Description
Experience the sights and senses of Old Delhi by bicycle, Ride India's famous rail system with an overnight sleeper train to Jaisalmer before heading into the desert for a night under the starts.
We visit the city of Jodhpur renowned for its blue washed walls, the Lake city of Udaipur and the famous pink city of Jaipur before culminating our adventures in Agra and the Taj Mahal.
This journey provides a mix of 5 star luxury, overnight train trips, desert camping and comfortable accommodation that allows you to experience the contrasts that are India.
Try the street food if you dare, eat at popular local restaurants or even buy snacks from train side hawkers.
You can throw yourself headlong into the maelstrom that is India or relax away from the ever present crowds, the choice is yours
One thing you are guaranteed, is to return home with an experience that will last a life time.
India is one of my favourite destinations in the world and I hope after this journey it becomes one of yours too.
Arrive at Indira Gandhi International airport (New Delhi). Once you have cleared customs and received your baggage our representative will greet you with an Asian Vistas sign and escort you to your hotel.
Take the rest of the day to relax and maybe take a stroll around to just get a feel of the city.
Tonight we will have a welcome dinner where you can meet your fellow travellers and start to appreciate the unique culture that is India. Go to bed early as we have an early start tomorrow
Included meals: Dinner
Overnight: New Delhi (5 Star Hotel – The Claridges)
We leave around 6:30am for the meeting point of our morning bicycle tour.
Experience the sights and senses of Old Delhi as we weave through a web of streets and laneways barely changed from the seventeenth Century Mughal Empire, with the aroma of brewing tea and simmering breakfast curry as our companions.
We take in a Sikh temple, Jama Masjid, traditional spice markets and the contrast of the former British colonial areas with hectic Old Delhi.
Next we stop for famous traditional Chai (Indian tea) and enjoy an Indian breakfast.
Make our way back to the hotel to freshen up before checking out and continue our tour of New Delhi.
We visit Sansad Bhavan (parliament house), India gate and Humayaun tomb before making our way to New Delhi Railway Station to board the Runicha Express for our overnight train to Jaisalmer.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: The Runicha Express overnight train from Delhi to Jaisalmer
Arrive in Jaisalmer in time for lunch, then freshen up at the hotel before heading out for our desert safari
We start by visiting the abandoned Kuldhara (or Ghost) Village before being driven to the most exciting part of the tour – The Camel Safari, where we ride through the desert as the sun sets across the dunes creating amazing vistas. Next comes a magical night under the stars amidst the sand dunes of the desert. We continue to our desert camp where we cook dinner around the open fire.
Tonight under the canopy of the stars you’ll drift off to sleep to the sounds of the desert with comfortable bedding and blankets
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Luxury camp in the Rajasthani desert under a million stars
After breakfast we make our way back into town to our hotel and relax before spending the afternoon exploring the sprawling Jaisalmer fort and Jain temples of the famous Golden City
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Jaisalmer (4 star - Hotel)
Departing in the cool of the morning for our drive to the famed Blue City of Jodhpur named in honour of its sea of indigo houses that stretch for miles out from the cities walls.
Founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha and located on a strategic point between Delhi and Gujarat the city flourished and has become an artisan’s paradise.
The city is renowned for its handicrafts of glass bangles, carpets and marble products.
After checking into our hotel we make our way to the beautiful Mehrangarh Fort which dominates the skyline of this ancient city.
We explore the fort before making our retreat via a zipline over the lakes and battlements that surround this amazing structure.
To recover from the exhilaration of the flying fox we then make our way to a rooftop bar to relax and watch the sun set over the fort.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Jodhpur (4 star Hotel)
After breakfast we head to the small town of Ranakpur which is famous for its beautiful Jain temples.
We spend some time visiting these amazing ornate structures widely believed to be some of the best Jain style architecture in the world before spending the rest of the day at the luxurious five star heritage Fatehbagh Hotel.
Relax in the gardens or by the pool and forget for a few hours that you are in one of the most populous countries on earth.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Ranakpur (5 Start Fatehbagh Hotel)
This morning we drive to the lake city of Udaipur, home to the famous Lake Palace.
Founded in 1559, the city is set around a series of artificial lakes and is known for its lavish royal residences.
We stay at the garishly opulent Chunda Palace Hotel, with it’s beautiful rooftop pool, over the top ornate rooms and great views of the city below.
Stay the day in the Palace and fill your insta feed with an array of amazing photos or wander out to explore the city on your own.
Just make sure you are back for the rooftop views as the sun goes down and the horizon lights up with an array of man made colour.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Udaipur (4 Star – Chunda Palace Hotel)
This morning we take a boat ride on Pichola Lake before experiencing the city by rickshaw, a truly unique Indian form of travel visiting sites such as the City Palace, home to a fusion of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles and the Palace Museum.
The Palace and surrounding lakes were made famous in the 1983 James Bond movie Octopussy staring Roger Moore and provides a great view of the Lake Palace.
We then head on our longest road journey of the trip to Pushkar where we reach the city by early evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Pushkar (4 Star Hotel)
This morning we walk around Pushkar Lake to see the only Brahman Temple in Rajasthan before an afternoon drive to Jaipur. Once we arrive you are free to spend some time relaxing at our hotel or to step outside and wander the streets of Jaipur the famed Pink City.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Jaipur (4 Star Hotel)
Today we take a guided tour of the beautiful capital of Rajasthan.
We visit the picturesque Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) with its opulent, colonnaded pink walls it is one of the most photographed sites in all of India. The City Palace has beautiful gardens, courtyards and museums and is still a royal residence.
Next we ride elephants to the top of the UNESCO world heritage listed Amer Fort, constructed of sandstone and marble the palace is constructed over four levels and includes the geniusly designed Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is created by the wind that blows over cascading water.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Jaipur (4 Star Hotel)
Today we visit the Patrika Gate, a series of colourful walkways that lead to the Jawahar Circle Garden. The gate has become a popular photography spot for locals.
We next visit the Albert Hall Museum before heading off to the Monkey Temple of Galtaji where natural springs flow from the hillside filling sacred kunds (water tanks) for Hindu pilgrims to bathe.
We end the day with a visit to the famous Chand Baori which consists of 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories. At its bottom the temperature can be six to eight degrees cooler than the surface and has become a popular place to gather during periods of intense heat.
If Bollywood movies excite you we can spend the evening at the famous Raj Mandir cinemas watching a movie.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Jaipur (4 Star Hotel)
After an early breakfast we finally head to Agra, made famous as the location of the Taj Mahal. On the way we stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned ancient capital of Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Empire which was founded in 1571 and abandoned only 40 years later in 1610.
From here we make our way to our hotel in Agra to freshen up before making our way just before dusk to Mehtabbagh to get our first shots of the Taj Mahal.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Agra (4 star Hotel)
This morning is the culmination of our journey so we have left the best for last.
We wake before dawn and head out to capture the sunrise over the Taj Mahal and to walk the grounds of the famous mausoleum. We then head back to our hotel for breakfast before visiting one final fort Agra’s Red fort then make our way back to Delhi.
This afternoon we can visit Lodhi Gardens and Safdajung Tomb or relax by the pool and enjoy a cocktail or two before we head to the airport for our evening departure ending our fantastic Golden Triangle and Rajasthan adventure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner