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Get an authentic slice of the real Rajasthan in Delhi, Jodhpur, Pushkar and Agra

In between sand-dune camping, Jodhpur’s markets, an Udaipur cooking class, Pushkar’s bazaars and Jaipur’s temples, India will exceed all expectations. And that's before you even set eyes on the Taj Mahal. Get ready for epic feeds, chaotic streets and enough sensory stimulation to last a lifetime. Delhi starts the show and finishes it too on this in depth adventure through the real Rajasthan.

This trip is for 18 to 29-year-olds

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Delhi, India
Finish
Delhi, India
Destination
India
Style
Basix
Theme
18 to 29s
Code
HHYJ
Physical rating
Ages
Min 18, Max 29
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Travel solo, together

You're never alone when travelling solo with Intrepid

Why you'll love this trip

  • India can be a daunting place at times, even for experienced travellers. With a local leader to support you the whole way and take care of all the logistics,v

  • This comprehensive trip covers many of the diverse sights and destinations in Rajasthan and North India. There is a lot of travelling, but plenty of free time to decide on what you are most interested in seeing and doing.

  • A group size of up to 16 other travellers all of similar age means you will have plenty of new friends to share experiences, meals and good times with during your trip.

  • You haven't properly shopped until you've experience an authentic Indian market. Practice your haggling and make sure bring an extra empty bag for all the goodies and trinkets you'll find at Jodhpur’s Sadar Bazaar, one of India’s oldest markets.

  • The Taj Mahal in Agra may be one of the most recognisable buildings in the world, but it somehow has the power to surprise and impress even the most sceptical of travellers. Read one first hand account of a visit here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/taj-mahal-firsthand-account/

  • Along with staying in simple hotels and guesthouses, you’ll spend nights traversing the country on overnight sleeper trains and one very memorable night out in the Thar desert where you’ll share a local-style meal at sunset before bunking down to camp between the sand dunes.

  • Flavourful, savoury and loaded with spice, India food is not only flavourful, it's incredibly diverse. Learn the Udaipur's spin on this delectable cuisine at a hands-on cooking class. 

  • Cinema buffs won't want to miss watching a Bollywood blockbuster in the coolest cinema in the country, the stylish Raj Mandir Cinema in Jaipur.

Is this trip right for you?

  • As this is a Basix trip, there is plenty of free time built into the itinerary for you to enjoy as you wish in each destination. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk in each destination to get your bearings and give you plenty of suggestions - then what comes next is up to you! Please take into account spending money for optional sightseeing (including local transport to and forom sights) that isn't included in the trip cost when budgeting for your journey. 

  • We are covering a lot of distance in a vast country, so this trip involves some very long bus and train rides. These can at times be a bit gruelling, but offer a quintessential and authentic Indian experience. You’ll be taking a overnight trains between some destinations, including a 19-hour trip from Delhi to Jaisalmer on Day 2.

  • Sleeper trains are a great way to travel long distances while still getting maximum time in each place. Beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow and blanket provided (although some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet). Please note that you may be sharing with locals of the same or opposite gender. More information can be found in the Transport section of these notes. Read about what it's like travelling on overnight trains in India, and around the world, here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/overnight-train-travel-around-...

  • For an open age Basix trip, see trip code HHRR on our website. If you'd prefer an itinerary in Rajasthan with more inclusions, higher standard of accommodation or less overnight trains, check out our HHSR & HHSC (Original) or HHKR (Comfort) trips.

Map of Real Rajasthan including India
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Women in front of the building in Jaipur
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india agra taj mahal squirrel
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India street vendor food

Itinerary
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This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020.
 View the 2018 itinerary

Namaste! Welcome to Delhi. Today is an arrival day with no planned activities, except a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travel pals. If you arrive earlier in the day, why not hit the streets 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 this important meeting, why not continue the introductions over an optional group dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Delhi - Humayun's Tomb - INR500
  • Delhi - Qutub Minar - INR500
  • Delhi - Red Fort - INR500
  • Delhi - Home-Cooked Experience Urban Adventure - INR4000
  • Delhi - City Food Crawl Urban Adventure - INR3500
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive in time for today's welcome meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please have these on hand.

This morning head out on a walking tour around the commercial heart of Delhi, visiting Chandni Chowk (Sheeshganj Gurudwara) and Connaught Place along the way. Explore Old Delhi on a bicycle rickshaw to dig that little bit deeper. You'll then have some free time to do as much sightseeing as you can, before boarding an overnight train bound forJaisalmer. The journey should take around 19 hours and you'll arrive in Jaisalmer early in the morning.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Delhi - Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
  • Delhi - Jama Masjid
  • Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Our overnight 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.

