Jan
min : 13°C
max : 26°C
We Love —
- Journey around India and discover this country's mystical history, traditional culture and unforgettable sights.
- Highlights include Old Delhi, the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, the Amber Fort in Jaipur, and the havelis of Mandawa.
- Stay in hand-picked accommodation throughout your adventures, including some spectacularly designed hotels!
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Book Now, Pay Later —
Booking 35 days in advance and spending over £500 per person? No need to pay in full today! Just select the 30% deposit option on our payment page (terms & conditions apply)
Our Offers —
7 Night Tour
1 night is Mandawa
1 night at Bikaner
1 night in Jodhpur
2 nights in Jaipur
1 night in Agra
1 night in Delhi
9 Night Tour
1 night is Mandawa
1 night at Bikaner
1 night in Jodhpur
2 nights in Jaipur
1 night in Agra
1 onboard a night train
2 nights in Varanasi
1 night in Delhi
Your Destination —
Your Itinerary —
Day 1: Delhi - Mandawa (approx. travel time: 6 hours / 270km)
You will ve met upon arrival in Delhi & immediately transferred to Mandawa. Upon arrival check-in at hotel and unwind after your flight. After some rest you can explore the picturesque region of Shekhawati, the gateway to Rajasthan & the home to the caravan trade of Central Asia.
Overnight at Vivaani Culture Haveli or similar.
Explore this city museum: of the havelis, the most important are the Chokhani, Ladia, Binsidhar Newatia, and Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli. Another haveli, the Binsidhar Newatia Haveli, is known for its curious paintings. There is a painting of a boy holding a telephone and a European woman in a car driven by a chauffeur.
You will leave in the direction of Bikaner, this oasis in the middle of the dunes of the Thar desert. It was an essential stage for the great crossings of the caravans and was founded in 1488.
This afternoon you will enjoy the medieval architecture of the city, including the very well preserved Junagadh Fort, the Maharaja Karan Singh and Maharaja Ganga Singh Palaces, and you will visit the museum which has a magnificent collection of costumes, weapons, nacelles and palanquins.
Overnight at Lallgarth Palace or similar.
Today you will drive towards the city of Jodhpur, which is also known as 'The Blue City' thanks to the distinctive colour of its roofs. The whole city is dominated by the impressive facade of Fort Mehrangarh, this spectacular fort made from red sandstone stands on a perpendicular cliff above the skyline of Jodhpur & is well worth a visit.
After your visit to Fort Mehrangarh, you will continue on to the majestic white marble memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II (built in 1899), then enjoy a walk through the characterful streets of Jodhpur...
Overnight at Hotel Ratan Villas or similar.
Depart for Jaipur, from its creation in 1727 the royal families and nobles of Jaipur patronised the craftsmen and artisans of the city. These traditions continue to this day and as a result modern day Jaipur is considered by many as the craft capital of India.
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the city's bustling markets, haggle at the bazaars & sample the cuisines & crafts of Old Jaipur.
Overnight at Shahpura House or similar.
Day 5: Jaipur
Following breakfast you will proceed to visit the capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort, a 17th century palace whose ruins and remains are spread over the Aravali hills and sprawling crenellated walls lattice the surrounding area. (you can explore it by car or by elephant)
En-route to Amber Fort you will stop and see the `Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate façade, extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving.
The afternoon will be devoted to shopping, you will go in search of Indian handicrafts: jewellery, textiles, miniature paintings...and a rickshaw ride through the streets of Jaipur.
Overnight at Shahpura House or similar.
With some 2,000 temples spread throughout Jaipur, intimate places of worship and shrines were everywhere; an amble down an innocuous alleyway led to a former mansion now converted into a vast wedding bazaar, its 200 or so shops seemingly all overflowing with bejewelled saris.
