Get your stomach and cameras ready! You’ll start your introduction to India’s capital by eating your way through Old Delhi, its bustling markets, and hypnotic temples… you’ll even visit a street of nine colorful Havelis owned by one single family.

We’ll take a battery-operated tuk-tuk to the spice market where you can explore or buy some Indian spices and dry fruits for souvenirs and we continue devouring extraordinary Delhi. You’ll visit a 100-year-old lassi shop and taste fresh biscuits from the oven on the back of a bike!

Then it’s off to see Delhi’s historical highlights such as UNESCO’s Qutub Minar,  the home of Indira Gandhi and you’ll witness a splendid Sikh temple with a kitchen that serves 40,000 meals a day. Finally, you’ll wind down the day at Delhi’s favorite crafts market.

By the evening, you’ll be overdosing on the dizzying delights of Delhi.

Included: Breakfast + 1 main meal

We’ll start our drive from Delhi to Agra early, stopping over at a wildlife rescue center where you’ll get an overview of their rehabilitation and conservation efforts to keep India’s wildlife (such as elephants, bears, leopards and reptiles…) protected and safe.

Then it’s off to the captivating Taj Mahal!  This ivory mausoleum is one is an impressive love letter by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife upon her death and is today, the seventh wonder of the world.  We’ll explore the neighborhood of Tajganj too and taste Indian street food along the way.

In the evening, you’ll visit zardozi artisans of Agra. Zardozi is an art of embroidery with gold wire over women’s clothes. This intricate art is passed on from generation and is part of family traditions.

Drive from Agra to Ranthambore National Park.

There will be a brief stop at one of the oldest and largest step wells in the world and a wonderful photographic spot. It is one of India’s hidden wonders, as the mazelike waterhole is perfectly symmetrical. The stepwell was built to conserve water and was a community gathering place for both, locals and royals.   Next to it is a 9th-10th century temple is dedicated to Harshat Mata, a goddess of joy and happiness for the village.

We arrive in Ranthambore by evening with the rest of the day available at leisure.

Ready to spot a Royal Bengal Tiger? Today we’ll spend a day in Ranthambore National Park with one game drive in the morning. Ranthambore National Park was once a hunting ground for Jaipur Maharajas. Now, it is a wildlife reserve and home to tigers, leopards, and marsh crocodiles. It boasts a large number of Royal Bengal Tigers– let’s hope we spot one! The game drive will be in open jeeps with 4-5 people in each vehicle. Along the way, we’ll also visit Ranthambore Fort.

We also visit a community project to generate alternative livelihood for Tiger poachers. The project trains the community in developing handicrafts that they sell to save the animal. We will take a tour of the campus and learn how this self-sustaining community is making an impact. You also have an opportunity to participate in patchwork embroidery and block printing with the women. We will eat here.

Included: Breakfast + one major meal

Drive from Ranthambore National Park and check into our hotel in Bundi by the afternoon.

Bundi is a small town with an old-world charm and it is not often on tourist maps. We’ll explore Bundi Palace with its ‘Chitrashala‘ school of miniature paintings. Bundi palace is a peaceful place to explore at your pace and is not a destination most tourists know about.

In the evening, we will meet an artist family who has specialized in miniature paintings for generations.  Miniature paintings are extremely detailed visual depictions of events and were originally commissioned by the Rajput kings. Many Rajasthan artists learned this craft by forefathers who were commissioned by kings.  You will learn the art of miniature paintings from this artist couple!

Included: Breakfast + one major meal

After a long drive from Bundi, we arrive in Udaipur at night.

Drive from Bundi to Udaipur. Arrive in the evening with the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city on your own.

Optional Lake Pichola boating activity

Included: Breakfast + one major meal

Ready to swoon? Beyond the romantic scenery of lakes and lake palaces, Udaipur city is a bustling city of colors, flavors, and fragrances!

Your day tour starts with the stunning Jagdish Temple, a Udaipur landmark popular with Hindu devotees. Then we’ll wind through colorful flower and vegetable markets -mostly run by ladies- to then, stroll along the ghats lining Lake Pichola, where we’ll observe the daily rituals. Our sightseeing will also include a visit to a traditional Udaipur perfume maker and tasting local street snacks.

