Indian Food Safari

7 – 17 FEB, 2025

Mumbai – Jodhpur – Kaner Retreat – Chhatrasagar – 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 Botanical Retreat – Desert Garden Villa – Deluxe room )
• Chhatrasagar ( Raas Chhatrasagar tented camp – luxury tent )
• Jaipur ( Shahpura House – Heritage hotel – Deluxe room )

TAJ MAHAL & DELHI post tour EXTENSION
• Agra ( Taj View – 5 star hotel – Deluxe room )
• Delhi ( Dharampura Haveli – Heritage hotel – Diwani Khas 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. Transfer to airport for a domestic flight to the famous ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur. Drive a short distance to Jodhpur to check into your Heritage hotel. Afternoon exploring the market area and boutique shops to stock up on spices, then enjoy street snack foods and regional sweets, which are famous throughout Rajasthan. Overnight at Ratan Vilas.

Day 5

Jodhpur Breakfast time, followed by a visit to the impressive Mehrangarh Fort and a heritage walk through the backstreets of the old ‘Blue City’. Enjoy leisure time for shopping before heading off for a very special dining experience at a nearby local farm. Tour the farm before enjoying a degustation ‘farm to plate’ dinner, seated in a fruit grove under the stars. Return to the hotel. Overnight at Ratan Vilas.

Day 6

Jodhpur/Kaner Breakfast time. Drive a short distance to the award-winning Botanical Desert Retreat, the first of its kind in India. Enjoy leisure time followed by a guided walk to learn about the surrounding desert ancient botanical plants and trees. Enjoy an al-fresco dinner under the stars. Overnight at Kaner Botanical Retreat.

Day 7

Kaner Early morning visit to a local camel farm to meet these fascinating creatures, then enjoy brunch in an olive grove. This afternoon you will drive to nearby sand dunes for scenic Sundowners. Dinner at the retreat. Overnight at Kaner Botanical Retreat.

Day 8

Kaner / Chhatrasagar This morning after breakfast, drive to Nimaj, and check into your luxury tented camp, located on the shores of a reservoir and wildlife reserve. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure and enjoy dining on freshly prepared farm and market garden produce. Overnight at Raas Chhatrasagar.

Day 9

Chhatrasagar/Jaipur Breakfast time before setting off for Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and famously known as the ‘Pink City’. Check in to your heritage hotel. This afternoon set off on an auto-rickshaw sight seeing ride around the city. Run by a women’s co-op, created for disadvantaged women to support themselves and their families. Time for some shopping along the way. Early evening cooking class and delicious dinner. Overnight at Shahpura House.

Day 10

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 and visit the iconic Hawa Mahal Palace. Snack on local food for lunch in the local markets. In the afternoon, enjoy some leisure and shopping time. Enjoy the diversity of cuisine in India with a special ‘Italian Feast’ dinner at a local upmarket restaurant. Overnight at Shahpura House.

Day 11

Jaipur / Delhi / Departure Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the domestic airport for your flight to Delhi and for your flight home.

TAJ MAHAL post tour EXTENSION
3 Days /2 Nights

Taj Mahal Sunset at the iconic 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. Continue to Delhi, and stay in a lovingly restored Haveli, now a heritage hotel, located in amongst the back streets of the very atmospheric and ancient Old Delhi. Enjoy a Heritage walk and Rickshaw ride, visit a Sikh temple and its community kitchen which serves 10,000 free meals a day. Explore the local markets and feast on some of the city’s best food.

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 )*
Private tour
( Based on min 2 passengers )

TAJ MAHAL post tour EXTENSION
3 Days / 2 Nights
$1,400 ( twin share per person )
$429 ( single supplement )
Private tour
( Based on min 2 passengers )

DELHI DEGUSTATION post tour EXTENSION
4 Days / 3 Nights
$2,188 ( twin share per person )
$845 ( single supplement )
Private tour ( Based on min 2 passengers )