India in Depth

From Jaisalmer we take an overnight camel safari into the Thar Desert, which is a great way to unwind after experiencing the hustle and bustle of urban Indian life. From here we begin our journey into the photogenic Thar Desert by vehicle. This region is sparsely populated by some of India's most colourful and resourceful people, such as Bhati Rajputs, who are descended from an ancient warrior called Bhatti. We then reach the vast sand dunes where we will begin our overnight camel safari, which will give you the opportunity to experience desert life from a camel's back. Camel breeding is a common practice in this area. You will meet with your village herdsman and the camel which you will ride on the way to the camp. We venture out into the golden sea of sand and will have the chance to see nomadic herders, remote parts of the Thar Desert, rolling sand dunes and desert villages. We will camp under the stars and have a traditional meal cooked for us.

Included Excursions

Camel ride & camp in the desert

Accommodation

1 night(s) on overnight camel safari

Meals

1 Breakfast(s), 1 Dinner(s)

The following day we continue our journey back to civilisation. The scenery becomes more fertile and densely populated as we head back Jaisalmer.

Included Excursions

Visit Jaisalmer Fort,Visit the abandoned village of Kuldhara

Optional Excursions

Folklore Museum – INR 100 • Jain Temples – INR 200 • Havelis of Jaisalmer - INR 100

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Imperial or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

Busy Jodhpur is Rajasthan's second largest city, dominated by its spectacular Mehrangarh fort. Located in Western Rajasthan you'll see endless golden dunes, camels slowly trekking into the distance and desert landscapes as far as the eye can see.

You will have ample free time for sightseeing. If you take the option to visit the Majestic Fort, you will see why Jodphur is known as the 'Blue City'; many houses in the old city are painted blue and you can admire this amazing view from the fort. There are many optional excursions and activities that you can try if you feel like involving yourself with the local culture and tradition, why not try a cooking, art or Hindi class? You can also choose to visit the old city with its stone temples and lively markets. Or take a wander through the new city, which houses several palaces, such as the art-deco Umaid Bhawan Palace, museums, Kaman art gallery for contemporary Indian art, and a small exotic zoo in the gardens of the Government Museum.

Optional Excursions

Meherangarh Fort – INR 600 entry + audio guide (INR 100 for camera) • Cooking class - from INR 450 • Blue City Walk - INR 400 per person • Jashwant Thada - INR 50 entry (+ INR 25 for camera) • Village Safari (jeep) - INR 1,000 per person with lunch included (minimum 4 people required to run the Safari) • Jaswant Thada - INR 75 • Ummidh Vawan Palace - INR 100

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at K.P Heritage Haveli or similar

Meals

2 Breakfast(s)

Set in the Girwa valley, Udaipur 'the city of lakes' is located in southern Rajasthan. It is one of the most popular cities in the region with its placid lakes and green gardens. This is a truly captivating city and as a result it has been dubbed 'the most romantic city in India'. Surrounded by beautiful lakes, marble palaces and stunning gardens, Udaipur will most likely offer a refreshing change to the desert surrounds you have seen so far. It provides an insight into the variety and geographical diversity that characterises India. Udaipur is also home to one of the most luxurious hotels in India, the Lake Palace, which is the former Maharajas Palace in the middle of the lake. There are plenty of sightseeing options in Udaipur as well, including the City Palace, which is an impressive complex of several palaces.

Included Excursions

Jagdish Temple & Markets tour,Entry & Guided Tour of Udaipur City Palace,Rajasthani Cultural Dance

Optional Excursions

Boat ride on Lake Pichola – Day trip INR 400 + INR 30 entry fee or Evening trip INR 700 + INR 30 entry fee • Full body massage – INR 700-800 • Hot air balloon ride US$200 per person, based on 7 people (morning and evening flights are available for about 1 hour including snacks and transfers to and from your hotel), Cooking classes - INR 700

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Janak Niwas or similar

Meals

2 Breakfast(s)

Jaipur is Rajasthan's capital and most visited city, and is a bustling, lively destination. It is known as the 'pink city' because of its pink wash buildings although time has faded some of this colour. Make sure you check out the Old City with its bazaars, palaces and havelis. There's also the popular Nahargarh (Tiger Fort) which is a small fort with towering walls. You may also wish to go on a group visit to Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is one of Jaipur's most famous attractions - a five storey high Baroque- like structure built to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe the street scenes below, out of sight of the people below. The following day there is free time to view the city independently. Try the fresh fruit juices from the street markets (remember to ask for no water or ice!). You could shop for souvenirs and look out for the Meenakaari (enamel work) and Kundankaari (inlay work with gems), which are the two styles of jewellery made by local artisans. Alternatively you could wander around the old city taking in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Or why not visit the Amber Fort, which used to be the capital of the city.

