North India & Bhutan Holiday: From Rajasthan to the Himalayas
23 days from £8,143 pp
Our North India & Bhutan Holiday is a private, 23-day tailor-made tour pairing Rajasthan’s forts, palaces and wildlife with Bhutan’s Himalayan valleys. Experience the Taj Mahal, look for tigers in Ranthambore and leopards in Jawai, and stay at Ramathra Fort in rural Rajasthan. Then fly to Bhutan for Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and hike to Tiger’s Nest. Prices start from £8,143 per person and include private guides and drivers throughout, your Bhutan visa and the daily Sustainable Development Fee. This trip suits travellers with three weeks who want culture, wildlife and mountains at an unhurried pace.
Trip Highlights
- Experience extraordinary wildlife in two very different landscapes
- Explore India’s great cultural icons
- Travel beyond the classic route into rural Rajasthan
- Contrast India with Bhutan’s peaceful Himalayan valleys
Our Expert Tip
”This trip makes sure to capture the slower, quieter moments in India, in beautiful countryside forts and charming safari lodges”
Holly, India and Bhutan Expert
Rajasthan & Bhutan Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1-2: Delhi, India
Your private guide and driver meet you at Delhi airport and take you to your hotel to rest after the flight.
Next morning, dive into Old Delhi: climb the steps of the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, then hop on a cycle rickshaw through lanes of spice merchants, silversmiths and wedding-card printers. In the afternoon, swap the chaos for the wide avenues of New Delhi and the calm gardens of Humayun’s Tomb, the Mughal masterpiece that inspired the Taj Mahal.
Day 3: Agra – The Taj Mahal, India
Catch an early train to Agra.
With your guide, start at Agra Fort, the red sandstone stronghold of the Mughal emperors, then save the Taj Mahal for late afternoon, when the marble glows in the softer light. The Taj is closed on Fridays, so we plan your days around it. Overnight in Agra.
Day 4-5: Ramathra Fort, India
Travel deep into rural Rajasthan for two nights at Ramathra Fort, a small fort hotel run by the family whose ancestors built it, looking out over farmland and a lake.
Days here are slow and simple: a boat out on the lake for the birdlife, a jeep drive to old forts and caves, or a walk through the village with your hosts. It’s the kind of place where you’ll find yourself staying for one more cup of chai. Read more about this side of India in Rajasthan off the beaten track.
Day 6-7: Ranthambore National Park, India
Two hours on, Ranthambore National Park is one of the best places in India to see tigers in the wild. Stay at Khem Villas, on the edge of the park, where the family who run it have turned old farmland back into forest.
Head out on early-morning jeep safaris with an expert naturalist. Safari permits in Ranthambore are limited and sell out early, so we book yours well in advance. Between drives, rest by the pool, walk the lodge’s grounds and look out for birds.
Day 8-9: Jaipur, India
From the jungle to the Pink City. Jaipur’s old town was painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, and the colour stuck.
With your guide, climb up to Amber Fort, explore the City Palace and the giant stone instruments of the Jantar Mantar observatory, and stop for a photo of the Hawa Mahal.
End the day on foot in the old city, picking your way through bazaars and workshops, and trying a few street snacks along the way.
Day 10-11: Jodhpur, India
Continue west to Jodhpur, where Mehrangarh Fort towers above a sea of blue houses.
Spend the morning inside the fort, one of the most impressive in India, with its museum of royal palanquins and miniature paintings, then visit Jaswant Thada, the white marble memorial to Jodhpur’s maharajas.
Later, walk down into the blue city with your guide, stopping at a spice shop or two on the way.
Day 12-13: Jawai, India
A true Travel Differently highlight. Jawai is a landscape of granite hills, where leopards live alongside Rabari herders and their cattle.
Stay at Jawai Leopard Camp, one of our favourite tented camps, and head out on sunrise and afternoon safaris to look for leopards on the rocks. In between, there’s a pool, a spa and a lot of very quiet countryside. Want more of rural India? See all our Rajasthan holidays.
Day 14: Udaipur, India
Leave Jawai for the marble Jain temples of Ranakpur, with their forest of carved pillars, then continue to Udaipur, the city of lakes.
With your guide, explore the City Palace above Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple and the fountains and lotus pools of Sahelion-ki-Bari, the ‘garden of the maidens’.
Day 15: Delhi, India
Catch a flight back to Delhi, where you can enjoy more time exploring with your guide or have a relaxed day at your hotel. Get ready for your flight to Bhutan the next day: flights to Paro are limited, so we secure yours as part of your booking.
Day 16-17: Thimphu, Bhutan
Fly from Delhi to Paro, keeping an eye out for the Himalaya from the window, and meet your Bhutanese guide, who will be with you throughout. Every visitor to Bhutan travels with a licensed guide; yours comes from our ground partner.
Drive to Thimphu for two nights at Norkhil Hotel. After weeks of Indian bustle, Bhutan’s capital feels wonderfully calm: there are no traffic lights, just a police officer directing cars by hand.
Visit the Buddha Dordenma and the Royal Textile Academy, and spend an hour or two at the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, watching students learn painting and woodcarving. Want longer in Bhutan? Our Classic Bhutan Holiday spends two weeks exploring the country.
Day 18-19: Punakha, Bhutan
Cross the Dochu La to the Punakha Valley for two nights at Dhumra Farm or similar, a farm stay where much of the food comes straight from the fields.
Spend a morning at Punakha Dzong and walk out across the swaying suspension bridge, then follow the path through the rice paddies to Chimi Lhakhang.
If the river’s right, your guide can arrange a rafting trip; otherwise, hike up to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for the view.
Day 20-21: Gangtey, Bhutan
A three-hour drive takes you up to the Phobjikha Valley, where you’ll stay at Gangtey Tent Resort. The valley floor is wide, open and perfect for walking.
Follow the Gangtey Nature Trail from the monastery down through the pine woods, visit Gangtey Goemba, and stop at the Black-Necked Crane Centre. If you’re here between late October and February, you may see the cranes themselves. Prefer a lodge? See our guide to the best hotels and luxury lodges in Bhutan.
Day 22-23: Paro, Bhutan
A longer drive brings you back to Paro and Olathang Cottages or similar for your final two nights. Visit the National Museum in the old Ta Dzong watchtower, and call in on a farming family for butter tea and a look around a traditional Bhutanese home.
Then, for your last full day, the big one: the hike up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Take it steadily, and allow 4–5 hours there and back.
Got a month? Add Kathmandu and Pokhara on our 31-day Rajasthan, Bhutan & Nepal Tour.
When to Go
Best time to visit Rajasthan and Bhutan
The best time to start this trip is October or November, when Rajasthan is warm and dry, its parks are open, and Bhutan’s autumn skies are clearest. Starting in late February or March is also excellent. December and January bring crisp colder Bhutan days with the chance of snow blocking roads. Avoid June to September, when the monsoon arrives and Ranthambore’s main safari zones close. Ask us which dates suit you best.
Includes
- All accommodation
- Excursions
- Transport
- Private guides
- Bhutan visa cost and daily SDF
Excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa cost aside from Bhutan
- Tips
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
