CNorthern Jewels and Southern Pearls tour (28 days / 27 nights)
From arid deserts to lush jungles, from snow-capped Himalayas to heavenly beaches, from bustling megalopolis to silent countryside, from divine temples to huge shopping centres. Travelling north or south, you don't know which to choose, but one thing is certain: this tour will transport you to the very heart of the unexpected and the extraordinary...
Itinerary: Delhi-Nawalgarh (Shekhawati)-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Osian-Jodhpur-Jojawar-Ranakpur-Udaipur-Pushkar-Jaipur-Fathepur Sikri-Agra
Delhi-Cochin-Allepey (House Boat)-Kumarakom-Munnar-Periyar-Kovalam Beach-Trivendrum
Day 1 France / Delhi
Flight from France to Delhi. Typical welcome with a flower necklace and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Delhi / Nawalgarh
After breakfast, departure for Nawalgarh in the heart of the picturesque Shekhawati region. Lunch en route. Arrive in Nawalgarh and check into your hotel. Free time to rest, take advantage of the hotel's facilities or visit the area. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Nawalgarh / Mandawa / Nawalgar
After breakfast at the hotel, you will set off to discover the Shekhawati region. During the day you will visit the small feudal principality of Mandawa. This large region is characterised by its Havelis, the ancient houses of wealthy merchants, whose walls are decorated with magnificent frescoes. This day will also be an opportunity to discover the daily life of the villagers and share unique moments with them. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Nawalgarh / Bikaner
After breakfast departure for Bikaner. Lunch en route. Arrive in Bikaner and check into your hotel. In the afternoon you will explore the Junagarh Fort, built in 1593 by Rajá Raj Singh, a general under Emperor Akbar. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the city at your leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Bikaner / Jaisalmer
After breakfast, departure for Jaisalmer, the City of Gold in the heart of the Thar Desert. Lunch en route. Arrive in Jaisalmer and check into your hotel. At the end of the day you will discover the chattris (cenotaphs) of the Brahmins, from which you can watch a splendid sunset: a magnificent view of the city and the fortress. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 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. Then on to the Sam Dunes where you will discover the landscape and life in the desert during a camel ride. Sunset over the dunes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Jaisalmer / Osian
After breakfast, departure for the small town of Osian. Lunch en route. Arrive in Osian in the afternoon and check into your hotel. Osian is characterised by the sand dunes that line the town and give it a magical appearance, but the town is also home to important Jain temples of great beauty. Visit to the temples. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Osian / Jodhpur
After breakfast, departure for Jodhpur, known as the Blue City. Arrive in Jodhpur and check into your hotel. Lunch at the hotel. You will then set off to discover the city of Jodhpur. Located on the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. The old city is surrounded by an imposing red sandstone wall. You will visit the Mehrangarh fort and the Jaswant Thada. At the end of the day, you will visit the city and its bustling bazaar, centred around the Clock Tower. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Jodhpur / Jojawar
After breakfast, transfer to the station to take the train through the Indian countryside to the Rawala Jojawar fort. Arrive at Jojawar and check into the Rawla Jojawar. Rawla Jojawar is a small castle at the foot of the Aravalli mountains, and is still the home of the local lord. It has been restored in traditional Rajput style and the colourful rooms are very comfortable. Not far away are the huts of the Rebari tribes with their herd of 5,000 camels. These are very pretty villages and a real wildlife reserve. You can also visit an ancient Jain temple carved in marble. A stopover in Jojawar is undoubtedly an opportunity to discover a rural Rajasthan still unspoilt by mass tourism. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Jojawar / Ranakpur
After breakfast departure for Ranakpur. Arrive, check into hotel and have lunch. 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. Late afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Ranakpur / Udaipur
After breakfast you will take the road to Udaipur. Lunch en route. Arrive in Udaipur and check into hotel. Visit to the Udaipur market. End of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 Udaipur
After breakfast you will set off to visit Udaipur. 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 palace of Jag Mandir, from which, according to legend, the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan lived and was inspired to build the Taj Mahal. 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. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 Udaipur / Eklingi / Nagada / Pushkar
After breakfast, departure for the incredible city of Pushkar. On the way visit the temples of Eklingi and Nagda. Arrive in Pushkar and check into your hotel. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Pushkar. This is the site of the world's only Brahma temple. This city has been a place of pilgrimage since time immemorial. It boasts no fewer than 500 temples and Ghats. Pushkar has an incredible architectural heritage. You can admire the 52 Ghats on the banks of the lake. You can also visit the incredible Rose Garden, whose essence is famous and exported all over the world. Finally, you will visit Anasagar and Akbar's Palace. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Pushkar / Jaipur
