North India: Forts, Tigers & Lakes — 14 Days
Mumbai to Delhi via Rajasthan's palaces, Ranthambhore wildlife, and Lake Pichola, with local guides and home-cooked meals
This 14-day journey moves through India's northern regions — from Mumbai's street life and markets to the lake cities of Udaipur and Pushkar, through Rajasthan's fort architecture, and into Ranthambhore National Park in search of tigers. The itinerary balances urban orientation with rural immersion: guided tours of Jaipur's Amber Fort and Agra's Taj Mahal sit alongside village walks, a narrow-gauge train ride through the Aravalli Hills, and evening safaris in one of Asia's premier tiger reserves. Meals include street food tours, family dinners in local homes, and a countryside Rajasthani dinner with traditional dance. An experienced local leader accompanies the group throughout, and accommodation ranges from heritage palaces to contemporary hotels.
Highlights
- Amber Fort in Jaipur — red and white sandstone architecture with Hindu-style detail, overlooking the city from a hilltop approach
- Taj Mahal at sunset in Agra — 17th-century Mughal tomb and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, with expert historical context
- Tiger safari in Ranthambhore National Park — early morning and evening game drives through a 1000-year-old fort reserve, tracking Bengal tigers and leopards
- Lake Pichola boat ride in Udaipur — passage past heritage buildings and Jag Mandir palace, with views of the Aravalli Hills
- Narrow-gauge Aravalli Hills train — 1930s-era railway crossing 17 U-shaped bridges and two tunnels through rural Rajasthan
- City Palace in Jaipur — blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture with 1928 heritage hotel accommodation
- Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai — world's largest outdoor laundry, where locals work beneath coloured rows of drying clothes
- Pushkar's 500 temples and holy lake — pilgrimage sites and ghats where worshippers gather at dawn
- Street food tour in Agra — 19th-century shops and hyperlocal eateries beyond the main tourist route
- Cooking class in Deogarh — preparation of traditional Rajasthani dishes using family recipes passed through generations
Day by day
1Arrival in MumbaiMumbai airport · Bollywood Walk of Fame · Parsi cafés · local restaurant specialising in Mangalorean seafood
You'll be collected from Mumbai airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. With time before the 6 pm welcome meeting, visit India's most populated city at your own pace. The Bollywood Walk of Fame offers a glimpse into Hindi cinema history, while Parsi cafés scattered across the city reflect Mumbai's layered cultural identity. As evening falls, meet your fellow travellers and local leader. Afterwards, you'll venture out for your first meal together at a local restaurant specialising in Mangalorean seafood—a fitting introduction to the city's renowned culinary diversity and the journey ahead.
2Mumbai's Hidden Layers: Dhobi Ghat to Crawford MarketDhobi Ghat · Crawford Market · Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus · Prince of Wales Museum
This guided city tour reveals Mumbai beyond the postcard version. Begin at Dhobi Ghat, the world's largest outdoor laundry, where the rhythmic work of locals and play of children unfolds beneath brilliant rows of drying clothes—a snapshot of daily life most visitors miss. From there, move to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, an architectural landmark blending Victorian Gothic with Indian design. The Prince of Wales Museum follows, its exquisite exterior mirroring that same architectural fusion, its galleries holding some 50,000 artefacts that chart India's story across periods and dynasties. Crawford Market, built in 1869, sprawls across the city as a living marketplace where fruit vendors, textile sellers, and jewellers trade alongside one another. After the guided portion ends, the afternoon opens up for your own discoveries. Your leader will offer recommendations for where to eat like a local when evening comes.
3Flight to Udaipur: Lake City OrientationUdaipur · Rajasthan's historic city centre · Lake Pichola · lakeside restaurant
Morning at leisure before a midday flight to Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes. Upon arrival, the group settles into the hotel and joins the leader for an orientation walk through Rajasthan's historic city centre. In the early evening, a boat ride on Lake Pichola passes heritage buildings and Jag Mandir, an ornately decorated palace built in 1620 by Maharana Karan Singh II, situated in the lake's centre. Dinner takes place at a lakeside restaurant with views of the sunset illuminating the surrounding landscape and hills.
4Udaipur: City Palace & Traditional DanceCity Palace · Old Town · a haveli
A guided tour of the City Palace, built by Maharana Udai Singh II (the city's founder) and Rajasthan's largest palace, overlooks Lake Pichola. The interior visits the palace's historical layout and architectural detail. The afternoon is free for independent wandering through the Old Town's narrow lanes or rest by the lakeside. In the evening, a performance of traditional Indian dances takes place in a haveli — a traditional Indian mansion — where performers in Rajasthani folk costumes perform within the courtyard.
5Deogarh: Heritage Palace & Village CookingDeogarh · Deogarh Village · Deogarh Mahal
A morning drive reaches Deogarh Village and the Deogarh Mahal, a 17th-century palace converted to a heritage hotel, overlooking the Aravalli Hills and surrounding lakes. Originally built as a residence and fortress for local Rawats (Mewar nobility), the palace retains domed rooftops, ornate balconies, and grand archways alongside modern amenities. A village walk follows, succeeded by a cooking class where participants learn to prepare traditional local dishes using family recipes and authentic techniques.
6Aravalli Hills Train to PushkarPushkar · Deogarh · Aravalli Hills railway
A narrow-gauge railway journey through rural India, laid in the 1930s, begins from Deogarh. The train crosses 17 U-shaped bridges and passes through two tunnels, with monkeys frequently spotted along the route. The afternoon continues by car to Pushkar, arriving in late afternoon. Pushkar, home to over 500 temples, ranks as one of India's holiest cities. An orientation walk with the leader familiarizes the group with the city's streets, religious sites, and the central lake.
