Taj Mahal and Desert Camps

Day 1

Arrive Delhi, the capital city of India.

Arrive in India, for your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour

PM:

• Arrive Delhi
• Welcome at airport
• Transfer to hotel
  

Day 2

Day in Delhi

Discover the first city of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, pacing through Delhi, the city which is as historic as modern, like 2 sides of the same coin!

AM: Sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, includes a visit to

•  Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India
• Chandani Chownk, ‘silver street’, one of the largest trading centres of India
•  Drive past Red Fort, the place that marked the announcement of India’s freedom from the British Raj
• Raj Ghat, cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi

PM: Sightseeing tour of New Delhi, includes a visit to

• Qutab Minar, a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture and the worlds tallest minaret
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the largest Sikh temple of Delhi, with a gold tomb, still in active worship
• Photo stop at India Gate, the war memorial arch built in honour of the soldiers who died in the second world war
• Drive past President's House, Parliament House and other Government Secretariat Buildings, the most imposing features of Lutyen’s Delhi.

Day 3

Drive to Agra, land of the Taj Mahal (205 Kms / 4 Hrs)

Continue to the second highlight of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, discovering the Mughal city of Agra, home to the beautiful wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal

AM:

• Drive to Agra, enroute visit Sikandra, the tomb of Mughal Emperor Akbar
• Enjoy an afternoon at leisure

PM:

• Optional: watch a fantastic show “Mohabbat the Taj – The saga of love”, staging the largest replica of the Taj Mahal, and presenting the Taj in its various shades and seasons.
   

Day 4

Day in Agra

Enjoy the epitome of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal

AM:

• Rise early to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the eternal symbol of love, the Taj Mahal. Often referred to as a poem in white marble, Taj Mahal displays the saga of love between Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
• Visit Agra fort, which is built in red sandstone and has magnificent palaces, halls of public and private audience and beautiful gardens

PM:

• Visit marble inlay workshops – watch artisans creating magical beauty with marble and indulge in exquisite shopping in this historic city of Agra.
  

Day 5

Drive to Jaipur, the pink capital city of Rajasthan (240 Kms / 5 Hrs)

Experience the richness and warmth of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, with a visit to Jaipur in Rajasthan

AM:

• Drive to Jaipur, enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the crowning glory of Emperor Akbar's architectural legacy. Built in red sandstone, its numerous palaces, halls, and structures exemplify the creativity of erstwhile Mughal emperors.
• Enjoy a spectacular view of 7th – 8th century Abhaneri Stepwells.

PM:

• Enjoy a heritage walk in the old city of Jaipur, seeing life along the small alleys and by-lanes. Interact with the local artisans enamelling jewels with local ‘meenakari’ work, along with goldsmiths and silversmiths of the region.
• Visit gems, jewels and carpet weaving factories – watch artisans creating unique masterpieces and enjoy haggling for souvenirs in colourful bazaars of Jaipur.
   

Day 6

Day in Jaipur

Cherish the splendour of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, with a tour of this princely city of Jaipur, which is built in 9 rectangular sectors symbolising 9 divisions of the universe, as per Indian cosmology

AM:

• Visit the splendid Amber fort, which was built in the 16th century.  An elephant ride (subject to availability) will help you ascend to this hilltop fort. Alternatively, you could choose to walk or drive up to the fort.

PM:

• Photo stop at Hawa Mahal, the palace of winds. This palace consists of long corridors and a decorated facade with its innumerable windows and screened balconies, especially built for the royal women to view processions along the cities main street.
• Visit the City Palace complex, reflecting the architectural exuberance of Jaipur. The complex consists of a variety of museums and a part of the palace is still the royal residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur
• Visit Jantar Mantar, the ancient astronomical observatory

Day 7

Drive to Pushkar, land of India’s largest annual camel fair (145 Kms / 3 Hrs)

Feel the spiritual charm of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, with a visit to Ajmer and Pushkar

AM:

• Drive to Pushkar, en-route making a brief stop at Ajmer to visit the famous Dargah of Sufi saint Khawaja Moin-ud-din Chisti. The shrine of Ajmer is one of most important pilgrimage sights of India with thousands of believers flooding this small town to visit the shrine.
• Continue drive to Pushkar, the site of India’s largest annual camel fair held in November every year. Situated in the heart of Rajasthan, Pushkar is also one of the holiest cities of India.

