Rajasthan is a feast for the senses and this itinerary take you on a journey through the highlights of this exotic state. After this, you'll head towards the magnificent Taj Mahal, an awe-inspiring highlight of any trip to India. After this, you'll make your way to Varanasi, on the banks of the holy River Ganges, stopping off in charming Orchha and the erotic temple city of Khajuraho on your way. You'll spend two nights in Varanasi, in a wonderful hotel situated directly on the banks of the Ganges, where you'll hear the pilgrims singing softly as they bathe in the sacred waters.

After this, you'll take the train back to Delhi and spend a night in the lively capital before heading south for the rest of your trip. Forward-thinking Bangalore is the first stop on the agenda, a city with a tropical climate, set amid palm trees and rice paddies. Next, you'll visit Mysore, famous for its silk and sandalwood, not to mention its elegant palace. Then, you'll leave the cities and head into the plush Indian countryside for a wildlife adventure, where you can spot elephants on adrenalin-thumping safaris, before heading to quaint Cochin and the famous emerald backwaters of Kerala. After an unforgettable houseboat cruise through the tiny waterways, you'll end up on the beach at Kovalam, to catch your breath and some tropical sunshine. 

When you arrive in Delhi, you’ll be collected by your private driver and taken to your hotel. You can choose from either a hotel situated about half an hour’s drive from the airport or a charming hotel in Central Delhi, and ideal base to explore both the spice markets of Chandi Chowk and the modern bars of Connaught Place. Here, you can catch your breath and rest after your flight. In both hotels, you’ll have a comfortable room with a private en-suite bathroom.

Today you'll be transferred to Jaipur by air-conditioned car, a trip which takes around 5 hours. The Pink City is a fantastic place to kick off a trip in India and during your two nights here you can relax, acclimatise, and explore. There is so much to see in this elegant and astonishing city that you could spend weeks here without getting bored. Jaipur centre is a lively mass of saris, saddhus, holy cows, spice markets, street vendors, camel carts, elephants, beggars, rickshaws, temples, forts and palaces.

In Jaipur, you’ll stay in a cosy family hotel for a firsthand experience of typical Indian hospitality. Breakfast is served in the romantic English tea garden and the family will go out of their way to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. The rooms here are tastefully furnished in traditional Indian-style and several have four-poster beds.

Today, you’ll take a guided tour of this remarkable city, visiting the City Palace, the Observatory and the fairy-tale Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal). In the afternoon, you’ll visit the imposing Amber Fort that lies just outside the city limits. From the battlements of the Amber Fort, you’ll have a wonderful view of the rocky hills and the smaller walls and forts constructed by the Rajputs and the Mughals in the area.

The City Palace and the Palace of the Winds both stand in the ancient quarter of the city. The City Palace has several beautiful museums with fascinating collections. If you see the flag flying, it means that the Maharaja is in residence. The Palace of the Winds is a world-famous, pyramid-shaped building with dozens of windows. This is where the women of the royal harem could watch the processions in the street below, unseen by the masses.

This morning, you'll leave Jaipur and head east towards Galta, a secluded mystical spot that will leave a lasting impression on you. The Monkey Temple here is a pilgrimage site that attracts flocks of brightly-robed devotees every day. The stream that trickles out of the rocks here is reputed to be water from the holy River Ganges, although this is geographically impossible. People bathe and sing on the steps (ghats) that lead down into the pools. Their voices echo through the rocky gorge, which opens into a wider valley dotted with temples that have been overrun with monkeys. This is an exhilarating sight.

After Galta, you’ll drive for another three hours before arriving in Bharatpur. This is a fascinating waterworld, criss-crossed by all sorts of dykes. Maharajas of the historic Singh family used this region as their hunting grounds, and the scenery is breathtaking. If you like, you can pedal through Bharatpur on a ‘sturdy’ Indian bike (cycle hire costs arouond £1.50).

