FLAGSHIP RAJASTHAN

Your adventure begins in Delhi, India’s capital and an endless source of mystery. Having seen numerous empires rise and fall around it, Delhi is the perfect introduction to the historical and cultural melting pot that is Rajasthan, with echoes everywhere of the Mughals, Delhi Sultans, Turks and Afghans who have called this home over the centuries.

Included in the price of your stay is a full day exploring both Old and New Delhi – the former a treasure trove of history and culture, bustling souks and winding alleyways; the latter the capital of modern India and a symbol of progress and independence. The tour includes a visit to one of Delhi’s iconic spice markets, a riot of colour, scent and noise which will linger long in the memory. Your home for 2 nights in Delhi is The Lodhi, a boutique design hotel in the heart of New Delhi.

Departing Delhi after 2 nights, you’ll travel in classic Indian style to your next stop, Agra. Indian Railways are an icon of the country and a fantastic way to experience it and to meet Indian people. Agra is around 4 hours by train from Delhi, and awaiting you on your arrival is one of the most beautiful buildings, and greatest travel experiences, in the world: the Taj Mahal. No amount of photographs can desensitise you to the majesty of this marble building, erected in the 17^th century as a mausoleum to the wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Also worth a visit is the Agra Fort, a magnificent walled city which stands as one of the best-preserved examples of Mughal architecture in India. Included in your itinerary is a village walk in Kachhpura, home to yet more Mughal heritage sites away from the tourist crowds.

You’ll spend one night in Agra at the Oberoi Amarvilas, a palatial resort just 600 metres away from the Taj and promising uninterrupted views from each of its rooms.

The next stop on your Rajasthan adventure is Ranthambore, around 5 hours by private road transfer from Agra. After the urban history of Delhi and Agra, Ranthambore is a place for admiring the majesty of nature: a vast wildlife reserve and an important sanctuary for the endangered Bengal tiger.

You’ll spend 2 nights at Sher Bagh, a luxurious tented camp on the borders of Ranthambore National Park which evokes the atmosphere of the Raj. Your stay includes private game drives, which will see you spotting the tigers in their natural habitat alongside other creatures such as the leopard, wild boar, sloth bear and rhesus macaque. As well as being an important ecological reserve, Ranthambore is an incredibly atmospheric place, and the experience of seeing Bengal tigers stalking through the ruins of the ancient Ranthambore Fort is not one you’ll forget quickly.

After 2 nights in Ranthambore, you’ll visit yet another iconic north Indian city, taking a 3.5-hour private road transfer to Jaipur. Known as the Pink City for its red sandstone buildings – and the dashing shade of pink they were painted to herald the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876 – Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. Like Delhi and Agra, Jaipur is a treasure trove of imperial and medieval history.

Highlights include the City Palace, a pink-washed maze of architectural styles and the home of the former royal family of Jaipur; the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, an ornate façade designed for royal women to look out over their subjects without being seen themselves; and Amber Fort, a towering sandstone citadel which overlooks the city. Your stay includes a scenic morning balloon ride, private access to the City Palace gardens, and a visit to Govind Dev Ji, a Hindu temple within the palace compound.

Your home for 2 nights is the Taj Rambagh Palace, a former royal residence on the outskirts of the city.

After 2 nights in Jaipur, you’ll be driven for around 5.5 hours to another Rajasthan icon, the Blue City of Jodhpur. With its powder-blue cuboid buildings tumbling beneath the shadow of the mighty Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur is as recognisable as Jaipur. Included in your stay is a visit to Mehrangarh, an imposing fortress which rises from a rocky outcrop above the city, dates from the mid-1400s and is incredibly well preserved.

You’ll also enjoy a heritage walk through Umaid Bhawan Palace, built in the 1930s in the style of a medieval Rajasthani palace. One of the world’s largest private residences, part of it is now a luxurious Taj hotel, where you’ll spend the next 2 nights.

Other highlights of your time in Jodhpur include a traditional dinner on the terrace of an old haveli restaurant, where you’ll enjoy rich Mughal cuisine to the accompaniment of Bhopa musicians: folk priest-singers.

Your next stop is just an hour away by private transfer, although you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another time as you head into the desert for 2 nights at Mihir Garh, an incredible sandstone fortress rising from the sands of the Marwar. Despite its proximity to Jodhpur, this region is home to villages where life has remained largely unchanged for centuries. A jeep trip will see you meet local people and get a feel for their rich traditional culture, with an opportunity to visit a local market and pick up some beautiful handicrafts as a souvenir of your stay.

You’ll finish the day with a traditional shikar (hunting) dinner, out in the sands of the Thar Desert beneath the stars, where you’ll enjoy sumptuous barbecued dishes accompanied by traditional Rajasthani folk musicians.

After 2 nights at Mihir Garh, you’ll head even deeper into the wilderness as you’re taken to SUJAN Jawai Camp, a luxurious safari camp in the desert halfway between Jodhpur and Udaipur. Staying in luxurious colonial-style safari tents, you’ll embark on game safaris by private jeep, where you’ll have the chance to spot the iconic leopards as well as over 170 species of birds – this is one of the most varied birdwatching sites in the world.

You’ll also enjoy the camp’s signature ‘shepherd walk’, where you’ll stroll through the varied landscape around the camp and meet the nomadic shepherds who have made their living from the land here for centuries. Other activities on offer include a visit to the 15^th-century Kumbhalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which offers stunning views over the savannah.

The final stop on your journey through Rajasthan is one without which no visit to the Land of Kings is complete: the beautiful City of Lakes, Udaipur. Stopping en route to visit the ornately carved temples of Ranakpur, you’ll then make a break for lunch at Mountbatten Lodge, a luxurious colonial residence where you’ll enjoy a traditional meal in the shade of a centuries-old banyan tree.

The last 2 nights of your trip will be spent at the Taj Lake Palace, a luxurious hotel in one of the most romantic spots imaginable. This 18^th-century hotel sits on the private island of Jag Niwas in Lake Pichola, a serene body of water in Udaipur, and has been used as a location in various Hollywood films including the James Bond movie Octopussy.

During your stay, you’ll partake in the traditional art of Jal Sajnhi, or ‘water painting’, where powders and paints are scattered on floating stencils to create beautiful works of art. You’ll also enjoy a vintage car ride in true colonial style, finishing with dinner at the stunning Chunda Palace, overlooking the Aravalli mountain range.

After 2 nights in the City of Lakes, your Rajasthani adventure reaches its end, and you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.