Colours of Rajasthan tour

Colours of Rajasthan tour

81 Views

Colours of Rajasthan tour

14 Days Starting and ending in 28.635307,77.224960

Visiting: India

Tour operator:

Encounters Travel

Tour code:

208

Group Type:

Private

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 20

Physical rating:

All Ages / Not applicable

Age range:

8-95

Special diets catered:

Please advise request

Tour operated in:

English

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

This tour completes northern India's classic Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, as well as a further exploration of Rajasthan including Bundi, Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Jodhpur. You also have two wildlife safaris in Ranthambore National Park. Accommodation includes some fabulous converted heritage properties.

You start in Delhi where the sights, sounds and smells of this vibrant country first assault your senses. Next comes the contrasting peace and beauty of the Taj Mahal and the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. You then head into the desert state of Rajasthan, where you visit several towns with hilltop forts and palaces. The accommodation on this part of the tour is particularly memorable, using a variety of converted heritage properties. Breaking up your time in Rajasthan are two wildlife safaris in Ranthambore National Park where you and your guide search for the elusive Bengal Tiger, and see plenty of other wildlife.

There are numerous ways in which we can adjust this tour, including removing some or adding more stops in Rajasthan (such as Bikaner or Jaisalmer), spending more or less time in Ranthambore National Park, and changing the level of the hotels used. These tweaks can make a large difference to the cost of the tour, enabling us to make it fit most budgets.

Highlights

  • Old & New Delhi, Taj Mahal at sunrise, wildlife in Ranthambore National Park, the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, fort towns & palaces of Rajasthan, overnight on an Indian railway, fabulous heritage hotels, Indian culture, food & tradition

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Arrive In Delhi: Possible Introductory Tour

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Delhi hotel


We greet you at Delhi airport and provide a private transfer to your hotel or guesthouse. Our local manager will ensure you get settled in comfortably, introduce you to your driver and guide, and discuss the plans for the rest of your tour. Depending on your arrival time, we may include a short introductory sightseeing tour this afternoon.

EXTRAS: Extra day in Delhi - pre-tour, Single Room Supplement (INTMCR)

Day 2: Tour Of Old Delhi

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Delhi hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


Your tour of India's capital begins with a visit through the mediaeval streets around Old Delhi, taking in the world's second largest mosque, Jama Masjid, the Red Fort and the burial ghat of Mohatma Ghandi.
We can either drop you back at your accommodation after lunch, or you can remain in Old Delhi to explore some more in the afternoon. This tour will be adjusted based on what you may have visited on your arrival day.

Day 3: Drive To Agra: Tour Sikandra & The Red Fort

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Agra hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


This morning you leave Delhi and drive to Agra, stopping at Akbar's Mausoleum at Sikandra on the edge of Agra before checking into your hotel. In the afternoon you visit the Red Fort, and enjoy your first sight of the Taj Mahal from its ramparts. You may visit the Taj Mahal at sunset this evening if you wish (entry not included).

Day 4: Taj Mahal At Sunrise: Jaipur Via Fatehpur Sikri

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Jaipur heritage hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


Early this morning you head out to the majestic Taj Mahal and after a guided tour, you are free to explore Shah Jahan's monument to love at leisure, watching the light change as the sun rises.
After breakfast back at the hotel, you check out and drive to Jaipur, with a stop off at Fatehpur Sikri - the deserted but wonderfully preserved former capital city of Akbar's Moghul empire.
Your next two nights are spent in the wonderfully opulent and charaterful Samode Haveli. A wide range of other fascinating heritage hotels are also available to suit lower budgets.

Day 5: Jaipur City Tour

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Jaipur heritage hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


During a full day tour in the state of Rajasthan's 'Pink city' today, you visit the beautiful Amber Palace, and also tour the City Palace, Wind Palace and world famous Jantar Mantar Observatory. We also recommend a visit to the well known lassi-wallah. Late in the afternoon, we climb on board some local elephants and take a very special and unique journey through nearby woods to a clearing for a candlelit evening dinner.