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, traverse the sweeping sand dunes of the Thar Desert (approximately 3 hours). Jump down and say thanks to your transport, then help set up camp while the guides get the fire started for a campfire feast. 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.
Accommodation
  • Camping (basic facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaisalmer - Camel safari & overnight desert camp
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
During winter months (Dec/Jan) temperatures in the desert can drop below zero. Your leader will monitor the weather forecast to decide whether this activity will be able to go ahead. If weather conditions stop us from camping, we’ll take a day trip to the Thar Desert instead of the overnight stay. Some travellers have also preferred to bring sleeping bags for camping in winter months. We recommend that travellers to India during this time of year bring adequate warm clothing, including thermals, as even in the cities the temperatures can be low and hotels often are not centrally heated.

The crack of dawn is your wake up call this morning. But it's worth it. You'll soon see that not much can match a desert sunrise. After a simple breakfast, it’s back on your undulating vehicle as you ride (up to 90 minutes) back to your drop off point. There, 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. Enjoy free time upon arrival and 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.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaisalmer - City tour
Optional Activities
  • Jaisalmer - Folklore Museum - INR10
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Please be aware that due to overcrowding of local transport in the Jaisalmer region, there may be some adjustments to the order of activities and type of transport used from days 3 - 6. Your leader will advise you of any changes at the Welcome Meeting on Day 1.

Enjoy a free day to explore 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.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
See our guide to Jodhpur here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/jodhpur-blue-city-india/

Get ready to bargain 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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jodhpur - City walk
Optional Activities
  • Jodhpur - Bishnoi villages day trip - INR750
  • Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort - INR600
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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 lives 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.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Udaipur - City walk
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Udaipur - Lake Pichola boat ride - INR350
  • Udaipur - City Palace - INR300
  • Udaipur - Cooking class - INR600
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Pushkar - Walking tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
In 2018 the Pushkar camel fair will be held in mid November. Please check important information for trips that will be in Pushkar at this time The Pushkar Camel Fair is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant festivals in India, and can be a true highlight, but please note the fair is based on the lunar calendar, so the fair dates can vary and it can be hard to confirm the exact festival dates. We will do all we can to ensure that travellers booked on departures that coincide with the fair will get an opportunity to see the best of the festival, but due to the uncertain and flexible nature of this festival we cannot take responsibility if the dates of the fair are changed resulting in your visit not coinciding with the fair. Pushkar hotels typically raise their rates considerably during the fair so departures across this period will be subject to a surcharge. Unfortunately, although we make bookings months in advance, Pushkar accommodation tend to overbook at this time so we ask for a flexible approach from o

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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Pushkar - Brahma Temple - Free
  • Pushkar - Savitri Temple - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Travel by public 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. Haggling to your heart's content in Jaipr's bazaars and backstreets filled with textiles, semi-precious gems and blue pottery. 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 stylish Raj Mandir Cinema – there’s usually romance, drama and music all rolled into one.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaipur - Walking & market tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
Optional Activities
  • Jaipur - City Palace - INR600
  • Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema - INR400
  • Jaipur - Balloon Safari - USD260
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Agra - Taj Mahal
Optional Activities
  • Agra - Agra Fort - INR600
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

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.
Optional Activities
  • Delhi - Gandhi's Delhi Urban Adventure - INR2700
  • Delhi - Culture Vulture Urban Adventure - INR2500
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Meals

1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle, Public bus, Overnight sleeper train, Train

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night), Guesthouse (5 nights), heritage property (3 nights), Hotel (8 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 nights)

Included activities

  • Delhi - Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
  • Delhi - Jama Masjid
  • Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
  • Jaisalmer - Camel safari & overnight desert camp
  • Jaisalmer - City tour
  • Jodhpur - City walk
  • Udaipur - City walk
  • Pushkar - Walking tour
  • Jaipur - Walking & market tour
  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
  • Agra - Taj Mahal

Dates & availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available for purchase on this trip excluding nights camping or on overnight trains.
2. Hot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate from September 1st to April 31st and last approximately 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 by cash in either INR/AUD/USD/GBP only and is USD$260pp (subject to change). Flights are subject to availability and weather conditions (tickets are fully refundable in case of bad weather).

Essential trip information

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