Day 1 to 2 - Arrive Delhi

The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre tour accommodation. On arrival please ask at the reception for information on when the pre departure meeting will be held.

Delhi is India's bustling capital, political and cultural centre, with a population of almost 13 million and is bound to be a city that keeps you on your toes no matter what time of day it is!

Many dynasties have ruled here and they have all left their own legacies in the architecture, culture and monuments. The city has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times in its long history. Distances are long in the city and walking to places can be futile. Take a bike rickshaw or a motorised rickshaw to get around some of the sites. You can visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum or the infamous Red Fort, maybe make your way to Humayun's Tomb in south Delhi, near Hazrat Nizamuddin station, one of Delhi's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A popular way to discover Delhi for many people is to take a bicycle rickshaw tour and check out the view from Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

Day 3 to 6 - Agra – Ranthambore

You will travel by train from Delhi railway station to the industrial city of Agra. Home of the infamous Taj Mahal, Agra is a city steeped in history and tradition. The Taj Mahal never ceases to amaze all who visit to marvel at what is possibly the greatest testimonial to love and romance ever built. It was commissioned between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife.

There is more to Agra than monuments of love, and other popular attractions include the Agra Fort and Tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah. You will have free time in Agra to explore at your leisure or book some optional excursions. Your tour leader will offer suggestions and assist you with these.

You have the option to watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal - a truly incredible sight (this will be organised with your tour leader). You might also like to visit Fatehpur Sikri - a complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for 10 years. The day will be free to explore Agra further and admire some of Hinduism's most holy sights.

Moving on from the spectacle of Agra, we visit the world's most famous tiger reserve, Ranthambore National Park, where tigers are very often seen. We transfer from our hotel in Agra to the railway station and travel by train to Sawai Madhopur, a town located along the rolling hills of the Vindhyas and Aravali ranges. Ranthambore National Park, one of the finest tiger reserves in India. We will then take a wildlife safari into the National Park for the chance to view the magnificent tigers that reside there. The lakeside woods and grassland provide an ideal habitat for other native wildlife such as deer, wild boar, antelope, bear, leopards and gazelles. This beautiful sanctuary, which covers 410 square kilometres, came under the Project Tiger scheme in 1972.

You may also wish to visit the Ranthambore Fort which is believed to have housed a settlement as far back as the 8th century. The fort has a Siva temple, where legend has it Rana Hamir beheaded himself rather than face being humiliated by the conquering Delhi army. It also contains age-old palaces, pavilions and tanks.

Day 7 to 15 - Jaipur – Pushkar – Udaipur – Jodhpur

Jaipur is Rajasthan's capital and most visited city, and is a bustling, lively destination. It is known as the 'pink city' because of its pink wash buildings although time has faded some of this colour. Make sure you check out the Old City with its bazaars, palaces and havelis. There's also the popular Nahargarh (Tiger Fort) which is a small fort with towering walls. You may also wish to go on a group visit to Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is one of Jaipur's most famous attractions - a five storey high Baroque- like structure built to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe the street scenes below, out of sight of the people below. The following day there is free time to view the city independently. Try the fresh fruit juices from the street markets (remember to ask for no water or ice!). You could shop for souvenirs and look out for the Meenakaari (enamel work) and Kundankaari (inlay work with gems), which are the two styles of jewellery made by local artisans. Alternatively you could wander around the old city taking in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Or why not visit the Amber Fort, which used to be the capital of the city.

We now make our way to the enchanting and mystic Pushkar, a desert-edged town which is famous for its revered lake and many temples. Brahma Lake is one of the country's most sacred lakes and continues to attract pilgrims today. Pushkar has the only Brahma temple that exists in the world and is a popular attraction for those interested in Hindu culture. You can take an optional tour of the lake and its 52 Ghats, or visit the main Sadar (bazaar) which is a busy marketplace selling goods and pilgrim odds and ends. There are literally dozens of temples in Pushkar - if you are up for it, the Savitri Temple will give you an excellent view of the town and surrounding desert, but you have to climb three kilometres up a steep hill to get there!

Set in the Girwa valley, Udaipur 'the city of lakes' is located in southern Rajasthan. It is one of the most popular cities in the region with its placid lakes and green gardens. This is a truly captivating city and as a result it has been dubbed 'the most romantic city in India'. Surrounded by beautiful lakes, marble palaces and stunning gardens, Udaipur will most likely offer a refreshing change to the desert surrounds you have seen so far. It provides an insight into the variety and geographical diversity that characterises India. Udaipur is also home to one of the most luxurious hotels in India, the Lake Palace, which is the former Maharajas Palace in the middle of the lake. There are plenty of sightseeing options in Udaipur as well, including the City Palace, which is an impressive complex of several palaces.

Busy Jodhpur is Rajasthan's second largest city, dominated by its spectacular Mehrangarh fort. Located in Western Rajasthan you'll see endless golden dunes, camels slowly trekking into the distance and desert landscapes as far as the eye can see.

You will have ample free time for sightseeing. If you take the option to visit the Majestic Fort, you will see why Jodphur is known as the 'Blue City'; many houses in the old city are painted blue and you can admire this amazing view from the fort. There are many optional excursions and activities that you can try if you feel like involving yourself with the local culture and tradition, why not try a cooking, art or Hindi class? You can also choose to visit the old city with its stone temples and lively markets. Or take a wander through the new city, which houses several palaces, such as the art-deco Umaid Bhawan Palace, museums, Kaman art gallery for contemporary Indian art, and a small exotic zoo in the gardens of the Government Museum.

Day 16 to 18 - Jaiselmer – Overnight Camel Safari – Jaiselmer

We venture deep into the desert to Jaisalmer, 'the golden city', where you'll see that there is no shortage of markets or camels here, each in fierce competition with each other! Jaisalmer's main attraction is its medieval mud fortress, which is the only fort in the whole of India that still has people living in it today.

From here we take an overnight camel safari into the Thar Desert, which is a great way to unwind after experiencing the hustle and bustle of urban Indian life. From here we begin our journey into the photogenic Thar Desert by vehicle. This region is sparsely populated by some of India's most colourful and resourceful people, such as Bhati Rajputs, who are descended from an ancient warrior called Bhatti. We then reach the vast sand dunes where we will begin our overnight camel safari, which will give you the opportunity to experience desert life from a camel's back. Camel breeding is a common practice in this area. You will meet with your village herdsman and the camel which you will ride on the way to the camp. We venture out into the golden sea of sand and will have the chance to see nomadic herders, remote parts of the Thar Desert, rolling sand dunes and desert villages. We will camp under the stars and have a traditional meal cooked for us. The following day we continue our journey back to civilisation. The scenery becomes more fertile and densely populated as we head back Jaisalmer.

Day 19 to 20 - Bikaner – Delhi

We then visit Bikaner in the north, the home of the impressive Junagarh Fort surrounded by what was once an elaborate moat. Bikaner is also referred to as an 'oasis town'. Here you could visit Lalgarh Palace, which is a red sandstone building surrounded by sand dunes and rocks. Outside of Bikaneer lies one of the most unusual attractions, the Karni Mata Temple, where some 2000 rats reside. The rats are seen as holy and are revered and they protected because it is believed that they have souls of the followers of Karni Mata in them. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit the temple every year to pay their respects to Karni Mata and her followers.

We then make our way back to the capital, where there's time for some last minute souvenir shopping or to check out any sights you may have missed first time around.

Day 21 to 21 - Depart Delhi

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today, please confirm with the reception the check out time. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.