There are hundreds of rare birds in the Bharatpur wetlands, such as the rare Siberian crane. Currently, there are several tigers here, originally from Ranthambore National Park, which pounce on the waterfowl as they doze. It’s unlikely that you’ll see this in action, but keep your eyes peeled all the same.

A few kilometres further on, you’ll come to stunning Fatehpur Sikri. The great ruler Akbar set up his capital here, and built a grand city, but after only 40 years the water supply became too difficult to maintain in this dry area, so all of the inhabitants packed up and moved on. They left behind a phenomenal collection of grand temples and palaces, with the ruins of old houses standing between them. Now it is an atmospheric ghost city, full of green parrots and monkeys.We’ll arrange for a guide to lead you through the forgotten city, and tell you the stories behind the monuments.

After visiting Fatehpur Sikri, you’ll drive on to Agra, where you’ll arrive at the Lamba family home. Here, you can experience the warmth of a true Indian family, who will go out their way to make you feel at home. Mr Lamba is a retired army officer with plenty of incredible tales to tell. Of course, if you would prefer to stay in a hotel rather than a family home, we can book a hotel for a small extra charge.

You'll have breakfast this morning in the garden at the Lamba family home. Afterwards, you’ll set off to visit another two breathtaking sites. First, you’ll be taken to the Taj Mahal, a highlight of any trip to India. Standing serenely in the first light of the morning, we are sure that this stunning building will surpass all your expectations. It is one of the few buildings in the world that has the ability to move people. It was built by Shah Jahan as a token of his love for his deceased wife, and is undoubtedly the most romantic burial site in the world. After visiting the Taj Mahal, you’ll head for Agra Fort. This huge but restrained structure seems to be immersed in a dreamy atmosphere when it’s bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, which slants through the pillars and galleries. From its majestic walls and through its arches, you can see the Taj Mahal, just as Shah Jahan would have done centuries ago, when he was imprisoned here by his son.

This morning, your train leaves Agra Central Station at about 8am on its way to Jhansi. We'll arrange the transfer to the railway station. After about 2½ hours (give or take a little in India), you’ll arrive in Jhansi. You’ll be collected at the station by a your driver, who will take you to Orchha (about 16 km away). Orchha is a charming small town of only 9000 residents and it is one of the few places in India that you can easily wander about without being approached by beggars or touts. The town is renowned for its breathtaking Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple and Lakshmi Narayan Temple. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to explore the town at your own pace. At the end of the day, you’ll tumble into bed in your hotel and drift off to sleep, tired but contented.

This morning, you’ll drive on to the tranquil town of Khajuraho. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the western temples of Khajuraho, principally known for their erotic images from the Kama Sutra. The temples are about 1000 years old and they are still in incredibly good condition, even though there are only 22 of the original 85 temples still left. You’ll stay in a very comfortable hotel set in four acres of quiet grounds.

Today you’ll be taken to the little town of Satna to catch the train to the city of Varanasi on the River Ganges. The train leaves about 8.15am, so it’s a pretty early start, but you’ll arrive in Varanasi a little after 4pm. The journey takes about 8 hours. When you arrive in Varanasi, you’ll be greeted and transferred to a charming hotel that lies right on the banks of the river. The Ganges is flanked by a series of ‘ghats’ – broad stone staircases leading down to the water – that stretch into the horizon. Each ghat has its own significance. The hotel stands close to the Assi Ghat, towards the south of the town, which is used by pilgrims during a special pilgrimage route called 'Panchatirthi Yatra'.

This morning, you’ll make a very early start to take a boat trip on the Ganges at dawn. This is an extremely special experience and you cannot help but soak up the intensely spiritual atmosphere. You’ll drift past pilgrims of all ages and classes as they perform their ritual bathing just before sunrise. After the boat trip, there's a guided walk through the old centre of Varanasi. Watch out for the holy cows in the narrow alleyways.

