From desert dinners to palace stays, you can now explore India like a true maharaja

From a royal procession astride elephants, to dinner in the desert and stays at some of the most opulent palaces across India, a new travel itinerary has been created for travellers looking to explore India like a true maharaja. For the princely sum of $81,400, travellers can sign up for The Royal India Tour, a 17-day itinerary that includes royal receptions at palaces across India, where they will be hosted by members of Indian royalty. Evenings will involve home-cooked meals and entertainment such as live music and dance performances. Curated by online luxury boutique VeryFirstTo and Epic India Travel, the trip isn’t for the modest or spotlight-averse. Guests receive royal receptions from their hosts, with drums and trumpets signalling their arrival. During the procession, they will be given the royal treatment, ferried in horse-drawn carriages or atop elephants, with horses, camels, dancers and musicians trailing behind. Guided tours of Old and New Delhi take guests through the colourful bazaars and narrow streets as only a local can. The trip will also appeal to those seeking spiritual renewal, with a sail down the mystical River Ganga and a visit to Sarnath, one of Buddhism’s four holiest sites, associated with the Buddha himself.