Included Excursions

Visit Amber Fort,Visit to Birla Hindu Temple

Optional Excursions

Hawa Mahal - INR 50 • City Palace - INR 500 • Observatory - INR 250 • Palace of Wind - INR 200 • Cawki Dhani - INR 750 • Monkey Valley - free entry (INR 50 for camera)

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Jai Niwas or similar

Meals

2 Breakfast(s)

Today you will travel by train to the industrial city of Agra, steeped in history and tradition, and home to the world-famous Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal never ceases to amaze all who visit to marvel at what is possibly the greatest testimonial to love and romance ever built. It was commissioned between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife.

There is more to Agra than monuments of love, and other popular attractions include the Agra Fort and Tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah. You will have free time in Agra to explore at your leisure or book some optional excursions. Your tour leader will offer suggestions and assist you with these.

You have the option to watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal - a truly incredible sight (this will be organised with your tour leader). You might also like to visit Fatehpur Sikri - a complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for 10 years. The day will be free to explore Agra further and admire some of Hinduism's most holy sights.

Included Excursions

Entry & guided tour of the Taj Mahal

Optional Excursions

Fatehpur Sikiri guided tour – INR 550 • Agra Fort – INR 550 Entry (guide fee not included) • Sikandara – INR 150 • Akbar's Mausoleum – INR 300 • Itmad-ud-Daula – INR 150 • Mehtab Bagh Gardens (for view of Taj Mahal from across the river) - INR 250

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Sidhartha or similar

Meals

2 Breakfast(s)

In Orchha we will visit the Ram Temple as well as enjoying an heritage walk around the city. You can also visit the beautiful Fort. Built by the first King of Orchha in 1501, it was built on the banks of the Betwa River, surrounded by a battlement wall. It consists of intricate temples and a roof with eight domes on top. Along with the fort there are several other temples to enjoy or sit back and relax on the river.

Included Excursions

Orchha Heritage Walk,Evening Visit to Ram Temple

Optional Excursions

Jahaghir Mahal/Orchha Palace – INR 250 (+ INR 50 for camera) • Rafting – INR 700 (Seasonal) • Village Visit – INR 100

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Aditya or similar

Meals

2 Breakfast(s)

Get a feel for local life in the small village of Basari. Here we can enjoy a tour through Basari, discovering the makeshift religious shrines, the smell of incense wafting in the air. Visit a local school (except in school holidays), and discover the caste system that differentiates the houses.

A perfect place to get off the beaten track with friendly locals, Basari Village will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the big Indian cities, for an authentic Indian experience.

Included Excursions

Village Walk,Visit a local school (exc school holidays)

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Hammer Ghari or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

Khajuraho has been growing in popularity in recent years due to the nearby temple. Here exotic architecture has given the temple the nickname of the Kama Sutra temple. You will be able to view the sculptures here, watch the sound and light show in the evening and learn about the story behind the statues.

Included Excursions

Walk about Khajuraho market

Optional Excursions

Western Group of Temples at the Kama Sutra – US$6 • Panna National Tiger Reserve – INR 3000 per person (minimum group of 6) • Sound and Light Show at the Kama Sutra Temple – INR 750 • Reenah Water Falls (seasonal) – INR 850 per person (minimum group of 6)

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Siddharth Khajuraho or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

After exploring Khajuraho we board an overnight train to the holy city of Varanasi.

Included Excursions

Entry & Guided Tour of Kama Sutra Temple

Accommodation

1 night(s) on overnight sleeper trains

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

Varanasi is one of India's most holy cities and attracts many Hindu pilgrims. We join the crowds along the holy ghats (steps leading down to the water) lining the sacred Ganges where pilgrims take a purifying dip in the river. We also can enjoy an evening boat trip to view the river in all its glory and the significance it plays in the lives of the people. The rest of the day is free to wander through the old city with its maze of narrow alleyways, and visit the temples of one of the oldest and longest inhabited cities in the world.

Included Excursions

Puja Ceremony & boat ride down the River Ganges

Optional Excursions

Old city tour - INR 350 • Sarnath Temples - Free (INR 150 entry to the excavation area)

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Siddharth Varanasi or similar

After spending the morning exploring more of Varanasi, we board an overnight train back to Delhi where there's time for some last minute souvenir shopping or to check out any sights you may have missed first time around.

Accommodation

1 night(s) on overnight sleeper trains

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

Enjoy free time making the most of Delhi before your adventure comes to an end.

Optional Excursions

Red Fort – INR 500 • Qutab Minar – INR 500 • Gandhi Memorial Museum – free • National Museum – INR 150 • Jama Masjid – free (camera charge INR 300) • Humayun's Tomb – INR 500 • Salam Balak Trust (This trust offers educational opportunities and meals to street children, teaching them trades and giving them the chance of a brighter future. If time allows your tour leader may bring you here or you can donate money through your tour leader.)

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)