Home to a selection of India's most recognisable sights, Rajasthan and northern India are defined by splendid architecture, pulsating cities, grand scenery and an unchanging, traditional rural life.
Start your journey in Delhi, where there will be ample time to explore the city. From Delhi, travel by rail south to Agra, home of the beautiful Taj Mahal, before heading west, crossing into the princely state of Rajasthan. Here explore the historic 'pink city' of Jaipur and Jodhpur with its fabulous fort and colourful markets. Time will also be spent in the rural market town of Deogarh before ending your holiday in picturesque Udaipur.
Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Jodhpur – Deogarh – Udaipur – Mumbai
Trip Highlights
- An architectural wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal is impressive at any time of day
- Meherangarh Fort dominates the ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur towering over the old town
- With iconic views over Lake Pichola, explore Udaipur’s opulent City Palace complex
- Experience rural life in Deogarh. Go birdwatching, take a walk or visit the local town
- Mumbai is one of India’s great cities. Visit Gateway of India and discover historic Colaba
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today fly from the UK to Delhi.
Day 2
Arrive Delhi
Arrive into Delhi where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. India's modern capital, Delhi is a fascinating city. Old Delhi developed as the heart of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries and is home to mosques, forts and crumbling monuments. In contrast, New Delhi’s government buildings, wide tree-lined avenues and attractive white-washed bungalows was purpose-built in the 1930s by the British as a colonial capital.
The Claridges New Delhi
The Imperial
The Leela Palace, New Delhi
Day 3
Delhi
This morning explore Old Delhi with your guide. Visit the area's dense network of alleyways, homes, bazaars and mosques including colourful Chandni Chowk market, beautiful Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Rajghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. In the afternoon head to New Delhi which was originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and today is home to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the Indian President, Rajpath and the imposing India Gate.
- Breakfast
The Claridges New Delhi
The Imperial
The Leela Palace, New Delhi
Day 4
Delhi to Agra – by train
Early this morning travel by train from Delhi to Agra where you will stay overnight. Agra was once one of the world's most important cities. Today you will visit the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula as well as the impressive Agra Fort, which was established by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. No stay in Agra is complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal. Arguably the greatest monument to love, the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife.
- Breakfast
Ekaa Villa
ITC Mughal
Oberoi Amarvilas
Day 5
Agra to Jaipur – 240kms via Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri
Today leave Agra and drive to Fatehpur Sikri which was once the capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and constructed of beautiful red sandstone. Afterwards visit nearby Abhaneri home to the famous 8th century Chand Baori, the deepest step-well in the world. Leaving Abhaneri continue by road to Jaipur for a two night stay. Planned by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1727, Jaipur is a vibrant city of bazaars, palaces, fine havelis and spectacular forts.
- Breakfast
Dera Mandawa
Alsisar Haveli
Samode Haveli
Rambagh Palace
The Leela Palace Jaipur
Day 6
Jaipur
This morning travel outside of Jaipur to Amber Fort which is set on a ridge above rugged hills. A Rajput capital for over 700 years, there is plenty to explore here from well-tended gardens and small temples to the private chambers of the Maharaja. In the afternoon return to Jaipur and visit the superb City Palace complex which is home to the beautiful Peacock Gate and famous Hawa Mahal, or 'Palace of the Winds'. Also of interest is the Jantar Mantar – the largest stone observatory in the world.
- Breakfast
Dera Mandawa
Alsisar Haveli
Samode Haveli
Rambagh Palace
The Leela Palace Jaipur
Day 7
Jaipur to Jodhpur – 340kms
After breakfast leave Jaipur and drive through the arid Thar Desert to the charming 'blue city' of Jodhpur, Rajasthan's atmospheric and colourful second city. Jodhpur is defined by the mighty Meherangarh Fort – one of the finest in India – and charming old city of winding lanes and tumbledown buildings.
- Breakfast
Ratan Vilas
The Stepwell Hotel
Raas, Jodhpur
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Day 8
Jodhpur
Today explore Jodhpur with your guide starting with a visit to the Meherangarh Fort. Wonderfully well maintained, the fort offers a fascinating insight into the ancient life of the city and houses many palaces and temples. The views from the ramparts over the city below are spectacular. Leaving the fort, visit cenotaphs of members of the royal family before taking a walking tour through the lanes of the old city.
- Breakfast
Ratan Vilas
The Stepwell Hotel
Raas, Jodhpur
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Day 9
Jodhpur to Deogarh – 175kms
Drive to the small market town of Deogarh in the heart of rural Rajasthan. Stay for two nights at Dev Shree, a charming homestay with seven large comfortable bedrooms with a lovely setting.
- Breakfast
Dev Shree
Day 10
Deogarh
At leisure to enjoy Deogarh and the surrounding region. Birdwatch, walk the surrounding hills, picnic by the lake or ride the local train where the line and equipment date from 1923.
