Passage through Rajasthan

London - Mumbai

Direct flight from London (regional connections available) to Mumbai (Bombay) with Virgin Atlantic. (N)

Mumbai

Arrive and transfer to the Trident Nariman Point for 1 night. Afternoon sightseeing in Mumbai visiting the imposing Gateway of India, colourful Chor Bazaar, Dhobi Ghat and Victoria Terminus. (N)

Fly to Udaipur

Fly to Udaipur. Stay for 2 nights at Fateh Niwas Palace. Enjoy a welcome dinner at Ambrai Restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola. (B, D)

Udaipur

Sightseeing in Udaipur visiting the City Palace, miniature painting studios and Jagdish temple. Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Pichola. Evening cultural performance at Bagore-ki-Haveli. (B)

Ranakpur - Deogarh

Travel to Deogarh, visiting the magnificent Jain temples at Ranakpur en route. Spend 2 nights at Deogarh Mahal, a former palace and now a superb heritage hotel. Late afternoon village walk. (B)

Deogarh

Day at leisure or choose from a range of optional activities, including a 4x4 safari to local villages, a gentle walk with a picnic, or an Indian cooking class. This evening, dine on typical Mewari cuisine on the hotel terrace. (B, D)

Jodhpur

Take a scenic 1.5-hour rural train ride from Khamil Ghat to Phulad. The train chugs through tunnels and past waterfalls in an area that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s story The Man Who Would Be King. Continue by road to Jodhpur for 2 nights at Ajit Bhawan Palace, a heritage palace. (B)

Jodhpur

Visit Jaswant Thada and continue to the formidable Mehrangarh Fort. Take a heritage walk through the streets dotted with temples and bazaars and learn more about the 'Blue City' Brahmins. (B)

Bikaner

Drive to Bikaner in the heart of the Thar Desert for an overnight stay at the magnificent Narendra Bhawan, a grand residence that was home to the last reigning maharajah of Bikaner. Late afternoon, embark on a 4x4 safari into the desert to witness the spectacular sunset over the dunes accompanied by Indian high tea. (B)

Jaipur

Visit Junagarh Fort and walk through the old city. Later, drive to the royal city of Jaipur. En route, visit the town of Fatehpur and its ‘open-air gallery’ of beautiful havelis. Transfer to the Devi Ratn Hotel for a 2-night stay. Based on the design of the famous Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory, Devi Ratn is a contemporary hotel with traditional Jaipuri features and beautiful views over the surrounding Aravalli Hills. (B, D)

Jaipur

Start the day with a visit to the 16th-century Amber Fort. Spend the rest of the day exploring the royal city of Jaipur, including the City Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory and colourful bazaars. (B, D)

Ranthambore National Park

Travel to Ranthambore for 2 nights at Dev Vilas. Afternoon safari† in Ranthambore. (B, D)

Ranthambore National Park

Early morning safari† in search of Bengal tigers. Afternoon at leisure or visit Ranthambore Fort and the NGO-supported Dastkar foundation, where local women produce handicrafts.* (B, L, D)

Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

Morning drive to Agra, visiting the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri en route and stopping at the lavish Laxmi Vilas Palace for lunch. Overnight at the Trident Hotel Agra. (B, L)

Delhi

Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. Visit Agra Fort before departing for Delhi and an overnight stay at Vivanta New Delhi Dwarka. (B)

Delhi - London

Transfer to the airport for the Virgin Atlantic flight to London. (B) Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

London - Mumbai

Direct flight from London (regional connections available) to Mumbai (Bombay) with Virgin Atlantic. (N)

Mumbai

Arrive and transfer to the Trident Nariman Point for 1 night. Afternoon sightseeing in Mumbai visiting the imposing Gateway of India, colourful Chor Bazaar, Dhobi Ghat and Victoria Terminus. (N)

Fly to Udaipur

Fly to Udaipur. Stay for 2 nights at Fateh Niwas Palace. Enjoy a welcome dinner at Ambrai Restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola. (B, D)

Udaipur

Sightseeing in Udaipur visiting the City Palace, miniature painting studios and Jagdish temple. Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Pichola. Evening cultural performance at Bagore-ki-Haveli. (B)

Ranakpur - Deogarh

Travel to Deogarh, visiting the magnificent Jain temples at Ranakpur en route. Spend 2 nights at Deogarh Mahal, a former palace and now a superb heritage hotel. Late afternoon village walk. (B)

Deogarh

Day at leisure or choose from a range of optional activities, including a 4x4 safari to local villages, a gentle walk with a picnic, or an Indian cooking class. This evening, dine on typical Mewari cuisine on the hotel terrace. (B, D)

Jodhpur

Take a scenic 1.5-hour rural train ride from Khamil Ghat to Phulad. The train chugs through tunnels and past waterfalls in an area that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s story The Man Who Would Be King. Continue by road to Jodhpur for 2 nights at Ajit Bhawan Palace, a heritage palace. (B)

Jodhpur

Visit Jaswant Thada and continue to the formidable Mehrangarh Fort. Take a heritage walk through the streets dotted with temples and bazaars and learn more about the 'Blue City' Brahmins. (B)

Bikaner

Drive to Bikaner in the heart of the Thar Desert for an overnight stay at the magnificent Narendra Bhawan, a grand residence that was home to the last reigning maharajah of Bikaner. Late afternoon, embark on a 4x4 safari into the desert to witness the spectacular sunset over the dunes accompanied by Indian high tea. (B)

Jaipur

Visit Junagarh Fort and walk through the old city. Later, drive to the royal city of Jaipur. En route, visit the town of Fatehpur and its ‘open-air gallery’ of beautiful havelis. Transfer to the Devi Ratn Hotel for a 2-night stay. Based on the design of the famous Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory, Devi Ratn is a contemporary hotel with traditional Jaipuri features and beautiful views over the surrounding Aravalli Hills. (B, D)

Jaipur

Start the day with a visit to the 16th-century Amber Fort. Spend the rest of the day exploring the royal city of Jaipur, including the City Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory and colourful bazaars. (B, D)

Ranthambore National Park

Travel to Ranthambore for 2 nights at Dev Vilas. Afternoon safari† in Ranthambore. (B, D)

Ranthambore National Park

Early morning safari† in search of Bengal tigers. Afternoon at leisure or visit Ranthambore Fort and the NGO-supported Dastkar foundation, where local women produce handicrafts.* (B, L, D)

Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

Morning drive to Agra, visiting the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri en route and stopping at the lavish Laxmi Vilas Palace for lunch. Overnight at the Trident Hotel Agra. (B, L)

Delhi

Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. Visit Agra Fort before departing for Delhi and an overnight stay at Vivanta New Delhi Dwarka. (B)

Delhi - London

Transfer to the airport for the Virgin Atlantic flight to London. (B) Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.