18-to-Thirtysomethings: Rajasthan and Varanasi on a Shoestring (AHRH)
Countries Visited: India
Trip Style: Information Not available
Service Level: Basic
Excellent value, amazing prices, quality experiences Simple and clean hotels, guesthouses and hostels chosen for location and character Affordable public and private transport for maximum cultural interaction Plenty of optional activities tailored to your interests and budget
Physical Demands Rating: 2 - There'll be some light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Group Size: Max 18, avg 14.
Meals Included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Accommodations: Simple hotels (15 nts), sleeper trains (3 nts), camping (1 nt)
Highlights
Drink in a kaleidoscope of colour and culture, experience spiritual Varanasi along the Ganges, marvel at the Taj Majal, wander the streets and markets in vibrant cities, revel in the colourful villages of Rajasthan.
Description
From the monuments of Delhi to the colourful cities of Rajasthan, experience three weeks of northern Indias best. Marvel at Jaisalmers mud fortress and Bikaners unique temple before journeying into the desert for an overnight camel safari. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and make your way to the Ganges River at Varanasi. Your expert CEO will take care of the hassles so youre free to see the sights or just soak up the vibe - India is home to great food, fascinating culture, alluring sights, and friendly and inviting people. Discover the charms and mystery that make up this incredible country.
Trip Style: Information Not available
Service Level: Basic
Physical Demands Rating: 2 - There'll be some light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Group Size: Max 18, avg 14.
Meals Included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Accommodations: Simple hotels (15 nts), sleeper trains (3 nts), camping (1 nt)
Highlights
Drink in a kaleidoscope of colour and culture, experience spiritual Varanasi along the Ganges, marvel at the Taj Majal, wander the streets and markets in vibrant cities, revel in the colourful villages of Rajasthan.
Description
From the monuments of Delhi to the colourful cities of Rajasthan, experience three weeks of northern Indias best. Marvel at Jaisalmers mud fortress and Bikaners unique temple before journeying into the desert for an overnight camel safari. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and make your way to the Ganges River at Varanasi. Your expert CEO will take care of the hassles so youre free to see the sights or just soak up the vibe - India is home to great food, fascinating culture, alluring sights, and friendly and inviting people. Discover the charms and mystery that make up this incredible country.
Call (631) 757-8500 for more information or to book today! Mention code 13740084
- Tour Operator
- G Adventures
- Duration
- 20 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
Day | Destination | Description |
Day 1 | Delhi | Day 1 Delhi Arrive at any time. Included Activities: Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting |
Day 2 | Bikaner | Day 2 Delhi/Bikaner Enjoy a youth-led walking tour of Delhi with G Adventures-supported project, City Walk. This tour offers a unique perspective of Delhi while supporting at-risk youth. Afterwards, an orientation walk takes you through Old Delhi to experience some of the history and culture of this vibrant city. Included Activities: City Walk Old Delhi Guided Walk Transport: Basic overnight train (beds) (8.00 hour(s)) |
Day 3 | Raisar | Day 3 Bikaner/Raisar (1L, 1D) We arrive early in the morning and reach our hotel. Bikaner is a semi-arid part of the Thar Desert with sandy dunes and scattered villages. In recent years the topography of the region has changed quite a bit, but you can still see the harsh realities of the desert here. We drive down in local jeeps to a village called Raisar from where we take our camels and ride into the desert. We ride for a couple of hours through villages and fields to our lunch point at a shady area. Later, remount your camels and ride for another 2-3 hours till you reach a point over the dunes. After witnessing a stunning sunset, we climb down to where our tents are pitched and enjoy a simple but delicious meal. Additional Notes: We arrive early in the morning and reach our hotel. We have a couple of rooms to freshen up and change. We also have time to get breakfast before we leave for our desert adventure. Included Activities: Camel Safari Transport: 4x4 (1.00 hour(s)) |
Day 4 | Bikaner | Day 4 Raisar/Bikaner (1B) Opt to walk up the dunes again for the sunrise. After breakfast, ride camel carts back to the road and transfer back to Bikaner. Once back, your CEO will give you an orientation of the Old City and the markets. Included Activities: Bikaner Orientation Tour Transport: Camel cart |
Day 5 | Jaisalmer | Day 5 Bikaner/Jaisalmer We arrive in Jaisalmer and have the rest of the day to relax after the long journey or explore the city at your leisure. Jaisalmer, known as the "Golden City," stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone in the heart of the Thar Desert. This fortress city is best explored on your own. Wander through the lanes of the walled city and inside the fort. Houses, temples, and havelis are very different from what you would find in other regions of Rajasthan. Do not forget to watch the setting suns reflection on the fort. Transport: Local train (6.50 hour(s)) |
Day 6 | Jaisalmer | Day 6 Jaisalmer Enjoy a free day to continue exploring the "Golden City". |
