You'll see: Delhi - Jaipur - Pushkar - Udaipur - Jaisalmer - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi - Delhi - Kathmandu - Chitwan - Kathmandu

This itinerary kicks off in Rajasthan with a tour past the magical desert cities of Rajasthan filled with fairytale Maharaja palaces, Moghul architecture and of course lots of camels. Then on to Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful structures in the world. Your trip then takes you to holy city of Varanasi where for centuries Hindu pilgrims have come for a ritual bath in the holy River Ganges. You will then fly on to Kathmandu where you will visit the ancient royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley, surrounded by the majestic snowy peaks of the Himalayas. Last but not least you'll enjoy a jungle trek in the Chitwan National Park where you will head out on elephant back and on foot to spot rhinos, leopards, crocodiles and other imposing four-footers. This jam-packed travel experience ends with a flight back to Delhi.

Maharajas and mountain kingdoms will show you the highlights of India and Nepal and includes three connecting flights.

If you would like to know about this itinerary, please send us an email. We'll be happy to put together a suggested travel schedule. If you like, we can also arrange your international flight for you.

When you arrive in Delhi, you’ll be collected by your private driver and taken to your hotel. You can choose from either a hotel situated about half an hour’s drive from the airport or a charming hotel in Central Delhi, and ideal base to explore both the spice markets of Chandi Chowk and the modern bars of Connaught Place. Here, you can catch your breath and rest after your flight. In both hotels, you’ll have a comfortable room with a private en-suite bathroom.

Travel time: 4 - 5 hours by private car

Today you'll be transferred to Jaipur by private car, a trip which takes around 5 hours. The Pink City is a fantastic place to kick off a trip in India and during your two nights here you can relax, acclimatise, and explore. There is so much to see in this elegant and astonishing city that you could spend weeks here without getting bored. Jaipur centre is a lively mass of saris, saddhus, holy cows, spice markets, street vendors, camel carts, elephants, beggars, rickshaws, temples, forts and palaces.

In Jaipur, you’ll stay in a cosy family hotel for a firsthand experience of typical Indian hospitality. Breakfast is served in the romantic English tea garden and the family will go out of their way to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. The rooms here are tastefully furnished in traditional Indian-style and several have four-poster beds.

Travel time: 3-4 hours

Today, you’ll leave Jaipur and head for Pushkar, standing sleepily on the banks of a beautiful lake. You’ll spend tonight in a grand palace where almost all of the rooms have stunning lake views. The palace is fantastic with a completely unique atmosphere. It has an exotic inner garden and a palm terrace providing magnificent views over the glassy lake. On the opposite bank of the lake, you’ll see pilgrims bathing and, if you listen carefully, you’ll hear them singing.

Pushkar is a picturesque holy town in the desert, with pastel-coloured buildings lining narrow streets. There are dozens of rooftop cafes looking out over the city towards the lake- perfect places to linger over coffee or lunch. Pushkar has been attracting long-term hippie-style visitors for many years, and they gather next to the palace every evening to watch the sunset over the lake. Wander through the twisting alleys of the old centre and take a look at the Ghats (stone staircases that lead into the water) where the pilgrims perform ritual bathing. You can take part in this ceremony too, but watch out for saddhus (priests) offering to become your spiritual guide in return for hefty sums of money. During the famous Camel Fair, usually held in November, over 25,000 camels will plod into the town to be traded by their owners, and huge crowds of pilgrims in a rainbow of colours will arrive. This is a wonderful sight to behold.

Travel time: approx 6 hours

Today, you’ll travel to Udaipur, the most romantic town in Rajasthan. Elegant Udaipur is surrounded by green hills, a brilliant contrast to the sparkling white palaces and the blue waters of Lake Pichola. The legendary Lake Palace floats on an island in the centre of the lake, giving the town a fairy-tale feel. This palace was the winter residence of the Maharaja and featured in the James Bond film Octopussy.

You'll spend two nights in Udaipur, staying in a traditional haveli which looks out across Lake Pichola and the old city.

You'll be staying in Udaipur today, so you will have plenty of time to explore this fascinating city of lakes and palaces either on foot or by rickshaw. There's a city tour planned for this morning which will give you a good impression of the city. The tour will of course include the City Palace. The palace is known for its intricate murals and mosaics and even some original but rather out-of-place looking Dutch Delftware tiles... You'll also visit the Jagdish temple and admire the Lake Palace from across the lake.

