Mystic India

For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 45 years and over
Saturday 2 - Sunday 17 October 2010 (16 days)

Itinerary

DEPART AUSTRALIA ~ NEW DELHI ~ SHEKHAWATI ~ JODHPUR ~ SARDARSAMAND ~ KUMBHALGARH ~ UDAIPUR ~ PUSHKAR ~ JAIPUR ~ AGRA ~ NEW DELHI ~ AUSTRALIA

Highlights

Visit some jewels of the Rajasthani desert. Admire the frescoes of Shekhawati Region. Gaze down on the blue houses of Jodhpur from Meherangarh Fort. Relax in the stone hunting lodge on the shores of Lake Sardarsamand. Enjoy the views and breezes from atop Kumbhalgarh Cool your heels beside the lakes of Udaipur, a striking contrast to the desert. Shop till you drop in the Pink City of Jaipur. Marvel at that ever-enduring symbol of love, the Taj Mahal.

FELLOW PASSENGERS
There is the comfort of knowing you'll be sharing the tour with other like-minded singles as within this tour departure we have a special group booking ‘for single travellers'.  Plus, when you book with our special group we go the extra mile and offer a pre-departure contact service to our group of guests.

PRE-DEPARTURE CONTACT SERVICE
As a friendly gesture to everyone in our group, we offer a pre-departure contact service. With your permission, we share your first name, state and email (or other preferred contact method) to the rest of our guests prior to departure. It's a popular choice with many travellers especially as the majority of our guests are solo travellers. This service provides you with the opportunity to get in touch with others prior to departure and especially from your city of departure in Australia. This list is provided after bookings close, about six weeks prior to departure.

ROOM MATE MATCHING SERVICE
For people travelling alone, you can be matched with someone of the same gender on the tour, so you don't have to pay the single room supplement. If a match is not possible, a single room supplement will be due to confirm your tour place. Your place can not be confirmed until we can provide you with a match or alternatively you select a single room. All rooms are subject to availability at the time of confirming your booking.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For the answers. Download the FAQ information page

Day 1-2: Australia/Singapore/New Delhi Fly with Singapore Airlines to New Delhi, via Singapore.  Arrive in New Delhi the following night. On arrival transfer to hotel.  Overnight at hotel. Day 3-4: New Delhi/Shekhawati New Delhi is India's capital city and has been a centre of power almost since the 13th Century.  As a result there are plenty of medieval monuments to see.  This morning we immerse ourselves into the very heart of Old Delhi by visiting the Red Fort and the centre of trade, Chandni Chowk. After lunch, we drive to Alsisar, a lovely village in Shekhawati Region.  Founded in the early 18th Century, it has two old forts & a palace hotel.  Tomorrow we take in the unique architecture and building frescoes of the Shekhawati Region.  Overnight at Alsisar Mahal for 2 nights. Day 5: Shekhawati/Jodhpur Today after breakfast we drive to Jodhpur.

The focal point here is the Meherangarh Fort from where you can have a wonderful view of the city set amidst a desert landscape.  Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Jodhpur. 
Overnight at hotel.

Day 6-7: Jodhpur/Sardarsamand
Today we travel to Sardarsamand located on the banks of the scenic and serene Sardarsamand Lake.  Built as hunting lodge in 1933, it is a little bit of luxury offering panoramic views of the lake.  A lovely place to relax and unwind.
Overnight at hotel for 2 nights.

Day 8: Sardarsamand/Kumbhalgarh via Ranakpur
Today we travel to Ranakpur, northwest of Udaipur, to see superb Jain temples that were built in the mid 15th Century. Afternoon visit to the temples followed by lunch at Maharani Bagh.  After lunch we proceed to Kumbhalgarh.  The fort here was built in the 15th Century and is surrounded by 13 mountain peaks that keep watch over distant horizons.  This is one of the best-preserved forts of the Mewar Region. 
Overnight at Kumbhalgarh.

Day 9-10: Kumbhalgarh/Udaipur
Today we drive to Udaipur.  Udaipur has it all: palaces, lakes, temples & cenotaphs.  Afternoon sightseeing tour of the city.  Tomorrow we visit the City Palace Museum & in the afternoon travel to Lake Jaisamand, the largest artificial lake in Asia. 
Overnight at hotel for 2 nights.

Day 11: Udaipur/Pushkar
This morning we drive to Pushkar, a religious town built around a lake.  It is best known for its annual camel & cattle fair that turns the desert into a riot of colours.  Afternoon at leisure. 
Overnight at hotel.

Day 12-13: Pushkar/Jaipur
After breakfast we drive to Jaipur (the City of Victory) otherwise known as "The Pink City".  Tomorrow we visit the major sights of this beautiful city: the City Palace Museum, Amber Fort & Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). 
Overnight at hotel for 2 nights.

Day 14: Jaipur/Agra
Drive to Agra en route visiting the imperial ruins of the Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri.  This well-preserved city was mysteriously abandoned just 14 years after it was built.  We continue our journey to the city of the Taj Mahal, Agra.  On arrival check into hotel.  Afternoon visit to Taj Mahal.  Overnight at hotel.  Following day we visit the Red Fort & Itimad-ud-daulah.

Day 15-16: Agra/New Delhi/Australia
This afternoon we drive back to New Delhi.  On arrival we enjoy our last dinner together & transfer to the international airport to board flight to Singapore.  The following morning, board connecting flight to Australia.  Arrive in Australia in the evening filled with happy memories of the charming palaces and castles in romantic Rajasthan.