Jaipur · Jodhpur · Udaipur · Jaisalmer · Ranthambore
Rajasthan Tours — Palace Hotels, Forts & Desert | Private Guided
Five royal cities, one desert, one tiger reserve — and some of the most extraordinary hotels on the planet. Rajasthan is the India most people dream of. We arrange it privately, at your pace, with palace stays and expert guides throughout.
Why Rajasthan
India's most opulent state — for those who want more than postcards
Rajasthan is the land of the Rajputs — the warrior clans who for centuries built forts to withstand Mughal armies and palaces that made those same Mughals envious. Today those forts and palaces house some of the world's most atmospheric hotels: heritage properties in Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur, and boutique desert lodges near Ranthambore and Jaisalmer, each with its own architectural character.
A private Rajasthan tour moves between these cities at a pace that allows real exploration — a morning in a Jaisalmer merchant family's haveli, an afternoon learning block-printing in a Jaipur village workshop, a night sleeping in a desert camp listening to folk musicians as the Milky Way emerges over the Thar. This is not achievable on a group coach tour with a new hotel every night.
Globalduniya has been operating Rajasthan circuits since 2009. We use destination guides who know the history, back routes and local detail of each city rather than generalists working from a script. The route, hotel tier and pace are all built around your brief before you confirm.
The five cities of Rajasthan
Jaipur — The Pink City
Amber Fort elephant courtyard, City Palace state rooms, Jantar Mantar observatory and the Hawa Mahal screen façade. Heritage haveli dinners with folk dance performances.
Jodhpur — The Blue City
Mehrangarh Fort rising sheer from a cliff above indigo-painted rooftops. Umaid Bhawan Palace — still a royal residence, now also a Taj hotel. Bishnoi village walking trails.
Udaipur — The Lake City
City Palace complex spanning eight courtyards. Lake Pichola shikara boat at dusk. Jagmandir island. Dinner at Ambrai Ghat watching the Lake Palace hotel glow in the water.
Jaisalmer — The Desert Fort
The only living fort-city in India — people still live inside the 12th-century sandstone walls. Overnight camel safari into Sam Sand Dunes with a luxury desert camp under the stars.
Ranthambore — Tiger Reserve
One of India's best chances of a wild tiger sighting. Open-top jeep or Canter safaris at dawn and dusk. UNESCO-listed fort ruins inside the reserve add layers of history.
Quick answer
How to plan a Rajasthan tour
How many days?
7 nights covers Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur at a reasonable pace. 10 nights adds Jaisalmer and a desert camp night. 14 nights is the full Rajasthan circuit including Ranthambore.
Which cities?
Jaipur (Amber Fort, City Palace), Jodhpur (Mehrangarh, Blue City), Udaipur (Lake Pichola, City Palace), Jaisalmer (desert, sand dunes, havelis), Ranthambore (tiger reserve). Each is distinct — do not compress all five into 7 nights.
What are the road transfers like?
Rajasthan transfers are long: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer is 5–6 hours; Jodhpur to Udaipur is 5 hours. We plan drives in the morning with afternoons free. No more than one significant road transfer per day.
Palace hotel expectations?
Many top Rajasthan hotels are converted forts and havelis — heritage properties with character rather than modern hotel uniformity. We plan hotel tier to your brief; the heritage category is where Rajasthan genuinely excels.
When to go?
October to March for comfortable sightseeing. December and January evenings are cold in the desert — bring layers. April to June is hot across the region.
Can it combine with the Golden Triangle?
Yes — the most popular North India circuit is Delhi → Agra (Taj) → Jaipur → Jodhpur → Udaipur. This runs well in 12–14 nights and keeps transfers manageable.
Sample itinerary
9-night Rajasthan full circuit — outline
Day 1–2
Jaipur
Arrive Jaipur. Amber Fort morning ride, City Palace, Jantar Mantar. Block-print workshop in Sanganer village. Heritage haveli dinner.
Day 3
Ranthambore
Drive to Ranthambore. Evening jeep safari — Project Tiger zone. Overnight at a premium lodge inside the buffer zone.
Day 4
Ranthambore → Jodhpur
Dawn safari, then drive west to Jodhpur. Afternoon Mehrangarh Fort. Sundowner rooftop with fort views. Rajasthani thali dinner.
Day 5–6
Jodhpur → Jaisalmer
Drive through desert landscape to Jaisalmer. Golden Fort walk, havelis, merchant quarter. Sunset camel ride into Sam Dunes. Luxury tented camp overnight with bonfire.
