Rajasthan and Varanasi

Your driver will pick you up upon your arrival at the airport and escort you to your car. Then we will take you to your hotel. There proceed to your check-in before we brief you to the rest of the tour, and answer the questions you may have. According to your arrival time, we will take you for a first tour of Delhi's highlights: such as the Akshardham temple (and its unimaginable architecture), Humayun's Tomb (built in the 1500s), the Lotus Temple (notable for its flowerlike shape, it has won several architectural awards), the Birla Mandir (also know as Laxminarayan Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu), the Monkey temple... Overnight in Delhi.

In the morning after your breakfast, you will be transferred by road to Mandawa, which is part of the Shekhawati region. On the way, you'll discover semi-arid landscapes, very common in Rajasthan. Mandawa is a typical and quiet town, which is perfect to give the first taste of Rajasthan. Here you can have a walking tour of the old havelies (and their lavishly painted walls) belonging to some of the richest business families of India, such as the Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, the Saraf Haveli or the Murmuria Haveli. You can also visit the Mandawa Fort, founded in the 18th century by Thakur Nawal Singh, showing many paintings of Lord Krishna and his cows. Overnight in Mandawa.

Today your driver will take you to Bikaner. Bikaner was founded in 1486 by Rao Bika, where the name Bikaner comes from. In the afternoon you will visit Junagarh Fort, which was built by Rai Singh between 1588 and 1593. It has a 986-metre-long wall with 37 bastions. You will also visit Deshnok (a small village situated 32 km south from Bikaner), whose greatest attraction is the temple of Shri Karnimata also known as "Rat Temple". Here you can see the unique sight where rat and pilgrims mix in perfect harmony: this can only be seen in India. Back in Bikaner, you can admire the beautiful Laxmi Niwas Palace that has now been transformed into a sumptuous luxury hotel. It used to be the residential palace built by Maharajah Ganga Singh, the ruler of the former state of Bikaner. Overnight in Bikaner.

In the morning your driver will pick you up at your hotel and you will leave for the Thar desert ( also called the Indian desert). Halfway we will stop in the city of Pokaran, where you will visit its Fort. A hidden gem, mostly ignored by tourists. On the way, you will also see desert landscapes of India, endless sand dunes and desert life. Then you will arrive at the town of Khuri located deep in the Thar desert. Here you can experience the authentic life of the Indian desert, tradition and culture. You leave for a private camel safari and witness the magnificent sunset over the dunes. The villagers then will prepare a traditional dinner in the desert. Finally, you can decide to spend the night in the dunes, either open sky or in traditional huts. Overnight in the desert.
In case you don't wish to spend the night in the desert or do the camel safari, Drivers-India will be happy to make an alternative proposal.

In the morning we will leave for the desert city of Jaisalmer (also known as the 'Golden City'). Settle and discover the Trikoot Garh Fort perched atop the Meru Hill. The rest of the day is free as you will explore the narrow streets and temples of the Fort. Before sunset, your driver will take you to Gadi Sagar, a small lake located in the city. There you can have a boat tour to see the beautiful small cenotaphs and enjoy a view of the Fort. Feeding the giant catfish is activity loved by many locals. Overnight in Jaisalmer.

Enjoy your breakfast and a last view of the Jaisalmer Fort. Then your driver will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the blue city of Jodhpur. On the way, you will visit the charming village of Osian. Osian is known for its many Jain temples: the most interesting are the Dugha temple and Mahavir temple. Then continue your trip and discover how the old city of Jodhpur circles the Mehrangarh fort and is bounded by a wall with several gates. Start exploring the city by the "Ghanta Ghar" (the Clock Tower) and the surroundings. In 2013 Jodhpur was elected the most amazing place to see in the world, according to the Lonely Planet. Overnight in Jodhpur.

This morning you will be taken to and visit the Mehrangarh Fort situated on a low sandstone hill, more than 125 meters high, impressively watching over the entire city. The Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India and was built in 1460 by Rao Jodha. Inside the fort visit the many Palaces, beautifully decorated by impressive carvings, such as the Moti-Mahal (the pearl palace) and the Phool Maha (the flower palace). Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph built in memory of Indian Maharaja Jaswant Singh in 1899, located close to the Mehrangarh Fort. Next, your driver will take you to the Umaid public museum. Part of this huge recent palace is today a Luxury hotel belonging to the Maharaja of Jodhpur. Overnight in Jodhpur.

Transfer by road to Udaipur. On the way, we will stop at Ranakpur. There you will visit the famous Jain Temple, dedicated to Adinatha. Built in the 15th century, the temple made of white marble offers many beautiful carvings. Then we will arrive in the 'Lake City', where you will have a free afternoon to explore the narrow lanes and back streets of Udaipur leading to the Washing Ghats at the lake Pichola. Visit one of the fine downtown restaurants for a dinner in one of the most romantic cities of Rajasthan. Overnight in Udaipur.

