Rah Rah Rajasthan - 2015-16

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India. Where cows are more important than you. Jump into Delhi, see the Taj, hang with the locals in Tordi, and amble through Jaipur, Pushkar, Nimaj and Jodphur. Train it back to Delhi for a last hurrah in the big smoke. Sweet. TRIP CHANGES FOR 2016:From 6th February 2016 this trip will be replaced with the North India Explorer (GIRV) and will have the following itinerary: Day 1 Delhi - Arrival DayDay 2 Delhi - Old Delhi Tour, Overnight train to VaranasiDay 3 Varanasi - Walking tourDay 4 Varanasi - Sunrise boat trip, Overnight train to AgraDay 5 Agra - Taj MahalDay 6 Jaipur - Public bus to JaipurDay 7 Jaipur - Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Free timeDay 8 Bundi - Transfer to Bundi, Orientation walk, Bundi Stepwell & PalaceDay 9 Bundi - Free day, Overnight train to DelhiDay 10 Delhi - Arrive Delhi, Free time, Optional final night dinnerDay 11 Depart

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Day 1 : Delhi

So, you’ve signed on to do the subcontinent. You might as well just throw yourself in the deep end and tackle Delhi from day dot. Go on, be brave. There’s going to be a lot of noise, a lot of cows and a lot of delicious street food. Pull up a chair, sip your first chai and pinch yourself. You’re officially in India.

Day 2 : Agra - Taj Mahal

Jump on your first train, Agra bound. Leave your shoes at the door and your expectations by the wayside because the Taj is going to be better than any postcard you’ve ever seen. Did you know it’s perfectly symmetrical? Did you know it changes colour depending on the time of day? Did you know it took over 1000 elephants to build? You do now. Go forth and explore.

Day 3 : Tordi Garh

Today it’s a public bus from Agra to Dausa, then a sweet-as private vehicle to Tordi Garh. Tordi is like that perfect little local village you always hope to stumble across on your travels. Think saris, smiles and marigold chains. Meet the families, eat good food and rest up in a former palace. Some retty rad days.

Day 5 : Jaipur

Kick on to the Pink City of Jaipur, home to the Amber Fort, Palace of the Winds and Johari Jewellery Bazaar. See and shop, then hit up the local food halls to see and eat. And eat. We recommend masala dosas and thali plates. Promptly fall into a food coma.

Day 7 : Pushkar

Push on to Pushkar (sorry). Pushkar has a camel fair that’s dusty and full of, well, camels. You could buy one if you like, but we wouldn’t – customs tend to frown on unwanted animal importation. There is also a lake. A great, big sacred lake.

Day 8 : Nimaj

This place has barely changed in centuries and it doesn't get many travellers. It's what they call ‘off the beaten track’. Way off. You get to call an orchard home for the night and meet legit Gujjars (cattle breeders). Awesome.

Day 9 : Jodphur

Drive to the Blue City of Jodhpur, on the edge of the Thar Desert. Sadar Market is the perfect place to stock up on the ol’ fisherman’s pants, carpets of every description, incense and chai. Fill your pack to its limit, then lug it onto the overnight train back to D-town.

Day 11 : Delhi

By now you've spent long enough in India to almost be used to it. Almost. Maybe. See and do and eat all the wonderful things you didn’t get to see and do and eat last time, such as Chandni Chowk markets, Jama Masjid and the Raj Ghat. Then add your travel mates to FB and say bye-bye after breaky. Namaste India.

Basic Details

Starts in: Delhi, Delhi, India
Ends in: Delhi, Delhi, India
Group Size: maximum 16
Fitness Requirement: No particular level of fitness is required for this holiday. You need only to be in general good health.

Highlights

- Delhi
- Train travel - a quintessentially Indian experience
- Jaipur’s Amber Fort
- UNESCO World Heritage-listed Taj Mahal
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What's Included

- A Gecko’s expert English-speaking local tour leader.- Sightseeing (including entrance fees where applicable): Agra - Taj Mahal; Jaipur - Amber Fort with a local guide and a photo stop at Hawa Mahal.- Ride the metro and then take a cycle rickshaw before a walking tour through Old Delhi.- Off-the-beaten-track experience in Tordi Garh – village walk, a visit to ruined temples and fortress.- Overnight accommodation in a 16th century former palace.- Plenty of free time to explore along the way.- Travel by train from Delhi to Agra and Jaipur to Delhi.- Overnight train from jodphur to Delhi

Meals Included: , ,

What's NOT Included

International flights, arrival and departure transfers, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre or post tour accommodation, meals, optional tours sightseeing or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature, laundry and flights unless specified. Some places that we visit charge additional fees if you are entering with a camera or camcorder - your local guide will advise on these and they can be paid for on the ground.

Accommodation Styles

- Hotels/guesthouses
- Historic hotel
- Sleeper train

Important Information

Local Emergency Contacts:
In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency Gecko’s India office can be reached on +91 1145 006 400 during business hours (9.30am to 6pm) or after hours on +91 9599 914 852 or +91 9999 005 019
Festivals in India:
Please note travelling during major festivals such as Holi and Diwali can, at times, cause disruption the the published itinerary.
The 20th November 2015 departure will visit the Pushkar Camel fair.
Local Transport:
Train and bus travel in India is not always easy. Buses and trains are often late and at times they can be overcrowded. A good deal of patience is required to get the most out of your journey. However travelling by road and rail is an excellent opportunity to meet the locals and can be a rewarding experience. Toilet facilities on Indian trains are also quite basic to say the least.
Travelling on the roads in India is also quite an experience. Road rules are not always followed and traffic in some of the larger cities has to be experienced to be believed. Particular care should be taken when crossing roads.
ELEPHANT PERFORMANCES & ELEPHANT RIDING:While we respect each individual’s decisions while travelling, Geckos does not include elephant rides or unnatural performance activities on any itinerary, and we recommend you bypass these activities should they be offered to you during your stay. Professional wildlife conservation and animal welfare organisations, including World Animal Protection (formerly the World Society for Protection of Animals) advise that contrary to common belief, captive elephants remain wild animals and despite good intentions, unfortunately many venues are unable to provide the appropriate living conditions elephants require and this ultimately impacts their well-being. While there is some merit in the argument that the money that you pay for the activity goes towards keeping the elephants and their mahouts employed, we know that it also fuels demand for elephants to be captured in the wild or captive bred. We thank you for your support in improving the welfare of these majestic creatures. Further information is available here.
HOT AIR BALLOONING JAIPURHot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate mornings from September to June and morning and evening from September to March. Morning flights depart around sunrise and evening flights late afternoon and last 60 mins. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your joining meeting on day 1 of your trip.Payment must be made in cash - INR/USD/AUD/GBP only pleaseFlights are subject to weather conditions and tickets are fully refundable.

About this page

The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. You can check the most up-to-date version of the trip notes online at www.geckosadventures.com. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or your nearest Gecko's office. We are here to help you!