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If you visit India for the first time, you should probably cover the Golden Triangle, including Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. The best way to travel meaningfully is to take part in one- or multiple-day local tours. You can visit most places in one day, but if you are interested in hidden sites or other tourist places near Jaipur, you should stay for two nights. Although I like traveling solo, I always go on a local tour during my trips for a simple reason. These tours help you get connected to the place, get a better understanding of the culture. Travel guides and other books are also a great help but nothing can replace the experience of locals. Those who grew up in the country can give you the best insight into daily life.
I always go prepared on my trips and I try to get a good general knowledge. But I noticed that when I only rely on my Lonely Planet guide book I returned home with the feeling that I lack a deeper understanding.
Plus, I realized that if I have to define the most memorable moments of my travel experiences than some local tours made the biggest impact on me. That is why I made this comprehensive list of the best sightseeing, food, and culture tours in and around Jaipur.
Before choosing your ideal sightseeing tour, this travel guide about the best places to visit in Jaipur in two days can also be useful for you.
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One Day Jaipur sightseeing tours
1. One day Jaipur sightseeing tour to visit the most famous sites of the pink city and the elephant village
Once you are in Jaipur, you cannot miss the most famous tourist attractions, such as the Amber Fort, the Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace), Jantar Mantar (UNESCO Word Heritage observatory), the Jal Mahal water palace, and the City Palace (the royal seat). It is unique about this tour that it takes you to the elephant village, where approximately 100 elephants and their mahouts live. During the day, these elephants march along the road to the foot of the Amber fort. From here, they carry the tourists in a zigzag route up to the main gate, and around noon they finish their work and return to their village. Visiting the elephant sanctuary is a unique thing to do in Jaipur.
Read more about this tour here.
2. Jaipur Local Sightseeing Tour by Tuk Tuk (Auto Rickshaw)
Make your Jaipur sightseeing more enjoyable by visiting all the famous places in Jaipur with an auto-rickshaw like Indians do. You should know that although most foreigners use the term tuk-tuk, Indians will not understand it. Taking a rickshaw is a common way for locals to get around. They either order or just catch one on the street.
The adventurous ride includes the Amber Palace, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, and the Monkey temple.
3. Two days Jaipur package tour including hidden places
If you have two days to spend in Jaipur, then you can also include other less touristic attractions in your itinerary. Apart from the Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar, you get the chance to visit the Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell from the 16th century. It is not as extensive, ancient, and deep as the more famous Chand Baori, approximately 100 km away on the way to Agra, but still a fantastic structure near the Amber fort. Locals used the stepwells to collect the rainwater and to wash themselves before entering the nearby temples. Plus, travelers had rest at the lower levels in the scorching summer heat.
This two-week itinerary can be handy for your first visit to India
Climbing up the swirling Swargasuli Tower is not a cake-walk but is worth the view. Visit the tombs of the Jaipur royal family and the Nahargarh fort on top of the Aravalli mountains. If you are interested in arts, the collection of artworks at the Albert Hall Museum gives an insight into the Rajasthani culture. Many tourists skip that or are not aware of that, but the monkey temple (Galta), an important Hindu pilgrimage site, is one highlight of Jaipur. It is one of the city’s hidden gems you should include in your trip.
You can book your tour here.
4. Jaipur: History Street Food Tour with Local Guide
If you are interested in Indian delicacies, take part in the 2-hours tour to taste at least 7 of the most famous food specialties in Jaipur with an experienced guide who will share the secrets of the various recipes. Eating local food is necessary to get connected to the place and India has a world-famous reputation of that. They have a wide choice of vegetarian food, use a blend of unique spices and fresh ingredients. Thus, Indian food can easily become your favorite.
There is plenty of delicious street food in India, and a guide can help you choose the proper places to avoid any stomach problems. If you try to taste that alone, you can easily have some inconveniences later.
5. Private Market Tour & Vegetarian Cooking Class & Meal in a Local Jaipur Home
If you want to taste and like to learn how to cook a local vegetarian specialty, then go on this tour. It starts with going to the market to buy the ingredients for your cooking class, which you take to Shalini’s and her mother-in-law’s home. Having prepared the meal, you will enjoy eating it at the dining table with the family. It is one of the best ways to get immersed in local culture.
Click here to get more information about the tour here.
6. A jeep sightseeing tour at night to see Jaipur in lights
Are you looking for a cool evening program in Jaipur? The evening jeep tour is a new, popular activity offered for visitors in Jaipur. You pass by the Amber Fort, the Jal Mahal, and the Hawa Mahal, which are stunning at night, then drive up to the Nahargarh fort to have a bird-eye view of the pink city. You can opt for a vegetarian dinner accompanied by folk music and dance in the fortress restaurant to make the most of your tour. Otherwise, you only get a small appetizer.
