India by Private Jet

Arrive in Mumbai, the illustrious gateway of India. Once the stronghold of the British East India Company, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the financial and commercial capital of India as well as the illustrious gateway to exploring the rest of the subcontinent.

Explore Mumbai on a visit that appeals to all of your senses, heading to a railway station to watch the famous dabbawalas, who deliver thousands of hot home-cooked lunches. After savoring lunch at a local restaurant, visit a local spice market. Tonight at your hotel, relax with a cocktail and dinner.

Fly by private charter to Jaipur in the heart of Rajasthan. Travel to the southeast toward Ranthambore National Park. Along the way, stop for an exciting camel cart ride in the Rajasthani countryside followed by lunch at Talabgoan Castle. This evening at your hotel, listen, cocktail in hand, to a special talk on Ranthambore’s wildlife.

Explore Ranthambore National Park on two thrilling game drives, spotting crocodiles, sloth bears, leopards or perhaps the majestic Bengal tiger. Then, visit the A&K Philanthropy-supported Tiger Learning Center to see how local communities are taking a creative new approach to coexisting with tigers and other wildlife. Alternatively, you may choose to visit Ranthambore Fort this afternoon, a former royal hunting ground.

Venture overland to the capital city of northern India’s Rajasthan state, delightful Jaipur. Tracing its origins to the 18th century, it is today a bustling metropolis, home to an exciting fusion of contemporary works of art with timeless archaeological wonders. Check in to your stunning villa set in a beautiful garden with a private plunge pool and featuring exotic design touches. Later this afternoon, visit the local bazaar, taking in the colors and vibrancy of local life.

Visit the Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built of red sandstone and overlooking a lake, it features opulent and influential design flourishes worthy of the Rajput rulers who once called it home. Savor lunch at a local restaurant, and then visit the City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory, an open-air array of astronomical instruments built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II that includes the world’s largest stone sundial.

Enjoy one of these Design Your Day options.

• Cycle on the Streets of Jaipur, stopping for chai at a local cafe, visiting a market and feeding cows for good karma.
• Visit Badal Mahal to interact with local women receiving training in craft making, supported by A&K Philanthropy.
• Walk Outside of Nahargarh Fort to see how Rajasthan manages its water resources.

Later, join a pandit (Hindu priest) for a Hindu blessing ceremony in your hotel. Enjoy lunch and a chef-led cooking demonstration, learning about the use of Indian spices.

Fly by private air to Agra, set on a bend of the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh. Upon arrival, explore the peerless Taj Mahal, a travel moment that never fails to amaze. Later, fly to Varanasi, a city of more than a thousand temples and shrines.

Discover Sarnath, the place chosen by Buddha to deliver his first sermon. Explore the ruins of a once-flourishing Buddhist monastery and peruse a museum of Buddhist art. At dusk, beside the Ganges River, witness the aarti ceremony, as lantern-bearing priests bid the gods a restful slumber.

Rise early for a private sunrise cruise on the Ganges River to see the ghats (stone steps leading down to the river), where locals and pilgrims gather to cleanse themselves. Later, fly to Delhi for a farewell dinner.

Ever-bustling and excitingly chaotic, Delhi is a study in history and modernization, with a story that dates back 3,000 years, replete with Mughal monuments and lively bazaars. Explore Delhi, old and new, visiting Jama Masjid, riding by rickshaw through Chandni Chowk bazaar and viewing ornate Humayun’s Tomb. Stop for lunch at a restored 19th-century mansion, and enjoy views of Old Delhi from the haveli’s rooftop.

After breakfast, take your private transfer tothe airport for your departing flight.