Lux India Tours
Taj Lake Palace and Lake Pichola at Udaipur with birds in flight overhead, showcasing the city's romantic lakeside beauty

Rajasthan · 8 Days

Rajasthan Golden Cities Grand Tour

Eight days from Jaipur through Pushkar and Kumbhalgarh to two full days exploring Udaipur's palaces and old city.

Day by Day

8 Days, In Full

The complete Golden Cities route, with time to properly settle into Udaipur rather than just passing through. The first six days follow the route above. That's Jaipur, then Pushkar, then Kumbhalgarh's fort and wildlife sanctuary. Arriving in Udaipur, two full days follow. One is spent at City Palace and Lake Pichola. The other walks the old city's silver and miniature-painting workshops before departure.

Jaipur's City Palace facade, seen from its courtyard
01

Jaipur

Arrival in Jaipur — City Palace & Hawa Mahal

Private airport pickup, then straight into Jaipur's old city. City Palace is still a home — part of it belongs to the royal family today. Its courtyards mix Rajput and Mughal design in a way few palaces manage. From there it's a short walk to Hawa Mahal. Built in 1799, its pink sandstone front holds 953 small windows. They let royal women watch the street below without being seen themselves. Evening is free for the hotel, or a walk through the old city's lanes before dinner.

Hawa Mahal's pink sandstone honeycomb facade in Jaipur
02

Jaipur

Amber Fort & Jaipur's Old City Bazaars

A full day built around Amber Fort. The fort sits on a hill above Maota Lake, begun in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I. Inside, Sheesh Mahal glitters — thousands of small mirror tiles set into the walls and ceiling, still catching light after four centuries. A guide walks you through Ganesh Pol, the fort's most ornate gate, before the afternoon opens up. Back in the old city, Johari Bazaar sells jewellery the way it has for generations, and Bapu Bazaar deals in block-printed textiles. Both are better explored slowly, with someone who knows which shops to trust.

An ornate archway framing a statue by the ghats of Pushkar Lake, Rajasthan
03

Jaipur → Pushkar

Jaipur to Pushkar — Lake & Brahma Temple

A shorter transfer, around three hours, to Pushkar — a small desert town built around a lake considered sacred in Hindu tradition. Pushkar Lake is ringed by more than fifty bathing ghats. Above them stands Brahma Temple, one of only a handful anywhere in India dedicated to Brahma, and by far the most visited. Evening brings the ghats to life with lamps and prayer, best watched from a quiet spot along the water rather than the busiest steps.

Kumbhalgarh Fort's wall snaking along the Aravalli ridgeline, seen from above
04

Pushkar → Kumbhalgarh

Pushkar to Kumbhalgarh

A long drive south, around six hours, deeper into the Aravalli hills. The road climbs as it goes. Forest replaces the flat desert scrub around Pushkar. Kumbhalgarh comes into view late in the drive — its wall running along the ridgeline for kilometres before the fort itself appears. Check in by evening, with the fort saved for the morning.

Visitors walking Kumbhalgarh Fort's ramparts with the fortress wall stretching across the hills behind
05

Kumbhalgarh

Kumbhalgarh Fort & Wildlife Sanctuary

A full morning at Kumbhalgarh Fort, built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha and the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. Its wall runs for nearly 36 kilometres — the second-longest continuous wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. In the afternoon, the surrounding wildlife sanctuary opens up. Forested hills here are home to leopards, wolves, and sloth bears, best explored on a quiet jeep safari as the light turns gold.

Lake Palace on Lake Pichola, Udaipur, at dusk
06

Kumbhalgarh → Udaipur

Kumbhalgarh Fort to Udaipur

Morning at Kumbhalgarh Fort. Built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, it's the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. Its wall runs for nearly 36 kilometres along the hilltops. That makes it the second-longest continuous wall in the world, after the Great Wall of China. It's wide enough in places for eight horses to ride side by side. After the fort, a two-hour drive brings you into Udaipur by early evening. You'll arrive in time for a sunset view over Lake Pichola from the hotel.

City Palace on Lake Pichola's banks at golden hour, reflecting in calm waters
07

Udaipur

Udaipur — City Palace & Lake Pichola

A morning at City Palace, its marble courtyards facing the lake directly. It was built up over nearly four hundred years by successive Mewar rulers. Like most Rajasthan palaces, it mixes Rajput and Mughal styles. In the afternoon, a private boat crosses to Jag Mandir, an island palace once used as a refuge by a young Mughal prince. The best seat for sunset is on the water itself, watching City Palace catch the last light.

Udaipur City Palace's tiered cupolas and balconies rising above the old city
08

Udaipur

Udaipur Old City Walk & Departure

A slower final morning through Udaipur's old city lanes, away from the lakefront crowds. Silver ateliers and miniature-painting workshops line the narrow streets, many still run by the same families for generations. A stop at a working studio shows how the fine detail work is actually done — brush strokes finer than most visitors expect. The rest of the day is timed around your departure flight.

Guest Stories

What Our Travelers Say

Real words from real journeys — rated 5.0 across 310 Google reviews.

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An absolutely flawless experience. We felt like royalty from the moment we landed in Delhi until our departure.

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Truly exceptional — Brijesh, our tour planner, was incredibly attentive, professional, and meticulous in organizing a flawless itinerary.

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Mentions guide Brijesh

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Nothing short of magical. Brijesh crafted a seamless itinerary that balanced sightseeing, culture, and relaxation, making our journey truly special.

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Mentions guide Brijesh

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Everything went beyond our expectations. Our driver Rajesh kept us comfortable in every city, and Vicky was endlessly knowledgeable.

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Mentions guide Rajesh & Vicky

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From the moment we landed until we left, our driver Manish made us feel so taken care of — he made the trip even more memorable.

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Mentions guide Manish

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Brijesh is a super good man! A comfortable journey through six cities, exactly to our desires and limits.

Michelle de Matheu

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Mentions guide Brijesh & Manish

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Excellent hotels and tour guides. Our driver Manish was superb in every way — reliable, and full of local knowledge.

James Boochame

Australia

Mentions guide Manish

A private itinerary being sketched out by hand

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