of the Taj Mahal. On to the Qutub Complex to visit the 12th century Quwat-ul-Islam Mosque, and Qutub Minar – the tallest structure in Delhi. Overnight in Delhi.

Day 3 : DELHI / AGRA ( B,L ) Early morning transfer to railway station for Shatabdi express train to Agra. On arrival transfer to 5* Hotel Jaypee Palace. Guided visit to Agra Fort – built during the reigns of 3 Mughal Emperors. After lunch visit Itmad-ud-Daulah a Mughal tomb pre-dating The Taj Mahal, also known as ‘The Baby Taj’. Overnight in Agra.

Day 4 : AGRA / JAIPUR ( B,L ) Early morning visit The Taj Mahal to view it at sunrise. After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Jaipur. Enroute visit to Fatehpur Sikri – capital of the Great Mughals, built during 1569-72AD by 3rd Mughal Akbar The Great. Lunch enroute and continue to Jaipur, the Pink City, and check in at 4* Hotel Mansingh Towers for overnight.

Day 5 : JAIPUR ( B,L ) After breakfast visit the 16th century Fortess Palace of Amber. Ride an elephant up to the gates of the fort on the hill-top. Lunch at Rajasthani Haveli and visit to its turban museum which displays more than 90 different Indian styles of tying a turban. Afternnon visit City Palace & Museum where the son of the last Maharaja still resides, Jantar Mantar – the royal observatory built in 1727AD and Hawa Mahal or the Palace-of-Winds where the royal ladies observed the royal processions from behind latticed windows. Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 6 : JAIPUR / UDAIPUR ( B,L ) Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Udaipur, the City of Lakes. Transfer to Hotel Paras Mahal. Visit The City Palace & Museum of the longest dynasty of the world after the Japanese dynasty. It is one of the best palaces in the state of Rajasthan. After lunch visit the Folk Art Museum. Spend evening watching the sunset on the lakes. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 : UDAIPUR / JODHPUR via RANAKPUR ( B,L ) Check out after breakfast for a drive to Jodhpur, enroute visiting the fabulous Ranakpur Jain Temples, built in 15th century. Constructed in marble, it is a unique riot of 1444 columns, profusely carved. Lunch at Mahagani Bagh orchard of Jodhpur Maharajah . Continue to Jodhpur and check in at Heritage Hotel Bal Samand Lake Palace for overnight.

Day 8 : JODHPUR ( B,L ) After breakfast, visit the magnificent Mehrengarh Fort & Museum built atop a shaven hill, Jashwant Thada – the royal cenotaphs of the rulers. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a jeep safari to Bishnoi Village. Bishnois tribe is the oldest conservationist of the flora and fauna of their region. Overnight at the Palace.

Day 9 : JODHPUR / JAISALMER ( B,L ) After breakfast check out and drive to Jaisalmer, The Golden City on the ancient trade route between India & Central Asia. Check in at Hotel Heritage Inn. After lunch visit to the Fort which still houses a population of 2,500 people. Overnight in Jaisalmer.

Day 10 : JAISALMER ( B,L ) In the morning visit the Sam Sand Dunes in the Great Thar Desert. Optional camel ride into the desert. After lunch stroll in the streets of the medieval town to see the richly carved Shaitan Singh’s Haveli and Patwon ki Haveli. Overnight in Jaisalmer.

Day 11 : JAISALMER / BIKANER ( B,L ) After breakfast drive to Bikaner another medieval town founded by Rao Bika in 1488. Check in at Hotel Heritage Resort. After lunch visit the Junagarh Fort built during 1588/93AD and Karni Mata Temple also known as the Rat Temple where hundreds of rats inhabit the place and are considered holy. Overnight inn Bikaner.

Day 12 : BIKANER / NAWALGARH ( B,L,D ) After breakfast drive to Nawalgarh in Shekhawati region. Shekhawati is also known as ‘Open-Air-Art-Gallery-of-Rajasthan’. Check-in at Heritage Hotel Roop Niwas Kothi, run by the former rulers of Nawalgarh. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon take a walk through the royal farms to see the lifestyle of the agricultural labour of this region. Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 : NAWALGARH / DELHI ( B,L ) After breakfast, walking tour in town to see the Painted Havelis. Havelis are ancient mansions of traders richly painted with frescoes on every available surface with themes from Hindu Mythology to British Raj. The two havelis that are very worth seeing are Poddar’s and Goenka’s. Check out of the hotel and drive to Delhi. Lunch en route. Check in at Hotel Hans Plaza for overnight.

Day 14 : Transfer to airport for flight home.