Day 1: Night Flight to a New World

My Indian adventure began at London Heathrow, where I met my fellow agents and Newmarket Holidays hosts in good time for our evening Virgin Atlantic flight to Delhi.

There is something special about an overnight long‑haul when you know you are waking up somewhere totally different: the quiet hum of the engines, the glow of the cabin lights dimming, and that little flutter of excitement that makes it hard to sleep, no matter how tired you are.

With our luggage checked right through (20 kg is the maximum you can use on domestic flights in India, so packing smartly is a must), we settled in for the 8‑hour journey and toasted the start of our trip.

Day 2: First Taste of Delhi

We landed into Delhi mid‑morning, slightly bleary‑eyed but buzzing with anticipation. Stepping out into the arrivals hall, the warm air, the swirl of colours and the hum of voices instantly reminded us that we were far from home.

After clearing immigration and customs we were met by our local team and transferred to our base for the night, the Eros Hotel New Delhi. This set the tone for the trip: contemporary comfort with that welcoming Indian hospitality that makes you feel looked after from the moment you arrive.

Following lunch and a quick freshen‑up, we dived straight into sightseeing. New Delhi is all wide boulevards, imposing government buildings and grand memorials. Humayun’s Tomb was our first real “wow” moment: intricate Mughal architecture, peaceful gardens and a sense of history that you can almost feel in the stone.

By the time we returned to the hotel for dinner, jet lag had definitely kicked in, but so had the adrenalin. India had us already.

Day 3: Into Tiger Country – Ranthambhore

The next morning, after breakfast, we left the bustle of Delhi behind and drove deep into Rajasthan, bound for Ranthambhore. The further we went, the more the scenery shifted: villages, fields, camel carts and flashes of everyday life unfolding along the roadside.

Ranthambhore is where the dream of seeing a tiger in the wild starts to feel real. Our base was the Ranthambhore Regency, a comfortable retreat perfectly placed for the national park. After a hotel tour and lunch, we visited two other properties in the area – Ranthambhore Bagh Palace and Ranthambhore Kothi – gaining a real feel for the different styles and standards available for clients.

In the evening we had a fascinating briefing with a naturalist. Hearing him speak about the park’s ecology, the behaviour of the tigers and the fragile balance between wildlife and people really brought home how special this place is. We went to bed that night with our fingers firmly crossed for a sighting.

Day 4: Chasing Stripes and Heading for the Lake City

Safari day. There is nothing quite like the chill of an early morning in the open, the mist hanging low over the trees and the sense of anticipation as the jeep rolls quietly along dusty tracks. Ranthambhore’s landscape is dreamlike: crumbling fort walls, shimmering lakes and thick forest where every rustle might just be something with stripes.

Whether you see a tiger or not, the experience of being inside the park at dawn is unforgettable. The calls of birds, the sight of deer and monkeys, the ruined palaces half‑hidden by vegetation: it feels like stepping into a storybook.

Back at the Ranthambhore Regency we refuelled with breakfast, then hit the road again, this time for Udaipur. The journey gave us time to chat, swap first impressions and watch the desert scenery soften as we approached the romantic “City of Lakes”.

By evening we had arrived at Chunda Haveli, our home for the next two nights. This haveli‑style property, with its traditional architecture and rich interiors, felt every inch the Rajasthani residence: the perfect setting for our time in Udaipur. Dinner at the hotel was the ideal end to a long but rewarding day.

Day 5: Udaipur’s Lakes, Palaces and Vintage Charm

After breakfast we set out to explore Udaipur properly. It is one of those cities that feels almost too pretty to be real: shimmering lakes framed by hills, palaces reflected in the water and narrow streets filled with little shops and temples.

Our city tour took in the grand City Palace, with its courtyards and views over Lake Pichola; Jagdish Temple with its beautiful carvings; and the serene Sahelion‑Ki Bari gardens. Each stop revealed another side to Udaipur’s royal history.

A real highlight was our traditional Mewari vegetarian lunch at the Garden Restaurant. Supported by the Royal Family of Udaipur and popular with locals and visitors alike, it offered an endless stream of delicious dishes. It was also next to a vintage car museum, which delighted the motoring enthusiasts in our group.

We finished the day with a cruise across Lake Pichola: the soft light, the palaces glowing on the banks and the gentle movement of the boat created one of those pinch‑me moments that will stay with me for a long time. Dinner back at Chunda Haveli was the perfect close to a magical day.

Day 6: Heritage Stopovers on the Road to Jodhpur

The next morning we left Udaipur behind and drove towards Jodhpur. En route we stopped at Rohet Garh, a beautiful heritage property dating back to 1622. With its courtyards, gardens and traditional architecture, it is the sort of place that makes you instantly think of long, lazy stays and slow travel.