In the afternoon you’ll head for the small town of Sarnath, which is not far from Varanasi. Sarnath is another place of pilgrimage, this time for the Buddhists. It was here that Buddha gave his first lecture. After his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, Buddha came to Sarnath to preach about the Middle Way of reaching Nirvana. After this, the religious ruler Ashoka built an enormous stupa (temple) and several Buddhist monasteries to commemorate the teaching. Each Buddhist country in the world now has its own temple, which often makes the place seems like a World Expo is being held. In contrast, the village itself is small, with a feeling of tranquillity. After you’ve spent a while exploring Sarnath, you’ll be taken back to Varanasi, where you’ll have the rest of the evening to wander through the city. You’ll spend another night in the hotel overlooking the Ganges.

The day is free for you to explore. Life and death rubs shoulders here like nowhere else on earth, and the experience is very inspiring. Seeing a cremation take place on the ‘burning ghats’ is something that you will remember forever. Next to the cremation ghat, you’ll find kids playing cricket, cows nosing through rubbish, and women beating laundry on rocks. Then, in the evening, you'll head for the train station for your overnight journey to Delhi.

You'll stay in a charming hotel in Central Delhi, with comfortable rooms and modern facilities. The hotel is near to both the alleyways and spice bazaars of Old Delhi and the spacious shopping emporiums of Connaught Place.

You can use today to see the many sights of Delhi- the crowded, narrow lanes of Chandi Chowk, the stately Humayan’s Tomb, the greenery of Lodi Gardens, and the informative and moving Gandhi Museum.

Today you’ll set off for stately and beautiful Mysore. The trip will take about 3½ hours and along the way you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the tropical landscape and the typical Indian hustle and bustle. Mysore is renowned for its high-quality silk, but incense and sandalwood are also made here, and the air will be thick with exotic, musky scents. The rich Maharajas invested heavily in Mysore, commissioning brilliantly ornate palaces and temples. In the evening, you’ll visit the palaces and the Chamumdi Hill Temple, which stands at a staggering height of 1062 metres and provides sweeping views over the city. You’ll stay in an elegant little palace (authentic accommodation) with impressive gardens, built for the princes of Mysore.

After breakfast, you’ll head for Mudumalai National Park, a 3-hour drive from Mysore. The park is home to the largest population of elephants in India and you might also come across deer, monkeys, honey bears, giant squirrels and even tigers. Otters and crocodiles inhabit the Moyar River that runs through the park. Mudumalai Park lies at the foot of the Nilgiris mountain range and borders the Bandipur, Nagarahole and Wayanad reserves. These National Parks lie across three states - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala - and together they form a 'Biosphere Reserve'. The super- reserve covers a staggering surface area of almost 3000km², so there is plenty to explore.

When you arrive in Mudumalai, you’ll be taken directly to your hotel for some rest and relaxation. You’ll stay in comfortable huts (authentic accommodation) nestling in lush green surroundings. Almost every hut has a view of the massive Nilgiri mountain range.

At the end of the afternoon, a jeep will arrive to take you on an evening safari. This will give you a chance to come eye-to-eye with an elephant in the wild. With a bit of luck you might even see a tiger, but don’t get your hopes up too much – sightings are few and far between. You’ll set out on the game drive in an open top jeep to spot as many animals as possible while the sun goes down. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and your camera, and keep those eyes peeled.

This morning, you can gather your thoughts during a peaceful breakfast amidst tropical greenery and prepare for the day ahead. You'll be taken by chauffeur-driven car to the coastal city of Calicut, which will take about 4 hours. Set in the extensions of the backwaters, in a network of small rivers and lagoons, Calicut has a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. Due to the long distances covered in this module, you’ll have some well-deserved time to relax when you first arrive. Why not treat yourself to a typical Indian Ayurvedic massage to loosen up any muscles stiff from the car journey.

Your fantastic resort (authentic accommodation) is hidden amongst lush vegetation on the bank of a small river. From the restaurant, you can look down over the water and watch the local boats pass by while you eat delicious Keralan specialities. You can relax completely with a book by the swimming pool or, if you do want to explore the area, you can visit the old trading town with its historic temples and mosques.

