Day 1: Delhi Arrival
You are welcomed at the Delhi airport either by the representative of our local agency or by your French speaking guide. He assures your safe transfer to the hotel that we have booked for 2 nights.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 2: Delhi Exploration
This first day is dedicated to the discovery of Delhi.
Bathed by the holy waters of Yamuna, Delhi was twice capital of empire, first with the Mughals and then in 1911 with the British. The city is divided into two very different parts, New Delhi, the Victorian city with wide avenues, with its business district and parliament gathered around Connaught Place and Old Delhi, the old city, capital of Muslim India, the streets lined with lively bazaars, the Red Fort, a witness to the power of the Mughal emperors and the Jama-Masjid(Mosque), the largest in the country.
By rickshaw you go through Old Delhi, and then you take a look at Rajghat, the mausoleum the legend Mahatama Gandhi, then you’ll visit Humayun’s Tomb, a fine example of Mughal architecture that inspired the construction of the Taj-Mahal and Qutub-Minar, the tallest tower in the country, standing at a height of 72.5 meters.
In the late afternoon, you discover New Delhi through Rajpath, the Royal Way before admiring the Indian Gate, Parliament and the Presidential house.
In evening, you share a moment of fervor with the Sikh community at Bangla Sahib temple.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 3 : Delhi / Castle Khandela (4h30 / 260 km)
After having breakfast, you hit the road to Mandawa, region of Rajasthan also called The open-air art gallery of Rajasthan. It is in these boroughs surrounded by sand dunes that one finds the Havelis, houses of the rich merchants who once lived in the camel trade between India and Pakistan.
You then continue your path in Nawalgarh’s direction and you visit ancient seigniorial residences of this small village, real jewel, sheltering havelis and temples profusely. You will also discover villager’s habits and their daily life: colors of women clothes busywith their daily activities, children on the way to school, craftsmen at work...
In the late afternoon, you settle in the hotel
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 4: Khandela / Bikaner (190 kms / 3h30)
After having breakfast you go through the Thar Desert to join Bikaner, previous princely capital of the fifteenth century.
In the late afternoon, you visit Junnagarh’s fort, huge citadel which withdrawn various palaces and temples. A maze of corridors, stairs and courtyards would be waiting for you.
In the corridors you will find the Coronation Hall, the Mirrors Palace, the Maharajah Room, the weapons Museum, which also contains elephant nacelles, the "Conference Hall" and its silver throne, as well as Fakirs first nail boards.
After a Tuk-tuk ride in the city’s picturesque bazaar, you will walk through its old districts to explore the typical tiny streets.
Installation and Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 5: Bikaner / Jaisalmer (330 km / 5h30)
After having breakfast, you take the road to Jaisalmer. On the way, you visit a desert village.
In the evening, after reaching your hotel in the late afternoon, you go to visit Bara-Bagh, formerly the garden of Jaisalmers’s rulers to discover the decorative chhattri (cenotaph) of Maharawal (sovereign) Jaisalmer.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 6 : Jaisalmer / Dechu (160 km / 2h30)
After having breakfast, part of your day is dedicated to the visit of the Golden City and its surroundings: the Gadi-Sagar, artificial water tank, surrounded by small temples and shrines, which fed the city with water until 1965, its Jain temples, havelis and its palace.
In the afternoon you take the departure to Dechu. In the middle of Rajasthan deserts, there is a majestic oasis “Thar Oasis Resort”, a gem! A Dechu visit proves to be the best way to understand the culture and the beauty of desert life.
On a jeep ride, you discover the mustard and red pepper fields. This is a good opportunity to take contact with a wild nature, very present: Indian gazelles (chinkara) or even nilgai and observe the magnificent beauty of the Thar Desert sand dunes.
After a camel ride on sand dunes, your evening unfolds around a barbecue, accompanied by a performance of dances and music.
Night in tent.
Day 7 : Dechu / Jodhpur (130 km / 2h30)
After having breakfast, you take the road to Jodhpur. After settling in the hotel when arriving, you discover the "blue city", dominated by the Mehrangarh Fort, its harem, its sumptuous reception room, dining cradles, curious little palace of mirrors and the room to royal palanquins including the "howdah" engraved silver.