Day 6: Jaipur Free Time & Drive To Ranthambore

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Ranthambore lodge

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast, Dinner


You have most of this morning free to explore Jaipur's busy streets and markets further. Leaving around noon, you drive mainly on small rural roads for around 5 hours to reach Ranthambore National Park which will be your base for several safaris into the park over the next two days. These are early in the morning to try and view the wildlife in the Park before it gets too hot, and later in the afternoon as it cools down and the wildlife becomes more active again. As well as its famous tigers, the park is home to many species of deer, Marsh Crocodiles, Hyenas, Jungle Cats, Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara and Sloth Bears. There is also a sizeable bird population present throughout the year.

Day 7: Ranthambore National Park: Wildlife Safaris

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Ranthambore lodge

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


You enjoy two safaris into the park today, one of them by 'canter' and one by jeep.
The morning safari is by 'canter'. These are open backed trucks that can carry up to around 16 people. While they can't get as far into the park, and you are sharing with several other people, the extra height means you can see better into the long grass.
After returning to the hotel, in the afternoon, you do a jeep safari. There are only a restricted number of jeeps allowed into the park, so we need to book these well in advance for you. They do allow for a more flexible, and exploratory trip into the park and you have a more personal relationship with your guide.
If you have time available, then adding extra days and safaris here will give you a better chance to see both the tigers and other wildlife.

Day 8: Drive To Bundi And Tour The Town

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Bundi heritage hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


You leave Ranthambore this morning and drive again mainly on fairly small roads to the town of Bundi. There are several things worth visiting in and around Bundi, including the Taragarh Fort overlooking the town, and the Palace underneath it (full access to the palace may not be possible, but there are great sunset views form the fort). You can also visit the 84 Pillared Cenotaph, just out of town, and in Bundi itself are several interesting and step wells (Baoris), the deepest at 46m being the Raniji-ki-Baori which has some excellent carvings.

Day 9: Drive To Udaipur Via Chittorgarh

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Udaipur heritage hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


The main feature breaking today's drive to Udaipur is the hilltop fort at Chittorgarh, which is a classic depiction of Rajput culture and values. Standing on a large site on an 180m high hill rising dramatically over the plains below, the fort was sacked three times and you'll learn fascinating stories of thousands of men marching out to certain death while the womenfolk inside the folk commited Jauhar (an act of self immolation by plunging in a large fire).

Day 10: Udaipur: City Tour

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Udaipur heritage hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


The whole day is set aside today to explore this beautiful city. Visits will include the City Palace and Museum, the Jagdish Temple, Pratap Memorial. Late in the afternoon if the water levels are high enough, you can enjoy a boat-ride on Lake Pichola and enjoy excellent views of the Lake Palace and City Palace, and in the evening you can take a walking tour to explore the back streets of the city to the washing ghats on the banks of the lake.

Day 11: Drive To Jodhpur Via Ranakhpur

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Jodhpur heritage hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


You leave Udaipur this morning to drive deeper into Rajasthan, heading for Jodhpur. En-route you stop to visit the Jain temples at Ranakhpur, and reach Jodhpur late in the afternoon (approx. 7 hours driving). Jodhpur is a fascinating city, with its huge hilltop fort and blue painted houses in the old town.

Day 12: Jodhpur Tour & Sleeper Train To Delhi

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Sleeper train

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


You have a full day's tour today of the city of Jodhpur, during which you can visit Jaswant Thada, Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Museum, Sadar Market, Handloom House and the Clock Tower. Again this is a flexible tour and you can discuss with your guide exactly what to visit and how long to make the tour.
After an early evening meal, you board the Mandore Express for an overnight sleeper train journey back to Delhi (approx. 19.30-06.25). Travelling on Indian railways is a fascinating experience, but an internal flight option is available instead if you prefer.

