India—Rajasthan, Tigers & Taj

Itinerary at a glance

We meet in Delhi (1 night). After a walking tour of the Old City, we switch to rickshaws for a ride around India’s largest mosque. We may sample street food in the Chor Bazaar, but save room for tonight’s dinner in a private home. In Agra (1 night), we’re not content just to see the Taj Mahal—our hotel overlooks it for uncrowded access at dusk and dawn.

A hunting lodge (2 nights) is our base for walks and game drives at Ranthambhore National Park, the world’s best-known tiger preserve. Then we take the road to Jaipur (2 nights) through the villages of Rajasthan. On elephant back, we’ll visit the Amber Fort and pause for refreshments at a farmhouse.

After a flight to Jodhpur, we’ll go for a camel ride before returning to our colonial-style luxury encampment at Osian (1 night) and an evening with local dancers. From the beautiful hamlet of Narlai (1 night), we’ll take a fascinating walk into the Aravalli Hills to meet the native tribespeople at home in their small rural village.

In Udaipur (2 nights), the Venice of the East, we’ll stroll from our gleaming hotel to explore the city’s white marble palace complex. Then we shop the spice and vegetable markets with a chef, followed by a cooking lesson in her kitchen. On our final day, we part company in Delhi.