Welcome to India, a country that needs little introduction. This vast subcontinent is a patchwork of unique cultures, offering phenomenal cuisine, warm hospitality, remarkable diversity and impressive architecture characterised by religion, pride, patriotism and history.

You can arrive at any time of day, take an airport transfer and meet your group leader at your hotel in the heart of New Delhi. In the evening, you will set off as a group for your welcome dinner, where you can sample the famous Indian cuisine for the first time.

Accommodation: Hotel Cottage twin/double room

Activities: Welcome dinner, airport transfer (already included)

Meals: Dinner

After breakfast, your local guide will take you through the streets of Delhi, where you will get a first insight into Indian life. The first stop is a beautiful Sikh temple, where your local guide will tell you about this important religion and culture. Next, head to the huge community kitchen where the Sikhs prepare free meals for the city's residents every day. Watch thousands of chapatis being made and stir the huge curry pots yourself.

After lunch, you visit the famous Lotus Temple and stroll through the gardens. You enter the temple to enjoy a moment of silence and reflect on the reasons for your visit to this magnificent country.

In the evening, you will be taken to Old Delhi, a chaotic city that seems lost in time. Your tour guide will brief the group about the area and fill your bellies with Indian sweets and snacks. You will then be taken by rickshaws (similar to tuk-tuks) through Chandni Chowk to Mutton Street. Chandni Chowk, also known as Moonlit Market, is a bustling centre with vibrant bazaars, eclectic stalls and historic shrines that embody the dynamic lifestyle of Old Delhi. During the tour, you can savour some of the most delicious kebabs and Islamic food.

Accommodation: Double/Twin room - Hotel Hotel Cottage (or similar)

Activities: City tour of Delhi with local guide, street food tour

Optional extras: N/A

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Physical strain: Low

After breakfast, you take the train to Agra and check into your hotel. In the afternoon, take a tuk tuk to a quiet garden south of the Taj Mahal to view this magnificent structure at sunset away from the crowds. This tranquil setting offers a much quieter and unique opportunity to admire this spectacular building.

Tomorrow you will visit the interior, but today is all about enjoying the beauty that this monument has to offer. In the evening, you'll have dinner and go to bed early, as we'll be getting up at sunrise tomorrow.

Accommodation: Double/twin room Maple Grand (or similar)

Activities: Taj Mahal sunset

Optional extras: Agra Fort

Meals: Breakfast

Physical strain: Low

Say goodbye to Agra and hop on the air-conditioned bus that will take you to the „Pink City“ of Jaipur. Designed by kings, Jaipur is a city of grand forts, magnificent palaces and bustling bazaars whose iconic pink buildings have welcomed visitors for centuries.

Immerse yourself in the glittering world of Indian cinema tonight and watch a Bollywood blockbuster at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema - a Jaipur landmark. Look forward to action, romance, drama and music (sometimes all at once) in one of the country's most opulent cinemas. Your tour guide will also have plenty of great dinner recommendations to round off your evening.

Please note: Your journey time today is approx. 5 hours.

Accommodation: Double/twin room Utsav Niwas (or similar)

Activities: Bollywood film

Physical requirement: Low

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will take you on an orientation walk through the historic city centre. You will visit the local market, learn more about the origins of the „Pink City“, meet some locals and market traders and learn all about the spices that are so typical of Indian cuisine. You will also see the excellent Palace of the Winds - Jaipur's landmark, a palace made of red and pink sandstone.

Next, we take a tuk-tuk to Galta-Ji, also known as the Monkey Temple. This temple built into the hills is home to hundreds of grey long-tailed macaques. You have the rest of the day free to explore the other sights of Jaipur.

