Itinerary Highlights
  • Experience the sensory wonders of Delhi and tour the city by rickshaw

  • Visit Bagru in Rajasthan and learn about the region’s textile printing tradition

  • Take a private tour of the Amber Palace in Jaipur, renowned for its artistic design

  • Soak up India’s distinctive culture and intriguing history, which is bound to entice the whole family

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YOUR TRIP

Start in Delhi, with its wonderful chaotic atmosphere of zigzagging motorcycles, cows and rickshaws carrying customers in a hurry. There are Jain temples, with altars lined with flowers and incense offerings, and mosques packed with pilgrims, men, women and children. It is also a 21st-century city, with hipster neighbourhoods from Haus Kas Village to Shapur Jat, invested in by Indian or New York designers and where street art covers the facades. Take a train to Agra and you'll feel like you've entered another world. Although this is still India, it has obvious Persian influences; the Taj Mahal, a sublime testimony of a man's devotion to his deceased wife, dazzles with its splendour and impresses even the least architecturally-aware teenagers. In Jaipur, the Pink City,
you'll find that everything moves in joyful disorder - cows, rickshaws, mopeds and camels. Visit the most unusual facade in the country at the Palace if Winds in Jaipur, with its 953 extravagantly-ornate windows. Next is Jodhpur and its maze of small houses in stunning shades of blues.



APPRENTICE MAHARAJAS

The family is a fundamental pillar of Indian society. Take in all of the wonderful sights, smells and sounds of chaotic and charismatic India. Far away from the comforts of everyday life, this country's distinctive culture is best enjoyed by slightly older children who can appreciate the beauty in the chaos. To make the most of your visit, we've tailor-made every part of your trip so that you have activities, time to yourself, and plenty of opportunities to learn about the history and culture of this country. In Delhi, you'll ride on a rickshaw through the old town and explore trendy Hauz Khas. In Agra, stroll through the gardens of Mehtab Bagh at sunset and visit the Taj Mahal in the early morning. In Jaipur, it's cycling in the morning and the movies in the evening. And in the meantime, a quick introduction to textile printing. After discovering the Amber Palace, you will explore the Old Town of Jodphur and then pop into the workshop of one of the latest truck painters. Your journeys are by train, a journey within the journey from Delhi to Agra, then by private car with a driver. The tours are private and accompanied by the guides. Finally, throughout the journey you have the Original Travel addresses you need stored in your smartphone app, as well as the contact details of our local Concierge who can be reached at any time.

Route

Everything is 100% tailored to you
DAY 1

Flight to Delhi

Welcome at the airport. Private transfer to southern New Delhi residential areas and two nights' accommodation in a cosy guesthouse run by a young English woman who is in love with India. Four trendy, bohemian rooms make up the core of this large house, designed as a place to live and share. It's fairly European in design with some well-chosen Indian art giving a local twist. We love the large terrace and the canopy that overlooks the main, cosy living room.

DAY 2

Delhi

Included in the itinerary - A private visit of Old Delhi by rickshaw , a real institution in India. Old Delhi represents the traditional, fashionable, teeming face of the Indian Union's capital. alleyways criss-crossed by motorcycles, cows, oxcarts and zigzagging rickshaws. See the Jama Masjid, a large mosque with red sandstone cladding, from the Mughal period. The same is true of Chandni Chowk, the 'moonlight market', tangles of katras, side-streets covered with bazaars, crowded with stalls on the ground - a profusion exotic sights, smells and sounds. Also planned is a private tour of the Hauz Klas neighbourhood, an arty and trendy village, with rooftop bars and designer boutiques.

Optional - A food-focused walk based on a street food theme - a laughing yoga session, confusing - the closing ceremony at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple, Delhi's largest Sikh temple.

