Colours of Rajasthan

Name: Colours of Rajasthan
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.1 (9 reviews)

9 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Discover the domain of the maharajas, exploring regal residences, seeing the Taj Mahal and searching for tigers

Immerse yourself in Rajasthan, known as the Land of Kings for its countless palaces, forts and monuments to warriors past. On this culture-packed adventure, we visit the imposing forts of Jodhpur and Jaipur, which bear testament to the battles that once raged here, visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, and search Ranthambore National Park for another regal resident: the elusive Bengal tiger.

The departure starting in Delhi on 14 November 2026 includes a visit to the Pushkar Fair. Read the Colours of Rajasthan – Pushkar Festival itinerary for more details.

Key Information

Trip Code: AIK4
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: India
Carbon Footprint: 23kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 13 Classic nights (hotels)
All breakfasts and one dinner
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Explore the majestic state of Rajasthan with a small group and expert tour leader

See the unforgettable Taj Mahal at sunrise, the most beautiful time to visit

Maximize your chances of spotting a tiger in Ranthambore National Park with two game drives

Discover the lesser-known Bundi, a fairytale town on the Aravali foothills

Explore the lakeside city of Udaipur, nicknamed the Venice of the East

Itinerary

First Destination: Delhi
Next Destination: Delhi

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Delhi
Next Destination: Delhi

Begin your adventure in pulsating Delhi. It’s a city split in two, with historic Old Delhi in the north and the nation’s capital, New Delhi, in the south. Today has been left free, allowing you time to settle into the trip.

Around 6pm, we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Want more time in Delhi? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative

Accommodation: Rockland Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

Visit the walled city of Old Delhi this morning. It’s crowded, full of activities and still influenced by the great Mughals who once ruled from the ramparts of the majestic Red Fort. Navigating the city, we visit the 17th-century Jama Mosque, the largest mosque in India; Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; India Gate; and vast colonial buildings. In the afternoon, we transfer (approximately six hours) to Ranthambore National Park.

Accommodation: Raj Palace Resort (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Today we take two game drives in Ranthambore National Park. The reserve was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 became part of Project Tiger. After initial success, poaching has drastically reduced the tiger population. However, Ranthambore is still considered one of the best places to spot wild tigers and many of our groups over the last few years have seen the elusive predator. Ranthambore is also home to a great variety of other wildlife, including several species of monkey, deer, crocodile and birdlife.

During the game drives, each vehicle is joined by a Forest Guard, a requirement by the local authorities. The Forest Guards are part of a national park initiative to generate employment for the nearby villages. They are skilled spotters and trackers so, though their English is sometimes very limited, they greatly improve the experience.

Accommodation: Raj Palace Resort (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Leave Ranthambore and drive (approximately four hours) to Bundi, a delightful town on the Aravali foothills. It is best known for its palaces and the beautifully decorated stepwells that were used to collect water during the monsoon centuries ago. Visit Bundi Fort in the afternoon, one of the most beautiful palaces in India and home to outstanding miniature paintings portraying the history of the palace and its royal family. The fort is high on a hill overlooking Bundi and its Krishna blue stonewashed houses.

Accommodation: Ishwari Niwas Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Set off on our five-hour (145mi/235km) journey to the lakeside city of Udaipur. Known as the Pearl of Rajasthan, the City of Sunrise and Venice of the East, Udaipur is a beautiful place regarded by both Indians and visitors as the most romantic city in India.

Accommodation: Paras Mahal Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

On the east side of Lake Pichola, the main palace commands an unsurpassed view across the shimmering lake to the dusty Aravalli Hills.

The lake has two islands, each with a palace to rival that on the mainland. Jag Mandir and Jag Nivas (the latter is now the Lake Palace Hotel) rise out of their own reflections in the lake waters. Udaipur is surrounded by a massive bastion with five gates and dominating the town is the City Palace of the Maharana. The sumptuous apartments are decorated with multi-coloured mosaics, elaborate mirror work and inlaid tiles; half of these can be visited as the current Maharaja still occupies the rest of the palace. Spend the morning visiting the City Palace and Jagdish Temple, with a huge black-stone image of Jagannath, an aspect of Lord Vishnu. If time allows, it may be possible to visit the gardens of Gulab Bag or take a boat trip on the lake. The afternoon is free to enjoy this evocative city.

