Classic India Itinerary

Upon your arrival, one of our airport representatives will meet you at the Aerobridge and assist you with Immigration and Customs formalities. In the arrivals hall, you will be met by one of our colleagues, who will escort you to your vehicle and on to your hotel.

This morning, you visit Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century, the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India. The gardens and fountains here have recently been restored to their original splendor. The design of the Taj Mahal is actually based on this mausoleum.

Later, you will visit the golden-domed Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent temples of the followers of the Sikh religion. Here, you will witness the community kitchen, where volunteers prepare bread and curry to help feed the underprivileged.

Following breakfast at your hotel this morning, meet your private driver in the hotel lobby for your transfer to Agra.

Upon arrival, you will visit Agra Fort, the impressive walled city dating back to the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Continue with a walking tour of the Old City, where you will discover traditional trades and crafts whose origins can be traced to the Mughal Empire.

After checking in to your hotel and taking time to freshen up, your afternoon continues with a visit to the majestic Taj Mahal, a timeless symbol of devotion and one of the greatest masterpieces of Mughal architecture. Your visit is perfectly timed to coincide with sunset, when the marble monument glows in soft hues.

Later this evening, an optional session with a Hindu astrologer can be arranged, offering insight into your past, present, or future.

To allow for full optics of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a quick return to the Taj Mahal this morning is scheduled for sunrise. After breakfast at the hotel, you embark on a five-hour private transfer to Jaipur, home to the warrior clans who ruled India for many years. On the way, you stop to learn about the history of the small city of Fatehpur Sikri as well as the heritage of the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Bharatpur. Reaching Jaipur by early evening, you will immediately see why it is referred to as the Pink City, as you are greeted by the sandstone buildings that rise at every turn.

This morning, you visit the sprawling City Palace, which is a blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture. The former royal family still lives in part of the palace. You will also take a private tour of the residential areas of the City Palace not open to the general public. From there, you enter the extraordinary Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh. Later, you may stop to take pictures at the Hawa Mahal, an icon of the city with its ornate pink façade.

Today, lunch will be organized at Niroa restaurant, after which you will take a walk through the bazaars of the Old City, interacting with the traditional tradespeople. These bazaars are aromatic, colorful and chaotic, offering everything from the famous Jaipur “minakari” jewelry to simple household goods. Your vehicle will remain at your disposal throughout the day, should you wish to take in a Bollywood film at the spectacular Rajmandir Cinema.

In the morning, you will visit the fort-palace at Amber, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by the excellent Anokhi Museum, which chronicles the regeneration of hand block printing techniques in Rajasthan using traditional methods. Your guide and driver will then take you shopping for the rest of the day, with the glittering, traditional markets of Jaipur at your disposal. The artwork and textiles in Jaipur are world-renowned.

In the evening, you will receive instruction on how to tie and wear a sari, the typical and colorful attire of Indian women. You will also have the opportunity to be given “art in your hands” – traditional henna designs applied to your palms.

After an early breakfast, you will take a short flight to Udaipur, known as the City of Sunrise, often described as the most romantic city in India, built around four man-made lakes. A guided tour of the Old City is first on the agenda, where you will experience the flavor of the lives of people in small-town India. You will see the folk art decorating the walls of the houses and admire the craftsmanship of tradespeople, before visiting the home of a priest, where you will witness the art of “painting on water.” After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Sightseeing starts this morning at the City Palace, really a series of four interconnecting palaces, illustrative of various architectural styles across three centuries. It features a blend of Rajput military architecture on the outside and lavish Mughal-inspired decorative art on the inside. You then walk through the Crystal Gallery, which has an eclectic collection of crystal objet d’art and furniture, including a complete bedroom set, discovered recently in a storeroom in the palace.

Later, you will visit the Jagdish temple, an example of the Indo-Aryan style of architecture, which enshrines a black stone image of Lord Vishnu. Chanting, the ringing of bells and music can be heard throughout the day. Another landmark today includes the Vintage and Classic Car Collection of the Palace of Udaipur, with its collection of Rolls-Royces, Cadillac convertibles and customized Jeeps. The afternoon is free for shopping or for an optional visit to the Mewar School of Art to learn about the ancient art of miniature paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Dinner this evening is a unique culinary experience conducted by a noble family whose secret recipes have been passed down through generations. The Bedla family has played host to Queen Elizabeth II, Jacqueline Kennedy and Jawaharlal Nehru.

After breakfast, a 45-minute drive will see you in the Delwara region of Rajasthan, which houses the beautiful temple complexes of Nagda and Eklingji. These contain elaborately carved 10th-century temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A visit to the 8th-century Eklingji temple is next, followed by a drive to the village of Molela. This is home to Maru potters who make an assortment of hand-modeled votive plaques and idols made of clay and rice husks.

After lunch, you will head to Udaipur airport for a short flight to Mumbai, India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve center, home of the Bollywood film industry. No city highlights the glaring contrasts between the wealthy and the poor or the indomitable spirit to succeed as Mumbai does. Our guide will escort you to your hotel.

A tour at dawn pays homage to the people of Mumbai and venerates all those who go about their business obstinately with one purpose – a better life. Breakfast will be served en route at a local restaurant. At the start of this tour, you will find yourself at the clamorous and chaotic docks, understanding the life and times of the Koli fisher-folk, the original inhabitants of Mumbai. You will see thousands of illiterate vendors sorting newspapers printed in seven different languages in the middle of the street. You will come to understand the logistics of the food distribution in the city as milkmen ride past you on bicycles with aluminum milk canisters, bakers rush to deliver freshly baked bread and vendors procure meat, fruits and vegetables for the markets. The tour will end with a walk across a cricket ground, where you will learn about the game that has captured the hearts of billions. The rest of the day can be spent exploring as you wish.

Later, you are joined by one of Mumbai’s local foodies for a tour of the street food, joining hundreds of people as they flock to the street vendors and cafes. You explore a Khau Gully or “eating lane” (Mumbai has several), an Irani Café, the Girgaon Chowpatty beach, and Kulfi Centre for Indian ice cream. If time permits, we will take you to Babulnath Dosa – a very typical Mumbai food experience.

Today’s Mumbai tour touches on all five senses: (1) See the highlights of Colonial Mumbai as you walk through the old Fort area with its stunning colonial and Neo-Gothic architecture, covering major landmarks such as the Gateway of India, Victoria Terminus, the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Royal Bombay Yacht Club. (2) Hear Bollywood music with a 30-minute Bollywood dance workshop arranged exclusively for you. (3) Taste a typical meal from the coastal belt of India at a popular seafood restaurant. The Konkan cuisine features amazing seafood and is known for its pepper crabs and coconut-based curries. (4) Smell the heady aroma of spices as you walk through the Spice Market of Mumbai. Your guide will point out the various spices and tell you about their therapeutic properties. (5) Touch the lives of the less fortunate and spend some time with the local children.

Today, we make our way to the airport for your return flight home.