PM:

• Arrive Pushkar. Check in at your tent resort and enjoy an evening at leisure
  

Day 8

Day in Pushkar

Feel the holiness of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, with a sightseeing tour of Pushkar.

AM :

• Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Pushkar, mingling with saadhu’s (holy men in their orange attires), visiting the holy Pushkar Lake and the various temples in the region. The most famous is the Brahma Temple, said to be the only temple in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma.

PM:

• Enjoy a camel safari followed by dinner along with Rajasthani folk performance

Day 9

Drive to Wilderness Camp, tented accommodation in the sand dunes of Thar Desert (240 Kms / 5 Hrs)

Proceed to the second desert camp stop on your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, visiting Wilderness Camp, a luxurious tented accommodation located in the peaceful Thar desert of Rajasthan

AM:

• Drive to Wilderness Camps, the ultimate romantic desert retreat, located 17km west of Rohet. The idyllically remote and peaceful location, the luxurious facilities with beautiful Rajasthani interiors make this a perfect place to experience the calmness of the deserts.

PM:

• Enjoy a night of traditional folk dance and music complete with filling local Rajasthani meal

Day 10

Drive to Manvar, an oasis in the desert (145 Kms / 3 Hrs)

Experience the magnificence of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, discovering Jodhpur, home to one of the largest forts of India, the Mehrangarh Fort. Then drive to Manvar, a small village amid the sand dunes of Rajasthan

AM:   Enjoy a city tour of Jodhpur, visiting

• The majestic Mehrangarh Fort that has fine views over the city
•  Jaswant Thada, the white marble memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II
• The fascinating museum at Umaid Bhawan Palace

PM:

• Drive to Manvar, tented Camps.  Manvar Camps are aesthetically built luxury camps amidst the sand dunes of Rajasthan, facilitated with all the modern amenities while preserving the natural desert environment of the dunes.
• Upon arrival, check in at your camp resort and enjoy an evening at leisure
  

Day 11

Day in Manvar

Have a fun filled day in your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, by enjoying the different activities at the Manvar Camps

AM :

• Enjoy a jeep safari to the nearby villages, to get a feel for the local lifestyle of Rajasthani villagers, who are famous for their cultural lifestyle and their love for nature and animals. You get an opportunity to observe the village lifestyle and interact with villagers, shepherds, farmers and weavers of the region.

PM :

• Enjoy a night of traditional folk dance and music complete with filling local Rajasthani meal
  

Day 12

Drive to Jaisalmer, the sand dunes paradise, popularly called ‘the golden city’ of Rajasthan (170 Kms / 3 Hrs)

Proceed further west on your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, to visit the golden city of Jaisalmer

AM:

• Drive to Jaisalmer. Upon arrival check in at your desert camp in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer

PM:

•  At leisure in your desert camp

Day 13

Drive to Jaisalmer

Experience the nomadic lifestyle in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer, on your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour

AM: Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer, visiting

• The Jaisalmer Fort, the second oldest fort of Rajasthan
• The luxurious and splendid havelis (mansions) in the old city
• The exquisitely sculptured Jain Temples, which also house an emerald icon of Mahavira

PM:

• Enjoy a sunset camel safari to the sand dunes of Sam, followed by dinner with traditional cultural performance

Day 14

Drive to Bikaner, the camel city of India (330 Kms / 7 Hrs)

Explore the arid deserts of India on your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour, visiting Bikaner, the camel city of India, renowned for best riding camels in the world

AM:

• Drive to Bikaner. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and freshen up.

PM:

• Enjoy a horse-cart ride to the old town of Bikaner visiting small havelis and the majestic Junagarh Fort, a formidable structure encircled by a moat

Day 15

Drive to Mandawa, the open air art gallery of Rajasthan (195 Kms / 4 Hrs)

Experience rural Rajasthan in your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour , visiting Mandawa, a small town famous for its ornate havelis

AM:

• Drive to Mandawa, a quaint village in the heart of Shekhawati region. The village of Mandawa has preserved some of the finest examples of frescos and painted havelis in the region

PM:

• Discover Mandawa, visit the beautiful havelis, to appreciate the art of the bygone era

Day 16

Drive to Delhi Airport DEPARTURE (260 Kms / 7 Hrs)

Bid goodbye to India, as you reach the finale of your Taj Mahal and Desert Camp Tour

AM:

• Drive to Delhi International Airport, to catch your flight back home.