Accommodation: Paras Mahal Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Taking the scenic road out of Udaipur, we head to the blue city of Jodhpur, where the houses were painted blue to distinguish them as those of Brahmins. It was founded by the Rajput chief Roa Jodha and was formerly the capital of the Marwar state. The city is surrounded by a wall almost 6mi (10km) in circumference and is dominated by the massive fort that stands on a rocky hill commanding the surrounding desert.

It’s a seven-hour drive there, but to break up the journey we visit the 15^th-century Jain temple at Ranakpur. The main temple, beautifully carved from marble, is dedicated to Adinath and has 29 halls supported by 1,444 pillars, each delicately carved with a different design.

Accommodation: Shree Ram International Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

First thing, we visit Mehrangarh Fort for a great view of the blue houses. The fort itself looks massive from the outside but inside there is an impressive collection of finely carved sandstone screens and lattice windows, and the palaces themselves are very finely decorated.

We then walk through the spice market, before having the rest of the day free to explore the city. Options include visiting Mandore Garden, known for its collection of impressive cenotaphs dedicated to the rulers of Jodhpur.

Accommodation: Shree Ram International Hotel (or similar)

Pushkar Fair departure (14 November 2026): The itinerary for this departure is slightly amended. Read the Colours of Rajasthan – Pushkar Festival (2026) itinerary for more details.

Meals included:Breakfast

This morning, we transfer (six hours) to the lakeside pilgrimage town of Pushkar. There’s time for sightseeing this afternoon. In the town centre is the holy Pushkar Lake, which is surrounded by several temples, including a Bramha temple said to be the only one in the world dedicated to this deity. A dip in the lake waters and worship at the Bramha temple ensure salvation.

Accommodation: Hotel Dera Masuda (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy time at leisure this morning to explore Pushkar. Roam the narrow streets hunting for souvenirs or take a stroll to the lake and watch the local people start their day. In the afternoon, we drive (approximately three hours) to Jaipur, an attractive city of broad avenues, built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage.

Accommodation: Hotel 7 Apple (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

We start as the sun rises, heading out for a dawn walking tour led by a local guide as the Pink City wakes. See the local people start their day and the rituals that take place in early morning markets and small temples. We visit different chowkris (blocks) within the walled city, with the chance to interact with different artisans.

Returning to the hotel for breakfast and some time to refresh, we head out again mid-morning for a city tour led by a local guide. Visit the highlights, including one of the most intriguing sights in India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments. We also see the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, and the splendid Amber Palace, rising above a lake outside the city.

Accommodation: Hotel 7 Apple (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Transfer to Agra (approximately 4hr 30min), visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted royal city of Emperor Akbar, on the way. This impressive and well-preserved citadel became his capital in 1571, after the blessing of a local Moslem holy man correctly predicted the birth of a longed-for son, his successor Jehangir. The mosque, designed to hold 10,000 worshippers, the palaces, residences and halls of audience, are constructed of decorative red sandstone. But this magnificence only lasted 14 years; Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri in 1584 to secure his outlying territories, leaving this city much as we see it today.

This afternoon, we visit the imposing Red Fort of Akbar (Agra Fort), whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white-marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan.

Accommodation: Hotel Sun Ring (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Wake early to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the white-marble exterior is illuminated by the soft early light, the crowds are smaller and the birds chatter among themselves. After admiring it from the outside, we head inside, with a chance to explore the beautiful inner chambers and mausoleum, while our tour leader shares the history of this New World Wonder.

Following breakfast, we begin on our journey (approximately four to five hours) back to Delhi, stopping on the outskirts of Agra to visit and support Wildlife SOS. Their work is dedicated to rescuing and caring for sloth bears and elephants. At the Agra Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, we meet an education officer to learn about their vital work and commitment to rehabilitating abused elephants and advocating for their conservation through public awareness campaigns. We tour the centre and see some of the rescued elephants and hear their stories.

After this informative visit, we resume our drive to Delhi and check into our hotel. It’s your last night together so the tour leader can help to arrange a group dinner.

