itinerary - 4-16 march 2025
namaste 🪷 welcome to india 🪷
~ day one ~
tuesday march 4 - delhi (1)
🪷 namaste 🪷 and welcome to INDIA!
our tour begins this evening at 6pm.
we will meet at our hotel (arrangements can be made for airport pick up on the day) allowing you to enjoy a chai, shake off any jet lag, and relax in our four-star accommodations while we wait for all our international friends to arrive. in the evening, we'll come together for a welcome dinner to get to know each other before our magical adventure begins. x
accommodation - 4 star hotel - the connaught, new delhi (or similar)
meals included today - welcome dinner
airport pick up included if arriving same day
hustle bustle of old/new delhi
~ day two ~
wednesday march 5 - delhi (2)
today we will do all things delhi! lets start with a BANG! our guide will lead us through the sights and sounds of this ancient city on a rickshaw and walking tour. starting at the bustling old delhi market, exploring the nooks and corners of the labyrinthine markets where we’ll pause at chai stand to take it all in and savor some delicious local street food for lunch. next, we’ll explore the jama masjid, the oldest and most stunning mosque in delhi, before visiting the sheeshganj gurudwara to gain a deeper understanding of the sikh faith.
accommodation - 4 star hotel - the connaught, new delhi (or similar)
meals included today - buffet breakfast at hotel and local street food lunch
sightseeing - old delhi tour, jama masjid, sheeshganj gurudwara
transport - rickshaw
the taj mahal
~ day three ~
thursday 6 march - agra (1)
after breakfast, we'll catch a morning train from delhi to agra, one of my favorite ways to travel. today we'll embrace our tourist side by exploring two unesco world heritage sites, in the morning, we’ll explore the red fort, an impressive 16th-century mughal fortress crafted from sandstone, with a stop between to tour a handknotted carpet workshop with demostration. and in the afternoon the stunning taj mahal, a beautiful symbol of love built by a heartbroken emperor for his beloved queen.
accommodation - 5 star hotel - grand mercure agra (or similar)
meals included today - buffet breakfast at hotel
sightseeing - red fort and taj mahal
workshop/art - handknotted carpet workshop
transport - train from delhi to agra, private air-conditioned bus, tuk tuk
the pink city, jaipur
~ day four ~
friday 7 march - jaipur (1)
hopping on our private air-conditioned bus we're heading to the stunning pink city of jaipur. along the way making a stop at the beautiful chand baori stepwell. once in jaipur, we’ll settle into our charming heritage haveli accommodation and wrap up the day with a wander through the laneways of marble/stone-carvers, copper/metal craftsmen and the spice market of the pink city market.
accommodation - arya niwas, jaipur heritage haveli (or similar)
meals included today - buffet breakfast at hotel
sightseeing - chand baori stepwell and walking pink city tour
workshop/art - walk through the artistan laneways of the old market. stone/marble workshops, copper metal craftsmen and jewelers
transport - private air-conditioned bus
sights and quilting workshop
~ day five ~
saturday 8 march - jaipur (2)
today is going to be full! full of fun :) the morning is planned for a sightseeing must, the 18th-century astronomical observatory jantar mantar. i personally love this place. then we're going to scoot over to spend the rest of the day at the most beautiful studio/workshop/museum/gallery space and participate in a kalbelia gudri quilting workshop. the kalbelia community is popularly known as the snake charmers community. the gudri quilting technique employs rich and complex stitches, we will learn the craft straight from the craftperson themselves and create our own quilted fabric. finishing with visit to a nice homeware/clothing store i happen to frequent on my travels. shopping!
accommodation - arya niwas, jaipur heritage haveli (or similar)
meals included today - buffet breakfast at hotel with an indian lunch provided at workshop
sightseeing - jantar mantar, hawa mahal (palace of winds)
workshop/art - kalbelia gudri quilting
transport - private air-conditioned bus
woodblock and the amber palace
~ day six ~
friday 9 march - jaipur (3)
heading off early we're visiting the village of bagru an hour out of jaipur, where everything revolves around the practice of woodblock printing. beginning with a walking tour of the community where all the different processes will be explained then a chance to print your own bag or scarf. the family also welcome us to join them for a yummy family indian lunch. in the afternoon we will head off to the amber palace the number one place to go in jaipur!
