Rajasthan tours & holidays

Rajasthan's main cities and regions are well-connected with Delhi, Mumbai and other major entry ports in India.

Rajasthan is a huge state, and while the quickest way to travel around is via flight, the train is recommended.

Not only is it affordable and convenient, but it's one of the most popular ways to get from A to B for locals and is a memorable experience for many travellers in India.

The weather is at its best during the winter between November and February when the temperatures aren't too high. That said, the nights are chilly (often dipping to 0°C or lower) so you'll definitely need warm layers to rug up.

Many of the state's most exciting festivals are also held in winter, including the Pushkar Camel Fair, Jaisalmer's Desert Festival and the Udaipur World Music Festival.

Visiting in the summer months between March and September isn't off the cards, but the weather is dry and hot with intense temperatures that often climb to 40°C and higher, especially in places like Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

The monsoon runs from July to September, but the rain is generally less severe compared to other states, so visiting during these months is an option if you don't mind the humidity.

Oh, boy are your tastebuds in for a treat! Many of India’s most beloved dishes hail from Rajasthan. Here are a few favourites you absolutely must try:

• Laal maans: This meaty curry turns up the heat. It's made by simmering mutton in a fiery gravy spiced with red Kashmiri chillies, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin seeds and cloves. Mop up the leftover sauce with fluffy rice or warm naan.
• Kachori: Kachori is one of the most popular snack foods in Rajasthan and you'll often smell it cooking on street corners. It's essentially a fried flatbread filled with a delicious mix of spices, potatoes, daal or whatever else you fancy. It's usually served with chutneys and cool yoghurt.
• Gatte ki subzi: This delicious curry consists of chickpea flour dumplings cooked in a creamy yoghurt-based gravy. It's flavoured with red and green chillies, coriander powder, fenugreek leaves, garam masala, turmeric and various other spices.
• Dal bati churma: This traditional Rajasthani dish is made with batis (spicy baked wheat balls) served with daal, either on the side or poured generously on top. It's a great lunch dish or snack.
• Kadhi: Kadhi is a curd-based curry often eaten with rice or roti. It's thickened with gram flour and flavoured with a range of spices such as turmeric, chilli paste, mustard seeds, cumin and asafoetida.
• Ker sangri: This Rajasthani delicacy is the signature taste of the Thar Desert. It's made with dried ker berries and sangri beans that are boiled in a pressure cooker and then fried in oil, spices and yoghurt.

India is notorious among travellers for sickness – we’ve all heard horror stories about Delhi belly. We do not recommend ever drinking tap water in India, and travellers should avoid drinks with ice and foods that haven’t been cooked or peeled. Salad is off the menu for now ­– let your inner child rejoice!

All foreign travellers need a valid visa to enter India. There are two types of visas: an e-visa and a paper visa. Which one you will need depends on the requirements of your stay and your entry and exit ports.  

The e-tourist visa allows entry for 30 days, 1 or 5 years. For more information, please visit the government of India’s website or the Essential Trip Information.  

To enter India, you may need:  

• A valid visa  
• A machine-readable passport  
• At least two blank pages in your passport  
• A valid passport with at least 6 months validity  
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Card (if you are travelling from affected areas)  

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

We believe travel should be accessible to everyone. Although some destinations and itineraries may be more accessible than others, we'll do our best to accommodate your needs, make reasonable adjustments where possible or guide you toward the most suitable trips. Get in touch with our friendly adventure consultants to chat about your options.

Our Tailor-Made team can also help you plan a customised trip just for you.