Day 1: Arrive New Delhi
Arrive in New Delhi where you’ll be welcomed by our airport representative and transferred to your hotel for check in. Overnight in New Delhi.
Day 2: New Delhi
Your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and take you on a tour of the best sites of New Delhi. Start in the southern end of the city with a visit to the Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, followed by Humayun’s Tomb, a grand example of Indo-Persian style architecture similar to the Taj Mahal. After lunch, take a short walk through the bustling Chandi Chowk shopping area in Old Delhi, and visit the adjacent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Continue to the serene park setting of Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. Finally, visit the Laxmi Narayan Hindu Temple near Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi where you can shop or have dinner. Overnight in New Delhi. (Breakfast)
Day 3: New Delhi to Agra
Early this morning, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the train station for your 2.5-hour train ride to Agra on the Shatabdi Express. Upon arrival, you will be met at the station and taken on a tour of Agra. You'll cross the narrow, congested Strachey Bridge to visit the Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb and see the Taj Mahal from the opposite side of the Yamuna River. Then visit Agra Fort and the Jami Masjid, Friday Mosque, with the bustling Kinari market at its entrance. Then travel by tonga (horse-drawn cart) to the entrance of the Taj Mahal and stay until sunset, watching the character of the white marble change as the sun goes down. Overnight in Agra. (Breakfast)
Day 4: Agra to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri
After breakfast, depart for Jaipur by car, stopping to visit the ancient Moghul city, Fatehpur Sikri. This planned city took 15 years to build but was abandoned after only 14 years due to a shortage of water. View the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & other palaces which are still well-preserved. Then continue on to to the Step wells of Abhaneri, which were built in the 9th century. The step wells are lined by 3,500 symmetrically laid steps that descend into a 100-foot pit. Continue the drive to Jaipur and check into your hotel. Total travel time is about seven hours, including the stops. Overnight in Jaipur. (Breakfast)
Day 5: Jaipur
In the morning, visit the impressive Amber Fort, situated on a ridge 11 kilometers outside Jaipur City. One of the highlights of the Fort is the famous Shish Mahal, or Palace of Mirrors. Return to Jaipur for lunch, then tour the main sites of the city including the Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds, the open-air Jantar Mantar Observatory to see the vast astronomical instruments, and the City Palace and museum. The City Palace is still the home of the Maharaja and the museum has an interesting textile section, which contains dresses and costumes of the former Maharajas and Maharanis of Jaipur. Later afternoon, enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the bazaars. Your evening is free to explore the markets of Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur. (Breakfast)
Day 6: Jaipur to Jodhpur
After breakfast, drive about five to six hours to Jodhpur. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel then tour the city including the Mehrangarh Fort located on cliffs above the city, the Jaswant Thada, a white marble cenotaph built in 1899, and the bustling Sardar Market and clock tower in the center of the city. Overnight in Jodhpur. (Breakfast)
Day 7: Jodhpur to Udaipur
Today, you'll drive to Udaipur via the ancient temple of Ranakpur. The cluster of temples, made of intricately sculpted white marble, is a marvelous feat of architecture. It would take anyone by surprise to learn that they were built in 1460, so well preserved & sparkling is the marble. The main temple is supported on 1,444 pillars. all with unique carvings. Then continue the drive to Udaipur. Total drive time today is about 6 hours with stops. Arrive in Udaipur in the afternoon and check in to your hotel. Overnight in Udaipur. (Breakfast)
Day 8: Udaipur
After breakfast tour the romantic city of Udaipur including Jagdish temple, the Garden of the Maidens of Honor, a small garden with fountains, kiosks, marble elephants & lotus pool, and the City Palace which is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola. The afternoon is free to explore the small streets and interesting shops or to relax on a roof-top café overlooking the water. Overnight in Udaipur. (Breakfast)
Day 9: Udaipur to Delhi
Your car and driver are available in Udaipur until you transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi, where you will connect to your onward flight home. If you have a late-night departure in Delhi, we can arrange at additional cost a hotel near the airport for you to have dinner, wash up, and rest.
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