ROYAL RAJASTHAN TOUR

Number of days

16 days

Cities Involved

Delhi, Shekhawati, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Rohetgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Udaipur & Jaipur

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ACTC Tours SPECIAL FEATURES:

First-class, Boutique & Heritage hotels with private bath/shower
American Breakfast & lunch or Dinner daily
Assistance by A Classic Tours Collection’s representative at the airport and hotels
All transfers and sightseeing tours as per itinerary
Local English-speaking guide for each sightseeing tour
Baggage handling and porterage
Entrance fees to monuments and guide fees
Welcome and Farewell Dinners

SMALL GROUP ESCORTED TOUR (Max 16)

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES- Begins every Saturday (Oct. to Mar.)

PRIVATE TOURS- Daily departure

The elegance of Rajasthan is in the charming palaces and powerful fortresses that continue to decorate the magnificent landscape. On the Royal Rajasthan India tour, discover India at its most colorful amid the deserts, bazaars and forts of Rajasthan. A land where massive hilltop fortresses loom over cities and where locals dressed in the brightest shades of scarlet, gold and rose. Take time out to experience the local traditions of remote villages. From the whirlwind of heady Delhi, to a journey through Rajasthan promises to be a remarkable voyage. You will cruise on reflective lakes alongside the graceful City Palace complex of Udaipur, and traverse the inspiring ramparts of Mehrangarh Fortress. From delicate temples to emotional hymns, endless protectorate walls to glistening ancient frescoes, you will find more than just palaces and fortresses in Rajasthan, you will find culture and the quintessence of this colorful state of Rajasthan.

NOTE: In the event the tour dates coincide with any local fairs and festivals, tour itinerary will be adjusted to give participants extra opportunity and to enhance the visit. Born of age-old traditions, these festivals adorn the land with innumerable hues. The year long festive fervor and cattle marts turn into delightful fairs. Each region has its own form of folk entertainment, tradition and celebration, a diverse showcase of rhythm, flavors, art, jest and passion attracting travelers worldwide.

Some of Rajasthan’s most popular festivals and fairs are: Pushkar Fair, Desert Festival, Nagaur, Shekhawati, Gangaur, Mewar, Teej and Marwar. Having attained international fame, they are not to be missed.

Other Small Group Escorted Tour Options:

1. Golden Triangle Tour- 6 days. 2. Highlights of India Tour- 9 days . 3. Exotic North India Tour – 15 days.

4. Mystical Southern India Tour-14 days. 5. Treasures of North & South India Tour -15 days . 6. Big 7 India Wildlife Safari-16 days

7. Incredible India Tour – 22 days.

Your India tour `Royal Rajasthan’ begins:

DAY 1 (SAT) – ARRIVE DELHI

Arrive in Delhi, India’s bustling capital city, where you will be greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to your hotel. New Delhi reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the segregation between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The rest of the day is at your leisure to adjust to the time difference. Enjoy a festive Welcome Dinner in the evening. HOTEL (D)

DAY 2 (SUN) – DELHI TOURING

Today’s tour of Old and New Delhi begins with visiting the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial at Raj Ghat; and the famous Chandani Chowk bazaars, once the shopping arcade of Mughal royalty. Then, take a rickshaw ride through the narrow and colorful lanes of the old market. Finally, visit marble domes and slender minarets of the Jama Masjid. After lunch, explore the sites of New Delhi: visit Bangla Sahib, a Sikh temple, and drive along Rajpath to photograph the Parliament House, President’s Palace and India Gate, a memorial to India’s soldiers. Continue to Humayun’s tomb, forerunner to Taj Mahal. Your final stop is at the Qutab Minar, the Iron Pillar and ruins of Hindu temples destroyed during the Qutabshahi period. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 3(MON) – DELHI / JAIPUR

Your time is free in Delhi to explore the city on your own. Late afternoon, fly to Jaipur, which owes its name, foundations and careful planning to the great warrior and astronomer, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. You will be greeted upon arrival and assisted with your transfer to your hotel. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 4 (TUE) – AMBER FORT & CITY TOUR

Explore the ancient capital of Amber, ascending the Palace Fortress on the back of a gaily-caparisoned elephant, and tour the intricate chambers and hallway. En route to Amber, you’ll stop to photograph the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), built in 1799 A.D. After lunch, tour the City Palace, once the formal residence of the royal family, built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Continue to the Jantar Mantar, the largest of Jai Singh’s five remarkable, stone observatories.

Optional: Dinner at a traditional Rajasthani Haveli (mansion). Meet with three generations of the Rajput family living together and learn about their customs and life.

HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 5 (WED) ̶ JAIPUR / MANDAWA / SHEKHAWATI

After breakfast, travel overland to Mandawa, stopping en route at villages to learn about and photograph rural life in India. Arriving in Mandawa, check in your heritage hotel, an architectural marvel displaying a harmony of Rajput and European architecture. Owned and operated by the descendants of the royal family, you may have an opportunity to meet with them and see their rich collection of traditional ceremonial costumes and precious arms with jade handles. This evening, take a walking tour of the town bazaar or relax by the pool. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 6 (THU) ̶ SHEKHAWATI- Frescoe Paintings

Often called the “open air art gallery of Rajasthan,” the land of Shekha owes its name to Rao Shekha, who ruled this area for 43 years. The earliest surviving examples of the Shekhawati Frescoes date to 1750. Most of the frescoes have been executed on the Haveli’s (mansions), cenotaphs, walls, forts and temples.

