Rajasthan tours: Jodhpur, Udaipur and the palace hotels

Which Rajasthan tours go beyond Jaipur?

Rajasthan is far too big to be one stop on a list. The classic Golden Triangle tours only touch the state at Jaipur, because Delhi and Agra both sit outside it. To reach the blue city, the lakes of Udaipur and the hotels that were once noblemen's homes, you need a longer route.

Here's how far each trip goes, from the operators' own pages, checked 2 November 2026.

None of them goes as far west as Jaisalmer and the Thar Desert, so don't book for the camels. Bikaner and Pushkar aren't on them either.

The train holidays see the same three cities as the palace tour, only you wake up on board instead of packing a case. That's a different kind of holiday, so we've kept it to its own page on the Deccan Odyssey. If you're weighing up luxury trains, our Palace on Wheels guide sets them side by side.

Jodhpur and the fort above the blue city

Look up from the old town and there it is. Mehrangarh Fort sits on a rocky ridge with its walls climbing straight out of the hill, while the second gate still carries the marks of cannonballs fired by the armies of Jaipur. Inside, carved panels and latticed windows lead you through the Moti Mahal, the Phool Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal, where mirror work runs across the ceilings and down to the floors. Then walk out to the ramparts. Rajasthan Tourism calls Jodhpur the Blue City and from up here you'll see why, with painted houses spreading out below as far as the haze allows.

Travelsphere's palace tour reaches the city in time for lunch at a local restaurant, then gives the afternoon to the fort and to Jaswant Thada, a memorial made from carved sheets of marble.

That night is at Rohet Garh, a heritage hotel on the banks of a lake in rural surroundings. Next morning there's a jeep safari in a Bishnoi village, a community Travelsphere describes as loyal worshippers of nature.

Udaipur, where the palaces meet the water

After all that sandstone, Udaipur is a change of mood. Rajasthan Tourism calls it the city of lakes, with green Aravalli hills closing in around it. The palace tour stops at Jain temples on the way.

The City Palace towers over the eastern shore behind crenelated walls, a run of courtyards, pavilions, terraces and hanging gardens. The main entrance is the triple arched Tripolia gate, where the Maharanas were once weighed against gold that was then given out to the people. Travelsphere adds the Saheliyon ki Bari, the Courtyard of the Maidens, that same morning.

Sunset is what you came for.

A boat carries you across Lake Pichola to Jag Mandir, an island palace the royal family used as a summer resort. Its history has a twist: Prince Khurram sheltered here when he rebelled against his father. As Emperor Shah Jahan he went on to build the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan Tourism says this little palace was the inspiration!

You'll see the Lake Palace out in the middle of the water too. None of these trips lists a night there, so think of it as a view.

Jaipur, Amber Fort and the villages between

Most routes start their Rajasthan days in the Pink City, founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II on a grid plan that UNESCO calls an exceptional example of city planning. The colour came later, repainted in 1876 to welcome a visiting Prince of Wales. There's far more on what to see in our Jaipur guide.

Amber Fort is the big morning and one of the hill forts on UNESCO's list. Travelsphere's palace tour goes up by jeep to ramparts looking over Maota Lake, while Riviera's guided visit takes in the hall of mirrors, with tiny convex mirrors set into the walls and ceilings like a mosaic.

Details differ by trip, so read the day plans. Travelsphere's palace tour drives past the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds, rather than stopping. Just You's An Invitation to India lists Jantar Mantar, the masonry observatory with some of the largest instruments of their kind ever built. Riviera heads on to Alsisar in Shekhawati for a guided walk among merchants' havelis with frescoed walls, most of them now abandoned.

Coming from Agra? Travelsphere's palace tour breaks the journey at the Abhaneri stepwells and spends two nights in the tiger reserve, with a morning and an afternoon safari. Our guides to tours that add the tigers and the national park itself cover that part of the route.

Palace hotels or havelis: where will you actually sleep?

Mostly heritage hotels, plus some modern ones.

Alsisar Haveli, Jaipur

Built in 1892 as a nobleman's home, now a heritage hotel in the Rajput style. There's a pool and a roof terrace with a view of Nahargarh Fort. Travelsphere's palace tours and Beyond the Golden Triangle use it.

