DAY 1

• DELHI

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• You’ve Arrived
• For your added comfort, an English-speaking airport representative will be waiting for you in the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it. The representative will help you meet up with your private driver and accompany you to your accommodation.
• Meet your private driver and English-speaking assistant for an airport transfer.

DAY 2

• DELHI

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• Explore a City of Contrasts
• The contrasts between Old and New Delhi are striking – Old Delhi boasts spectacular UNESCO World Heritage monuments and holy sites, whereas New Delhi was designed in a typically British colonial style, with manicured tree-lined avenues and colonial bungalows. Meet with your private guide and driver to spend the day exploring the contrasts between the two sides of the city, and get an overall orientation of the city’s finest sites. Arrive in Old Delhi and drive past the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Red Fort. To truly experience the delightful chaos of the city, get on a cycle rickshaw for an exciting ride through its narrow lanes. The Old City walls wrap around Chandi Chowk, an ancient market that continues to thrive to this day. Take in the electrifying energy around you; expose your senses to the enticing colors and exotic scents of cardamom and allspice, and watch local men sip their tea at deliciously fragrant chai stands. A walk through Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market, provides for unforgettable memories.
• In the afternoon, drive past the impressive India Gate and the Secretariat Building on the way to Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world. The minaret is surrounded by a complex of buildings providing fine examples of Indian artwork dating back to the twelfth century, and it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. End the day with a visit to yet another UNESCO-recognized site, the Humayun’s Tomb. Explore this series of Mughal-style buildings, the first example of this type of architecture in India. At the end of the day, return to your hotel by private vehicle.

DAY 3

• DELHI TO UDAIPUR

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• En Route
• Meet your private driver and English-speaking assistant for an airport transfer.
• Board a flight with direct service from Delhi to Udaipur. Approximate flight duration is 1.5 hours.
• Meet your driver for an airport transfer with private vehicle, driver and English-speaking assistant.
• Today visit the majestic white City Palace built in granite and marble. The palace complex is surrounded by crenellated fort walls, and overlooks Pichola Lake. The Garden of the Maids of Honor is well laid out with extensive lawns and shady walks. Constructed for forty eight young ladies-in-waiting sent to the royal house as part of the dowry, the garden has many fountains in its four delightful pools, chiseled kiosks and marble elephants. The Crystal Gallery in the Fateh Prakash Palace features a breath taking collection of crystals including tables, sofa sets, a dining table, dressers, fountains, beds, and an exquisite jewel studded carpet.

DAY 4

• UDAIPUR

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• All Aboard!
• Today travel to Eklingji, located about twelve miles north of Udaipur, featuring a complex of 108 ancient temples, carved from sandstone and marble. The main temple was built in 734 AD to propagate the blessings of Lord Shiva. Afterwards continue on to Nagda, known for its 10th century temples. The Jain temple of Adbudji is essentially ruined, but it still displays interesting architecture. Visit the Sas Bahu temple that has fine intricate carvings. There are also some small temples submerged in the nearby lake.
• Enjoy a boat ride at Lake Pichola.

DAY 5

• UDAIPUR TO JODHPUR

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• The Journey Continues…
• Meet your private driver and make yourself comfortable for a transfer from Udaipur to Jodhpur, stopping for a visit to the town of Ranakpur en route. The scenic village is set in the lush green valleys and streams of the Aravalli ranges, and is easily accessible through the well-connected Rajasthani road network. Ranakpur is home to one of the largest and most important Jain temple complexes in India, the 15th-century sprawling complex made up of 29 halls over 4500 square yards. Located approximately 100 miles from Jodhpur, Ranakpur is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of the Jain faith. Mornings are reserved for prayers - visitors to the temple are welcome from noon to 5 p.m. Conservative dress is required when visiting Ranakpur: women must cover their legs well below the knee. Leather products, including belts, are not permitted in the temple. After your visit to Ranakpur, continue by private vehicle to Udaipur.

DAY 6

• JODHPUR

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• Cultural Immersion
• Let your guide take you on a tour of the most magnificent building in Jodhpur, Mehrangarh Fort, constructed in 1459. The fort is situated on a lofty height of 400 feet above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its territorial boundaries, there are several palaces, which are known for their intricate carvings and sprawling courtyards. Jaswant Thada lies to the left of the Mehrangarh fort complex. It is a royal cenotaph made up of white marble. It was built to commemorate Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Umaid Bhawan Palace is built of marble and pink sandstone, and to this day it remains the residence of the royal family.
• Travel by jeep to the Bishnoi community where you visit traditional villages to see the local handicrafts such as shoe making, durries, pottery and hand weaving. Take advantage of the opportunity to interact with the villagers - men in their traditional attire, and women clad in ancestral jewelry. Take part in a traditional opium tea ceremony - a centuries' old tradition specific to this region. While opium is technically a banned substance in greater-India, only in this part of Rajasthan, the government has allowed its usage in small quantities (more for symbolic importance) to keep the age old tradition of friendship and brotherhood alive amongst the locals as the mild tea is an important part of Bishnoi culture.  En-route, observe and photograph wildlife. You may be able to spot black buck, chinkaras, and peacocks as they freely move through the countryside.

