Passage through Rajasthan

Fly from London (regional connections available) to Mumbai (Bombay) with British Airways. (N)

Arrive and transfer to the Trident Nariman Point for an overnight stay. Afternoon sightseeing in Mumbai visiting the Gateway of India, Chor bazaar, Dhobi Ghat and Victoria Terminus. (N)

Midday flight to Udaipur. Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Pichola. Dinner at Sunset Restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola. Spend 2 nights at Fateh Prakash Palace or upgrade to the Oberoi Udaivilas (Premier room) from £265. (B, D)

Sightseeing in Udaipur visiting the City Palace, miniature painting studios and Jagdish temple. Thali lunch at the Garden Restaurant adjacent to the Vintage Car Museum. Optional evening cultural performance at Bagore-ki-Haveli*. (B, L)

Travel to Rawla Narlai visiting the magnificent Jain temples at Ranakpur en route. Spend 2 nights at the heritage resort of Rawla Narlai, located in the Aravalli hills. Late afternoon village walk to see rural life. (B)

Choose from a range of optional activities organised by the hotel, from jeep safaris in search of leopards to a guided walk exploring the nearby villages*. This evening, dine at the 16th-century baori (stepwell), illuminated by hundreds of oil lamps. (B, D)

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

Visit Jaswant Thada and continue to the formidable Mehrangarh fort. Take a heritage walk through the streets dotted with temples and bazaars. Optional evening meal on the rooftop of the Chokelao Restaurant, set on the ramparts of the Mehrangarh fort*. (B)

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 jeep safari into the desert to witness the spectacular sunset over the dunes. Enjoy a barbecue dinner and cultural show in the heart of the dunes. (B, D)

Morning visit to Junagarh fort, built in 1588 by Raja Rai Singh. Later drive to the royal city of Jaipur. En route, visit the town of Fatehpur and its 'open-air gallery' of beautiful havelis decorated in colourful frescoes. Transfer to Shapura House (or similar) for a 2-night stay. (B)

Morning photo stop at the Palace of Winds, before a tour of the Amber fort. Afternoon tour of the royal city of Jaipur. Highlights include the City Palace Museum, the Jantar Mantar observatory and the colourful bazaars. (B)

Travel to Ranthambore for 2 nights at Kipling Lodge. Afternoon at leisure. (B)

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)

Morning drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted sandstone city, en route. Overnight at the Courtyard by Marriott. (B)

Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. After breakfast visit Agra fort before departing for Delhi and an overnight stay at the Trident Gurgaon. (B)

Transfer to the airport for the British Airways flight to London. (B)