Indian Food Safari

7 – 17 February, 2025

Mumbai – Jodhpur – Kaner Retreat – Chhatrasagar – Agra – Jaipur – Delhi

SEE BELOW FOR TOUR DETAILS

Overview

• Mumbai ( Trident Nariman Point – 5-star hotel – Deluxe room )
• Jodhpur ( Ratan Vilas – Heritage hotel – Deluxe room )
• Kaner ( Kaner Retreat – Desert garden villa – Deluxe room )
• Chhatrasagar ( Raas Chhatrasagar Camp – Luxury tent )
• Jaipur ( Dera Mandawa – Heritage Hotel – Deluxe room )
• Agra ( Taj View – 5-star hotel – Deluxe room )

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival / Mumbai  VIP meet & greet service upon arrival off flight. Transfer and check in to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Free time for dinner. Overnight at the Trident Nariman Point Hotel.

Day 2

Mumbai Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy a full day private ‘5 senses of Mumbai’ tour, curated and run by a dynamic young company, allowing you to experience this vibrant city in a very interactive and interesting way. This tour includes lunch at a ground-breaking contemporary Indian restaurant. Return to hotel. Rest of day and evening at leisure. Overnight at the Trident Nariman Point Hotel.

Day 3

Mumbai Early morning Mumbai by dawn tour. This tour captures the essence of the megapolis as the city begins with simple morning rituals. From visiting the fish markets to see the daily auctions, the predawn newspaper vendors to the bustling marketplaces that hawk flowers, vegetables, fruits, and numerous other commodities to be distributed across the city. Return to hotel for breakfast.  Leisure time and free for lunch. Late afternoon, venture out for a ‘street food’ walking tour. The tour titled ‘Khau Gully’, literally translated to ‘The food lane’, is an ode to the street food of Mumbai. It takes you to the history of various communities and their kitchens to see how they have impacted the cuisine of Mumbai, especially its street food. This fun storytelling and tasting tour will get your taste buds tantalised. Later in the evening return to hotel. Free time for dinner. Overnight at the Trident Nariman Point Hotel.

Day 4

Mumbai / Jodhpur Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to airport for a domestic flight to the famous ‘Blue city’ of Jodhpur. Transfer to luxury heritage hotel for check in. Time at leisure. This evening venture into the bustling old town for a traditional Rajasthani Thali dinner at a local Haveli. Overnight at Ratan Villas.

Day 5

Jodhpur Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a day of sightseeing and s food safari to the markets and backstreets of this bustling desert town. This evening you will experience an absolute culinary delight, a degustation menu at a local farm. Overnight at Ratan Villas.

Day 6

Jodhpur/ Kaner After leaving Jodhpur, drive a short distance to the award-winning Botanical Desert Retreat, the first of its kind in India. Enjoy brunch in an olive grove and in the afternoon, go for a guided walking tour into the ancient desert gardens which surround the retreat. Enjoy a special one of a kind al-fresco dinner! Overnight at Kaner Botanical Retreat.

Day 7

Kaner / Chhatrasagar After breakfast, enjoy a morning jeep safari to local villages, visiting different communities where you will learn about their lifestyle and food. Continue on to Nimaj and check in to your luxury Camp, located on the banks of a reservoir and wildlife sanctuary. Luxury tents have always played an important part in Rajput lifestyle and this property captures this romance surrounded by 200 species of birds, lakeside dining, grasslands & local farming communities. Lunch upon arrival. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Sunset ‘sundowners’ boat cruise. Free for dinner. Overnight at the Raas Chhatrasagar.

Day 8

Chhatrasagar / Jaipur In the morning after breakfast, depart for the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Famous, & energetic, this marvel is known as ‘The Pink city’. Check in to your heritage boutique hotel. Late afternoon, set off on the special ‘Pink city’ auto- rickshaw ride to sightsee around the city, run by a womens co-op, created for disadvantaged women to support themselves and their families.  Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at Dera Mandawa.

