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 India is a beautiful and diverse country, rich with a flavoursome history and historical past. From history to culture, sightseeing to cookery, the new smells, sounds, and tastes of India will have you amazed. Let your senses be tantalised and your spirit lifted as you embrace the colourful mosaic of cultures and religions that India embodies. Delhi can be chaotic and dazzling in its intensity, while the beauty of the Taj Mahal will leave you at restful peace. Discover the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, and cookery lesson in Udaipur, plus loads of other gems on this all encompassing tour. Feel like a Maharaja staying in actual Maharaja Palaces. The accommodation on this fabulous tour will really impress you.
 • Day 1 to 1 Arrive Delhi
• Day 2 to 3 Agra
• Day 3 to 4 Jaipur
• Day 5 Nimaj/Barli
• Day 6 to 6 Udaipur
• Day 7 to 8 Jodhpur
• Day 9 to 10 Jaisalmer
• Day 11 Bikaner
• Day 12 Shekhawati
• Day 13 to 14 Delhi
• Accommodation:
* 13 nights in hotels (4 star ) centrally located hotels, Maharaja Palaces, and traditional Indian Havelis,
* 1 night luxury camping under the desert stars
• Meals:
* 13 breakfasts,
* 5 lunches,
* 5 dinners
• Excursions:
All excursions mentioned as per the itinerary
• Transport:
Private car, private air-conditioned coach, train, taxi, on foot
• Group Size: Maximum 20
• Staff: Yellow Brick Road Tours tour leader, local guide
• International flights and departure taxes
• Domestic flight taxes if applicable
• Tips on included excursions, visas, travel insurance, personal items
• Pre & post tour accommodation
• Departure transfers
• Spending money - allow approximately US$30 - $40 per day to cover snacks, meals not included, drinks, souvenirs, laundry, tips etc
• Optional excursions
• Airport Arrival Transfer
Day 1 - Saturday, September 1, 2012
 • Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to our hotel. Our airport representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, located after passing out of the customs area and beyond the travel desks and exchange counters. Look out for the Yellow Brick Road Tours signboard with your name attached. • The drive from the airport to the hotel is around 45 minutes. Most flights arrive in Delhi in the late evening, so you may want to book pre tour accommodation with us. • There will be a tour briefing in the reception at 18:00. However, if you have arrived early you can always make contact with your tour leader who will be in the hotel. • Please bring your passport and travel insurance documents to this meeting. Later, we head out for a welcome dinner and a few drinks to get to know each other.
Day 2 - Sunday, September 2, 2012
 • After breakfast, we are transferred to the railway station where we catch the morning Shatabdi train to Agra. • After arriving there late morning, we are transferred to our hotel. • After our briefing we head off to visit the magnificent Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. • Twenty thousand men laboured for more than 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife. It's a wealth of white marble and semi-precious stone.  • We follow this with an afternoon tour of the imposing Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. • It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques. In the evening, we head out to taste the local delicacies and a delicious mango lassi!
Day 3 - 4 - Monday, September 3 - Tuesday, September 4, 2012
 • From Agra, we travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has been described as "the world's most perfectly preserved ghost town". • Built by Akbar in the late 16th century, it was abandoned after only 14 years, and the elegant buildings of this superb walled city remain intact to this day. • This magnificent ghost town was capital of the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585. Built during the reign of Emperor Akbar, it was abandoned shortly after his death due to a lack of available water.  • We continue by road to Jaipur, known as 'The Pink City', the colourful capital of the state of Rajasthan as well as a vibrant and exciting town.
• Here, traditionally dressed Rajput men wearing colourful turbans and sporting magnificent moustaches make their way through crowded streets packed with cars, camel carts, rickshaws, trucks and bicycles.
Day 5 - Wednesday, September 5, 2012
 • The journey continues through rural Rajasthan to the village of Nimaj, which is surrounded by millet fields, wheat fields and mud plastered houses linked by narrow pathways. • Nimaj is a fascinating little village that sees very few tourists. • Our visit here is sure to be one of the highlights of our trip, as we stay overnight in a historic heritage-listed property that is full of Old World charm. • Nimaj Bagh consists of a series of country retreats set amidst orchards that belong to the nobles of the village of Nimaj, who have converted their farm houses into guest houses.  • Perched on the fringe of the Thar Desert, this mixed landscape is home to various tribes such as the Gurjars, who are primarily shepherds.
• In Nimaj, we can explore the narrow lanes of the village and observe close-up how the local people live. • There is also an option to explore the local countryside as well as visit a nearby lake. • Those not so adventurous can just relax in our heritage palace-hotel and enjoy the charms of a bygone era.
Day 6 - Thursday, September 6, 2012
 • From Nimaj, we head south towards Udaipur. • The city of Udaipur is built around the shores of Lake Pichola with a wealth of fascinating temples, ornate palaces and impressive havelis (merchant homes). • The charming setting of the Lake Palace on Jagwinas Island is unforgettable. • During our stay, we visit the Jagdish Temple, an Indo-Aryan temple containing a black stone image of Vishnu as Jagannath, Lord of the Universe.  • We also visit the City Palace, surmounted by balconies, towers and cupolas, where there are excellent views of the city and lakeside from the upper terraces.
