Trip to India DELHI/AGRA/FATEHPUR SIKRI/JAIPUR
JODHPUR/ROHET/JODHPUR

Trip notes:

Must be booked by October 31, 2006
Trip must be taken by September 30, 2007
Provided by Big Five Tours & Expeditions

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – 4: NEW YORK/DUBAI/DELHI
You and your guest will depart for India at 11PM on Saturday from New York's JFK Airport. Your Emirates Airlines flight connects through to Dubai, landing in Delhi early Monday morning. A representative will be at the airport to meet you for your early morning arrival, upon which you will be driven in a private car to the luxurious Oberoi Hotel. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts have been internationally recognized for their all-round excellence and unparalleled levels of service. They have been the recipient of innumerable awards and accolades, including membership in the Leading Small Hotels of the World, a select association of international luxury hotels chosen for their extraordinary levels of guest comfort and service.

Check in and relax at the hotel for the rest of the day. Once you're feeling rested, an exciting evening is in store as you visit a private home for a taste of traditional Indian hospitality, not to mention an incredible dinner. Here, you will meet several generations of a typical Indian family, and discover India's culture in a very personal way.

The next day includes a fascinating guided tour of Delhi. Visit such sights as the Bahai Temple, Humayun's Tomb, and the Iron Pillar. Drive through the beautiful embassy area, viewing government buildings and Connaught Place, the city's main shopping area. The afternoon takes you into the walled gates of the Old City, visiting the Jamma Mosque and the fabled area of Chandni Chowk where shoppers and vendors meet. Visit the Red Fort (built from 1639 – 1648 by Shah Jehan, the builder of the Taj Mahal in Agra) to view the inlaid and carved Royal Chambers. Then, you'll go on to Raj Ghat and nearby ghats where the founder of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, were cremated. After a day filled with sightseeing, take a rickshaw ride through the hustle and bustle of Delhi's narrow, winding streets.

DAY 5: DELHI/AGRA
After breakfast, drive to the luxurious Amarvilas Hotel in Agra, one of the best boutique hotels in the world. From this charming hotel, enjoy a spectacular view of the Taj Mahal, just outside your window. With its lacy grandeur, the Taj Mahal is thought to be the most perfect architectural monument in the world. The changing colors of the monument throughout the various times of day, including the chance to view it under moonlight, will add an air of romance to your stay. Another highlight is a visit to the elegant buildings of Agra Fort, built by Emperor Akbar.

DAY 6: AGRA/FATEHPUR SIKRI/JAIPUR
Following breakfast, drive to Jaipur with several sightseeing stops along the way. Check into the Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, set amid 30 acres of orchards, gardens, fountains, and pools. This spectacular spot is the recreation of a traditional Rajasthani fort, with an amazing lotus-filled pool where a 250-year-old temple floats on a small island. The spa at this fine hotel incorporates traditional Indian ayurvedic massage, treatments, and relaxation methods. The day includes an amazing variety of shopping options in Jaipur, a city where printing, jewelry-making, and craftsmanship abound.

DAY 7: JAIPUR
From your home base at the Oberoi Rajvilas, you'll further explore "The Pink City," known for its pale buildings and beautiful light. The morning takes you to Amber Fort, the former capital of royal Jaipur. Ride up the hilltop on a painted elephant, passing through the ancient main gate where the Maharajahs have entered for 400 years. Your guide will elaborate on the history of the fort and all its grandeur. Stops also include the legendary Palace of the Winds. After lunch, a tour of the City Palace and the Solar Observatory complete this unforgettable day.

DAY 8: NIMAJ
After a tasty breakfast, you will be driven to Nimaj, home to the Seervi tribe. Spend the afternoon drinking chai on a traditional rope bed in a Seervi village, speaking to a local family through an interpreter. Tourists are uncommon here, and a walk through the village will prove this. Stop at a jeweler, potter, and an oil extractor and observe their ancient techniques. Purchase rare, handcrafted items here before returning to the camp to watch herders at sunset. Dinner cooked from the village's organic produce ends this once-in-a-lifetime day.

Your hotel is the Chhatra Sagar Resort, where you will stay in luxurious tents surrounded by fields of wheat, mustard, cotton, and chiles. Each tent has an attached bath with hot and cold water, with a view of a lovely lake nearby.

DAY 9: JODHPUR
Check into your Luxury Room at the Hotel Umaid Bhawan Palace upon your arrival. This opulent sandstone hotel is nothing short of spectacular. Its sculpted lawns and bougainvillea bushes only add to the setting. With fashionable Art Deco interiors, this former palace has a luxurious pool, soaring rotunda libraries, ballrooms, a museum, and more — making it one of India's grandest luxury hotels. Later in the day, ride horses to the Clock Tower Bazaar, one of India's most colorful wholesale markets.

DAY 10: JODHPUR/ROHET/JODHPUR
Begin today with a guided tour of Jodhpur's massive fort, where the priceless jewels never fail to impress. A driver then takes you to Rohet and its magnificent world of vibrant colors. This 16th-century walled city is bathed in the ambiance of Rajasthani culture. You'll stay in the impressive Rohetgarh Fort, where you will be welcomed by the beautiful flowers that frame the hotel's entrance. The portico is warm and informal, decorated with artifacts and trophies collected over the years. Exquisitely carved furniture, delicate hand-block prints, and original paintings and photographs decorate your room. Though redolent with the romance of a bygone era, your room provides all the modern amenities.

Antique hunting rifles, shields and spearheads, daggers, and original paintings form the backdrop of the dining room. Take a dip in the swimming pool, an oasis in the desert.

Enjoy traditional cuisine favored by Rajasthani royalty, with recipes jealously guarded for generations. In the afternoon, take a thrilling jeep safari ride through Rajasthani villages, where age-old traditions abound.

DAY 11: JODHPUR/RANAKPUR/UDAIPUR
Drive to Udaipur, visiting Ranakpur Temple along the way. With 24 pillared halls, and domes supported by over 400 columns, it is truly a wonder. In all, the temple has 1,444 intricately carved columns, with no two alike.

Upon arrival, check into your Deluxe Room at the luxurious Udaivilas hotel. Located on the famous Pichola Lake, it has been designed as a traditional Rajasthani palace. This unique resort is set in 30 acres of gardens, fountains, and pavilions, making it the perfect place to explore the fabled city of Udaipur. In the evening, a boat cruise on Lake Pichola offers fascinating glimpses of local life. Gazing across the lake, with the city and its great palace rising behind the island, it is a scene of rare beauty.

DAY 12: UDAIPUR/DELHI
After breakfast, tour the "Lake City" of Udaipur, a cool oasis in the dry heart of Rajasthan. This romantic city has a surprising uniformity of design that is truly enchanting. After the tour, transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi, where a representative will meet you for your check-in back to a Deluxe Room at the Oberoi.

DAY 13: DELHI/DUBAI
Transfer to the Delhi Airport in time to board your flight to Dubai, where you will connect back to New York. A dayroom in a Dubai hotel makes for a comfortable transition before your flight home.

DAY 14
Arrive at JFK Airport in the morning, full of memories of so many amazing sights, interesting people, and otherworldly experiences.

Travel arrangements by Big Five Tours & Expeditions.

See Terms & Conditions for more details.

Tags: Trip to India, DELHI, AGRA, FATEHPUR SIKRI, JAIPUR, ROHET, JODHPUR