Compare Classic Rajasthan by Intrepid Travel vs Rajasthan, India Photography Holiday by Creative Escapes

Day 1 Delhi

Namaste! Welcome to India. Your adventure begins in Delhi, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early and have the day free, consider joining one of our Urban Adventures for a great introduction to the city. After the meeting, maybe head out for your first optional dinner with your group and get to know each other.

Day 2 Delhi

This morning, you'll navigate the city’s metro system and discover Old Delhi on a walking tour with your leader. Hitch a ride on a traditional cycle rickshaw through a classic Indian traffic jam in the streets around the Chandni Chowk marketplace. Visit Delhi’s oldest mosque Jama Masjid, which is also India’s largest, and escape the city streets by ducking into a Sikh temple, Sheeshganj Gurudwara, to observe the spiritual side of this bustling metropolis. The communal kitchen welcomes all, and there's a chance to have a simple meal here together. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the sights of Delhi.

Day 3 Agra

Travel to Agra by one of India's express air-conditioned trains. Steeped in Mughal heritage, Agra has a wealth of gardens, temples and open rooftops. Visit the Taj Mahal and learn why Emperor Shah Jahan built it as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz. Explore inside the spectacular sandstone walls of the Red Fort, built to encompass the imperial city of the Mughal rulers in the 16th century. If you have time, move on to Akbar's Mausoleum to honour the great emperor. For a meal that makes a difference, consider visiting Sheroes Hangout, a remarkable social enterprise that supports survivors of acid attacks.

Day 4 Madhogarh

Take a private bus to Madhogarh this morning. When you arrive, walk through the village and see the local craftspeople at work making resin bangles. These families are from the Lakhera community and in Hindu mythology, Lakheras are considered to be created by Lord Shiva for making bangles for Goddess Parvathy. This practice is a traditional art and you can see for yourself how they heat the resin and shape it with handmade tools. In the evening, stay in the beautiful heritage property of Fort Madhogarh, which has belonged to one of Rajasthan’s royal families for centuries.

Day 5 Jaipur

Travel on by private vehicle to Jaipur. When you arrive, take a walk around the ‘Pink City’ with your leader. Get among the crowds of the city’s bazaars to shop for artisan goods and semi-precious stones. Visit the Amber Fort, an excellent example of Rajput architecture, set on a hilltop overlooking Maota Lake. The Sheesh Mahal inside the fort is a must-see. As the walls are completely covered in little mirrors, the hall illuminates with the light of a single match. After the tour, you'll have further free time to spend as you wish.

Day 6 Jaipur

Today is a full free day that you can jam-pack with experiences of your choice. This morning, you could take an optional hot air balloon ride. Floating across the skyline of Jaipur in a hot air balloon is a highlight of the trip for many travellers. Jump on a rickshaw to Hawa Mahal, also known as the 'Palace of the Winds’. Alternatively, head to Jaipur's Royal City Palace or the observatory of Jantar Mantar to see a collection of intriguing astronomical instruments. After a long day of exploration, perhaps head to the Raj Mandir Cinema to experience a Bollywood film.

Day 7 Ranthambhore National Park

Continuing on from Jaipur by private vehicle, head to Ranthambhore this morning. Ranthambhore National Park was once a famous hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur and was one of the original Project Tiger reserves. Explore the ruins of the park’s 10th-century fort, and in the evening take a 4WD bus safari in search of tigers and other wildlife, such as hyenas, jackals, deer, langurs, marsh crocodiles, wild boars and birds. Ranthambhore National Park is closed between 1 July and 30 September each year. On trips departing during this time, you'll visit nearby Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary. Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary is about 16 km from Ranthambhore and due to its hilly terrain isn't as affected by the monsoon. Tigers also inhabit this area and spottings are more favourable at this time of year as they move here away from flooded areas of Ranthambhore.

Day 8 Bundi

Today, you'll travel to Bundi by private vehicle. When you arrive, navigate Bundi's narrow streets on an insightful walking tour, including wandering through the downtown market and meeting jewellery merchants, street dentists, and fabric dealers. Learn the secret of chai making from a local chai master and try a fresh brew. Stop in at Bundi's intriguing and intricate step wells (baori), an architectural marvel, and once the source of water for the town. Check out the 16th-century Bundi Palace with its famous murals before checking into our next heritage stay for the night.

