Itinerary guide
Rajasthan itinerary
A classic day-by-day plan through the land of kings — Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pushkar and Jaipur — from a government-approved operator, with honest advice on days, route and season.
Updated · Written by the Era Tours team, New Delhi
A great Rajasthan itinerary needs seven to ten days and strings together the four great cities — Udaipur of the lakes, Jodhpur the blue city, Jaisalmer the golden desert fort, and Jaipur the pink city — with the Thar Desert and sacred Pushkar between them. Below is the exact 10-day plan we run, day by day, with driving distances. It mirrors our Royal Rajasthan tour, which you can book and tailor.
How many days do you need?
7 days covers the essential trio of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur with a taste of the desert. 10 days is the ideal full loop, adding Jaisalmer, Pushkar and unhurried time in the forts. 14 days weaves in Bikaner, Ranthambore for tigers and the painted havelis of Shekhawati — and easily adds Agra's Taj Mahal. Rajasthan is large and the drives are real, so we keep the pace humane.
The 10-day Rajasthan itinerary, day by day
Days 1–2: Delhi → Udaipur — the City of Lakes. Begin in Delhi, then fly or drive to Udaipur, Rajasthan’s most romantic city. The City Palace above Lake Pichola, a boat past the Lake Palace, and the gardens and havelis of the old town.
Day 3: Udaipur → Mount Abu (≈160 km). Cross into the Aravalli hills to Mount Abu, Rajasthan’s only hill station, for the exquisite marble Dilwara Jain temples and cool evening air.
Day 4: Mount Abu → Jodhpur (≈277 km) — the Blue City. On to Jodhpur, crowned by the mighty Mehrangarh Fort rising above a sea of blue-washed houses. Explore the fort, the old city bazaars and Jaswant Thada.
Day 5: Jodhpur → Jaisalmer (≈278 km) — the Golden City. Drive west into the Thar Desert to Jaisalmer, its living sandstone fort glowing gold at sunset — one of the last inhabited forts in the world.
Day 6: Jaisalmer — fort, havelis & desert. The Jain temples and carved merchant havelis within the fort, then out to the Sam dunes for a camel ride and sunset over the desert.
Day 7: Jaisalmer → Khimsar (≈288 km). A scenic desert drive to Khimsar, with a heritage fort stay and the quiet of the dunes on its doorstep.
Day 8: Khimsar → Ajmer & Pushkar (≈168 km). To Ajmer, for the revered Dargah Sharif, and nearby Pushkar — a sacred lake town wrapped in ghats and temples, and home to the famous autumn camel fair.
Day 9: Pushkar → Jaipur (≈131 km) — the Pink City. On to Jaipur. The hilltop Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar observatory and the Hawa Mahal, plus the colour of the bazaars.
Day 10: Jaipur → Delhi (≈260 km) / or via Agra. Return to Delhi for departure — or extend via Agra and the Taj Mahal to complete the Golden Triangle.
Best time to go
October to March is the season — warm, clear days and cool nights, the Pushkar Camel Fair in autumn, and the Palace on Wheels running. Summer is very hot and best avoided. See our best time to visit India guide, and for the royal-rail way to see this route, the Palace on Wheels.
Combine & extend
Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle are made for each other — Jaipur is the shared corner, so the Taj Mahal at Agra slots straight in. For the ultimate version, travel it in luxury on our luxury India tours. Browse all North India tours.
FAQ
Rajasthan itinerary — frequently asked questions
Seven to ten days is ideal for a Rajasthan itinerary. A week covers the essential trio of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur with a taste of the desert; ten days adds Jaisalmer, Pushkar and slower time inside the forts and palaces; two weeks lets you weave in Bikaner, Ranthambore for tigers, and Shekhawati’s painted havelis without rushing. Rajasthan’s cities are spread out, so the driving days shape the plan.
A classic 10-day Rajasthan itinerary runs Udaipur (lakes and palaces) → Mount Abu → Jodhpur (the blue city and Mehrangarh fort) → Jaisalmer (the golden desert city) → Khimsar → Pushkar and Ajmer → Jaipur (the pink city), often starting and ending via Delhi. It threads the four great cities together with the Thar Desert in the middle, and combines naturally with Agra’s Taj Mahal.
The four essential Rajasthan cities are Jaipur (the pink city, forts and bazaars), Jodhpur (the blue city under mighty Mehrangarh), Udaipur (the romantic city of lakes and palaces) and Jaisalmer (the golden sandstone fort city in the desert). Add Pushkar (a sacred lake town, famous for its camel fair), Bikaner and Ranthambore (tigers) as time allows.
October to March is the best time to visit Rajasthan, when the desert heat eases into warm, clear days and cool evenings ideal for exploring forts and palaces. This is also Palace on Wheels season and the window for the Pushkar Camel Fair (October–November). Summer (April–June) is very hot and best avoided for touring. See our best time to visit India guide.
Yes — Rajasthan combines seamlessly with Agra’s Taj Mahal, and most first-time trips do exactly that. Jaipur is one corner of the Golden Triangle (with Delhi and Agra), so you can begin with Delhi–Agra–Jaipur and then continue deeper into Rajasthan, or finish a Rajasthan loop via Agra on the way back to Delhi. We build the two together as one seamless private trip.
Want this Rajasthan itinerary tailored to your dates?
Tell us your dates and pace and our Delhi team will turn this into a private, fully arranged royal Rajasthan trip — heritage stays, licensed guides and vetted drivers, with us a WhatsApp message away.