In town, the bazaars around the Clock Tower (known as meeting point for tourists as seen by far!), have artisans and merchants of all kinds. The market stalls are full of sari fabrics, spices, seeds, fruits and vegetables.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 8 : Jodhpur / Ranakphur / Udaipur (310 km / 5h30)
After breakfast and on the way to Udaipur, you visit Ranakpur much appreciated Jain Temples. Located at the bottom of a forest slope of Aravalli range, Ranakpur is one of the most remarkable Jain site, both for the quality of its carved decorations and the complexity of its temples architecture, the charm of the place animated a great religious fervor. The major monument of this site is Adinath temple built in the fifteenth century.
A beautiful road through the green hills of the Aravalli Range leads you to Udaipur, the "pearl of Rajasthan".
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9: Udaipur: The City of Lakes
The white city, founded by Udai Singh in the sixteenth century, is one of the most romantic cities of all India. It is adorned with three sparkling lakes including Pichola Lake and its two "island-palace" Jagniwas and Jagmandir and the huge City Palace, on the lake, which is the largest palatine complex of Rajasthan.
After visiting the Palace, you leave for a stroll on your pace in the old city streets and also for Jagdish-Mandir visit, sanctuary dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
In the afternoon, you will visit The Sahelion-ki-Bari, nicknamed the "Ladies garden" built in the 18th century by Maharana Sangram Singh for women of the royal family who used to walk there. You will discover this beautiful park full of fountains animated by water games, the elephants in marbles and many kiosks that contains this charming quiet place.
In evening, you go for a boat ride on Pichola Lake in order to enjoy the beautiful sunset.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10 : Udaipur / Chittorgarh / Bijapur (2h30 / 130 km)
On the road to Bijapur, you visit Chittogarh’s Fortwhich stands, imposing, above the plain. Chittorgarh is at first an exceptional site, 150 m from the void, a dark mass where everything breathes the tragedy of those who, sword in hand, threw themselves in front of a certain death to defend it. Tragedy of Rajput’s honour knights and their wives giving themselves up to the fire of the stake rather than to the assailants.
You go on a tuk-tuk ride before hiting back the road and settle in a Palace from the XVII century where you pass the overnight
In the evening, you stroll in Bijapur’s village.
Overnight at the palace.
Day 11: Bijapur / Bundi (5h / 250 km)
After having breakfast, you leave for Bundi, a small town of Rajasthan with untouched charm and located off the beaten track. There, you visit Menal temples dating from the twelfth century. In Bijolia, you will discover the temples dedicated to Shiva, beautiful examples of the religious of that time’s architecture.
The princely city of Bundi, dominated by the fort and the Chattar-Mahal (Rajput Palace) decorated with magnificent paintings of the eighteenth century is finally offered to you.
After visiting Fort called Tara Garh, the 84 pillars cenotaph and the royal tombs with delicate reliefs, a short stroll through the old town and the bazaar is proposed before leaving to settle at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12: Bundi / Jaipur (4h / 220 km)
After having breakfast, you leave for Jaipur, one of the most pleasant and lively cities in India. The vibrant capital of Rajasthan, also called "The Pink City", color of the old city’s buildings, is surrounded by bare hills topped by fortresses and crenellated ramparts. Sacred cows, camels, elephants and Rickshaws coexist.
Built in 1727, Jaipur is one of the most colorful and picturesque cities of all India. You will visit the "City Palace" and its fabulous collections of weapons and period costumes, the "Jantar-Mantar", an astonishing observatory built by a prince passionate by astronomy but also the Hawa-Mahal or “Palace of Winds” Structure pierced with more than 900 windows and balconies.
At the end of the afternoon, you take a walk through the bazaars of the old town to admire the craftsmen in their stalls (potters, dyers, and jewelers), street vendors, vegetable marketers...
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 13: Jaipur
After having breakfast, you leave for an excursion to Amber Fort. This majestic building is located 9 km north of Jaipur, in the former capital of the Rajput Empire. You climb to the top of its ramparts on the back of an elephant or with 4x4.
The afternoon is free and reserved for shopping.
