Tour Days

• Day 01: Arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel
  Our representative meets you at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and arranges immediate transfer to your hotel where a detailed briefing on this trip will be offered. Relax or stroll around the city on your own. Overnight in the hotel on twin sharing and bed and breakfast basis.
• Day 02: In Delhi
  A full day to explore the major attractions of Old and New Delhi. Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, President’s House, Humayun’s Tomb, Lotus Temple and Chandani Chowk are major ‘not-to-be-missed’ places of Delhi. Overnight will be in the same hotel.
• Day 03: Delhi – Shekhawati
  After breakfast, we visit the Qutub Minar. This 71 meter towering and glorious tower was built in 1199 AD. This tower has been repaired twice in 1326 and 1368. After visiting the tower, we will drive to Shekhawati, where we spend night in the hotel.
• Day 04: Shekhawati – Bikaner
  We begin our sightseeing in Shekhawati after breakfast. Shekhawati is home to the Marwaris, the prominent business class people of India, and located in northeast Rajasthan. Unlike other places of India, Shekhawati is famous for its colorful murals and elaborately decorated mansions of the Marwaris.From here we drive to Bikaner and visit the Junagarh Fort (1571-1611 AD), constructed of red sandstone and marble with kiosks and balconies embellishing the structure at intervals. We promise that this imposing fort and its palaces will be an unforgettable experience for all.
• Day 05: Bikaner – Osian – Jaisalmer
  After breakfast we drive through the desert heading towards Jaisalmer, via Osian. Osian is a great centre for Hindu and Jain religions. The oldest Temple here was constructed in 1178 AD.Along this drive to Jaisalmer we often come across some wild animals native to this region: antelope, blackbuck and fast running chinkara are the most common among them. We also make stops at local villages to observe the traditional life of these villages in Rajasthan. We will arrive in Jaisalmer in the late evening.
• Day 06: Jaisalmer
  After breakfast we visit the medieval city of Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer’s crenellated, golden sandstone walls and its narrow streets lined with exquisitely carved buildings make this city unique. Jaisalmer is famous for its carved havellis (grand mansions). In medieval times, its prosperity was due to its location on the main trade route linking India to Egypt, Arabia, Africa and the West. Jaisalmer is a marvel of beautiful culture and this city remains one of the most exotic cities in Rajasthan, as well as the whole of India. Some visitors call this city, “A living museum”. We will walk through the old city and visit the fort and the Jain temple. In the afternoon we will drive 40 km to sand dunes where we enjoy the sunset before we drive back to Jaisalmer.
• Day 07: Jaisalmer – Jodhpur
  After breakfast we drive to Jodhpur, once the capital of the princely state of Marwar. Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan and also known as the ‘blue city’, as most of the houses of the old city are painted blue. The old city is surrounded by a huge 10 km long wall which has 101 bastions and seven gates. We will visit the Mehrangarh Fort (majestic fort), built on a steep hill with exquisitely latticed windows in residential apartments within. We will also visit the Jaswant Thada, a royal cenotaph built in white marble. After visiting these sites we will walk through the Bazaars of Jodhpur.
• Day 08: Jodhpur – Ranakpur – Udaipur
  After breakfast we drive to Udaipur, visiting Ranakpur along the way. Ranakpur is known for its superbly carved marble Jain Temples. The Ranakpur Jain Temples were built during the 15th century. We have a break in Ranakpur before proceeding further for Udaipur. Udaipur is called, ‘The Romantic City of Rajasthan’, as it is built around shimmering, clear, blue lake which reflects the green hills of the Aravali ranges.
• Day 09: In Udaipur
  We start our sightseeing with the visit to Sahelion-Ki-Bari. This ‘Garden of the Maids of Honor’ is well laid out with extensive lawns and shady walks. After visiting to this, ‘ Garden of Maids of Honor’, we will visit a folk art museum where we will see its rich collection of folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments and paintings. After a break, we proceed to City Palace, the biggest palace in India, where four generations of Maharajas contributed their personal touches. The museum in this palace includes the beautiful peacock mosaic and miniature wall paintings of Indian mythology. Today we have an opportunity to visit a traditional painting school and see how the famous miniature paintings are created.