DAY 3

Delhi Agra

Private transfer to the station and express train to Agra. Meet your private driver for the rest of the trip and enjoy overnight accommodation in the heart of the medieval town of Agra, in the only colonial-era building converted into a hotel. The place has not lost the grandeur and charm of yesteryear; from the roof terrace, you can easily see the white dome of the Taj Mahal. The large outdoor pool surrounded by beautiful gardens calls out to you to lounge beside it.

Included in the itinerary - A walk through Agra, for a great introduction to the city and a dive into everyday life. Also planned: your tickets to the gardens of Mehtab Bagh. These 'moonlight gardens' are located on the Yamuna River opposite the Taj Mahal. They are perfectly aligned with the monument and offer a privileged view, especially at sunset. When the waters of the river are high, the mausoleum is reflected in all its glory.

Optional - A private Agra Red Fort tour. This impressive military and palatial complex is perhaps to the Taj Mahal what politics is to mysticism, a guardhouse.

DAY 4

Agra - Jaipur

Included in the itinerary - A private tour of the Taj Mahal. It is at sunrise and sunset that the white marble building reveals all its splendour. Next, drive to Jaipur.

Optional - A stop in the imperial city of Fatehpur Sikri.

Three-nights' accommodation in an elegant downtown haveli, protected from the hustle and bustle of the city by a carefully tended garden.

Scheduled for you - An evening at the Raj Mandir cinema. The building's architecture is reminiscent of American Art Deco buildings of the 1950s.

DAY 5

Jaipur

Included in the itinerary - A morning to explore Jaipur by bike, for a completely different view of the sites and monuments of the Pink City. The planned city of Jaipur is also known as the Pink City, Although different to the chaos of other Indian cities, it is still full of character. The city has been pink since the 19th century when Maharajah Ram Sing II painted the walls pink, a symbol of welcome for the occasion of a visit by the Prince of Wales. He never came, but the pink remained. In the afternoon, you will take part in an introduction to block printing in Bagru, about 19 miles from Jaipur. Recognised for its art, the city has become one of the major areas for textile printing in Rajasthan. Learn about the preparation of fabrics and dyes; manufacturing of the blocks; and printing, drying and rinsing. Block printing is a true art here, started in the 12th century by the Chhipa community.

Optional - A traditional Kathak dance class.

DAY 6

Jaipur

Included in the itinerary - A private tour of Amber Palace, where elephants are painted with saffron yellow on their cheeks, emerald green on their forehead and deep blue on their toenails to be paraded to the large stable yard. Built in the late 16th century above Lake Maota (in the centre of which is a lovely garden), this ample Hindu-style fortress is exceptional in its delicate artwork. Examples include the splendid Sheesh Mahal, the Mirror Palace, and the subtle marble bas-relief of the Magic Flower. Walk to the local market at the end of the morning.

Optional - A cricket match accompanied by a team of experienced players.

DAY 7

Jaipur Jodhpur

Road to Jodhpur. Accommodation for two nights away from the historic centre in an old house converted into a peaceful hotel. The rooms are particularly spacious, and the perfectly maintained garden and its pool are ideal for relaxing or taking a swim at the end of the day.

Optional - Private evening tour of Fort Mehrangarh, followed by a traditional dinner.

DAY 8

Jodhpur

Included in the itinerary - Private visit to Jodhpur, founded in the 15th century on the edge of the Thar desert. The maze of small alleyways, shades of blue from turquoise to indigo, and the bazaar of the old city which sells saris, spices, and piles of grain, are dominated by Mehrangarh, a sandstone fortress set at the top of the city, with its fresh-looking marble, delicate Persian motifs and sparkling mirrors. Also planned: an introduction to truck painting, an art in itself in India and one which makes their owners proud. Among the painters who continue this tradition, a local will open the doors of his studio for you to see the symbolism and work behind his drawings. After a demonstration, everyone can try their hand at a few brush strokes.

Optional - Zip wire over Fort Mehrangarh.