A Bollywood evening awaits you at the mythical Raj-Mandir Cinema to close your day (sometimes subtitled in English).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 14: Jaipur / Ranthambhore (180 km / 3h30)
After having breakfast, you go for the discovery of Ranthambhore National Park, renowned as one of the best places to see the Bengal tiger.
The 280 km² that form the original core of the park was once the former private hunting grounds of Jaipur’s Mahajara. It was one of the first parks opened as part of the Project Tiger launched in 1973 by the Indian government after the ban on tiger hunting.
Check-in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 15: Ranthambhore
After having breakfast, your day is dedicated to two safaris and the visit of the Park. A first safari in the morning and another one in evening, two atmospheres totally different!
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 16: Ranthambhore / Fatehpur sikri / Agra (240 km / 6h)
After having breakfast, you leave for Agra. On the road, you visit Fatehpur-Sikri, very remarkable place from an artistic and architectural point of view. Built in 1571, Fatehpur-Sikri is the ancient capital of Emperor Akbar. The Imperial City contains buildings in pink sandstone with the most varied architectural forms: palaces, pavilions, courtyards and basins, mosques, caravanserai.
You arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon, before visiting the mausoleum of Itimad-ud-Daulah, nicknamed "Baby Taj", the first Mughal building built entirely of marble, with particularly delicate forms and patterns.
Upon arriving in Agra, you arrive at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 17: Agra
After having breakfast, you go to discover the Taj-Mahal in "tonga", small carriage. You will discover this high place of art and Mughal architecture, luminous mausoleum of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz, and considered as the third wonder of the world...
The afternoon is free and reserved for shopping.
At the end of the day you will visit Agra’s red fort whose high red sandstone walls dominate the Yamuna River. It marks the birth of the Mughal Imperial style and offers you the opportunity to take a last look at the Taj-Mahal.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 18: Agra / Jhasi / Orchha (by train - 260 km / 3h)
After having breakfast, you embark on a train that takes you to Jhansi, on the road to Orchha. Ancient capital of the "Bundella" kings, Orchha remained the capital of a powerful Rajput kingdom until 1783. Today it is a small medieval village located in the middle of palaces and temples rather well preserved.
You can then discover the impressive Jahangir Mahal’s Palace, the Raj-Mahal(Palace) with magnificent frescoes and the Raj Praveen Mahal, a small palace standing in a garden.
In the evening, before going to the hotel, you’ll have the chance to attend a ceremony in Rama temple.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 19: Orchha / Khajuraho (170 km / 4h30)
After having breakfast, you hit the road to the Ganges valley and join Khajuraho, once the capital of the Chandela kings from the 6th to the 8th century.
In the afternoon, you discover rural India through a walk in the village where all the Indian tradition resonates. After this beautiful discovery, you attend a strongly colored dance show representing different regions of India.
You arrive at the hotel at the end of the day.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 20 : Khajuraho / Varanasi (Vol intérieur)
After having breakfast, the sacred strength of love to reach the absolute; this is what is revealed to Khajuraho sculptures you discover in the morning: scenes of ordinary life in the fields, ladies' toilets, scenes of war and scenes of love, under the benevolent eye of the gods.
Then you are transferred to the airport to take a flight to Varanasi where you are transferred to the hotel upon your arrival.
In order to get to know and feel the spiritual energy of this city, you take a ride through the streets and the Ghats in rickshaw. People mainly come to pray, wash, purify, shave (pilgrims donate their hair to the river), play cricket, wash clothes, give alms to sadhus, practice yoga.
You have the opportunity to participate in an offering and worship ceremony on the Ghats paying tribute to the deities. Watching these illuminated cupolas floating in the night will remain a moment of wisdom that you will remember for a long time.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 21: Varanasi
Early in the morning, at the first rays of the sun, you take place in a boat floating on the Ganges calm waters, while on the shores thousands of pilgrims are already pressing to pray and purify themselves in sacred water...
Your afternoon is dedicated to the visit of Sharnarth, Buddhist teaching’s birthplace. This is where Buddha preached his first sermon in 528 BC. Sharnarth is one of the most important sacred places for Buddhists of all over the world. You also visit his museum, which houses remarkable representations of Buddha.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 22: Varanasi / Delhi
After a delightful breakfast breakfast, you take a flight to Delhi before being transferred to the international airport to catch up your return flight.