Compare Classic Rajasthan by Intrepid Travel vs Best of India And Dubai by Indus Travels

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.

Make your way to your gateway airport to board your flight to India. Enjoy in-flight meals and services. Overnight onboard the flight

Welcome to Delhi, India! a monumental city with a vibrant mix of old and new teeming bazaars, stately British boulevards, powerful Mughal palaces and forts, and intricate, ethereal towers, temples and tombs. On arrival at Delhi International Airport you will be met and assisted by our company executive and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Overnight in Delhi

Breakfast: At hotel
Morning: After breakfast, Tour the Old Delhi, the Mughal capital established by Shah Jahan in 1638. At the famous Red Fort, where Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the flag of newly-independent India on August 15, 1947, trade the vehicle for bicycle rickshaws. Weave through the warren of crooked, congested alleys off Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest bazaars, where you will see the traditional workmanship for which India is well known and still thrives. Visit Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s serene and evocative cremation site and the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. The majestic Jama Masjid – meaning world-reflecting’ mosque – is Old Delhi’s principal place of worship, and the largest and most renowned of its kind in India. Built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan – who also built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort – it’s an elaborate structure featuring an expansive geometric base topped with globe-shaped minarets crafted from strips of red sandstone and white marble, and a massive courtyard that can hold up to 25 000 people. This afternoon visit the Qutab Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a stunning 240-foot minaret, the tallest in the world, surrounded by an elaborate complex built in the Indo-Islamic architectural tradition.

Afternoon: Drive to the medieval city of Agra, home of the world-famous Taj Mahal. Agra is one of India’s prime tourist destinations for specifically this reason, though its attractions also extend to an array of other impressive historical sights. The Taj, however, is in a league of its own and needless to say is a must-see for any visitor to the city. Commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 15th century as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, it is an architectural masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship and perfect proportions.

Accommodation: Overnight in Agra
Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: At hotel
Morning: Early this morning visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). Often considered the pinnacle of Mughal art in India, the Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. When declaring it a world heritage site, UNESCO described it as “the jewel of Muslim art in India”. There are few words that can describe the magnificence of this monument. Marvel as light and colors transform this stunning monument in the beautiful rising sun’s rays. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure or perhaps book an optional tour to Agra Fort.
Overnight in Agra.

Breakfast: At Hotel
Afternoon: Drive to Jaipur en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri an eerily abandoned capital from the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1586. Akbar built this city to celebrate the birth of his son and future heir to the throne, Emperor Jahangir. While Akbar is believed to have been illiterate, he took great interest in the arts and architecture; Fatehpur Sikri is one of his masterworks. Sadly, it served as capital for little more than a decade, eventually abandoned for lack of accessible water.
Dinner: Authentic Rajasthani cuisine at local restaurant
Accommodation: Overnight in Jaipur
Meals Included: Breakfast & dinner

Breakfast: At hotel
Morning: Start with an exhilarating excursion to Amber Fort perched on top of a hill. A royal ride on elephant (subject to availability) up the hill like the Maharajas of past times and visit the Jagmandir (the hall of victory). Perched on a hillside on the outskirts of town, the palace was constructed in the 1590s by Maharaja Man Singh, the commander of Akbar’s army, and was largely motivated by the highly defensible location. This is a beautiful and very well preserved structure, built on four levels and surrounded by ruins, which served as the backdrop for the Mira Nair movie “Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love.”
Afternoon: View the grand Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). This magnificent structure was built to allow the royal ladies of the palace to discretely watch the grand processions along the main street, City Palace and impressive Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built in the early 1700s by Maharaja Jai Sing II, the great warrior-astronomer to which this city owes its name. Also enjoy a rickshaw ride through the old part of the Pink city.

Evening: Demonstration of gem-cutting & polishing
Accommodation: Overnight in Jaipur
Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: At hotel
Morning: At leisure or shopping at local Bazars in Jaipur.
Afternoon: Drive back to Delhi.
Accommodation: Overnight in Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: At hotel
Morning: Transfer to Delhi airport for your flight to UAE. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Dubai.
Afternoon: Take a half-day sightseeing tour of Dubai city. It has been said that Dubai is a city of ages that rises out of the desert and crowns the Gulf Coast with its presence. The city is in constant motion and renewal, offering a unique blend of the old and the new, making it one of the most fascinating destinations in the world. The route takes you first to a magnificent view of Dubai Creek, passing by the heritage area of Bastakiya, with its charming wind towered houses built by wealthy merchants. You will then move on to the 225-year-old Al Fahidi Fort, where the Dubai Museum holds precious archives and memories of the city’s past, as well as chronicles of its developing stages. Just a few streets on, you will board an Abra, a traditional wooden boat, to cross the Creek for a visit to the Spice Market and the Gold Souk. Where you can find some of the best jewelry in town. Boarding the vehicle again, and you will have the opportunity to stop for a photo shoot next to Jumeirah Mosque – an architectural landmark of Dubai, and as finale to our journey, we will pass in front of Burj Al Arab.
Evening: Transfer to the hotel for check in.
Accommodation: Overnight in Dubai
Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: At hotel
Free day at leisure or book one of the following optional tours.

Accommodation: Overnight in Dubai
Meals Included: Breakfast.

Breakfast: At hotel

Morning: Today you will visit Abu Dhabi.

Afternoon: Enjoy a half day Abu Dhabi city tour. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the residence of the Federal National Council. Recognized as one of the world’s largest producers of oil, Abu Dhabi, is undergoing a massive diversification of its economy and is investing in many different areas such as commerce, tourism and culture. Your journey begins in Dubai, where you will travel past the world’s largest man-made port at Jebel Ali, and mega airport “Dubai World Central” and onward for the less than two–hour drive to Abu Dhabi. You will be spellbound by the splendor of the new additions to Abu Dhabi’s skyline, as well as the grandiose Grand Mosque, which is one of the largest mosques in the world. The journey continues through the heart of the city where you can see the famous Union Square that houses symbolic themes inspired by the customs of the country. After a short drive along the Corniche, you will arrive to the Heritage Village, specially designed by late HH Sheikh Zayed Ben Sultan al Nahyan, as a reminder of the past for the younger generation. You can browse and buy souvenirs in the Village and you will also have the opportunity to enjoy shopping at the up-market Abu Dhabi Marina Mall.

Meals Included:   Breakfast

Later today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight.

Overnight onboard flight 

Early Morning: You will board your return flight and enjoy breakfast and lunch on board. Arrive home on same day