North of India

Flight.

Reception and assistance upon arrival in Amritsar, followed by transfer and check-in at your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time.

Dinner ($) at the hotel.

Then, city tour of Amritsar (Jallianwala Bagh, Durgiana Temple).

In the afternoon, visit the Wagah border to attend the ceremony.

In the evening, visit the Golden Temple and attend the evening ceremony.

Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast.

In the morning, visit the Golden Temple and stroll through the colorful market of Amritsar.

Dinner ($) at the hotel.

Transfer to the station to take the train to Delhi.

Assistance upon arrival in Delhi, transfer, and check-in at your hotel.

Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel

Sightseeing and discoveries

Jama Masjid: This is the largest mosque in the country. From the top of the south minaret, you will overlook the entire city and discover a magnificent panorama.

Pass by the Lal Qila (the Red Fort): It owes its name to its construction material, red sandstone.

Raj Ghat and Gandhi Museum: This square black marble slab marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his assassination in 1948.

Dinner ($) at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, discover “New Delhi” and its surroundings

Humayun’s Tomb: Built in the mid-16^th century by Haji Begum, the first wife of Humayun, the 2^nd Mughal emperor. It is a fine example of Mughal architecture that is said to have inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Supper and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Journey to the Shekhawati region: the area of Rajasthan nicknamed “the open-air art gallery of Rajasthan”.

Dinner (not included) en route. Check-in at the hotel.

Departure for the visit of Mandawa.

It is in these towns surrounded by sand dunes that one can find the havelis, houses of wealthy merchants who once thrived on the camel trade between India and Pakistan. These are small palaces with walls adorned with painted frescoes, true illuminated works.

The havelis are houses built by prosperous merchants, covered with frescoes. These murals date back on average to the 19^th century.

Supper and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel

Route to Bikaner. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner ($).

Visit to Junagarh Fort, a fortress built in the 16th century that houses various palaces and temples. It is a maze of corridors, staircases, and inner courtyards.

You can visit: the Coronation Hall, the Palace of Mirrors, the Maharajah’s room, the arms museum also containing elephant howdahs, the “conference hall” with a silver throne, as well as the first fakir’s nail boards…

Ride in a TUK TUK through the picturesque bazaar, then a “Heritage walk” on foot in the old town to explore its narrow alleys and take the opportunity to visit some old havelis.

Supper and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Then, travel to Jaisalmer.

Dinner ($).

Arrival in Jaisalmer and check-in at your hotel.

Afternoon, explore the cenotaphs of Bara Bagh during sunset.

Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Then visit Jaisalmer.

Walk in the citadel of Jaisalmer.

The Havelis, old mansion-palaces with incredibly ornate balconies, built in the 18^th century by wealthy merchants.

Visit the Jain Temple and take a walk in the bazaar.

Return to the hotel. Dinner ($).

In the evening, you will enjoy a magnificent evening in the heart of the Thar Desert dunes: camel ride followed by a barbecue dinner accompanied by a dance and music show in Jaisalmer.

Return to the hotel and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner ($).

Visit to the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort, a true eagle’s nest built at the top of a hill overlooking the city. It can be accessed through seven monumental gates, some of which still bear the marks of cannonballs fired by the enemy. Inside, there are many inner courtyards surrounded by palaces with sculpted facades. The fort’s museum houses palanquins, elephant seats, weapons, sabers, swords, daggers, and small cannons. Numerous rooms contain collections of miniatures, the Takhat Mahal hall is entirely decorated with mirrors and paintings, with colored glass balls hanging from the ceiling, and the “Jankhi Mahal” contains an amazing collection of royal cradles. From the top of the ramparts, defended by impressive cannons, a splendid view awaits you over the blue city 120 meters below, and in the distance, the Umaid Bhawan Palace.

Then a walk in the old town and exploration of the colorful market (about 2 hours of walking).

Supper and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel

In the morning, a walk through the village of Bhanswara to see daily life.

Departure for Ranakpur, via acacia-lined roads, where you can glimpse waterwheels, pump wells, and women walking on the road carrying golden or silver jugs on their heads.

Dinner ($).

In the afternoon, you will also discover the great Jain temples, which seem to hide in the Aravalli mountains.

A bewitching charm emanates from this solitary place; you will be surprised and admire the sculptures of the various temples. These are the most beautiful Jain shrines.

