Rajasthan Journey
Location: India
Highlights
- My humps, my humps, my lovely camel’s humps. Jump on this endearingly ugly animal and head out to a Thar Desert camp. Grab a swag and the stars will be your blanket
- You don’t just shop in India, you SHOP. Jodhpur’s Sadar Bazaar is one of India’s oldest markets and you’ll need to come with an empty bag to have room for all the goodies, trinkets and gifts you buy
- You might be able to make a curry now (i.e. buy a jar of sauce and some rice from the shop), but with a tasty cooking class in Udaipur you’ll by whipping up a full (and impressive) Indian meal in no time
- In Jaipur you get to watch a Bollywood blockbuster in THE coolest cinema in the country
- Agra-cadabra! Do you believe in magic? Let us spell it out for you. T-a-j M-a-h-a-l. India has just pulled another punny rabbit out of the hat
- Delhi’s a place that’ll light a fire in you that'll sizzle your nostril hairs. Grab a lassi to drown out the flames
Trip Overview
Get some India in-to-ya. Delhi starts the show and finishes it, too. In between you get sand-dune camping, Jodhpur’s markets, an Udaipur cooking class, Pushkar’s bazaars and Jaipur’s temples. You’ll also get enough sensory stimulation to last a lifetime. India does exactly what it says on the box. Cows are more important than you. The Taj is the best thing you’ll ever see. And yes, the people really do smile that much. India has embraced the power of the horn: short blasts let the drivers know you’re there, long blasts tell someone to hurry up and continuous beeps from motorbikes happen for no reason whatsoever.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Delhi
Namaste! Welcome to India. India’s capital is crazy and chaotic but endlessly exciting and interesting. There are endless historical sites, museums, galleries, shops, and incredible bazaars. You’ve got the whole day free to explore the capital city (depending on when you get here of course) before you join up with your crew at a 6pm Welcome Meeting tonight (make sure you’ve got all your important docs and deets on you). Maybe arrive a day early if you can’t find an on-time flight, and let the reception know if you’re going to be late. We’ll happily book extra accommodation for you. Until the meeting, hit the streets. You can just wander and try and get into the Delhi flow. If you're feeling historical there’s the 14th century Humayun's Tomb or 11th century Qutub Minar. There’s also the former residence of royal families and British soldiers – the mighty Red Fort. After the meeting, perhaps pop out for an optional group dinner.Day 2: Delhi to Jaisalmer overnight train
Catch the modern metro to Old Delhi and visit the old city's market area by cycle rickshaw, taking in Chandni Chowk as well as Connaught Place. Check out the Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest mosque and one of its most impressive buildings, then visit the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) to learn about the Sikh religion. You'll then have some free time to do as much sightseeing as you can, before boarding an overnight sleeper train bound for Jaisalmer (approximately 19 hours).
Notes: Our sleeper trains along the way are clean and air-conditioned, and are a great way to travel long distances and still get maximum time in each place. Beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow and blankets provided but some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Please note you may be sharing with locals in a same/mixed gender situation. It's advised to bring your own food on this train.Day 3: Thar Desert
Get off your epic train ride and arrive in Jaisalmer, which looks like some kind of giant sandcastle. Head to the guesthouse, drop off your gear, then take a walk around the town to get a feel of this amazing desert oasis. Chuck your essentials in an overnight bag then hop in a jeep to ride out to a camel camp. That’s right, you’re about the ride out into the desert in iconic style – scarf wrapped around your face as you traverse the sweeping sand dunes of the Thar Desert (approximately 3 hours). Jump down and say thanks to the ugly mug of your transport, then help set up camp while the guides get the fire started. You’ll be truly sleeping out in the open here, with mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets provided. There’s no need for a tent – then you’d miss the amazing starry sky.Day 4: Thar Desert - Jaisalmer
The crack of dawn is your wake up call this morning. Jump out of your swag for an amazing desert sunrise before a simple breakfast. Then it’s back on your undulating vehicle as you ride (up to 90 minutes) back to your drop off point, where you’ll climb back into the jeep and return to the city. Looking like a scene from ‘The Thousand and One Nights’ as it rises from flat desert surrounds, Jaisalmer is a centre for nomadic tribes people who come to trade in the narrow twisting alleys full of markets and ornately carved houses. Maybe visit the Jaisalmer Folklore Museum. Located on the banks of Garsisar Lake in the Mehar Bagh Garden, its wide variety of exhibits offer a great experience for visitors.Day 5: Jaisalmer
Enjoy a free day exploring Jaisalmer further. Discover the city’s narrow twisted alleys, which are full of markets and ornately carved houses. Track down some dazzling Rajastani fabrics to spice up your wardrobe, marvel at the spectacular facades of the Patwa ki Haveli and Salim Singh-ki-Haveli, or maybe just get walking in the maze of paths and soak up the atmosphere. After a big day exploring, find a good spot on one of the fort's 99 bastions and watch the sunset into the desert.Day 6: Jodhpur
Travel by train across the desert to one of Rajasthan's largest cities, Jodhpur (approximately 7 hours). Today's a long travel day, so make sure you’ve got your music player primed and your book ready. Jodhpur is known for its antique shops and the best lassi in India. And yes, it is where those famous trousers come from.Day 7: Jodhpur
Get ready to bargain with a stop at Sadar Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in India. Built around a clock tower, it’s packed with spice and vegetable markets, juice sellers and sari materials. Whatever you’re into you’ll probably be able to grab it here – there are numerous vendors with carts selling everything from Bollywood soundtracks to armfuls of sparkling bangles. Don’t miss the street snacks! From the chaos of the market, head to the colossal Mehrangarh Fort, which sits up on a hill looking over the town. Explore and take in the great views from its ramparts, which dominate the city's skyline. This is probably the best preserved of all Rajasthan’s hundreds of forts and gives you a great idea what life would’ve been like as a royalty. Then trip out to the nearby Bishnoi villages. The Bishnoi are a peaceful nature-loving community and no trip to this region is complete without experiencing the fascinating traditions of the tribes people of rural Rajasthan.Day 8: Udaipur