7Pushkar: Temples, Ghats & Sunset DinnerSavitri Temple · Pushkar Lake · countryside location outside Pushkar
An optional early visit to Savitri Temple, set on a hilltop overlooking the city, offers a vantage point for sunrise. A walking tour later in the morning visits Pushkar Lake's ghats and temples, including the Brahma Temple, where worshippers gather at the holy waters. The afternoon remains free for independent discovery. In the evening, the group travels outside the city limits for a countryside location where sunset views extend across the landscape. Dinner features Rajasthani cuisine accompanied by a performance of Kalbelia dance by local performers.
8Jaipur: Heritage Hotel & Pink City StreetsPushkar · Hotel Narain Niwas Palace · local family's residence · Pink City bazaars · Jaipur streets
A morning departure from Pushkar leads to Jaipur, known as the Pink City. The group arrives at the Hotel Narain Niwas Palace, a heritage property operated by the same family since 1928, featuring chandeliers, stained glass windows, and peacocks on the grounds, surrounded by gardens and a pool. A walking tour visits bustling bazaars selling handcrafted textiles, folk art, and semi-precious stones — the city's local specialty. Streets show traditional transport including camel carts, rickshaws, and bicycles. The evening features a home-cooked dinner in a local family's residence, providing insight into daily life.
9Jaipur Forts: Amber, Hawa Mahal & City PalaceHawa Mahal · City Palace · Amber Fort · rooftop overlooking the old walled city
A visit to Amber Fort, Jaipur's principal landmark, showcases red sandstone, white marble, and Hindu-style architectural detail across ornate rooms, murals, frescoed arches, and jali (lattice) work. A stop follows at the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, one of India's most photographed structures. The City Palace combines Rajput and Mughal styles; tours cover the grounds and explain its construction by Jaipur's founder. An afternoon rooftop gathering offers drinks with sweeping views of the old walled city.
10Journey to Ranthambhore National ParkRanthambhore National Park · Jaipur
A morning departure from Jaipur heads toward Ranthambhore National Park, one of the world's premier tiger reserves. The park contains ancient temples, mosques, and a broad array of wildlife. Upon arrival, the afternoon is unscheduled — options include town exploration or poolside rest in anticipation of the following day's wildlife activity.
11Ranthambhore: Tiger Safaris & Fort RuinsRanthambhore · Ranthambhore Fort
An early morning game drive begins the day. Ranthambhore, one of the original Project Tiger reserves established to protect Bengal tigers, contains ancient fortresses and temples reclaimed by the surrounding jungle. The park sustains populations of gazelle, hyenas, sloth bears, crocodiles, jackals, three antelope species (nilgai, sambar, and chital), and leopards. An afternoon rest at the resort is followed by an evening safari for additional wildlife observation opportunities. Optional exploration of the 1000-year-old Ranthambhore Fort includes Badal Mahal and Hammirs Court, pavilions that have survived the site's military and structural history.
12Agra: Taj Mahal at Sunset & Street FoodAgra · Taj Mahal · Ranthambhore
A drive from Ranthambhore reaches Agra. At sunset, a visit to the Taj Mahal takes place with an expert guide who provides historical context on this 17th-century Mughal monument — built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his second wife and recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The white marble structure sits within trimmed English gardens and exemplifies Mughal architectural principles. A street food tour follows later in the evening, led by a food specialist, moving away from main tourist areas to 19th-century shops serving age-old recipes from the Braj region and hyperlocal eateries rarely seen by visitors.
13Agra Fort & Delhi: Old Town to Modern CapitalAgra Fort · Delhi Metro to Old Delhi's lanes and markets · Chandni Chowk marketplace · Jama Masjid · Sheeshganj Gurudwara · one of Delhi's oldest restaurants
A morning visit to Agra Fort visits the red sandstone structure built by Akbar in 1565 as a fortress and prison, later converted to a palace through renovations and additions by Shah Jahan. A departure for Delhi follows. Upon arrival in India's capital, an afternoon city tour with the local leader navigates the Delhi Metro to Old Delhi's lanes and markets. A traditional rickshaw ride weaves through streets surrounding Chandni Chowk marketplace. Stops include the Jama Masjid, India's oldest and largest mosque, and Sheeshganj Gurudwara, a Sikh temple offering moments of spiritual observation within the bustling metropolitan centre. An evening dinner at one of Delhi's oldest restaurants — operational for over 80 years — concludes the group itinerary.
14Delhi Departure
Your adventure concludes after breakfast this morning. Should you wish to extend your time in Delhi, contact your booking agent in advance to arrange additional accommodation beyond the tour's end date.
Where you go
- 1Udaipur
- 2Lake Pichola
- 3City Palace
- 4Pushkar
- 5Savitri Temple
- 6Pushkar
- 7Hawa Mahal
- 8City Palace
- 9Amber Fort
- 10Jaipur
- 11Agra
- 12Taj Mahal
- 13Agra Fort
Included
- What's Included
- Accommodation
- Hotel (11 nights), Jaipur Feature Stay (2 nights)
- Meals
- Breakfasts: 13, Lunches: 2, Dinners: 10
- Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
- Vegetarian options available
- Local Guide
- Guided
- This adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
- Airport Transfers
- Arrival Only
- An airport transfer to the start of the tour is included. Please contact our team if you require a quote for a return transfer.
- Wifi
- Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.