800-903-5750

(19 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis - You choose the date) 
Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Cochin, Kerala, Mumbai 

Explore the highlights of northern and southern India on this extraordinary private luxury tour. Great for first-time travelers to India who want to see a broad range of the best the entire country has to offer, the tour features breathtaking landscapes, spectacular cultural sites, impossibly luxurious hotels, one of India’s most interesting game reserves, and two dynamic cities.
   

Begin in Delhi, the bustling capital of India. During private touring, experience highlights such as Humayun’s Tomb, the Lodi Gardens, and a rickshaw ride through the bazaars of Old Delhi, as well as upscale shopping districts.

Next, visit Varanasi (Benares), one of the oldest cities in the world and, as the spiritual center of the Hindu world, a major Indian pilgrimage site. Watch as believers congregate on the ghats (stone steps) along the banks of the holy Ganges River to perform ritual ablutions. Visit local villages and explore Varanasi’s old town, with its ancient universities and renowned silk shops. Also, take an excursion to Sarnath, believed to be the site of the Buddha’s first sermon. If desired, visit master silk weavers and enjoy a private recital in the home of a local musician.

Transfer to Agra for a spellbinding visit to the Taj Mahal, the world’s greatest monument to love. Also visit Agra Fort and local markets. Stay in the lavish Oberoi Amarvilas in a room with an uninterrupted view of the Taj.

Proceed to Ranthambore National Park, one of the world’s finest wildlife sanctuaries, home to tigers, leopards and crocodiles. Enjoy several game viewing excursions while staying at a luxury tented camp surrounded by lemon and mango trees.

Continue to nearby Jaipur, Rajasthan’s great “Pink City.” See the rich architectural legacy of Jaipur’s merchants and maharajas (Hindu princes)—hill forts, palaces, an observatory, gardens, temples and havelis (courtyard mansions)—surrounded by stark desert. Ride an elephant to Amber Fort. Marvel at the luminous saris of indigenous tribal women and the bright turbans of Rajasthani men. Explore medieval backstreets and browse bazaars selling textiles, leatherwork, woodblock prints, perfume, jewelry and Jaipur’s traditional blue pottery.

Spend two nights in Udaipur, India's most romantic city, among the grand arches and courtyard gardens of the beautiful Oberoi Udaivilas. Cruise Lake Pichola and walk through picturesque backstreets, shop for local folk art, tour the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, the Saheliyon Ki Bari Garden, and browse the local bazaars.

Transfer to Cochin and spend some time in this evocative harbor town on the Malabar Coast. Tour the city's rich past, including an ancient church, a synagogue and royal palaces. Continue to the scenic Backwaters of Kerala, a vast watery maze of palm-fringed lagoons, canals and lakes. Board the luxury Oberoi M.V. Vrinda for a three-night cruise. Enjoy traditional dance performances, and take a traditional rice boat past rice paddies and villages to visit important cultural sites.

The tour concludes with two nights in exciting Mumbai (Bombay), India’s economic capital and the home of the Bollywood film industry. Tour the city’s cultural attractions, bazaars and most interesting neighborhoods, and take a private boat ride to the Elephanta Island Caves—inside are extensive Hindu stone sculptures linked to the cult of Shiva.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world