Day 1 : Delhi
You are welcomed at Delhi airport by our local agency representative or your English-speaking guide who will greet you and ensure your transfer to the hotel reserved for you for 2 nights.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 2 : Delhi
After breakfast, the day is dedicated to discovering Delhi. Bathed by the holy waters of the Yamuna, Delhi has twice been the capital of an empire, first with the Mughals and then in 1911 with the British. The city is divided into two very contrasting parts: New Delhi, the Victorian city with broad avenues, with its business district and parliament grouped around Connaught Place; and Old Delhi, the old city and capital of Muslim India, with its bustling bazaar-lined streets. The old city houses the Red Fort, a testament to the power of the Mughal emperors, and the largest mosque in the country: Jama Masjid. You will explore Old Delhi on foot, then visit Raj Ghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi. Next, you will visit Humayun's Tomb, a beautiful example of Mughal architecture that is said to have inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal. After lunch, you will visit Qutub Minar, the tallest tower in the country, standing at 72.5 meters high. In the late afternoon, you will discover New Delhi by passing through RajPath, the Royal Road, before admiring the India Gate, the Parliament, and the Presidential Palace. In the evening, you will share a moment of fervor with the Sikh community at the Bangla Sahib temple.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 3 : Delhi / Mandawa (5h30 / 260 km)
After breakfast, you head to Mandawa, a region in Rajasthan nicknamed "the open-air art gallery of Rajasthan." In these towns surrounded by sand dunes, you will find the Havelis, houses of wealthy merchants who once lived off the camel trade between India and Pakistan.
Lunch on the way.
Upon arrival in Mandawa, you will settle into the hotel before visiting the old manor houses of this small village, a true gem, housing havelis and temples in abundance. You will also discover the daily lives of the villagers: women in colorful clothes busy with their daily activities, children on their way to school, and craftsmen at work.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 4 : Mandawa / Bikaner (190 km / 3h30)
After breakfast, you will travel through the Thar Desert to reach Bikaner, the former princely capital of the 15th century. Upon arrival in Bikaner, you will settle into the hotel.
After lunch, you will explore Junagarh Fort, a vast citadel containing various palaces and temples. A maze of corridors, stairways, and courtyards awaits you. Among the corridors, you will discover the coronation room, the Palace of Mirrors, the Maharaja's room, the arms museum also containing elephant howdahs, the "conference hall" with a silver throne, and the first fakirs' nail boards. After a short tuk-tuk ride through the picturesque city bazaar, you will explore the old quarters on foot to discover the typical narrow streets.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 5 : Bikaner / Jaisalmer (330 km / 5h30)
After breakfast, you head towards Jaisalmer, a fascinating military outpost in the middle of the desert, nicknamed the "Golden City" due to the color the fort's stones take on at sunset. The citadel, resembling a huge sandcastle, seems straight out of the Arabian Nights. On the way, you will visit a typical desert village and have lunch at Fort Pokhran. You will continue towards Jaisalmer, arriving and settling into the hotel. In the evening, you will visit Bara Bagh, the old garden of the Jaisalmer rulers, to discover the chhatri (cenotaph) decorations of the Maharawal (rulers) of Jaisalmer at sunset.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 6 : Jaisalmer
After breakfast, you will start your visit to Jaisalmer with the Gadi Sagar artificial reservoir, which supplied the city with water until 1965, surrounded by small temples and oratories. Then, you will visit the Jaisalmer citadel, where you can observe the Maharajas' palace, abandoned at the beginning of the century. Followed by a visit to the Jain temple and a walk at the foot of the citadel. Next, you will stroll through Jaisalmer, where you can observe the Havelis, former mansion-palaces with intricately carved balconies, built in the 18th century by wealthy merchants, and a walk through the bazaar on foot. After lunch, your afternoon is free for personal activities and enjoying the pool.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 7 : Jaisalmer / Dechu (160 km / 2h30)
After breakfast, you head to Dechu. In the middle of the Rajasthan deserts lies a majestic oasis, Thar Oasis Resort, a true gem! A visit to Dechu is the best way to understand the culture and beauty of desert life. After lunch, you will go on a jeep tour to discover mustard and red chili fields. It's an opportunity to get in touch with the abundant wildlife (Indian gazelles or chinkara, and nilgai) and observe the magnificent beauty of the virgin sand dunes of the Thar Desert. After a short dromedary ride on the sand dunes, your evening will unfold around a barbecue, accompanied by a langana dance and music show.
Dinner and night in a tent.
