This holiday is the perfect introduction to Rajasthan and combines the major highlights as well as getting off the beaten track. Start your trip by exploring the capital – Delhi before heading south to Agra where you will get your first sighting of the spectacular Taj Mahal. Continue your journey by travelling into the heart of Rajasthan and visiting Jaipur and Bikaner and on to the majestic desert town of Jaisalmer for a true Arabian Knights experience! Explore the blue city of Jodhpur before heading into the Rajasthani countryside to Rohet where you will experience life in a traditional fort and then end your Indian adventure in the beautiful lakeside city of Udaipur.
Itinerary Highlights
Visit the Taj Mahal
Explore the big cities and smaller villages
Stay in the fort town of Jaisalmer
Spend time in the romantic city of Udaipur
What’s included
Private tours for most included activities
Meet & greet airport service
Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
Expert guides in each destination
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
15
Nights
Price Guide
$8995 + pp
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Day 1
Fly to Delhi
Day 2
Full day city tour of Old and New Delhi.
Your guide and driver will meet you this morning for your full day private city tour of Old and New Delhi. Highlights of the morning include visits to Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, drive past Red Fort and a traditional cyclo rickshaw ride through vibrant Chandni Chowk. This afternoon visit the highlights of New Delhi including a visit to Humanyun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar. You will also take a drive past India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan – the President’s Residence, the Parliament House – the Government headquarters and other Government buildings.
Day 3
Transfer to Agra, visit the Taj Mahal at sunset
Your private driver will meet you this morning for your transfer to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal. After time to settle in to your hotel and freshen up your driver and guide will meet you for your excursion to Agra Fort. Often overlooked in favour of the Taj Mahal, the fort is well worth a visit and is where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son for many years. You will continue on to get your first glimpse of the Taj Mahal reaching the impressive monument in time to watch the sunset.
Day 4-5
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal, transfer to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri
An early start is required this morning to return to the Taj Mahal to view it in a different light as the sun rises. After breakfast you will be transferred by private vehicle to visit the eerie deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri one of my personal favourite places in India). You will continue to reach the “pink” city of Jaipur in the late afternoon. Day 5 your guide and driver will meet you this morning for your full day private city tour of Jaipur. Highlights of the day include visits to Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and a rickshaw ride through the old market. Day 6 is a free day to explore at your own pace. The services of your private driver are included. The city is a shopper’s paradise, brimming with colourful bazaars and boutique shops where you are sure to find some great souvenirs.
Day 7-8
Head through the heart of the Rajasthan’s countryside to Bikaner
Depart from Jaipur this morning and embark on your journey through the heart of Rajasthan to Bikaner. The journey is a fascinating one as you pass through vast desert landscape unlikely to see much sign of civilisation apart from the odd village until you reach the city of Bikaner. Day 8 enjoy a half day to Junagarh Fort, a number of important palaces and the National Camel Breeding Centre, where there is the option of taking a camel ride or to participate in an interactive lecture by a traditional camel breeder. There is also the opportunity to visit the sacred Karni Mata Temple, located 30 kms south of the city, however this is not for the squeamish as the temple is overrun with rats which according to legend are the reincarnated family of Karni Mata.
Day9-10
exploring Jaisalmer
Transfer to the desert city of Jaisalmer. Your driver will meet you this morning for your private transfer to the spectacular desert city of Jaisalmer. On approach you will get your first glimpse of the fort of Jaisalmer which is a truly breathtaking sight and often referred to as a giant sandcastle rising from the desert plains! Day 10 includes a Jaisalmer city tour and camel trek over the desert dunes. This evening enjoy a Camel Safari across the sand dunes at Sam – one of the unique ways to explore small villages in Rajasthan.
Day 11-13
Jodhpur (Mehrangarh fort) and the rural splendour of Rohet
Today’s drive will take you to the ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur. This afternoon visit the very impressive Mehrangarh Fort and the white marble cenotaph memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II known as Jaswant Thada. Day 12 transfer to the rural village of Rohet. Your accommodation for the next two nights is at the wonderful Rohet Garh. The property is family owned and operated and offers a unique experience of staying in a traditional small fort with modern day comforts. Afternoon at leisure to explore the property and village at your own pace. Day 13 take a morning jeep safari to visit the local weavers, potters and gypsy tribes in their traditional Bishnoi Villages. This is a unique experience and will give you a real insight into the Rajasthani village way of life. A highlight will be to witness a traditional opium ceremony in a village home; don’t forget your camera as there will be some great photo opportunities throughout the morning.
