The golden triangle of Rajasthan and Varanasi
This journey takes you from New Delhi, the capital, to Varanasi (Benares), the oldest city in India. Along the way, you discover the grandiose citadels of the ancient Rajput kingdoms, colorful cities with mysterious charms, palace of legends, millennial religious traditions that perpetuate themselves on the Gange … On foot, elephant or boat, you will be amazed by the beauty of the landscapes and scenes of life that pass before your eyes.
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
Free meals and overnight in Delhi.
Upon arrival at New Delhi International Airport, you are met by your personal driver who brings you to your hotel.
Day 2: Delhi and its temples
Free lunch and overnight in Delhi.
After breakfast, you will visit the city and especially monuments of the old city (Old Delhi): the most imposing mosque of India Jama Masjid, the mausoleum of Humayun, the Red Fort and Qutub Minar, the highest stone tower of India.
Day 3 : Walk in the alleys of Mandawa
Total journey: 242 km/ 5h.
Free lunch and overnight in Mandawa.
Free lunch and overnight in Mandawa.
After breakfast at the hotel, you take the road to Mandawa. Once you arrive in Mandawa, you will discover on foot the small streets of the city, visit the different Havelis, the fort of Mandawa and that of Vikram Samvat.
Day 4 : Bikaner Citadel and Deshnok Temple
Total journey: 200 km/ 4h.
Free meals and overnight at Bikaner.
Free meals and overnight at Bikaner.
After breakfast, direction Bikaner. Once there, you will explore the citadel city and its magnificent fortress. Then, visit the Karni Mata temple in Deshnok located about thirty kilometers from Bikaner. Karni Mata is also known as the 'rat temple'. The rodents are under the protection of the temple guards, fed and housed.
Day 5 : From Bikaner to Jodhpur
Total journey: 251 km/ 5h.
Free lunch and overnight in Jodhpur.
Free lunch and overnight in Jodhpur.
Early morning departure for Jodhpur where you arrive in the afternoon. Check in at the hotel and visit the 'blue city' via Sadar Bazar, a very colourful market due to the traditional clothes of women and turbans of men.
Day 6 : Sights of the blue city
Free meals and overnight in Jodhpur.
Departure in the morning to discover Jodhpur with a must-see passage through Mehrangarh fort and the famous Jaswant Thada memorial.
Day 7: From Jodhpur to Narlai
total trip: 135 km/ 3h.
Free meals and overnight in Narlai.
Free meals and overnight in Narlai.
Early departure towards Narlai. On the way, you can visit a Bishnoi village, a very old community concerned about preserving its environment. Once in Narlai, check in at the hotel and visit the village with its narrow clay streets and whitewashed houses. Possibility to visit the nearby Jain caves and temples.
Day 8: On the road to Udaipur
Total trip: 140 km/ 3h.
Free lunch and overnight in Udaipur.
Free lunch and overnight in Udaipur.
Departure after breakfast, towards Udaipur. A short stopover in Ranakpur and its Jain temple of Adinath, imposing like a cathedral and carved like an ivory jewel. After the visit of the temple, resumption of the trip to Udaipur. On arrival, a cruise awaits you on Lake Pichola.
Day 9 : Udaipur, the Venice of the East
Free meals and overnight in Udaipur.
After breakfast, you go to visit the city and its markets, the City Palace and finally the Jagdish Temple. Possibility of a second boat trip on Lake Pichola.
Day 10: The sacred ghats of Pushkar
Total journey: 284 km/ 6h.
Free meals and overnight in Pushkar.
Free meals and overnight in Pushkar.
Cape North to reach Pushkar. After check-in at the hotel, you will discover the city, its ghats (stairs leading down to the sacred lake of Pushkar) and the neighbouring villages.
Day 11: Jaipur, the pink city
Total journey: 143 km/ 3h.
Free lunch and overnight in Jaipur.
Free lunch and overnight in Jaipur.
You have an appointment today with Jaipur, nicknamed the "pink city". You will discover the bazaars, the Maharaja's palace and the Sawâî Jai Singh II observatory.
Day 12: Fort Amber and the Palace of the Winds
Free meals and night in Jaipur.
On the menu of this day: an elephant ride to the Amber fortress and a visit to the fort. Then, you go to the Palais des Vents, an old harem whose facades overlooking the street allowed women to see without being seen).
Day 13: Agra and the ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri
Total trip: 239 km/ 4h.
Free lunch and overnight in Agra.
Free lunch and overnight in Agra.
Morning departure to Agra. Short stop in Fatehpur Sikri to visit this ghost town, former capital built by Emperor Akbar in 1659, since abandoned for its lack of water. The mosque of Jama Masjid, the tomb of Salim Christi, Panch Mahal and some other palaces are remarkably well preserved. Once you arrive in Agra, check in at the hotel and, depending on your arrival time, you will take a tour of the city.
Day 14 : Meeting at the Taj Mahal
Train journey: 12h.
Free meals and night in air-conditioned sleeper trains with every comfort
Free meals and night in air-conditioned sleeper trains with every comfort
Departure at sunrise for the visit of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The splendid colours reflected on the white marble of the Taj Mahal guarantee you superb photos. Later in the day, after the visits, head for Agra station to take a sleeper train to Vârânasî (Benares).
Day 15 : Ghats and cruise on the Ganges
Free meals and night in Varanasi.
In the morning, arrival at the Vârânasî station. Your personal driver waits for you at the station and takes you to the hotel. Then, visit the ghats before embarking on a traditional boat cruise on the Ganges in the evening. This walk on the sacred waters at sunset takes place at the time of Hindu divine prayers and incantations. The glimmers of the candles floating on the water are sublime and give a mystical and romantic side.
Day 16 : Cruise and walk in Varanasi
Flight time: 1h30.
Free meals and overnight in Delhi.
Free meals and overnight in Delhi.
Departure at sunrise for a second cruise on the Ganges to get another insight into the ever-changing life on the banks of the Ganges and the Ghats of Varanasi. After the cruise, visit Sarnath, the Buddhist city. At the end of this visit, you are transferred to Vârânasî airport to fly to New Delhi. Your personal driver waits for you at the airport and takes you to your hotel.
Day 17 : Last visits to New Delhi
Discovery of the city of New Delhi and its monuments such as India Gate, Lotus Temple (or Bahai temple), Connaught Place... Possibility to stroll in the many markets of the city : New Delhi also allows to go shopping! Transfer to New Delhi International Airport depending on your return flight.
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