Highlights of Rajasthan Tour
Highlights of Rajasthan Tour
Explore the best of the region on our Highlights of Rajasthan tour, soaking up splendid lake palaces, majestic forts, colourful bazaars, and dreamy desert landscapes. After arriving in Delhi*, our suggested itinerary takes you to the Pink City of Jaipur, where The Oberoi Rajvilas will be your base. Discover the highlights, including Amber Fort, the City Palace Museum, and the Hawa Mahal. You’ll also have a bit of time to do your own thing in Jaipur, whether that’s shopping in the colourful markets or indulging in a spa treatment. Next, fly to the fairy-tale city of Udaipur, for a two-night stay at The Oberoi Udaivilas; an unashamedly opulent resort on the banks of Lake Pichola. In Udaipur, you’ll take in the enormous City Palace, shimmering lakes, and the crooked narrow streets of the old city.
Journey through the Aravalli Hills to the Blue City of Jodhpur, for a two-night stay at RAAS. A fabulous boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the old city, with magnificent views of Mehrangarh Fort, a zen-like spa, and stunning suites; RAAS is one of our favourite places to stay in Rajasthan. While in Jodhpur, you’ll explore the majestic Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada, take a walking tour through the labyrinthine streets of Sadar Bazaar, and head out to the nearby Bishnoi villages by Jeep. You’ll then continue to Jaisalmer, in the heart of the Thar Desert, for a two-night stay at The Serai – a luxury desert camp seemingly in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by golden sands. A camel ride to the dunes for sundowners will make for a fabulous memory of your time in Rajasthan. The next day you’ll head into the city to discover the fort. Rajasthan’s only remaining living-fort, the complex has a dizzying array of houses, temples and havelis all crammed within its narrow streets.
*Depending on your wider itinerary, you might prefer to skip Delhi in favour of starting your voyage through the highlights of Rajasthan in Jaipur. Direct flights are available to Jaipur from most metropolitan cities in India; including Ahmedabad, Chennai, Pune, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. With all our tours being tailor-made, the itinerary described here is purely suggestive and will be fine-tuned to best suit you. We can also shuffle around the order of stops, for example ending in Udaipur instead of Jaisalmer if it better suits your onward arrangements. This itinerary is merely a suggestion to share a flavour of the possibilities. We can tweak or completely transform it into your ideal Rajasthan getaway.
Later, continue to Dera Amer to spend a memorable evening with elephants. It’s a magical place on the outskirts of the city, where you can spend time up close with elephants by helping to feed and bathe them, before taking a gentle walk together through the surrounding forest at sunset (Dera Amer do not encourage rides). If meeting elephants isn’t your thing, this can certainly be removed or replaced. Perhaps with a private cooking class or a special dinner recommendation. For those who are interested in spending time with elephants, Dera Amer is a fantastic and ethical place to do it.
For the next two nights, you’ll stay at RAAS – a stylish boutique hotel nestled at the foot of the mighty Mehrangarh Fort, in the heart of Jodhpur’s old city. Stepping away from the buzz of the old town and walking through Raas’ stunning gateway is like entering a peaceful oasis. The hotel is a beautiful contrast of old and new; slick décor and modern structures stand side by side with a restored, red sandstone haveli. The view of the fort looming above is spectacular, perhaps one of the best hotel views in Rajasthan. Or, for a truly royal experience, rub shoulders with the maharaja by staying at his palace, the Taj Umaid Bhawan, now a luxury hotel in Jodhpur.
This evening, soak up a private Bhopa performance – a rare Rajasthani art form which combines dancing, singing and painting. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional thali dinner (a bit like tapas, a thali presents you with several small plates. It’s a great way to get a taste of Rajasthan and try things you perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise ordered). Our past guests have found this a very culturally rich experience, and a highlight of their stay.
Back at The Serai, a private Jeep awaits for a safari through the desert scrub, spotting indigenous wildlife and local shepherds with their herds. A camel ride will transport you for the last leg of your journey over to the private dunes, where a butler will be waiting with champagne and canapés while you take in the famous desert sunset.
The Highlights of Rajasthan tour we’ve described here is merely a starting point to share a flavour of the possibilities. Every aspect is flexible (from the hotels to the destinations to the length to the sightseeing). For example, you may like to stay a bit longer in Delhi to explore the highlights of India’s capital city or omit Delhi altogether if you’ve seen it on a previous occasion. We can also shuffle around the order if you like the idea of ending in Udaipur instead of Jaisalmer. If you’d like to combine the highlights of Rajasthan with a visit to the stunning Taj Mahal in Agra, and spot tigers on safari in Ranthambhore, may we suggest our Ultimate Luxury Rajasthan Tour? All our tours are private, and tailor-made to complement your taste and interests. In essence, the itinerary described above is just a starting point, and together we can refine it into your ideal Indian experience.
Like what you see? Contact us today to find out more about our exclusive itineraries. But remember: each of our trips is tailored exactly to who you are and what you want to do, so tell us about yourself, and we'll create something that's entirely you.
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