The city tour will have given you an idea of the layout of the city so in the evening you can head out on your own and wander through the historic centre with its many shops selling fabrics and local crafts. Make sure you take a look inside the little temples throughout the city. On a sunny day the bright light shimmering across the lakes and in the narrow streets gives Udaipur a magical aura, a great time to take a break on one the rooftop restaurants and soak up the atmosphere.

Travel time: approx 6 hours

Today, you’ll set off in the direction of Jodhpur, The Blue City, a journey of about 6 hours. On the way, you visit the striking Jain temple of Ranakpur, situated in a beautiful green valley. The enormous temple complex has 1444 pillars, with stunning decorations carved from stone. Incredibly, none of the pillars are the same. Each has been decorated in its own unique way. Jainism is a religion that originated in northeast India about the same time as Buddhism (around 400BC) and it is still popular across the country today. 

 

In the afternoon, you’ll continue on to Jodhpur. This city is the home of Mehrangarh Fort, one of the most dramatic Moghal forts in India. Here, you can wander through the narrow alleyways of the city, where rope-makers colour their warps, spice-sellers display their aromatic wares, and hairdressing salons barely stretch to the size of one square metre. The shopping hotspots are the Sojati Gate, the Tripolia Bazaar, the Mochi-ki-Gali and the Lakhara Bazaar. If you’re looking for hand-woven material, head for Rajasthan Khadi Sangh. The central bell tower is a good orientation point, as you’ll always manage to find your way back. You’ll stay in the old part of Jodhpur at the foot of the mighty fort.

Travel time: approx 5 hours

You'll be crossing the desert to reach the isolated desert city Jaisalmer, a trip which takes about 5 hours. Towards noon you can see the contours of the city shimmering on the desert horizon like a fata morgana. You'll still have this somewhat magical feeling when you are dropped of at the entrance of the ancient walled fort with its dozens of towers. From the upper walls you can look out across the desolate desert landscape which stretches out from the foot of the castle. In the distance you can see the Sahara-like sand dunes where you can go on a spectacular camel safari accompanied by a guide from the camel drivers caste.

Jaisalmer appears to be imprisoned inside its walls. Among the narrow streets you can see several traditional havelis but also three beautifully sculptured Jain temples dating back to the 12th and 13th Century and five interlinked palaces. In the afternoon you'll explore the ancient city and in the evening you can enjoy a good meal in one of the small restaurants in the old centre or one of the many rooftop restaurants in the lower part of the city.  You'll be staying the night in an original gold-coloured haveli.

After breakfast in the morning, you’ll take a guided walk into the old town of Jaisalmer, which lies entirely within the walls of the fort. The narrow streets are quite remarkable, with half-hidden havelis, three beautifully carved Jain temples, and five interconnected palaces. The module ends after the walking tour. If you have time to spare, you can explore enchanting Jaisalmer at your own pace, wandering around the havelis, Lake Gadi Sagar, or Jaisalmer Fort. The fort has four entrances: Akhaiya Pol, Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol and Hava Pol. You might even bump into a camel or two on your way or hear the sound of a sitar playing from inside a haveli.

Travel time: approx 13 hours by sleeper train.

You can spend a couple more hours enjoying this fairytale city before boarding the sleeper train for the 13-hour journey from Jaisalmer to Jaipur in the late afternoon.

You'll arrive early this morning in Jaipur and head towards the same family hotel as earlier in your trip. You'll be welcomed back enthusiastically and after settling in and freshening up, you'll have the rest of the day free to explore more of Jaipur.

Jaipur is famous for textiles and jewellery. You can find both of these in abundance in the bazaar, which is one of the biggest, and perhaps the best, in the region. Equally, the pink-meringue-like cinema in Jaipur is famous for its flambuoyant design, making it the perfect place to catch a Bollywood film during your stay. Around a 1-hour drive from Jaipur, you'll find the amusement village of Chokhi Dhani, which celebrates Rajasthani traditions with palm-readers, snake-charmers, camel drivers, elephant rides, snacks, sweets, music and dancing. This is a fun-filled way to spend a spare evening.