Day 13: Arrive In Delhi & Half Day Tour Of New Delhi

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong> Delhi hotel

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


After arriving in Delhi we take you for breakfast before dropping your luggage at your hotel. Your room may not be available yet, but you can either rest and relax until it is, or start a half-day tour of the city now. Whenever you choose to start, your tour today takes in the wide leafy avenues of New Delhi, making visits to Qutb Minar, India Gate and the Lotus Temple. This tour can be adjusted based on how much or how little you'd like to do today. The rest of your day is free.

Day 14: Tour Ends In Delhi: Departure Airport Transfer

Accommodation Name: OVERNIGHT:</strong>

Meals Included: MEALS:</strong> Breakfast


Your time is free today until we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport to catch your flight home.

EXTRAS: Goa beach extension, Extra day in Delhi - post tour

What's Included

What's Not Included

More Info

This tour completes northern India's classic Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, as well as a further exploration of Rajasthan including Bundi, Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Jodhpur. You also have two wildlife safaris in Ranthambore National Park. Accommodation includes some fabulous converted heritage properties. You start in Delhi where the sights, sounds and smells of this vibrant country first assault your senses. Next comes the contrasting peace and beauty of the Taj Mahal and the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. You then head into the desert state of Rajasthan, where you visit several towns with hilltop forts and palaces. The accommodation on this part of the tour is particularly memorable, using a variety of converted heritage properties. Breaking up your time in Rajasthan are two wildlife safaris in Ranthambore National Park where you and your guide search for the elusive Bengal Tiger, and see plenty of other wildlife. There are numerous ways in which we can adjust this tour, including removing some or adding more stops in Rajasthan (such as Bikaner or Jaisalmer), spending more or less time in Ranthambore National Park, and changing the level of the hotels used. These tweaks can make a large difference to the cost of the tour, enabling us to make it fit most budgets.

Mode of Transport

A/C minibus & train

Accommodation

4-star hotel, guesthouse, wildlife lodge & heritage hotels

Check out our Q&As

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.



    Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:



    India: Additional vaccinations: Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Yellow fever rules for India are quite complicated and lengthy. Please read the WHO guidance.



    Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. In general the north eastern regions of India including Assam and Orissa are considered high risk,while the rest of India is generally considered low enough risk that anti-malarial tablets are not necessary for most travellers doing relatively short tours.



    Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and to hand if necessary.



    Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.

  • What currencies are required for this tour?

    Rupee (INR; symbol Rs) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rs 2,000, 1000, 500, 200, 50, 20, 10 and 1 Coins are in denominations of Rs 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50 paise (Rs 0.5). Note: The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Sometimes smaller vendors will not take bills larger than Rs 500. It is best to carry a range of rupee notes if you are shopping at bazaars and local markets.



    Note: You must present your passport whenever you change currency or travellers cheques. Commission for foreign exchange is becoming increasingly rare; if it is charged, the fee is nominal.



    Credit cards: In major cities, the full cadre of banks cards are generally accepted including debit cards, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. However, in smaller towns and villages, choice is generally narrowed to cash or MasterCard and Visa.



    ATM: 24 hour ATM machines can be found in all the major cities and most large towns. Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, Maestro and Plus are amongst the most commonly accepted cards.



    Travellers cheques: These are gradually getting less accepted but may still be changed at larger banks and some larger hotels. The most widely accepted currencies include US Dollars and Pounds Sterling. Some banks may refuse to change certain brands of traveller's cheques whilst others may exchange quite happily.

  • Do you require a visa for this holiday?

    Most nationalities (including UK, USA, European, Australian, Canadian) will need to arrange their Indian tourist visa in advance. A new online e-visa system is available which makes the process more straightforward than before. You can make your application online at indiavisaonline.



    Visa requirements for India can and do change regularly and we suggest that you arrange your Indian visa early and re-check your specific visa requirements prior to travel for any changes.

  • Is travel insurance compulsory?

    Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.

  • When is my balance payment due?

