Family Holiday to Rajasthan

Airport welcome and check in at the hotel in the center of Delhi. Night in hotel.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning you will be introducing the children to Delhi in style, on a morning's private bicycle rickshaw tour. Your rickshaw driver/guides will cycle you through the winding alleys of the markets of Old Delhi where you and the children will witness Indian city life up close as you pass street barbers and stall keepers selling colourful garments, spices and sweets. Hop off whenever you want a closer look, and return to the hotel in time for lunch. After lunch, it's time for an introduction to Indian history and architecture with a visit to Humayun's Tomb, also in New Delhi and somewhere for the children to run around in the shaded formal gardens surrounding the elegant tomb of a Mughal king.

Early morning breakfast at hotel Transfer to railway station and onboard train to Agra, journey in train takes about littles less than two hours, and the children will enjoy their first real glimpse of rural India from the window of the 100 mph train. Our local team will receive you at railway station and leave straight for the visit to Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is effectively a walled city within a city, built of red sandstone and the long-time seat of the Mughal emperors. More importantly, it's somewhere the children can run off some energy as well. Check-in at hotel and time to relax. By sunset you we will take you to Mehtabh Bagh, across the Yamuna River to a special viewing spot where you can gaze across at the Taj Mahal reflected in the water as the sun sets and the white marble turns slowly red.

Early morning tea or coffee at hotel Visit the Taj Mahal, possibly the most famous building on the planet. It's another early start, though, because you can then appreciate this magical place at what photographers call 'the golden hour' - either sunrise or sunset - and before the hordes of tourists arrive. Return to hotel for breakfast and leave for Ranthambhore Ranthambhore National Park was once a famous hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur and was one of the original Project Tiger reserves. Evening free at hotel.

If the children are even remotely into the Jungle Book (either version), then the next couple of days should be the highlight of the trip as you explore the beautiful Ranthambore National Park, home to an increasing number of tigers, hundreds of other species of wildlife and a UNESCO World Heritage fort just for good measure. After a hearty breakfast, the family will enter the park in a 4x4 with a driver/guide and - fingers crossed - see or even hear the king of the big cats, Shere Khan himself. Chances of sightings are improving all the time, but the good news is there are plenty of other cast members from the Jungle Book to see as well, from leopards to monkeys and sloth bears and many more to see as well from caracals, and civet cats to hyenas, deer and marsh crocodiles along with over 300 species of bird. As it gets towards lunch and the hottest part of the day you will leave the park and return to Hotel for lunch. This evening there's time for another game drive back in the park, so keep your collective eyes peeled before a return to hotel where the family can recount the memorable sightings of the day by the campfire.

Breakfast hotel Ranthambore is a beautiful place whether you have sightings of tigers or not and visiting the fort is a must. This morning you can drive up there and explore the temples and buildings that make up the fort in its outstanding position dominating the skyline of a ridge. Make sure to take some binos because it's not unheard of for tigers and other animals to wander down to the lake beneath the fort for a drink. After visiting leave for Jaipur, the Rajastahani state capital, some four hours away. On route, you will drive through some of Rajasthan's rural areas, where the muted colours of the fields and hills contrast beautifully with the brightly coloured turbans and saris of rural villagers. On arrival into Jaipur and enjoy a relaxed evening.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning rise early (before the worst of the traffic, and also when it is cool) for a cycling tour of the backstreets of Jaipur. This is fascinating as you will be cycling around whilst the city is coming alive. Children run errands in the street and market stalls are getting set up for the day. The ride lasts around 2-3 hours and you will be back at your hotel for a late breakfast. Later head out again for a morning sightseeing. This will include the City Palace, the principal residence of the former royal family. In the afternoon take an excursion to Elefantastic. This is a wonderful centre where you have the chance to learn all about Indian elephants. You will be able to feed, paint, wash and finally ride your very own elephant. This is an amazing experience that is very popular with children of all ages (as well as adults!).

Breakfast at hotel and leave for Raipur.  Remotely located in the middle of the desert halfway between Jaipur and Jodhpur, Lakshman Sagar blends beautifully into a landscape dotted with shimmering lakes and craggy hills. Designed to help you unwind, this resort has many traits characteristic of an eco retreat, offering a fantastic respite during your travels through Rajasthan. In the evening family can horse safari through the "Badlands of India".

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Jodhpur. In the afternoon, you’ll head to the immense Mehrangarh Fort on a cycle rickshaw, where you will learn the fort’s history and walk round its museum before a walk through the backstreets. Experience an exhilarating zip-lining over the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort providing extraordinary view of the fort; lakes and valley.

Early morning breakfast at hotel and transfer by surface to Jawai. In the middle of wide open wilderness between the cities of Jodhpur and Udaipur, JAWAI is an intimate safari camp surrounded by arid scrubland and towering granite kopjes that numerous leopards and nomadic Rabari herdsmen call home. In the evening Explore this remote corner of Rajasthan on a variety of beguiling activities, from game drives out to spot leopards and other wildlife, to birdwatching walks (there are 170 species of birds here including flamingos), strolls with the local shepherds or more challenging treks.

Breakfast at hotel by surface transfer to Udaipur Enroute a stop to visit the Jain Temple at Ranakpur is the one to go for: fashioned from white marble and supported by 1,440 beautifully carved columns, it really is a spectacle to behold - and a peaceful place, despite the crowds. With, of course, many more monkeys. After visiting leave for Udaipur so-called City of Lakes, Udaipur, one of the most beautiful cities in India. This evening we have arranged a private boat trip around Lake Pichola to see the various islands. The children can watch as troops of monkeys come to down to the water's edge to enjoy the sunset over the lake,

After breakfast this morning the family will have the chance to learn about "jal sanjhvi", a religious ritual performed at temples dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, and basically involving painting on water. Another traditional and increasingly rare craft is koftgari engraving, where silver and gold wire was intricately inlayed on iron daggers or swords used by Rajput warriors. You will visit a family who are some of the last practitioners of this dying art form.

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport to onboard flight, couple of hours in capital of India before onboard return flight.