Magnificent Palaces and Sacred Sites: The Grand Tour of Rajasthan

You’ll be met at the airport this morning and whisked away by private transfer to a cosy guest house in the heart of the city. There are plenty of places to relax while you’re here, from your stylish bedroom to the large terrace or conservatory. If you feel like getting out this evening, we can arrange for you to witness the closing ceremony at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple, a peaceful Sikh place of worship that’s the largest in Delhi. Each night, a ceremony with songs and a procession takes place to store away the holy book.

Today, you’ll explore Delhi in the footsteps of a local. Your guide will share their love for India with you as they lead you round this fascinating megalopolis, from essential attractions to more exclusive districts. This tour can be adapted to your desires and is a great opportunity to discuss local life in Delhi, as well as get priceless advice and recommendations for the rest of your trip. After your tour, you’ll be privately transferred to the airport for your flight to Jaisalmer, which takes just under two hours. On arrival, you’ll meet your driver who will accompany you on the rest of your trip. For the next two nights, you’ll stay in a colourful hotel with a swimming pool and beautiful gardens. Enjoy dinner this evening on the rooftop terrace with a view of the illuminated Jaisalmer Fort.

This splendid city in the heart of the Thar Desert is yours to explore today in the company of a private guide. Jaisalmer’s havelis – opulent former residences of spice, date, opium and indigo merchants – are ornate structures adorned with intricate lace-like stonework and carved balconies. These are the gems of Jaisalmer, though there’s also plenty more to appreciate here. As you wander the city’s streets, honey-coloured buildings are brought to life by turquoise or green shutters, Jain temples are carved with smiling sculptures, and sleepy cows can be found wandering along the lanes. Beyond Jaisalmer’s beauty, experience the fascinating energy of this oasis that’s centred around its fortress, seemingly erected in the middle of nowhere. A few miles north of the city in Bada Bagh, you’ll also visit the royal cenotaphs, the oldest of which dates from the 18th century.

This morning, your private driver will take you on towards Jodhpur. The journey takes around six hours. To give you a break from the city, you’ll stay in Rohet, a small village that brings you closer to a more authentic India. Your home for two nights has a peaceful garden and a swimming pool, the perfect place to unwind after a day of travelling.

Today you’ll take a private tour of Jodhpur, also known as the Blue City. Its labyrinth of small alleyways, painted in beautiful shades of blue, is dominated by the Mehrangarh Fort, a sandstone fortress on the heights of the city. Inside, you’ll find glowing stained glass, intricate motifs and sparkling mirrors. Your day will continue in Ranakpur, located south of Jodhpur. This small city is home to one of the county’s biggest Jain pilgrimage sites: Adanith Temple. This is one of the most beautiful Jain constructions in the country, where you can admire over 1,400 hand-carved stone pillars and soak up the harmonious atmosphere.

You’ll journey on to Udaipur today, which takes around five hours. You’ll spend two nights here on the shores of Lake Pichola in a hotel occupying two 18th-century havelis. In the late afternoon, set off on a boat trip across the lake. From the water, you can really appreciate the splendour of the city’s temples along with its islands. Back at your hotel, enjoy a quiet drink on the roof terrace before dinner.

Udaipur is one of Rajasthan’s most charming cities, and you’ll have today to explore it. Beautiful white houses and havelis line the city’s narrow streets, all set on the banks of its many lakes. The City Palace overlooks the largest of them, a beautiful structure with peaceful gardens that speak to all your senses. Not far from here, you’ll find one of the most important religious buildings in Udaipur: Jagdish Temple. Saheliyon ki Bari is also worth a visit, a stunning garden full of monuments, fountains, colourful flowers and a lotus pond.

We’ll also arrange for you to take a private tour of Chittorgarh today, an eighth-century citadel built on a rocky plateau, located one-and-a-half hours from Udaipur. This impressive complex encompasses palaces, temples and pools and at the top of the fortress, you can enjoy a beautiful panorama over the surrounding countryside. To unwind after your day of exploring, we can also arrange a Shirodhara session for you (an Ayurvedic treatment that relaxes the nervous system), or a private yoga class during which you’ll learn the basics of this native practice from an experienced instructor.

It’s time to move on from Udaipur to somewhere equally as charming: the small, picturesque village of Barli. It will take around three-and-a-half hours to reach Barli, a place that really immerses you in rural daily life, where agriculture punctuates the days and shapes the landscape. When you arrive, relax in your simple yet luxurious accommodation, or head out for a scenic walk around the nearby lake.

Today, your driver will transport you to Jaipur, which takes just over five-and-a-half hours. You’ll arrive at a tranquil guest house just a stone’s throw from the old town, where you can enjoy afternoon tea on the roof terrace with a breathtaking view of the Nahalgarh Fort and dinner in the peaceful garden. We can also arrange for you to take a cooking class today. After heading to the market to pick up fresh ingredients, you’ll learn how to prepare a traditional meal with your friendly host.

Jaipur is one of India’s liveliest and most pleasant cities. Here, women don silver jewellery and brightly coloured clothes, men wear splendid turbans, and from dawn to dusk, the streets are teeming with rickshaws. It’s an attractive blend of old and new, with both Mughal and Rajput-style architecture along with remnants of British influence from the colonial era. Jaipur is also considered to be India’s capital of craftsmanship, and you’ll experience this today during a private tour of its workshops. The traditional methods used to produce wool, linen, jewellery, gold and silver leaf have been passed down from generation to generation here. Precious stones like diamonds, rubies and emeralds are cut, polished and set, and the city even supplies jewellers at France’s iconic Place Vendôme. As you’re guided through the workshops to see these incredible artisans at work, you’ll also sample some culinary specialities offered by the city’s street vendors.

You’ll drive for around four hours today until you reach Agra. Along the way, you have the option to visit the imperial city of Fatehpur Sikri, home to one of the largest mosques in India. In the 16th century, it was the capital of the Mughal Empire; today, it’s an open-air museum of red sandstone comprising perfectly preserved pools, courtyards and palaces. Your home for the night will be a welcoming contemporary hotel in the centre of Agra. When you arrive, take a stroll around the peaceful gardens scattered with fountains, or lounge by the swimming pool before a delicious evening meal made with fresh vegetables from the hotel garden.

This morning, you’ll visit one of the magnificent Seven Wonders of the World: the Taj Mahal. On the right bank of the Yamuna River stands this jewel of Muslim architecture, commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Your visit will be at dawn, when the white marble building is bathed in warm sunlight, revealing it in all its splendour. Afterwards, you’ll head to the Red Fort, an imposing red sandstone citadel, and the mausoleum of Itmad-Ud-Daulah.

This afternoon, you’ll hop into the car and head back to Delhi, a three-and-a-half-hour drive away. When you arrive, a rickshaw tour will lead you through Old Delhi to discover its traditional districts along with the Jama Masjid Mosque, featuring three huge black-and-white marble domes and an esplanade that can accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers. Your tour continues to the Red Fort and the Town Hall, and you can also visit the Gauri Shankar temple or the Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir. You’ll then hop off to explore the largest spice market in Asia on foot, a vibrant place bathed in captivating colours and mouthwatering scents.

You’ll spend your last night in a hotel in the heart of the city in the lively district of Chandni Chowk. With its inner courtyard, jharokha windows and mosaic floors, it makes for a charming setting in which to bid farewell to Rajasthan.