Day 8 : Dechu / Jodhpur (130 km / 2h30)
After breakfast, you head to Jodhpur. Upon arrival in Jodhpur, and after settling into the hotel, you will discover the "blue city," dominated by the Mehrangarh Fort, with its harem, sumptuous reception hall, cradle room, small mirror palace, and royal palanquins hall with the silver howdah. After lunch, in the city, in the bazaars around the Clock Tower (a well-known gathering point for tourists as it is visible from afar!), artisans and merchants of all kinds practice their crafts. The market stalls overflow with sari fabrics, spices, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 9 : Jodhpur / Ranakpur / Udaipur (310 km / 5h30)
After breakfast, you head to Udaipur. On the way, you will make a much-appreciated stop to visit the Jain temples of Ranakpur. Located at the foot of a forested slope of the Aravalli mountains, Ranakpur is one of the most remarkable Jain sites, both for the quality of its sculpted decor, the complexity of the architecture of its temples, and the charm of the place animated by great religious fervor. The major work of this site is the Adinath temple, built in the 15th century. After lunch, you will take a beautiful road through the hilly landscape of the Aravalli range, leading you to Udaipur, the "pearl of Rajasthan."
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 10 : Udaipur
After breakfast, visit the white city, founded by Udai Singh in the 16th century, one of the most romantic cities in India. It boasts three sparkling lakes, including Lake Pichola, with its two "island-palaces," Jag Niwas and Jagmandir, and the gigantic City Palace, located on the lakeshore, which is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. After visiting the Palace, you will take a leisurely stroll through the streets of the old town and visit Jagdish Mandir, a shrine dedicated to Vishnu. In the afternoon, you will visit Sahelion-ki-Bari, dubbed the "Garden of the Maidens," built in the 18th century by Maharana Sangram Singh for the royal family's women who came to stroll here. You will discover this superb park filled with pools animated by magnificent fountains, as well as marble elephants and numerous pavilions that this charming, peaceful place contains. In the evening, you will take a boat ride on Lake Pichola to enjoy the magnificent sunset.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 11 : Udaipur / Pushkar (205 kms / 4h)
After breakfast, you head to Pushkar, one of the most important cities in Hinduism. Upon arrival, you will settle into the hotel. After lunch, you will visit Pushkar and its 400 places of worship (including the only temple dedicated to Brahma) offering pilgrims 52 Ghats to access the sacred waters where they come to purify themselves. Pushkar also hosts the largest camel fair in India every year.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 12 : Pushkar / Jaipur (150 km / 2h30)
After breakfast, you depart for Jaipur, one of the most pleasant and vibrant cities in India.
The capital of Rajasthan is also called the "Pink City" due to the color of the buildings in the old town, which is surrounded by bare hills topped with forts and crenelated walls. Sacred cows, camels, elephants, and rickshaws coexist here. Built in 1727, Jaipur is one of the most colorful and picturesque cities in all of India. After lunch, you will visit the "Jantar Mantar," a remarkable observatory built by a prince passionate about astronomy. Then, you will stroll through the bazaars of the old town in a rickshaw to admire the artisans in their shops (potters, dyers, jewelers), street vendors, and vegetable merchants. In the evening, you will visit the Birla Mandir temple and attend a religious ceremony (Aarti).
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 13 : Jaipur
After breakfast, you will head out for an excursion to Amber Fort. This majestic structure is located 9 km north of Jaipur, in the former capital of the Rajput empire. On the way, you will stop to see the Hawa Mahal (or Palace of Winds), a slender structure pierced with over 900 windows and balconies, allowing you to capture this extraordinary moment with the sunrise. Lunch, then visit the Monkey Temple (Galta ji). The afternoon is free for strolling through the bazaars, shopping, and/or relaxing at the hotel.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 14 : Jaipur / Ranthambore (180 km / 3h30)
After breakfast, you depart for Ranthambore National Park, renowned as one of the best places to see the Bengal tiger, where you will spend the day. The 280 km² forming the original heart of the park used to be the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. It was one of the first parks opened under Project Tiger, launched in 1973 by the Indian government, after the ban on tiger hunting. After lunch, you will go on a safari and visit the park.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 15 : Ranthambhore / Fatehpur sikri / Agra (240 km / 6h)
After breakfast, you head towards Agra. On the way, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, a remarkable site in terms of art and architecture. Built in 1571, Fatehpur Sikri was the former capital of Emperor Akbar. The Imperial City contains buildings in pink sandstone with highly varied architectural forms: palaces, pavilions, courtyards and pools, mosques, and caravanserai.
