Real Rajasthan

Day 1 Delhi    
Namaste! Welcome to Delhi. Today is an arrival day with no planned activities, except a welcome meeting at 6pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travel pals.    

Day 2 Delhi to Thar Desert    
This morning head out on a walking tour around the commercial heart of Delhi, visiting Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place along the way. Explore Old Delhi on a bicycle rickshaw to dig that little bit deeper. You'll then have some free time to do as much sightseeing as you can, before boarding an overnight train bound for Jaisalmer.    

Day 3 Thar Desert    
Arrive in Jaisalmer, which looks like some kind of giant sandcastle. Head to the guesthouse, drop off your gear, then take a walk around the town to get a feel of this amazing desert oasis. Chuck your essentials in an overnight bag then hop in a jeep to ride out to a camel cam. You’ll be truly sleeping out in the open here, with mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets provided. There’s no need for a tent – then you’d miss the amazing starry sky.    

Day 4 Thar Desert to Jaisalmer    
The crack of dawn is your wake up call this morning. But it's worth it. You'll soon see that not much can match a desert sunrise. Then, you’ll climb back into the jeep and return to the city. Jaisalmer is a centre for nomadic tribes people who come to trade in the narrow twisting alleys full of markets and ornately carved houses. Enjoy free time upon arrival and maybe visit the Jaisalmer Folklore Museum.    

Day 5 Jaisalmer    
Enjoy a free day to explore Jaisalmer further. Discover the city’s narrow twisted alleys, which are full of markets and ornately carved houses. Track down some dazzling Rajastani fabrics to spice up your wardrobe, marvel at the spectacular facades of the Patwa ki Haveli and Salim Singh-ki-Haveli, or maybe just get walking in the maze of paths and soak up the atmosphere  

Day 6 Jaisalmer to Jodhpur
Travel by train across the desert to one of Rajasthan's largest cities, Jodhpur.

Day 7 Jodhpur    
Get ready to bargain at Sadar Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in India. Built around a clock tower, it’s packed with spice and vegetable markets, juice sellers and sari materials. From the chaos of the market, head to the colossal Mehrangarh Fort, which sits up on a hill looking over the town. Explore and take in the great views from its ramparts, which dominate the city's skyline.    

Day 8 Jodhpur to Udaipur    
Chat away with the locals on a bus to Udaipur. There’s no doubt that Udaipur lives up to its rep as India’s most romantic city. When you hop off the bus, take a walk around town to help gather your bearings. Explore Udaipur's twisting alleys filled with silver, shoes, bags, leather goods and those miniature paintings.  

Day 9 Udaipur
There's loads to see and do in your free time here. Enjoy a half hour boat ride on the famous Lake Pichola and see marvels like Lake Palace and Jag Mandir Island (note this is seasonal, depending on the water level in the lake). You could check out the City Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in India. Feeling peckish? Join the famous Spice Box cooking school and spend a half-day learning the secrets of Indian cuisine.    

Day 10 Udaipur to Pushkar    
It’s back on the rails today as you hop on a day train to the city of Ajmer, then transfer to Pushkar. One of India’s holiest places (and in such a spiritual country, that’s saying something), Pushkar is a market centre for many of the local village people and a great place to sit back and relax. Walk around the lake, with its bustling ghats and temples, to watch the devout as they worship at the holy waters.  

Day 11 Pushkar
Early risers can make the sunrise hike up the hill to the Savitri Temple for magical views over the town. You can also stop the colourful Brahma Temple, one over only a handful in the whole of India. It’s said that the god has so few places of worship thanks to a curse laid down by Brahma’s consort, Saraswati.  

Day 12 Pushkar to Jaipur
Travel by public vehicle to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. Haggle to your heart's content in Jaipur's bazaars and backstreets filled with textiles, semi-precious gems and blue pottery. Later, drop by one of India’s finest palaces – the Royal City Palace – an amazing complex with various colourful courtyard gates, fascinating museums, and impressively moustachioed guards.  

Day 13 Jaipur    
For anyone that wants to see the Pink City a bit differently this morning there’s the option to drift high over Jaipur in a hot air balloon, a highlight for many visitors. Here’s just a sprinkling of things to do in your free time today: drop by Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), the most photographed building in the country after Taj Mahal. Then maybe head out to the old capital of Amber and an exploration of the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort.    

Day 14 Jaipur to Agra    
Head east by public bus to Agra. After arriving into the city you’ll head to the most iconic sight in India. It doesn’t matter who you are, the Taj Mahal will explode all your expectations with the morning light shimmering off its white marble surface.    

Day 15 Agra to Delhi    
Maybe return to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, then explore the awesome Red Fort on the banks of the Yamuna River – stroll the palatial gardens of this red sandstone stronghold with cheeky monkeys in tow. Then it’s back on rails with a return train to Delhi. Use the rest of the day however you like.    

Day 16 Delhi    
Depart at any time.