Arrive Ahmedabad

Please arrive in Ahmedabad no later than today. If coming directly from New Zealand or Australia, you are able to depart and connect straight through to Ahmedabad through Singapore on the same day, with Singapore Airlines (SQ504 Singapore – Ahmedabad arrives around 9.35pm). If you’d like to arrive earlier, we can extend your accommodation. Please contact us for more information.

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Accommodation: 5-Star Heritage Property

Meals: No meals included today

Ahmedabad

Begin with a guided heritage walk through the old city’s historic pols, gates, mosques and temples. Mid-morning, visit the renowned Calico Museum of Textiles, showcasing exquisite Mughal and regional fabrics in a lush garden setting. ​After lunch, explore the studio of a celebrated textile and fashion designer, known for blending traditional embroidery with contemporary design. End the day with a visit to Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhi’s former home and centre for reflection. ​This evening, for those keen, enjoy a rooftop dinner at the hotel featuring a delicious local thali.

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Accommodation: 5-Star Heritage Property

Meals: Breakfast included

Key Inclusions: Early morning walking tour, Visit to the Calico Museum of Textiles and Sabarmati Ashram and Demonstration with a master embroiderer

Ahmedabad

Visit one of the few remaining families practising Mata Ni Pachedi, a traditional kalamkari art form, and take part in a hands-on workshop. In the afternoon, meet a contemporary fashion designer working with women artisans to preserve traditional embroidery through sustainable, modern design. Enjoy an interactive session and studio visit. If time and energy allow, visit the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum for a quick dive into Indian art history, or enjoy some free time to unwind.

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Accommodation: 5-Star Heritage Property

Meals: Breakfast included

Key Inclusions: Mata ni Pachedi workshop, Interactive session with a local, young fashion designer

Ahmedabad to Bhuj

An early departure today as we travel to Bhuj, the textile heart of Kutch. En route, stop at Dhamadka for lunch and a demonstration of traditional Ajrakh block printing with a Khatri artisan. Later, visit a women-led organisation preserving the intricate Ahir embroidery tradition, inspired by nomadic life and mythology. Arrive in Bhuj for check-in, rest, and a delicious dinner.

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Accommodation: Colonial-Style

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: Ajrakh and Ahir demonstrations

Bhuj

This morning, visit one of the last families practising Kharad weaving, a rare nomadic rug tradition using camel, goat, and sheep wool. Continue to the Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC), a dynamic space dedicated to preserving and promoting Kutch’s craft traditions through education and innovation. After lunch, spend time with a master of Ajrakh printing to learn about this intricate, nature-driven textile process - with engaging conversation over masala chai. In the evening, enjoy some street shopping at Bhuj’s lively local market.

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Accommodation: Colonial-Style

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: Visits to the LLDC, Kharad weaving, Ajrakh textile demonstration and the local Bhuj market

Bhuj

Today we visit Bhujodi to see traditional pit and shuttle looms in action, learn about indigo dyeing, and hear directly from a master Vankar weaver about the challenges of preserving this craft. Next, we meet an avid textile collector and explore his remarkable private collection dating back to the late 1800s, followed by a family-style lunch at his home. In the afternoon, enjoy a Bandhani workshop with a talented artisan whose contemporary twist on this traditional tie-dye technique is both innovative and beautiful.

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Accommodation: Colonial-Style

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: Demonstrations of traditional looms and Indigo dying, Interaction with highly respected textile collector and hands-on tie and dye workshop

Bhuj to Dholavira

Today is a day you will never forget! We leave Bhuj and head to Nirona for a demonstration of Rogan Art, a rare and intricate textile technique brought from Persia over 400 years ago. Next, we visit a quilter in Hodko who transforms Ajrakh prints into traditional Gudri quilts, and see stunning Lipan mud homes, decorated with mirrors and rich designs by local women. At the Kala Raksha Trust, explore a museum of heirloom textiles and learn how this grassroots organisation supports artisan-led cultural preservation. After lunch, we journey to the breathtaking Great Rann of Kutch, one of the largest salt deserts in the world, driving the iconic ‘Road to Heaven’ across its vast, white expanse. Dinner on arrival at our accommodation.