• Day 10: Udaipur – Pushkar
  After breakfast we drive to Pushkar, an ancient city and important pilgrimage site for Hindus. Here we visit the Jagatpita Brahma Mandi, one of the few existing temples in India dedicated to the Hindu creator-god Brahma. Pushkar is also famous for its yearly Pushkar Festival, a tribal gathering held in October/November attracting farmers, breeders, and traders who come to market cattle and camels.
• Day 11: Pushkar – Jaipur
  Today we drive to Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’ and capital of Rajasthan. This lively and exciting city owes its name, foundations and careful planning to the great warrior and astronomer, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Jaipur is famous for its handicrafts and precious and semiprecious gems. In the afternoon we visit the City Palace, which is still the formal residence of the royal family, built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. In the museum of the city palace we will visit the private collection of the Jaipur Maharajas. We continue to Jantar Mantar, a stone observatory, the largest of Jai Singh’s five remarkable observatories.
• Day 12: In Jaipur
  After breakfast we drive the 11 km to the ancient capital city of the Kachhawaha dynasty in Amber, known as Amber (or, Amer) Fort. Like the royalty of years past we will ascend to the palace fortress on the back of an elephant, where we will spend time visiting the rooms of this impressive and well-preserved Rajput fort.En-route to Amber we will visit the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds); built in 1799 AD. In the afternoon we take a walk through the colorful Bazaar of Jaipur and visit a wood-block printing factory to see how this ancient and well-known art has been implemented for centuries. In the evening we drive through the new city of Jaipur and visit the Laxmi Narayan Mandir, a Hindu temple constructed of white marble.
• Day 13: Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra
  We now leave beautiful and exciting Rajashtan and drive east to Agra, home of the magnificent Taj Mahal. We drive along quiet country roads, passing many fields and small interesting settlements, making a stop at the ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri, constructed by Akbar the Great in the 16th century. Constructed in red sand stone, this once imperial city was abandoned as abruptly as it had been built, generally accepted due to lack of water. In the late evening we arrive to Agra.
• Day 14: In Agra
  There is no better way to begin your day in Agra than with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We will visit Agra Fort before we return to the Taj Mahal for our sunset visit, allowing you to decide which is the most impressive: sunrise or sunset at the Taj Mahal!
• Day 15: Agra – Khajuraho
  We abandon our vehicles for a noon flight to Khajuraho, ancient capital of the Chandela dynasty. Between 950 and 1150 AD the Chandela monarchs built these temples following Tantric traditions. The temples of Khajuraho are among the finest examples of temple craftsmanship in the whole of India. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure.
• Day 16: Khajuraho – Varanasi
  After breakfast we visit the temple complex of the east and west block of Khajuraho to see the most beautiful temples in India. Most famous among them is the Laxmana Temple which is dedicated to god Vishnu. The presence of erotic sculptures in the Temples at Khajuraho is an expression of the celebration of human activities in the view of Hinduism. In the evening we fly to Varanasi, without doubt India’s most sacred city, visited by over one million people a year. Varanasi is known as, ‘The City of Light’.
• Day 17: In Varanasi
  The focal point of this most holy Hindu pilgrimage city is the Ganges River, and this is where we will head to in the early morning to join hundreds of other pilgrims on boat rides up and down the river, enjoying the sun rise and witnessing the daily rituals along the river and at its many ghats. We will see local and visiting devotees offering their morning prayers and purifying themselves in the holy waters of the Ganges. In the afternoon we visit the city of Varanasi. There will also be time for rest and relaxation.

Return to Delhi

• Day 18: Varanasi – Delhi
  After breakfast we fly to Delhi. This will be a day for you to relax, or grab a chance for last minute shopping in Delhi.
• Day 19: Final departure
  We will transfer to the airport 3 hours prior to your flight