Rural Rajasthan (15 days / 13 nights)
Itinerary: Delhi-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Dhakri-Udaipur-Bassi-Bundi-Jaipur-Agra-Delhi
Day 1 France / Delhi
Depart France with a flight to Delhi. Typical welcome with a flower necklace and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Delhi / Bikaner (Night train)
After breakfast, you will set off to explore Old and New Delhi. You will visit the most important and significant places in the Indian capital. During the day, you will admire the Gate of India, a monument to the soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War. You can also visit the Humanyuo Tomb, a magnificent example of Mughal architecture. Lunch during the visits. You will then set off to discover the new Delhi with the Raj Ghat, home to the memorial to Gandhi, the father of the nation. 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. At the end of the day, and depending on the time of your train, transfer to Delhi station to catch your train to Bikaner. Picnic basket and overnight on the train.
Day 3 Bikaner
Arrive in Bikaner in the early morning and meet at the station. Transfer to hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. You will then explore Deshnok and its famous rat temple. In this strange and bewitching place you will live impressive feelings which will leave you a memory engraved forever in your memory. After lunch and during the afternoon you will visit the city of Bikaner and the fortress of Junagarh, a large building built in the sixteenth century and houses a magnificent collection of weapons. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Bikaner/ Jaisalmer
After breakfast, departure for Jaisalmer, the Golden City in the middle of the Thar Desert. Lunch en route. Arrive in Jaisalmer in the early afternoon and check into your hotel. At the end of the day, you will discover the Brahman catteries, from where you can watch a magnificent sunset: an unforgettable view of the city and the fortress. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Jaisalmer
After breakfast, you will discover the incredible city of Jaisalmer, transporting you back to the days of medieval India, when the great Rajput princes ruled. You will visit the fortress with its 92 bastions, the Jain temples and the havelies magnificently sculpted in stone. After lunch, you will visit the area surrounding the city, in particular the Gadisar lake, the small village of Amar Sagar and the royal cenotaphs of Badabagh. In the late afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take a camel ride. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Jaisalmer / Jodhpur / Dhakri
After breakfast, departure for Jodhpur, nicknamed the Blue City. Arrive in Jodhpur in the late morning. You will then set off to explore Jodhpur's impressive fort: Mehrangarh. Nicknamed the magic fort, the Jodhpur fort is one of the largest in the state of Rajasthan. You will then visit the museum. Return by horse-drawn carriage and lunch in the city. In the afternoon, you will explore the city's typical bazaars. At the end of the day you will leave for Dhakri. On arrival in Dhakri, you will be welcomed by the village chief, with whom you will learn about daily life in the Indian countryside. You will spend a typical evening around a dinner prepared by him. Overnight in a guest room with the village chief.
Day 7 Dhakri / Ranakpur / Udaipur
After breakfast departure for the city of Udaipur. 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 Udaipur. Arrive in Udaipur and check into hotel. Then visit the Udaipur market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Udaipur
After breakfast you will set off to visit Udaipur, considered to be India's most romantic and pleasant city. Udaipur offers a fascinating mix of sights, smells and experiences. The city is a true source of inspiration for poets, painters and writers. You will cross the tranquil waters of Lake Pichola, from where you can admire the island and the Jag Mandir Palace, from which, according to legend, the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan drew inspiration for the construction of the Taj Mahal. Lunch during the visits. You will then visit the City Palace, which is also a museum displaying the finest treasures of Rajasthan. You will then visit the Gardens of the Maidens, Sahelion ki Bari, where Maharaná Sangram Sigh had a complex of gardens with a multitude of fountains built for his daughter. The rest of the day is free. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Udaipur / Chittorgarh / Bassi
After breakfast, departure for Bassi. On the way, a stop at Chittorgarh where the city boasts the largest fort in the whole of India, the Chittorgarh Fort, which alone covers 280 hectares. Lunch stop. Continue on to Bassi. Arriving in Bassi, you will discover the town's fort where you will spend the night. Visit the fort before a typical dinner. Overnight in the fort.
Day 10 Bassi / Bijoliya / Bundi
After breakfast, departure for Bundi. On the way you will stop at Bijoliya, a small town situated on a plateau on which three of the hundred 12th-century temples still stand. Nevertheless, they are still perfectly preserved and allow you to appreciate the elegant architecture of the ancient temples of northern India. Then lunch. Continue on to Bundi. Arrive in Buni and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Bundi / Jaipur
After breakfast, you will discover the small town of Bundi. Bundi is a perfectly preserved old town, far from the usual tourist circuits. The town has retained its authentic medieval charm. You will discover its marvellous palace on the side of a mountain. We then leave for Jaipur, capital of the state of Rajasthan and nicknamed the Pink City. Lunch en route. Arrive in Jaipur and check into your hotel. Then a rickshaw tour of the city and its bustling bazaars. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 12 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 13 Jaipur/ Fatehpur Sikri/ Agra
After breakfast, departure for Agra. On the way, visit to Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is a ghost town. Built of red stone by the emperor Akbar, it was the capital of his empire in the 16th century. You will also visit the great gate of Bulund Darwaza. At 54m high, it is the tallest gate in the world. It has inspired many other monuments. Lunch in the restaurant. You will then continue your journey to Agra. Arrive in Agra and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Agra/ Delhi France
After breakfast and very early in the morning, visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. The Taj Mahal is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. This white marble memorial was built by Cha Jahan for his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years to build. There is much to be said about the Taj Mahal, not least its perfectly symmetrical architecture. You will then visit the Red Fort. This is the largest in the whole of India. It was built in 1573 and took 8 years to complete. Departure for Delhi. Lunch en route. Arrival in Delhi and, depending on your flight time, transfer to Delhi airport to catch your international flight to France. End of our services.
Day 15 France
Arrival in France.
