Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan

Nine nights from Delhi to Jaipur by private jet and helicopter. The Taj Mahal at sunset, and by moonlight on the few nights each month it opens after dark; tiger drives at Ranthambhore; dinner by 1,000 candles in the Aravalli hills; and the private rooms of Jaipur's City Palace with a personal guide.

Length: Nine nights
Pace: Five stays
Style: Palaces, tigers, culture, private jet
Route: Delhi to Agra to Ranthambhore to Alwar to Jaipur

DelhiTwo nights
AgraOne night
RanthambhoreTwo nights
AlwarTwo nights
JaipurTwo nights

Humayun's Tomb in red sandstone and white marble, framed by tall palms under a blue sky.

Days 1 to 3 · two nights

Delhi

Met on arrival. Contemporary galleries and textile shops, a rickshaw through Chandni Chowk to the Jama Masjid and the Khari Baoli spice market, a tea tasting, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and Khan Market. Dinner back at the hotel, at Jamavar or Le Cirque. At the National Crafts Museum, designed by Charles Correa and holding more than 35,000 pieces, craftspeople work in a recreated village, with different folk artists in residence each month.

Where you stay

The Leela Palace New Delhi

The Leela Palace New Delhi stands in the Diplomatic Enclave at Chanakyapuri, about 35 minutes from the international airport, in a style that echoes Lutyens' Delhi. Its six places to eat and drink include Le Cirque, Megu, Jamavar and The Library Bar, and Indian artists made its artworks and brass details.

The Taj Mahal reflected in the long water channel of its garden, lined with cypress trees.

Days 3 to 4 · one night

Agra

A private jet to Agra for the Agra Fort, and the Taj Mahal at sunset. On the full moon night and the two nights either side, except Fridays and during Ramzan, the Taj can be seen after dark from Shilpgram, 50 people at a time for 30 minutes, with tickets bought ahead from the Archaeological Survey of India. Dinner at Esphahan, from recipes of the Mughal emperors' kitchens.

Where you stay

The Oberoi Amarvilas

Every room and suite at The Oberoi Amarvilas looks out to the Taj Mahal, 600 metres away. Its terraced lawns, reflection pools, fountains and pavilions follow Mughal palace design, Esphahan cooks recipes from the Mughal emperors' kitchens, and the pool is temperature-controlled.

An aerial view of the white canvas tents set in a grid among trees. — Photo: Aman

Days 4 to 6 · two nights

Ranthambhore

A helicopter to Ranthambhore, for tiger drives by jeep in the national park with a wildlife guide, twice a day, and a morning of birding. Between drives, the camp can arrange the fort, a cow dust tour at dusk, or a private dinner outdoors.

Where you stay

Aman-i-Khás

Aman-i-Khás is a tented camp on the edge of Ranthambhore National Park, with safaris into the reserve twice a day in search of Bengal tigers. Each tented pavilion has 108 square metres or more, with a bedroom, living and dining areas and a free-standing bath, and some have their own outdoor pool.

Aerial view of the ruined stone town of Bhangarh among trees and low hills.

Days 6 to 8 · two nights

Alwar

A second helicopter flight, to the Aravalli hills near Alwar. Village walks, Mansarovar lake and the abandoned town of Bhangarh, with yoga among its temple ruins. Breakfast beside Somsagar Lake, a Gwaadi cooking class, and dinner by the light of 1,000 candles on the Polo Lawn.

Where you stay

Amanbagh

Amanbagh lies in the Aravalli Hills at Ajabgarh, on ground that was once the staging area for royal tiger hunts. Its suites and pavilions have domed ceilings and a private terrace or courtyard, some with their own pool, and the spa offers Ayurvedic therapies.

Days 8 to 10 · two nights

Jaipur

A drive to Jaipur. The Amber Fort and a walk through Amber town, lunch at Dera Amer with its elephants, craft workshops, the Jantar Mantar, the City Palace Museum and the Hawa Mahal. At the City Palace, the Chandra Mahal Royal Tour goes on past the galleries into Sri Niwas, Chhavi Niwas, Shobha Niwas and Pritam Niwas with a personal guide, its tickets sold only at the palace. A walk through the walled old city's bazaars of textiles, jewellery and perfume can end with tea with a family in their 150-year-old house.

Where you stay

The Leela Palace Jaipur

The Leela Palace Jaipur stands at Kukas on the Jaipur to Delhi highway, a blend of Rajputana and Mughal styles with white façades, jaalis, silver-trimmed chhatris and marble corridors inlaid with parchin kari. Jamavar, the Aravalli Dining Room and the Jharokha Bar are among its five places to eat and drink.

Arranged on request

The Taj Mahal by moonlight

On the full moon night and two nights either side, except Fridays and Ramzan, eight batches of up to 50 people see the Taj from Shilpgram for 30 minutes each, between 8:00 p.m. and midnight; tickets are bought in advance.

Chandra Mahal Royal Tour

Beyond the museum, a personal guide opens Sri Niwas, Chhavi Niwas, Shobha Niwas and Pritam Niwas in the Chandra Mahal, with refreshments; tickets are sold only at the palace counter.

Dinner by 1,000 candles

At Amanbagh, dinner on the Polo Lawn by the light of 1,000 candles, and breakfast beside Somsagar Lake.

Ranthambhore beyond the drives

Aman-i-Khás can add fort exploration, a cow dust tour and a private dinner outdoors to the twice-daily tiger safaris.

Designers in their ateliers

For anyone furnishing a house with India in mind, visits to textile, carpet and furniture designers, artists and collectors in their own factories and ateliers can be arranged on request, from a wish list sent ahead, with about 10 days' notice.

Tea in a Jaipur family house

A walk through the bazaars of Jaipur's walled old city, tasting street snacks on the way, ends with tea with a family in their own 150-year-old house.

Subject to availability.

Ways to make it yours

Birding at Alwar between October and February.
Time the journey for the Pushkar Camel Fair, around the start of November, when herders and nomads in traditional dress trade camels and livestock beside the sacred lake and one of the few Brahma temples in the world.
A morning at Jaigarh and the Royal Cenotaphs, on the City Palace's composite ticket.

This is a sample. The hotels, the pace and the order are where we start, not where we finish: every journey is designed around the people taking it.

Made around you

Most travel is bought. This is designed.

Before anything is booked, we talk: who is travelling, how you like to spend a morning, and the hotel preferences below the obvious, from the kind of bath you like to the time you wake and how much daylight you need in a room. You see options where options matter and clean recommendations where they don't.

The same person remains your point of contact from the first reply to the trip after next. No handovers. No team.