12-Day Rajasthan Tour: The Royal Panorama

Our 12-day Rajasthan tour is the complete journey through the Land of Kings. It covers all six of the great places of Rajasthan: Jaipur, the Pink City; Ranthambore and its tigers; the holy lake of Pushkar; Udaipur, the City of Lakes; Jodhpur, the Blue City; and Jaisalmer, the Golden City in the Thar Desert. If you want to see Rajasthan once and see it well, this is the tour to choose.

This is a private Rajasthan tour package with your own car, driver and expert guides. Shamrock Journeys, a trusted Rajasthan tour operator, has planned Rajasthan tours since 2002.

Tour at a Glance

Here are the key facts of the 12-day Rajasthan tour.

Tour name: Rajasthan The Royal Panorama
Duration: 12 days and 11 nights
Route: Jaipur (2 nights), Ranthambore (2 nights), Pushkar (1 night), Udaipur (2 nights), Jodhpur (2 nights), Jaisalmer (2 nights)
Starts: Jaipur. Ends: Jaisalmer or Jodhpur
Tour type: private tour with car, driver and guides
Highlights: Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, a Ranthambore tiger safari, Ranthambore Fort, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Pushkar Lake, City Palace Udaipur, Lake Pichola, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranakpur, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort and a camel safari at Sam Sand Dunes
Best time: October to March

Why Choose This Rajasthan Tour

All of Rajasthan in one trip: six destinations, with nothing important left out.
Forts and palaces: four UNESCO World Heritage forts at Amber, Ranthambore, Kumbhalgarh and Jaisalmer, plus Mehrangarh and the City Palace of Udaipur.
Tigers, lakes and dunes: a jeep safari, a boat ride on Lake Pichola and a camel safari in the desert.
A good pace: the 12-day Rajasthan tour gives you two nights in almost every place.
Private and flexible: our most complete Rajasthan forts and palaces tour, for couples, families and small groups.

12-Day Rajasthan Tour Itinerary

This is the day-by-day plan of the 12-day Rajasthan tour.

Day 1: Arrive in Jaipur

We meet you at Jaipur airport or railway station and take you to your hotel. The evening is free. Take a first walk through the old Pink City.

Overnight: Jaipur

Day 2: Jaipur, the Pink City

After breakfast, go up to Amber Fort by jeep and walk through its courtyards and mirror palace. In the afternoon, visit the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar observatory, Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, and the Albert Hall Museum. In the evening, visit an ethnic village for folk dance, puppet shows and a traditional Rajasthani dinner.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Jaipur. Read more in our Jaipur tour packages guide.

Day 3: Jaipur to Ranthambore

After breakfast, drive to Ranthambore, about 180 km and three and a half hours. Check in to your jungle resort. In the afternoon, visit Ranthambore Fort, which stands on a hill inside the park, and the old Trinetra Ganesh Temple.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Ranthambore

Day 4: Tiger Safari in Ranthambore National Park

Day four is a highlight of the 12-day Rajasthan tour. Rise early for a morning jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park with a forest guide. Look for tigers, leopards, sloth bears, deer and crocodiles. The afternoon is free for bird watching, a nature walk or a rest by the pool. You can also add a second safari.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Ranthambore. Read more in our Ranthambore tiger safari guide.

Day 5: Ranthambore to Ajmer and Pushkar

After an early breakfast, drive to Ajmer, about 320 km and six hours. Visit the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the Sufi shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Then cross the hill to Pushkar. See the Brahma Temple and watch the evening prayer ceremony at Pushkar Lake.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Pushkar. Read more in our Ajmer Pushkar tour package guide.

Day 6: Pushkar to Udaipur

After breakfast, drive through the Aravalli Hills to Udaipur, about 280 km and six hours. Check in to your hotel. In the evening, walk along the ghats and see the palaces light up across the lake.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Udaipur

Day 7: Udaipur, the City of Lakes

After breakfast, explore the City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola to Jag Mandir, with views of the Lake Palace. Later, visit Jagdish Temple and ride the cable car to Karni Mata Temple for a view over the city. End the day with the sunset from the Monsoon Palace at Sajjangarh.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Udaipur. Read more in our Udaipur tour packages guide.

Day 8: Udaipur to Jodhpur with Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur

Day eight is one of the finest drives of the 12-day Rajasthan tour. Leave early for Kumbhalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 90 km from Udaipur. Its wall runs for 36 km and is one of the longest in the world. Then visit the Ranakpur Jain Temple, famous for its 1,444 carved marble pillars. Continue to Jodhpur and reach your hotel by evening.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Jodhpur

Day 9: Jodhpur, the Blue City

After breakfast, visit Mehrangarh Fort, with its palaces, mirror hall and museum. Close by is Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial. Then see Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the largest private homes in the world. Later, walk through the blue lanes of the old city and shop at Sardar Market, beside the Clock Tower.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Jodhpur. Read more in our Jodhpur tour packages guide.