After breakfast, today, enjoy a city tour of Udaipur. The City Palace and Museum is considered as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. The Pratap Memorial home of the bronze statue of Maharana Pratap, the legendary warrior king of Udaipur. Jagdish Temple, which was built in 1651 AD. The small ornamental garden of Saheliyon Ki Bari. Late afternoon enjoy a boat-ride on Lake Pichola visiting many Ghats (lake banks) where many wash and bath and enjoy the excellent view of the Lake Palace and City Palace. Overnight in Udaipur.

Today you will leave the lake city of Udaipur and continue your tour towards Pushkar. On the road to the holy city of Pushkar, you will visit the very nice Eklingji temple (a Hindu temple which construction was started in 971, in honour of Lord Shiva). Then you will visit Ajmer, and its Taragarh Fort (one of the oldest hill forts in India and in the world). The rest of the day is free for your leisure in the holy city of Pushkar, where you can have a first view of the palace, the holy lake and its Ghats. Pushkar is a holy city, no alcohol, no meat is served in the town. Overnight in Pushkar.

This morning you will be transferred to the pink city Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. Named after Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the city was founded in the 18th century. In the afternoon you will visit Jaigarth Fort. Also, discover the beautiful Jal Mahal. The Palace (literally 'Water Palace') is located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. The postcard view becomes particularly romantic at sunset when the Palace lights up and seems to float in the air. In the evening you can enjoy a unique cinema experience or a world famous Indian Ayurvedic massage. Overnight in Jaipur.

In and around Jaipur you will visit: Amber Fort (where you can ride an elephant to get to the top of the fort *) that was built by Raja Man Singh I, the old town and its monuments, Birla Mandir (a Hindu temple located at the foot of Moti Dungri fort), the Palace of Winds (in the shape of the crown of Krishna, which 953 small windows allowed women to watch everyday life and processions without being seen), the City Palace (the palace complex that includes the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal palaces and other buildings, was built in 1732 )... In the afternoon, you will visit Galtaji. The ancient Hindu pilgrimage site consists of a series of temples built on the hills that surround Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur.
* Elephant ride: this is an attraction enjoyed by locals. If you are animal wellness sensitive and against their harassment for business reasons, you can, of course, do the 15/20 minutes walk-up by foot.

On the way to Agra, you will stop first at the stepwells in Abhaneri. Though the village is nearly abandoned, the location is famous for its 'Baoris' (step wells which were invented by the natives to collect rain water). You will visit Chand Baori, one of the largest and deepest wells in India. Then you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal empire from 1571 to 1585. It was abandoned shortly after its completion, due to lack of water and the proximity with enemies. Then continue your journey to Agra. Rest of the day is free at your leisure in Agra. Overnight in Agra.

Start the day off by visiting the famous Taj Mahal during sunrise. It is the symbol of love built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Next, you will visit the Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage site) built by the great Emperor Akbar. Existing since the 11th century, the Fort was expanded by the Mughals and contains several buildings such as the Hall of Public Audience and also several gates (the Delhi Gate and the Lahore Gate are the most famous). You will also visit the Sikandra Fort. Late afternoon, your driver will take you to the Agra Railway station, for your overnight train to Varanasi. Overnight in the train (1st class A/C in sleeper cabin). Another driver will pick you up at the train station at your arrival the next morning.

The holy city of Varanasi (former Benares) is the beating heart of the Hindu world. It is a unique place, where pilgrims from all over India meet on the gaths along the sacred water of the Ganges river to purify themselves or to cremate their beloved ones. In the morning you will visit the Buddhist city of Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. You can see the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple and the museum. In the evening admire the ceremony along the Ganges river and feel the unique fervour of hundreds of people praying and singing. Overnight in Varanasi.

Take an early boat excursion on the holy Ganges river to see the bathing ghats and cremation site (included in the tour). Watching people bathing and worshipping at the Ghats is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. During afternoon immerse yourself in the narrow swarming streets of the old city. In evening you will be transferred to Varanasi railway station to board the train to Delhi (1st class AC sleeper). Overnight in the train. Another driver will pick you up at the train station at your arrival the next morning.

Today we will take you for a Delhi sightseeing tour. Discover the Red Fort (the large red-colored fort was the residence of the Mughal emperors for nearly 2 centuries, and offers several structures that you will visit inside the main building - closed on Mondays), the nearby great Jama Masjid Mosque (built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656, it is one of the largest Mosques in India), the Chandni Chowk market (one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi), Qutb Minar (the 72 meter high monument) and more depending on your interests as you can decide with your driver who knows very well his hometown. Overnight in Delhi.

Enjoy your breakfast. Then, according to your flight schedule, the day will be dedicated to Old and New Delhi sights and more depending on your interests as you can decide with your driver who knows very well his hometown. Your driver will then take you to the airport for your departure flight.