This immersive private tour of Rajasthan is unique in that you will stay in top-end homestays and characterful Havelis. This allows you to get an excellent insight into local Indian life, cuisine and embark on some truly unique, off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Why Stay in a Homestay?
Why stay in a Homestay in India? If you have a sense of wanderlust and a desire to immerse yourself in the destination, then a homestay could be the ideal travelling solution. Stay in distinctly characterful houses, where you are looked after by fascinating hosts. Your hosts will be a fountain of knowledge, imparting insight into India that you simply won’t get when staying in a hotel or featured in a guidebook. Saviour the fantastic flavours of local home-cooked Indian food, whose recipes have been passed down through the generations.
These unique homestays are often off-the-track, allowing you to set out on some wonderful experiences. This could be attending a local polo match with family friends, visit local villages where there are no tourists or celebrating an Indian festival with the family. There are of course exceptional homestays and some that leave a little bit to be desired in terms of the quality of accommodation. All the homestays we feature on this itinerary are like luxury boutique hotels, yet retaining all the aforementioned experiential magic.
This itinerary is perfect for either first-time or repeat visits to India, we would just adjust the experiences to ensure you are not repeating anything! The more local, immersive experiences are perfect if you have done most of the traditional sights on a first visit.
Delhi
Begin in Delhi, and you will firstly stay in a 150-year old restored Haveli in the heart of bustling Old Delhi. The Haveli is located 300 yards down an alleyway (your bags are carried by hotel porters), and the views from the rooftop are incredible. Just think of waking up to the call to prayer from the Jama Masjid, before setting off on a walk through the markets as they are opening up for the day. We will privately escort you around the city with an expert guide.
Chambal & Ramathra
We then suggest a train journey to Agra (2 hours), which is home to the Taj Mahal. After exploring the city, drive to Chambal Safari Lodge, a drive of 90 minutes. If this is your second visit to India, you can continue onto Bah or Etawah Stations to then transfer to Chambal Safari Lodge. Chambal is a luxury homestay and run by Ram Pratap Singh and his wife Anu. Here you can set off on rural village safaris, boat safaris on the Yumana seeing gharials, muggers & turtles, and nature safaris seeing blackbuck deer, countless birdlife including the rare Sarus Crane. We love exploring the ruins of Ater and the Bateshwar Temples.
Drive to Ramathra Fort, a drive of about 5-6 hours through stunning rural landscapes. This is an area where time has mostly stood still. You see small villages, farmers and a traditional way of life. Ramathra is a 350-year-old fort and is perched dramatically on a hillock overlooking a large lake. It is run by Ravi Raj Pal, who has lovingly created six rooms into a luxury homestay. Here you can set out on rural jeep excursions, visit forts and small temples and have a picnic on the banks of the lake. It’s a dreamy experience, to say the least, and we love it here.
Jaipur & Shahpura
Next, drive to Jaipur, a drive of five hours. Here, you stay with Colonel N S Rathore and his polo-playing son, Ransher Singh at Khas Bagh. The family are enchanting, and their homestay is tucked away in the Aravalli Hills, close to Amber Fort. All rooms feature antique furniture, cozy verandas, and handcrafted stone pillars. While in Jaipur, you can immerse yourselves in the sights and sounds. If you have been before, we can showcase a new side to the city.
Drive to Shahpura, an area between Jaipur and Udaipur and taking about four to five hours. Shahpura Bagh is run by Jai and his family, who were the ancestral rulers of this area of Rajasthan. This luxury homestay has a pool and gorgeous rooms. Set out to visit their local farm, and hear stories of how the family has looked after their patch of India so well. Finish your day with a private dinner on the ramparts of Dhikhola Fort.
Dev Shree & Udaipur
Your next stop is Dev Shree, home to Shatrunjal and Bhavna, who will look after you fantastically. Dev Shree means ‘Our Home’ is possibly the most beautiful luxury homestay in Rajasthan. There is so much to see and do around Dev Shree, but we think the best plan is to walk through the countryside, try a short journey on a local Rajasthani train and take a picnic lunch before finishing for sundowners at Gokuk Fort.
Finally, drive to Udaipur where you finish your stay at Bujera Fort. Richard and Trish are your hosts and built Bujera. They wanted Bujera to feel like a traditional Haveli, and it feels like a boutique hotel with a luxury homestay twist. While here, you can dip into the sights and sounds of Udaipur, or spend your final few days relaxing beside the pool.