Meet at the group hotel in Delhi. A single timed transfer from Delhi Airport is provided. Rest and relaxation at the hotel or independent exploration and sightseeing.

After an early breakfast, we start our guided tour of Old Delhi, exploring its ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars. We will visit the majestic Jama Masjid, one of the largest and most important mosques in India, built in 1658 by Shah Jahan, who was also responsible for the Taj Mahal. We pass by the Red Fort, still in use by the Indian military, and take rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, the famous market of Old Delhi where one can purchase silk saris and beautiful silver jewellery. We then continue the tour at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial and location of his cremation. Afterwards we visit the Rajpath, adjacent to the Lutyens-designed governmental buildings where we can inspect the India Gate, a truly humbling memorial to the 13,000 men who gave up their lives for the Commonwealth during World War I. We end our day with a very special experience: we visit the Sikh Gurdwara of Bangla Sahib. Here we can take part, helping in the temple's kitchen to bake chapattis and cook rice and lentils for the devotees and visitors. This charitable endeavour means that an estimated 10,000-15,000 people receive a free daily meal from the temple. We transfer to the train station to catch the overnight train to Jodphur, a quintessential form of travel in India!

After arriving into Jodphur and transferring to our hotel, we take a guided walk which starts with a visit to the white marble cenotaph of Jaswant Thada. We then explore Meherangarh Fort, one of the most impressive and formidable forts in India. Perched on seemingly impregnable hill overlooking Jodphur, this sprawling fortification's vertiginous walls protect a splendid palace, complete with intricately carved lattice windows with sublime views in all directions. The fort did a good job of protecting its royal inhabitants, who still live there. Indeed, one can still see the scars of cannon balls from the turn of the 19th century! We can explore the expansive grounds and walls of the fort before walking back from the top of the 16th century city walls of Jodphur, descending through narrow, winding lanes of the old blue city past havelis, town houses, temples and bazaar. We may choose to stop off to watch the sunset with a restorative masala chai at a local Brahmin house. Return to our hotel.

After breakfast, we take a scenic drive to the village of Kumbhalgarh, in the heart of the Aravalli Hills, a journey of about 4-5 hours. The Aravalli Hills are some of the oldest in the world, now just an eroded stump of an ancient range running from Delhi to Gujarat. The highest point of our trip is here at Kumbhalgarh, at an altitude of around 1100m. This afternoon, we visit Kumbhalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive defensive fortifications here were built in the 15th century and its walls stretch for over 38km! We can walk on its towering walls and enjoy the outstanding views of the surrounding hills and plains below from its ramparts.

After an early breakfast, we set off on a long trek through the surrounding Aravalli Mountains, enjoying the magnificent scenery. These hills are part of the 578km2 Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, covered in a dry deciduous forest that is home to a rich variety of wildlife including panther, wolf, bear, monkeys and wild boar. There are many species of birds to spot too. Our route will take us through the village of the Bhil tribe and past a small reservoir known as Thandi Beri (Crocodile Lake) where, as the name suggests, we can observe crocodiles sunbathing on the edge of the water. After lunch, we continue our walk through hamlets inhabited by another Rajasthani tribe, the Garasiya. We arrive at the historic Muchhala Mahavir Jain Temple where our trek ends. From here, we transfer to the village of Ghanerao where we stay in a heritage hotel.

After breakfast, we make the short drive back to the Muchhala Mahavir Temple and continue our walk through the sanctuary, hoping to spot more of the fascinating wildlife. The pleasant trails here meander through the forest and arrive at the remarkable white marble temples of Ranakpur, one of the most important in India. We can visit the temple, perhaps leaving an offering, before driving to Udaipur. Located on the banks of Lake Pichola, the skyline dominated by the Aravalli Hills, Udaipur enjoys a particularly romantic situation. Packed with incredible fairy-tale palaces, temples and winding, narrow lanes; this ancient lakeside town demands exploration. In the evening, we can take a stroll to the water's edge and perhaps enjoy a beautiful sunset over the bathing ghats, palaces and temples.

After breakfast and a short transfer to the start of our trek point, we take a trail that connects a number of Bhil and Rajput tribal villages, the latter a caste of warriors whom are mostly farmers these days. These villages will give us a fascinating insight into a traditional way of life, and the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside will be outstanding. Our walk will finish at two temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva and the mother goddess Shakti. Returning to Udaipur, we visit the City Palace. Some may experience a sense of dejaa-vu; indeed, this was a filming location for the James Bond film Octopussy! The captivating palace complex has been added to by various marahanas (warrior kings), finally completed in 1725. The ornate features of the palace include filigreed balconies and cupola-topped towers, soaring over the lake. Within the walls, we will find extravagantly decorated courtyards and suites. Much of the palace remains untouched from the days it was occupied by the royal family and gives the visitor an insight into life in a bygone era. After the palace visit, we visit the Jagdish Temple and take a sunset boat ride out onto Lake Pichola, an experience not to be missed.

