Arrival in Delhi
On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy in the capital. Formed from what were once seven separate cities, today Delhi is a vibrant metropolis with a string of impressive sights, from the Red Fort to the elaborate Jama Masjid Mosque. Overnight at Haveli Dharampura.
Things to do:
Stay at Haveli Dharampura, a family-run heritage hotel
Claridges: where luxury reigns supreme
The Imperial: A dip into Delhi's history
Delhi
Enjoy a full day in the city today. If you’re feeling energetic, opt for a Delhi by Dawn tour to see the city come alive in the early hours. Alternatively, you might opt for a culinary tour with a local food expert, take a rickshaw ride round Old Delhi’s higgledy-piggledy lanes, embark on a photography excursion to capture the city’s spice markets and bazaars, or try a hands-on cooking lesson with a local family. Otherwise, head out to explore this captivating city on your own terms. Overnight at Haveli Dharampura.
Things to do:
Stay at Haveli Dharampura, a family-run heritage hotel
The magic of Delhi by dawn
Get a taste of Old Delhi with a local
Tour Old Delhi by rickshaw
The Old Delhi street photography tour
Saffron Palate: learn to cook like a local
Explore Chandni Chowk after dark
Delhi & Agra
After breakfast, travel to Agra to see one of India’s true bucket-list sites – the Taj Mahal. Set on the banks of the Yamuna River, Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire until Emperor Shah Jahan shifted it to Delhi, and traces of its imperial history remain in much of its architecture today. Optional experiences this afternoon include a cycling trip around local rural villages and a heritage-themed tour to learn more about the women of the Mughal dynasty. Overnight at Ekaa Villa.
Things to do:
A boutique Agra getaway at Ekaa Villa
Oberoi Amarvilas: a window onto the Taj Mahal
Discover the untold stories of Agra’s Mughal women
The Agra countryside bike tour
Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal
Agra & Jaipur
Set the alarm early this morning for an optional sunrise visit to see Agra’s crowning glory, the Taj Mahal. Commissioned in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his late wife, this marble masterpiece is best seen at dawn, when the sky turns peach above its elaborate domes. Wander the gardens to admire its architecture before exploring the interiors, inlaid with semi-precious stones and inscriptions. Alternatively opt for a guided walking tour through Old Agra with a hosted family lunch. Afterwards, you’ll be transferred to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City; it was painted rose to welcome the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria in 1876. Overnight at Samode Haveli.
Things to do:
Samode Haveli: a royal abode
Taj Mahal at sunrise
Learn the stories of Agra with a local
Fatehpur Sikri: a city designed for grandeur
Jaipur
Discover Old Jaipur today on an included excursion visiting traditional haveli homes and temples, during which you’ll meet local artisans and shop owners before enjoying tea with a local family. Spend the rest of the day exploring independently or choose from one of several optional experiences. Try a cooking lesson, visit a local school, or take a tour of the majestic Amber Fort – a sprawling, UNESCO-listed palace built in the 16th century on a hill overlooking the city. Overnight at Samode Haveli.
Things to do:
Samode Haveli: a royal abode
Tour the temples and havelis of old Jaipur
Dera Mandawa, Jaipur’s top heritage homestay
Discover Jaipur’s architectural treasures on foot
Experience the magnificence of Amber Fort
Cooking with a noble family in Jaipur
Jaipur & Jodhpur
Travel to Jodphur today to explore the ‘Blue City’, so named for the cobalt-blue houses that fill its Old Town (there are various theories behind the striking colour). The city is home to several impressive sites, among them the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort and the Sardar Bazaar, where handmade leather goods, Rajasthani jewellery and spices spill out from narrow lanes. On arrival, relax at the hotel or explore the city at leisure. Overnight at RAAS.
Things to do:
Fort-side luxury at RAAS Jodhpur
A taste of Jodhpur's heritage at The Rohet House
In royal residence at Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace
Jodhpur
Continue your explorations in Jodhpur today. Wander the colourful streets on your own terms or choose from one of several optional experiences including ziplining over the Mehrangarh Fort, a cooking class in one of the city’s blue houses or a memorable day of Indian truck-painting with a local artist. Overnight at RAAS.
Things to do:
Fort-side luxury at RAAS Jodhpur
The Blue House cooking class
Meet a tie dye guru in Jodhpur
Meet the truck painter of Jodhpur
Jodhpur: exploring an outdoor museum
Jodhpur & Udaipur
Bid farewell to Jodhpur this morning as you make your way towards Udaipur, the former capital of the kingdom of Mewar, set on the edge of the desert and scattered with shimmering lakes. Opulent mansions, palaces and gardens fill its streets today, sandwiched between colourful market stalls and artisanal craft shops. Your accommodation for the next two nights is a family-run homestay converted from a former farmhouse. Settle in and get to know your hosts ready for a day exploring the city. Overnight at Premkunj.
Things to do:
Premkunj: a boutique homestay in the Udaipur hills
Taj Fateh Prakash Palace: Udaipur’s royal hotel
Relive Udaipur’s royal past from The Oberoi Udaivilas
The resilient romance of Taj Lake Palace
Udaipur
Today is free to enjoy in Udaipur. If you’d rather see it with a guide, opt for a half-day city tour, go behind the scenes on a cycling trip or embark on a textile tour to see local craftspeople at work. Alternatively, venture beyond the city to the local village of Delwara to meet female artisans. Overnight at Premkunj.
Things to do:
Premkunj: a boutique homestay in the Udaipur hills
Cycle through Udaipur at dawn
Meet the women of Sadhna, an inspiring social enterprise
Join Mohammad for a textile workshop
A Rajasthani cooking class with Rakshita
Tour the watery city of Udaipur
Udaipur & Mumbai
You’ll be transferred to Udaipur airport today to fly to Mumbai. The rest of the day is free to explore this energetic city of 20 million, famous for its Bollywood scene and home to a melting pot of cultures. Opt for a culinary tour sampling local street food or wander at your own pace. Overnight at Taj Mahal Palace.
Things to do:
Stay at the Taj Mahal Palace, a Mumbai institution
Taste Mumbai's top street food
Mumbai
Make the most of your final day this morning with an included dawn tour to see Mumbai and its markets come alive. You’ll see newspaper vendors preparing for the day, fruit and vegetable sellers setting up stalls and milkmen transporting giant canisters. Then head to the dock to see fish being hauled in for the day. Afterwards, choose from one of several optional experiencess – among them a Bollywood tour of the city’s production houses – or explore independently. Overnight at Taj Mahal Palace.
Things to do:
Stay at the Taj Mahal Palace, a Mumbai institution
Explore Mumbai at dawn
Experience the magical madness of Bollywood
Explore Mumbai’s colonial past
Mumbai & Departure
The tour comes to an end today. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home or onward connection.
Another stop?
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A Goan villa getaway at Ahilya by the Sea
Be at one with nature at eco-resort Cabo Serai
Taj Exotica, a palm-scored Goan escape
Taj Fort Aguada: a Goan classic
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Wellness by the sea at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra
Taj Green Cove: a Balinese-inspired getaway
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Singinawa Jungle Lodge: where the tigers roam
Tiger spotting in Kanha Reserve
An eco-focused walk around the wilds of Singinawa