DAY 7

• JODHPUR TO JAIPUR

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• Strolling the Magical Streets
• Meet your private driver and settle in for a transfer from Jodhpur to Jaipur. Approximate driving time is 5 hours.
• The creative energy and ingenuity of Jaipur have long been a drawing point of the city, a lasting legacy of skilled craftspeople and artisans. From the founding of the city in 1727, the royal families and nobles of Jaipur have patronized the craft capital of India, and through their sphere of influence, many valuable and highly prized items can still be found. Using skills passed down through generations, artisans and master craftsmen can be seen in the areas of Ghat Darwaza and Vishveshwar ji. Starting in front of the iconic Palace of the Winds, set out on foot with your private guide and spend a colorful evening walking through the city’s bazaars, mingling and chatting with store vendors and locals alike, and sampling some of the region’s notable culinary favorites. Taste pakoras, aloo tiki, samosas and ladoo from a selection of the city’s most popular street food vendors that have been carefully vetted for quality and hygiene standards. Stroll along and poke your head into local artisans’ workshops to observe the painstakingly careful craftsmanship of jewelers and silversmiths, gold painters and tie-dying experts. At the end the 2.5-hour walk through the bazaars, return to your hotel by private vehicle.

DAY 8

• JAIPUR

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• Audacious Architecture
• Following an early breakfast, meet your private guide and driver at your hotel and spend the day exploring some of Jaipur’s most iconic monuments. Begin the day with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the magnificent hilltop Amber Fort. The Fort is surrounded by fortified battlements and overlooks the Maotha Lake. Once on top, stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the numerous mirrors, lighting up the entire room. Continue to Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds. The monument is adorned in an ornate pale pink facade with a tiered baroque-like build.  The original design was intended to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life and public festivals in the streets below without being seen.
• Next, visit Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh ll in the 18th century. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the world’s largest sundial. The massive astronomical instruments were built from local stone and marble and the monument pays homage to 18th-century architectural innovations during the Mughal period. From here, continue to the City Palace, a breathtaking 18th-century royal residence to the rulers of Jaipur. Wander through the sprawling complex and visit areas that have been converted to a museum illustrating the harmony of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Part of the palace, Chandra Mahal, is the home of the current Maharaja and is off-limits. End your day with a private transfer back to your hotel.

DAY 9

• JAIPUR TO AGRA

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• A Dazzling Drive
• Meet your driver and settle in for a private transfer from Jaipur to Agra, with a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fatehpur Sikri, an abandoned ghost city, along the way. Meet with a local guide in Fatehpur Sikri to explore the ruins. Constructed during the second half of the 16th-century by Emperor Akbar, the "City of Victory" served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for approximately 14 years, until the capital was moved to Punjab and the city was later abandoned. The well-preserved complex of monuments and temples reflects the Hindu and Muslim architectural styles of the time, and houses one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. After your visit to the abandoned city, continue by private vehicle to Agra. Approximate travel time is 5-6 hours including touring.

DAY 10

• AGRA

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• Cross an Item off the Bucket List
• A stunning monument to love, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Taj Mahal has captivated the hearts and minds of travelers for centuries. Meet your private guide and driver for a private tour of this exquisite example Mughal architecture, crafted entirely out of white marble. Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who passed away during childbirth, the iconic mausoleum rises above a well-manicured garden. The inside of the Taj Mahal is equally stunning, with elaborate inlay work comprised of precious and semi-precious stones.
• After your leisurely exploration of this New 7 Wonders of the World, continue by car to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Agra Fort, a red sandstone fort built on a bend of the Yamuna river. The Mughal Dynasty fort served as the main residence of the emperors until the capital was shifted to Delhi, and is an impressive monument with a rich architectural history. Emperor Shah Jahan was once imprisoned inside of Agra Fort, and the tower of his imprisonment offers views of the Taj Mahal in the distance. At the end of the visit, return to your hotel by private vehicle.

DAY 11

• AGRA TO DELHI

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• Onward and Upward
• Meet your driver and settle in for a private transfer from Agra to Delhi. Approximate driving time is 4 hours.

DAY 12

• DELHI
• Bon Voyage
• Meet your private driver and English-speaking assistant for an airport transfer.

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