Accommodation: Elegant Resort-Style

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: Interactions with Rogan Art, local weavers, a local social enterprise and epic afternoon visit to the Great Rann of Kutch

Dholavira to Dasada

Today is largely a travel day, but before we start our journey, we will visit the Harappan site at Dholavira. This is a remarkable excavation of an Indus Valley civilisation from the Harappan culture, dating back 4,500 years. Mid-morning we will leave for Dasada with a lunch stop along the way. We will arrive at our accommodation in the afternoon, and you’ll have time to relax and enjoy some pool time.

Accommodation: Eco-friendly Boutique Resort

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: Harrapan Village exploration

Dasada

This morning, visit the beautifully preserved Sun Temple in Modhera, built over 1,000 years ago. Continue to Patan to see the monumental Rani ki Vav stepwell, featured on the Rs.100 note, and meet the family keeping the ancient Patola double ikkat weaving tradition alive after 35 generations. After lunch, travel to Siddhpur, a fascinating town once home to the Dawoodi Bohra community. Stroll streets lined with colourful, European-style mansions and havelis - now faded but still rich in character and architectural detail. Return to your accommodation for the evening.

Accommodation: Eco-friendly Boutique Resort

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: Visits to Rani ki Vav and the Sun Temple, Demonstration at Patan Patola Sarees, Visit to the stunning Siddhpur

Dasada to Jaipur

Start the day with an early safari through the Little Rann of Kutch, passing waking villages, cotton fields, and the Agariya salt farming community. Spot wildlife including desert foxes, starlings, flamingos, and possibly a peregrine falcon in this striking, otherworldly landscape. Return for breakfast and check-out before driving back to Ahmedabad for your afternoon flight to Jaipur. Enjoy free time to settle in on arrival - a quiet evening is likely welcome!

Accommodation: Superior Heritage Haveli

Meals: Breakfast included

Key Inclusions: Morning Safari to the Little Rann of Kutch

Jaipur

This morning, explore Amer Fort, a majestic hilltop palace just outside Jaipur, followed by a private tour of the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, celebrating Rajasthan’s rich block printing tradition. Then it's a one-of-a-kind experience: lunch with rescued elephants at an ethical sanctuary where you can walk, feed, and learn about these gentle giants - no rides or gimmicks, just genuine connection. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to relax or, for those eager, visit Jaipur’s top cotton and pashmina wholesalers for some unforgettable shopping. An optional stylish dinner awaits tonight right at your hotel.

Accommodation: Superior Heritage Haveli

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included

Key Inclusions: Visit to the Amer Fort, Private Tour of the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing and Lunch with Elephants!

Jaipur

Start the day with a rickshaw tour through Jaipur’s old town, catching early morning views of the Hawa Mahal and the bustling local markets. After breakfast, take part in a hands-on block-printing workshop, crafting your own creation using traditional wooden blocks and dyes. Lunch is at the Anokhi café and flagship store, perfect for a relaxed bite and a little shopping. Later, enjoy an unforgettable leopard safari in the nearby sanctuary - home to over 40 leopards and a range of other wildlife including hyenas, civets, and Nilgai antelope.

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Accommodation: Superior Heritage Haveli

Meals: Breakfast included

Key Inclusions: Visit to the old city morning markets, Hands-on block printing workshop, Leopard Safari!

Jaipur

There’s never enough time in Jaipur — the city is bursting with things to see and do! Today is yours to explore at your own pace. For keen shoppers, we’ll share a list of off-the-beaten-track favourites, from boutiques and cotton wholesalers to local jewellers and vibrant bazaars. You might also revisit the City Palace or check out one of the many excellent museums. This evening, we’re welcomed into the home of a local artist and interior designer for a memorable experience. Tour his studio, explore vintage treasures and miniature paintings, and enjoy a hands-on cooking class led by his wife, a passionate home chef preserving her family’s culinary traditions. Over appetisers, stories, and a lovingly prepared dinner, you’ll experience the true warmth of Indian hospitality in their one-of-a-kind 'Art House'.

Accommodation: Superior Heritage Haveli

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: An evening of art and food with a local artist

Jaipur to Agra

Today we journey across Rajasthan, with our first stop at the breathtaking Chand Baori Stepwell in Abhaneri - one of the largest and most visually striking in India. Dating back to the 10th century, this remarkable structure features 3,500 symmetrical steps descending 13 storeys into the earth, flanked by intricately carved walls and a temple on one side. It’s a stunning example of ancient engineering and architectural brilliance. We’ll stop for a relaxed late lunch at a desert retreat before continuing to Agra. The evening is yours to unwind at the hotel.

