Golden Triangle & Desert Camps

Day 1

Arrive in India, for your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour

PM:

• Arrive Delhi
• Welcome at airport
• Transfer to hotel

Day 2

Discover the first city of your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps 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 Chowk, ‘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

Continue to the second highlight of your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps 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
• 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

Enjoy the epitome of your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps 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

Head for the first camping stop of your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour, visiting Samode, a small village near Jaipur

AM:

• Drive to Samode, 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.

PM:

• Arrive at your desert camp and enjoy an evening at leisure

Day 6

Delight yourself in the tranquillity of your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour, unwinding in the peaceful environment of the desert.

AM:

• Visit the Samode Palace museum. The extravagantly painted Durbar Hall and the magnificient Sheesh Mahal are the main attraction of the palace.

PM:

• Enjoy an evening at leisure
  

Day 7

Experience the warmth and richness of heritage on your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour, with a visit to the vibrant city of Jaipur in Rajasthan

AM:

• Drive to Jaipur, check in at your hotel and freshen up

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 8

Cherish the splendour of your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps 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 9

Proceed to the second desert camp stop on your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour, visiting Osian Camel Camp, the gateway to the Thar desert in Rajasthan.

AM:

• Drive to Osian Camel Camps. Located in the sand dunes of Rajasthan, with expansive views of the vast Thar Desert on one side and the intricate temples of Osian on the other, Osian camel camp is an ideal location to experience the serene peace of the deserts.

PM:

• Rest of the day at leisure. Relax in the swimming pool or unwind at the safari bar at the camp.

Day 10

Connect to the tribes in your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour, with a jeep safari to local villages

AM:

• Enjoy a jeep safari to Bishnoi villages, to get a feel for the local lifestyle of Rajasthani villagers. Bishnoi’s are a village community of Rajasthan 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.
• Visit the ancient  temples at Osian.

PM:

• Enjoy an evening at leisure under the stars of the desert.
  

Day 11

Experience the magnificence of your, Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour discovering Jodhpur, home to one of the largest forts of India, the Mehrangarh Fort

AM:

• Drive to Jodhpur, the blue hued city of Rajasthan.

PM:    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

Day 12

Experience train travel in India, wrapping up your Golden Triangle and Desert Camps Tour.

AM:

• At leisure in Jodhpur

PM:

• Transfer  to  railway station, to board your train to Delhi.
  

Day 13

Bid goodbye to India, as you reach the finale of your Golden Triangle and Desert CampsTour

Upon arrival at Delhi Railway station, you will be transferred to Delhi International airport to catch your flight back home