Day 9

Jaipur Start early to see the wholesale milk market where farmers and merchants gather to sell their farm fresh milk. Watch the milk auction. Morning visit to the Amer Fort & visit the iconic Hawa Mahal Palace. Snack on local food for lunch in the local markets.  In the afternoon, enjoy some leisure time. Early evening cooking class and dinner at your heritage hotel. Overnight at Dera Mandawa.

Day 10

Jaipur / Agra Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Agra. Colourful and home to the world’s most famous declaration of love, the Taj Mahal, this Rajasthani city has a big heart & beauty to marvel at. A visit to India wouldn’t be complete without it. Agra also is home to two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the sandstone Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Afternoon visit to the Red Fort & local marble artisians. Overnight Taj View Hotel.

Day 11

Agra / Delhi / Departure Sunrise at the majestic Taj Mahal. The world’s most iconic and beautiful building, is truly one of the wonders of the world. The Taj was designated a World Heritage Site in 1983 and looks nearly as immaculate today as when it was first constructed. It is very much part of what makes ‘Incredible India’ incredible. Return to hotel for breakfast. Drive to Delhi & transfer to the airport for your flight home. On arrival connect with international flight for departure with VIP meet & greet assistance.

Prepare for your trip

 India is everything, and more, all at once.

It's a sensory potpourri; a visual explosion of bright saris, lumbering cows, marigolds, incense, spices and bursts of sunlight - where you're guaranteed to craft your very own Darjeeling Limited experience.

As for the language, Hindi isn't spoken by everyone in India - in fact there are more than 20 languages spoken throughout the country and English tends to serve as a common one.

A few Hindi phrases will definitely help along the way: "Namaskar" (hello), "shukriya" (thank you), "aap kaise hai" (how are you), "kitna hai" (how much) and "naam kya hai" (what's your name), may come in handy on your trip.

As for money, you'll be dealing in Indian rupees - there are about 55 rupees to each Aussie dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted, but make sure you know all your pin codes as signing has been phased out around the country.

WHERE TO SHOP

Rajasthan is famous for its colourful embroidered textiles, clothing, homewares, gemstones, silver & gold jewellery, pottery, carpets and durrie rugs, antiques and furniture. As well as miniature paintings, papier mache puppets and embroidered leather shoes.

To buy precious and semi-precious gemstones head to the "pink city" of Jaipur, where gorgeous blue-glazed pottery is also made. Jodhpur holds a treasure trove of shopping bounty.

Marble wares inspired by the Taj Mahal, some of them exquisitely detailed and inlaid with semi-precious stones, can be sourced in Agra, while Varanasi is a popular place to pick up silk and saris.

Delhi is globally recognised for quality and very affordable pricing across a variety of goods.

Mumbai take your pick of jewellery, Sarees or block-printed fabric, Art and of course Retro Bollywood posters and postcards.

Goa is well known for its beautiful variety of decorative Azulejos Tiles. cashew nuts and spices, coconut decor, beachwear, bags and accessories. As well as a variety of hats and musical instruments.

Kerala is known for oils and essence. The best and purest forms of oils and essence are found here. Kochi’s options to shop almost rivals its obsession with food. Pick up an array of packaged spices on offer, such as cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, nutmeg, tamarind, cloves and bay leaves… let the wafting aromas guide you there.

In Cochin there are many varieties of cotton clothes and silk emporiums... you can’t leave without buying at least one traditional saree. Along with colourful bead handicrafts, brass bangles, metal mirrors, silver and gold jewellery.

Always a trade destination, from tradtional merchants to hip, young designers who create modern, fresh styles and fashion.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All tours include domestic flights, accommodation, transport, air conditioned mini coach with refreshments, sightseeing entrance fees, special tour events and activities, local guides, most meals and tipping (includes: baggage at airport, bell boys at hotel, any activities, paid meals, driver and his assistant and accompanying local guide). Prices may be subject to currency fluctuation or surcharges.

As part of a conscious initiative to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles, TIKKA TOURS ground operator now provides alternatives to plastic bottled water. Re-usable metal water bottles with re-filling facility are part of our guest’s vehicles.

TOUR PRICE

11 Days /10 Nights
On Request ( twin share per person )*
On Request ( single supplement )*
Locally escorted small group tour
( Based on 6–8 passengers )