Chat away with the locals on a bus to Udaipur (approximately 8 hours) – that’s more than enough time to pick up some tips for your next stop. There’s no doubt that Udaipur loves up to its rep as India’s most romantic city. Rolling hills, white marble palaces and lakes come together beautifully, and it’s a place where artists, dancers and musicians perfect their craft. The shopping is also superb, with miniature paintings being the speciality. When you hop off the bus, take a walk around town to help gather your bearings. Explore Udaipur's twisting alleys filled with silver, shoes, bags, leather goods and those miniature paintings.Day 9: Udaipur
There's loads to see and do in your free time here. Enjoy a half hour boat ride on the famous Lake Pichola and see marvels like Lake Palace and Jag Mandir Island (note this is seasonal, depending on the water level in the lake). You could check out the City Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in India, and check out the unbelievable treasures within – from vivid murals to antiques and royal utensils. Feeling peckish? Join the famous Spice Box cooking school and spend a half-day learning the secrets of Indian cuisine. With lessons on preparation and cooking, you'll whipping up a full Indian meal in no time.Day 10: Pushkar
It’s back on the rails today as you hop on a day train to the city of Ajmer (approximately 7 hours), sharing the journey with locals as the chai wallahs make their way down the carriages. Then it’s a transfer to a private vehicle from Ajmer to your hotel in Pushkar (approximately 45 minutes). One of India’s holiest places (and in such a spiritual country, that’s saying something), Pushkar is a market centre for many of the local village people and a great place to sit back and relax. Head out to explore Pushkar's main bazaar and many side streets – some great bargains snatched up here in the home of some of the cheapest clothes and jewellery in northern India. Walk around the lake, with its bustling ghats and temples, to watch the devout as they worship at the holy waters.Day 11: Pushkar
Early risers can make the sunrise hike up the hill to the Savitri Temple for magical views over the town. There could also be a wonderful steaming glass of chai waiting for you if the chai man is there – certainly well worth the trek. You can also stop the colourful Brahma Temple, one over only a handful in the whole of India. It’s said that the god has so few places of worship thanks to a curse laid down by Brahma’s consort, Saraswati. If you’re lucky enough to be in town for the Pushkar Camel Fair, you’ll experience one of India’s most famous festivals.Day 12: Jaipur
Travel by private vehicle to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur (approximately 4 hours). The streets of this earthy red town are busy with camels, motorbikes, rickshaws, and you’ll walk past traditionally dressed Rajput while monkeys climb wires overhead. Your time in the friendly, busy city is spent haggling to your heart's content in the bazaars and backstreets filled with textiles, semi-precious gems and blue pottery. You’ll also drop by one of India’s finest palaces – the Royal City Palace – an amazing complex with various colourful courtyard gates, fascinating museums, and impressively moustachioed guards. Tonight you’ll experience the cinema like never before with an extravagant Bollywood blockbuster at the memorable Raj Mandir Cinema – there’s usually romance, drama and music all rolled into one.Day 13: Jaipur
For anyone that wants to see the Pink City a bit differently this morning there’s the option to drift high over Jaipur in a hot air balloon, a highlight for many visitors. For more information please see the important notes section of your trip notes. Here’s just a sprinkling of things to do in your free time today: drop by Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), the impressive five-storey facade with pink, honeycombed windows making it the most photographed building in the country after Taj Mahal. Then maybe head out to the old capital of Amber and an exploration of the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort. The Sheesh Mahal inside the fort is a must-see. As the walls are completely covered in little mirrors, the hall illuminates with the light of a single match. Hit the streets for raj kachori chaat – a big fluffy chaat served with chutney, yoghurt, chilli and potato. Then cool off with a lassi from Lassiwala on MI road, Jaipur's oldest and most famous lassi shop.Day 14: Agra
Head east by public bus to Agra (approximately 6 hours). Agra might not be the prettiest city in the world, but the minute you check out its top-notch sites that won’t matter one bit. After arriving into the city you’ll head to the most iconic sight in India. It doesn’t matter who you are, the Taj Mahal will explode all your expectations with the morning light shimmering off its white marble surface. Maybe jump on a motorised rickshaw to pick out the rest of the city’s monuments – Akbar's Mausoleum is a beautiful sandstone and marble tomb built for the greatest of the Mughal emperors.Day 15: Delhi
Maybe return to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, then explore the awesome Red Fort on the banks of the Yamuna River – stroll the palatial gardens of this red sandstone stronghold with cheeky monkeys in tow. Then it’s back on rails with a return train to Delhi (approximately 3 hours). Use the rest of the day however you like. Practice your bargaining skills in Chandni Chowk in the maze of shops and kiosks that sell everything imaginable, buy local crafts straight from the hands of the artisan in Janpath market, or gobble down street chaats – snacks like deep fried fritters and flatbread. Then maybe find time for a quiet drink in this teeming metropolis tonight.Day 16: Delhi
End things on a sweet note, with a taste of our favourite treats – sandesh, rosogolla and chanar payesh. There are no activities on the last full day, so take a look around and maybe even stay on a couple of nights to keep up the exploration. Swap Facebook deets with your new travel mates and then it’s over and out after breakfast. Don't forget to check out an Urban Adventure or two if you've got some extra time in Delhi. Gallery
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