Royal Rajasthan & Varanasi

Your Indian adventure begins today with a private flight to Delhi, where you'll be greeted with a warm welcome to India early tomorrow morning! Upon arrival, you'll be met at the airport by a member of staff and transferred to your hotel, where you can relax and recover from your journey.

Like Sleeping Beauty, the former trading posts along the old caravan route from east to west appear untouched. The small desert towns of the Shekhawati region are particularly captivating thanks to their magnificent, almost princely havelis, which reflect the wealth of the merchants who once resided here. The colorful and intricately detailed murals in the havelis of Mandawa tell stories from the daily life, mythology, and religion of the former inhabitants, while some interiors also offer glimpses into the often tradition-bound business and family structures. A camel ride at sunset allows you to experience the romantic atmosphere of the desert landscape from a unique perspective. (1 overnight stay in Mandawa).

Nawalgarh is another prime example of the once-prosperous trading posts in the Shekhawati region, offering insights into both the past and present-day rural India. Rajasthan's capital, Jaipur, is a blend of history and modernity, where countless cars, tuk-tuks, and motorcycles, alongside bicycle rickshaws, camel carts, and elephants, navigate the streets and squares, weaving their way through daily life past historic buildings, colorful market stalls, and shops. The impressive Indo-Saracenic architecture of the Albert Hall Museum is a popular subject for photographs. A special way to end the day is with the evening ceremony at the gleaming white Birla Temple, which is brightly illuminated after nightfall and offers a truly unique sight with the Moti Dungri fortress rising above it on a hill.

Morning light illuminates the famous Palace of Winds, Hawa Mahal, with its countless windows and bay windows, making it one of Jaipur's most beautiful photo opportunities. The golden Amber Fort, with its magnificent palaces and halls, offers royal splendor. From its elevated hilltop location just outside Jaipur, you can admire the surrounding hills and the Maotha Lake below. A jeep takes you up, but not before a photo stop at the Heera Panna Kund stepwell with its perfectly symmetrical staircase. On the way back to the Pink City, don't forget to capture the romantic view of the Jal Mahal Water Palace from the shore before visiting a textile house to learn how to tie a traditional sari and turban. The Jantar Mantar, the largest stone observatory in the world, testifies to profound astronomical knowledge that remains valid to this day. A stroll through the old city, past historic buildings and lively bazaars, is a perfect way to end the day.

Every additional day spent in the Pink City feels like a gift, for there is so much to see and do! The magnificent City Palace, in the heart of the Pink City, is still partially inhabited by the descendants of the former Raja. A hidden architectural gem is the Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan complex, where small, temple-like cenotaphs were erected at the cremation sites to commemorate deceased members of the royal family. Mighty and seemingly impregnable, Jaigarh Fort stands as a protective fortress above Amber Fort – breathtaking views of the palace complex and the surrounding landscape are the reward for its rare visitors.

The Patrician Gate is a unique work of art and provides a colorful final impression of Jaipur's architecture. Few other Indian regions offer as diverse natural landscapes as Rajasthan. In Ramthambore National Park, you even have the chance to come face to face with a tiger, as the dense forests provide a protected habitat for these endangered animals. In the small town of Sawai Madhopur, bordering the nature reserve, you can stroll through a typical vegetable market in the afternoon: marvel at the variety of different fruits and vegetables attractively displayed by the vendors, experience the buying and selling process, and immerse yourself in rural life.

Twice today you'll set out to follow in the footsteps of the king of the jungle – you'll be picked up from your hotel early this morning and depart for your first shared safari in Ranthambore National Park. Keep your eyes peeled, as numerous animal and bird species may cross your path in the early morning light. In the afternoon, another shared safari offers further opportunities to immerse yourself in this unique natural landscape and observe its inhabitants in a different kind of daylight.

Once, the Maharajas of Bharatpur hunted ducks here; today, in Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the most beautiful bird sanctuaries, you can go on a camera-filled safari and follow the tracks of more than 360 bird species that have found a home here or spend the winter. A rickshaw ride through the wonderful forest and lake landscape offers an almost barrier-free nature experience. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar as a new capital and a tolerant center of various religions and cultures, but water scarcity and poor planning soon led to its abandonment. The almost completely preserved buildings allow you to immerse yourself in the spirit of that era. In Agra, numerous architectural treasures also bear witness to the flourishing and power of the former capital. At sunset, the view of the Taj Mahal rising majestically above the Yamuna River from the opposite Mehtab Bagh garden is a crowning finale to the day.

The legendary Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays) rises majestically above the sacred Yamuna River and, like few other monuments, is considered a symbol of all India. It is said to possess a unique charm at every time of day and in every kind of weather. But at sunrise, a truly special magic unfolds, when the white marble and countless semi-precious stones captivate you in the light of the dawning day. However, its builder, Shah Jahan, could only enjoy this view from afar in his later years, from his private prison in the mighty Agra Fort – also known as the Red Fort of Agra, the fortress that served as the center of power for several generations of the Mughal Empire. In the afternoon, a cooking demonstration with a local family will introduce you to the diverse world of spices in Indian cuisine and offer an opportunity to chat with your hosts. You will arrive in the holy city of Varanasi practically in your sleep tonight: Experience one of the most popular ways to travel in India on the night train! (1 overnight stay on the train).

Ancient, labyrinthine, and bustling, the holy city of Varanasi presents itself at first glance. It is said that whoever dies in Varanasi escapes the eternal cycle of life and death. Every day, countless pilgrims from all over India and the rest of the world gather at the approximately 90 ghats, temples, and shrines along the banks of the holy Ganges River to cleanse themselves of sins in its waters and perform religious rituals. A rickshaw ride to the evening prayer ceremony, Aarti, on the banks of the Ganges offers a first glimpse. The spiritual bond that the priests weave each evening with their chants and the flames of countless oil lamps is almost palpable, as the light reflects in the night-dark water and thousands of worshippers follow the proceedings from the banks and from boats on the river.

Mystical and timeless, the day unfolds at sunrise along the ghats in Varanasi. The sounds of a sitar underscore the intensity of the unforgettable impressions of the morning rituals between birth and death, which you will gather during a boat trip (depending on the water level) on the river. An excursion to Sarnath takes you to the birthplace of Buddhism: here, after his enlightenment, Buddha delivered his first sermon.

One of the tallest tower structures in the Islamic world awaits you upon your return flight to Delhi. Built as a victory and watchtower, as well as a minaret, in the early 13th century after the Muslim conquest of the city, the Qutb Minar reaches a height of over 72 meters. The adjacent remains of Delhi's oldest mosque, along with several other buildings, attest to the early Muslim influence on art and architecture.

The capital city of Delhi is a melting pot of diverse Indian cultures, creating a fascinating blend of ancient traditions and modern life. The Red Fort exudes an aura of worldly power and strength, even from the outside, while the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, which can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers, testifies to divine power. The bustling activity in the alleyways of the old city leads you into an overwhelming array of traditional handicrafts and modern everyday objects, colorful clothing, and a diverse array of aromas from spices, tea, and street food to satisfy every appetite, before you continue on to India Gate, erected in memory of those who fell in World War I, and through the government district. A final stroll through the Lodhi Gardens allows you to explore not only the enchanting green parkland but also some of Delhi's oldest tombs.

Depending on your departure time, you will be picked up from your hotel today and taken to the airport, from where you will begin your flight home with many new impressions. We wish you a pleasant journey home and hope to welcome you back to India soon.