8 Days from USD 1580

Delhi | Agra | Jaipur | Samode | Desert Camp | Mandawa | Waterbanks

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1: Delhi

Assistance, reception and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Delhi

After breakfast tour of the historic city of Old Delhi to include the magnificent Red fort, the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, Rajghat memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and rickshaw ride past the silver street. Evening view Son- et- lumiere at the Red fort.
Drive to the Hauz Khas village lawns where a sumptuous Chinese theme dinner awaits you with a gracious setting evocative of a Shanghai food-mart. Pagoda archways and canopies encircle a dragon centerpiece. Stewards in coolie hats and mandarin smocks, serve soup from a boat, salad out of vegetable carrier baskets and authentic Szechwan and Cantonese specialties from cooking trolleys. A western band is in attendance and the evening rounds off with the group taking joy rides in the hot air balloon, to view the surroundings of the beautifully lit up ruins. Overnight Delhi.

Day 3: Delhi/Agra (3½ hrs. drive)

Morning drive to Agra via Sikandra. Check into your five star hotel. The company banner will be displayed outside the hotel on arrival. The group is given a traditional welcome with local "Shehnai" playing, welcome drinks will be served and luggage delivered to rooms. Post lunch tour of the magnificent Agra fort and the Taj Mahal. Cycling rickshaws and horse drawn carriages will be lined up outside the hotel to provide transport to the Taj Mahal. On arrival professional guides will divide the group into sub- groups of 10-15 people and conduct a guided tour throughout the fascinating marble structure of the.Taj Mahal. Evening free to explore the bazaar. Relish an exclusive Mughal theme dinner that takes you back to the fabled world of the great Mughals. "Chobdars" (gate keepers) usher guests to the "dawaat - khana" (venue of the function). Hostesses clad in silken, flowers and "attar" (perfume) in the traditional style and flamboyant folk dances herald a sumptuous spread of Mughlai delicacies, served in a manner befitting royalty. Overnight Agra.

Day 4: Agra/Jaipur (5 hrs. drive)

Morning drive to Jaipur via the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. Check into the palace hotel after a grand royal procession welcome which creates the ambience of a welcome accorded to a victorious Rajput warrior. The entire drive-way to the hotel is lined with caparisoned elephants and camels. Elephants, with trunks risen in salute, accompany guests who are taken in royal carriages or on elephant back to the hotel. A band of musicians and horsemen precede the procession amidst showers of rose petals whilst valets drape each lady with a "duppata" (shawl) and the gents are greeted with garlands and the "tika" ceremony is performed.
Udai Vilas Palace

Afterwards relax to the music of the "Shehnai" while you sip a gin-based welcome drink and enjoy Rajasthani folk dances. Evening tour of the City Palace, Palace of Winds and the observatory. Later time free to explore the bazaar. Evening view a puppet I magic show at the hotel which captures the magical spirit of the land as much as the conjuror who enthralls his audience with sleights of hand and a range of tricks. Only the adventurous can volunteer to be sawed in half I Scrumptious dinner on a royal theme with group members dressed with traditional "pagris" (turbans) and "chunnis"(shawls) are welcomed with a shower of rose petals and "ittar" (perfume). A delicious meal is served in silver " thalis" on "bajots" (low tables) to guests seated on mattresses. The service is done by attendants in local attire whilst professional Rajasthani dancers perform form the "Teerah Taali" dance in which men play a four - stringed instrument called a chau- tara and the women sit with dozens of manjeeras or cymbals, tied on all over their bodies and strike them with the ones they hold in their hands. Overnight Jaipur.

Day 5: Jaipur/Samode

Morning excursion to Amber fort on elephant back. Later view an enchanting polo match at the polo grounds where various horsemen of the 61st cavalry display tent pegging and other horse mounted sports. Drive to Samode. On arrival at the village entrance, decorated camel carts await the group. All delegates will be transported to the palace by camels (approximately 40 mm. ride) whilst the baggage will be taken up by coach. The camel caravan will be escorted by two torch bearers to each cart. Local musicians will lead the camel caravan through the cobbled streets and villages.
The group will be timed to arrive at the palace gates at sunset. On arrival they will be received by the village elders in full local attire showering the group with rose petals. On entering the palace a huge floral company logo will be carved out on the floor. Enjoy cocktails with Print Yadavendra Singh at the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors). After cocktails proceed to the Dubar hall for a cultural evening extravaganza. The ambience created goes back 600 yrs when the king and his lieutenants would sit on the cushioned floor and the dancers would perform. During dinner local dancers and musicians will entertain the group. After dinner coffee is served on the terrace whilst a wonderful fireworks display takes place against the naked mountain landscape The grand finale for the evening is the company logo lit up in the sky with fireworks. Overnight Samode Palace.

Day 6: Samode / Desert Camp

This morning we divide the group into three. One sets of on hot air balloon, the other on camels and the third group on jeeps. After every hour the groups interchange the transportation mode that is the camel crew into balloon, balloon passengers into jeeps and so on. Gala champagne lunch is laid out on top of a sand dune. Later check into a deluxe tented camp. Evening is livened up by local folk dancers and musicians around a bonfire bar-be-cue and rum punch. Overnight desert camp.

Day 7: Desert Camp / Mandawa

Drive to Mandawa and check into Castle Mandawa. A floral logo of your company is. prominently carved in the lobby. Afternoon explore the painted havelis of Shekhawati. Enjoy a village fair theme dinner where a village setting is create with bamboo huts, benches and stalls. Villagers mingle with guest and display their traditional skills such as doll-making, puppet-making, pottery, "pichwai" painting and other crafts. Entertainment includes an "bandarwala" staging a monkey show, a palmist, snake charmer, "kachi ghodi" and "dhamil" (a performance with dummy horse, dancers and singers). After a splendid dinner, a fascinating mg display of fireworks brings a memorable evening to an end (Optional balloon cum camel safari). Overnight Mandawa.

Day 8: Mandawa/Waterbanks (4½ hrs. drive)

After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Waterbanks Swiss camps and resort at the Damdama lake island. Crossover on fibber glass boats arriving at the lake island(10 mm). Check into deluxe Swiss Camper huts I tents. After a gala farewell dinner departure transfers to the airport to board flight international destination.

Options and Extensions

1) Gala farewell dinner with cocktails at the 150 yr. old Gymkhana.Club with army pipes and drums in attendance.
2) Hot air balloon rides at the Pink City or Agra.
3) Visit to Sariska tiger reserve near Jaipur.

Inclusions:

Accommodation in 5 Star Hotels + All meals + Luxury transportation