Day 7 | Jodhpur | Day 7 Jaisalmer/Jodhpur Travel eastwards to the centrally located metropolis of Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan. A large and varied city, Jodhpur is sometimes called the "Blue City" for the many houses painted that colour. At Jodhpur, stark desert landscapes meet a riot of palaces, forts and temples, all enclosed within imposing city walls. Six enormous gates provide entry to the city centre, and overlooking it all stands the imposing shadow of Meherangarh Fort. Once we arrive, we take an orientation walk of the city. Included Activities: Orientation Walk Transport: Local bus (7.00-8.00 hours, 285km) |
Day 8 | Udaipur | Day 8 Jodhpur/Udaipur Continue your journey southeast to Udaipur, famous worldwide for its plethora of breathtaking lakes and Raj-era palaces. Most famous of these, and certainly the most photographed, is the Lake Palace, an island-palace where the white marble buildings entirely cover a small island in Pichola Lake. Included Activities: Orientation Walk Transport: Local bus (7.00-8.00 hours, 285km) |
Day 9 | Udaipur | Day 9 Udaipur Relive life as royalty at Sajjangarh Fort, also known as the Monsoon Palace, summer resort of the Maharajas. Sitting atop a hill with a panoramic view of the city's lakes, the palace was equipped with an ingenious rainwater collection system, essential in the dry desert conditions of the region. Other options include a visit to the Jagdish Temple, the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandir folk museum, Saheliyon-ki-Bari (the Garden of Maidens), and the City Palace and Museum. |
Day 10 | Pushkar | Day 10 Udaipur/Pushkar Travel to Ajmer and change to a local bus for the 14 km drive over Snake Mountain to Pushkar. Site of the world's only temple to the Hindu god of creation, Brahma, Pushkar is so sacred that no meat, alcohol, or eggs are allowed within the city. However, most travellers know Pushkar for a different reason: the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. Once in the city, we take an orientation walk and visit the Brahama Temple, created in the 14th century. Follow local traditions and try out a camel ride in the desert, or wander this holy Hindu centre on foot or bicycle. Or take a cooking class or visit the market. Rajasthan is famous for its textiles, jewellery and handicrafts, and few places in the country are better for shopping than the bazaars of Pushkar. Included Activities: Pushkar Orientation Walk Transport: Local bus (7.00-8.00 hours, 280km) |
Day 11 | Tordi Sagar | Day 11 Pushkar/Tordi Sagar (1D) Dive into rural life visiting potters, cobblers, and markets. Take a camel cart ride to the dunes for sunset, head for a hike in the hills, or make bangles and try henna paint with the local women. While here, go on an included guided walk through the village and opt to participate in a cricket match with some locals. Included Activities: Tordi Sagar Local Village Tour Transport: 4x4 (4.00 hour(s)) |
Day 12 | Jaipur | Day 12 Tordi Sagar/Jaipur (1B, 1L) Before leaving Tordi Sagar, enjoy a local lunch prepared by traditional methods at a village hamlet. Travel to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and the former capital of a princely state of the same name. Clothed in pink stucco (in imitation of sandstone), wide-avenued Jaipur is one of the most important heritage cities in India, and home to India's second most visited site, the Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of the Winds". Included Activities: Orientation Walk Transport: 4x4 (4.00 hour(s)) |
Day 13 | Jaipur | Day 13 Jaipur Enjoy a guided tour of the Amber Fort. Take some free time to explore other sites around town. Included Activities: Amber Fort Guided Tour |
Day 14 | Agra | Day 14 Jaipur/Agra Continue this morning to the Muslim city of Agra. Agra is best known as the site of India's most famous landmark, the Taj Mahal. Enjoy a guided visit to this icon of Mughal architecture. Later, opt to ride one of the ubiquitous cycle rickshaws to visit the Agra Fort or Baby Taj, the less famous-but no less impressive-sister monuments. Included Activities: Taj Mahal Guided Tour Transport: Local train (5.00 hour(s)) |
Day 15 | Varanasi | Day 15 Agra/Varanasi Enjoy free time in Agra before boarding an overnight train to Varanasi. Transport: Basic overnight train (beds) (13.00 hour(s)) |
Day 16 | Varanasi | Day 16 Varanasi Arrive to legendary Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindu travel to for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn, or to die. Walk the narrow twisting alleys, poke around some of the literally thousands of temples and shrines, and experience the energy of the dawn rituals of bathing and burial as you float past the famous ghats of the Ganges. During our stay in Varanasi you will have time to shop, wander, and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city, while optional activities include the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, site of the Buddhas first sermon. We take boats out onto the sacred Ganges River, both for sunrise and sunset. For the evening boat journey we enjoy a candle flower ceremony. Included Activities: Evening Ganges Boat Tour |
Day 17 | Varanasi | Day 17 Varanasi Cruise the Ganges on a morning boat tour with free time in the afternoon to explore. Included Activities: Morning Ganges Boat Tour |
Day 18 | Delhi | Day 18 Varanasi/Delhi Free day to explore Varanasi before boarding an overnight train to Delhi. Transport: Basic overnight train (beds) |
Day 19 | Delhi | Day 19 Delhi Arrive back in the capital of India. The day is yours to explore the temples, markets and museums in this fast-paced amazing city. |
Day 20 | Delhi | Day 20 Delhi Depart at any time. Included Activities: Departure Day |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
Local Flights: All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.
Please Note: Only 1 piece of luggage that weighs up to 15kgs will be permitted on our internal flights in India. For any extra weight the airline may charge an additional fee at the time of check-in.
Dossier Disclaimer:The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.