Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before grounding yourself in India with a full-day orientation tour of Delhi.

During the tour, drive past the Colonial Heritage of New Delhi followed by a visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a holy place for Sikhs across the world. In addition to visiting the main shrine, a visit to the community kitchen offers a fascinating glimpse into the spirit of service and community at the Gurudwara. Afterward, visit the 16th-century Humayun’s tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Break for lunch at a local restaurant. 

After lunch, transfer to Old Delhi, the historic center of the city and India as a whole. Traverse the bustling streets by rickshaws for an exciting ride. This is one of India’s biggest trading centers where there’s a structure in the chaotic business deals, a bonhomie in the different ways of life that is typical of India. You’ll ride past churches, mosques, and temples, walk through a wholesale spice market, smell freshly cooked street food, and simply immerse in the quirks of Old Delhi.

Before dinner this evening, delight in the timeless joy of kite flying on the rooftop of Haveli Dharampura, where panoramic views of the Red Fort and Jama Masjid set the perfect backdrop. Guided by the hotel staff, try your hand at maneuvering your kite, keeping it aloft as you join in the traditional sport of string-cutting—a centuries-old pastime that fills the sky with vibrant color and playful rivalry.

Tonight, savor dinner at Haveli Dharampura, a restored heritage hotel located in the heart of the old city. 

Overnight: Claridges Hotel in Delhi

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a half-day visit to Noora Health in Haryana, a drive of approximately 1.5 hours from Delhi. 

During the visit, learn more about Noora Health’s mission and the work that Together Women Rise supported with its Featured Grant in 2021. Our grant helped reduce the incidence of preventable, newborn complications and deaths. Noora Health trained new mothers and family members in how to improve health outcomes through exclusive breastfeeding, skin-to-skin thermal care, hand hygiene, umbilical cord care, postpartum maternal diet, and health-seeking behaviors in response to warning signs among newborn care. 

After the visit to Noora, return to Delhi. Take time to pack your bag for checkout tomorrow before gathering together for a final dinner in Delhi. 

Overnight: Claridges Hotel in Delhi

Have breakfast at the hotel and check out. 

Depart Delhi and transfer to Agra, about a four hour drive, stopping for lunch along the way. Arrive at the hotel in Agra in the afternoon and check in. 

Agra is a city steeped in history, with its roots tracing back to the era of the great Indian Sanscrit epic, the Mahabharata. Like many cities in northern India, it rose to prominence under Mughal rule in the 16th century. Agra reached its cultural and architectural peak in the 17th century when Emperor Shah Jahan adorned it with the crown jewel of the Mughal Empire—the Taj Mahal.

This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the iconic Taj Mahal—the magnificent mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved queen, Mumtaz, and India’s jewel among the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Your guide will bring the splendor of Mughal architecture to life, highlighting the intricate details of its domes, calligraphy, and inlay work, while sharing insider insights into the enduring romance between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. 

Return to the hotel to rest and freshen up before gathering in the evening for a group dinner. 

Overnight: Grand Mercure in Agra 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting out for today’s site visit.

Depart for Firozabad—approximately an hour away—to visit Edu-Girls, which Rise funded with a Featured Grant in 2019. Spend half a day immersing yourself in their impactful work to empower girls living in extreme poverty. Rise’s grant funded the “Empowering Poor Girls Through Technology” program that prepares girls for the technology-driven job market by developing information technology (IT) skills and integrating technology into school lesson plans. After the visit, enjoy lunch with the Edu-Girls team before returning to your hotel in Agra.

This afternoon is at your leisure to rest and freshen up before tonight’s group dinner. 

Overnight: Grand Mercure in Agra

Optional sunrise visit to Taj - Agra to Jaipur, City Palace Tour & Old City Markets 

Early this morning, you may choose to participate in an optional, early visit to the Taj Mahal bathed in the golden light of sunrise. Please note that participation in this experience must be confirmed at least 24 hours in advance. There is an approximate cost of $35 USD for this experience, which needs to be paid in person. 

If you visit the Taj Mahal, enjoy breakfast after returning to the hotel. After breakfast, check out and begin your journey to Jaipur, a drive of approximately five hours with stops and lunch along the way.

Arrive in Jaipur in the afternoon and check into the hotel. 

Jaipur, founded in the 18th century by the ruler of Amer as a ‘City of Victory,’ is North India’s first planned city. Known as the ‘Pink City’—either for its rose-hued sandstone or a royal welcome for the Prince of Wales—it beautifully blends history with modernity. Gridded streets contrast with lively bazaars and winding by-lanes, where traditional crafts flourish alongside contemporary art.

​​Later in the evening, explore the lively and colorful bazaars of Jaipur’s Old City, renowned for their exquisite handicrafts, textiles, leather goods, antiques, gemstones, and jewelry.

Enjoy your first group dinner in Jaipur at a local restaurant. 

Overnight: Ikaki Niwas 

Note that today is a public holiday, Shivratri, a major Hindu festival honoring Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Shivrati is celebrated with fasting, night-long prayers, and ritual offerings to the Shiva Linga. Devotees visit temples, chant mantras, and perform offerings with milk, honey, and sacred leaves. It symbolizes spiritual awakening and is believed to bring blessings, marital harmony, and liberation. You may see celebrations taking place throughout Jaipur today. 

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Dera Amer, a natural sanctuary and wilderness camp approximately 60 minutes outside of Jaipur. Upon arrival, participate in a special morning ritual - bathing the resident elephants who roam the grounds. Afterward, enjoy a guided walk around the property.

Break for an early lunch at Dera Amer's on-site restaurant before returning to Jaipur in the early afternoon. You may return to the hotel for a free afternoon, or participate in optional sightseeing, offered at an additional cost.

Optional Sightseeing: 

Visit Amer Fort, the citadel of the Kachhawaha clan who later became the rulers of Jaipur. With its sprawling apartments, pleasure gardens, and temples, Amer is one of the most intricate and beautiful Rajput fortresses in all of India.

After, visit Anokhi Museum of Handprinting, located in a magnificently restored haveli or mansion. The museum displays a selection of block-printed textiles alongside images, tools, and related objects, all chosen to provide an in-depth look into the complexity of this ancient tradition. 

In the evening, enjoy a personalized cooking session with a local family at the hotel, offering insight into Rajasthani cuisine, traditions, and the rich tapestry of spices—followed by a delicious, home-cooked meal shared with your hosts.

Overnight: Ikaki Niwas

After an early breakfast, set out on the Exotic Flower Tour, a sensory journey through Jaipur’s rich floral traditions. Visit a lively flower market where garlands are woven, offerings selected, and marigolds traded by the sack. Discover the sacred role of flowers in rituals, cuisine, and daily life. Then, take part in a hands-on session preparing traditional sweets infused with edible blooms—flavors once savored in royal kitchens. The experience concludes at a design studio, where discarded temple flowers are transformed into natural dyes and sustainable textiles, blending tradition with innovation.

Stop for a local lunch, then enjoy a ride on uniquely designed, eco-friendly Pink e-rickshaws driven by smart, enthusiastic, and well-trained women, all from low-income households. With a stylized collapsible canopy, and ergonomically designed seats, the ride itself is a unique experience.

Afterward, visit the City Palace, the historic seat of Jaipur’s Maharajah, renowned for its grand courtyards and elegant gardens. Then continue to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, an extraordinary astronomical observatory built in the early 1700s by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II, a passionate astronomer. The site features sixteen monumental instruments—architectural marvels that not only showcase scientific ingenuity but can also accurately predict celestial events.

After a day filled with exploration and discovery, enjoy a relaxing afternoon at your leisure before reconvening as a group for dinner.

Overnight: Ikaki Niwas 

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel in Jaipur this morning before checking out and transferring to Ajmer, a drive of approximately three hours, with stops along the way. Check into the hotel and have lunch before this afternoon’s site visit.

Today you’ll visit Anchal Project, a Rise grantee that we funded with a Featured Grant in 2012 and a Sustained Grant in 2016-2018. Our grant helped to expand Anchal’s artisan program and create new, income-generating opportunities so commercial sex workers can support themselves and their families through safe and dignified employment.  (In Hindi, the word ‘anchal’ refers to the edge of a sari used to provide comfort and protection for loved ones).

After the visit, return to the hotel for the evening and enjoy a group dinner. 

Overnight: Taj Pratap Mahal 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning, check out, and depart for a 3.5-hour drive to Jodhpur, stopping for lunch either en route or in the city.

When you get to Jodhpur, check in at your hotel. Set out for an afternoon of exploring Jodhpur, a city that epitomizes the romance and feudal splendor of Rajasthan, and is dominated by the majestic Mehrangarh Fort. Once a thriving trade center for opium, silk, and copper, Jodhpur stands as the last bastion of fortifications, vibrant bazaars, and lively people with rich storytelling traditions—before the desert sands and dunes stretch endlessly toward the horizon.

Step back in time with a stroll through the bazaars of the old city where you can find everything from traditional handicrafts to copper pots and pans. The beautiful Sardar Bazaar is surrounded by traditional townhouses called havelis, which have unique architectural designs made of red sandstone, most typically found in Rajasthan.

After an afternoon of exploring the local markets and shopping, you will return to the hotel to rest and freshen up before tonight’s group dinner. 

Overnight: Daspan House

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and prepare for a half-day site visit with  Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS), a Rise grantee that we funded with a Featured Grant in 2018.

Rooted in Gandhian principles, GRAVIS embraces the idea of Gram Swarajya (village self-rule) in its approach. By focusing on the rehabilitation of rural communities, GRAVIS empowers villages to take ownership and control of their environment, institutions, and social relations. Rise’s grant addressed the health aspects of women and girls with a specific focus on their sexual and reproductive health status.

In the late afternoon, return to Jodhpur to relax and freshen up before dinner. 

Overnight: Daspan House

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a full day of sightseeing around Jodhpur. 

Begin your day with a visit to The Mehrangarh Fort, one of the most majestic of Rajasthan’s forts, described by the author Rudyard Kipling as “the creation of angels, fairies and giants”. Its forbidding ramparts are in sharp contrast to the flamboyantly decorated palaces within. Founded in 1459, the sandstone fort was added to by later rulers between the 17th and 19th centuries.

Afterward, walk through the Blue City, the historic district nestled at the base of Mehrangarh Fort. Known for its quiet lanes, indigo-hued walls, and elegant havelis, this area is home to artisans practicing age-old crafts on handspun textiles. Discover the vibrant traditions of Rangrezz dyers, Bandhej tie-dyers, and Chippa block printers, along with intricate techniques like gota-patti, zari, and danka embroidery—each preserving a legacy passed down through generations

This afternoon is at your leisure to explore, shop, or relax at the hotel.

Come together this evening for a final Farewell Dinner to reflect on the journey you’ve had together, learning about the lives of women and girls in India through Together Women Rise’s grantees.

Overnight: Daspan House

Have a final breakfast together before checking out. You will be transferred to the Jodhpur Airport for your flight based on your departure time. Important timing considerations to keep in mind:

• If your flight from Jodhpur to New Delhi is with Air India and you arrive into Terminal 3 (T-3) at Delhi Airport, allow 4-5 hours between your arrival and your international departure. 
• If your flight from Jodhpur to New Delhi is with IngiGo and you arrive into Terminal 1 (T-1) at Delhi Airport, allow 6 hours between your arrival and your international departure.