India

Welcome to India. Upon arrival in Mumbai, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel by private driver. A member of our team will be there to greet you and help you settle in smoothly.

The remainder of the day is yours to rest, recover from jet lag, and begin absorbing the rhythm of the city. In the evening, we gather for a tour orientation followed by our welcome dinner - your first shared meal and first taste of Indian cuisine. It’s a gentle, grounding start to a journey filled with discovery.

Today we spend a full day getting to know Mumbai, a city of striking contrasts, coastal beauty, spiritual devotion, and constant motion. After breakfast, we begin at Victoria Terminus, one of the busiest train stations in India, where Gothic architecture and daily life collide in a powerful introduction to the city’s energy.

From there, we continue to Colaba and the Gateway of India, where cafés, street vendors, and harbor views tell the story of Mumbai as a historic port shaped by trade and migration. Lunch is at a classic Parsi café, offering comforting dishes tied to one of the city’s oldest communities.

In the late afternoon, we visit Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Ganesha, where lines of devotees arrive with flowers and sweets - a moving glimpse into everyday faith. As evening approaches, we drive along Marine Drive, the sweeping seafront boulevard where locals gather to walk and watch the light fade. We end the day with dinner in Juhu, an upscale beach neighborhood known for its excellent restaurants.

This morning we take a 2 hour flight directly to Udaipur, often called one of India’s most romantic cities. Set among lakes and green hills, Udaipur feels calmer and more intimate, with palaces galore, narrow lanes and old houses reflected in the water.

After arrival and check-in at our hotel near the shore of Lake Pichola, there’s time to settle in before an orientation walk along the lakeside. As the sun lowers, the city takes on a soft glow. Dinner is on the rooftop of our hotel, where we enjoy the views over the water and palaces and ease into Udaipur’s gentler pace.

We begin the day with a relaxed walk through Udaipur’s old town, wandering narrow lanes, lakeside steps, and quiet neighborhoods where daily life unfolds at an unhurried pace. We pass small shrines, neighborhood shops, and workshops that hint at the city’s long connection to craft.

At Jagdish Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, we admire its carved pillars, detailed panels, and tall spire before stopping for lunch.

In the afternoon, we head into the countryside to visit a Mewari village. Over chai, we sit with families, hear about farming and seasonal rhythms, and learn about home-based crafts such as pottery and textiles - an intimate look at rural life that feels both welcoming and genuine.

Today we’ll drive 2 hours out of Udaipur on a trip to the Ranakpur region, watching the landscape shift to open countryside with small farms, roadside chai stops, and low green hills. Home to the magnificent Ranakpur Jain Temple, with its 1444 intricately carved pillars that reveal more than initially seems, we'll begin with a tour of this pilgrimage site and mesmerizing complex.

In the early afternoon, we'll visit the villages of Narlai and Ghanerao. In Narlai, a small village set into the hills, we’ll explore on foot past temples and traditional homes, meet people along the way, enjoy chai, and sit down for a local lunch in the village. In Ghanerao the setting feels more tucked away, with narrow lanes, stone houses, and an old fort ruin visible up on a hill. We’ll visit the small temples around the village to learn how faith and daily routine fit together here, and keep time for plenty of local interactions before we drive back to Udaipur later in the day for a free evening.

Today we travel to Bundi, a place many travelers miss, and one that often becomes a favorite. The 4.5-hour drive brings us to a peaceful town where pastel-colored houses cluster below a dramatic palace and fortress on the hill.

Bundi feels warm, friendly, and refreshingly unpolished. Upon arrival, there’s time to relax before an a walk through the narrow lanes of town, where rewarding local interactions with residents and shopkeepers will surely arise.

Dinner will be on the rooftop of our hotel, with a view that might be one of the best in India. From the first evening, Bundi’s charm is unmistakable.

This morning we explore Bundi’s old town on foot, moving through painted lanes and lively local markets. We visit ancient and unique stepwells, pause to observe daily scenes, and enjoy a few small surprises arranged by our team.

After lunch, we stop for what many consider some of the best chai in India, at a simple stall owned by the kind Krishna. In the late afternoon, we visit the spectacular Bundi Palace, perched high above town and filled with detailed carvings, mosaics and mural-covered rooms that offer insight into Rajput royal life.

In the evening, we’re invited into the home of our local friend and his family for dinner - a warm, personal experience that brings the town’s hospitality to life.

We begin the day with a morning tiger safari in nearby Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, a newer protected area with few visitors and quiet tracks. With luck, we hope to spot a tiger or two, along with deer, antelope, peacocks, owls, and possibly leopards across scrub forest and rocky hills.

In the afternoon, we head to a remote village where traditional saris are still woven using indigenous techniques passed down through generations. We meet the artisans, tour the village, and learn how weaving fits into daily life before returning to Bundi for dinner.

After breakfast, we drive 3 hours to the Pink City of Jaipur and check into our beautiful and modern five-star hotel just outside the center. With an amazing pool, bars, and multiple restaurants, it’s a perfect place to pause after several busy days.

The afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel at your own pace with perhaps a swim or spa treatment. We'll gather together in the evening for a group dinner at our hotel.

This morning we’ll experience Jaipur through its famous market streets in the heart of the Pink City, where daily life will unfold right in front of us. With our guide leading the way, we’ll walk through the lanes at an easy pace, taking in the fabrics hanging from shop fronts, the jewelry counters, the spice and snack stalls, tailors, booksellers and the constant flow of people in all directions.

We’ll then visit the unique Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, and learn why it was built with so many small windows and screens and how royal women used it to watch the street life below.

After some free time to browse the market at your own pace, we’ll return to our hotel for a calm evening, giving you time to rest and recharge before the next day of travel.

Leaving Jaipur, we drive 3.5 hours to Agra, once a Mughal capital. Along the way we’ll stop at the Abaneri stepwell, an impressive piece of old engineering, with steep geometric staircases that drop deep into the ground and make you pause when you see it in person.

We’ll also break up the drive with lunch en route, then continue on to Agra and check into our 5 star hotel in the early evening.

For those who wish, we'll take an orientation walk to stretch our legs before sitting down for dinner.

We'll be up early for a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, leaving around 6:00 AM so we arrive as the gates open and the morning light begins to settle over the complex. We'll walk through the complex with our guide and learn the story behind this 17th century masterpiece. Then, we'll have plenty of free time to explore at your own pace. You will be able to move from the gardens and main mausoleum to the surrounding gates, mosques, and courtyards without feeling hurried.

Following our visit, we'll return to our hotel for breakfast and to finish packing up. At 11:00 AM we'll begin the 3 hour drive to Delhi, where the tour will come to an end.

**IMPORTANT: Please make sure your departure flight out of Delhi is later than 6:00 PM in order to have enough time to reach the airport.

For those who wish to fly out the following day, we can arrange a night at a hotel near the airport.