A Different Side of Rajasthan
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

An incredible journey through Rajasthan covering the famous cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur and their sights, but this holiday also veers right away from the beaten track to explore the Rajasthani countryside, wilderness and wildlife at places such as Bundi, Bharatpur, Shahpura and Deogarh.

Rajasthan is a magnificent and mesmerising state, by turns bewildering, complex and spell-binding. We’ve designed this itinerary to take you to places that you wouldn’t otherwise see, without missing what made Rajasthan so famous in the first place.

Highlights include:

• A very romantic heritage hotel, built 300 years ago into the walls at Bundi
• Blissful escapism in the former princely state of Shahpura
• A home-away-from-home in remote Deogarh, with fantastic hosts
• Some of the best birdwatching India has to offer, near Bharatpur
• Although the trip packs a great deal in, we think it will feel far more relaxing than conventional Rajasthan itineraries, despite covering more ground. The peaceful countryside seems unchanged in a thousand years.

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart and fly to Delhi.

DAY 2 DELHI

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel in the heart of New Delhi. In the afternoon you will take a walk around Lodhi Gardens and Khan Market, with some great restaurant choices for dinner.

DAY 3 DELHI

In order to experience more than just the ‘box ticking’ sights of Delhi this morning you will take a look at the three main religions prevalent in Delhi; Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity. You’ll have a private guide to give you a crash course in the idiosyncrasies of each one. In the evening, take a street food tour of Old Delhi by the local’s favourite, the cycle rickshaw. It’s a wonderful chance to not only sample the cuisine but also meet some of the chefs and bakers who have been around for years.

DAY 4-5 Bharatpur

Today you’ll take the famous Shatabdi Express for a 2.5 hour train journey south to Bharatpur. No journey to India is complete without a train journey! On arrival you’ll be picked up by your guide and taken to your lovely heritage hotel for some old world charm and your first foray into a different side of Rajasthan.

The next morning you’ll explore the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary by boat, home to approximately 366 bird species. The afternoon is yours at leisure.

DAY 6-8 Bishangarh

Today you’ll journey to the small village of Bishangarh, taking around 4 hours. You are now just an hour away from Jaipur; ‘the Pink City’ and capital of Rajasthan, staying in a beautifully converted fort on top of a granite hill with lovely views of the rustic terrain.

Jaipur is a riot of colour and, as the capital of Rajasthan, it's a busy place with buzzing spice markets and streets filled with multi-coloured saris and rampaging rickshaw drivers. Today you’ll spend the day with a local guide exploring the city's Hindu and Mughul heritage and the many palaces and forts, home to intricate and exquisite Indian art and architecture, including the extraordinary Palace of the Winds.

Early on day 8 you will experience a 60 minute, once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon ride over rural villages and the Amber Fort.

DAY 9 JAIPUR TO BUNDI

 A 4 hour drive today will take you to Bundi, an often overlooked fort town in central Rajasthan.

In comparison to bustling Jaipur or Jodhpur, Bundi is a breath of fresh air – here you can admire the beauty and charisma of the Rajasthan region without the crowds. The town of just over 100,000 inhabitants is greatly admired for its magnificent temples, lovely lakes, obligatory impressive fort and a truly spectacular 17^th Century palace.

You’ll stay at a wonderful Heritage property, impossibly romantic – built 300 years ago in the heart of the city walls. What it lacks in modern luxuries, it more than makes up for in character.  

Bundi is a great place to explore on your own and, as you’ll be staying in the heart of the town, everything is within easy walking distance. Just ambling around here really pays off. If you’d like a guide we can provide one of course.

DAY 10-11 Shahpura

Another longish drive this morning, deep into the Rajasthani countryside to the former princely state of Shahpura home to a gorgeous boutique hotel. It’s well off the tourist trail and in a lovely natural settling. During your time here you might like to take a walk around the nearby villages, visit a stunning temple and stepwell or just relax and read a book around the pool.

DAY 12-14 Deogarh

A drive of around 3.5 hours at your leisure brings you to a lovely home-away-from-home in peaceful Deogarh. This once stately home has been converted to a luxury hotel but has the vibe of a homestay without compromising on comfort. You’ll have two full days to explore the surrounding area where there is a huge amount to do, including a train ride through the ghats, taking walks around Deogarh, learning about home-cooked cuisine and observing huge arrays of migrant birds.

DAY 15-17 UDAIPUR

Today you'll travel with your driver to the most romantic of cities in a state full of them: Udaipur, set on Lake Pichola. Your hotel is situated just on the outskirts in the Aravali hills and avoiding the hustle and bustle, but if you fancy something more central this can easily be arranged.

On one of your days here you’ll experience one of the more interesting aspects of the city outside of the main sights – Udaipur market. An authentic bazaar, it’s easy to get lost without the help of our guide.

You’ll have one final full day here to spend as you choose.

DAY 18 FLY HOME

Wave goodbye to your chauffeur today and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.