- Breakfast
Dev Shree
Day 11
Deogarh to Udaipur – 190kms via Ranakpur
This morning drive through picturesque countryside to the Jain temple complex at Ranakpur. The most famous of the temples is over 550 years old and is particularly beautiful. After visiting the temples and learning about Jainism, continue through the Aravalli Hills to Udaipur. With its grand palaces, placid lakes, gardens, Udaipur is one of Rajasthan's most attractive cities.
- Breakfast
Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel
Taj Lake Palace
The Leela Palace Udaipur
Day 12
Udaipur
After breakfast visit the impressive City Palace which overlooks Lake Pichola and is still owned by the Maharaja of Udaipur. Highlights include the Mor Chowk court, Manak Mahal, Chini ki Chitra Mahal and Queen's Palace. The neighbouring Fateh Prakash Palace with its unique Crystal Gallery and grand Durbar Hall is also worth visiting. Later taking a walking tour of the old town including the intricately carved Jagdish Mandir temple. End the day with a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola.
- Breakfast
Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel
Taj Lake Palace
The Leela Palace Jaipur
Day 13
Udaipur to Mumbai – by air
Today transfer to Udaipur Airport and fly to Mumbai for a two night stay. One of the world's great cities, Mumbai developed from a small group of islands to India's economic powerhouse and gateway to the world. Ever expanding, Mumbai is a combination of old and new, the chaotic and the peaceful, making it one of India’s most vibrant, bustling and human of cities.
- Breakfast
Fariyas Hotel
The Taj Mahal Palace
Day 14
Mumbai
Spend today exploring Mumbai with your guide. Begin your day at the Gateway of India, one of the iconic locations of the city, built to commemorate the visit of King George V in 1911. Next visit to the impressive Prince of Wales Museum and take a stroll through the historic Colaba district. Here you will find excellent Gothic and Victorian architecture. Continue to Malabar Hill for fantastic views over the city before ending the day at the colourful Dhobi ghats where traditional laundryman collect, wash and return the city's linen.
- Breakfast
Fariyas Hotel
The Taj Mahal Palace
Day 15
Mumbai to the UK
Transfer back to Mumbai Airport and catch your flight back to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay…
Incorporate a wildlife element into your holiday with the inclusion of Ranthambore National Park. A beautiful reserve, Ranthambore supports a wide range of animals and birds with tiger the main predator. Ranthambore is located midway between Agra and Jaipur.
Charming Shahpura Bagh is a fabulous place to comfortably experience the best of rural Rajasthan. Family owned, visit the local town and nearby fort, walk the estate or relax beside the inviting pool. Shahpura is a morning’s drive from both Deogarh and Udaipur.
Explore Goa, former Portuguese colony that combines a distinct cultural heritage with the finest beaches in India. Discover the churches of Old Goa, white-washed buildings in colonial-era Panjim and charming towns. Goa can be reached by air from Udaipur via Mumbai.
Uncover authentic rural Rajasthani with a stay in the tiny hamlet of Junia. Your base will be in the delightful family homestay of lakeside Junia Bagh and there will be opportunities to meet local villagers, birdwatch and take walks in the extensive estate.
Guide to Price
15 days from £3530 per person
What's Included
- International and domestic flights
- Train travel as specified
- Private car with English speaking driver
- Sightseeing with local English speaking guides
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Cost of visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £3530
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Virgin Atlantic have daily flights to Delhi and Vistara fly direct to Delhi. Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways also have excellent connections via their respected hubs to Kolkata, Kochi, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Goa, Jaipur and Lucknow and fly from airports all over the UK.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from the UK take between 8 and 10 hours depending on the destination. Flights with stops en-route take between 12 and 14 hours.
Time Zone
India is +5½ hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
Holders of British Citizen passports are able to apply for an e-Tourist Visa (eTV). There are three different eTVs - a one month eTV (valid for 30 days), a one year eTV (valid for 365 days) and a five year eTV (valid for 5 years). Applications for the one month eTV can only be made within 30 days of travel to India. Applications for the one year eTV and five year eTV can only be made within 120 days of travel to India.
Please note that the very latest an Indian eTV application can be made is 4 days prior to travel to India. The eTV becomes active from the date of entry into India. It is not valid for Protected or Restricted areas.
All international passengers arriving in India are required to complete an e-Arrival Card up to 72 hours prior to arrival India. This applies to all nationalities and must be submitted online via the official portal https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
Do’s & Don’ts
Smoking and drinking in public places is prohibited in India – with smoking this includes public areas in hotels, restaurants and bars.
E-cigarettes and related products are banned in India. You will be unable to buy e-cigarettes or bring them into the country.
Always ask permission before entering a temple and remember to remove your shoes and any leather objects such as bags, belts or wallets. It is fine to wear socks.
When in a Buddhist temple you should always walk in a clockwise direction with the main building to your right.
Modest, loose-fitting clothing is preferable and is essential when visiting religious places. When visiting a Sikh Gurudwara the head needs to be covered.
Permission should always be asked before taking a person’s picture.
When eating, only the right hand should be used. Indian culture considers the left hand to be unclean.
Money
The currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR) and comes in notes and coins. Exchanging money is easy and can be done at international airports, most hotels or banks and it is always a good idea to ask for some small denomination Rupee notes. ATMs are now common and reliable in all main cities and credit cards are widely accepted by most hotels, shops and restaurants. In rural areas or wildlife reserves ATMs and money exchange facilities are limited so having cash is essential.
Please note that there are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to bring any amount of Indian currency into the country. Pounds sterling and other foreign currencies are allowed to be brought into India. For more information please visit the FCO’s Foreign Travel Advice for India.
Tipping
This is left to your discretion, however, tipping for good service in India is part of everyday life. In restaurants and for room service a 10% tip is appreciated and at smaller hotels and homestays a communal ‘tip box’ is common.
For drivers and guides, hotel staff and at national parks, the following amounts should act as a guideline. Please note that these figures are based on two people travelling together:
Tour driver: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Tour guide: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Naturalist (national parks): INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Jeep Driver (national parks): INR 500 per day & per safari (not per person)
Hotels (communal tip for all staff): INR 1000 to INR 1500 per day (not per person)
Food & Drink
India is known the world over for its food and especially its vegetarian cuisine. Spice plays an important role in dishes throughout the country as do breads, rice, pickles and chutneys. Although nearly every region has its own speciality, there is a divide between the cuisine of northern India and southern India – the north with its meat dishes influenced by the Mughals and the lighter, fruitier, coconut based dishes of the south. Desserts are common in India with kulfi ice cream and gulab jamun two of the best known and most popular. Nearly all tend to be very sweet, milk based or fried.
The most common drink in India is chai tea which can be bought on nearly every street corner. The yoghurt drink lassi – whether sweet, salty or fruity – is also easy to find. The popularity of coffee has spread from the south whilst Indian beer is well-respected. There is also a fledgling wine industry centred on Nashik in Maharashtra.
Accommodation
There is a huge breadth of accommodation in India with styles varying across the country. India is famed for its heritage properties, the majority of which tend to be found in the north of India. These come in all shapes and sizes from beautifully restored buildings and luxury palaces operated by distinguished hotel groups to small privately owned forts and ancestral homes.
Homestays are also very popular and found throughout the country. Whether a grand and luxurious family residence, heritage property or simple abode, they offer a high level of service and a unique glimpse into everyday Indian life. Please let us know if you would like to include a homestay into your itinerary. In more remote regions, hotels are likely to be clean and simple whilst wildlife accommodation is generally either in jungle lodges or comfortable tented camps. For those looking to relax there are many excellent beachside hotels and an increasing number of retreats specialising in both Ayurveda and yoga.
Shopping
With wholesale markets and bazaars, innumerable shops and stores, India is a shopper’s paradise. The country is best known for carpets and dhurries with Rajasthan, Kashmir and Leh best for these. There is also a bewildering range of clothing, fabric and leatherwear found not only in the smallest of villages but also the largest cities. Gems, silver and jewellery (valuable or costume) are popular throughout the country but especially in Jaipur and Hyderabad whilst Kochi is noted for its antiques. Spices can be bought all over India but purchased straight from plantations in the south. Darjeeling, Assam and the Western Ghats in south India are all known for tea.
Suggested Reading
For India travel advice, Footprint, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Bradt have excellent guide books whilst Nelles Maps have comprehensive and up to date maps of the Indian subcontinent. There is also a wide range of literature including from famed authors such as RK Narayan, Vikram Seth, Paul Scott, VS Naipaul, Arundhati Roy and Salman Rushdie. Vivek Shanbhag's more recently translated book 'Ghachar Ghochar' also comes highly recommended. Other good books on India include:
‘India: A History’ by John Keay
‘The Great Arc’ by John Keay
‘No Full Stops in India’ by Mark Tully
‘India in Slow Motion’ by Mark Tully and Gillian Wright
‘City of Djinns’ by William Dalrymple
‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple
‘Chasing the Monsoon’ by Alexander Frater
‘The Tears of the Rajas’ by Ferdinand Mount
‘Plain Tales from the Raj’ by Charles Allen
‘Mughal Architecture and Gardens’ by George Michell
'Tea, Love and War: Searching for English Roots in Assam' by David Mitchell
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on India the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime
CM - India - March 2024
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime thanks to the exceptional guides and drivers we met along our trip in Northern India. The itinerary had the perfect balance of tours, travel days and rest days for us and was meticulously planned and executed. We'd love to use Pettitts Travel again in the future and will absolutely be returning to India.
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Helping you to design your trip
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On-hand support, when you need it
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