Rajasthan: On the Trail of the Tiger and the Leopard
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the hill forts of Rajasthan, with tiger safaris in Ranthambore and leopard safaris in Jawai.
11 Nights, 12 Days
Duration
7
Destinations
The Taj Mahal and Rajasthan's hill forts, with a tiger safari in Ranthambore and a leopard safari in Jawai.
Regions on this journeyUttar PradeshRajasthan
Overview
This 12-day journey brings together two of India's greatest draws: its UNESCO World Heritage Sites and its wildlife. The route links Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar in Delhi with the incomparable Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, the abandoned Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri, and the Hill Forts of Rajasthan at Ranthambore and Amber, alongside two of the country's finest wildlife areas.
Beginning in Delhi, guests explore the city's contrasts, from the colour of Chandni Chowk and the Red Fort to the serenity of Humayun's Tomb, before driving to Agra for the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra.
The road then turns towards the wild, via Fatehpur Sikri, to Ranthambore, once the hunting reserve of Jaipur's royal family and now one of India's finest tiger reserves, for a dawn jeep safari.
The journey continues to the Pink City of Jaipur, the Blue City of Jodhpur beneath the mighty Mehrangarh Fort, and Jawai, a dramatic landscape of granite hills known as leopard country, for a dedicated leopard safari.
The final leg visits the marble Jain temple of Ranakpur on the way to Udaipur, the City of Lakes and the most romantic city in Rajasthan, with guests choosing Five Star or Four Star hotels throughout.
Highlights
- Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri
- A dawn jeep safari in search of tigers in Ranthambore National Park
- Jaipur's hilltop Amber Fort, part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan
- A dawn leopard safari among the granite hills of Jawai
- The blue lanes of Jodhpur beneath the towering Mehrangarh Fort
- Udaipur's lakes and palaces, Rajasthan's most romantic city
Itinerary
A suggested journey
This is one way to experience the journey, not a fixed itinerary. Your specialist will adjust the pace, order and stops around you before anything is confirmed.
- Delhi
Day 1Namaste Delhi: Where the Journey Begins
Touch down in India's capital, a city that blends centuries of history with the energy of modern life. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, with the rest of the day free to settle in and rest ahead of the adventure to come.
- Private airport transfer to your hotel
Day 2Minarets, Mughals and the Pulse of Old Delhi
After breakfast, spend a full day exploring both faces of the capital. Begin at Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques, then dive into the glorious bustle of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi's busiest market, on a rickshaw ride through its narrow, lively lanes. Continue to the Red Fort, where the Prime Minister addresses the nation every Independence Day, then drive past India Gate, the Presidential Palace and the grand buildings of Lutyens' Delhi, pausing at Raj Ghat, the peaceful memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Round off the day at Humayun's Tomb, a magnificent forerunner of the Taj Mahal, and the Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world.
- Jama Masjid
- Rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk
- Red Fort (closed on Mondays)
- Drive past India Gate and Lutyens' Delhi, with a stop at Raj Ghat
- Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar
Breakfast
- Agra
Day 3A Love Story in White Marble
After breakfast, drive south to Agra on the banks of the River Yamuna, around 210 kilometres and four and a half hours. After checking in, visit Agra Fort, commissioned by Emperor Akbar in 1565, then the Taj Mahal itself (closed on Fridays), Emperor Shah Jahan's eternal tribute to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, built by thousands of craftsmen over some twenty years. Round off the afternoon at Sikandra, around 13 kilometres from Agra, where the Mughal Emperor Akbar lies in a grand tomb set within peaceful gardens.
- Private drive to Agra (approximately 210 km, 4.5 hours)
- Agra Fort
- The Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays)
- Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra
Breakfast
- Ranthambore
Day 4From Akbar's Lost City to Tiger Country
After breakfast, set off for Ranthambore, around 310 kilometres and six to seven hours, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri, the beautifully preserved red sandstone city built by Emperor Akbar and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Ranthambore, famous for its tigers and for the heritage of its former rulers, from the mighty Ranthambore Fort to Jogi Mahal and the atmospheric Rajbagh ruins. After checking in, visit Ranthambore Fort, part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan, and the Ganesh Temple within its walls.
- Fatehpur Sikri, en route
- Ranthambore Fort and Ganesh Temple
Breakfast and dinner (all meals included at the Ranthambore hotel)
- Jaipur
Day 5On the Trail of the Tiger
Rise early for a jeep safari through Ranthambore National Park, once the private hunting reserve of Jaipur's royal family. Its rolling hills, crags, meadows and lakes make it one of the finest places in India to see a tiger in the wild, alongside leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, jackal, chital, sambar, nilgai, langur and a remarkable variety of birdlife, all overlooked by the 10th-century fort. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards, drive to Jaipur, around 180 kilometres and four to five hours. The Pink City owes its name to Maharaja Ram Singh II, who had the old town painted pink, the colour of hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876. Today it is celebrated for its bazaars, forts, temples and palaces.
- Jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park (subject to permits and zone allocation)
- Private drive to Jaipur (approximately 180 km, 4 to 5 hours)
Breakfast
Day 6Mirrors, Winds and the Stars of Jaipur
After breakfast, head for the hilltop Amber Fort. Inside, admire the Diwan-i-Aam, the Ganesh Pol with its beautifully painted gateway, and the dazzling Sheesh Mahal, a hall lined with thousands of tiny mirrors. Later, pause for photographs at the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, whose honeycombed latticework let the royal women watch street life unseen. Continue to the City Palace, a striking blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture with museums of rare manuscripts, arms and royal costumes, and finish at the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory of giant instruments for measuring time and tracking the stars.