• In the afternoon we have a cookery lesson whereby we can put our hands to work and participate in the making of our Indian lunch - a skill we can take back to the West with us.
Day 7 - Friday, September 7, 2012
 • The drive to Jodhpur takes us through the beautiful Rajasthan landscape. • En-route, we stop at the Jain temples at Ranakpur, which are located in the Aravalli Hills. The main Chaumukha Temple was built in 1439 and the workmanship of the carved pillars, of which there are 1444, is exquisite. • Established in the 15th century on the edge of the Great Thar Desert, Jodhpur was an important trading centre. Many of the buildings were painted blue, as historically this was an indication that the home belongs to a high caste Brahmin. Today most of the city is painted blue as other castes have followed suit. • The remainder of the day is yours to relax at the hotel or stroll off and explore the surrounding area.
Day 8 - Saturday, September 8, 2012
 • On the morning of our full day there, we explore the imposing Mehrangarh Fort, which sits atop a sheer rocky ridge in the middle of town. • We explore the many palaces and courtyards contained within the fort, as well as the bustling Sadar Market located at the foot of the hill. • This market is a great place to stroll around at leisure, with several alleyways leading off to various bazaars selling all sorts of fruits, vegetables, spices, textiles and handicrafts. • In the afternoon, we travel though some of its surrounding districts and visit the various different caste villages. These are home to people such as the Bishnois, the protectors of trees and animals, and the Meghwas, who are skilled weavers and potters. Rajasthan is famous for miniature paintings, textiles, clothing and handicrafts.
Day 9 - Sunday, September 9, 2012
 • We head west and drive towards Jaisalmer. The terrain gets more and more desert-like as we make our way towards the frontier. • Along the way it may be possible to spot some local wildlife, including chinkara (Indian gazelle). • Jaisalmer is an ancient trading town that resembles a scene from the story, 'One Thousand and One Nights'. The inhabitants still live in the narrow paved streets and alleyways of the town's ancient fort. Jaisalmer is a great place to simply wander around and for watching the passing scenes. • The merchants and wealthy families of Rajasthan built magnificent homes - or havelis - and some of the finest are to be found here. Founded in 1156, the city's remote location insured fierce independence from outside influence. • In the late afternoon, we have the option to see the sunset over the sand dunes from the nearby village of Khuri.
Day 10 - Monday, September 10, 2012
 • We start today with a morning tour of the Fort including the palace within its walls, followed by a visit to the wonderful Patwaon ki Haveli, and Vyas Chattries. This is taken at a leisurely pace and leaves plenty of time for photos and guide explanations.
• After lunch, we take a rest for about an hour before a jeep takes us to where our camels await for our ride into the desert. • We ride for about two hours to reach the campsite, where we then settle ourselves into our luxury desert camp-style tents.  • In the evening, we take a walk and enjoy experiencing the sun setting (weather permitting) over the sand dunes.
• The camel safari is a great way to see the region and interact with the friendly and colourful people who have made the desert their home. • Riding a camel is quite an experience that may not always be comfortable, however the opportunity to hop off and hitch a ride in one of our accompanying carts, or just stretch our legs by walking short sections, will ease the inevitable sore bottom! • In the evening, we enjoy traditional Rajasthani food and listen to the music and the yarns of our camel drivers.
Day 11 - Tuesday, September 11, 2012
 • From Jaisalmer, we drive towards Bikaner where upon arrival we check into our hotel. • There is time at leisure before visiting the Junagarh Fort and Lalgarh museum. • This town was founded in late 15th century and its imposing palaces, beautifully carved temples and rich havelis showcase the artistically splendid heritage of Rajput culture. • We also visit the 'rat temple' which is a site to behold! A beautiful temple where rats are sacred and wander freely.
Day 12 - Wednesday, September 12, 2012
 • This is a truly amazing place to visit. • Primarily off the beaten track, Shekhawati is rich in some of the most beautiful and ornate havelis. • En-route, we visit a Camel Breeding Farm. • This evening is at leisure to enjoy and explore the area. However, we meet for a wonderful evening meal set in the courtyard of an old haveli.
Day 13 - Thursday, September 13, 2012
 • Today, we travel through rural India and make our way from the peaceful santuary of Shekhawati back to the buzzing city of Delhi. • This is a full day transfer arriving late in the afternoon, however it's a great way to see India in its truest form and watch the scenery change. • We stop for lunch en-route and upon arrival to Delhi, check into our 4-star hotel.
• We enjoy a short orientation drive around the city that takes us to India Gate and past the President's House (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan) before heading off to do some last-minute shopping at colourful Janpath Bazaar.
• We then have the chance to enjoy pre dinner drinks before heading out to one of Delhi's great restaurants for a final group dinner to talk about the tour highlights.
Day 14 - Friday, September 14, 2012
 • Your trip ends in Delhi this morning, after breakfast. • Check out time is 12 noon. • If your flight leaves in the evening you may wish to book additional accommodation so you have a room until departure. Most flights leave Delhi in the evening and your leader will be on hand to assist with transfers to the airport. These are not included, but can be booked through us. • If you are spending extra time in Delhi, there is still plenty to see.
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India Uncovered