Travel time: approx 4 hours

You'll leave Jaipur and head eastwards today. Not far from Jaipur you will find a hidden mystical place which we found particularly special. Galta is a pilgrimage site that draws countless pilgrims dressed in vibrantly coloured robes. The water that streams from the rocks is believed to be holy Ganges water, though geographically that would be a bit of a long stretch. People bathe and sing on the steps leading down to the pools. Their sounds resonate against the rocks that surround the temple complex, now overrun by monkeys.

From Galta it's another three-hour drive to Bharatpur, once the hunting grounds for several Maharajas of the Singh family. It's a fascinating water world littered with small dikes, great for a bike ride on a trusty rusty Indian bike (you can hire them easily on the spot).

Bharatpur is home to several species of rare birds such as the Siberian crane and these days even a few tigers from Ranthambore who seem to find this lazy water bird an easy meal. Pedalling through the area you will also pass Python Point, a name which should be taken very seriously as we saw a six-foot yellow-blotched specimen crawl across the dike and slip into the water.

Somewhat less frightening but just as impressive is the ghost town Fatehpur Sikri. Built by the great ruler Akhbar (which also means great) as the capital city of the Moghul Empire it was one of the greatest cities of its time. However, as they discovered there was a permanent lack of water supply in this barren area, the city was abandoned just 10 years later. What was left is a phenomenal collection of temples and palaces, surrounded by the ruins of the old houses, now inhabited by green parrots and monkeys. Akhbar was a man who believed in the bringing together all religions and actually had a wife from each religion whom he gave separate living quarters.

After Fatehpur Sikri you will continue on to Agra where you will be staying with the Lamba familY. Here, you can enjoy the warmth and hospitality of an Indian family. Mr Lamba is a retired army officer and has many a good story to tell.

After breakfast in the Lamba garden you will visit two more impressive sights. Early in the morning you will visit the Taj. We had such high expectations of the Taj beforehand that we thought it could only disappoint, but we couldn't have been more wrong... Seeing the building in the first light of day it looks so serene and more impressive than we could ever imagine. It's one of the few buildings that actually moves you. Built by Shah Jahan out of love for his deceased wife, it's the epitome of sober harmony. After this, you’ll head for Agra Fort. This huge but restrained structure seems to be immersed in a dreamy atmosphere when it’s bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, which slants through the pillars and galleries. From its majestic walls and through its arches, you can see the Taj Mahal, just as Shah Jahan would have done centuries ago, when he was imprisoned here by his son. Return to the guest house by lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax.

Travel time: Approx 3 hours by train and 30 mins by car.

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to the Lambas and head for the train station. The train leaves from Agra Central Station at 8am for Jhansi. After 2 1/2 hours (not to be taken too literally in India) you'll arrive in Jhansi where you will be met by your driver and transferred to Orchha about 16km further on. Orchha is a beautiful small town (9000 inhabitants) where you can wander freely without being hassled by touts. The town is renowned for its Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple and Lakshmi Narayan Temple. You'll have time in the afternoon to explore the sites. After a busy but rewarding day, you'll have no problem falling asleep in your hotel... 

Travel time: 4-5 hours

In the morning you will drive to the quiet town of Khajuraho. In the afternoon you'll visit the western temples of Khajuraho which are mainly famous for its eyebrow-raising erotic images from the Kama Sutra. The temples are 1000 years old and are in surprisingly good condition, although today only 22 of the original 85 remain. You will be staying in a simple guesthouse with great view of the temples.

Travel time: approx 3 hours by car and 8 hours by train

In the morning you will be transferred to the city of Satna where you will board the train to holy city Varanasi. The train leaves Satna Central Station around 08.15am, which means you will arrive in Varanasi 8 hours later, just after 4pm. On arrival in Varanasi you will be transferred to a charming guest house directly on the banks of the Ganges. There are several ghats along the Ganges, each of which has its own meaning. Your hotel is close to the Assi Ghat which is to the south and is used by pilgrims for bathing on a special pilgrimage route Panchatirthi Yatra.

