Private Balcony Dinner facing the Taj

Private2 hoursEvening of 7 Dec

A candlelit dinner for two on the balcony of your room at The Oberoi Amarvilas, with the silhouette of the Taj Mahal in front of you and your butler quietly serving each course.

Choose your menu

• A specially curated four-course dinner
• Or the Royal Indian thali, which we recommend

Your first night in Agra. Nothing else needs to happen that evening.

Secrets of Pietra Dura, marble inlay

Private2 hoursAfternoon of 7 Dec

The craft that covers the Taj, in the hands of the artisans who still practise it. In a private workshop at the Oberoi you watch stones cut and set into marble the Mughal way, then try it yourself.

What happens

• Meet the master craftsmen
• Watch the stones shaped and inlaid
• Try the technique yourself

Fits between your afternoon arrival and the balcony dinner. Price for two guests being confirmed by the hotel.

The Taj Mahal at first light

PrivateAbout 2 hoursDawn of 8 Dec

Sunrise at the Taj with a private guide, before the crowds and before the heat, while the marble changes from grey to pink to white. You are back at the hotel for breakfast, then on the road to Jaipur.

Included

• Entry tickets for two
• Private licensed guide
• Hotel to gate and back

The one thing in this proposal we would not skip.

Sunset at Nahargarh Fort

PrivateEveningEvening of 8 Dec

The fort on the ridge above Jaipur, with the whole Pink City and the Aravalli hills below you as the sun goes down, followed by the evening light and sound show.

Only works if you leave Agra by about 10:00 on the 8th, so it pairs with the dawn Taj visit rather than a slow morning.

Amer Fort with a local guide

Private2 to 3 hoursMorning of 9 Dec

The great hill fort of the Kachwaha kings, built in the late 1500s and a mix of Hindu and Mughal taste: the Sheesh Mahal of mirrors, the courtyards, the ramparts over Maota Lake. A private guide makes the difference here.

Included

• Private guide
• Entry tickets

Go early. By late morning the courtyards fill up.

An afternoon at Elefantastic

Private2 hours9 Dec, 13:00 or 15:00

A private, ethical elephant sanctuary outside Jaipur. No riding, ever. You meet the rescued elephants, feed them, walk with them through the village and help with their mud bath and wash.

The visit

• Introduction and feeding
• Mud and sand bath
• Village walk
• Washing and showering, weather and mood permitting

The shower depends on the weather and on the elephant. No meals included.

High tea at Rambagh Palace

ReservedAbout 1.5 hoursLate afternoon of 9 Dec

Tea on the Verandah of the former Maharaja of Jaipur’s palace: the gardens in front of you, peacocks on the lawn, live classical music behind you.

Choose your tea

• Victorian: scones, English pastries, marmalades
• Maharaja: rich traditional Indian snacks and regional flavours

We reserve the table for you. The bill is paid at the palace on the day.

Pink City beyond the forts

Private2 to 3 hours10 Dec, 07:00

A heritage walk behind the bazaar facades of the walled city with a private guide: the chowkries, the old houses, the architecture that the forts do not show you.

An early start, before the bazaars open and while the light is soft. Breakfast at The Johri after.

City Palace Royal Tour

Private2 hours10 Dec, late morning

The royal family’s palace in the heart of the old city, still partly their home. The Royal Tour opens the courtyards, galleries and halls beyond the standard ticket, with a private guide and refreshments along the way.

Included

• Royal Tour tickets
• Private local guide
• Refreshments

Steps from The Johri, so it fits naturally after the morning walk.

A block printing workshop

Private2 hoursAfternoon of 10 Dec

Jaipur’s textile craft, in your hands. Carved wooden blocks, pigment dyes and a master artisan beside you, in a relaxed workshop where you print something to take home.

Print and keep

• A scarf
• A table runner
• A cushion cover
• A bag or apron

The price depends on what you choose to print. Tell us the item and we reserve the slot.