Passage to India - 15 days
Ultimate Rajasthan, the Land of the Rajput Kings - incredible India at its most colourful. As a final interesting twist, you can choose to end your tour in Mumbai (Bombay), perfect for those wishing to visit the South of India.
Day 1: New Delhi
Saturday. Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Delhi, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - New Delhi
Day 2: Sightseeing in Old Delhi
This morning, our Welcome Meeting takes place. We’ll then enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Delhi, taking in the impressive Red Fort, Jama Masjid - India’s oldest and largest mosque, Raj Ghat - the site of Gandhi’s cremation and more. Tonight, we enjoy a group Namaste Dinner at a restaurant specialising in classic Indian cuisine. Overnight - New Delhi (B, D)
Passage to India - 15 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Day 3: The Taj Mahal
Departing Delhi, we journey to Agra, once India’s Mughal capital. Here we explore the legendary Taj Mahal. Built entirely of white marble, the Taj Mahal has no peers. Continuing, we visit Agra fort, which boasts some of India’s finest Mughal buildings behind it’s fortified walls. We also visit a marble craftshop. Overnight - Agra (B)
Day 4: Jaipur
Agra - Jaipur. En route to Jaipur we visit the stunning former Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri - Emperor Akbar’s vision in red sandstone. We enjoy lunch at Udai Vilas Palace in Bharatpur, before taking a walk in the traditional rural village of Peharsar. Later, in Jaipur, we visit a cotton trading/tailor shop where you can get clothing tailored for delivery to your hotel before we leave Jaipur! Overnight - Jaipur (B, L)
Day 5: Jaipur
This morning, we travel beyond Jaipur to the 16th century Amber Fort. An exotic elephant ride transports us to the lofty fort, where we’ll enjoy a tour of this Rajput extravaganza. Why not bolt on an early morning amazing hot air balloon ride? Later in the afternoon we tour the City Palace, which boasts an interesting museum of regal attire and Jantar Mantar, an ancient astronomical observatory. Overnight - Jaipur (B)
Jaipur - Shekhawati region. Today, we drive to the semi-desert Shekhawati region. The small towns in this region became important trading posts, a lasting legacy of which are the beautiful painted havelis (mansions) constructed by wealthy merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy an afternoon village walk. Overnight - Surajgarh - Shekhawati Region (B, D)
Shekhawati region – Bikaner. Travelling west, our next stop is the 14th century desert town of Bikaner. Once an important staging post on the great caravan routes, much of the atmospheric old town which we will explore is still encircled by massive fortified walls. Within these walls are havelis, artisan shops and people going about their daily lives. We also visit the spectacular Junagarh Fort & museum, built between 1587 and 1593 during the rule of Rai Singh. Overnight - Bikaner (B)
Days 8 - 9: Jaisalmer - the east, west silk route
Bikaner - Jaisalmer. Driving through the Rajasthani Thar desert we arrive at the medieval caravan outpost of Jaisalmer, one of the jewels in India’s crown. Exquisite wood and sandstone buildings dot the town and within Jaisalmer Fort are homes, hotels and shops hidden in ancient lane ways.
During our stay in this stunning Rajasthani fortress town we’ll enjoy some touring plus a desert camel safari on the rolling sand dunes. Overnight - Jaisalmer (B:2)
During our stay in this stunning Rajasthani fortress town we’ll enjoy some touring plus a desert camel safari on the rolling sand dunes. Overnight - Jaisalmer (B:2)
Day 10: Jodphur - the blue city
Jaisalmer - Jodhpur. An interesting drive through increasingly varied scenery takes us to Jodhpur, a town at the edge of the mighty Thar Desert. Dominated by Meherangarh Fort which sits majestically atop a hill, Jodhpur is known as the Blue City. This is because of the coloured houses in the old town, painted indigo. We’ll enjoy some touring in this colourful Rajasthani city, taking in the mighty fort and bazaars of the old city which are gathered around the city’s tall clock tower.