We enjoyed a hotel tour and lunch there, getting a feel for what it might offer guests looking for a peaceful, characterful base in the Rajasthani countryside.

By late afternoon we arrived in Jodhpur and checked into the Novotel Jodhpur ITI Circle, our modern and comfortable base for the next two nights. After some free time to unwind, we gathered for dinner and prepared for a full day exploring the Blue City.

Day 7: Jodhpur’s Blue Lanes and Desert Traditions

After breakfast we headed straight for one of Rajasthan’s true icons: Mehrangarh Fort. Perched on a rocky hill, it dominates the skyline and offers incredible views over the sea of blue houses below. Walking through its courtyards, ramparts and galleries, you feel the power and opulence of the Marwar rulers, as well as the strategic importance of the fort itself.

From there we descended into the old city for a short walking tour through its narrow lanes. This is the Jodhpur of postcards: indigo‑washed walls, colourful doorways, market stalls piled high with spices and sweets, and everyday life playing out all around you. We also visited Jaswant Thada, an elegant marble cenotaph, and a lively local market where the colours, sounds and scents were almost overwhelming.

Lunch was at a local restaurant, then we continued to Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum. Part palace, part museum, part luxury hotel, it is an extraordinary building and a fascinating insight into more recent royal history.

In the late afternoon we swapped city streets for the countryside on a jeep safari to a Bishnoi village. The Bishnoi people are known for their deep respect for nature and wildlife, and our visit gave us a chance to see rural life up close: traditional homes, local crafts and a slower, more sustainable way of living. As the sun set over the desert, it felt a world away from the bustle of Delhi where we had begun.

We returned to the Novotel for dinner, tired but full of impressions from an intense, immersive day.

Day 8: Back to Delhi and a Night of Celebrations

After breakfast it was time to say goodbye to Jodhpur. We transferred to the airport for our Indigo flight back to Delhi, keeping within our 20 kg luggage allowance. After the short hop we landed back in the capital and headed to our hotel, the Leela Ambience.

That evening was a real treat: a celebration with all the other fam trip participants who had been exploring different parts of India with Newmarket Holidays over the past week. Hosted at the Sheraton New Delhi, it was a lively night of music, dancing, quizzes and prizes, plus plenty of opportunity to swap stories and top tips.

It also showcased how well organised and sociable this kind of educational trip can be: you not only discover a destination, you build connections with colleagues and partners that last long after you return home.

Day 9: Old Delhi’s Chaos and Spiritual Calm

Our final full day was dedicated to exploring Delhi properly. After breakfast we set off for Old Delhi, where the streets narrow, the traffic thickens and the atmosphere ramps up dramatically.

We visited Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques, its courtyard an oasis of calm above the frenetic lanes below. Then came one of my favourite experiences of the entire trip: a rickshaw ride through the bustling backstreets. The sounds of bike bells, street vendors and temple bells, the scent of incense and street food, the blur of sari colours and shopfronts: it is sensory overload in the most wonderful way.

Back in New Delhi we drove past the city’s key landmarks: India Gate, the Red Fort and the government buildings that frame the ceremonial avenues. We then visited Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a beautiful Sikh temple known for its golden dome and peaceful sarovar (pool). Watching the community kitchen in action, where volunteers prepare thousands of free meals every day, was both humbling and inspiring.

Lunch at a local restaurant provided another opportunity to delve into regional dishes, then we squeezed in a final hotel visit to the Sheraton New Delhi before heading back to our own hotel for dinner and a quick freshen‑up.

Late that evening we transferred to the airport for our return flight, bags packed, memory cards full and hearts a little heavy at the thought of leaving.

Day 10: Homeward Bound

In the small hours of the morning we boarded our Virgin Atlantic flight back to London Heathrow. As the cabin lights dimmed and Delhi disappeared beneath the clouds, I found myself replaying the week in my mind: the quiet stillness of Ranthambhore at dawn, the reflection of palaces in Lake Pichola, the blue maze of Jodhpur’s lanes, the energy of Old Delhi’s markets.

Arriving back in the UK, a little jet‑lagged but incredibly inspired, I knew this had been so much more than a familiarisation trip. It was a vivid, layered introduction to a country that cannot be summed up in a single word or image.

Final Thoughts

India is not a place you simply “tick off”. It is a destination that gets under your skin: vibrant, challenging, beautiful and endlessly fascinating. Travelling on a curated itinerary meant that so much of the logistical complexity was taken care of, allowing us to focus on the experiences themselves: the culture, the wildlife, the food and the people.

If you are curious about India, whether for your own travels or for future holiday plans, I would love to share more of what I learned, what worked particularly well, and how to tailor a similar route to your interests and comfort levels.