In the late afternoon, you will visit the Itimad-ud-Daulah mausoleum, nicknamed the "Baby Taj," the first Mughal structure built entirely in marble, with particularly delicate shapes and patterns.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 16 : Agra
After breakfast, you will set off to discover the Taj Mahal. You will then explore this high point of Mughal art and architecture. This luminous white marble mausoleum inlaid with semi-precious stones was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and is considered the third wonder of the world. The afternoon is free for shopping.
At the end of the day, you will visit the Red Fort of Agra, whose high red sandstone walls dominate the Yamuna River. It marks the birth of the imperial Mughal style and offers you one last look at the Taj Mahal.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 17 : Agra / Jhansi / Orchha (train - 260 km / 3h)
After breakfast, you will depart for Orchha. You will take a train to Jhansi. You continue your Dayney towards romantic Orchha, the jewel of Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the banks of the Betwa River and the former capital of the Bundela kings, Orchha remained the capital of a powerful Rajput kingdom until 1783. Today, it is a small medieval village, nestled among palaces and temples preserved from the ravages of time. Upon arrival in Orchha, you will check into your hotel. As you arrive in Orchha, you will explore the impressive Jahangir Mahal Palace, the Rajmahal Palace with its beautiful frescoes, and the Raj Praveen Mahal, a small palace set in a garden. In the evening, you will attend a religious ceremony (Aarti) at the Rama Temple.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 18 : Orchha / Khajuraho (170 km / 4h30)
After breakfast, you depart for the Ganges Valley and Khajuraho, once the capital of the Chandela kings from the 6th to the 8th century. You will visit the western part of the Khajuraho site and its sculpted temples, featuring gigantic frescoes of entwined human figures practicing "the arts of love."
Sexuality becomes a spiritual path dedicated to the challenge of recognizing, at every moment in life, the sacred power of love to achieve the absolute. This is what the sculptures of Khajuraho reveal: scenes of ordinary life in the fields, scenes of war, and scenes of love unfold under the benevolent gaze of the gods. To fully understand and appreciate the purity of the divinity, one must leave their sexual desires outside the temple… in theory, of course! After lunch, you will attend a colorful dance show representing different regions of India.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 19 : Khajuraho / Varanasi (Flight)
After breakfast, you will discover rural India through a walk in the village, where the entire tradition of India resonates. After lunch, you will take a domestic flight to Varanasi. To fully experience the spiritual energy of the city, you will explore the alleys by rickshaw and then take a short walk through the bazaar of the old town to the Ashvamedha Ghats. People come here mainly to pray, wash, purify, shave (female pilgrims donate their hair to the river), play cricket, wash their clothes, give alms to sadhus, or practice yoga.
You will then board a boat to take you to the Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi's cremation site, for a glimpse of the magnificent "Ganga Aarti" fire ceremony celebrated by priests in a daily homage to the sacred Ganges River. You will also see devotees setting tiny clay oil lamps adrift, their dancing flames floating before disappearing with the current. The atmosphere is very different from the sunrise ceremonies. Back on land, you will have the opportunity to participate in an offering and worship ceremony on the Ghats, honoring the deities. Seeing these illuminated domes floating in the night will be a moment of wisdom that you will remember for a long time.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 20 : Varanasi
Very early in the morning, you will take a boat ride on the river to witness the sunrise Aarti ceremony, the bathing of pilgrims, and the city's awakening. Your morning continues with a walk through the old town to the Aurangzeb Mosque, built in the 17th century.
Then you will visit the famous Golden Temple for a glimpse of the most sacred temple in Benares, with its gold-covered roofs, whose entrance is reserved for Hindus. Next, you will see the exterior of the Durga Temple, dating from the late 19th century, also known as the "Monkey Temple."
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
You will continue your day with an excursion to the nearby town of Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon. The site includes the ruins of buildings constructed between the reigns of Ashoka and Akbar and has an interesting museum displaying magnificent sculptures (both Hindu and Buddhist) found during excavations. The famous Ashoka Pillar, a symbol of India, is a major piece. After lunch, you will explore the Bharat Mata Temple, inaugurated in 1936 by Gandhi and dedicated to Mother India. It features a relief map of the Indian territory as a "divine" image. Studying this modern temple allows for an analysis of the ambiguity of a place that hesitates between being a museum dedicated to the secular Indian nation and a temple to the deified Hindu nation. As a temple-museum visited by pilgrim-tourists without true emotion or devotion, the Bharat Mata raises questions about the links between religion, history, and politics, and their evolution.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 21 : Varanasi / Delhi / Paris (Flight)
After breakfast, you will take a flight to Delhi before being transferred to the international airport for your return flight.