This 15 day tour allows you to experience all the glory of India from the famous Taj Mahal to Ranthambore National Park! Enjoy relaxing cruises, dining in palaces, and drives through the wild to sight a rare Indian Tiger! All this and more is yours to experience when you take this vacation tour. Below is an outline of what you can look forward to each day during your adventure.
Air 1: Overnight Flight
You'll be taking an overnight flight* to Delhi, India.
Day 2: Gurgaon, Delhi, India - Tour Begins
Your plane will land in Delhi today. You'll check into your hotel and rest up from your flight.
Day 3: New Delhi
During your tour of Delhi today, your tour guide will educate you on the origin and history of the language of the region and teach you key words and phrases you can use to interact with the locals. Your tour will start in Old Delhi which includes a visit to the largest mosque in India, Jama Masjid. Then, you'll be invited to explore the streets in traditional fashion, by rickshaw. A tour of New Delhi after lunch will take you to see sights such as Humayun's tomb, the India Gate war memorial, the Palatial Rastrathi Bhawan (the presidential residence), and the Parliament building. Tonight, you'll join General Urban, a retired serviceman, and his family at their farmhouse for a welcome dinner and discussion about life in India.
Day 4: Delhi - Udaipur
A flight* to Udaipur, the gateway to Rajasthan will introduce you to a land of palaces and forts rich with history. A boat cruise on the Lake Pichola en route to Jag Mandir Palace this evening will delight fans of architecture.
Day 5: Udaipur
Today features a visit to the City Palace, a monument of Udaipur. Other stops today include Jagdish Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and Sahelion-ki-Bari, the Garden of the Maids of Honor.
Day 6: Udaipur - Jodhpur
On your way to Jodhpur, you'll be stopping to visit Ranakpur Jain Temple, an architectural marvel renowned for its 1,444 pillars. You'll be arriving in Jodphur, an ancient city surrounded by walls standing over 100 feet tall, later in the afternoon.
Day 7: Jodhpur
The citadel of the sun, Mehrangarh Fort, and various other sites such as Jaswant Thada (a memorial made of marble) are places you'll visit today. You'll then be transported by rickshaw to the inner city bazaar of Jodhpur and enjoy a walking tour. Visits to villages such as Bishnoi Village will allow you a look at traditional handicrafts, attire, jewelry, and pottery making.
Day 8: Jodhpur - Jaipur
Travel to the "Pink City" of Jaipur by train this morning. Enjoy stops at the "Palace of the Winds," Hawa Mahal, a home to a former great king, and the City Palace decorated with art, carved doorways, and massive courtyard gardens. You'll be enjoying lunch in a private and exclusive area of the palace, the Chandra Mahal Verandah. Then, head over to the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in 1726 by Sawai Jai Singh. This astronomical wonder makes accurate predictions of celestial events to this day.
Day 9: Jaipur
Enjoy a ride to the top of Amber Fort either by elephant or jeep. Take a historical stroll through the halls and courtyards of this former seat of power. Next, head over to the flower market to learn about the making of flower garlands used in Indian welcome ceremonies. Spend the rest of the afternoon as you wish.
Day 10: Jaipur - Ranthambore
Arrive in Ranthambore National Park near Sawai Madhipur in the morning, a designated Project Tiger conservation site. After a slide show and lecture about the history of the park and its wildlife, you'll take an open-air vehicle tour of the park where you can see sloth bears, hyenas, crocodiles, and tigers.
Day 11: Ranthambore
Take another drive this morning through Ranthambore National Park for a chance to see game and wildlife you may not have been able to the day before. Enjoy breakfast after your tour. In the afternoon you'll be visiting the Ranthambore School of Art, a facility that reestablished the craft of painting Indian wildlife. The school was opened with the single goal of saving the endangered Indian Tiger. Next up is a visit to the historical Dastkar Ranthambore Project where the artisans in contemporary India were re-imagined, making crafts the second most lucrative income for rural Indians at present.
Day 12: Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra
An early morning train ride will take you to Bharatpur for brunch and then on to Fatehpur Sikri. This deserted city was constructed from red sandstone in the 16th century as a palace and capital for the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Arrive in Agra later on, where you'll be spending the next two nights.
Day 13: Agra
At sunrise, you'll be transported by carriage to the gates of the Taj Mahal, a marvel built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a gift for his wife. You'll have plenty of time to explore this monument from the white marble its constructed from to learning the effort that went into building it. Other stops for the day include Agra Fort, Mother Teresa's Charity Mission, Mehtab Bagh for a view of the sun setting over the Taj Mahal, and Kalakriti where handicrafts and other traditional items can be viewed. Tonight, you'll be enjoying a farewell dinner.
Day 14: Agra - Gurgaon, Delhi
Enjoy a basic yoga class taught by a local expert that will relax you before breakfast. Then pack your bags to leave Agra and head back to Gurgaon. Stop for a delicious regional lunch on your way. Once in Gurgaon, check into a hotel to rest up for your journey back home.
Day 15: Gurgaon - Tour Ends
Your tour ends in Gurgaon today. Board your flight back home and don't forget to take all the pleasant and wonderful memories of your adventures in India with you.
*Airfare not included in total price