Accommodation: Rockland Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

The adventure ends after breakfast and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, if you’d like to spend a bit more time exploring this magnificent city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Call us: 020 3733 5948

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Accommodation

A selection of hotels

On this adventure through Rajasthan, we spend 13 nights in hotels. The accommodations typically used can be found on the day-to-day itinerary. However, below are a few of the notable hotels on this trip.

Bundi: Ishwari Niwas Hotel (night 4)

Colours of Rajasthan

Stay in a haveli (mansion) turned heritage hotel. It provides 24 rooms with traditional Bundi décor around an open courtyard with seating. There’s also a multi-cuisine restaurant, which specialises in Rajasthani dishes. The 100-year-old building, constructed during the reign of Maharao Raja Ishwari Singh, is close to the Bundi Palace and other historic attractions.

Udaipur: Paras Mahal Hotel (nights 5-6)

Colours of Rajasthan

Relax in green gardens overlooking the Aravalli Hills when you stay at the Paras Mahal. Find further chilled moments at the Urvashi Bar, an ideal gathering spot for the group, or with a splash in the pool. It’s also close to the main attractions in Udaipur: the City Palace and Lake Pichola.

Jodhpur: Shree Ram International Hotel (nights 7-8)

Colours of Rajasthan

There’s plenty to recommend the Shree Ram, most notably a sprawling green garden with plenty of space to wander and relax. There’s also an outdoor pool for a quick dip plus a café-bar stocked with wines, cocktails and more. Elsewhere, there’s The Basil restaurant, serving a variety of cuisines.

Worth knowing

Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are really only a couple of months in the year when the weather can get rather cold. You can request more blankets or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater for your room. Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this matter.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Pace: This is a fast-paced cultural trip, packed with the highlights of Rajasthan. It is not overly demanding, but some days can be busy and long, particularly where travelling is combined with sightseeing.

Journeys: The roads are generally pretty good, but traffic and/or road damage after the monsoon can sometimes slow us down. We travel mainly on comparatively quiet roads for at least half the journey. Longer distances are covered by private bus and should take around six to seven hours; however, delays are possible and journey times can increase. This trip does involve a lot of time on the road; however, this gives you the perfect opportunity to see the diversity of one of India’s most colourful states.

Weather: It can be quite hot and dusty (except December to February) and the bustle of the Indian cities can be tiring.

Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean that work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published so it is not possible to forewarn when work is taking place.

Festivals – Holi and Diwali: Some departures coincide with the festivals of Holi and Diwali. These can be quite local celebrations within communities and families and are not necessarily marked to the same extent throughout the country. We seek opportunities to see the festivities; however, we cannot guarantee what may or may not be going on in the area visited during the trip.

Holi celebrations typically involve people throwing coloured powders and water at each other and smearing powder on each other’s faces. This tends to be done in local communities and families so it is not always possible to be involved though you may see the colourful results of this boisterous festival left on the streets. During Holi, local monuments and markets close, so departures over Holi have a slight adjustment to the itinerary. Where possible, you will be offered a cultural experience with local musicians and dancers performing plus an opportunity to play with colours, dance, and enjoy food and drinks. You can also purchase locally the traditional white kurta outfit to look the part and avoid getting your own clothes covered in the coloured powders.

During Diwali, the festival of lights to mark the start of the Hindu New Year, people may illuminate their houses and shops and sometimes celebrate on the streets with fireworks. Lasting up to five days, it is difficult for us to predict what may be going on in the areas visited on our trips during Diwali. Where something is happening, we will endeavour to see how our groups can witness the festivities.

Pushkar Fair: Some departures are in Pushkar during the fair. These have a slightly amended schedule. See the itinerary here.

Key information

Start hotel: Rockland Hotel, B207, Outer Ring Rd, Block B, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi, Delhi 110019
Phone: +91 11 4272 2222
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm.
Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) from the end hotel. Please ensure you provide your flight details at least two weeks prior to arrival to secure your airport transfer.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

India

To avoid possible problems at immigration, make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.

Travellers from the UK, US, CA and EU normally need a visa to enter India. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/india
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/india
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html

Travellers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA and EU, can apply at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

For more information on applying for your Indian Visa, including details required for your start hotel and local reference contacts, please click on this link: Indian Visa Information.

New Digital Arrival Card

Travellers from the UK, US, EU and Canada must also complete a Digital Arrival Card. This can be filled online up to 72 hours before arrival via the official Indian visa website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. This is separate from the Indian e-visa process and this remains the same. Physical cards will remain at the arrival airport until 1 April 2026, at which point the Digital Arrival Card will be made mandatory.