DAYS 9 & 10

Jodhpur - Delhi - Return flight

Private transfer to Jodhpur Airport and flight to Delhi. You'll have the chance to relax in a hotel near the airport before your flight home/ At the end of the day there is another private transfer and your flight home. Overnight flight, arriving the next day.

A la carte

DELHI STREET CUISINE

Take a culinary walk through the markets of Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazaar to discover the most typical dishes in Old Delhi's traditional street cuisine. On the menu to tickle your taste buds with jalebis sweetened with syrup, aloo chaat (potato pieces with sauces, onions and spices), and filled paranthas, as well as a multitude of tasty desserts.

Optional - With a private guide and rickshaw transfers



THE IMPERIAL CITY OF FATEHPUR SIKRI

Private tour of this open-air red sandstone museum, an hour's drive from Agra. A collection of numerous pools, courtyards and palaces perfectly preserved since its abandonment - a remarkable testimony to the Indian architecture of the time.

Optional - Between Agra and Jaipur



JAIPUR - KATHAK TRADITIONAL DANCE

The Tansen Sangeet Mahavidalaya Institute of Dance and Music in Jaipur is devoted to the teaching of classical music, kathak classical dance, Rajasthan folk dance and the learning of classical instruments such as the tabla drums or harmonium. Native to northern India, Kathak, a Sanskrit 'story', is a very rhythmic dance for which musical accompaniment is very important. Percussion instruments, the sitar and harmonium set the rhythm for the dancers who respond to the music with small bells on their ankles.

Optional - With a private teacher



JODHPUR - EVENING VISIT AND DINNER AT FORT MEHRANGARH

The majestic Citadel, Fort Mehrangarh dominates the city of Jodhpur. Some of the walls of the enclosure are more than 16ft thick and 65ft high. Inside is the Moti Mahal, which houses the royal throne, the Umaid villa and the Ajit villa with Raj Pout miniatures, royal outfits and musical instruments. When dusk descends on the fort, the walls and palaces are brought back to life through the stories told by the museum curator: tales of sacrifices, extraordinary events and adventures. To prolong the magic of the visit, head to the fort restaurant for a traditional dinner, where delicious dishes and soft music are set against the backdrop of the illuminated fort.

Option

A Rough Idea of Price

Dependent on season, accommodation and activities
Based on four people* The estimated cost for this trip starts from £3,090 to £4,440 per person. This trip is tailor-made to your exact specifications so prices will fluctuate. The cost varies according to several fact The average starting price for this trip is £3,555 per person.
  • Return flights to Delhi on a scheduled flight
  • Domestic flight from Jodhpur to Delhi
  • Airline taxes and fuel surcharge
  • English-language welcome and assistance at Delhi Airport
  • Private transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Car with driver available for one day in Delhi and seven days across Rajasthan
  • The train ride from Delhi to Agra, Chair Car Class
  • Two-night stay in Delhi in double rooms, breakfast included
  • Overnight stay in Agra, in double rooms, breakfast included
  • Three-night stay in Jaipur in double rooms, breakfast included
  • Two-night stay in Jodhpur in double rooms, breakfast included
  • A room available in Delhi on the last day, before the return flight in the evening
  • Tour of Old Delhi by rickshaw, with a private guide
  • Visit to the bohemian Hauz Khas district of Delhi, with a private guide
  • A backstage tour of Agra with a resident
  • Tickets to the Mehtab Bagh gardens in Agra for a free sunset tour
  • Visit to the Taj Mahal, with a private guide
  • Tickets for a film at the Raj Mandir cinema in Jaipur
  • A morning tour of Jaipur by bike, with private guides, breakfast and street food tasting included
  • An introduction to block printing on textiles in Jaipur, with a private guide
  • Visit to Amber Fort and its environs with a private guide
  • Jodphur Old Town Tour, with a private guide
  • An introduction to truck painting in Jodhpur, with a private guide
  • Our local Concierge service
  • Local mobile phone available
  • A few of the benefits of travelling with us
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