After breakfast, departure for Jaipur. Lunch en route. Arrival in Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan and known as the Pink City. In the afternoon you will discover the city and its bazaars on a rickshaw ride. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 15 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 the city for lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the key monuments of the Pink City. You will discover the City Palace, still the Maharaja's residence, which is why certain 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 16 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 17 Agra / Delhi
After breakfast and early in the morning, you will visit one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, at first light. The Taj Mahal is a white marble edifice built by Cha Jahan for his beautiful wife Mumtaz Maha. It took 22 years to build in the pure Persian style of the architect Ustas Isa. Apart from its perfect style, the Taj stands out for its elegant, perfectly carved domes. You will then discover the Red Fort, the largest fort in the whole of India, built in 1573 after 8 years of work. Lunch and departure for Delhi. Arrive in Delhi. You will then explore New Delhi, with the India Gate built as a tribute to the soldiers who died in the Second World War. 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 18 Delhi / Cochin (Flight)
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to Delhi airport for a domestic flight to Cochin. Arrival in Cochin and welcome at the airport. Transfer to your hotel. Check-in at your hotel. Lunch and afternoon at leisure to rest from your journey or stroll around the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 19 Cochin
After breakfast you will discover the historic city, the gateway to the West in South India, founded in the 16th century by Vasco da Gama, and long a hub of the spice trade. You will also visit the colonial quarters on the seafront, the fishermen's houses with their strange Chinese nets, and the San Francisco church. Lunch during the visits. In the evening, you will be treated to a performance of traditional Kerala Kathakali dances. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 20 Cochin / Allepey / Houseboat cruise
After breakfast, departure for Allepey where you will board a traditional "Kettuvallam". Lunch on board. Afternoon sailing along the labyrinth of coconut tree-lined canals. A relaxing cruise through tranquil landscapes and scenes of rural life, during which you will have the opportunity to take some lovely strolls through the villages. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 21 Houseboat cruise / Kumarakom
After breakfast, disembark at Kumarakom in the morning and check into your hotel. Situated on the shores of Lake Vembanad, Kumarakom is a village full of charm and serenity, set in an enchanting landscape. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure to relax or explore the lush natural surroundings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 22 Kumarakom / Munnar
After lunch, departure through the mountains to Munnar. Arrive in Munnar and check into hotel. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon you will discover the flora and fauna of this magnificent place in the heart of the mountains. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 23 Munnar
After breakfast, excursion to Ervikulam National Park, home to the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered mountain goat. Then lunch. In the afternoon, you will discover the immense tea plantations grown in the region. This will also be an opportunity to discover the manual labour that is of vital importance to the villagers. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 24 Munnar / Thekkady (Lake Periyar)
After breakfast, departure for Thekkady. Lunch en route. Arrive and check into your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy the marvellous surroundings. Peaceful, luxuriant nature. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 25 Thekkady (Lake Periyar)
After breakfast, departure for the Periyar Reserve, one of India's largest nature reserves, with an area of over 700 km². You will explore the spice gardens and, if you wish, take a boat safari on the Periyar Lake (not included). You will be able to observe a multitude of wild animals such as antelopes, monkeys, deer and, if you are lucky, the elephants that come to drink the water from the lake. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 26 Thekkady (Lake Periyar) / Trivendrum (Kovalam Beach)
After breakfast, departure for Kovalam on the Maton coast in southern Kerala. Once a small fishing village, Kovalam is now known for its heavenly beaches. Lunch en route. Arrive in Kovalam and check into hotel. Afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the beach or Ayurvedic massages. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 27 Trivendrum (Kovalam Beach)
After breakfast, the day is free for you to relax after your journey. You can take advantage of the hotel's facilities and the surrounding area: beaches, swimming pool, spa, ayurvedic massages. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 28 Trivendrum (Kovalam Beach) / France
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to Trivendrum airport for an international flight to France. End of our services. Arrival in France.
Journey through India
