Explore Rajasthan: Palaces, Forts, and Sand Dunes of Thar - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Jodhpur

Welcome to India! When you land in Jodhpur, known as the Blue city, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Once there, you can check in and recharge, or you can leave your luggage and start exploring. You'll have the entire day free to roam around or perhaps visit a cultural site like the museum at Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace.

Day 2: Guided Tour of Jodhpur

After breakfast, you'll meet your guide in the hotel lobby. You'll proceed on a tour of Jodhpur, where you'll visit the must-see Fort Mehrangarh, one of the oldest and most beautiful forts in Rajasthan. During your visit, you will learn all about the history of this fortress that has remained impregnable over many centuries. Inside the fort, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the city below.

Then, you'll continue on to Jaswant Thada. This cenotaph was built at the request of Sardar Singh, at the place where his father the Maharaja, Jaswant Singh II, was cremated. All white marble, it is polished so fine that in some places, the marble seems to glow in the sunlight. After visiting these sites, you'll return to the city and explore the neighborhood of Falnez. You will reach the century-old clock tower where the Sardar bazaar is held, where you will find many stalls of traditional fabrics, spices, and teas. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore Jodhpur as you wish.

There's also the option of golfing for a half-day at the Sardar Club, which was established at the beginning of the 20th century. The club has an international standard 18-hole golf course. 

Day 3: Transfer to Jaisalmer

Today, a driver will meet you at your hotel and drive you to Jaisalmer, which is about 5 hours away from Jodhpur.

Jaisalmer is a former medieval trading center in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, in the heart of the Thar Desert. Known as the "Golden City," Jaisalmer is distinguished by its yellow sandstone architecture. Dominating the skyline is Jaisalmer Fort, a sprawling hilltop citadel buttressed by 99 bastions. Behind its massive walls stand the ornate Maharajah's Palace and intricately carved Jain temples.

In the evening, you can watch the sunset at the Royal Cenotaphs before heading to your hotel in town.  

Day 4: Guided Tour of Jaisalmer

Today, you'll meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a tour of Jaisalmer and the Thar Desert. You'll stroll through the busy streets of the lower town and visit the magnificent old merchant homes known as the Patwon Ki Haveli, Nathmal Ki Haveli, and Salim Singh Ki Haveli.

In the afternoon, you'll proceed toward charming Gadisar Lake, surrounded by small temples and shrines. A 4x4 will then drive you to the desert, where you can stop to visit the Jain Temple of Amarsagar, the Bada Bagh cenotaphs, and the abandoned village of Kuldhara. When you arrive at the village of Khuri, you can begin a one-hour camel ride through the desert. After your desert excursion, you'll return to your hotel in Jaisalmer.

Day 5: Fly to Jaipur

Today, you have the morning free in Jaisalmer before you leave to explore the local markets at Gandhi Chowk and Manek Chowk. In the afternoon, a driver will pick you up and take you to the Jaisalmer airport to catch your direct flight to Jaipur. Globally renowned for its colored gems, the capital city of Rajasthan combines the allure of its ancient history with all the advantages of a metropolis.

Upon arrival, another driver will be waiting to drive you to your hotel. The rest of your evening in Jaipur is free for you to spend as you'd like.

Day 6: Guided Tour of Jaipur

After breakfast, a guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to the Amer Palace Fort, which housed the former capital of the state until 1728. Inside the fort, you can take a stroll through the Hall of Glory with its ornate mirrors. Nearby, you can see the Jai Mahal and Kali Temple along the top of the hills.

In the afternoon, proceed to your rickshaw tour of Jaipur, starting at the City Palace, home to the world's largest sundial, built by Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh in 1734. As the rest of the evening is free, you might like to explore the local markets of Jaipur near the Hawa Mahal. 

Day 7: Transfer to Delhi

This morning, you'll have breakfast before a driver picks you up at your hotel and drives you to Delhi. India's capital is a bustling metropolis that successfully combines the ancient and the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power, so it might not be surprising to learn that today's Delhi is actually a conglomerate of seven cities.

On your drive, you will stop at Fort Neemrana for a sumptuous lunch, and you can spend some time exploring this beautiful fort that was turned into a heritage hotel before getting back on the road. When you arrive at your hotel in Delhi, you will have the rest of the evening to explore the city.

Day 8: Guided Tour of Delhi

This morning, you'll meet your guide in the hotel lobby and proceed to walk through Old Delhi. This neighborhood was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal. Walk a bit farther, or board a rickshaw to the Kinari Bazar and dried fruit and spice market. Nearby, you can admire the Great Mosque.

From here, you can proceed to visit New Delhi, where you can find the Gandhi Memorial, India Gate, the Khas Mahal, and the Red Fort. Later, you can visit Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar, which boasts an elegant minaret. The rest of your night is free to spend as you'd like.

Day 9: Depart Delhi

It's time to say goodbye to India! Today, make sure to find a nice café for your last breakfast. Spend some time walking around Delhi and enjoying the bustle of the city before your driver comes to meet you at your hotel to take you to catch your flight home.

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