Romantic Rajasthan, Land of Princes
India: Rajasthan Private Journey
Overview
Rajasthan is an exotic land best described by its colors—the brilliant reds and bold yellows of tribal costumes, the soft pinks of ancient palaces, the muted tawny browns of vast deserts. On this Private Journey, explore with your own private guides in the ancient cities of Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaipur, with their ornate palaces of marble and onyx, and journey back in time at Fatehpur Sikri, the fabulously preserved ruin of a Mughal capital. Your journey ends in Agra, where you watch the golden morning light of sunrise fall across the legendary Taj Mahal, “an emperor's love wrought in living stones.” Among the travel extensions we offer are a visit to the golden city of Jaisalmer, and to South India's enchanting tropical Kerala to travel by private houseboat and visit the ancient trading port of Kochi (formerly Cochin), with its stunning location on the Arabian Sea.
Arrive: Delhi, India
Depart: Delhi, India
Highlights
- The walled city of Jodhpur, with its extravagant palaces
- Udaipur, one of the world's most romantic cities, in a lakeside setting
- Sunrise and sunset at the celebrated Taj Mahal
Itinerary
Ride through Delhi's India Gate for views of the majestic imperial buildings of the old British-built capital, and explore 16th century Humayan's Tomb, a superb example of early Mughal architecture. Visit Raj Ghat, last resting place of the father of modern India, Mahatma Gandhi.
India's desert province is an exotic land best described by its colors—the brilliant reds and bold yellows of tribal costumes, the soft pinks of ancient palaces, the tawny browns of vast deserts. Savor the vibrancy of Rajasthan on a princely scale in the walled city of Jodhpur, known as “the blue city” for the hues of its Old Town houses. Jodhpur's roofscape, viewed at sunset with its desert surroundings, is a photographer's dream. Continue to romantic Udaipur, with its skyline of whitewashed mansions and the domes of the famous Rajput city palace reflected in shimmering Lake Pichola. (Our optional mid-trip extension to Jaisalmer begins on Day 3 and is followed by Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal.)
A walled city of pink stone, Jaipur is a showcase of Rajasthani architecture full of exuberant 18th and 19th century palaces, including the City Palace, with its elaborate frescoes, mirror work, painted ceilings, and grandiose halls for both public and private audiences. The bazaars of Jaipur's Old Town are some of the most vibrant in all India, renowned for hand-dyed textiles, embroidery, and precious stones.
After exploring the haunting red sandstone ruins of the remote Mughal capital at Fatehpur Sikri, arrive in Agra in time to watch the golden sunset illuminate the legendary Taj Mahal, an exquisite white marble palace set on the east banks of the Yamuna River. It has been called “an emperor's love wrought in living stones.”
Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, return to Delhi and depart in the late evening.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 1+, Easy to Moderate. It is a comfortable, vehicle-based sightseeing trip. Note: Please remember that travel in India can be an adventure. The essential requirements are flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity, enthusiasm about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.
Review Trip Level Details
Like the rest of India, Rajasthan has four seasons:
- January to March, Min Temp 50°F, Max Temp 80°F, 0.15 to .02 inches of rain: In Winter Season, temperatures vary widely around the state of Rajasthan but this is an ideal season for travel. January is the coolest month of the year. There is slight precipitation in the north and northeastern region and light winds, predominantly from the north and northeast. At this time, relative humidity ranges from 50% to 60% in the morning to 25% to 35% in the afternoon.
- April to June, Min Temp 75°F, Max Temp 105°F, 0.4 to 1.18 inches of rain (not recommended for travel): This is Pre-Monsoon, the hottest season, particularly in May and June. In the desert regions, the temperatures drops at night. Prevailing winds are from the west and sometimes carry dust storms called andhi.
- July to September, Min Temp 70°F, Max Temp 95°F, 4 to 6.5 inches of rain (not recommended for travel): This the Monsoon Season, when 90% of the annual rains come. While the temperatures are only slightly lower than Pre-Monsoon, there is very high humidity.
- October to December, Min Temp 55°F, Max Temp 85°F, 0.11 to 0.31 inches of rain: Post-Monsoon is also a very comfortable season for travel.
Accommodations include comfortable, modern hotels reflecting the traditional architecture of Rajasthan as well as former palaces and royal residences that have been converted into luxurious heritage hotels.
Client Testimonials
"The balance between the sightseeing and relaxing at fabulous hotels was perfect."
Hillary R.
Oakton, VA
"It was the trip of a lifetime! I’m still trying to process all that we saw and experienced!"
Joan B.
Bend, OR
"WT took care of us from the time we arrived to our departure and was always there, taking care of logistics and allowing us to enjoy India on our own and through our daily guides."
John and Mary P.
Fairfax, VA
"Everything went like clockwork. We were very impressed with our guides and accommodations, and with how well things were coordinated."
Rhonda K.
Fargo, ND
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
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- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.