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Map of Rajasthan Experience including India

Discover romantic, colourful cities set among pristine desert dunes

Colourful and chaotic, vibrant, and romantic – welcome to Rajasthan. Explore India’s captivating northwest on this 15-day tour, taking in immense desert cities, the treasures of the maharajah, and forts with fascinating histories. Marvel at the grandeur of the Taj Mahal in Agra, camp under the stars in the Thar Desert and immerse yourself in romantic Jodhpur. This tour doesn’t just cover Rajasthan’s many bucket-list-worthy sites but it also immerses you in the thrum of daily life through village walks, market explorations and plenty of memorable meals. Add a touch of comfort and some very special heritage property accommodation for a true Rajasthani travel adventure.

Start
Delhi, India
Finish
Delhi, India
Destination
India
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
HHKR
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • You may have seen hundreds of photos of it already but laying eyes on the Taj Mahal for yourself during a guided tour is bound to leave a deep impression.

  • From hitting up a local cinema for a Bollywood movie to desert camping – this trip will show you Rajasthan from every angle.

  • In addition to your local leader, connect with local guides at historical sites and upon arrival in cities to add unmatched regional knowledge to your experience.

  • Enjoy two home-cooked meals with local families and sample Jain cuisine at a temple while sharing local culture, stories and traditions with new friends.

  • Taste the snack highlights of Jaipur and get to know your female driver on a tour with the eco-friendly Pink City Rickshaw Company, a non-profit providing employment and economic independence to women from low-income households.

Is this trip right for you?

  • In order to see as much as possible in the vast north of India, this trip involves some long travel days. We use a variety of transport to get around, from train to private vehicles, auto-rickshaws, and a flight. Packing light will make moving around easier!

  • Don’t underestimate the weather at any time of year in India. In the summer months, heat can be extreme. In winter months, some travellers have been surprised at the cool of the evenings. A hat, sunscreen, and clothing that can be layered will serve you well year-round.

India delhi traveller busy street
india agra fort
India Jaipur Local Cooking
India Jaipur Food
A hot air balloon over Jaipur, India on an Intrepid Travel tour.
Travellers wrapping a turban in Bikaner, India.
India thar desert camels
india jodhpur blue city
India Udaipur city palace
India Udaipur boat ride

Itinerary
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Namaste! Welcome to India. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive in Delhi with time to spare, perhaps pay a visit to the World Heritage-listed Humayun's Tomb or the 12th-century Qutub Minar. After meeting your leader and fellow travellers, you may like to join the group for an optional dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Today you will travel by air-conditioned train to the Mughal city of Agra. After arriving, meet your local guide who will show you around two Agra icons. First, visit the spectacular Taj Mahal. Take in the beauty of this 17th-century masterpiece of white marble set amid beautiful formal gardens. Next, visit the nearby Agra Fort, a huge complex built originally as a military structure of red sandstone by Emperor Akbar in 1565. In your free time, perhaps enjoy a drink or meal at Sheroes Hangout, a social enterprise that employs women affected by acid attacks.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Agra - Taj Mahal
  • Agra - Agra Fort
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s train travel time is approximately 3 hours.

Today you will rise early and leave via private vehicle for Jaipur. Your first stop is the deserted Mughal kingdom of Fatehpur Sikri. Built during the reign of Emperor Akbar, it was abandoned shortly after his death due to a lack of available water. With a local guide, tour the stunning mosque, Jama Masjid, striking a lovely pose within the settlement, combining Persian and Hindu aesthetics. See its staggering 54-metre-high main entrance called Buland Darwaza (Gate of Victory) which commemorates Akbar’s great victory in Gujarat. Arrive this afternoon in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and said to be one of the most pedestrian friendly cities in India. Meet your local guide to put that to the test among bustling, brightly-coloured bazaars filled with hand-crafted textiles, folk art, and semi-precious stones. Here, traditionally dressed Rajput men wearing colourful turbans and sporting magnificent moustaches will make their way through crowded streets packed with cars, camel carts, rickshaws, trucks, and bicycles.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Property (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Fatehpur Sikri - Guided tour
  • Jaipur - Walking tour with a local guide
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Driving time today is approximately 5 hours.

