12-Day Rajasthan Tour from Delhi with Taj Mahal and Desert Camping

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Day 01

Arrival in Delhi

• Namaste and welcome to Delhi! Our representative will be waiting at the airport to take you to your accommodation. If you're not feeling the effects of jet lag just yet, check in, drop your bags, and let your feet guide you to some of Delhi's famous sites.
• You can take your pick between Humayun's Tomb - the precursor to the Taj - or contemplate British influence in India as you saunter up to India Gate, a war memorial like the Arc du Triomphe. It's easy to get distracted by Delhi's many attractions, so be sure to keep track of time since you have a 6 pm pre-departure meeting this evening.
• Once the meeting is over, head out for the first of many culinary delights that North India has to offer.

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Day 02

Old Delhi and Agra Fort

• We start the day by diving right into the deep end of the pool. Beginning with a visit to the 17th-century Jama Masjid - the biggest mosque in India - we snake our way through winding alleys on cycle rickshaws and then rub shoulders with the devout as they meditate in the hall of a Sikh Temple.
• In between, stand slack-jawed as you observe businesses being conducted out of tiny cubicles, cows sharing space with motorbikes, and Old Delhi picking its way through the morning over a cup of chai.
• Leaving behind the chaos of Delhi in the forenoon, we take a 5-hour bus journey to Agra and, on arrival, visit the iconic Agra Fort.

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Day 03

Taj Mahal and Journey to Jaipur

• Of the Taj, a poet once eloquently wrote - "a teardrop in the cheek of time." The Taj is indeed that and much more, but to experience the true mystique of this monument, we rise early to witness its changing moods.
• We will return to our hotel for breakfast after our visit and then prepare to leave for Jaipur.
• We will make a pit stop en route at Abhaneri to marvel at another architectural wonder, Chand Baori - a fascinating construction of steps leading to a water source. Resist the urge to look it up on the internet and let the real thing hit you full and direct!
• Later in the evening, add a unique experience to your tour by signing up for the movies - Bollywood style!

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Day 04

Jaipur's Palaces and Forts

• Drive through the hustle and bustle of the original Pink City and stop for a photo opportunity at Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Wind. Like a multi-layered cake left forgotten by a giant, Hawa Mahal rises on a side street off one of the busiest roads in Jaipur. While only a facade, it doesn't stop people from taking innumerable photos of the 18th-century edifice. Alight at Jal Mahal, or the Water Palace, for more photos and then make your way to Amber Fort, sitting atop one of the oldest hills in the world.
• Make sure to close your open mouth at intervals as you breeze through this amazingly multi-faceted fort! There are no activities planned after the visit to Amber Fort, but be sure to check with your tour leader, who will be happy to provide suggestions to fill the rest of your day.
• Visit the City Palace, the residence of the current Maharaja of Jaipur, or stroll through the puzzle that is Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century stone observatory.

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Day 05

Journey to Bikaner and Old City Walk

• Another early start sees us travelling to Bikaner (approximately 6 hours) through vistas of villages, camel farms, traffic held up by herds of cows and goats, and the inevitable buzz of activity - fruit vendors yelling to advertise their wares, tractors blaring music, and jeeps loaded with people like a bubble about to tip from a pipe. Small towns are like giant anthills alive with life.
• After arriving in Bikaner, we proceed to the well-kept Junagarh Fort - a repository of artefacts pertaining to the life and times of the Royal House of Bikaner. And although it's been a long day, a walk through the streets of the Old City in the evening is sure to energise you as you dig into piping hot chai and street food designed to work your taste buds beyond overtime!

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Day 06

Drive to Jaisalmer

• Today we drive to the golden-hued city of Jaisalmer (approximately 6 hours). Take it easy in the afternoon on arrival in Jaisalmer.
• Kick back and enjoy the evening as the sun touches the city with fading light. Head for the sunset point to watch the city settle in for the night. The rest of the evening is free for you to do whatever you choose.

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Day 07

Jaisalmer Fort and Desert Camp

• Of all the forts visited on this tour, Jaisalmer Fort is the only one where residents actually live. After breakfast, we take a walk through the weaving lanes of the city and into this fort that stands broad and tall. Tread through history - literally - along paths laid shiny and polished by centuries of footfalls, and stare goggle-eyed at ornate temples and houses that speak of an opulent age.
• Shed the remnants of civilisation in the afternoon by driving out of the city and into the desert, where we'll board our camels for a short ride over the dunes. As evening approaches, settle down for a night's worth of camping.

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Day 08

Jodhpur and Mehrangarh Fort

• We leave the sandy expanse of the Jaisalmer desert in the morning and enter the blue-washed houses of Jodhpur spread across the Old City, gazing up reverently at the sturdy Mehrangarh Fort that looms large above them. These houses have a tale to tell all of their own.
• Discover what these are and uncover the secrets of the fort as we visit it later in the day. Once the day is done, relax in the evening and perhaps enjoy dinner at a restaurant offering a vantage point of the fort at night.

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Day 09

Ranakpur and Udaipur

• The City of Lakes, Venice of the East, or the White City - Udaipur wears each moniker like a comfortable habit. One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur has it all - lakes, mountains, forts, palaces, rooftop restaurants, cultural shows, and coffee shops.
• Dive into this beehive of activity that is the city, but not before making a stop at Ranakpur, where we enter the elaborately carved interiors of a Jain Temple. The journey to Udaipur is approximately 7 hours and, if you have time on your hands, ease yourself gently into the night by going on a sunset boat ride around Udaipur's largest lake, Pichola.

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Day 10

Udaipur City Palace and Cultural Evening

• We start the day with a visit to the extravagant City Palace. The rest of the day is free to do as you choose, but you might want to fill your time with a cooking class - an eat-what-you-cook affair.
• Cook up a storm with some spicy Indian curry or learn the art of making masala chai. With lunch sorted, wander around town or have a palm reader interpret the lines of your future.
• In the evening, unite in a celebration of life as you witness artists relaying stories through puppet shows and folk dancers whirling to showcase their distinct art forms.

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Day 11

Return to Delhi

• After all the activities of yesterday, you may choose to sit back and enjoy the morning over breakfast or amble about town for some last-minute shopping. The tour comes full circle as we leave Udaipur for New Delhi today.
• We will reach Delhi airport by evening and, although it is effectively the last day of the tour, save your last hurrahs for a farewell dinner. Don't forget to check your departure and organise your transfer with your tour leader.

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Day 12

Departure from Delhi

• It's time now to bid farewell to your tour leader and new friends, but not without a backpack full of memories. Departure transfers are included on the day. Check-out time in most hotels is 12 pm. Please confirm with your tour leader or the hotel reception.