From Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel Mayfair Conference Centre Prize Holiday for Two Rajasthan, India

Day 1
Fri

Check in at Heathrow at 18.00 hrs for the Virgin VS 300 21.00 flight to Delhi.

Day 2
Sat

Arrive Delhi 10.35 hrs. Met at Delhi International and transferred to Hans Plaza Hotel (in the heart of New Delhi and within easy reach of Connaught place) and check in. Lunch and a rest before afternoon sight seeing. You can go to the Old Town and take a wander from the Red Fort, down Chandi Chowk – the old town’s main thoroughfare – through the narrow alleyways of Shahjehanabad, to emerge at the beautiful Jama Masjid Mosque. Dinner at Connaught Place restaurant or you might like to try supper at a wonderful local Islamic place near the Mosque called “Karim’s”.

Day 3

Morning: Drive to Agra. You can arrange what time you’d like to leave with your driver/guide the night before. You will be able to get lunch on arrival or en route. You should meet your guide at the hotelMansingh on arrival.

Afternoon: Visit Agra Fort, Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah and then the Taj Mahal around sunset.

Day 4

Sunrise at the Taj followed by breakfast and departure for the “pink city” of Jaipur. On the way we’ll visit the extraordinary deserted and barely damaged city of Fatepur Sikri and the bird sanctuary at Bharatpur, which even for the uninitiated is an ornithological delight.

Stay at the Hotel Shahpura House.

Day 5

Morning visit to the great palace at Amber and in the afternoon we’ll return to town to visit the fascinating City Palace Museum, the Palace of the Winds and the old Royal Observatory built by the founder and namesake of the modern city Jai Singh II. Then there will be time for a wander round town or just relax by the pool at the hotel before supper.

Day 6

A journey through the heart of Rajasthan to Deogarh where the Deogarh Mahal (palace) stands impressively above the village. You’ll sleep in this extraordinary palace tonight enjoying a delicious supper on the roof terrace with views out over the surrounding countryside. Early evening walk through this lovely quiet town.

Day 7

Early departure Morning drive to Castle Bijaipur. This wonderful fort – parts of which date back 500 years (and here you can really feel the history) Here we can take some of the Nawab’s fabulous Marwari horses and ride out through the hills and forests to a lake and a ruined 5 th century fire worshipers temple where we can take lunch. Alternatively you can walk (with a little help from a jeep it’ll take about the same time) or cycle ride and again we will pass through some of the most unspoilt villages in the whole of Rajasthan. As another alternative you take Kate Moss’s lead and employ the services of the local guru for a yoga session.

Day 8

Morning drive to Chittorgarh to visit this colossal fort, that most represents the doomed idea of Rajput chivalry. Three times, Chittorgarh was attacked and taken by Muslim invaders and always with the same result; Jauhar being declared and while the men donned the saffron robes of martyrdom and rode out to certain death, the women consigned themselves to the flames on a huge funeral pyre. After lunch carry on to Udaipur. Check in to the Jagat Niwas Hotel.

Day 9

Though Udaipur is a place best explored at ones own pace, a guide will be available to give you a tour of this beautiful city’s sights; the old town is small, made up of a labyrinth of alleyways and passages and getting lost is part of the fun. The City Palace Museum is very impressive as much for the building as anything and it is well worth paying a visit the Crystal Gallery in the Fate Prakash Palace Hotel, which is in the City Palace complex. You might also like to visit the Jagdish Temple and the Cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar at Ahar. The present Maharana’s Classic car collection (the visit itself is an experience even if cars are not your thing) is also rather wonderful. At 16.00 we will go for a boat ride on the lake. Dinner at the hotel overlooking the lake, which is the best place to eat in town.

Day 10

Early Morning: Transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi (9W-373; Departing Udaipur at 0740; Arriving Delhi at 0945 hours). Upon arrival you will be received and taken to the International Airport to board your flight back home (VS-301; Departing Delhi at 12.45 hours). Arrive London Heathrow at 16.40