Day 10: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer

After an early breakfast, drive across the Thar Desert to Jaisalmer, about 290 km and five to six hours. Check in to your hotel. In the evening, watch the sunset turn the fort to gold from Gadisar Lake.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Jaisalmer

Day 11: Jaisalmer Fort and the Desert Safari

In the morning, take a guided heritage walk through Jaisalmer Fort, a living fort with palaces, Jain temples and narrow lanes. See the carved stone balconies of Patwon Ki Haveli. In the late afternoon, drive to the sand dunes for a camel safari at sunset. The evening ends at a desert camp with folk music, dance and dinner by the campfire. It is the perfect last night of the 12-day Rajasthan tour.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Jaisalmer or a desert camp. Read more in our Jaisalmer tour packages guide.

Day 12: Departure

After breakfast, we take you to Jaisalmer airport or railway station. If your flight leaves from Jodhpur, we drive you back there, a journey of five to six hours. Your 12-day Rajasthan tour ends here.

Meals: breakfast

What Is Included

Your 12-day Rajasthan tour includes:

Eleven nights in 3-star, 4-star or 5-star hotels of your choice, on a twin or double sharing basis
Breakfast every day, and dinner on Day 2 and Day 11
Private air-conditioned car with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
Licensed English-speaking guide in each city
One jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park
Jeep ride at Amber Fort, boat ride on Lake Pichola and camel ride at the sand dunes
Entry tickets to the monuments in the itinerary
All taxes, tolls and parking

What Is Not Included

International and domestic flights
Lunch, and dinner on other days
Extra safaris
Personal expenses such as tips, laundry and phone calls
Camera fees at monuments
Travel insurance

Best Time for This Tour

October to March is the best time for a 12-day Rajasthan tour. Days are sunny and pleasant, and mornings on safari are cold. April to June is hot but very good for tiger sightings. The main zones of Ranthambore National Park are closed from July to September, and many desert camps are closed in summer, so we suggest this tour from October to March.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 12-day Rajasthan tour private?

Yes. You travel with your own car, driver and guides. It is a private Rajasthan tour, so you set the pace.

Will I see a tiger?

No one can promise a tiger, because the animals are wild. Ranthambore has one of the best records in India, and a second safari improves your chance.

How is the safari booked?

Safari seats are limited and sell out early. We book yours as soon as you confirm the tour. We need the passport or photo ID details of every guest.

Is this tour good for families?

Yes. Children love the tiger safari, the boat ride and the camel ride. It is a favourite among our Rajasthan family tour packages.

Can people of all faiths visit the Ajmer Sharif Dargah?

Yes. Everyone is welcome. Please dress modestly and cover your head. If you prefer, you can skip Ajmer and drive straight to Pushkar.

Is the camel safari suitable for everyone?

The ride is slow and gentle and lasts about half an hour. If you prefer, we can arrange a camel cart or a jeep.

Can I start the tour from Delhi?

Yes. We can add a drive, train or flight from Delhi to Jaipur, and a flight back from Jaisalmer or Jodhpur.

Is twelve days enough for Rajasthan?

Yes. The 12-day Rajasthan tour covers every major place at a comfortable pace. If you have less time, see our shorter tours below.

Can I change the 12-day Rajasthan tour to suit me?

Yes. You can upgrade hotels, add a safari, add a night in Udaipur or add Bikaner or Mount Abu to your 12-day Rajasthan tour.

How much does the 12-day Rajasthan tour cost?

The price depends on your hotels, the number of travellers and the season. Tell us your plans and we will send a clear quotation.

Shorter Rajasthan Tours and Extensions

If the 12-day Rajasthan tour is longer than you need, choose one of these.

10-day Rajasthan tour: the same route without Udaipur.
9-day Rajasthan tour: Jaipur, Ranthambore, Pushkar and Udaipur.
7-day Jaipur Jodhpur Jaisalmer tour: the desert cities only.
7-day Jaipur Pushkar Udaipur tour: forts, faith and lakes.
Golden Triangle tour: add Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra before you begin.

This is our most complete Rajasthan heritage tour. Compare all our Rajasthan tour packages or see all India tour packages, including honeymoon tours in India and cultural tours of India. Ready to book your 12-day Rajasthan tour? Request your free quote

Plan Your India Holiday with Shamrock Journeys

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator and holiday planner. Since 2002 we have designed private India tour packages, family tour packages, honeymoon tours and cultural tours for travellers from around the world.

Recognised and trusted: Recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Member of PATA, TAAI, IATO and ADTOI.

Tell us your travel dates and we will send you a personal itinerary. Request your free quote