Luxury India holiday to Rajasthan & Kerala

Itinerary in brief: 

• 2 nights Delhi
• 1 night Agra
• 2 nights Jaipur
• 2 nights Jaisalmer
• 1 night Jodhpur
• 2 nights Udaipur
• 2 nights Kochi 
• 1 night Thekkady 
• 2 night Kumarakom

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights 

Day 2: Arrive Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, checking in for two nights. 

Included: Transfers, 5* hotel 

Day 3: Delhi

You’ll spend your first morning in India exploring Old Delhi, a maze of crowded markets and tiny shops, crammed with some of the oldest businesses in the city. You’ll explore with a renowned chef, visiting around 8 different food spots, tasting some of the city’s best street food and learning about the different cultures and traditions that have created such delicious cuisine. 

Spend the afternoon in the contrasting New Delhi, an area designed by the British in the 1920s - it’s home to government buildings set along wide boulevards and green parks and gardens. Visit monuments including the Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb, and drive past the impressive India Gate, a popular hangout for locals.

Included: Breakfast, guided touring, 5* hotel      

Day 4: Travel to Agra

After breakfast you’ll be driven to Agra, around 4-5 hours away. Spend the afternoon relaxing at your hotel after the journey before attending the Mohabbat the Taj show, where dancers and singers will tell the romantic story of the Taj Mahal.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, guiding, Mohabbat the Taj tickets, 5* hotel           

Day 5: Travel to Jaipur

This morning you’ll head out to the Taj, spending the morning exploring this mighty building. As you learnt a lot about the history of the mausoleum last night, today you’ll be free to wander through the complex alone and really soak up this awe-inspiring wonder of the world. Built by an emperor in memory of his beloved queen, it took 18 years to complete, with craftsmen working around the clock on the intricate and romantic design. With perfect proportions and distinct femininity, legend says that once the construction was completed, Shan Jehan ordered the architect’s hands cut off, and blinded, so he would never be able to duplicate the structure.

Later today, you’ll take a tour of Agra Fort, where you’ll wander through the chambers of this ancient royal residence. The country was once governed from here, as well as containing the largest treasury and mint. Dignitaries and ambassadors from far off lands would be brought here, each one participating in the history of India. After this, you’ll be driven Jaipur, known as the ‘Pink City’, within the already colourful state of Rajasthan. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, guiding, 5* hotel                

Day 6: Jaipur

After breakfast, you’ll spend the morning exploring the Amber Fort. This marvellous example of Rajput architecture is made up of terraces and ramparts, all a rich terracotta colour that is reflected beautifully in the lake below. Each room within the royal halls is decorated with intricate ivory artwork and exquisite murals, really showing off the pomp and grandeur of a kingdom that was never conquered.

In the afternoon you’ll take a tour of the city – starting at the City Palace Complex, you’ll learn about the local styles of paintings as well as the royal family that still lives in parts of the palace. In the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, you’ll find the Mubarak Mahal. Built in the nineteenth century, you’ll be able to view a huge range of textiles and costumes, including rare pashmina shawls, Benaras silk saris and folk embroidery. Across the road, you’ll look around the famous Jantar Mantar, one of the five observatories in India. Built to indulge the passionate hobby of astronomy by the king, they created complex astronomical instruments made of stone, which still provide accurate information on the heavens above, to this day. It’s a fascinating place to explore and learn about the twinkling skies above.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, guiding, 5* hotel                                

Day 7: Fly to Jaisalmer 

Enjoy a relaxing morning before being driven to the airport for the short flight to Jaisalmer. Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage, you’ll find the city of Jaisalmer. In the heart of the amber city, you’ll find the spectacular fort etched in yellow sandstone, it’s a truly incredible sight to behold. 

This evening you’ll enjoy a special meal, the Thar Dinner, which pays homage to the culinary traditions of those who crossed the desert to reach Jaisalmer. This celebratory feast is served in a communal style, with tasselled canopies and mattress style seating all arranged under starry skies. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, internal flight, dinner, 5* hotel    

Day 8: Jaisalmer

After breakfast, you’ll head out to explore Jaisalmer city, starting at the famous fort. This sentinel in the vast desert is perched on a hill, housing the entire township within its ramparts. The maze of alleys are dotted with pretty havelis, Jain templates that date back 700 years and five different interconnected palaces. There are four gateways to enter, each from a different city of the majestic structure. 