Start your day with some free time in Jaipur. If you’re up for it, go for an optional hot air balloon experience over the city, which is a highlight for many travellers. Later, join a local guide and travel out to the stunning medieval Amber Fort not far from the city. This 16th-century marvel is a great example of Rajput architecture. Take your time, as you'll need several hours to explore this massive fortification. Back in Jaipur, continue to indulge in the delights of Indian culture by watching a Bollywood film of action, romance, drama or music (sometimes all rolled into one) at the renowned Raj Mandir Cinema. Then it’s time to do as the locals do and eat your way around the city on a rickshaw tour! The Pink City Rickshaw Co. is a non-for-profit organisation that employs more than 200 women from low-income households in Jaipur. Your first stop is to pick up some kachoris, a delicious fried snack, followed by sweet lassis. Continue to a shop serving kulfis, a popular frozen dessert, before finishing up at an establishment offering cardamom tea, the perfect way to round off the day. If you’re still peckish for dinner, ask your leader for some recommended dining spots.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Property (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema
  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
  • Jaipur - Pink City Rickshaw Food Tour
Optional Activities
  • Jaipur - Balloon Safari - USD280
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Hot air balloon excursions are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate from 1 September to 31 April and last approximately 60 minutes. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments, and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your welcome meeting on Day 1 of your trip. Payment must be made by cash in INR/AUD/USD/GBP only. Flights are subject to availability and weather conditions (tickets are fully refundable in case of bad weather).

Today you will drive from Jaipur to the Shekhawati region. Mandawa is a remote town in the centre of the region, an old trading outpost between the Middle East and China known for its forts and havelis that offer a glimpse of the the cultural and social hotspot this place used to be. Our lunch stop today will be in Nawalgarh at a local restaurant that will allow you to explore more of the region’s different dishes. On arrival in Mandawa, check into your resort before joining your leader for a walking tour of the town. If time permits later in the day, kick back at the resort’s pool, spa or bar.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mandawa - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Todays total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Enjoy a day of exploring this amazing town, which is often referred to as an outdoor museum. Mandawa is famous for its ornate havelis (private residences). A local guide will lead you on a haveli tour where you'll notice that some are faithfully restored while others are crumbling. The havelis of this particular part of India are recognised around the country for their lavishly painted walls and art. This evening, share a meal of spicy Northern Indian food with your fellow travellers at Castle Mandawa before retiring for the night back at our resort.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mandawa - Guided haveli tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Travel into the Thar Desert to the fortified town of Bikaner, which was an important staging post along some of history’s great caravan routes, and thus houses a multitude of bazaars along with an impressive fort and palace. We’ll visit the massive 16th century Junagarh Fort with a local guide to learn about its impressive history. Later this afternoon, visit the museum at the National Camel Research Centre, established to understand and protect these hardworking desert animals. Don’t miss the camel milk parlour where you can try out ice creams and beverages. This evening, we’ll venture out for an auto rickshaw ride through the town and its market to enjoy some tea, samosas and Indian treats.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Property (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bikaner - Junagarh Fort
  • Bikaner - National Camel Research Centre
  • Bikaner - Tuk-Tuk ride with snacks
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 5 hours by private vehicle.

Today forge deeper into the Thar Desert on a desert camp safari. Ride jeeps through the dunes to a stunning campsite with spectacular views. Enjoy a traditional Rajasthani dinner as the sun sets and spend the evening around a campfire under a sea of stars before falling asleep to the desert ambiance in your comfortable permanent tent.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Thar Desert - Desert camping with dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 1.5 hours by jeep.

Emerge from the desert this morning and travel along a desert road to the yellow sandstone citadel of Jaisalmer. Watch as this ‘living fort’ rears its head in the arid, flat desert. Our local guide will lead you through the snaking alleyways of Jaisalmer, which are filled with markets and intricately carved houses. This evening relax in the gardens or at the pool at the hotel.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaisalmer - Walking tour with a local guide
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 7 hours.

