It is impossible to describe the colours of Rajasthan. What we can say is this: decide how much film you think you’ll need – then pack five times as much. It’s not just the famed palaces and ancient fortresses that will capture your imagination. It is the scenes of real life that travelling by bike reveals: the roadside markets selling dhurrie rugs and sacks of bright red chili peppers; the country roads where camel trains pass for traffic and men in saffron-coloured turbans herd sheep through villages so off the beaten path that children run up to have their picture taken with you.

Naturally, those country roads guide you to Rajasthan’s finest hotels – colonial gems and maharaja’s palaces whose opulence gives luxury new meaning. Then there’s the 17thC hunting lodge whose simple authenticity makes it the perennial, surprising favourite.

Trip Highlights:

• Cycle to the edge of the Thar Desert past villages, Hindu temples, and plenty of camels
• Ride a three-wheeled tuk-tuk through the winding streets of Jodhpur
• Feast like a maharaja on a pleasure boat cruise
• Indulge in some serious luxury at the Oberoi Udaivilas

Varanasi Pre-Trip: Exploring Ancient Rituals
It is an understatement to say you will never forget the experience of cruising down the Ganges at sunrise. To visit Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities in the world, is to witness a colourful and chaotic microcosm of all of life’s wonders, hardships and complexities. We believe a trip to India is greatly enhanced by beginning at its religious core and dipping your toe into the daily rhythm of its extraordinary rituals.

For more information on the Varanasi Pre-trip, please contact us.

Pre-trip Length: 3 days/3 nights
Start/Finish: New Delhi/New Delhi (December: Mumbai/Mumbai)

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