Lords and Nomads (20 days / 18 nights)
Itinerary: Bhavnagar–Palitana-Diu-Sasangir-Junagadh-Pochina-Mont Abu-Udaïpur-Jodhpur-Osian Jaisalmer-Bikaner-Jaïpur-Alwar-Delhi
Day 1 France -> Bombay
Flight from France to Mumbai. Traditional welcome with a flower necklace and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2 Bombay - Bhavnagar (Flight) ->Palitana
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to Bombay airport for a flight to Bhavnagar. Arrival in Bhavnaga, founded in 1723 by Bhav Singhji, a member of the Gohil Rajput clan. It is a truly typical town, very lively and colourful. You will then set off to explore the city: the Takhteshwar temple, situated on a hill and offering a magnificent panorama of the city; the Barton library with its museum, one of the oldest libraries in Gujarat. Lunch during the visits. Departure for Palitina. Arrive in Palitina at the end of the day and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Palitana
After breakfast, visit the town of Palitana at the foot of the sacred hill of Shatrunjaya. Lunch. Then, with the pilgrims, you will climb to the top of this hill (1h30-2h) to finally discover an extraordinary religious city made up of 870 temples and other Jain buildings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Palitana - Diu
After breakfast, departure for the small island of Diu, on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Arrive in Diu and check into your hotel. Lunch at your hotel. Then a visit to the old town and the town's incredible fort, where interesting remains of Portuguese architecture remain. Free time to enjoy the beach. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 5 Diu - Sasangir
After breakfast, departure for the marvellous Sasangir National Park, the last refuge of the Asian lion. At the heart of this 260 km² territory live no fewer than 300 lions, as well as wildcats, leopards, hyenas and other antelopes. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Sasangir - Junagah - Gondal
After breakfast, departure for Junagadh, the former capital of the state of Gujarat. Arrive at Junagah and visit the ancient city and its imposing buildings that once belonged to a Muslim emperor. Lunch during the visit. You will then continue your journey to Gondal. Arrive and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Gondal - Poshina
After breakfast, visit Gondal. The great Naulakha Palace was built in the 17th century, the Bhuvaneshvari temple and its marvellous statues, and finally the Naulakaha Darbargadh palace overlooking the river, where you can appreciate the Maharadja's large collection of cars. You will then drive back to Poshina. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Poshina - Monte Abu
After breakfast, visit Poshina and the surrounding area to discover its people, landscapes, culture and traditions. Then departure for Mount Abu, a truly sacred site for Shivaism and a major Jain pilgrimage centre. Lunch en route. Arrival at Mount Abu and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Monte Abu - Udaipur
After breakfast, the morning will be devoted to discovering the Jain temples, built between the 11th and 14th centuries. Lunch, then departure for Udaipur. Arrive in Udaipur and check into your hotel. In the late afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Pichola to admire the romantic sunset over the lake. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Udaipur
After breakfast, you will set off to discover the city of Udaipur. Udaipur is reputed to be the most beautiful city in Rajasthan and is known as the Venice of India. Over the course of the day, you will visit the city's most famous and interesting sites. Like the City Palace, built of white marble and situated on the banks of the sacred Lake Pichola. You will then visit the Folk Art Museum, with its musical instruments, textiles, jewellery and paintings depicting certain aspects of rural life. Lunch during the visits. The afternoon is free. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur
After breakfast, departure for Jodhpur, Rajasthan's second city and nicknamed the Blue City. On the way, visit Ranakpur. You will discover the impressive Jain temples of Ranakpur. They were built in the 12th and 15th centuries and are dedicated to Rikhabdev and Sambhavanth. There are 1444 columns on the site, all of which are different. Lunch. Then drive back to Jodhpur. Arrive in Jodhpur and check into hotel. You will then set off in search of hidden treasures through the labyrinth of the Sadar Bazaar, crowded with men and camels. Then you can visit the lively and colourful markets. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 Jodhpur - Osian
After breakfast, visit the city of Jodhpur. The blue city is dominated by the Mehangarh fortress and surrounded by walls. Visit to the fortress. Then off to the oasis of Osian, a small town in the middle of the Thar desert, surrounded by dunes. Arrive and check into your hotel. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon you will discover Osian and its marvellous Hindu and Jain palaces, whose architecture is truly sublime. Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Day 13 Osian - Jailsamer
After breakfast, you will head for Jaisalmer, the "city of gold", through the Thar desert. En route, stop at Ramdeora, a major Hindu pilgrimage site. Lunch en route. Arrive in the afternoon and check into your hotel. At the end of the day, visit the chattris (cenotaphs) of the Brahmins, from where you can watch the sunset: a splendid view of the city and fortress. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Jaisalmer
After breakfast, visit Jaisalmer, a fascinating city in the middle of the desert. Surrounded by walls and with its impressive fortress, Jaisalmer will transport you back to the time of medieval India under the great Rajput princes. Here you will discover Jain temples and ancient merchants' houses decorated and carved in stone. Lunch during the visits. At the end of the day, you will visit Bada Bagh, home to the shrines of the princes of Jaisalmer. From here you can watch a magnificent sunset. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 Jaisalmer - Bikaner
After breakfast departure for Bikaner. Arrival in Bikaner, check-in at your hotel and lunch. Afternoon devoted to visiting the town and the Junagarh fort, an imposing 16th-century edifice housing an interesting collection of weapons. At the end of the afternoon, departure for Deshnok and its intriguing Rat Temple. This curious and mysterious place will give you sensations that will remain engraved in your memory. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 16 Bikaner - Jaipur
After breakfast, departure for Jaipur, capital of the state of Rajasthan and nicknamed the Pink City. Arrive in Jaipur in the early afternoon and check into your hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Then a rickshaw ride to discover the city and its bustling bazaars. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 17 Jaipur - Amber - Jaipur
After breakfast, you will set off to discover the impressive Amber Fortress outside the city. At the foot of the hill, you will begin a slow but leisurely elephant ride up to the main gate. You will then visit this magnificent site, built in the 12th century. Return to Jaipur and lunch in town. In the afternoon you will visit the key monuments of the Pink City. You will discover the City Palace, which is still the home of the Maharaja, which is why some areas are not open to the public. However, you will visit the most interesting ones. You will also visit its museum, which exhibits many antiques that belonged to the ruling family. Then you will discover Hawa Mahal, better known as the Palace of the Winds, which is the most famous in Jaipur. Finally, you will discover Jantar Mantar, Jaipur's great astronomical observatory. You will be impressed by the size of its astronomical instruments. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 18 Jaipur - Alwar
After breakfast, departure for Alwar, a small village in the countryside. Arrive in Alwar and check into the hotel, which is also the home of the Maharadja. Lunch at the hotel. The village of Alwar is dominated by Moosi Vinai Vilas (1840), a picturesque palace town with a terraced museum which you can visit. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 19 Alwar - Delhi
After breakfast, departure for Delhi. Arrive in Delhi late morning and check into hotel. Lunch at the hotel. You will then set off to explore New Delhi, which will allow you to discover the Raj Ghat where the memorial to Gandhi, the father of the nation, is located. You will be able to contemplate the Qutub Minar, also known as the Victory Tower, which remains the tallest tower in India and the third tallest in the world. Finally, you'll head to the Connaught district, which is characterised by its lively, modern feel. Here you can see the Presidential Palace, Parliament and the country's other institutions. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 20 Delhi -> France
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to Delhi airport to catch your international flight to France. End of our services. Arrival in France. FREE QUOTE