Day 14-15
Udaipur – The city of lakes
This morning transfer to Udaipur, which in our opinion is one of the most beautiful cities in Rajasthan. En route visit the Ranakpur Jain shrine of Adinath and its 1444 exquisitely carved columns, the largest and most complex Jain temple in India. Day 15 morning tour of the “city of lakes” including the grand City Palace, Saheliyon-Ki-Bari – The garden of Maidens and a stroll through the main marketplace. The afternoon is at leisure to explore at your own pace or just relax before heading off in the evening on a sunset cruise around Lake Pichola.
Day 16
Fly home
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide From $8895+ per person
When to travel
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India is such a vast country that climatic conditions in the far north have little relation to those of the extreme south. India’s climate is dominated by the great wind system known as the Asiatic monsoon which reverses direction at certain times of the year, for some months it will blow steadily from the southwest; for other months, from the northeast. Generally speaking, the country has a three-season year – the hot, the wet and the cool, with variations from region to region.
The coolest, driest time over most of the country is from December to February, when light northerly winds bring clear skies and very little rain. From March to May the climate becomes hotter and hotter with the southwest monsoon arriving in southern India around June time, heading north about a month or so later and continuing till October
North and Central India experiences an extreme range of temperatures with the mercury pushing 40 degrees on some summer days during April-June but winter nights from November to March can be almost freezing! The monsoon rains occur from May to September with heavy rain usually occurring in the morning or late afternoon.
Southern and Western India does not have a “cool season” as such, the summer is hot and humid with the rains coming in June and continuing through till September. The region also experiences winter rains from November onwards, although they are not as heavy as the monsoonal rains. From October onwards, the weather becomes pleasant with highs around 30 degrees Celsius and lows of around 25 degrees with minimal humidity making it an ideal time to travel.
India is an all year round destination; however, peak times to travel would be October through to April when the weather is generally cooler and dry. The abundance of spectacular colourful festivals in February and March makes this a great time to visit Rajasthan where as November and December is a great time for bird watchers with the return of the migratory birds.
The weather is dry and sunny in most parts of India, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. This is a popular time to visit the hill stations, such as Shimla and Darjeeling, where the temperatures are cooler.
The weather is similar to January, but it can be a bit warmer in the southern states. This is a good time to visit Rajasthan, as the desert heat has not yet set in.
The weather starts to warm up in March, with average temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius in the north and 35 degrees Celsius in the south. This is a good time to visit the beaches of Goa and Kerala.
The weather is hot and humid in April, with average temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius in the north and 40 degrees Celsius in the south. This is not the best time to visit India, but if you do, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous activity during the day.
The weather is the hottest in May, with average temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in the north and 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in the south. It is also the driest month of the year, so there is little relief from the heat.
The monsoon season begins in June, and it rains heavily in most parts of India. The rains bring relief from the heat, but they can also cause flooding in some areas.
The monsoon rains continue in July, and it is still hot and humid. The beaches are closed due to the rains, but the hill stations are popular destinations.
The monsoon rains are at their heaviest in August, and it is the wettest month of the year. The rains can be disruptive, but they also bring lush greenery to the landscape.
The monsoon rains start to taper off in September, and the weather becomes drier. This is a good time to visit the beaches of Goa and Kerala.
The weather is pleasant in October, with average temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. This is a good time to visit the hill stations and the beaches.
The weather is similar to October, but it can be a bit cooler in the northern states. This is a good time to visit the Taj Mahal, as the crowds are smaller and the weather is more comfortable.
The weather is generally dry and sunny in December, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. This is a popular time to visit India, as the weather is pleasant and the crowds are smaller.
Add on’s
There are a multitude of add on holiday options to this India itinerary, for example you could head to the beaches of Goa or backwaters of Kerala or even spend time exploring the Himalaya in Northern India or Nepal….the opportunities are really endless.
India is also easily accessed by the main flight hubs of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok making stopovers easy to arrange. There are also now a growing number of direct flights from Australia to Delhi and Bengaluru.
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