Arrival at Delhi International Airport

Your Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester non-stop lands at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where our representative meets you at the Terminal 3 arrivals gate with a name placard and a private air-conditioned vehicle. Transfer takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on Delhi traffic, followed by check-in at a 4-star or 5-star hotel in Aerocity or central Delhi. For UK travellers, the four and a half to five and a half hour time gap sits heavier than the flight itself, so we build a rest evening rather than push a monument on day one. A light Indian dinner at the hotel restaurant, with mild-spice options prepared to order, closes the day. Overnight in Delhi.

Delhi to Jaipur by Road

After breakfast, we drive to Jaipur along the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway, a five to five and a half hour transfer that most UK families handle well with a mid-way stop for chai and washrooms. Arrival happens by early afternoon. Depending on group energy, we either check into the heritage hotel first or take an unhurried drive to the Amber Fort approach for late afternoon light on the Aravalli ridge. Panna Meena Ka Kund step-well and the Amer viewpoint work well as light first-day stops. Dinner at a rooftop restaurant in the walled Pink City gives first-time visitors a slow introduction to Rajasthan food. Overnight in Jaipur.

Jaipur Sightseeing

The full day covers Amber Fort with a gentle jeep ride to the ramparts, City Palace with its Mubarak Mahal courtyards, Jantar Mantar’s astronomical instruments, and a photo stop at the Hawa Mahal facade. Depending on interest, we add either Anokhi block-print workshops or a Rajput jewellery visit for buyers. Lunch happens at a local heritage restaurant, and afternoons are kept lighter for senior travellers. An optional Chokhi Dhani cultural village dinner works well for family groups; couples often prefer a quiet rooftop dinner in the Old City. Guides here explain Rajput and Mughal architectural layering in accessible English. Overnight in Jaipur.

Jaipur to Pushkar to Jodhpur

A six and a half to seven hour driving day, broken by a lunch and Pushkar break at the sacred lake and Brahma Temple. This day suits travellers who want to see the Aravalli transition into Marwar country. The Pushkar stop is brief but memorable: ghats, camel vendors, and a walk through the bazaar with a local guide. We resume the drive and arrive in Jodhpur by early evening, checking into a heritage hotel with Mehrangarh views. Dinner is arranged at the hotel, with the option to swap for a local Marwari thali. This transition day is when the desert light and architecture shift becomes visible. Overnight in Jodhpur.

Jodhpur Sightseeing

The morning belongs to Mehrangarh Fort, with its audio guide worth taking for the Rathore family history and layered fort architecture. City views from the ramparts explain why Jodhpur is called the Blue City. Jaswant Thada, the marble cenotaph, follows, then a walk through Sardar Market and the clock tower area for spice, textile and antique browsing. Afternoons are kept flexible: honeymooners often opt for a private lunch at Umaid Bhawan Palace, while families choose a quieter hotel afternoon before an early dinner. For family groups, we add a short walk through the blue lanes of the old town with a local resident guide. Overnight in Jodhpur.

Jodhpur to Jaisalmer

The five to five and a half hour desert drive to Jaisalmer runs across increasingly arid land, and we make a stop at Osian, a Rajput and Jain temple town, for lunch and a walk. Arrival in Jaisalmer is timed for late afternoon check-in at a heritage haveli or hotel outside the fort walls. Sunset viewing at Gadisar Lake or the town’s Sunset Point gives first-time visitors a soft introduction to the Golden City’s stone glow. Dinner at the hotel or a rooftop restaurant with fort views closes the day. UK travellers accustomed to short driving days may find this segment long; we build in extra comfort stops where needed. Overnight in Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer Fort and Sam Desert Safari

Morning covers the living fort, one of the few inhabited hill forts still in daily use, with visits to Patwon Ki Haveli, Salim Singh Ki Haveli and Nathmalji Ki Haveli. Guides explain Bhati Rajput history and the fort’s inclusion in the Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO group. Lunch happens back in town. By late afternoon, we transfer 40 kilometres out to the Sam sand dunes for the desert safari. Camel rides across the crescent dunes, or a 4×4 dune bash for younger travellers, precede an evening at a luxury tented camp with Rajasthani folk music, a Kalbelia dance performance, and a hot buffet dinner under the stars.

Jaisalmer to Udaipur via Jodhpur

This is the longest transit day. We drive from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, roughly five hours, then take a domestic flight from Jodhpur to Udaipur, a one hour hop. Some luxury routes include an overnight train in a first AC cabin instead, particularly for railway enthusiasts. Arrival in Udaipur is timed for late afternoon, and we check into a lake-view hotel or heritage property in the old city. An unhurried evening includes a walk along Lake Pichola, dinner at a rooftop restaurant with Lake Palace views, and early rest. For UK travellers on tight itineraries, this domestic sector shaves nearly a full day off the road option. Overnight in Udaipur.

Udaipur Sightseeing

Full-day sightseeing covers the sprawling City Palace complex, the Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon Ki Bari gardens, and the Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal folk museum. Afternoon is kept for a Lake Pichola boat ride, with a stop at Jagmandir Island. This is one of the softer sightseeing days on the tour, well suited to travellers who value scenery over dense monument itineraries. Optional add-ons include a cooking class in a local haveli, a Kathputli puppet-making workshop, or the Dharohar folk dance evening at Bagore Ki Haveli. Sunset at Ambrai Ghat or the Karni Mata ropeway top station makes for a strong final evening. Overnight in Udaipur.

Udaipur to Delhi and UK Departure

Morning is kept flexible for last-minute shopping, spa slots, or a slow breakfast overlooking Lake Pichola. We transfer to Maharana Pratap Airport for a domestic flight to Delhi, roughly one hour fifteen minutes in the air. Delhi arrival timing usually allows a same-day international connection back to Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester on Air India, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic non-stops. For UK travellers wanting a slower close, we can add a Delhi day room at an Aerocity hotel or a half-day Old and New Delhi tour before the evening flight. Assistance with airport check-in and duty-free direction is provided by our Delhi ground team. Trip ends.