Arrival. Namaste! We are warmly welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax.
Overnight: Vivanta By Taj Dwarka New Delhi (2 Nights)

The capital of India is a true reflection of the old and new of India. We explore Old Delhi, starting with the Red Fort Complex*. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex. The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement and each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions. Next, we visit the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. We end our tour with the visit to Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. In the evening we enjoy a welcome dinner at hotel. (B, D)
Please Note: Red fort is closed on Monday and Chandni Chowk is closed on Sunday

We start our morning tour with New Delhi and visit Birla House, the Former Residence of Mahatma Gandhi before he was assassinated by Nathu Ram Godse on January 30, 1948. Later we visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and Humayun's Tomb, the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, built in 1570. We continue to Qutb Minar and its Monuments. Built in the early 13th century the red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 m high. After the tour of New Delhi we drive to Agra. On arrival in Agra, we check in our Hotel. (B/-/D)
***(Birla House is closed on Monday)

We start our day with a visit to one of the most well-known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. We then visit Agra Fort. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques. We also visit Fatehpur Sikri. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, the City of Victory was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. We end our tour with a visit to some of the local factories famous for inlay work on marbles and witness the complex art inlaying precious and semiprecious stones on the world famous Marbles for the mines of Makrana. (B/-/D)
***(Taj Mahal is closed on Friday.)

After breakfast we drive to Ranthambore, the former hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The rugged terrain and the dense deciduous forests are major features of this national park, which has among the largest and most diverse collection of wildlife species in India.
On arrival in Ranthambore, we check in our hotel. In the afternoon we take a safari through the National Park. On our journey we might see various indigenous animals, such as tiger, nilgai, chausingha, chital, chinkara, wild boar, jungle cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, the Rhesus Macaque and the black-faced Langur. About 150 bird species can be found here including migratory birds that arrive in winter. (B/L/D)
Overnight: Tiger Den Resort

Ranthambore is famous for the famous Royal Bengal Tigers and spotting the big cat in its natural habitat can be an experience. In the morning we take another safari through the park. If we are lucky enough we may be able to spot tigers in their natural environment. After our morning safari, we drive to Jaipur, the rose pink capital of Rajasthan, since most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone. In the evening we enjoy our dinner with a Rajasthani Cultural Dance performance. (B/-/D)
Overnight: Trident Jaipur (2nights)

This morning we are treated like the royalty of yesteryear with an elephant ride to Amber Fort, located in a valley formed by a range of Aravallis known as Kalikho hills. We return to Jaipur and experience the art of carpet weaving & block printing. Later we visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art and the beautiful Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. We also visit the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century that includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments designed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The evening is free to enjoy both shopping and the cultural experience in the bazaars. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. (B/-/D)

After breakfast we drive to Pushkar, a bewitching little town on the edge of the desert, with temples, bathing Ghats, onion domes and chalk-coloured buildings clustering around its holy lake, which is said to have appeared when Brahma dropped a lotus flower. It's an important pilgrimage centre and we shall see plenty of Sadhus. We visit the famous temple of Lord Brahma Temple, said to be one of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity. (B/-/D)
Overnight: The Green House Resort

This morning we are treated like the royalty of yesteryear with an elephant ride to Amber Fort, located in a valley formed by a range of Aravallis known as Kalikho hills. We return to Jaipur and experience the art of carpet weaving & block printing. Later we visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art and the beautiful Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. We also visit the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century that includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments designed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The evening is free to enjoy both shopping and the cultural experience in the bazaars. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. (B/-/D)
Overnight: Trident Udaipur (2nights)

We start our experience of Udaipur by visiting the City Palace, where we can see the Lake Place, shimmering like a jewel in Lake Pichola. Later we visit the Jagdish Temple, Fateh Sagar Lake and Saheliyon Ki Bari, the Garden of Maids. We end our tour of Udaipur with a boat ride at Lake Pichola and visit Jag Mandir, a palace built on an island in 1551. The royal family used the palace as a summer resort and pleasure palace for holding parties.(B/-/D)

After breakfast we drive to Jodhpur. In the afternoon we visit Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest forts in India. We enter through the Gate of Victory and explore the series of courtyards and palaces decorated with beautiful terracotta lattice work. The museum in the fort has one of the best collections of the splendid trappings of Indian royalty, including some amazing elephant’s howdahs, miniature paintings and the inevitable Rajput armory and ephemera from ivory inlaid ladies dumbbells to camel bone carpet weights. Later we visit Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II with an array of whimsical domes. (B/-/D)
Overnight: Radisson Jodhpur (Pure Veg Hotel)

After breakfast we drive to Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert. On arrival we check in at our hotel. The remainder of the day is free for relaxation. (B/-/D)
Overnight: Hotel Rawal Kot (2nights)

We visit Jaisalmer Fort, one of the largest forts in the world. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. We then explore the Jain temple dating to the 11th century BC, the Folk Museum and Patwon-ki-Haveli, the home of a wealthy merchant belonging to powerful Oswal Jain community and banker who had over three hundred trading centres from Afghanistan to China. This ornate five-storey complex took fifty years to complete and is the largest, and most elaborate of Jaisalmer’s havelis. We also visit Gadisar Tank, a scenic rainwater lake with numerous beautiful shrines around and a spectacular avian variety. In the late afternoon we drive to Sam village in the Thar Desert. We ride on camels to the nearby sand dunes to enjoy the beautiful desert sunset. (B/-/D)

After breakfast we drive to Bikaner and check in our heritage hotel. Lalgarh Palace was built between 1902 and 1926 according to Rajput, Mughal and European architectural styles. The building features magnificent pillars, elaborate fireplaces, Italian colonnades and intricate latticework and filigree work.
In the afternoon we visit Junagarh Fort, built by Raja Rai Singh. Later we visit camel breeding farm set within the sand Dunes, the only farm of its kind in whole of Asia. (B/-/D)
Overnight: Lallgarh Palace

After breakfast we drive to Deshnoke to visit the famous Rat Temple dedicated to the Goddess Karni Mata. Later we drive to Mandawa, one of the finest of the small towns in the Shekhawati region. We explore Mandawa’s famous "The Open Air Art Gallery of Rajasthan", visiting havelis, where the walls have been decorated with beautiful frescos depicting different aspects of the life in Rajasthan. From here we continue our drive to Alsisar and check in at Alsisar Mahal. (B/-/D)
Overnight: Alsisar Mahal

Today we drive to Delhi. On arrival we are transferred to hotel for Wash & Change. Later we enjoy our farewell dinner. After a memorable journey through incredible India, we are transferred to the airport for our departure home or to our next exciting destination. (B/-/D)