Your afternoon is yours to explore the city more or relax at your hotel, before heading off on a camel safari in the sand dunes. It’s an incredible way to experience the desert and watch the sun setting over the golden sand. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 5* hotel  

Day 9: Travel to Jodhpur     

This morning you’ll head off towards Jodhpur. An early start will give you plenty of time to explore the Blue City in the afternoon, starting at the Mehrangarh Fort. Set four hundred feet above the skyline of Jodhpur, this imposing building is made of a blushing sandstone and is known as the Citadel of the Sun. The fort itself is so huge that Rudyard Kipling called it ‘the work of giants’ and is one of the finest examples of a Hindu fortress. It also offers stunning views over the blue patchwork of homes across Jodhpur below. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 5* hotel    

Day 10: Travel to Udaipur

It’s a driving day today - after breakfast you’ll be leaving Jodhpur and heading towards the glittering jewel in Rajasthan’s crown, Udaipur. Known as the most romantic city in the state, Udaipur is a city of lakes, temples and havelis. There are some beautifully manicured gardens too, but the real gem is the Lake Palace. Head out for a delicious dinner in the city, ready to explore with your guide tomorrow. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 5* hotel                    

Day 11: Udaipur        

You’ll start today with a visit to the City Palace, which houses the private residence of the Maharana of Mewar, who belongs to the oldest royal lineage in India. This palace complex is made up of several different palaces, all forming a single breath-taking façade almost a kilometre long overlooking Pichola Lake. Although built over many different eras, every additional section has been added so seamlessly that it seems all to fit together perfectly. 

In the evening you’ll head out to enjoy a boat cruise on the calm waters of Pichola Lake, gazing up at the palace in the soft dusk light and enjoying views of the gardens along the waters edge. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 5* hotel                                    

Day 12: Fly to Kochi 

After breakfast today, you’ll be driven to the airport in time for your flight to Kochi in Kerala. Welcome to Southern India – you’ll be met on arrival and driven to your hotel in the city. Kochi is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, with one of the best natural harbours int eh region. The city itself is made up of different islands and the mishmash of different cultures and history perfectly reflects the diversity of Kerala. Visited by sea traders for many hundreds of years, from as far away as China and Portugal, this city is an incredible place to explore. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, transfers, internal flights, 5* hotel                

Day 13: Kochi            

Today you’ll head off on a tour of the city, before enjoying a cooking demo and lunch with a local family. Start by exploring the ancient Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese during their time here. The building has some beautiful murals in the palace rooms, showing scenes from the Ramayana, Magabharata and Puranic legends connected with Shiva, Vishnu and Krishna. 

You’ll also visit the Jewish Synagogue and St Francis Church, some of the oldest buildings from Judaism and Christianity in India before visiting the Chinese fishing nets, were you can see the iconic silhouette of the nets along the coastline. 

Next, you’ll head to experience a local meal with a friendly Keralan family – learning about age-old recipes passed down for generations. You’ll be welcomed into their home to watch lunch being prepared before enjoying a delicious meal together of local Keralan delicacies. 

In the evening, you’ll be picked up for a theatre performance of local Keralan dance, Kathakali.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, guiding, 5* hotel       

Day 14: Travel to Thekkady 

After breakfast you’ll be driven to Thekkady on the Tamil Nadu border. This region is known as the ‘Spice Village of India’ due to the large fields of spices that are grown here. The road winds through a carpet of tea bushes, estates of tall rubber trees and gardens of coffee, cardamom and pepper. You’ll arrive at your hotel and check in for the night, before heading out to explore a local spice plantation, walking between the vines and trellises. The scent of peppers fills the air with spectacular views over the lush countryside, the perfect location to learn about Thekkady’s history in the spice trade. 

In the evening you’ll watch a performance of Kalaripayattu, a local martial art from Kerala, lined to traditional battlefield fighting and combat. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 5* hotel     

Day 15: Travel to Kumarakom 

This morning you’ll head out for an early nature walk, through the 12 acres of the hotel to learn about the local flora and fauna. Watch birds flitting through the bushes and soak up the misty mornings up in the hills. After breakfast, you’ll be driven to Kumarakom, where you’ll check in for two nights and visit some local temples in the afternoon, taking colourful tuk-tuks along the quiet roads. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, 5* hotel    

Day 16: Houseboat backwaters day cruise         

After breakfast, you’ll spend the morning at leisure, before heading out on your day cruise of the backwaters. The Keralan backwaters is a network of canals, both manmade and natural, with large rivers and lakes connecting them together, extended along the entire coast of Kerala. Before vehicles arrived, the most common way to transport goods was on ‘kettuvalloms’ - large stitched boats made of woven sticks. 

They are now a popular way to explore – whether you’re looking for a day trip or a multi day tour where you sleep on board the boat. We’ve included a day tour but if you’d like to spend a night or two on the boat, we can sort that out – just ask! You’ll spend the afternoon cruising past swaying palms along the silvery water, learning about local life on the water and the history of this fascinating corner or India. 

Included: Breakfast, guiding, boat cruise, 5* hotel            

Day 17: Depart Kochi

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airport for your flight back to the UK.         

Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flights         

Day 18: Arrive UK