Mughal Monuments, Tiger Safaris, Desert Forts & the City of Lakes — All in One Journey
This is the most complete single Rajasthan itinerary we offer — fourteen days that combine every signature element of the state and its Mughal gateway cities into one coherent, expertly paced journey, beginning in Delhi and concluding in the romantic lakeside city of Udaipur.
A note on this itinerary: earlier versions of this route description referenced Bharatpur's bird sanctuary and a Ranthambhore tiger safari without allocating either a proper overnight — we've corrected this by building both into the schedule with the time they genuinely deserve, alongside a dedicated night in Delhi to open the tour properly.
The journey opens with Delhi's monuments and the Taj Mahal at sunset in Agra, before a night at Bharatpur's UNESCO-listed Keoladeo wetland sanctuary and two full days of jeep safaris at Ranthambhore National Park. Jaipur's royal forts and palaces follow, then the route turns west into the desert proper — Bikaner's flat-ground Junagarh Fort and the curious Karni Mata 'Rat Temple', the living fort city of Jaisalmer, and a night camped beneath the stars at the Sam Sand Dunes after a sunset camel safari.
From the desert, the tour continues to Jodhpur — the Blue City, dominated by the dramatic Mehrangarh Fort — before concluding with two nights in Udaipur, the City of Lakes, with a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola past the floating Lake Palace. Fourteen days, ten destinations, and every major facet of Rajasthan's heritage, wildlife, and desert landscape woven into a single unforgettable circuit.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to India! Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Afternoon: the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun's Tomb — a concentrated introduction to Delhi's three-thousand-year layered history, followed by a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk's spice and silver lanes.
Drive to Agra (200 km, ~4 hrs), stopping at Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar's abandoned 16th-century capital. In Agra, visit Agra Fort. Evening: the Taj Mahal at sunset, its marble turning amber and rose as the light fades.
Optional sunrise Taj Mahal visit. Drive to Bharatpur (55 km, ~1.5 hrs). Afternoon cycle-rickshaw or boat tour through Keoladeo National Park's wetlands — 370+ recorded bird species, particularly rich October–February.
Morning wetland walk before checkout. Drive to Ranthambhore (180 km, ~4 hrs). Afternoon jeep safari into one of the park's zones for an early chance at a tiger sighting.
Dawn jeep safari for the best tiger activity. Visit Ranthambhore Fort, the 10th-century citadel within the park. Afternoon jeep safari into a different zone for a second sighting opportunity.
Optional morning safari, then checkout. Drive north to Jaipur (160 km, ~3 hrs). Afternoon free to explore the old walled city.
Amber Fort by jeep, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar, and the Hawa Mahal. Evening: folk dance and a traditional Rajasthani dinner at Chokhi Dhani village.
Drive to Bikaner (330 km, ~6 hrs). Visit Junagarh Fort — built on flat ground and never successfully captured — and, time permitting, the famous Karni Mata 'Rat Temple' at nearby Deshnoke, where thousands of rats are revered as sacred.
Drive to Jaisalmer (330 km, ~6 hrs). Explore the living fort — one of the last in the world where families still reside within the walls — and the elaborately carved Patwon ki Haveli.
A short drive to the Sam Sand Dunes (42 km). Afternoon camel safari into the dunes for sunset, followed by traditional folk music and dance at your desert camp, then a night under an exceptionally starry desert sky.
Drive to Jodhpur (285 km, ~5.5 hrs). Afternoon: Mehrangarh Fort, rising 125 metres above a sea of indigo-painted houses — widely considered India's most dramatic fort.
Drive south through the Aravalli hills (250 km, ~5 hrs), stopping at Ranakpur — a Jain temple with over 1,400 intricately carved marble pillars, no two alike. Continue to Udaipur and check in.
The City Palace complex — the largest in Rajasthan. A sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola past the floating Lake Palace and Jagmandir island. Saheliyon ki Bari's formal gardens and fountains.
A relaxed final morning in Udaipur — one last walk by the lake before transfer to Maharana Pratap Airport for your departure flight. The tour concludes in Udaipur, or connect via Mumbai or Delhi for your onward journey.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ 13 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels, heritage havelis & desert camp
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout; full board on safari & desert camp days
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers & sightseeing
- ✓ English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- ✓ 4 jeep safaris in Ranthambhore (2 full days, different zones)
- ✓ Keoladeo National Park cycle-rickshaw/boat tour
- ✓ Sunset camel safari at Sam Dunes with folk performance
- ✓ All monument entry fees — forts, palaces, temples & parks
- ✓ Chokhi Dhani village evening experience
- ✓ Sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola, Udaipur
- ✓ All applicable taxes
Not Included ✗
- ✗ International flights to / from Delhi or Udaipur
- ✗ Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗ Lunches throughout
- ✗ Camera fees at monuments (nominal)
- ✗ Personal expenses & shopping
- ✗ Gratuities for driver-guide & naturalist guides
Your questions, answered
Yes, and we want to be transparent about this. The original version of this itinerary's description referenced a Bharatpur bird sanctuary visit and a Ranthambhore tiger safari, but the night-by-night route didn't actually allocate time for either — they were effectively impossible to include as described. We've corrected this by properly building in a Bharatpur overnight and two full days at Ranthambhore (four jeep safaris), which is why this itinerary now runs 14 days rather than the 10 originally suggested. We believe this is the only honest way to offer an itinerary that includes everything it describes.
Fourteen days allows every destination — Delhi, Agra, Bharatpur, Ranthambhore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, the Sam Dunes, Jodhpur, and Udaipur — proper, unhurried time, including two full safari days at Ranthambhore. If you'd prefer a shorter version, we can remove the wildlife component entirely (saving roughly 4 days) or skip Bikaner (saving 1–2 days including drive time) — enquire for a tailored shorter itinerary.
Yes — Jaisalmer has a small airport with seasonal flights from Delhi, and Jodhpur and Udaipur both have well-connected airports. If you'd like to reduce the considerable driving distances in the desert section (Jaipur–Bikaner–Jaisalmer alone covers over 650 km), we can restructure parts of this itinerary around domestic flights — let us know when booking.
October to March is ideal — comfortable temperatures (15–28°C), clear skies, and the best conditions for sightseeing, fort treks, and wildlife safaris. April–June brings intense heat (up to 45°C); July–September is monsoon, with some relief from the heat but reduced safari access in the tiger reserves.
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and built around your preferences. We can adjust the duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions. Submit an enquiry and our specialists will redesign the itinerary for you at no obligation.
We include carefully selected 4-star and 5-star hotels throughout — heritage havelis, palace hotels, desert camps, and well-appointed properties near the wildlife reserves, all personally vetted by our team. Upgrades to palace hotels or luxury tented camps are available on request.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Processing typically takes 3–5 business days and costs $25–$80 USD depending on your nationality. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
Cancellations 60+ days before departure receive a full refund minus a small admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50% refund. Under 15 days: no refund. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance.