Rohet Garh, Jodhpur

One night by the lake. There's a pool and terraces with views.

Fateh Niwas, Udaipur

Two nights at what Travelsphere calls a heritage resort, with a restaurant, a bar and an outdoor pool.

Alsisar Mahal, Shekhawati

Riviera's stop is the restored residence of the local kings.

Old buildings can mean stairs and uneven floors. If that matters, ask the operator about your room before you pay. For higher grade hotels across India, see our luxury India tours.

What does an escorted tour take off your hands here?

Rajasthan's sights are spread across a huge state, so the hard part is everything between them. On the palace tour, this is what's arranged for you.

• Return flights from a UK airport, transfers when you land and porterage for your bags
• A driver who knows the road between cities, so there's no haggling for taxis at the station
• A Travelsphere Holiday Director throughout, plus guided sightseeing at the forts and palaces
• Heritage hotels chosen in advance, with breakfast and dinner on most days
• The jeep up to Amber, the Bishnoi safari and the game drives already booked
• One booking and someone to ask when a flight or a hotel goes wrong

It doesn't cover everything. Your visa is yours to sort and Riviera says plainly that it isn't included. Optional excursions, such as the visit to Ranthambore Fort, cost extra. Ask about tips too, then use the cards above to compare what's in each trip.

How much walking is there, honestly?

Quite a lot, though a holiday photo won't show it.

Travelsphere and Just You grade all their trips here as Active, which they say "can include moderate walking and longer days". Riviera doesn't publish a grade for this tour and asks you to call if you're worried about mobility. Forts sit on ridges for a reason, so expect ramps, steps and uneven stone at Mehrangarh and Amber. Palace corridors can be narrow and busy, with crowds at the popular hours. Game drives mean an early start and a jeep or canter over rough tracks.

One of the fullest days on the palace tour is the run from Jodhpur to Udaipur: a jeep safari, the onward journey, the temples and lunch, then arrival.

A few things help. Porters deal with your bags and the train replaces most of the long road days, though you'll still walk plenty once you're off it. If steps and uneven ground are hard for you, talk to the operator before you book, as a fort-heavy route won't get easier. Our page on India holidays for over 60s goes through pace, hotels and insurance.

When should you go?

Winter, according to Rajasthan Tourism, which calls it the best season to visit. Days are mild and sunny from around October to January, while the nights get chilly, so pack a warm layer. Summers are punishingly hot and hard on sightseeing. The monsoon brings greenery and far more rain.

Most dates follow that pattern. Travelsphere's palace tours run in January and October, its train holiday in February and October. Riviera's dates stretch to September and April, so look at the forecast.

Winter has one catch. The FCDO warns of severe air pollution in north Indian cities from October to February, especially for older people and anyone with a heart or breathing condition (FCDO health advice, checked November 2026, so check before you go). Our guide to the best time to visit India goes month by month.

Visas, jabs and the travel advice

• Visa: GOV.UK says you must have one unless you hold an OCI card and you'll also need to fill in an e-arrival card online before you land. Our India visa guide has the steps.
• Jabs: speak to your GP or a travel clinic. The NHS says to get advice at least 4 to 6 weeks ahead, while the FCDO says to check recommendations at least 8 weeks ahead. See our India vaccinations page.
• Safety: the FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border, which runs along Rajasthan's far west and is unmarked in places. No Rajasthan stop on these trips is in that strip. It also warns about scammers in tourist areas, a high death rate on the roads and harassment of female travellers. It says no travel can be guaranteed safe. Read is India safe for tourists for more.

All of this was checked November 2026 and it does change, so check again before you go.

So which trip fits you?

For the deepest route, it's Travelsphere's palace tour, with Goa as an add-on if you'd like a beach at the end. Beyond the Golden Triangle suits a shorter first look, as does our first time in India guide if you're still deciding.

Travelling alone? Just You trips are only for solo travellers, with a room of your own and no single supplement, while Riviera offers single rooms subject to availability at a supplement. Our page on solo India tours has more on how those groups work.

Every trip here is escorted, with flights from the UK. For facts on the three companies, see India tour operators compared. For the wider picture, go back to the main India circuit or our full list of India tours. When you're ready, you can see Travelsphere's dates for the palace tour.

Updated 3 November 2026. Facts checked November 2026.