    60 days prior to departure

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s

  • Can I transfer my booking to someone else?

    Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Hector C  

Incredible India!

March 2022

Just finished up the Incredible India tour, what an amazing experience! If you’re expecting every modern comfort and can’t be in the heat too long, this might not be for you. However, you would miss out on the experience to taste the most flavorful, colorful, and energetic culture that exists in this world. I would describe this tour as a Golden Triangle+ (it goes to a couple more towns/villages) On most stops a local tour guide would join your group and give you a thorough explanation and interesting facts of the monuments, palaces, forts, etc. They were all fantastic. Not only they taught you the history but also made sure you visited markets, small villages, and mingled with the locals that were going about their daily lives. For this trip, we made sure we picked a date that included Holi festival. This was very special as we celebrated Holi in a very small village (Tordi). We got to play with the colors in a small village full of wonderful kids and people that were just as curious of us as we were of them. We had a blast with the colors. Our driver, Mr. Singh will always be a friend. In typical Sikh manner he was always there to save the day whenever anything went wrong. He did it always with a huge smile and would throw in a joke or two. The accommodations were very well selected. As the tour description states, the heritage hotels were the absolute best. The hospitality was in the true Indian way. Both the Khandela Haveli and the Tordi Garh were great. I wish all hotels were in that style. Booking this trip had its major challenges caused by India entry restrictions related to COVID-19. Encounters Travel did an excellent job recognizing these challenges and modifying their policies. I feel like they were more than fair in recognizing the uncertainties of traveling during a pandemic. Ant Horrobin took us by the hand throughout the entire process and kept us up to date with all the changes. Thanks to him we decided to go on with the trip and we could not be any happier! Highly recommend. Read less

Tina M  

First holiday with Encounters - a great success

March 2017

Between my sister and her husband's planning and the organisation of Encounters we had the most amazing holiday in India. I wouldn't have changed a thing, and it was great to feel so confident in all the arrangements.

Stanfordspearl  

India Tour

May 2016

Our trip to India was an amazing experience. I think Encounters Travel did an excellent job! Everything was not perfect, but I also did not expect perfection! When you travel to a third world country, you always have to be ready for unexpected changes and try to be flexible. All in all I loved this tour. Our first stop was Delhi and we had an excellent guide, Jimmy, very knowledgeable and also funny. Very much enjoyed his company and time together. Second stop was Agra, where we spent one night. The hotel was a bit nicer than the one in Delhi, but both were really ok. Third stop was Jaipur, which is my favorite city on this tour, really amazing with the City Palace, the Amber Fort and the Jantar Mantar, a collection of astronomical instruments, built in 1738 and the largest sun dial of the world. We stayed in the fabulous Shahpura House, an old Heritage House, converted into Hotel. It was really great, with rooftop restaurant, Indian music and dance show at night and very nice swimming pool in the backyard. Next trip took us to the Shekhawati Region. Its a bit of a long trip, and it was hot. This region is famous for its Havelis, traditional, ornately decorated residences, with enclosed court yards. These residences are famous for its frescos, they belonged to the business men from the time when the silk road was striving and a lot of commerce was conducted between Asia and Europe. However, the Havelis that we saw were very run down and hardly livable, with once house occupied by a care taker family. When we entered, we saw the man of the house peeing in the corner of the court yard, and that was not what we had expected, but when you travel in India, you get used to seeing men pee everywhere! Not really what you want to see, but India has this duality, modern and primitive! Our taxi had wifi, but the stench of the polluted air, the garbage everywhere and the dirt and lack of sanitary conditions accompanied us everywhere! The air in Delhi was terrible, smelled like a mix of fire and garbage and I woke up every day with my eyes very swollen, but, again, that's India. India's cities are the most polluted in the world today! The poverty and all the begging children is also very disturbing and heart breaking, but we were prepared that this is common in India and part of the experience. All in all this was an amazing trip and I would highly recommend it!

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.

    Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Similar Tours