Where meals are not supplied, our tour leaders always encourage people to try local restaurants and street-food vendors − allow at least 1,400-2,400 Indian rupees (approximately US$20-US$35) per day for lunch and dinner. In Jaipur, Udaipur and Delhi, you can even see how food and drink, such as samosa (mashed potato snacks), jalebe (Indian doughnuts) and lassi (yoghurt drink), are made. In most towns, there is a good selection of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western-style food. If you are vegetarian, India is probably one of the best destinations to visit. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large) bottle of beer is approximately 300-400 rupees (approximately US$4-US$5). Mineral water is available in the bus in large containers. Please bring a water bottle with you to refill. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow.

During October/November and February/March/April, the days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low with little or no rain. Evenings in Delhi can be surprisingly cool. It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings in December and January and warm clothes are essential. Fog is also a real possibility during this period. Please note, night-time temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a little above freezing in December and January.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

Visit the Wildlife SOS centre in Agra to learn about elephant rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term welfare.
Celebrate the Holi festival on select departures to experience local traditions and community-led cultural celebrations.

In addition, we support tiger conservation through our Foundation’s Tiger Habitat Project.

Reviews

Add new review

Sue Beesley

Added February 2026

Colours of Rajasthan Trip February 2025

A wonderful two weeks in exciting, chaotic, stimulating Rajasthan. A perfect cure for the winter blues. This trip is very busy but ensures some wonderful experiences and insights into Indian history and culture. The two days in Ranthambore provide a more tranquil setting and opportunity to spot Indian mammals and birds. Our group were not fortunate enough to see a tiger but we did see a sloth bear and lots of other wildlife in a beautiful setting.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being in India provides all the inspiration you could possibly want - the colours, the noise, the food, the architecture, the people, the traffic, etc. This trip gives you the chance to experience these at first hand. Apart from beautiful Taj Mahal, I was especially impressed with Mehrangarh Fort which was unexpectedly magnificent. Mad tuk tuk drives were great fun. The trip did sometimes feel a little rushed and more time to assimilate the experiences would have been appreciated.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mayank is deservedly Exodus Guide of the Year. His organisational skills are amazing, especially important in such a busy trip. Inevitably we spent a lot of time travelling on the bus and Mayank took the opportunity to enthusiastically impart his remarkable knowledge about places visited and gave us an insight into many aspects of Indian life. All the restaurants Mayank recommended for dinners and lunches were excellent, often in beautiful settings. Praise should also be given to our driver, Mr Harbhajan, and helper, Mr Amit.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Exodus rate this as a leisurely trip but it is also tiring as so much is packed in, with lots of early departures - this is not a complaint just a warning. There is little down time and the group are together the majority of the time. Luckily our group gelled from get go and we enjoyed each other’s company. Plenty of opportunities to change money or visit atms. Hairdryers in all hotels on request. Some hotels seemed to ration hot water - but would flick a magic switch if asked. The kitty was a life saver as it covered most tips and took away the stress. Thoroughly recommend this trip. My only negative comment - the trip notes show a photo of a step well which is not part of the itinerary - rather a faux pas on Exodus’s part. The step well we visited in Bundi was nothing like it so a disappointment.

Melissa Hammond

Excellent took lots of care could not have been better

Advice for Potential Travellers

Study details to make sure not too much involved

Suggestions

Most basics very good food hotels etc but poor planning

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for your review Alison, although we’re sorry you didn’t find the trip to be as leisurely as you had expected While we do mention in our trip notes that this is a busy itinerary, mainly because this region of India offers so much to see and experience in the time frame, we generally note our customers find the pace to be appropriate as shown in the very positive feedback we receive, but do appreciate some customers may prefer more guidance on this aspect of our trips. Should you wish to travel with us again, please don’t hesitate to ask our sales team if you have any specific questions about the tour that are not covered in the trip notes, and we will be more than happy to help. Sarah Puttnam - Product Manager

Read all reviews

Colours of Rajasthan

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the domain of the maharajas, exploring regal residences, seeing the Taj Mahal and searching for tigers

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

A selection of hotels

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

India