Saris and havelî in northern India

Private transfer from the airport to your hotel upon arrival. Use the rest of the day to explore the surrounding area.

You join the group to start your discoveries with a glimpse of the Indian capital around Raj Path, the grand avenue designed by the English at the beginning of the last century, which connects the official buildings to the monumental India Gate in New Delhi. Then take the road to Rajasthan. Arrival in the evening in the pretty village of Mandawa.

Discovery of the famous havelis, ancient mansions with richly decorated facades, typical of this region. Continuation to Bikaner, installation at the hotel and lunch. Then visit of the Junagarh fort, an imposing military structure of the 16th century which was used to protect the Maharajahs of the city from the assaults of the Mughal warriors. Then take a walk in the market.

Route through the raw landscapes of the Thar Desert. Lunch at Pokaran fort and continuation to Jaisalmer. Late afternoon excursion to the hill of Bada Bagh where the cenotaphs of the former rulers of this medieval city stand.

Visit this ochre and stone city that looks like a sand castle: the fortress, the Jain temples, the havelis and the market of Manak Chowk. Indian cooking workshop followed by lunch and free time at the hotel, before reaching the Gadisar reservoir, a poetic set of temples and kiosks on the banks of a small artificial lake. Dinner in a charming family property at the foot of the ramparts.

Departure for Jodhpur and discovery of Mehrangarh Fort, a superb 15th century eagle’s nest overlooking the old town and its indigo-coloured houses. Then walk in the picturesque market of Sardar, at the foot of the Clock Tower, where the spice stalls are located. Take a break for a traditional tea in an elegant 18th century palace.

Drive to Ranakpur in the heart of the Aravalli Mountains and visit its Jain temples, including that of Adinath, with its 1444 finely carved marble columns. Lunch then continue to Udaipur and boat trip on Lake Pichola to the romantic island of Jag Mandir.

Visit the majestic City Palace, one of the largest palaces in Rajasthan, walk in the Mughal gardens of Sahelion Ki Bari and stop at a school of miniature paintings. Lunch at the restaurant then excursion to the Hindu temples of Nagda, and continuation to the village of Deogarh for a night in an authentic 17th century palace owned by the local Rajah.

Departure for Pushkar. Visit of its singular temple, one of the only ones in the world dedicated to Brahma, and walk around the sacred lake. Lunch then drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.

A glance at the delicate openwork facade of the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds, then excursion to Amber Fort and elephant ride up to this impressive 16th century citadel. Stop at a carpet and textile factory and lunch in a charming palace where you can watch a small demonstration of traditional puppets. In the afternoon, visit the City Palace, former residence of the Maharajahs of Jaipur, and the Jantar Mantar observatory. Then free time to stroll through the bazaars.

Drive to Agra and visit Fatehpur Sikri, a red sandstone fortress that was the short-lived capital of Akbar, the first great builder of the Mughal empire. Arrival in Agra and visit of the Red Fort.

Visit the extraordinary Taj Mahal, a white marble mausoleum erected on the banks of the Yamuna River by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Then departure by train to Jhansi (about 4 hours, with picnic on board). Transfer to Orchha and discovery of this peaceful medieval city on the banks of the Betwa River where the memory of the Bundela rulers floats around its 16th and 17th century palaces and cenotaphs.

Road to Khajuraho. Installation at the hotel and lunch, then visit of this ancient capital of the Chandela dynasty in the 10th century, famous for its magnificent UNESCO listed temples and their erotic bas-reliefs, illustrating the ancestral art of Kâma-Sûtra.

Free morning at the hotel then flight to the holy city of Varanasi. Installation at the hotel and first steps in the city of Shiva before reaching the Ghats, those stairs on the banks of the Ganges that punctuate the life of the faithful, to attend the aarti, the moving ceremony of evening prayers.

Departure at dawn for a boat trip on the Ganges, the great sacred river of Hinduism. Continuation to Sarnath where Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. Lunch then flight to Delhi and installation at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Montreal.