Accommodation: 5-Star International-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included

Key Inclusions: A visit to the Chand Baori stepwell

Agra

Before stepping inside the iconic Taj Mahal, we’ll admire it from multiple angles and explore Agra’s rich Mughal heritage. We begin at the grand Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1565, offering our first magical views of the Taj. Next, we visit a Zardozi embroidery atelier, where artisans continue the centuries-old tradition of exquisite gold and silver threadwork once reserved for royalty. Lunch is a traditional South Indian thali, served on a banana leaf at a charming local hotel. In the afternoon, we explore the elegant Itimad-ud-Daulah, or “Baby Taj,” renowned for its delicate inlay and refined design. We end the day at Mehtab Bagh, the Moonlight Garden, with breathtaking sunset views of the Taj Mahal from across the Yamuna River.

Accommodation: 5-Star International-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included

Key Inclusions: Visits to the Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-Daulah and Mehtab Bagh; Demonstrations of the Zardozi Embroidery

Agra to Delhi

We start the day early to experience the Taj Mahal at its most magical - a breathtaking white marble masterpiece built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen, Mumtaz Mahal. After exploring its intricate interiors and serene gardens, we return to the hotel for breakfast, then travel to Delhi, arriving mid-afternoon for lunch and time to unwind. This evening, for those keen, we’ll explore the vibrant lanes of Old Delhi. Highlights include the imposing Red Fort, Jama Masjid (India’s largest mosque), and a rickshaw ride through the bustling markets of Chandni Chowk. We end at Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market - a sensory explosion of colour, aroma, and history.

Accommodation: 5-Star heritage style hotel

Meals: Breakfast included

Key Inclusions: Visits to the Taj Mahal and Old Delhi sites

Delhi

Enjoy a relaxed start to the day before visiting Humayun’s Tomb — a striking Mughal garden tomb and forerunner to the Taj Mahal. We then explore the National Craft Museum’s vibrant collection of textiles, art and artefacts, followed by lunch at the on-site Lota Café. This afternoon, enjoy a private preview of a contemporary local designer’s latest collection (with Christchurch connections!) or visit the nearby Khan Market for last-minute shopping. Tonight, we gather for a special farewell dinner to celebrate our unforgettable journey through India.

Accommodation: 5-Star heritage style hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

Key Inclusions: Visits to the Humayun’s Tomb, the National Craft Museum and a private viewing from a local fashion designer

Delhi - Tour Ends

Today we say farewell after a wonderful trip!

You will be transferred to Delhi International Airport for your flight. A morning departure from Delhi back to Singapore (SQ401 Delhi - Singapore at around 9.30am) connects with overnight flights to New Zealand or Australia. Alternatively, talk to Sarah about trip extensions - maybe a couple of days in Goa on the beach or exploring the palaces of Udaipur?

Meals: Breakfast included

• DOWNLOAD FULL TOUR INFORMATION PACK NOW

• Fully escorted by VERY experienced guide 🙋🏻‍♀️

• Airport meet and greet and departure assistance

• 17 night’s superior and boutique accommodation (twin share; single supplement and part share available for additional cost)

• Daily Breakfast

• 6 x Lunches

• 8 x Dinners

• Activities / Monument and Temple entrances as per programme (including English-speaking Guides and Tips as needed)​

• Many hands-on experiences, demonstrations and behind-the-scenes access

• Specialist expert local guides throughout

• Air-conditioned coach transport for full duration of itinerary

• 1 x Domestic Flight (Ahmedabad - Jaipur) with 25 kilos luggage limit

• Unlimited mineral water in coach and hotels

• All applicable taxes

• Pre-departure advice and support - detailed planning information, Visa application support, additional travel advice, lots of insider tips & knowledge!

• 24/7 support in India from local representative if required

• Plenty more surprises!

• International Flights

• Departure taxes (if required)

• Health & Travel Insurance (you are required to have travel insurance)

• Meals not listed

• Additional tips (mainly hotel porters)

• Spending Money

• Indian visitor visa

• Vaccinations (if required/desired)

• Additional travel arrangements/activities not noted on itinerary