After breakfast, your personal driver will be ready to show you Cochin. You’ll visit the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue in the heart of the Jewish district, and the Saint Francis Church (the oldest European church in India). You’ll also take a look at the Chinese fishing nets that arrived in Cochin with the Chinese traders many centuries ago. In the afternoon, you’ll leave the hotel (probably with a suitcase full of silk) to travel on to your next destination - Periyar National Park.

You'll be collected from your hotel in Cochin or from the airport. The drive will take about 4 hours, giving you plenty of time to admire the emerald tea plantations that will speed past the window. You’ll stay in a welcoming and cosy homestay run by a local family in the town of Thekkady, which lies about 4km from the park.

Early this morning, you’ll take a boat cruise over Periyar Lake, hopefully spotting a wide variety of animals including deer, otters, bison, monkeys and even honey bears. However, the real spectacle in Periyar is the huge population of wild elephant in the park. These jumbos browse along the shores of the lake, plodding through the fresh grass and often entering the water for a splash as you pass close by.

After the cruise, you’ll spend the afternoon in the spice gardens, strolling amongst coffee bushes, tea fields and pepper plantations. On your way back to the hotel in Periyar, you’ll stop at the local market to taste these spices for yourself.

Today, you’ll set off on the drive to Alleppey, the centre of the backwaters that the locals fondly refer to as the ‘Venice of the East’. Tonight, you’ll sleep aboard a traditional houseboat on the romantic Lake Vattakayal. At about noon, you’ll leave the canals of Alleppey and drift into the backwaters on your charming, luxurious houseboat. This is, without doubt, the very best way to enjoy the labyrinth of tiny canals. The waterways are shaded by palms on all sides and everywhere you’ll see people working the land. Along the way, you’ll stop to visit various villages, hidden temples, churches and even a traditional snake boat. If you‘re lucky, you might catch a snake boat race in action, with dozens of brightly clothed rowers. The local people will wave happily to you from the banks as you pass. You’ll slowly weave your way through the backwaters, soaking up the sunshine while you feast on delicious Keralan dishes and sip on a cold Kingfisher beer…

After a tasty breakfast aboard the houseboat, you’ll drift back to land for the drive to Kovalam. This is a long drive (about 6 hours) and you’ll pass wonderful scenery along the way. When you arrive in Kovalam, you’ll quickly forget the fatigue of travel. This is the best known beach in Kerala and certainly one of the most beautiful. There are plenty of excellent restaurants here, where you’ll find a huge range of freshly caught seafood and fish.

You’ll stay at lovely Nellikunnu Beach, a couple of beaches along from Kovalam itself. It’s very peaceful here and yet only a 10 minute tuk-tuk ride from the centre of Kovalam. The beach at Nellikunnu has a traditional Ayurvedic spa offering massages and other treatments. You’ll stay in a cute cottage covered in teak, right on the attractive beach.

Today your time is completely your own. Swim, sunbathe, or read in your hammock – it is completely up to you. Simply enjoy the easygoing atmosphere of Kovalam Bay. The swimming here is delightful as the water is clear, warm, and gets deeper very gradually. You can also go shopping at the lively stalls on Kovalam Beach, packed with tempting souvenirs. The food here is delicious, so get stuck into some tasty local treats. If you’re feeling ultra energetic, you can take an excursion to Kanyakumari, the most southerly point of India. Just let us know if you want to take this excursion, and we’ll make the arrangements for you.

Your itinerary ends today, and you'll be transferred to Trivandrum airport to begin your jourey home. Of course, you could choose to spend a few extra days on the beach at your Nellikunnu resort, or even fly further south to the exotic Maldives, and collapse in a castaway paradise. Just add any special requirements to the quote request form, and our travel specialists will include them in your personal Travel Plan.