Day01
Arrive in Jaipur
Your driver meets you at Jaipur airport for the transfer to Rambagh Palace. Rest after the journey. In the late afternoon, walk in the palace gardens, then drinks at the Polo Bar.
The grand tour of Rajasthan
Fifteen nights through the whole of Rajasthan in one loop: Jaipur's forts, Shekhawati's painted towns, Bikaner, three nights in Jaisalmer and the Thar, Jodhpur, leopards at Jawai and three nights on Lake Pichola. Our most complete journey.
This is Rajasthan from end to end, for travellers with two weeks to give it. The route runs clockwise from Jaipur north to Shekhawati and Bikaner, west across the Thar to Jaisalmer, then south-east to Jodhpur, Jawai and Udaipur, so you never retrace a road.
Stays combine the great palaces, Rambagh, Umaid Bhawan and the Taj Lake Palace, with Suryagarh in the desert and SUJÁN Jawai among the leopards. The pace is balanced: long drives are followed by two or three nights, and every transfer includes a stop worth making.
Highlights
Why this route works
- Amber Fort and three nights at Rambagh Palace
- Painted havelis of Mandawa and Junagarh Fort in Bikaner
- Three nights in Jaisalmer with a dune dinner
- Mehrangarh and two nights at Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Leopards at Jawai and three nights on Lake Pichola
Day by day
The journey
Day02
Amber Fort and the bazaars
Amber Fort at opening, then Panna Meena ka Kund and Jal Mahal. After lunch and a rest, walk through the old city bazaars with your guide, from Hawa Mahal to Johari Bazaar.
Day03
City Palace and Bagru
Morning at Jantar Mantar and the City Palace. After lunch, drive to Bagru to watch a family print cloth by hand. Sunset at Nahargarh Fort and dinner at Suvarna Mahal.
Day04
Jaipur to Shekhawati
Drive north via Samode, stopping to see its painted Durbar Hall over lunch. Continue to Nawalgarh for the Podar Haveli Museum, then Mandawa. Late afternoon walk through the painted lanes with a specialist guide.
Day05
Mandawa to Bikaner
An early walk through Mandawa's havelis, then drive west to Bikaner and check in at Narendra Bhawan. Afternoon at Junagarh Fort, then the camel research centre as the herds return.
Day06
Across the Thar to Jaisalmer
A morning walk to Bikaner's red havelis and a bhujia shop, then the long drive across the desert to Jaisalmer, with a lunch stop. Arrive at Suryagarh in the late afternoon.
Day07
The living fort
Sunrise at Gadisar Lake, then the fort with its palace museum and Jain temples. Walk to Patwon ki Haveli and Salim Singh ki Haveli. Afternoon rest at the hotel.
Day08
Kuldhara and the dunes
A slow morning. In the afternoon, Kuldhara's abandoned village and Bada Bagh's royal cenotaphs, then sunset on a quiet dune and dinner by a fire with Manganiyar musicians.
Day09
Jaisalmer to Jodhpur
Take the day train across the desert or drive with a stop at Pokaran. Check in at Umaid Bhawan Palace. Dinner on the terrace with Mehrangarh lit on the far hill.
Day10
Mehrangarh and the blue city
Mehrangarh at opening, then a walk down through the blue lanes to the stepwell and the clock tower market. Afternoon at the palace, then Jaswant Thada in the late light.
Day11
Jodhpur to Jawai
An early visit to the Bishnoi villages, then drive south to SUJÁN Jawai for lunch. Afternoon leopard drive in the granite hills and a sundowner on the rocks.
Day12
Leopards and herders
A dawn drive, then a walk with Rabari herders. Rest in the afternoon, then an evening drive or a visit to the reservoir for crocodiles and birds.
Day13
Ranakpur and into Udaipur
A final dawn drive, then travel via the Ranakpur Jain temple to Udaipur. Cross by boat to the Taj Lake Palace and settle in for three nights on the lake.
Day14
City Palace and the sunset boat
The City Palace at opening with a Mewar historian, then the old city. Afternoon free. At sunset, a private boat on Lake Pichola.
Day15
A slow day on the lake
A free day to rest, with an optional miniature painting session or a drive to the Monsoon Palace for sunset. Farewell dinner at the palace.
Day16
Depart Udaipur
Transfer to Udaipur airport for your onward flight. Check current status of flight times before you travel.