 In the early morning, just before dawn is a great time to take a boat out onto the river and observe the bathing pilgrims from the water. The pilgrims have a metal pot which they use to pour water over their heads. Some sit motionless for hours meditating while others splash around in the water or do their laundry. You can also see whole families bathing in the holy water. After the boat ride there's a walk through the old centre of Varanasi. Watch out for the holy cows in the narrow alleyways and step aside if you don't want to get crushed. You will spend another night in your hotel on the Ganges.  

Travel time: approx 13 hours by sleeper train

This morning you’ll head for the small town of Sarnath, which is not far from Varanasi. Sarnath is another place of pilgrimage, this time for the Buddhists. It was here that Buddha gave his first lecture. After his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, Buddha came to Sarnath to preach about the Middle Way of reaching Nirvana. After this, the religious ruler Ashoka built an enormous stupa (temple) and several Buddhist monasteries to commemorate the teaching. Each Buddhist country in the world now has its own temple, which often makes the place seems like a World Expo is being held. In contrast, the village itself is small, with a feeling of tranquillity. After you’ve spent a while exploring Sarnath, you’ll be taken back to Varanasi, where you’ll have all afternoon to wander through the city. Then, in the evening, you'll head for the train station for your overnight journey to Delhi.

Today, you'll take a tour of the highlights of Kathmandu with your english-speaking guide. The sightseeing trip begins in Durbar Square, an ideal starting point from which to explore this ancient city. After this, you'll head towards the temple complexes of Swayambunath and Pashupatinath - the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites in Nepal. Take a seat on the steps of one of the many temples, indulge in some people-watching and soak up the energetic local atmosphere. Another highlight of the tour is the trip to Bouddhanath temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monument and one of the largest stupas in the world.

By the end of the day you'll be totally templed-out, but you'll certainly have a clear idea of the important role that religion plays in Nepalese daily life. For a more detailed description of the various sights in the city, take a look at our Kathmandu Valley information page.

Today you will head out of the city with your driver to explore the surrounding area of Kathmandu. Your visit will include the towns of Bhaktapur and Patan and you can opt for an excursion to Nagarkot or Dhulikhel. Patan, just south of Kathmandu is known for its many ancient squares where rice is laid out to dry and children run around playing with paper kites. You will also spot lots of old-fashioned water pumps throughout the city. It's like being in a medieval time-warp. This is also your final night in Kathmandu.

Travel time approx 5 hours by car

Today, it's a 5-hour drive to Chitwan National Park. After a short briefing there's time to freshen up in your bungalow and grab some lunch. In the afternoon you'll have your first elephant safari. Perched high on the back of these giant beasts you're safely out of reach of all that lurks in the tall grass. If you're lucky you'll spot your first rhino, although there's a better chance of seeing them on foot on your walking safari tomorrow morning. If a rhino comes into view our elephant will sound the alarm with an almighty growl, just to subtly show the rhino who's boss...

Chitwan is at its most beautiful at dawn. The early morning golden light seeping across the plains gives it mystical atmosphere. The river is even more magical. Working elephants stride through the water, a primitive ferry glides to the other side and a solitary rhino grazes in the grass. Today you will start off with a guided walk through the jungle, hiking along narrow paths through the forests and plains where the high grass seems almost impenetrable. It's a little scary knowing that this grass is a hiding spot for rhinos, leopards and tigers, but luckily the experienced guides know what they're doing. If a rhino gets too close you're quickly directed to scramble up the nearest big tree. And as sweet and harmless as those rhinos may seem, don't underestimate them. Because they have very poor eyesight, they tend to storm into any noise or smell they're not familiar with so it may be wise to follow your guide's instructions very closely. Depending on how the day unfolds, later on there will be a "crocodile walk" with canoe trip or another elephant safari.

Travel time: approx 5 hours by car

This morning there will be either a jungle walk or a crocodile walk (it will depend both on the weather and what you did yesterday). In the afternoon, you'll begin the long drive back to Kathmandu.

Travel time: approx 2 hours flight

Your itinerary ends after breakfast this morning, and, when the time comes, you'll head towards the airport to check in for your flight home (usually via Delhi). Of course, you could choose to stay and explore more of Nepal or perhaps make your way back to Delhi to begin a trip in India. Check out our sister site, India Travel Plan for tours and travel suggestions in India.

If you have any questions about this itinerary, please call or email us. If you would like to request this itinerary, please fill out our quote request form.