Overnight - Jodhpur (B)
Day 11: Ranakpur
Jodhpur - Ranakpur. Leaving Jodhpur, we drive to Ranakpur, a small town tucked away in a remote valley and famed for its beautiful 14th century Jain temples. We’ll enjoy some exploration here and time to relax at our hotel. Overnight - Ranakpur (B)
Days 12 - 13: Udaipur
Ranakpur - Udaipur. Continuing south, we arrive at Udaipur. An oasis of cool, with its massive lake and Venetian-like appearance, Udaipur is one of the most romantic towns in Rajasthan. A favourite amongst travellers, Udaipur is crammed full of palaces and temples. During our stay we’ll enjoy a cruise on Lake Pichola, plus touring of the imposing City Palace, not to mention free time to explore and perhaps shop for colourful Rajasthani souvenirs and Indian spices. Overnight - Udaipur (B:2)
Day 14: Fly back to Delhi
Udaipur – Delhi. Departure transfer to the airport to board a morning flight to Delhi. Option to travel onward to Mumbai, see note below. The afternoon is free for you to relax at the hotel or to head out and further explore Delhi. Overnight - New Delhi (B)
Day 15: New Delhi
Saturday. Saying goodbye to our new found friends, our tour ends, hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport.
Hola Mohalla Sikh Festival - For a truly unique experience combine your tour with the spectacle of the Hola Mohalla Sikh Festival held in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib. Witness the colourful festivities including mock martial arts battles, impressive displays of weaponry, archery and wrestling as well as music, poetry and prayers, singing and chanting, while food is served to pilgrims from all castes and creeds by women from the neighbouring villages.
If travelling on our 30 March 2013 Passage to India departure you can combine this with our 5 day Hola Mohalla Sikh Festival tour departing on 26 March 2013. Contact us for further details. (B)
Hola Mohalla Sikh Festival - For a truly unique experience combine your tour with the spectacle of the Hola Mohalla Sikh Festival held in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib. Witness the colourful festivities including mock martial arts battles, impressive displays of weaponry, archery and wrestling as well as music, poetry and prayers, singing and chanting, while food is served to pilgrims from all castes and creeds by women from the neighbouring villages.
If travelling on our 30 March 2013 Passage to India departure you can combine this with our 5 day Hola Mohalla Sikh Festival tour departing on 26 March 2013. Contact us for further details. (B)
Finish your tour in Mumbai
|
You can opt to travel onward (independently) from
Udaipur to Mumbai. On day 14, board a morning flight to
Mumbai. The exhilarating and charismatic city is capital
of the glamorous Hindi film industry and often referred
to as ‘Bollywood’. The vibrant metropolis is crammed
with the colour of humanity, bright yellow cabs and red
double decker buses. Enjoy the rest of the day your way.
Overnight - Mumbai. The following day, the tour ends
after breakfast. Hotel check-out and included onward
transfer to the international airport.
Please be sure to indicate your preference to travel by air and experience Mumbai at time of booking. |
Jaisalmer Desert Festival.......a Rajput Extravaganza!
If travelling with us on our Passage to India tour departing 16 February 2013, you'll have the wonderful opportunity to witness, experience and take part in the exciting spectacle of the golden city's grand parade. As the drums of Rajasthan beat out aloud brightly adorned elephants with their mahouts and tassel laden camels and riders, colourful floats, singers, dancers and marching bands will waltz on by in the city's annual street parade.
We wouldn't want to miss the event and as such we have revised our touring arrangements of day 9 so that we too can join the parade. After our guided tour of the Jaisalmer Fort - bright and early in the morning, we'll meet up at the First Gate of mammoth stone fort. Here, with the honey coloured fortress as a backdrop there will be plenty of photo opportunities as the procession marches by. Then in tow, together we'll follow the colourful festival as it weaves its way through the city streets of the Rajputs to gates of the town stadium.
After entering the stadium at approximately 12 noon, time permitting we'll continue with our city sightseeing tour. After time to freshen up and later in the afternoon we mount our ships of the desert, riding by camel back into the rolling Sam sand dunes.
Tour Details
- Starts in: New Delhi / Ends in: New Delhi
- Departs: Every second Saturday - September through to April
- No local payment required
- Breakfast:14, Lunch: 1, Dinner: 2
- Hotel Rating: 3 - 4 star & heritage hotels
- Tour Guide: Yes (for groups of 6 or more)
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