Day 7–8
Udaipur
Fly or drive to Udaipur. City Palace complex, boat on Lake Pichola, Jagmandir Island. Evening at Ambrai Ghat. Optional Monsoon Palace sunrise hike.
Day 9
Departure
Return to Udaipur Airport or Jaipur. Extensions to Delhi, Kerala or Mumbai available.
All itineraries are fully custom. We do not run fixed-departure tours — your trip is built around your exact dates, pace and interests.
Indicative pricing
What does a Rajasthan tour cost?
Land only (private vehicle, guide, hotels, entrance fees). International flights separate. 4-star palace and heritage hotel baseline, high season (Oct–Feb).
7 nights / 8 days
Jaipur–Jodhpur–Udaipur · per person, 2 pax, land only
From (GBP)
£1,100
From (USD)
$1,400
From (INR)
₹1,20,000
10 nights / 11 days
Jaipur–Ranthambore–Jodhpur–Jaisalmer–Udaipur · per person, 2 pax, land only
From (GBP)
£1,550
From (USD)
$1,950
From (INR)
₹1,68,000
12 nights / 13 days
Full circuit + Delhi Golden Triangle · per person, 2 pax, land only
From (GBP)
£1,950
From (USD)
$2,450
From (INR)
₹2,10,000
Planning your trip
What is the best Rajasthan route for a first-time international visitor?
For 7–8 nights: Jaipur (2 nights) → Jodhpur (2 nights) → Udaipur (3 nights). This triangle covers the Pink City, the Blue City and the Lake City without rushing. All connections are a comfortable 4–5 hour drive or a short domestic flight.
For 10–11 nights: Add Ranthambore (2 nights, 4 jeep safaris) between Jaipur and Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer (2 nights) before Udaipur. This is the full Rajasthan circuit — five royal cities plus a tiger reserve and a desert camp.
For 12–14 nights: Combine Rajasthan with the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) — a natural extension since Jaipur is common to both. Start with Delhi and Agra, join the Rajasthan circuit at Jaipur, and finish in Udaipur.
Senior or family pacing: Reduce driving days and stay 3 nights in each city rather than 2. Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur are all comfortable without long transfers. We can also build in rest mornings or optional activities so the pace never feels forced.
Luxury palace stays vs heritage havelis
Rajasthan offers two distinct accommodation tiers. Palace hotels (converted royal residences under major hospitality groups) deliver the full maharaja-era experience with formal grounds and butler service. Heritage havelis (merchant-family mansions) are smaller, more personal and architecturally fascinating. We recommend a mix: palace in one city, haveli in another — the contrast is itself part of the journey.
Featured Rajasthan packages
Day-by-day programmes with hotel options and indicative pricing.
Classic Rajasthan — Palaces & Lakes
Staff favouriteJaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur — palace hotel circuit, heritage havelis
Rajasthan Desert & Palaces
Full circuit including Jaisalmer desert camp and Ranthambore
Grand Rajasthan Heritage Journey
Extended luxury programme — all five royal cities, premium lodge tier
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for Rajasthan?
A minimum of 7 nights covers Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur at a comfortable pace. 10–12 nights adds Jaisalmer desert camp and Ranthambore tiger safari, which most travellers find worth the extra time. The full Rajasthan circuit with Delhi typically runs 14–16 nights.
What's the best time to visit Rajasthan?
October to February is the classic season — cool days (18–28°C), clear skies, and all attractions fully open. March to April is warm but still pleasant. The desert in late October or early November is particularly magical — cooler nights, clear Milky Way skies over Jaisalmer.
Are palace hotels worth it in Rajasthan?
In Rajasthan more than anywhere in India, the hotel is part of the experience. A converted maharaja's palace — whether a Taj heritage property in Udaipur, a Jodhpur hilltop fort hotel or a haveli-style property in Jaipur — gives you access to architecture, grounds and service that no amount of sightseeing replicates. We can arrange heritage palace stays at various budget tiers across the route; availability depends on your travel dates.
Can I see tigers in Ranthambore?
Ranthambore has one of India's highest tiger densities. Sightings are never guaranteed (it is a wild reserve), but your odds in an open jeep with an experienced naturalist guide are significantly better than most Indian parks. Best months for sightings: November to May.
Design your Rajasthan journey
Share your travel dates, preferred cities and budget. We'll return a custom Rajasthan itinerary with heritage hotel options and indicative pricing — free of charge, no obligation.