Delhi - Jaipur - Raipur - Deogarh - Udaipur 12 days/11 nights
This luxury private tour gives a tantalising taste of the splendours of Rajasthan, from the colourful bustle of city life to the charm of rural Rajasthan. Begin in India’s cosmopolitan capital Delhi where you will enjoy the contrasts of the city, from the souk-like bazaars to the tree-lined colonial avenues. Afterwards, continue to the bejewelled ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur with its splendid architecture, not to mention fantastic shopping. Then steer off the beaten track to your hotel Lakshman Sagar, two 19th-century former hunting lodges, and explore the surrounding countryside. Continue even further into rural Rajasthan to Deogarh. Here, you’ll spend two nights in luxury homestay Dev Shree, experiencing local life such as drinking chai with the villagers. Finish in Udaipur, where you’ll be staying in one of the world’s most romantic hotels, Taj Lake Palace, in the middle of sparkling Lake Pichola. This program is a mere starting point. Your holiday can be tailored to precisely suit your requirements.
Your luxury private tour of India begins on arrival in Delhi, where you will be met by a member of our team at the airport and chauffeured to your luxury hotel, The Lodhi, set in seven verdant acres on the fringes of Lutyens’ Delhi. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, going for a stroll through verdant Lodi Gardens or exploring the enticing boutiques of Khan Market, a haven of fashion, beauty and homeware.
Discover the myriad of sights in Old and New Delhi including the 17th- century Jama Masjid, Qutb Minar and Humayun’s Tomb which is thought to have inspired the Taj Mahal. Finish the day with an exciting cycle-rickshaw ride through the bustling alleyways of Chandni Chowk’s souk-like bazaars, including Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market. Other highlights include: India Gate, Connaught Place, President's Palace and the Lotus Temple.
Leave Delhi this morning for a scenic car journey to Rajasthan’s vibrant capital Jaipur. Check into SUJÁN Rajmahal Palace whose 14 rooms and suites are an explosion of colour with striking 46 custom wallpapers that adorn the rooms and suites and contemporary details, contrasted by antiques and photographs of past visitors including HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lord Mountbatten and the Prince and Princess of Wales. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Indian feast at the Grand Orient-Occident, which is still a favourite of Jaipur’s royal family. Raj mahal has suprememly attentive staff and is a quiet oasis away from the hustle and bustle of Jaipur offering a Maharajah's life every moment you are within the walls.
Today, you’ll be discovering the best of Jaipur. Led by a local expert, you’ll begin with the City Palace and its private rooms then continue for a photo-stop at the stunning Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and a visit to the Jantar Mantar observatory. There’ll be time to soak up the atmosphere in Jaipur’s famously vibrant bazaars, too, which overflow with colourful local textiles, semi-precious jewellery and unusual wooden handicrafts.
The morning is yours at leisure with your car and driver on hand. Into the afternoon, you’ll be reunited with your guide to making your way on elephant back to the splendid 17th-century Amber Fort before visiting the dreamlike water palace of Jal Mahal. Spend the evening with elephants on the rural outskirts of Jaipur at luxury camp Dera Amer and get the chance to feed these gentle creatures with a banana or two.
Today, steer off the beaten track to Raipur in rural Rajasthan, where you’ll be staying in Lakshman Sagar, two 19th-century former hunting lodges. There are now 12 thatched cottages, which are a luxury take on traditional village homes with soft furnishings in bright sari hues glowing against the sand-coloured walls. Delicious meals, made using old Rajput hunting recipes, are served on a terrace overlooking the lake.
Spend today at leisure, getting under the skin of rural Rajasthan. For an authentic local experience, there are plenty of tailor-made excursions: local liquor tasting, goat herding, nature walks, horse riding and star gazing. Back at Lakshman Sagar, guests can enjoy kite flying or simply kick back and relax beside the rock-cut swimming pool. The spectacular sunset by the dam should not be missed, too.
Remaining firmly off the beaten travel, you’ll continue further south to Deogarh, where you’ll check into Dev Shree, a traditional haveli newly created beside a lake. Being family run the owners make every effort to give a homely feel rather than just another hotel atmosphere. In the evening, head out on a Jeep drive with your hosts, Shatrunjai and Bhavna, descendants of the Deogarh royal family. Take a look around the surrounding countryside, the village temple, stepwell and before finishing end on a special note with sundowners by the lake, taking in a gloriously warm and beautiful sunset.
Start the day with a charming ride on the old nearby narrow-gauge train where you can enjoy stunning views of rural Rajasthan, taking in a valley, gorges and distant ridges. The remainder of the afternoon is yours at leisure to relax in your peaceful surroundings or further explore the local area. We’d suggest heading to the local chai stall for delicious spiced tea and conversation with the locals or choose from a range of activities like a yoga class or a cooking lesson with home grown fresh produce.
Travel by road to the romantic city of Udaipur, stopping on route at Ranakpur, a 15th-century milk-white marble Jain temples. You’ll spend the next two nights at Taj Lake Palace. Built in the 17th century, this magnificent 250-year-old white marble palace floats like a mirage in the centre of sparkling Lake Pichola. It is one of the most romantic paces to stay in the world. Each suite is adorned with antique furnoture and beautiful frescos ont he walls. We recommend a lake facing room to totally immerse in the true Lake palace experience. In the afternoon, travel by boat to Jagmandir Island, which features a beautiful palace, once used as a summer retreat by the royal family or simply ejoy the spa.
Known as the ‘Venice of the East’, Udaipur is one of Rajasthan’s most romantic cities. Spend the morning with a local expert, exploring the magnificent City Palace, an impressive complex on the banks of Lake Pichola and the epitome of Mewari architecture. In the afternoon, continue your private luxury tour through the labyrinthine streets of the old city to the ancient bazaar, which buzzes with shops selling colorful clothing, vibrant art, and leather-bound journals. You can also visit the Crystal gallery, Vintage car museum, Saheliyon ki Badi gardens and end your afternoon with a boat ride to Jag Mandir gardens another small palace on the lake Pichola where James Bond's Octopussy was filmed.
Today, your luxury private tour ends. Transfer to Udaipur airport in time for your onward flight. Should your international connection be departing the following morning, it might be worth considering an additional night in Delhi – this can be decided once we get stuck into planning your luxury tailor-made itinerary.
This tour is purely a suggested itinerary for what your trip to India could include. Treat ourALuxury Escape to Rural Rajasthan as inspiration. Each trip designed by Rajasthan Tours is created uniquely for you, working to your budget and interests with an absolute commitment to quality.
The price shown includes hotels on double or twin sharing basis, breakfast, sightseeing, transfers, internal flights or trains, private guides, monument entrances, activities and excursions and chauffeur-driven car. On request, we can include international flights, too. In other words, we take the work off you to allow you to enjoy the most memorable holiday experience. The price is a guide and subject to change based on hotels, dates of travel and number of people travelling. During the low season (April to September), the costs are significantly less yet this season remains a great time to travel with smaller crowds and more affordable rates. During the high season, particularly over Christmas and New Year, prices are higher however there are lots of great festivals and the weather is excellent.