Accommodation: Double/twin room in the Surya Villa (or similar)

Activities: Orientation walk through the city and across the market, Galta-Ji monkey temple

Optional extras: Amber Fort, leopard safari

Meals: Breakfast

Physical strain: Medium

After breakfast in the morning, you will take a private transfer to Pushkar, which is known as one of the holiest cities in India. Pushkar is a backpacker's paradise with fantastic food, beautiful markets, hilly landscapes, hiking opportunities and unrivalled sunsets. In the afternoon, a local Brahmin will initiate you into Pushkar and bless you at the sacred lake. Afterwards, you can have a drink at a lakeside café before returning to your accommodation for the night.

Accommodation: Twin/double room - Vesta Avtar (or similar)

Activities: Orientation walk through Pushkar & Brahmin blessing at the holy lake

Optional extras: N/A

Meals: Breakfast

Physical strain: Low

Today you return to Ajmer before taking the train to Udaipur, the „White City“ - also known as the city of lakes. This is also where the scenes for the James Bond film Octopussy were shot! The lakes and architecture offer a perfect balance between hustle and bustle and tranquillity, and there's no better way to experience this than on a walk through the markets and old town, ending with a private sunset boat ride on the lake. Then it's off to dinner with a view at one of our favourite rooftop restaurants.

Accommodation: Twin/double room - Kotra Haveli (or similar)

Activities: Orientation walk through Udaipur, sunset boat trip on Lake Pichola

Optional extras: N/A

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Physical strain: Low

Today you'll get an early start when you leave the city for a bike tour through the village. Your guide, who is from the village, will show you how the locals live. He will teach you about their culture and heritage and show you the local temples that are important to village life. After the bike tour, you will visit a local school during your stay in the area. In the afternoon, you will have some free time before returning to the camp at sunset to cook traditional Indian dishes with the villagers.

Accommodation: Twin/double room - Kotra Haveli (or similar)

Activities: cookery demonstration, bike tour with village visit

Optional extras: Udaipur City Palace

Meals: Breakfast

Physical strain: Medium

Today you will travel by bus to the blue city of Jodhpur. When you arrive in the evening, you will be taken to your traditional haveli accommodation. Your haveli is located in the centre of the blue city, where the walls of this labyrinth of buildings in the shadow of the imposing Mehrangarh Fort are painted blue. After checking in, you'll meet your group for dinner on the rooftop for a first glimpse of one of our favourite cities in Rajasthan.

In the late afternoon, stroll through the fascinating blue city and take a break at the Jodhpur step well, an impressive marvel of ancient stone carving. As you stroll through the clock tower market, you can try the famous saffron lassi and some delicious samosas. Finally, head back to your accommodation to round off the day.

Accommodation: Double/Twin Room - Kuchaman Haveli (or similar)

Activities: Visit to the Jodphur Step-Well, Market and Food Tour, Blue City Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Physical strain: Medium

After yesterday's journey, you have the morning at leisure to relax. In your free time, you can explore the blue city on foot, take part in a yoga class on the rooftop or, if you're feeling adventurous, take a zip line over the ramparts of Jodhpur. In the early afternoon, your group will meet up and head to Mehrangarh Fort with your local tour guide. Your guide will show you the perfectly preserved fortress and with the help of an audio guide you will get a good insight into the life of the Indian royal family.

Go back to the hotel to freshen up before you are taken to the railway station to catch your overnight train to Delhi.

Accommodation: Overnight train back to Delhi

Activities: Mehrangarh Fortress

Physical exertion: low/medium

When you arrive in Delhi, you will be taken from the railway station to your hotel.

You have the afternoon free to do whatever you want before meeting up with your group to enjoy your last dinner in India with your new travelling friends.

Accommodation: Twin/double room - Taj Princess (or similar)

Activities: Farewell dinner

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Physical exertion: Low

Your local guide can help you organise transport to the airport, no matter where your next trip takes you. We hope we've shown you why India is a dream destination and should be at the top of everyone's bucket list. We wish you a safe journey to your next destination and always remember: #exploremore.

Please note: The standard check-out time at the hotel is 11:00 am.