Since walking around alone at night can be intimidating in India, especially for first-time and female travelers. This tour is a perfect choice to relax and stay safe.
7. Yoga class in Jaipur
India is the home of yoga that got immensely popular worldwide thanks to its beneficial effects. The participants highly appreciate Ankit, the yoga teacher, and he seems to be the best person to take a class from. If you are a regular yoga practitioner or want to try it for the first time, this is a perfect opportunity and a unique thing to do in Jaipur.
Sign up for a yoga class under this link and get familiar with the spiritual side of India.
8. Instagram Tour of The Best Photography Spots in Jaipur
If you are a travel blogger or a traveler interested in taking the most scenic photos, this tour will not disappoint you. Apart from the regular Jaipur city tour, you visit some hidden places, like the Panna Meena ka Kund perfectly designed stepwell from the 16th century.
During the tour, you will visit the Amber Fort, Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell, the City Palace, the Jal Mahal water palace, the Jantar Mantar observatory, and the Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace). Enjoy the view of the city from the Jaigarh fort. Finally, you can immerse yourself in the colorful local bazaars for some street photography.
Entrance fees and lunch are included. Book your tour here.
9. Chokhi Dhani Local Village Experience
After completing your Jaipur city tour, heading to the Chokhi Dhani cultural village 30-45 minutes from Jaipur is one of the unique things to do in Jaipur. It is very popular among locals and it is still an unspoiled tourist program. It gives an introduction to the Rajasthani culture, including traditional costumes, handicrafts, and dancing. You can opt for a simple but delicious buffet dinner and enjoy the evening with locals, who especially love this program. The evening tour takes 6 hours.
You can find more information and book your tour here.
10. 1.5-Hour Cultural Walking Tour
This tour focuses mainly on the hidden gems of Jaipur that you would miss without a local guide.
It includes the Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace), the Jantar Mantar observatory, a 150-year-old and still working camera, a centuries-old Shiva Temple, the old homes of royal priests, and the stunning Krishna temple.
Although lunch is not included, you combine your walking tour in the old city of Jaipur with a tuk-tuk ride and have a glass of delicious lassi (yogurt drink) at the famous Lassiwala.
Click here to find more information about the tour.
11. Spiritual Journey Walking Tour
If you are interested in Hindi culture and religion, then this is the perfect Jaipur sightseeing tour for you. Your local guide will take you to some hidden religious sites in Jaipur to teach you about the Hindu pantheon and the immense importance of religion in India. When you are the first time in India, you probably feel confused about the countless Hindu Gods and the Hindu customs. Even for me as a tour guide it took a long time to have a solid knowledge of the religion. Go for this tour if you want to know who is Shiva, Visnu, Ganesha, Krishna and how Hindus practise their religion.
Visit the Sri Radha Damodar Ji Gaudiya Mandir, Madan Mohan Temple, Brijnidhi Temple, and the Anand Krishna Bihari Ji Temple, where devotees seek spiritual, physical, and financial fulfillment. The Govind Devji Temple in the Jaipur City Palace is favored by the royal family as well.
Book your spiritual journey walking tour here.
12. Visit the best places for shopping in Jaipur
India is a paradise for those who enjoy collecting precious, excellent quality objects as a memory. Jaipur, the city of gems, is a shopping hub with a wide range of textiles, handicrafts or marble, wood, stone or metal, and leatherwork. There are over 2000 jewelry shops in the city and Jaipur is of the biggest exporter of Asia. This shopping tour is a perfect opportunity to buy Indian carpet or jewelry in a famous Indian bazaar. Your guide can help you give tips on how to bargain and where to buy things. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of fake products and you need a guidance on how to avoid them.
If you look for textile than head to the Bapu Bazaar that is much calmer than the touristic area around the Hawa Mahal.
One- or multiple-day trips near Jaipur
Before choosing your ideal sightseeing tour package, read this travel guide about the best places to visit in Jaipur in two days.
This is a suggested two-week itinerary for your first visit to India
1. Private Day Trip: The Havelis of Mandawa
Mandawa, located 180 km from Jaipur in the desert area, is like an open-air gallery thanks to its multiple heritage sites and nicely decorated Havelis. These are the mansions of wealthy businessmen and merchants adorned with archways and walls covered with colorful paintings.
The tour includes a lunch at the impressive Castle Mandawa, visiting a range of Havelis and the cenotaphs of the family members of a royal family. You will also enjoy a walk through the colorful bazaars of Mandawa.
Find more information about the Haveli tour here.
