Rajasthan Tour Itineraries - Rajasthan with Taj Mahal Tour

You’ll be met on arrival and assisted with the transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Delhi.

Delhi’s history ensures a wealth of sightseeing options including such icons as the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, around which much of the oldest part of Delhi is clustered. We recommend a full day for sightseeing by car with a local guide, but if you have more time then the addition of a walking or cycle-rickshaw tour is an excellent way to get a little closer to the heart of the city. Overnight in Delhi .

The earlier your leave Delhi the lighter the traffic will be- it takes around 4 hours to reach Agra, more if traffic out of Delhi is bad. Once you reach Agra, join your guide for a sightseeing tour with the main focus being, of course, the Taj Mahal. Overnight in Agra.

The fabled sight of the Taj at sunrise is only really worthwhile for a few weeks of the year (September and March) as during the remaining months dust/fog/smog obscure the rays of the rising sun. So better to leave the crowds at the Taj at first light to do their thing and instead visit Agra Fort and other monuments during the morning, before heading off to Jaipur. Stops en route to Jaipur include the abandoned Mughal capital at Fatehpur Sikri and the less-visited Abhaneri step-well which is one of the largest and deepest, not to mention most beautiful, of this type of structure in the whole country. Settle in on arrival in Jaipur and, if you’re keen, head out to the ridiculously opulent Raj Mandir cinema to watch an equally opulent Bollywood movie in the evening. Overnight in Jaipur.

There is much to be said for either an early morning or late afternoon walking tour in Jaipur- with many fascinating and contrasting neighbourhoods, there are plenty of options to explore different aspects of the city this way. Your time in the Pink City will also include sightseeing with Amber Fort and the City Palace among the sights. But whatever your programme, we’re sure you will enjoy time in the amazing markets of the old, walled city area of Jaipur. Buying anything is almost beside the point- the variety of goods, the pageant of humanity (and the odd passing camel or elephant) and the overall spectacle make these perhaps the most worthwhile markets in India. Overnight in Jaipur

Depart at your leisure- the drive to Jodhpur will take most of the day so there won’t be any activities scheduled on arrival. Note that if you have extra time there are some spectacular places to stay in the countryside between the two cities, places like Chhatra Sagar and Lakshman Sagar which offer a contrast to both city life, and the places in the Aravali hills which follow in a few days. Overnight in Jodhpur

Leave after breakfast and start the trip to Alleppey, the starting point of the wonderful backwater cruises. Get onboard of a private houseboat and find the excitement building up. Discover a completely enthralling world as the boat starts the trip through narrow canals. Visit various popular attractions on the way and enjoy delicious local cuisines onboard. Enjoy the relaxing night stay inside the boat.

Drive south into the Aravali Hills and head to one of the many lovely heritage hotels in this region. We have a few favourites, among them Jojawar and Narlai, where the ancestral family homes of the local ruling family from pre-independence times have been turned into quality accommodation with a uniquely Rajasthani flavour. Overnight in the Aravali Hills

A full day around for activities which will depend on which of the towns you end up staying in, but can include a train ride in the hills, bird-watching, temple and village visits, jeep tours or a leopard-spotting safari. Overnight in the Aravali Hills

Continue the journey south to reach Udaipur during the afternoon. There are two worthwhile stops en route: the Jain temples at Ranakpur are generally thought to be unmissable as they are among the most beautiful in India, regardless of religion, while the fort at Kumbhalgarh is worth the journey if remote, imposing forts are your thing. Overnight in Udaipur

With two days in Udaipur you’ll be able to enjoy some time off the road. Udaipur offers a wealth of options including cycling and hiking in the hills just outside of town, cooking classes, a boat ride on Lake Pichola, time with some of the many artisans who work in the old city, a tour of the City Palace, visits to public gardens and more. Again, like Jodhpur, the old city is fantastic (although a bit more touristy) so staying near to Lake Pichola is definitely our recommendation. Overnight in Udaipur

More time to soak up the atmosphere here, even if you do little more than sit on the terrace of one of the countless roof-top restaurants and sip tea all day, or pick more from the list of options above. Overnight in Udaipur

Free time before transferring to Udaipur airport and flying to Varanasi. You’ll be met on arrival here and assisted with the transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Varanasi

Hinduism’s holiest city can be a confronting and challenging place, but it is also very joyous and uplifting, particularly if you are shown around by a local. We work with a couple of very well-regarded companies who specialise in walking tours and other low-key activities which keep you out of a car (traffic in Varanasi is notoriously bad) and fully engaged with what’s going on around you. A series of walking tours, maybe a village visit, and one or two boat rides on the Ganges will enable you to have a well-rounded experience of the ancient city’s history as well as its vibrant present. Overnight in Varanasi

A second day in Varanasi to continue with walks and sightseeing, or just free time to explore at will. If at all possible, we recommend staying right on the ghats (at the river’s edge) here as it is so much immersive (no, we’re not suggesting you join the pilgrims in the Ganges!) in the overall vibe of the place, as well as meaning you’ll spend a lot less time in a car. Overnight in Varanasi

Transfer to Varanasi and fly to Delhi with departing flight from Delhi in the evening.