accommodation - arya niwas, jaipur heritage haveli (or similar)
meals included today - buffet breakfast at hotel with an indian lunch provided at workshop
sightseeing - amber palace
workshop/art - hand woodblock printing
transport - private air-conditioned bus
let stay in a castle
~ day seven ~
saturday 10 march - bijaipur (1)
after a jam packed few days we will welcome a comfy private airconditioned bus ride to our next destination. its a bit of a hike, 6 hours, but a good opportunity to do some sketching/journalling, chats, read a book, have a snooze, or if you're like me and love to just gaze at life going by out the window. we will arrive late afternoon with just enough time for a splash in the castles pool before dinner. yup i said castle!
accommodation - castle bijaipur, heritage castle (or similar)
meals included today - buffet breakfast at hotel and dinner at hotel
transport - private air-conditioned bus
village tour
~ day eight ~
sunday 11 march - bijaipur (2)
our stay is located in the serene vindhyanchal hills the 16th-century castle, a heritage hotel that features stunning domes and elegant arched windows and doorways. today we get to explore the local village and surrounding areas with jeep safari. we will spend the afternoon at leisure, sit back and treat ourself with beautiful mehandi hand art.
accommodation - castle bijaipur, heritage castle (or similar)
meals included today - breakfast and dinner at hotel
sightseeing - villiage jeep safari
workshop/art - mehndi
transport - jeep villiage safari
udaipur, the city of lakes
~ day nine ~
monday 12 march - udaipur (1)
just a 3 hour journey to stunning udaipur, known as the 'city of lakes,' framed by tranquil waters and hills. we'll arrive just in time for lunch, check into our heritage hotel, and then off on a guided walking tour of the old city. intricate carved stone houses, ghats, and old temples lining the banks of lake pichola and as we meander through the narrow, twisting streets, it will feel like walking through an art gallery, houses whitewashed and painted with vivid, intricate artwork, perfectly setting the mood for a tour of a local art school.
accommodation - lake pichola hotel, heritage hotel (or similar)
included meals:- breakfast at hotel
sightseeing - guided walking tour of old city
workshop/art - visit local art school, local cooking class
pichwai and city palace
~ day ten ~
tuesday 13 march - udaipur (2)
one of the highlights of my last trip was visiting rajaram sharma's studio and taking part in his masterclass. today, we are fortunate to join a group masterclass focused on the art of devotion through pichwai painting. I thought pichwal was miniature sized paintings, but it turns out these are actually large pieces created with incredibly fine brushstrokes. in the afternoon we will visit a jewel in udaipur the city palace, for me this palace is the one! full of mirror work and ceramic tiles its a wow around every corner. spend the last part of the day learning some secrets of indian cuisine with a local cooking class which we will share for dinner.
accommodation - lake pichola hotel, heritage hotel (or similar)
included meals:- breakfast at hotel, dinner local cooking class
sightseeing - city palace
workshop/art - pichwai motif workshop
transport - tuktuk
holi 💚💙🧡🩵💜💛❤️🩷
~ day eleven ~
wednesday 14 march - udaipur (3)
today is the day that india celebrates the holi. this ancient hindu festival originated as a celebration of the end of winter and beginning of spring in honour of prahlada, who was protected from the flames by vishnu when he was tricked into near death by his father, king hiranyakashipu. holi symbolises the triumph of good over evil. family and friends gather to throw coloured powder bombs, fire water pistols and splash coloured water. we will celebrate with locals. prepare to be coloured. to finish off our wonderful trip, we have a breathtaking evening planned with a boat ride on lake pichola followed by a rooftop dinner
accommodation - lake pichola hotel, heritage hotel (or similar)
included meals:- breakfast at hotel
sightseeing - holi festival, boat ride on lake pichola
transport - boat ride on lake pichola
explore like a local
~ day twelve ~
thursday 15 march
today we will have the morning free to explore all the things you loved about udaipur like a local, then we'll grab an afternoon flight back to delhi.
accommodation - ibis new delhi aerocity 4 star hotel (or similar)
included meals:- breakfast at hotel
transport - flight from udaipur to delhi
til next time friends
~ day thirteen ~
friday 16 march
our final morning together and our india adventure comes to an end. we will share our breakfast, say goodbyes, and help you on your way.
make sure you swap contact info with all our travellers, an experience like this will no doubt bond you for life
until next time 🪷 💕