A Unique Safari in India
Presented by Tim Lapage and Safari Experts

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Day 1-2        Delhi, India - Hotel Oberoi

Day One - Arrive Delhi, India.

Upon arrival in Delhi, you will complete immigration formalities and having come through customs locate your local your representative who will be waiting for you with a placard with a Safari Experts sign!

The Hotel Oberoi in Delhi is located close to the city center. Adorned with valuable aquatints and lithographs, the spacious guest rooms have western decor with warm colors schemes. The rooms face either the Delhi Golf club where you can usually spot peacocks or the Moghul Emperor Humayun's Tomb.

Day Two - This morning you will start your tour of Old Delhi visiting the Red Fort, Jama Masjid (Mosque) & Chandni Chowk "Moonlit Street," - Old Delhi's main street and colorful shopping bazaar by eco friendly mode of transport, Cycle rickshaw. Later drive down the spectacular Rajpath "the Kingsway," passing the India Gate (the memorial built on behalf of the unknown soldiers), the President's House, and the House of Parliament. Also visit the Humayun's Tomb & Qutab Minar.

Day 3        Agra - Oberoi Amarvilas

Day Three - After breakfast you will be driven 4 to 5 hours to Agra for your stay at the sumptuous Oberoi Amarvilas. After check-in, you will have the afternoon to visit Agra Fort and the amazing Taj Mahal at sunset.

The Oberoi Amarvilas is located 600 meters from the Taj Mahal and all the rooms, suites, lobby, bar and lounge offer breathtaking views of the monument. Built in a style inspired by Moorish and Mughal architecture, the resort is a splendid display of terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions with rich interiors that take you back to an era of Emperors and Princes.

Day 4-6        Ranthambore - Aman-I-Khas

Day Four - After breakfast you will be driven two hours to Bharatpur railway station stopping to visit the Mughal Fort of Fatehpur Sikri along the way.

You will be met upon arrival at the rail station and transfer to Ranthambore and Aman-I-Khas for the next three nights. This Aman resorts offering in India is a bit closer to nature than the norm - this resort, in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park, is little more than an encampment of tents, surrounded by acres of wilderness and wildlife as well as one of India's top tiger reserves.

Day Five and Day Six - Morning and Evening jungle safaris with a naturalist. Explore Ranthambore National Park, where in the last two years, tigers have made a come back. Six tigresses have given birth and successfully raised the cubs, and you can often see tigers at close range here. An historic fort and ruins lend the forest a unique atmosphere.

Ranthambhore National Park was initially established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Indian Government, and was declared to be one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambore finally gained the status of national park in 1980. Located in the Sawai Madhopur district of the western state of Rajasthan, it is enclosed to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River.

Day 7-8        Jaipur - Oberoi Raj Vilas

Day Seven - After your morning game drive/jungle excursion you will be driven four hours on to Jaipur. Surrounded on three sides by the rugged Aravali Hills and celebrated for its striking pink buildings, Jaipur, or the City of Victory, was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is a marvelous synthesis of architectural influences - Hindu, Jain and Mughal, and is one of the few well planned cities of yore.

Oberoi Raj Villas are situated in an elegant oasis of comfort and luxury in thirty acres of landscaped gardens and pools. The hotel revives the gracious life-styles of the princes of Rajasthan discreetly blending in modern amenities and facilities.

It is built like a traditional Rajasthani fort setting inside an old fort. It is the only hotel in Jaipur offering a professionally run health spa offering non-clinical programs for relaxation and beauty incorporating the use of Ayurvedic principals of holistic health maintenance, herbal treatments and aromatherapy.

Day Eight - This morning you will venture out on a guided tour visiting Amber Fort, the ancient capitol of the region, City Palace and its Museum (a part of the Palace still remains the residence of the Jaipur royal family), the Jantar Mantar, an 18th century observatory, and the legendary Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds).

Around 4:30pm, you will be transferred approximately half an hours drive from the hotel to Dera Amer for a 1 ½ to 2 hour Elephant Back Trip. Upon arrival at Dera Amer, you will receive a welcome drink and garland. You will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the elephant by giving the elephant bananas to feed. You are then off on your ride into the sunset!

The trip is conducted in the original Aravali forests surrounding the Dera Amer camp and follow a route through villages, agricultural fields, hills and ancient monuments, the birdlife in the thick forests is thriving and though panthers do inhabit the jungles it is very rare to see them. However occasionally a hyena and wolf have been sighted, antelopes and jackals are in abundance. Your adventure ends with a BBQ dinner. After dinner, you will be transferred back to the hotel.

Day 9-10        Udaipur - Oberoi Udaivilas

Day Nine - This morning will be at your leisure until transferring to the airport for departure from Jaipur to Udaipur. You will be met upon arrival and transfer to Oberoi Udaivilas.

Oberoi Udaivilas is designed as a traditional Mewari palace, the Oberoi Groups new luxury resort and spa, Udaivilas, is located on 30 beautifully landscaped acres overlooking Pichola Lake. It recreates the luxurious ambience of royal residence - Serene gardens accented with decorative fountains and pavilions create and atmosphere of tranquility. Spacious guest rooms, many with uninterrupted views of the lake and the city palace, are elegantly appointed.

The Spa Menu includes holistic non-clinical treatments ranging from ancient Ayurveda to aromatherapy. The resort adjoins a 20-acre wildlife conservatory which houses Indian spotted deer, wild boar and peacocks.

Day Ten - Morning city sightseeing of Udaipur visiting City Palace Museum and Saheliyon Ki Bari (garden of maids). Designed as a pleasure park, Saheliyon ki Bari served as a place of frolic and enjoyment for the ladies of the household.

Maharana Udai Singhji built Udaipur in this lovely valley surrounded by the Aravalli's simply because of this massive water body. The City Palace complex was constructed on the bustling banks of the placid waters of Lake Pichola, Rajasthan.

Later Maharana Bhopal Singhji constructed a pavilion of 'rain fountains' within the Saheliyon ki Bari. The idea was to create an illusion of rain dancing in rhythm with dancing maids.

The main reservoir at Saheliyon ki Bari is flanked by four black marble royal cenotaphs on four corners with sculpted birds on the roofs spurting water from their beaks.

Admire delightfully carved marble pavilions; see intricately carved kiosks in the middle of pure water pools and marvel at an exotic lotus pool. All these and other enchanting diversions at the stunning Saheliyon Ki Bari in Udaipur envelop you in a soft romantic embrace.

Day Ten evening - You will be driven to Lake Pichola where you will enjoy a boat cruise sailing on the tranquil water towards the luxurious marble Lake Palace located right in the middle of this dreamlike paradise.

Day 11        Delhi - The Trident Hotel

Day Eleven - Morning at leisure. This afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for departure from Udaipur to Delhi. Met upon arrival and transfer to The Trident Hotel. The award winning Trident, Gurgaon, is situated in the business district of Gurgaon, a part of the New Delhi National Capital Region. The setting of the Trident is amongst 7 acres of landscaped gardens, walkways, courtyards, reflection pools and fountains. Unwind at The Spa by Angsana, or relax by the pool. Dine in one of the fine restaurants the Trident has to offer such as the Saffron Indian restaurant that serves North Indian and other regional specialties. Konomi offers superb Japanese food, serving various styles of Sushi, Sashimi, Teriyaki and Donburi.

Day 12        Departure from Delhi

You will be transferred to the airport for your international flights.