- 1Jaipur 3 nights
- 2Shekhawati (Mandawa) 1 night
- 3Bikaner 1 night
- 4Jaisalmer 3 nights
- 5Jodhpur 2 nights
- 6Jawai 2 nights
- 7Udaipur 3 nights
Included
- 15 nights in the hotels named, plus heritage hotels in Shekhawati and Bikaner
- Daily breakfast, full board at Jawai and dinners listed
- Private car and driver throughout
- Private guides in every city and specialist guide in Shekhawati
- Monument entries, dune dinner, leopard drives and sunset boat
Not included
- Flights
- Visa and travel insurance
- Drinks and meals not listed
- Tips and personal expenses
Where you sleep
The stays
The former home of the Maharajas of Jaipur, run by Taj, set in large Mughal-style gardens about 15 minutes from the old city. It is the …
A palace-style hotel built in golden Jaisalmer stone on the road to the Sam dunes, about 15 km west of the city. It is the most …
A golden sandstone Art Deco palace on Chittar Hill above Jodhpur, completed in 1943 and still home to the royal family of Marwar in one wing. …
A luxury tented camp among the granite hills of Jawai in southern Rajasthan, built for leopard safaris on open land shared with Rabari herders. Stays are …
An 18th-century white marble palace that covers its own island in Lake Pichola, reached only by boat. Built as a royal summer retreat and run by …
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginGood to know
- Days 6 and 9 are long; the train is an option for day 9
- SUJÁN Jawai operates seasonally; check current status before you travel
- Shekhawati and Bikaner hotels are heritage properties rather than full luxury
- Add Ranthambore by flying Udaipur–Jaipur at the end
- Book 6–9 months ahead for peak season
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is 15 nights the right length for Rajasthan
It covers almost every region at a balanced pace. With fewer nights, you would need to drop the desert or Jawai. With more, you could add Ranthambore or Bundi. The route runs clockwise from Jaipur through Shekhawati, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jawai to Udaipur, so you never retrace a road, and long drives are followed by two or three nights in one place.
Does this journey include tigers
No; it includes leopards at Jawai. To add tigers, extend with three nights in Ranthambore after Udaipur, flying back to Jaipur. Ranthambore is about 3.5 hours from Jaipur by road. At Jawai you have two nights on full board with leopard drives in open vehicles among the granite hills. Ranthambore's main zones close from 1 July to 30 September; check current status before you travel.
How much driving is involved
About 1,500 km over 16 days. The longest days are Bikaner to Jaisalmer and Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, each about 5–5.5 hours; the train is an option on the second. Other transfers run from about 3 to 4 hours, and the day into Udaipur via Ranakpur is about 5 hours with the temple visit. Every long day includes a stop worth making.
Can I do this journey in reverse
Yes. Starting in Udaipur and ending in Jaipur works equally well and can connect with Delhi and Agra at the end. The route then runs anticlockwise through Jawai, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Shekhawati, still without retracing a road. Ending in Jaipur also makes it simple to add Ranthambore, about 3.5 hours away, before you leave.
Is this journey too tiring
It is balanced, with two or three nights in most places and free afternoons. Single-night stops in Shekhawati and Bikaner are the only quick ones. Each long day is followed by an easier one: an afternoon rest in Jaisalmer after day 6, and an afternoon at Umaid Bhawan Palace after day 9, which can also be done by train. The last three nights on Lake Pichola are kept slow.
What is the best time for the grand tour
November to February is ideal for the desert. October and March work too, with warmer days. Avoid April to September. In winter, days in Jaisalmer and Bikaner are usually in the 20s °C, but desert nights can drop to single figures in December and January, so bring layers for the dune dinner. Book 6 to 9 months ahead for peak season.
Can I swap hotels
Yes. Options include The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, RAAS in Jodhpur, The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur and SUJÁN The Serai in Jaisalmer when open. Shekhawati and Bikaner stays are heritage properties rather than full luxury, and choices there are fewer. Each swap changes the price, so we confirm availability and a firm quote once your dates are fixed. The Serai opens seasonally, so check current status before you travel.
Is this journey suitable for families
Yes, for families with older children who enjoy travel. The variety of forts, desert, wildlife and lakes keeps it interesting. Check camp age policies for Jawai. The dune dinner in Jaisalmer, the camel research centre in Bikaner and the leopard drives at Jawai give children plenty to look forward to. Days 6 and 9 are long, and the train is an option on day 9.
Is the price per person
Yes, per person, twin sharing, from the figure shown. It varies with dates and room categories. Single travellers pay a supplement. The room categories you choose at Rambagh, Umaid Bhawan and the Taj Lake Palace change the price, and it rises over Christmas, New Year and Diwali. Flights are not included. We confirm a firm quote once your dates are fixed.
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