This morning after breakfast proceed to Agra, visiting Fatehpur Sikri En-route. Fatehpur Sikri, is the deserted red sandstone city which was built over 300 years ago & was larger than London when it was originally constructed. Now it is an extraordinary place to wander around with its places & mosques in near perfect condition.
Proceed to Agra which has witnessed the rise of the pomp and pageantry of three great Mughal monarchs - Emperor Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjahan. In modern times, the city of Agra is a thriving carpet industry where you can also find leather workers, sandstone and marble sculptors, some of whom claim to be direct descendants of the craftsmen who had helped build the Taj Mahal.
Overnight at Crystal Sarovar or similar.
Wake up early & visit the Taj Mahal, a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Rabindranath Tagore calls "a teardrop on the cheek of time". Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world.
Return to your hotel for breakfast & depart for New Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be taken on a city tour.
Overnight at ITC WELCOM Dwarka or similar.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the hotel in time for your flight home.
The siren call of Paratha Lane in Old Delhi – where food vendors make and sell parathas on the pavement in front of their tiny one-room cafes, stalls offer jewel-like fruit and vegetables, and smoke drifts from a thousand woks – is entirely seductive. It is exactly where you want to be.
Please note that The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
Optional Extension
Our members can choose to extend their tour by a further 2 nights & visit Varanasi.
Day 7: Agra - Varanasi
Today will be free to do as you please until your evening train to Varanasi (departing at 19:15).
Overnight on board the train with dinner included.
Arrive in Vranasi in the early morning. Highlights in this area include a visit the Benares Hindu University, the largest residential university in Asia, a centre of Sanskrit, Indian art, culture, and music. Later, you can proceed to Sarnath, which is famous for being the place where the Buddha first preached his message after attaining nirvana. Or you can visit the Dhamek Stupa which marks the spot where the Buddha proclaimed his faith in front of his first five followers, the earliest and most important relic is found here is the Ashoka pillar, erected in 250 BC...this area truly is a holy sight.
In the afternoon you’ll visit the Bharat Mata temple with its great marble relief of India and also the Ganges river to assist in the “aarti” ceremony which takes place every evening at sunset.
Overnight at Radisson Hotel Varanasi or similar.
Day 9: Varanasi - Delhi
After breakfast take a sublime boat ride on the Ganges River. View the numerous ghats along the bank of the Ganges, presenting a varied scene from dawn to dusk. Afterwards you will proceed to Benares for an internal flight to Delhi.
Overnight at ITC WELCOM Dwarka or similar.
Day 10: Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.
Your Hotels —
Our members can choose between 4 or 5* accommodation throughout, you will stay at the below hotels in a Standard Room with breakfast included.
Our members can choose to upgrade the either of the following board basis at the next stage of the booking process for an additional fee.
- Half Board - breakfast & evening meal served in the main restaurant - excluding drinks.
- Full Board - breakfast, lunch & evening meal served in the main restaurant - excluding drinks.
Sleeps up to
2 Adults
+ 1 Child
or
3 Adults
4* Hotels
Vivaana Culture Haveli 4* - Mandawa (1 night)
Lallgarth Palace 4* - Bikaner (1 night)
Hotel Ratan Villas 4* - Joghpur (1 night)
Shahpura House 4* - Jaipur (2 nights)
Crystal Sarovar Premier 4* - Agra (1 night)
ITC WELCOM Dwarka 4* - Delhi (1 night)
Radisson Hotel Varanasi 4* - Varanasi (2 nights)
5* Hotels
Castle Mandawa - Mandawa (1 night)
Laxmi Niwas Palace - Bikaner (1 night)
Indiana Palace - Joghpur (1 night)
The Trident - Jaipur (2 nights)
The Trident - Agra (1 night)
The Pride Aerocity - Delhi (1 night)
Radisson Hotel Varanasi - Varanasi (2 nights)
Please note that if these hotels are not available, hotels of a similar standard will be found.
Your Journey —
Flights: Our members can choose between economy or business class flights.
The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers: Transfers are included as per the itinerary.
