This is a dazzling tour of colourful and romantic Rajasthan that culminates in a visit to the ethereal Taj Mahal. Staying in some of India's oldest heritage resorts such as the luxurious Neemrana Fort-Palace which is situated at the gateway to Rajasthan on a commanding plateau in the Aravali hills, and Shahpura Bagh, the former summer residence of the Maharaja, situated midway between Jaipur and Udaipur and surrounded by lakes and greenery, the tour takes you to Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodphur and Bharatpur. Some of the highlights of the trip are:

• Time in Samoda - a town famous for its magnificent havelis    (mansions) and handicrafts
• Visiting the Karni Mata Temple (rat temple), built to worship an incarnation of durga, the mother    goddess, where rats are also worshipped and roam freely around the temple and over the feet of    visitors - to see a white rat is said to bring good luck
• Exploring the golden city of Jaisalmer whose bustling streets are housed within the thick walls of    the beautiful sandstone fort
• A camel safari in the Thar desert - race across the beautiful sand dunes; watch the glorious    sunset and enjoy local food, music and dance around a camp fire before sleeping in luxurious tents
• The blue city of Jodhpur viewed from the imposing ramparts of the Mehrangarh Fort built on a    perpendicular cliff 400 feet above the city
• Wandering through the beautiful, intricately carved Jain temples at Ranakpur
• Exciting jeep safaris in Ranthambore National Park famous for its tigers as well as much other    spectacular wildlife
• Fatehpur Sikri - built in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, this was the capital of the Mughal    Empire for 10 years before being deserted
• The city of Agra on the Yamuna River - see the fort and of course the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven    Wonders of the World