Our Rajasthan and Kerala tour is an enchanting amalgamation of the fascinating historical, natural and architectural highlights of northern India, with quintessential and serene expanse of the south. This 18-day tour will take you to India’s best destinations and let you stay at some of the country’s best luxury heritage hotels like Leela Palace, ITC Rajputana, Sher Bagh and more; enough to make your stay a truly magical and relaxed one. Explore culture, architecture, nature, wildlife, all in one with our tailor-made luxury tour just for you; we are also willing to re-craft this tour according to your unique requirements so that your India escapade stays with you forever.
Upon arrival at Delhi International airport, our driver will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. You will check-in at Leela Palace, for an opulent two-night stay in Delhi. Relax and enjoy your surroundings at Leela Palace, Delhi’s only modern palace hotel. A luxury five-star modern hotel in a classic setting. Choose from their amazing selection of in-house restaurants, indulge in their spa therapies and enjoy their world-class services. Overnight stay at Leela Palace.
Your Delhi sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the largest Mosque in India - Jama Masjid, a 350-year old mosque situated in Old Delhi. Next, proceed to Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest, biggest and the busiest markets in India – in a Rickshaw. This 1 km rickshaw ride halts at the Red Fort. Here, our driver will pick you up and drive you to Rajghat. Drive past the spectacular Red Fort. Rajghat is a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi - the Father of the Nation. Visit the Humayun Tomb - a memorial to Humayun (2nd emperor of the Mughal Empire). Drive past the Rashtrapati Bhawan (official residence of the President of India) and India Gate (a war memorial built to commemorate the sacrifice of 70,000 soldiers who died in World War I). Delhi sightseeing ends with a visit to Qutub Minar - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the tallest brick minaret in the world. Overnight stay at Leela Palace.
Your stay in the historic city of Agra will be at the luxury ITC Mughal. It is located close to the famous Taj Mahal and fittingly exudes the Mughal era charm through its excellent Mughal-inspired architecture, exquisite landscapes and gardens. Enjoy an unmatched Royal Indian hospitality here; indulge in its award-winning spa Kaya Kalp. Overnight stay at ITC Mughal.
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Ranthambore via Fatehpur Sikri. Built in the 16th century, this ancient fortified city was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. The complex includes Diwan-i-Khas building, which has a beautifully carved pillar at its centre and the Panch Mahal palace. Later, continue your drive to Ranthambore. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel and freshen up. Spend rest of the time at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
You’ll be enjoying two private jeep safari (morning and afternoon) traveling through the Ranthambore National Park. The most famous resident of this forest is the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger; if you get lucky, you might spot one of them, else there are plenty of other exotic flora and fauna to spot as well including peacocks, Gray Hornbills, langurs, macaques, deers, leopards and many more. Between the safaris, you will also come across the crumbling 10th century Ranthambore Fort that stands majestically on the edge of the forest. Overnight stay at Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge.
After breakfast, enjoy a leisure morning in the hotel before proceeding to Jaipur. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to the ITC Rajputana hotel for the finest luxury experience in Jaipur. The hotel’s architecture is inspired by the Rajputana style and reflects royalty in every corner. In your stay here, discover all that Rajasthan has to offer the highest level of comforts. Overnight stay at ITC Rajputana.
Today after breakfast, explore the Pink City of Jaipur with an excursion to the 17th century Amber Fort, situated just outside the city. Enjoy the experience of ride on elephant back to and from the top of the hill on which the fort is situated. Also visit Jantar Mantar, a solar and astronomical observatory, featuring the world’s largest stone made sundial. Then head to Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone with semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city. It was built in 1799 so that a veiled royal woman could peer down unseen by the world through its 953 small ornate windows. Also, visit Jal Mahal. Later, take a guided walk through the vibrant local bazaars looking for local handicrafts, textiles, jewelry, and the famous blue pottery. Return to ITC Rajputana for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, take a scenic drive to Udaipur - Rajasthan’s “Lake City” with a two-day luxury stay at Shiv Niwas Palace. Udaipur is a scenic city with its beautiful lakes and fairy-tale setting, and your stay at Amet Haveli will double the experience. Situated at a walking distance from the dreamy Lake Pichola and City Palace, this heritage hotel has a Rajput era architectural style and a lovely ambiance to enjoy. Upon arrival, check-in to your accommodation at Shiv Niwas Palace and spend the evening at leisure.
After breakfast, you have the day at leisure to explore Udaipur at your own pace. You will visit City Palace built in 1559, overlooking the dreamy Lake Pichola. It has gradually evolved to be the largest palace in Rajasthan; with attractions like Durbar Hall, Crystal Gallery, Palace Museum and Jagdish Temple. Later, visit Saheliyon Ki Bari that is a small ornamental garden built in the honour of Royal Ladies for recreational purpose, and visit Lok Kala Mandal, a cultural institution with a museum, which exhibits collection of folk art items like folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. Opened seven days a week, puppet shows and folk dancing are conducted every evening in an adjacent open-air theatre. The next stop will be at Shilpgram to see the village arts & crafts. Evening free to relax, optionally you can take a walk through the narrow lanes and back streets of Udaipur up to the Washing Ghats at the lake Pichola. Enjoy Boat ride at Lake Pichola and also opt for dinner at Lake Palace Hotel, located amidst the Lake. Have a luxurious and comfortable overnight at Shiv Niwas Palace in Udaipur.