Day 9 Paangarh Lake

Take off from Bundi and take a local train to Bassi. cross the Chittorgarh countryside to Paangarh Lake. Enjoy the view out to the 15th-century fort and unwind with a cup of chai while watching the sunset over the lake. You'll spend tonight in a beautiful permanent tented camp, right on the lakeshore - a truly relaxing experience away from the chaos of India's cities.

Day 10 Bijaipur

This morning we drive in an open-top jeep out into the countryside past tranquil villages. You might be lucky enough to spot some native wildlife as we drive through the region. Meet some villagers and maybe even get a henna tattoo - a temporary but very traditional souvenir. Arrive at our next heritage stay and enjoy a meal of authentic local specialties. 

Day 11 Udaipur

Depart the heritage stay and begin your next journey by private vehicle takes us to Udaipur. Take in the city’s hills, lakes, and white marble palaces, or delve into its twisting alleys and bazaars filled with silver, leather goods, and miniature paintings. A popular centre for artists, dancers, and musicians, there’s plenty to entertain you here. After a city walk with your leader, the rest of your day is free.

Day 12 Udaipur

Visit Udaipur's City Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in India. Some suggestions for your free time after the tour include an optional boat ride on the picturesque Lake Pichola (seasonal) to marvel at the island palaces off Jag Nivas and Jag Mandir and seeing a cultural performance that combines seven traditional Rajasthani folk dances in the evening.

Day 13 Pushkar

Today, take an air-conditioned train to Ajmer and then a private vehicle to your hotel in Pushkar, a place synonymous with Rajasthan. Enjoy a walking tour to visit the bustling ghats and temples around Pushkar Lake, and watch as the devout worship by the holy waters and at the Brahma Temple. At dinnertime, share a meal with a local family and learn about their life living in this desert city. The rest of the day is free for you to explore further.

Day 14 Pushkar - Delhi

Early risers can hike up to the Savitri Temple for amazing sunrise views over the town this morning. Board the Shatabdi Express train, departing Ajmer around 2 pm for the trip back to Delhi, arriving at around 10:40 pm. Transfer to the hotel on arrival for your final night of the trip.

Day 15 Delhi

There are no activities planned for the final day and you’re able to depart the accommodation at any time.

DAY 1: DELHI

From touchdown into Delhi, we’ll whisk you off to our 15th-century fort in rural Rajasthan for some well needed R&R, chance to recover from the long flight. and ease you gently into the frenetic hubbub of India – the perfect start to your Rajasthan, India Photography Holiday. We’ll start by reviewing some of the in-camera techniques to prepare you to shoot in some of the epic locations on our Rajasthan odyssey – from the vast desert swathes of the Pushkar Camel Fair, the low-light positioning of the Taj Mahal at dawn, and the energy from hundreds of pilgrims rushing to bathe in the Ganges.

Each, a new set of techniques to add your repertoire. Then a dinner on the terraces in palatial surroundings, the perfect start to our Indian adventures.

DAYS 2 & 3: PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR

Up early, we depart our royal retreat and take the road to Pushkar, the holy city, and check-in to the stunning lakeside Pushkar Palace. Built by the Maharajah of Jaisalmer in the 15th century, this small palace has fabulous, panoramic views of the city. On arrival, we’ll take a seat on the shores and dive straight into our next task, learning how to bring some narrative into our images – capturing faces and expressions in the myriad scenes throughout the city – before venturing out to explore the Brahma temple – the only one in India.

Towards dusk, we’ll don our small backpacks and head out to the jaw-dropping Camel Fair. Held each November at the time of the Kartik Purnima full moon, Pushkar Camel Fair is one of India’s most highly-rated travel experiences, a spectacle on an epic scale, attracting more than 11,000 camels, horses and cattle and visited by over 400,000 people over a period of around fourteen days. For visitors it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the color, spectacle and carnival of one of the last great traditional meals, which brings livestock, farmers, traders and villagers from all over Rajasthan. Over two days, we’ll shoot a number of assignments, from formal portraits under canopy, to dusty reportage of the days events, to sublime sunset vistas over the campgrounds. We guarantee this is one photo-shoot you will never forget.