This morning we set off on the drive to Pushkar (5-6hrs). Pushkar possesses an incredible spiritual and mystical atmosphere, being an important pilgrimage town because of its location, set around a sacred lake. The bathing ghats becoming crowded in evening as people congregate at the holy waters and offer prayers and offerings in puja ceremonies. It is also the location of only temple in India dedicated to the Lord Brahma, considered to be the creator of the world. The creation of the lake is steeped in legend. Pushkar is also renowned for its colourful, rather chaotic, camel fair. After checking into our hotel, we can try our hand at driving a camel cart, a popular form of local transport. Afterwards we visit the Brahma Temple and sacred lake. In the evening, we can participate in one of the prayer ceremonies on the banks of the lake, as the melodious sound of the bells from surrounding temples fills the air. As the sun sets, candles are lit, incense is burned and flower petals are scattered, which all adds to the spiritual atmosphere.

We arise just before dawn to take the 890 steps to the summit of Ratnagiri Hill, overlooking Pushkar. At the top is a Savitri Temple dedicated to the Lord Bramha's consort. The views from here, across Pushkar and the surrounding hills, as the dawn breaks are stunning. After descending the steps, we explore the local market stalls and bazaars, before enjoying a late breakfast and setting off to the Jaipur. Known as the Pink City, it was painted a pink hue to celebrate a visit by Prince Albert in 1976 and now enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status. These days, Jaipur is more commonly known for the production of the most beautiful cut gemstones.

After breakfast, we visit the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) to marvel at its intricate façade. We continue on the short drive to the nearby ancient capital of Amber, well known for its sprawling fort, strategically position atop high ground above the town. The fort boasts impressive frescoed courtyards and doorways and there are far-reaching views from the walls. We extend our exploration to include the nearby Amber Village on a walk that takes in temples and a lake and which allows us to meet members of the Meena tribe who live here. Talking to them, we can learn a little about their daily lives. Returning to Jaipur, we visit the ornate City Palace, packed with art and weapon collections and the remarkable Jantar Mantar, a royal astronomical observatory consisting of huge monuments that use shadows to track celestial objects. As we walk through the streets, we will visit a local market and marvel at the abundance of fruit, vegetables and spices on offer. We will then spend some time with a local Rajasthani family who will show us how to make the most of this fresh produce and eat a traditional dinner together. This will also be an opportunity for females to be decorated with henna and for the males to be taught how to tie a safa turban.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Jaipur and drive to Ranthambore. The land here used to be used for private hunting parties by the Rajput rulers of Jaipur. Now a protected tiger reserve, it is probably one of the best places in the world to observe tigers in the wild. Arriving mid-afternoon, we stretch our legs with a walk to Ranthambore Fort. Perched on top of a hill, this crumbling fort is filled with decaying pavilions, temples and palace structure, slowly being reclaimed by nature. This is the jungle of Kipling's The Jungle Book. We check in to our overnight accommodation at a nearby hotel.

Today, we have two safari drives in shared, open 4x4 jeeps. Our first tiger safari will depart in the early morning, to try our luck spotting the elusive tiger and perhaps capturing one on camera. Whilst we keep our eyes peeled for these rare beasts, we will also be able observe a great range of other wildlife, including leopards, hyenas, monkeys, birds and deer. After lunch, we head back out for a second safari game drive. We will explore a variety of terrains that make up the reserve, including dry deciduous forest and open, grassy meadow. We return to our hotel for a second night.

After a leisurely breakfast, we set off on the drive to Agra, winding our way through rural India. On the way, we pay a visit to the deserted royal city of Fatehpur Sikri. Founded in 1571 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, this served as the capital of the sprawling Mughal Empire until 1585, when after only fourteen years it was abandoned; the reason, widely held, was due to the failure of the water supply and distant wars to fight. This ghostly, fortified city palace is well worth exploring to marvel at the red sandstone colonnades and ornate carvings. Akbar understood the importance of uniting the ethnic and religious factions within his empire, reflected in the architecture, incorporating Persian, Hindu and Muslim elements in tribute to his three wives. We continue to Agra and check in to our hotel.

At sunrise, we will experience something very special: watching the rising sun illuminate the ivory marble of the Taj Mahal. Many of tried to encapsulate the experience of being in the presence of something so special, but it is something you have to sample for yourself. Taj Mahak was built by Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz. The gardens and water features of the Taj Mahal perfectly frame the mausoleum, and the surrounding buildings are beautiful too. Everyone has seen pictures of the Taj Mahal, but these do not detail the incredible and intricate patterns of inlaid gemstones and black onyx calligraphy, delicately tattooed across its surface. We follow this with a visit to Agra Fort, which is in itself worthy of a special trip to Agra. Once the main residence of emperors before the capital was relocated to Delhi, the fort is an astonishing complex of white marble palaces, red sandstone gates and barracks that are still in use. In the far corner of the fort is the cell where his own son, who had overthrown him, held Shah Jahan. From the window, you can reflect on the view he had of the Taj Mahal where his late wife had been laid to rest. After lunch, we will undertake a guided walk to delve into the heritage of Agra, so often overlooked by daytrippers who stop at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Our starts at the Jama Masjid, and follows the maze-like winding streets and visits the Hindu temple of Mankameshwar Madadev and the spice markets of Rawat Para. The rest of the evening is ours to explore or relax at the hotel.

After breakfast in Agra, we set off on the drive to Delhi and can reflect on an incredible adventure through the splendours of Rajasthan. Arriving in Delhi we have the use of day-rooms at a hotel close to Delhi Airport. A single late transfer to Delhi Airport is provided.