- Amber Fort
- Hawa Mahal (photo stop)
- City Palace
- Jantar Mantar
Breakfast
- Jodhpur
Day 7Across the Desert Kingdom to the Blue City
After breakfast, head into the Rajasthan countryside for the drive to Jodhpur, around 300 kilometres and five to six hours. Guarded by the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort and its sea of blue-painted houses, Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan and the historic capital of Marwar, is an architectural marvel of medieval lanes and vibrant markets with a wonderfully unhurried pace. On arrival, check in and enjoy the evening at leisure.
- Private drive from Jaipur to Jodhpur (approximately 300 km, 5 to 6 hours)
Breakfast
Day 8Mehrangarh and the Maharajas of Marwar
After breakfast, explore the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest and most dramatic forts in India, followed by Jaswant Thada, an elegant white marble cenotaph, and the Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum, in a palace still partly home to Jodhpur's royal family. The afternoon is free to browse the city's markets for textiles, antiques and handicrafts.
- Mehrangarh Fort
- Jaswant Thada
- Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum
- Time to explore at your own paceNot guided
Breakfast
- Jawai
Day 9Into the Granite Kingdom of the Leopard
After breakfast, drive to Jawai in the rugged Pali district, around 160 kilometres and four hours. Known as leopard country, this offbeat landscape of ancient granite hills, caves and the sprawling Jawai Dam is one of India's most distinctive wildlife destinations, where leopards and local communities share the land. In the afternoon, visit Jawai Dam, the largest reservoir in western Rajasthan, with sunset views over the Aravalli hills, and a rocky stretch of the reservoir where mugger crocodiles bask in the sun. Later, visit the Devgiri cave temple, a rock-cut shrine dedicated to Mother Ashapura, deep among the granite formations where leopards are known to roam.
- Jawai Dam (Jawai Bandh)
- Crocodile sighting point
- Devgiri cave temple
Breakfast and dinner (all meals included at the Jawai hotel)
- Udaipur
Day 10Leopards at Dawn, Marble by Noon
Rise early for a leopard safari across the Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve. Jawai has no national park; instead, this open landscape between Jodhpur and Udaipur is known for one of the highest densities of leopards in India. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards, drive to Udaipur, around 170 kilometres and three to four hours, stopping at the Ranakpur Jain temple, celebrated for its 1,444 intricately carved marble pillars. Arrive in Udaipur, the City of Lakes and the White City of Rajasthan, with its shimmering lakes, fairy-tale palaces and colourful old lanes.
- Leopard safari, Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve
- Ranakpur Jain temple, en route
- Private drive to Udaipur (approximately 170 km, 3 to 4 hours)
Breakfast
Day 11Udaipur: A Day in the City of Lakes
After breakfast, spend a full day discovering Udaipur: the ornate Jagdish Temple, the City Palace Museum and its Crystal Gallery, Fateh Sagar Lake, the Maharana Pratap Memorial on Moti Magri hill, and Saheliyon ki Bari, the graceful Garden of the Maidens. This evening, you may wish to take a boat on Lake Pichola to Jag Mandir, the island palace at its heart (optional, payable locally).
- Jagdish Temple, City Palace Museum and Crystal Gallery
- Fateh Sagar Lake and the Maharana Pratap Memorial
- Saheliyon ki Bari
- Boat on Lake Pichola to Jag MandirOptional, payable locally
Breakfast
Day 12A Fond Farewell from the White City
All good things must come to an end. After breakfast, transfer to Udaipur airport for your flight home via Delhi or Mumbai, taking with you memories of tigers and leopards in the wild and some of the world's most celebrated monuments.
- Airport transfer
Breakfast
Accommodation
Where you'll stay
The hotels we recommend for this journey are shown below for Four Star, the standard you have chosen. Your specialist will confirm the most suitable options and availability when your journey is planned.
Delhi
2 nights
Or The Metropolitan Hotel & SpaFive Star
Agra
1 night
Or Grand MercureFive Star
Ranthambore
1 night
Jaipur
2 nights
Or Anantara Jewel BaghFive Star
Jodhpur
2 nights
Jawai
1 night
Or Justa Luxe, Highpoint JawaiFive Star
Udaipur
2 nights
Or The AnantaFive Star
Hotels as listed or similar, subject to availability.
The detail
What the price covers
Included
- 11 nights at the hotels listed, or similar, on a twin or double sharing basis
- Breakfast daily, plus all meals at Ranthambore and Jawai
- Private transfers and touring in an air-conditioned Toyota Innova Crysta or similar
- A local English-speaking guide for included sightseeing
- Entrance fees to the monuments named in the itinerary
- One jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park
- One leopard safari at the Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve
- All applicable GST
Not included
- International and domestic flights, and train fares
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and drinks
- Dinner on the 9 nights outside Ranthambore and Jawai, unless the dinner supplement is added
- The Lake Pichola boat ride to Jag Mandir, payable locally
- Vehicle upgrades, unless added as a supplement
- Anything not listed as included
For a group of 4 with a guide and full luggage, we recommend upgrading to the Force Urbania minibus.
When to travel
October to March, when temperatures across Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan are at their most comfortable for sightseeing and wildlife viewing. April to June is very hot, though often good for wildlife sightings as animals gather near water. Ranthambore's core safari zones are normally closed from July to September. Not offered between 18 December 2026 and 5 January 2027.
11 Nights, 12 DaysPrivate
Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jawai and Udaipur
Four Star hotels
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