Golden Triangle & Rajasthan Family Holiday

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. Enjoy a swim in the pool and a relaxing morning to acclimatise after your journey.

In the afternoon, we suggest a guided three-wheel tour of New Delhi, as the old city is just too much for your arrival day – trust us on this!

DAY 3 DELHI

Start the day with a cycle rickshaw ride through Old Delhi and past the Red Fort, the most opulent palace of the Mughal Empire. Its main gate faces Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colourful market of the old city filled with twisting lanes, small streets and crowded bazaars. Peer through a portico to catch a glimpse of everything from silver being weighed to a customer at the barbers and every other conceivable form of commerce in between. The sacks of spices and nuts, edible sheets of silver, and local pickles make for an aromatic day out!

After your tour, you’ll take lunch as the guests of an Indian family in their heritage mansion, or Haveli. They will be happy to show you around their beautiful home, including the roof terrace where a whole new view of Delhi reveals itself.

DAY 4 DELHI TO AGRA

First thing this morning, you will step aboard the Shatabdi Express, to begin the two hour journey to Agra. Travelling by train is integral to the Indian way of life and a holiday would feel incomplete without one!

On arrival at Agra, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. After a chance to have lunch and refresh, there is a chance to visit the Red Fort and the iconic Taj Mahal, built in white marble by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen. The building is a universal symbol of love and a superb example of Muslim art in India. A once-in-a-lifetime moment!

DAY 5: AGRA TO JAIPUR

A choice of another first class train journey today, or a drive, will take you to Jaipur, the 'Pink City'. Either way, the journey will take around 5 hours.

On arrival check into your fantastic, up-market family homestay, to this day home to important nobility who generally host your stay.

DAY 6: JAIPUR

Amer, Or Amber Fort is one of the can’t miss palaces of old India, with fairytale terraces and ramparts that are reflected in Maota Lake below. You’ll enjoy a guided tour on your own terms before venturing further out of Jaipur for a real one-off elephant experience on a private estate in the Rajasthan countryside.

DAY 7 ARTISAN WALK AROUND JAIPUR

Depending on the age of your children and the energy of their parents, there are many and varied excursions we can suggest in Jaipur that will suit you. All of them will help you get under the skin of the place. The artisan walk around the wholesale producers of high quality crafts, purchased by locals for their elaborate wedding ceremonies and exported all over the world, is a fascinating place to start. Our walking guide will show you a side of India that few other tourists get to see.

They’ll be plenty of time to enjoy the hotel as well today and in the evening a fantastic kite flying experience – engaging anonymous kite flyers in mortal combat (for the kites!) from the rooftops, before enjoying a traditionally cooked Rajasthani meal with the family.

DAY 7 JAIPUR TO JODHPUR

Your journey to Jodhpur today will take approximately 6 hours, with stops on route to rest in rural Rajasthan. You’ll be staying in a village called Rohet, which is 40 minutes outside of Jodhpur itself. Travellers have long stopped here to recuperate and enjoy its simple and peaceful pleasures.

DAY 9 HISTORICAL JODHPUR

The Mehrangarh Fort, dominating the skyline of Jodhpur looks, in Kipling’s words, “like the work of giants” and is another must see in Rajasthan. Unusual among historical sites in that it will entrall children and teenagers as much as their parents whilst wandering the narrow lanes of the ‘blue city’ below, it is a feast for the senses.

DAY 10 OVERLAND JEEP TOUR

Today’s jeep safari takes you into the wilderness of western Rajasthan to visit homes and see the lives of various tribal communities. These are villages or hamlets, completely off the beaten path where simple village folk still live in complete harmony with nature. All along the drive, you can encounter wildlife like black buck, blue bull, chinkara, migratory birds like the demoiselle cranes, various species of ducks and geese and several land birds.

DAY 11 ROHET TO UDAIPUR, VIA RANAKPUR

A good days drive today through the Aravali Range, broken up by a stop at the finest expression of the Jain faith – the magnificent temple at Ranakpur.

On arrival in Udaipur, there is time for a late evening cruise around India’s loveliest city lakes.

DAYS 12 – 13 UDAIPUR

Time to relax enjoy the surprisingly laid back and famously beautiful lake city. We’ll include the normal guided tour of the lovely city palace, but you’ll enjoy your own time to explore the region, take gentle guided walks, or just enjoy the restaurants of Udaipur.

DAY 14: UDAIPUR TO DELHI

Depart today for your connecting flight to Delhi. Overnight in Delhi and take the chance to give something back by doing a guided walk with one of the ex-street children now running the fantastic Salaam Balak tours in the Paharganj area of Delhi.

DAY 15: ONWARDS FLIGHT

In the morning it’s time to say goodbye to India and head to the airport for your onwards flight.