DAYS 4 & 5: JAIPUR

Today, we depart our private retreat and take the short hop to Jaipur, the regal capital of Rajasthan. This afternoon we’ll dive into the myriad backstreets of the city, tour the technicolor spice markets, observe the stunning pink architecture of the Hawa Mahal and get to grips with shooting high energy street scenes in saturated colors. Along the way, we’ll stop for a few snacks – or chaat – tasty Indian street food featured by Gordon Ramsay. Our stunning haveli (or Indian mansion) is in the plush central district and its breezy verandahs and pool provide solace from the energy of downtown Jaipur. Here we will round of the day reviewing our creative hard work from the last few days, then dine on an open-air terrace, waiters buzzing around bringing local delights for you to try.

The next day, we’ll take a trip towards the Amber Fort, a truly beautiful palace atop a hill overlooking Jaipur. The tour is an event itself, climbing onto elephants who lead you on a slow ascent to the top, then an exploration to shoot the opulent interiors; from the tiny Sila Devi Temple, with inlaid silver doors, to the maharajah’s apartments and the Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure); carved marble relief panels into ivory-inlaid sandalwood doors and a channel that once cooled water right through the room. The zenana (secluded women’s quarters) surrounds the fourth courtyard. The rooms were designed so that the maharaja could embark on his nocturnal visits to his wives’ and concubines’ respective chambers without the others knowing, as the chambers are independent but open onto a common corridor. From the Jai Mandir you can photograph the fine views from the palace ramparts over picturesque Maota Lake below – shoot the decorated guards in full gear, or capture the melee ‘reportage’ style all around you. Finally, we descend by army jeep and return to our haveli for some rooftop sundowners, and kick back to watch the sun gently falling over the horizon.

DAYS 6 & 7: TAJ MAHAL

Today we head to Agra – the home of the Taj Mahal. En-route, we’ll stop off at Chand Baori, one of the most beautiful stepwells in India, and the location of several period Hollywood films. Built by King Chanda in 800AD, the well is 20m deep and 3500 steps on 13 levels – at the bottom of the well, the air remains 5-6 degrees cooler than at the surface. Chand Baori was used as a community gathering place for locals during periods of intense heat. A short drive later, we arrive in Agra in time to visit one of the icons of India at sundown – the Taj Mahal – the magnificent mausoleum which eptomises the golden age of Mughal architecture and the reign of Shah Jahan. After finding our spot for shooting the best images, we’ll retire to our haveli haven and sample a modern interpretation of Indian cuisine.

After a restful nights sleep, we’ll rise extra early, locate our secret location to take some incredible images of the sun rising over the Taj Mahal, and shoot away in a sea of orange light, before heading off early afternoon to the buzzing Agra station, chance to practice the effects of fill flash on contrasty black-and-whites, shooting modern Indian life in a classic documentary style. Early evening, we’ll board our first-class sleeper train to Varanasi, meeting locals from all walks of life and shooting some memorable documentary and portrait images, before drifting off to the gentle, hypnotic movement of the train travelling through the night.

DAY 8: VARANASI

Arriving just after dawn, we’ll transfer directly to our plush heritage hotel close to the banks of the Ganges, and take some time to unwind in the lovely surroundings. We’ll hold some 1-on-1’s today to give you a detailed personal review of where you are at, then head out towards dusk for our first look at the Ganges, and the Ganga Aarti, a spiritual ritual using fire as an offering, usually made in the form of a flower raft with a lit candle, that’s floated off down the river. It’s a truly incredible spectacle and a photogenic wonder.

DAYS 9, 10 & 11 : VARANASI

We spend the early morning on board our private boat, touring the ghats to witness the hoards of Hindu pilgrims bathing in the Ganges river’s sacred waters. You’ll observe funeral rights, and tour the winding backstreets, home to over 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, “Golden Temple’, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. This is one of India’s most beautiful, crazy, colorful and chaotic places; it’s a veritable smorgasbord for any photographer and an experience you’re not likely to ever forget. Together, we’ll develop a final portfolio of images, ready to show on our final night's exhibition; be that portraits of expressive saddhus, using a remote fill flash and softbox (a la Joey L), saturated reportage shots of Hindu pilgrims bathing in the river, richly coloured night shots of dusk at this most spiritual of places or the everyday humour of this bizarre city. The possibilities are truly endless. Along the way, we’ll be there to assist your production, edit your best and then prepare for our exhibition show and final night’s celebration.

Our 11-day pilgrimage takes in the photographic highlights of this picturesque state, from world renowned festivals, to iconic buildings and one of the most visually stunning places in all of India. Welcome to Creative Escapes’ tour of Rajasthan.