Enjoy further time exploring the immense Jaisalmer fort with the group on a guided walking tour this morning. Within the fort itself is a maze of houses, temples, shops and restaurants, not to mention some 3,000 permanent residents. Track down some dazzling Rajasthani fabrics, marvel at the spectacular facades of the Patwa ki Haveli and Salim Singh-ki-Haveli. This afternoon is yours to spend as you’d like. You may wish to simply wander the labyrinthine paths and soak up the atmosphere, or visit the Jaisalmer Folklore Museum on the banks of Garsisar Lake in the Mehar Bagh Garden. As night falls you will join a local family in their home for a delicious thali-style dinner. Tuck into pakoras, vegetable curries, chapatis and a very sweet treat to round out the meal.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaisalmer - Home-cooked dinner
Optional Activities
  • Jaisalmer - Folklore Museum - INR10
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Today you drive across the desert to discover Rajasthan's second-largest city, the frenetic Jodhpur. Jodhpur abounds in antique shops and, according to many locals, has the best lassi in India. While you are here you will explore the colossal Mehrangarh Fort with a local guide. This 15th century fort sits 125 metres above the city. Inside the walls, enjoy the intricate carvings and expansive courtyards, but don’t forget to take a look out over the expansive views from the fort’s ramparts.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s driving time is approximately 6 hours by private vehicle.

From Jodhpur, you will travel through the beautiful hamlet of Ranakpur. Ranakpur is the home of a host of beautifully carved white marble Jain temples. These staggering complex temples attract Jain pilgrims from all over India, making Ranakpur one of the most important pilgrim destinations for Jains in India. We enjoy a Jain lunch at a temple today. Jain vegetarian cuisine is noteworthy for not including anything grown underground, to prevent harming small insects and microorganisms and to prevent killing the entire plant, unlike foods harvested from plants that grow above ground. From here you will continue on your journey to gorgeous Udaipur.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ranakpur - Jain Temples
  • Ranakpur - Lunch at Jain temple
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s driving time totals approximately 8 hours by private vehicle.

Enjoy some time exploring the atmospheric laneways of Udaipur with your leader. Watch out for elephants and cows! You will be joined by a local guide to visit the City Palace while you're here, one of the largest royal palaces in India. This structure took 400 years to build and hosts a range of treasures and antiquities, from vivid murals to royal utensils. Join a local family in their home for a home-cooked lunch, savouring local lentil, potato and paneer dishes. This afternoon, take a boat ride across Pichola Lake, the largest body of water in Udaipur, to get a totally different view of this charming townscape.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Udaipur - City Palace
  • Udaipur - Lake Pichola boat ride
  • Udaipur - Leader-led walking tour
  • Udaipur - Home-cooked lunch
Optional Activities
  • Udaipur - Ayurvedic Massage - INR1200
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

After a free morning, take a flight back to Delhi, arriving late in the afternoon. After checking into your hotel, you may like to join your fellow travellers for an optional farwell dinner or enjoy an evening of free time.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s flying time is approximately 1.5 hours.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. There are no other activities planned for the day and you can depart the hotel at any point this morning. For those who wish to stay on in Delhi to further explore the city, we are happy to help in booking accommodation (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

14 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Auto rickshaw, Jeep, Plane, Private vehicle, Train

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night), heritage property (3 nights), Hotel (10 nights)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Agra - Taj Mahal
  • Agra - Agra Fort
  • Fatehpur Sikri - Guided tour
  • Jaipur - Walking tour with a local guide
  • Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema
  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
  • Jaipur - Pink City Rickshaw Food Tour
  • Mandawa - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Mandawa - Guided haveli tour
  • Bikaner - Junagarh Fort
  • Bikaner - National Camel Research Centre
  • Bikaner - Tuk-Tuk ride with snacks
  • Thar Desert - Desert camping with dinner
  • Jaisalmer - Walking tour with a local guide
  • Jaisalmer - Home-cooked dinner
  • Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort
  • Ranakpur - Jain Temples
  • Ranakpur - Lunch at Jain temple
  • Udaipur - City Palace
  • Udaipur - Lake Pichola boat ride
  • Udaipur - Leader-led walking tour
  • Udaipur - Home-cooked lunch

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Rajasthan Experience trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 10 (Thar Desert) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for flight and entrance tickets. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
4. This trip includes a domestic flight as indicated on the trip map. The luggage allowance is 15kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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