India
Heart of Rajasthan
There’s truly no place in India that is quite like Rajasthan. Embark on a journey that takes you into the heart of the land of the maharajas. This 15 days/14 night enthralling journey takes you to the Golden City of Jaisalmer, the Blue City of Jodhpur and off-the-beaten path destinations like Nimaj and Ramathra. During your trip, you will have the opportunity to experience a slice of rural life far from the madding crowds and interact with the local community. End your tour in Agra where you will visit the majestic Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Delhi
Arrive in Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met by our colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
Meals: B
Meals: B
Day 2 & 3: Jaisalmer
You will take a flight to Jodhpur and then drive to Jaisalmer (approximately 5 hours, excluding stops).
During your stay, you will visit the Jaisalmer Fort, one of the most magnificent forts in Rajasthan and Gadi Sagar Lake. You will also walk through the Old City and its exceptional havelis, which lies outside the walls of the fort. On one of the evenings, you will take a jeep safari or camel safari to the sand dunes.
Meals: B
During your stay, you will visit the Jaisalmer Fort, one of the most magnificent forts in Rajasthan and Gadi Sagar Lake. You will also walk through the Old City and its exceptional havelis, which lies outside the walls of the fort. On one of the evenings, you will take a jeep safari or camel safari to the sand dunes.
Meals: B
Day 4 & 5: Jodhpur
You will drive to Jodhpur (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops).
During your stay, you will visit the historic Mehrangarh Fort. Walking down from the fort you will stop at Jaswant Thada, the graceful marble cenotaph.
You will also take a specially designed Blue City walk, including a tuk-tuk ride. Later, you may like to browse in the little shops of Sadar Bazaar in the old city before returning to your hotel.
If you like, you can take an excursion to a tribal Dhani (a remote tribal settlement in the heart of the vast Indian desert) to visit the local Bishnoi villages and farming communities. The village safari will help you gain an insight into the culture, traditions and daily lives of these people.
Meals: B
During your stay, you will visit the historic Mehrangarh Fort. Walking down from the fort you will stop at Jaswant Thada, the graceful marble cenotaph.
You will also take a specially designed Blue City walk, including a tuk-tuk ride. Later, you may like to browse in the little shops of Sadar Bazaar in the old city before returning to your hotel.
If you like, you can take an excursion to a tribal Dhani (a remote tribal settlement in the heart of the vast Indian desert) to visit the local Bishnoi villages and farming communities. The village safari will help you gain an insight into the culture, traditions and daily lives of these people.
Meals: B
Day 6 & 7: Nimaj
You will drive to Nimaj (approximately 2 hours, excluding stops) and check-in to your hotel.
Late in the evening, you can sit out at your hotel and watch the sun go down the reservoir waters.
The next morning, you may like to visit the village school and the camp's organic vegetable farm. You could also go bird watching or take a nature walk.
In the afternoon, you will visit one of the settlements, accompanied by a member of a resident family, you will walk in the surrounding farms and visit a charming village, where you will see typical rural sights such as the herders bringing home their animals at dusk.
On one of the nights, you will have a home cooked meal made from fresh produce grown organically on the surrounding farmlands.
Meals: B, L, D
Late in the evening, you can sit out at your hotel and watch the sun go down the reservoir waters.
The next morning, you may like to visit the village school and the camp's organic vegetable farm. You could also go bird watching or take a nature walk.
In the afternoon, you will visit one of the settlements, accompanied by a member of a resident family, you will walk in the surrounding farms and visit a charming village, where you will see typical rural sights such as the herders bringing home their animals at dusk.
On one of the nights, you will have a home cooked meal made from fresh produce grown organically on the surrounding farmlands.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8 - 10: Jaipur
You will drive to Jaipur (approximately 5 hours, excluding stops).
During your stay in the Pink City, you will visit the Fort-Palace at Amber (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You will be taken to the excellent Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing for a private and interactive block printing demonstration with a curator.
You will then drive to a private farmhouse abutting the forest (approximately 30 minutes, excluding stops) to interact with the farm’s resident elephants. Note: Peirce & Leslie is very careful that all participants in the travel ecosphere (including animals) are treated well. We therefore do not support any activities which involve animals unless we are satisfied, they are well cared for.
You will also visit the City Palace, which at the behest of the Maharaja was built near the temple of his personal deity. Here, you will take a private tour of the residential areas of the Palace (not open to the public).
Also visit the extraordinary Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1724 and stop to take photographs at the iconic Hawa Mahal or ‘Palace of the Winds’.
The tour will end with a specially designed walk through the bazaars of the Old City wherein you will spend time in the oldest and busiest of markets in the walled city – “Johari Bazaar”.
Meals: B
During your stay in the Pink City, you will visit the Fort-Palace at Amber (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You will be taken to the excellent Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing for a private and interactive block printing demonstration with a curator.
You will then drive to a private farmhouse abutting the forest (approximately 30 minutes, excluding stops) to interact with the farm’s resident elephants. Note: Peirce & Leslie is very careful that all participants in the travel ecosphere (including animals) are treated well. We therefore do not support any activities which involve animals unless we are satisfied, they are well cared for.
You will also visit the City Palace, which at the behest of the Maharaja was built near the temple of his personal deity. Here, you will take a private tour of the residential areas of the Palace (not open to the public).
Also visit the extraordinary Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1724 and stop to take photographs at the iconic Hawa Mahal or ‘Palace of the Winds’.
The tour will end with a specially designed walk through the bazaars of the Old City wherein you will spend time in the oldest and busiest of markets in the walled city – “Johari Bazaar”.
Meals: B
Day 11 & 12: Ramathra
You will drive to Ramathra (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops).
During your stay, you will spend some time volunteering at the village school, Anganwadi, meaning “Courtyard shelter”, an initiative started by the government to combat child hunger and malnutrition. Later, you can learn a few Indian dishes or make roti (Indian bread) with your host.
You will also go on a walking tour of Ramathra village, a small hamlet of farmers and herders. On one of the evenings, you will take a camel-cart ride through the villages and farmlands. This hour is known as “Gaudhuli” or the cow dust hour, named after the dust, raised by cattle returning home.
Meals: B, L, D
During your stay, you will spend some time volunteering at the village school, Anganwadi, meaning “Courtyard shelter”, an initiative started by the government to combat child hunger and malnutrition. Later, you can learn a few Indian dishes or make roti (Indian bread) with your host.
You will also go on a walking tour of Ramathra village, a small hamlet of farmers and herders. On one of the evenings, you will take a camel-cart ride through the villages and farmlands. This hour is known as “Gaudhuli” or the cow dust hour, named after the dust, raised by cattle returning home.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13 & 14: Agra
You will drive to Agra (approximately 5.5 hours, excluding stops). En route, you will stop to see one of the Mughal Empire’s most inspired creations, Fatehpur Sikri (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Late in the afternoon and early the next morning, you will visit the stunning Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a mausoleum and a symbol of the enduring love of Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631.
You will also visit one of the most significant monuments of the city, the Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Meals: B
Late in the afternoon and early the next morning, you will visit the stunning Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a mausoleum and a symbol of the enduring love of Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631.
You will also visit one of the most significant monuments of the city, the Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Meals: B
Day 15: Agra – Delhi & Depart
In the afternoon, you will drive to Delhi’s International Airport (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival, you will be met by our colleague who will help you to check-in for your homeward flight (details to be advised).
Meals: B
On arrival, you will be met by our colleague who will help you to check-in for your homeward flight (details to be advised).
Meals: B
Snapshots from the itinerary
