The magic of Rajasthan

Today you set off on your India adventure, flying individually to Delhi, where early the next morning you'll be greeted with: Namaste and a warm welcome to India! After you land, a member of staff will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, where you can first relax and recover from your journey.

The capital metropolis of Delhi is a melting pot of India's many different cultures, producing a fascinating blend of age-old traditions and modern life. An aura of worldly power and strength radiates from the Red Fort even from the outside, while the Jama Masjid — India's largest mosque, inviting up to 20,000 worshippers to pray together — bears witness to divine power. The bustling energy of the old town's lanes leads you to an overwhelming array of traditional craftsmanship and modern everyday items, colourful clothing and the many aromas of spices, tea and street food for every appetite, before you continue on to India Gate, built in memory of those who fell in the First World War, and drive through the government quarter. The Sikh religion then welcomes you at its largest temple in Delhi, the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. On a final stroll through the Lodhi Garden, you explore the enchanting green parkland as well as some of Delhi's oldest tombs.

The savannah landscape and open woodland of Sariska National Park give a protected home to numerous animal species. The shared jeep safari (up to 6 people) in the afternoon carries you into the special atmosphere of the fading day — with a keen eye, you may even spot a tiger or leopard, sambar deer or nilgai antelope. Numerous monkeys and peacocks are certain to cross your path.

Rajasthan's capital, Jaipur, is shaped by history and modernity, where countless cars, tuk-tuks and motorbikes share the streets and squares with cycle rickshaws, camel carts and elephants, weaving past historic buildings, colourful market stalls and shops in the flow of everyday life. A stroll through the old town takes you deep into the general bustle of the bazaars and craft quarters. A particularly special close to the day is the evening ceremony at the brilliant white Birla Temple, which is brightly illuminated after dark and, together with the Moti Dungri fortress rising on a hill above it, offers a truly special sight.

Royal splendour awaits at the golden-yellow Amber Fort with its magnificent palaces and halls, from whose lofty hilltop position just outside Jaipur you look out over the surrounding hills and Maotha Lake below. The Jantar Mantar, the largest stone observatory on Earth, bears witness to sound scientific knowledge that still holds true today, while the splendid City Palace at the heart of the Pink City is still partly inhabited by the descendants of the former Raja. The famous Palace of the Winds, Hawa Mahal, with its countless windows and balconies, is one of India's best-known photo subjects and once served as a special vantage point for the ladies of the court to watch parades and processions on the street below unseen. Don't miss a rickshaw ride through the city's bustling streets and bazaars to round off the day.

Hardly any other Indian region has as much varied natural scenery to offer as Rajasthan. In Ranthambhore National Park you even have the chance to look a tiger in the eye, as the dense forests give these endangered animals a protected home. Ranthambhore Fort offers a first breathtaking view — the remains of the once-mighty stronghold sit prominently on a 200-metre-high hill in the middle of the nature reserve.

Today you set out twice to follow the tracks of the king of the jungle — early in the morning you are picked up at the hotel and depart for the first shared safari (jeep [up to 6 people] or canter/open safari bus [up to 20 people], depending on availability) in Ranthambore National Park. In the light of the early day, numerous animal and bird species may cross your path. In the afternoon, a further shared safari (jeep [up to 6 people] or canter/open safari bus [up to 20 people], depending on availability) offers another chance to observe this unique natural landscape and its inhabitants in a different light.

Tranquillity and wonderful natural scenery make Dholpur an insider's tip, its chequered history reaching far back into the Middle Ages. Off the usual tourist routes, you'll find above all glimpses of rural life in India here, while the nearby Chambal River forms an almost unknown nature reserve. You stay in princely style at the Heritage Hotel Raj Niwas Palace — in this former palace amid an enchanting garden, you immerse yourself in the historic atmosphere of a bygone era.

Almost unnoticed, the Chambal Nature Reserve lies away from the usual tourist flow — this hidden natural gem offers a protected habitat not only to turtles and numerous bird species but also to endangered animals such as the gharial and the Ganges river dolphin. A boat safari (water levels permitting) carries you into the almost mythical atmosphere of the early day, often wrapped in morning mist. Shergarh Fort bears witness to the region's chequered history, while the Chobra Mahadev Temple and the Machkund Temple carry you into the Hindu religion. The picturesque Talab-e-Shahi Palace, with its surrounding lake a little outside Dholpur, was once a hunting lodge of Shah Jahan — the very builder of the enchanting Taj Mahal. Today it is a paradise for birdwatchers.

The legendary Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays) rises in radiant beauty above the sacred Yamuna River and is regarded, like almost no other monument, as the symbol of all India. At every hour of the day and in every weather, it reveals its own particular charm. The imposing Agra Fort, also known as the Red Fort of Agra, tells of the power of former rulers. You can experience Delhi's ultra-modern side on a final stroll through one of its popular shopping malls, after which a hotel room near the airport is available to you, where you can rest and freshen up a little more before rounding off your trip with a farewell dinner. From Delhi's international airport you take your return flight home after midnight. We wish you a pleasant flight home and hope to welcome you back as our guest again soon.

Departure from Delhi to your home destination, after midnight or in the early hours of the next morning depending on the airline.