In the afternoon you will have time on your own.

In the evening we’ll enjoy a musical night with local singers and dancers.

Meals: Breakfast + one major meal

After our drive to Jodhpur, you’ll check into your heritage homestay, traditional mud hut cottages in a weaving community on the periphery of Jodhpur.  The village is comprised of 45 weaving families whose ancestors used to work for maharajas.

In the evening, you’ll go for a village safari, visiting the houses of potters, shepherds, and the Bishnoi tribal community, where we learn about the different customs and traditional beliefs. The Bishnoi people have strict worship of nature from plant to animal.  Wildlife you may expect to see on this safari are Blackbuck, Antelope, and peacock.

Return to the homestay for a hands-on experience of carpet weaving (from camel, sheep wool and cotton) and cooking with the ladies in the kitchen. You can also opt for henna painting or dressing in local clothes for the evening.

Note: On one of our evenings here, we’ll celebrate the Holi festival with the local family and community.

Included: Breakfast + one major meal

Rajasthan is known to have deserts, so we’re taking a day trip to a lesser-known town with a desert, Osian. Osian was once a major center for Jain traders and a trade route between central Asia and India, so you’ll start with a walking tour of the beautiful medieval temples of the Jain community.

After the temple tour, we go for a desert safari in 4×4 jeeps and have lunch at a house of a desert family. The lunch will be simple vegetarian and as per the daily lifestyle of the family.

Included: Meal and 1 major meal.

Jodhpur is known as the “Blue City” for its indigo and white buildings. Back in the 15th century, locals practiced mixing Indigo with white color which gives the houses their signature blue color. It is most prominent during morning and evening when the sun is not too bright.

Today, we’ll explore the narrow meandering streets and colorful markets of bangles, sweet shops and peaceful temples of Jodhpur. We’ll visit local step-wells tourists don’t know about (shhh!). We’ll see many instagrammable spots along the way! Our tour ends with a visit to a traditional Brahmin home where we will have tea.

You’ll have a few hours of free time to explore Mehrangarh Fort and the surrounding area before we take a flight back to Delhi.

Included: Breakfast + one major meal

Buckle in, this morning you’ll be taking the superfast Indian train from Delhi to Varanasi. Your breakfast will be served onboard as the train zips past the beautiful countryside.

When we arrive in Varanasi, we’ll check into our heritage hotel located on the Ganges River. Spend the evening at leisure exploring the ghats along the Ganges River. We’ll meet up for a beautiful aarti performance that will mesmerize you!

Included: Breakfast

A trip to Varanasi would not be complete without a sailing tour of the Ganges with a storyteller that gives you a stunning experience of the morning rituals at the river. It is a sight to behold as devotees from a pilgrimage to the river bank to take a dip in the holy waters of the Ganges.  Devotees bring their loved ones who have passed, to be cremated at the burning ghat, with their ashes sprinkled in the river.

Then we’ll do a walking tour of the old city starting from Assi Ghat to Dashashwamedh Ghat. It is a colorful walk of local shops selling sweets, perfume, Indian classical musical instruments, and Indian cigarettes. We will also taste street food and sweets, spiced tea in an earthen pot, and a chaat unique to Varanasi!

This tour ends with a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Included: Breakfast

Morning tour: After breakfast, we check out and head for the historic Sarnath town close to Varanasi. It is an important place for the Buddhist community from across the world and is worth exploring on foot.

Visit the numerous Buddhist Chortens and Stupas, and Japanese and Thai temples in the region.

We take the afternoon train from Varanasi to Delhi and arrive by 9 PM. Dinner will be served onboard the train. Your overnight stay will be in Delhi.

Included: Breakfast

Time flies so fast and finally, it’s time to say goodbye to India, your new travel family, and Christine, with whom you’ve built incredible and everlasting memories. We hope to see you again soon!

Depending upon your flight time, you’ll be taken to the airport by our minivan.

Meals: Breakfast