Then continue on the road to Udaipur. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Supper and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will discover the City Palace, the former palace of the Maharana of Udaipur.

Built in the 18th century, this palace, part of which is still inhabited by the descendants of the Maharana of Udaipur, overlooks Lake Pichola.

It is a labyrinth of marble halls, decorated lounges, courtyards, numerous ceramics, and gardens.

Visit Sahelion Ki Bari or “Garden of the Maidens”, a beautiful park with many fountains.

Dinner ($).

Visit a silk painting center, specializing in miniatures.

In the late afternoon, and depending on the water level, transfer to the dock.

Mini-cruise on Lake Pichola to admire the magnificent facade of the Udaipur palace and stop at Jag Mandir Island.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continue by road to Jaipur, the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, which owes its nickname “Pink City” to the pink paint that covers the buildings of the old town. Built on the bed of a dried-up lake in an arid landscape, the city is surrounded by bare hills topped with fortresses and crenelated walls.

Dinner ($) in a local restaurant.

Supper and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion to Amber Fort, about 10 km from Jaipur.

Amber is the former capital of the state founded by the Minas and then abandoned a few centuries later when its Maharaja Jai Singh moved to Jaipur.

Located at the entrance of a rocky gorge, overlooking a magnificent lake, the strategic location of this fortress is highlighted by the beauty of its architecture.

It is a labyrinth of walls and towers that, from one hill to another, formed an unparalleled alarm and defense system.

Here, everything has remained exactly as it was centuries ago.

Ascent in a 4X4 to the ramparts of the Fort.

The interior of the Fort houses many arcaded courtyards, beautiful gardens overrun by monkeys. The Palace contains walls of Persian-style mosaics, doors with ivory and wood filigree…

Visit the magical rooms of the Palace, adorned with mirrors, as well as the temple dedicated to the goddess Kali.

The Rajputs seized the Fort in 1037 and held it until 1728 when they deserted Amber for the new city of Jaipur.

Dinner ($) in a local restaurant.

Discovery of the city:

• The City Palace, Maharaja’s Palace, part of which is still inhabited by him and which houses Mughal miniatures.
• The Hawa Mahal or “Palace of Winds,” an extraordinary façade of an old baroque-style palace.

Ride in an Electric Rickshaw and exploration of the Jaipur market.

Free time for personal activities.

Supper and lodging.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for Agra with a visit to Fatehpur Sikri en route.

Fatehpur Sikri, the former capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

With architecture more baroque than the Red Fort, this capital was abandoned a few years after its construction.

Resulting from the synthesis of various styles, Indo-Muslim and Hindu, it is one of the most spectacular sites.

Visit:

• The Great Mosque, with the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti
• The Jewel House, also named Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) containing Akbar’s pillar
• The Giant Chessboard

Dinner ($) in a local restaurant.

Continuation to Agra. Check-in at the hotel.

Supper and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel

Visit to the sublime Taj Mahal

Closed on Fridays, the Taj Mahal is one of the most famous monuments in the world, built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a testament to eternal love.

In 1631, Shah Jahan lost his favorite wife Mumtaz-i-Mahal (the chosen one of the palace) while she was giving birth to their fourteenth child. The emperor then decided to build her a mausoleum that matched his grief, a sort of palace of love.

Horse-drawn carriage transfer

Transfer by horse-drawn carriage to the entrance of the Taj Mahal, a huge red sandstone gate covered with verses from the Quran in Arabic.

Once you pass through this monumental red sandstone portal inlaid with white marble and covered with verses from the Quran, the Taj Mahal appears, unreal, in all its whiteness.

Standing on a marble platform, at each of its corners stand tall white minarets. The central structure of the Taj is built of white marble, semi-translucent, carved with flowers and inlaid with semi-precious stones creating beautiful patterns.

Under the central dome lie the cenotaphs of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, his wife.

The Red Fort

It initially had a mainly military function, then it partially transformed into a palace. Notable places to visit include the Machchi Bhavan (Fish Palace) and the Saman Burj, a tower from which one can see the Taj Mahal. Behind these walls, you will discover a real city within the city.

Dinner

Dinner ($) in a local restaurant.

Departure to Delhi

Departure to Delhi. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Room available until transfer to the airport.

Farewell dinner

Transfer to the airport for the return flight.