Gems of India Loyalty Departure: 20 days Delhi to Delhi

Be welcomed to North India with a traditional floral garland and red tikka before arriving at your hotel for the next two nights.

Explore Old Delhi and India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid. Dazzle your senses on a rickshaw ride through Asia’s largest wholesale spice bazaar and Delhi’s oldest streets, finishing with a traditional lunch in Dharmpura haveli. Later, visit the inspiration for the Taj Mahal, Humayan’s Tomb and drive past the India Gate and Presidential Avenue. Tonight, enjoy your special welcome dinner.

Fly to India’s holiest Hindu city, Varanasi for the next two nights.

Scenic Enrich
Enjoy a rickshaw ride to the banks of the Ganges River. Cruise the holy river at dusk whilst listening to the sounds of traditional Indian music. Release sacred offerings into the river and witness the magical ceremony of the evening Aarti.

As the sun begins to rise, drift slowly down the Ganges River and watch the many ghats come to life. Afterwards, take a stroll along the ghats and laneways of the Old City. This afternoon, journey to Sarnath and spend time at one of Buddhism’s most important sites, Deer Park.

Scenic Freechoice:
Take a yoga lesson or visit a Shiva Temple to experience Rudrabhishek, a ritual to appease the God Shiva.

Fly to Khajuraho, famous for its magnificent World Heritage-listed temple architecture. Enjoy your two-night stay at your hotel overlooking the iconic temples.

Be inspired as you explore exquisitely sculpted sandstone temples built between the 9th and 10th centuries by the Chandela Dynasty. Marvel at scenes depicting gods and goddesses, beast and warriors, dancers and musicians and the exotic Karma Sutra carvings for which these Khajuraho temples are most famous. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Watch a sound and light show at the temples or a traditional folk-dance performance.

Drive to Orchha and enjoy a walking tour of the old town. Continue to Jhansi and board a train to Agra, arriving in the early evening at your luxurious Scenic Special Stay, located only 600 metres from the magnificent Taj Mahal.

Marvel at the Taj Mahal at sunrise with its shimmering marble domes and towers reflected in the landscaped pools. Later, discover the World Heritage-listed Mughal Red Fort of Agra built in the 16th century. 

Scenic Sunset Drinks
Gather for evening drinks to overlook and appreciate the architectural wonder of the Taj Mahal from the close proximity of your hotel. 

Scenic Freechoice Dining:
Choose Asian cuisine at C’est Chine, or a north Indian BBQ. Alternatively, enjoy the buffet at Bellevue restaurant, within your hotel.

Explore the World Heritage-listed site of Fatehpur Sikri enroute to Bharatpur. Board a train to travel to Ranthambore National Park and settle into your two-night stay.

Accompanied by an expert wildlife naturalist, search for the elusive Bengal Tiger during your private morning and afternoon game drives.

Drive to the Pink City, visiting Abhaneri village and its 1,000-year-old step well en route. Afterwards stop for lunch at the Castle Kanota, the setting for the Viceroy Club in the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Enjoy a two-night stay at your hotel in Jaipur.

Visit the City Palace, home to the rulers of Jaipur. Marvel at the magnificent Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in the 18th century. Discover the magnificent Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) with its honeycombed sandstone windows. Later visit the striking hilltop Amer Fort. Explore the Maharajah’s apartments, the many palaces with interiors richly decorated with exquisite paintings and intricate carvings. Soak in the views of the massive ramparts surrounding the complex whilst dining at 1136 Restaurant for dinner.

Pass small villages and towns on the way to Nagaur and your magnificent hotel Ranvas. Set within the heart of the 5th Century Ahhichatragarh Fort lies this restored former Mughal residence, once belonging to the Queens of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. 

Scenic Enrich
Step back in time with an exclusive dinner within Bakht Singh courtyard Baradari in Ahhichatragarh Fort. Dine dressed in traditional turbans and saris, just as the former residents once did.

Continue onto Jodhpur. Enjoy a Tuk Tuk ride around the surrounding streets locating the local market within walking distance to your hotel. Marvel at the close-up view of the Mehrangarh Fort from your room at your boutique hotel located inside the old walled city.

This morning take off on a jeep adventure to the nearby Bishnoi Villages, learning about their rural way of life. Later visit the colossal Mehrangarh Fort which overlooks the city.

See the rural tribal hamlets whilst driving to the small village of Narlai. Settle into your hotel for the next two nights, a former hunting lodge.

Scenic Freechoice:
Later, choose to set out on your first jeep safari to spot leopards and peacocks in the hills surrounding your hotel or enjoy an afternoon jeep drive to have afternoon tea overlooking the lake and desert scenery.

Rise early to watch sunrise over the lake on your jeep safari in hope to view a leopard on their morning prowl. Later, undertake a leisurely walk around town to view the local rural lifestyle.

Scenic Enrich
Enjoy a drink with a member of the local royal family and then take a bullock cart ride to tonight’s dinner venue and enjoy a delicious dinner by a candlelit 1,100 year old well. Uniquely romantic.

Drive to the ‘City of Lakes’ via Ranakpur, set in a secluded valley and discover the beautiful and spectacular 15th century Jain Temples. Rising majestically from a hill, the temples are exquisitely carved, boasting marble domes and 1,444 intricately carved pillars. Continue to Udaipur, one of Rajasthan’s most beautiful and romantic cities set at the southern end of the Aravalli Hills for your two-night stay overlooking the City Palace.

Begin the day with serene cruise on Lake Pichola before dropping off at the wharf to then explore the 400 year old City Palace (Raj Mahal), considered the largest of its type in the state of Rajasthan and the nearby Jagdish Temple.

After an afternoon at pleasure, indulge in your sumptuous private Mewar Terrace farewell dinner. Overlooking the magical City Palace and Lake Pichola, this is a fitting end to your tour.

Bid farewell to India as you fly to Delhi. Alternatively, you can use your included flight to fly from Udaipur to Mumbai for a post-tour extension.

Please book your flight to depart out of Delhi after 09:00 PM.