This morning after breakfast, board a flight to Mumbai from where you’ll connect a flight to Cochin in Kerala. As there’s no direct flight from Rajasthan to Kerala, you need to connect to Mumbai, and if you’d like to stay a night or two in Mumbai to explore the city, we can arrange the same for you. After arrival in Cochin, our representative will meet you and accompany you in your check-in at the five-star Brunton Bourtyard, a restored period building exuding colonial-era charm, of the British era, in Cochin. This charming hotel is bursting with history and character and is a perfect place to enjoy luxury in a vintage setting. We highly recommend you to take a tour of the historic Fort Cochin area where the hotel stands. Overnight stay at Brunton Bourtyard.
After breakfast, set out on a historic sightseeing tour of Cochin. First visit the beautiful St. Francis Church, India’s oldest European church built in 1503 by the Portuguese settlers. The church once marked the grave of the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, which was later transferred to Lisbon. Then, visit Fort Kochi, a testament to rich Portuguese past, a thriving city once, is now lined with old houses and ruins of the fort. Next visit the 450-year old Jewish synagogue, India’s oldest active synagogue, built in 1568 by Jewish settlers. Its beautiful interiors include antique Belgian chandeliers and lamps and exquisite Chinese floor tiles, among others. Later, visit one of Cochins’ most popular attraction of the Chinese fishing nets. These huge shore operated life nets are at least 10 m high and 20 m horizontally; said to have been introduced by an ancient Chinese explorer. Overnight stay at Brunton Bourtyard.
Enjoy breakfast, before embarking on a scenic drive to Munnar. Munnar is situated at an altitude of 1500 m above the sea level and has refreshingly pleasant weather to charm you. Your luxury accommodation in Munnar will be at Windermere Estate, a dreamy and cozy retreat perched on a hilltop, giving way to mesmerizing vistas of the neighboring green hills around Munnar. Overnight stay at Windermere Estate.
After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing of Munnar. This scenic hill station is a sight to behold with exquisite natural beauty. Visit the lush and vast tea gardens, and also visit the Tea Museum to learn how the tea leaf is processed. Spend time at the scenic Mattupetty Lake and Dam, the serene Kundale Lake, famous for the rare Neela Kurinji flowers, which blooms once in twelve years, and Rajmalai. Evening enjoy leisure time at Windermere Estate and soak up the views. Overnight stay at Windermere Estate.
After breakfast, take the journey to Kumarakom, the land of enchanting backwaters in Kerala; a beautiful village on the Vembanad Lake. Here, you will be staying for two nights at the comforts of the Coconut Lagoon, nestled on the banks of the lake. Enjoy stay at ancient celebrated houses of Kerala, which are built from the remnants of old mansions of the nobility. Spend leisure time here, spotting birds (Kumarakom is home to its famous bird sanctuary); the atmosphere is novel and exciting as well as relaxed and nurturing. Overnight stay at Coconut Lagoon.
Post breakfast and a relaxed morning, board your private houseboat to enjoy an afternoon cruise through the backwaters. These traditional houseboats called “Kettuvallam” were originally used to transport rice. Now it has become a great source of tourism in the state, allowing visitors to explore the quintessential scenes of coconut and palm fringes, paddy fields, and local villages. A delicious local style lunch will be served to you on-board. As you are taking in the views, you will be entertained with refreshments. Overnight stay at Coconut Lagoon.
After breakfast, proceed to end the last day of your tour relaxing on the beaches of Mararikulam for two nights. Tucked away from the hustle-bustle of city life, Mararikulam is a perfect getaway to unwind amidst the tranquil surroundings. The two days here will be spent relaxing and feasting on local cuisine while exploring the surrounding waterscapes. Your base here is at the Marari Beach Resort, which can’t get any better as you’ll get to explore the marvelous backwaters and beaches, soak up the tranquility and the stunning scenery in a completely relaxing and inspiring ambiance. Overnight at Marari Beach Resort
Have breakfast in the morning. Rest of the day free for relaxation. Soak up the tranquility and the stunning scenery in a completely relaxing and inspiring ambiance. Overnight at Marari Beach Resort.
This morning you’ll be chauffeured to Cochin Airport to connect flight to your onward destination. Your Rajasthan and Kerala tour with stay at heritage hotels ends here.
Duration | : | 17 Nights / 18 Days |
Starting price | : | 4815 Per Person |
Route | : | Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Ranthambore - Jaipur - Udaipur - Cochin - Munnar – Backwaters – Mararikulam |