2. Jaipur: Private Chand Baori & Bhangarh Fort Tour
One of India’s deepest and largest stepwells is located approximately 100 km from Jaipur in a small village called Abaneri. The stepwell is one of the unique tourist places near Jaipur. It was crucial in the dry deserted Rajasthan to keep the rainwater as long as possible. They used it for several purposes. For watering, drinking, and ritual bathing before entering the Harshat Mata temple.
The temple next door is partly in ruins and still outstanding. Visiting the stepwell is an excellent opportunity to experience village life in India. After that, you continue to the Bhangarh fort, probably the most haunted place in India that closes at 5 pm and only opens at 10 am because of the paranormal incidents experienced in its territory after darkness.
Find more information about this tour here.
3. A day trip from Jaipur to Pushkar and Ajmer
From Jaipur, you can travel to one of India’s most important Hindu and Muslim pilgrimage sites. Pushkar, the purely vegetarian city, has hundreds of temples, including the only temple dedicated to God Brahma. The Savitri temple, dedicated to Brahma’s wife, on the top of the hill, requires 650 steps to climb. In return, you enjoy a fantastic panorama of Pushkar lake.
At the ghats, you can make the Pushkar puja, the holy ceremony with the help of a Brahmin, to partake of the spiritual side of Pushkar. Visitors are even welcome to go on a camel ride among the dunes of the Thar desert. Ajmer gives home to the Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti shrine, one of India’s primordial Muslim religious centers.
If otherwise, you do not continue your trip towards other places in Rajasthan, go for this tour.
4. Five Days Private Heritage Triangle Tour Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur
If you plan to see more places in Rajasthan apart from Pushkar and Ajmer, extend your tour and include Jodhpur and Udaipur as well. Jodhpur at the entrance of the desert has some impressive ancient and modern monuments, including the Mehrangarh Fort, the royal tombs, and the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the current home of the royal family of Jodhpur. Enjoy the view of the indigo blue building of Jodhpur, hence the name “Blue City.”
Udaipur, the city of lakes, is home to the world-famous Taj Palace Hotel, where several celebrities stayed over the years. Take a boat ride on Pichola Lake and enjoy the stunning view from the top of the hill accessible with a cable car. Visit the nicely decorated rooms of the Udaipur City Palace, once the residence of the local maharaja.
Find more information about this tour here.
5. Abhaneri & Fatehpur Sikri Tour From Jaipur with drop-in Agra
If you continue your trip from Jaipur to Agra, then you can combine your transfer with visiting the Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri and Fatehpur Sikri, the ancient capital of the Mughal Empire built of red sandstone. The mix of royal buildings made of red sandstone and one the biggest mosques in India is an unmissable highlight of the Golden Triangle.
It is the best thing you can do when you travel from Jaipur to Agra or vice versa.
Find more information about the tour here.
6. Take a one or two day Ranthambore Tiger Safari tour
Ranthambore is a 3-4 hours’ drive from Jaipur and is one of India’s most famous National Parks, with a high chance of spotting a tiger. Once, it was the hunting ground of the maharaja. Apart from that, you can see Indian leopards, bears, deer, reptiles, sloth bears, and hundreds of species of birds. A wildlife expert will explain the unique flora and fauna in the national park. They highly recommended an overnight stay in one of the stunning lodges to get the feeling of nature and to have a better chance to spot a tiger in the early morning the day after. You should also stop at the Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is an all-inclusive tour package with high-quality meals and four-star accommodation. Book your safari tour here.
Conclusion
Whether you want to learn more about the cultural, spiritual, or culinary aspects of Jaipur, you will find a tour that suits you. Jaipur also has several places for shopping. From carpets, textiles to jewelry. If you want to see some hidden places apart from the famous tourist attractions, you need to stay two days in Jaipur. It is also a perfect starting point to plan some multi-day visits to other attractions in Rajasthan, like Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Pushkar. There are several tour packages from Jaipur to the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, where you can immerse yourself in nature.
Useful resources for your travel to India
Insurance: Safetywing insurance that covers COVID-related issues as well.
Train, bus and flight ticket: Book your train ticket at Indian Railways website, or 12Go which gives you the best option (train, bus, and flight) based on the city of departure or arrival.
For your flight ticket use Google Flights.
Accommodation: Booking.com and Hostelworld.com offer a wide choice of low and higher-budget hotels.
Local tours and tour packages: Viator and GetYourGuide offer transfers and several one or multi-day tours.
by Agnes Simigh
I’m a passionate tour guide and travel writer, who is curious to discover places that seldom catch the attention of the media or that are misrepresented. My goal is to inspire you to choose off-the-beaten-track destinations by sharing objective and detailed information. I believe that it is mainly the lack of “intel” that keeps us away from incredible places. And that just shouldn’t be the case.
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