Optional tour: Camel ride on the sand dunes. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 7 (FRI) ̶ MANDAWA / BIKANER

Travel overland to Bikaner, a former princely state, established in 1488 by Bika, a Rathore prince. Bikaner retains the medieval grandeur that permeates the city’s lifestyle. Tour the magnificent forts and palaces, created with delicacy in reddish-pink sandstone, bearing testimony to its rich historical and architectural legacy. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 8 (SAT) ̶ BIKANER / JAISALMER

Embark on a game drive to look for antelopes like black buck, nilgai, chinkaras and wild boar. Travel overland to the barren plains of Rajasthan, the Thar desert, to reach the gigantic living fort of Jaisalmer. Ethereally rising out of the sand are several intricately carved havelis (small palaces or mansions owned by nobles and rich merchants). On arrival, check in to your hotel. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 9 (SUN ̶ JAISALMER

After breakfast, take a city tour of this magical town. This old city was once surrounded by an extensive wall, much of which has been torn down, but imposing portions remain. Visit the sandstone havelis, many still in beautiful condition. Later, visit some finely-carved Jain temples and walk around the fort. Your afternoon is free to explore the town on your own.

Optional: Camel ride to the sand dunes for sunset. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 10 (MON) ̶ JAISALMER / JODHPUR

Travel by road to Jodhpur. Along the way, visit villages, small markets, farms and even a farmhouse to observe and photograph rural life. Arrive in Jodhpur, a city dominated by its massive fort atop a sheer rocky hill in the middle of the town. After checking into your hotel, perhaps take a walking tour of the blue city on your own. HOTEL (B, D)

DAY 11 (TUE) ̶ JODHPUR

After breakfast, visit the Mehrangarh Fort, which Kipling called one of the grandest sights in India. From the courtyard, view the fantastic jali (lattice) work that almost entirely covers the sandstone walls and balconies. Explore the beautifully-decorated dancing hall, the royal bedroom, jewel-studded robes, ornate baby cradles, solid silver elephant seats and palanquins. A short distance from the fort, visit the royal cenotaphs at Jaswant Thada,white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Your afternoon is free to explore the town market and the chance to photograph the camel caravans and sunset. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 12 (WED) ̶ JODHPUR / ROHETGARH / KUMBALGARH

Travel to Kumbhalgarh, stopping en route to visit a unique Bishnoi village; the community’s residents practice a religion dedicated to Mother Nature. Continue to Kumbhalgarh, whose inaccessible topography in the Aravali ranges lends a sense of invincibility to its namesake fort. Built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, the fort served the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of strife. HOTEL (B, L)

Day 13 (THU) ̶ KUMBHALGARH / RANAKPUR / UDAIPUR

Rise early for a pre-breakfast safari to view the wildlife surrounding the old fort; perhaps you’ll encounter a panther, sloth bear, wild boar or a four-horned antelope and some crocodile. After breakfast, travel to Ranakpur,site of the fabulous 500-year-old Jain Temples. The temples are superbly preserved in near-perfect condition. The most distinctive features are the 29 halls of the main temple, dissected by 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique designs. After lunch, continue to Udaipur, known as the “Venice of the East.” It’s a fairy tale collection of exotic gardens, mirror-calm lakes and fantasy island palaces. HOTEL (B, L)

Day 14 (FRI) ̶ UDAIPUR City Tour

Your city tour of Udaipur visits the City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Towering over the lake, the palace is actually a conglomeration of buildings added by various Maharana’s, yet it manages to retain a surprising uniformity. Saheliyon-ki-Bari, where the women of the royal household would meet, is a welcome retreat with its fountains, kiosks, marble elephants and delightful lotus pool. You’ll also visit the Folklore Museum and a school where young students are taught the age-old art of miniature painting. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to rest or explore the city on your own. This evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Lake Palace. HOTEL (B, D)

DAY 15 (SAT) ̶ UDAIPUR / DELHI

Spend your day as you please ̶ explore and photograph the local markets and camel caravans, or shop for precious local handicrafts of Rajasthan. This evening, fly to Delhi and overnight at a hotel near the airport. HOTEL (B, L)

DAY 16 (SUN) ̶ DELHI / DEPART

Your time is free until your international flight. Or, extend your stay in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.

LAND TOUR PRICES:

GROUP TOUR PRICES – Guaranteed departures- Max 16			PRIVATE TOUR OPTION
VALIDITY	Per person Sharing	Single Supp.	3- Triple share	2- Double share	1- Solo Traveler	Single. Supp.
Apr. to Sep. 2021	N/A	N/A	$2,798.00	$2,930.00	$5,270.00	$670.00
Oct. 2021 – Mar. 2022	$3,285.00	$1,095.00	$3,275.00	$3,785.00	$6,287.00	$1,095.00