Rajasthan Tour Packages

About Rajasthan

Rajasthan is the fort and palace circuit, and it is also the easiest long road trip from Gujarat. The usual loop runs Jaipur, Ajmer and Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur, with Mount Abu or Ranthambore added when there is time. Each city has its own fort, its own bazaar and its own food.

Jaipur has Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar. Jodhpur is built around Mehrangarh, one of the best kept forts in the country, with the blue old town below it. Jaisalmer is the living fort in the Thar, with Sam and Khuri dunes, camel rides and desert camps. Udaipur has Lake Pichola, the City Palace, Jag Mandir and the Saheliyon ki Bari gardens.

October to March is the season, cool enough to walk a fort at midday. Pushkar fair in November, the Jaisalmer desert festival in February and Jaipur's Teej and Gangaur are worth planning around. We arrange hotels or heritage havelis, a driver who knows the routes, camp bookings in the desert and a local guide at each fort.

Best places to see

• Amber Fort and Jaipur cityA hillside fort above Maota lake with the mirror hall, reached by jeep or on foot, plus Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar in town. Reach Amber by eight in the morning to beat both the heat and the queue.
• Mehrangarh Fort, JodhpurA vast fort on a rock face with a well kept museum and views over the blue houses of the old town. Late afternoon into sunset is the best time, and Jaswant Thada is next door.
• Jaisalmer Fort and havelisA golden sandstone fort still lived in, with Patwon ki Haveli and Gadisar lake nearby. Walk the fort lanes early, then Gadisar at sunset.
• Sam and Khuri dunesCamel and jeep rides on the dunes with a desert camp, folk music and dinner. Reach the dunes about an hour before sunset.
• Lake Pichola and Udaipur City PalaceThe largest palace complex in Rajasthan on the lake edge, with Jag Mandir and the Lake Palace on the water. Take the boat ride at sunset, and add Saheliyon ki Bari and the vintage car museum.
• Pushkar and AjmerThe Brahma temple and the ghats of Pushkar lake, with the Ajmer Sharif dargah a short drive away. Morning is calmer at both, and the cattle fair fills November.
• Ranthambore National ParkTiger country in a dry deciduous forest around a hill fort, with jeep and canter safaris. Open roughly October to June, and morning safaris are best.
• Chittorgarh and KumbhalgarhThe largest fort in India at Chittorgarh with the Vijay Stambh, and Kumbhalgarh's long wall on the way to Udaipur. Both need two to three hours.
• Mount AbuRajasthan's only hill station, with the Dilwara Jain temples, Nakki lake and a sunset point. The temples have fixed visiting hours for tourists in the afternoon.

Suggested itinerary

• Day 1 Arrive Jaipur, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal, evening at Johari Bazaar and Chokhi Dhani.
• Day 2 Amber Fort in the morning, Jal Mahal, Jaigarh and Nahargarh for sunset.
• Day 3 Drive to Jodhpur via Ajmer Sharif and Pushkar lake, arrive for the night.
• Day 4 Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan and the clock tower market, drive on or overnight in Jodhpur.
• Day 5 Drive to Jaisalmer, evening at Gadisar lake, night at a desert camp at Sam or Khuri with camel ride and folk music.
• Day 6 Jaisalmer fort, Patwon ki Haveli and Kuldhara, drive to Udaipur via Jodhpur or Ranakpur.
• Day 7 Udaipur City Palace, Saheliyon ki Bari, Jagdish temple and a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola.
• Day 8 Kumbhalgarh or Chittorgarh on the way out, or transfer to Udaipur airport for departure.

What is included

Best season

October to March is the season, with pleasant days and cold desert nights in December and January. February and March are ideal, warm in the day and comfortable in the evening. April to June is very hot inland and in the Thar, and sightseeing has to be finished by mid morning. The monsoon from July to September is short and makes Udaipur and the Aravalli side green, and the lakes fill up.

Good to know

• Fort and palace tickets are separate from the tour and some, such as Amber's light show and the Taj adjacent sites on extended routes, sell only on the spot, so carry cash and ID.
• Desert nights at Jaisalmer and Bikaner get genuinely cold from December to February, so carry a jacket even if the day was warm.
• Distances are long, Jaipur to Jaisalmer is a full day of driving, so keep one city per day and start early rather than late.
• Dress modestly for the dargah at Ajmer and the Dilwara temples, cover the head at the dargah, and note that photography is not allowed inside Dilwara.
• Agree camel and jeep ride charges at the dunes in advance, and let our driver or camp handle it for you.
• Try dal baati churma, laal maas, gatte ki sabzi, ker sangri and Jodhpur's mirchi vada, and shop for blue pottery in Jaipur and bandhej in Jodhpur.

Planning and cost

Flights or trains, hotels, transfers and sightseeing are arranged together by our team. Every plan is made for your dates and your group, so the cost is quoted after we know what you want. Price on request.