Between Authenticity and Spirituality (28 days / 27 nights)
Sumptuous palaces, imposing forts, sacred temples, arid deserts, enchanting oases, lush mountains, sacred rivers... There's no shortage of adjectives to describe these two magnificent regions of northern India: Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. From the tourist fervour that surrounds the Taj Mahal to the impenetrable silence of the Indian countryside, this tour will show you the finest treasures of these two regions in every detail.
Itinerary :Delhi-Nawalgarh-Mandawa-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Osian-Jodhpur-Jojawar-Kumbhalgarh-Ranakpur-Udaipur-Bassi-ChittorgarhBarli-Pushkar-Jaipur-Bhandarey-Agra-Gwalior-Orccha-Khajuraho-Varanasi
Day 1 France / Delhi / Nawalgarh
Flight from France to Delhi. Typical welcome with a flower necklace and departure for Nawalgarh in the heart of the very 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 2 Nawalgarh / Mandawa / Nawalgarh
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 3 Nawalgarh / Bikaner
After breakfast departure for Bikaner. Lunch en route. Arrive in Bikaner and check into your hotel. In the afternoon you will discover the town and its lively markets. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Bikaner
After breakfast you will explore Junagarh Fort, built in 1593 by Rajá Raj Singh, a general under Emperor Akbar. Lunch at the fort. 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.
Jour 6 Jaisalmer
After breakfast, you'll set off for a day exploring the desert. You'll make your way to the Sam Dunes, where you'll discover the landscape and life in the desert on a camel ride. Lunch during the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 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. You will discover the Jain temples and the old merchants' houses, decorated and carved in stone. You will then go to the bazaar and visit the city and its magnificent havelies. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 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. Free time to explore this area away from the usual tourist routes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Osian
After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the town of Osian. Osian is characterised by the sand dunes that line the town, giving it a magical appearance, but the town is also home to important Jain temples of great beauty. Visit to the temples. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, you will discover the daily life of the desert during a cultural escapade in a small village. Return to your hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 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 11 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 the 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 12 Jojawar / Kumbhalgarh
After breakfast, departure for Kumbhalgarh. Arrive Kumbhalgarh and check into your hotel. Lunch at the hotel. You will then visit the impressive fort of Kumbhalgarh, one of the largest in the state of Rajasthan. Situated on the Aravalli range, its walls stretch for dozens of kilometres. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the animals that live in this unspoilt natural environment. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 Kumbhalgarh / Ranakpur / Udaipur
After breakfast departure for 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 on board. Then drive back to Udaipur. Arrive in Udaipur and check into hotel. Then visit the Udaipur market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 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 garden complex built for his daughter, complete with a multitude of fountains. The rest of the day is free. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 Udaipur / Bassi
After breakfast, departure for the small village of Bassi. Situated in the heart of the Indian countryside, the small town of Bassi boasts a magnificent fort with architecture worthy of the India of the great maharajas. It is in this fort that you will be welcomed by the master of the house and where you will spend a typical night. On arrival, you will be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of a place that has been left out of the tourist circuit. Lunch during the day. Typical dinner and overnight at the fort.
Day 16 Bassi / Chittorgarh / Barli
After breakfast, departure for Chittorgarh. On the way you will be able to contemplate magnificent landscapes and scenes of daily life in this magnificent Indian countryside. Arrival at Chittorgarh and lunch. Visit to the city of Chittorgarh and the largest fort in the whole of India. The Chittorgarh fort alone covers 280 hectares. Continuation to the small town of Barli. Arrive late afternoon and check into the Barli fort. Typical dinner and overnight at the fort.
Day 17 Barli / Pushkar/ Jaipur
After breakfast, departure for the incredible city of Pushkar. Arrive and 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 will be able to contemplate the 52 Ghats on the banks of the lake. You can also visit the incredible Rose Garden, whose essence is very famous and exported all over the world. Lunch before leaving for Jaipur. Arrival in Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan and known as the Pink City. Late afternoon rickshaw ride to discover the city and its incredible bazaars. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 18 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 19 Jaipur / Bhandarej
After breakfast, departure for Bhandarej. Arrive in Bhandarej and visit the town's temple. This is a place steeped in spirituality where you can discover, understand and experience the Hindu religion. Check-in at your hotel. Free time. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 20 Bhandarej / 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 during the visits. You will then continue your journey to Agra. Arrive in Agra and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 21 Agra
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. Lunch at the Taj. You will then discover the Red Fort, the largest fort in the whole of India, built in 1573 after 8 years of work. The rest of the afternoon is free to visit the market and the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 22 Agra / Gwalior / Orccha
After breakfast, you will head back to Orccha. On the way you will visit the magnificent city of Gwalior. Lunch en route. Arrival at Orccha. The magnificence of Orccha remains frozen in stone by time. You will discover the marvellous Orccha temples on the banks of the river. Check-in at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 23 Orccha / Khajuraho
After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Khajuraho. Lunch en route. Arrive in Khajuraho and check into your hotel. Visit to the town. Free time to relax after the journey. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 24 Khajuraho
After breakfast you will visit the famous temples of Khajuraho built by the Chandela kings between the 10th and 11th centuries. You will visit the most important of these temples, the temple of Chaunseth Yogini, dedicated to the goddess Kali. You can also visit the Mahadev, Chitragupta and Bharatji temples, all decorated with erotic statues depicting scenes from the Kamasutra. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 25 Khajuraho / Varanasi (Flight)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Varanasi. Arrival in the oldest city in the world and welcome at the airport. Check-in at the hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, visit Sarnath, the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 26 Varanasi / Delhi (Night train)
Early morning boat trip on the Ganges, to admire the sunrise with music coming directly from the temples. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later you will discover the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the famous temple dedicated to Shiva and situated on the banks of the Ganges. You will also discover other temples dedicated to other deities such as the temple of Durga, Bharat and Tulsi Manas. Lunch during the visits. In the afternoon, transfer to the station to catch your night train to Delhi. Picnic dinner and overnight on the train.
Day 27 Delhi
Arrive in Delhi, meet at the station and transfer to your hotel. Free time to rest, freshen up and have breakfast. Then departure for a panoramic tour of 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. You will admire the Gate of India, a memorial to the Indian soldiers who fell in the Second World War. You will discover the incredible Humanyo Tomb and its marvellous gardens. This immense tomb is characterised by its splendid Mughal architecture. Finally, you will go to the Connaught district, which is characterised by its modern and lively appearance. Here you can see the Presidential Palace, Parliament and the country's other institutions. Lunch during the visits. Return to the hotel at the end of the day. Farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 28 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.
