Wild Desert Romance in India

India: This romantic cultural trip through Rajasthan will take you through a mix of cities and rural countryside, residing in some of the most luxurious and exclusive hotels in this beautiful part of India. You will travel through diverse landscapes and experience some of the highlights of Rajasthan by private car and train journeys.


Tour Includes:

  • Day use of the Imperial Hotel in Delhi. 3 nights in a luxury tented camp. 5 nights at Palace style accommodation. 2 overnight train journeys in sleeper class cabin. 5 nights in luxury boutique hotels.
  • 17 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners.
  • Private vehicle, normally a saloon car for one or two people.
  • Local English Speaking Guides for sightseeing on a private basis, including all entrance fees.
  • Private guided transfers to and from all airports.
  • Driver/guide's expenses.


Departures: Daily

Comment:
A romantic trip through the cultural sights of Rajasthan staying at exclusive accommodation.

Flight Inclusive Price:
Based on return economy class flights with Jet Airways, from London Heathrow to Delhi. This will add 1 day onto your itinerary. UK Airport Passenger Duty and airport taxes are also included.

Tour Prices:
Whilst all best endeavours are made to ensure the prices for private journeys on our website are accurate - given the nature of peak season air supplements and fuel surcharges - prices given above may vary depending on departure date and availability.

How to book your Private Journey

Wild Desert Romance in India

Wild Desert Romance in India

Day 1: Delhi - Jaisalmer
Arrive at Delhi airport and transfer to your hotel. After breakfast you will have a city tour with your guide, visiting the main cultural and historical sites of this fascinating city. Highlights include a visit to the new town to see Rajpati Bravhan and India gate, and in the old town, the spice market, Jama Majid Mosque and the Red Fort. The tour will end will a visit to the Raj Ghat memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. You will then be transferred to the train station to board your overnight train to Jaisalmer. (B)

Day 2: Jaisalmer
On arrival to Jaisalmer, you will be met off the train and taken to your tented accommodation in the desert. (B)

Day 3: Jaisalmer
Today you will have a full day city tour of Jaisalmer and the surrounding area. The day will start with a visit to Gadisar Lake with its old temples built between the 16th and 19th Centuries; you will then visit the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort and the Delwara Jain temples within it. Return to your hotel in the desert. (B)

Day 4: Jaisalmer
At leisure at The Serai. (B)

Day 5: Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
You will be taken by private vehicle from your hotel in Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, a journey of approximately four and a half hours. (B)

Day 6: Jodhpur- Rohet
Today you will visit the main sights of Jodphur with your local guide before continuing your journey to Rohet. The day will include a visit to the Majestic Meherangarh Fort, stopping at the royal cenotaph Jaswhat Thada en route. The Meherangarh fort sprawls across a 125m high-hill, and is entered through a series of seven gates built by the reigning Jodphur Maharajas who each extended to the fort over the centuries. You will then be taken down to the old city to visit the central bazaar which sprawls from the clock tower. Transfer to Rohet. (B, D)

Day 7: Rohet
At leisure at the Mihir Garh. A village safari is included in your stay here, details of which can be arranged on arrival to the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Rohet - Khamli Ghat - Deogarh
Late morning pick up from your hotel to Marwar Junction where you will enjoy the regional two hour train ride through the Khamli Ghats and on to the Aravalli plateau, a journey that was made famous by Rudyard Kipling's classic tale, The Man Who Would be King. At the end of this spectacular trip you will be transferred to your hotel in Deogarh (B)

Day 9: Deogarh
Day at leisure. (B)

Day 10: Deogarh - Kumbhalgarh- Ranakpur- Udaipur
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Udaipur, stopping at various sites of interest en route. You will visit the stunning Kumbhalgarh 15th Century Fort in the Aravalli Mountains. You will then continue to the journey to visit Ranakpur, home to a beautiful 15th Century Jain temple made up of 29 halls and 1,444 intricately carved pillars, after which you will carry on to your hotel in Udaipur. (B)

Day 11: Udaipur
Full day city tour of Udaipur, the Lake City. Your local guide will collect you from your hotel and take you to visit the highlights of this beautiful city including the City Palace, which was built in 1559 A.D and sits on the edge of Lake Pichola, the Jagdish Temple, the Garden of the Maid's Honour ; Sahelion Ki Bari, the remarkable Eklingji Temple located about 22km from the city centre and finally to end the tour you will take the cruise on the Lake Pichola, passing by Jagniwas Island, which is home to the famous Lake palace hotel and Jagmindir Island built by Maharaja Jagat Singh. Return to your hotel. (B)

Day 12: Udaipur
Today you will have an intrepid, unusual tour of the 'city of lakes' by hot air balloon; you will be collected from your hotel by your guide and taken to the launch site. This is a fantastic way to see this beautiful city. (B)

Day 13: Udaipur - Devigarh
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Devigarh. (B)

Day 14; Udaipur - Jaipur
Day at leisure. This evening your guide will take you to the train station in Udaipur for your overnight train journey to Jaipur, the Pink City. (B)

Day 15: Jaipur
Arrival transfer to your hotel in Jaipur. Day to begin to explore Jaipur at your own leisure. (B)

Day 16: Jaipur
Today you will have a tour of the 'pink city' of Jaipur, you will be collected from your hotel by your driver and guide. You will visit the fascinating City Palace Museum, the Palace of the Winds and the old Royal Observatory built by the founder and namesake of the modern city Jai Singh II. You will also go to the stunning Amber Fort, 9kms from town. Return to your hotel. (B)

Day 17: Jaipur - Delhi
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel in Jaipur and transferred to the airport in Delhi where your tour ends. (B)

How to book your Private Journey

Wild Desert Romance in India

Without flights

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 31 May 12Adult Price From£3,380 Make an Enquiry

With flights from the UK

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 31 May 12Adult Price From£4,130 Make an Enquiry

* Please note the prices shown above are based on two persons sharing a twin or double room

Wild Desert Romance in India

Please select the regions you are interested in.

Raas Hotel

Jodhpur

This 150 year old building was built with Jodhpur's 'rose-red' sandstone and has recently been renovated by local...

View Details

Samode Palace

Jaipur

Winner of the award for the best heritage hotel in the country, this magnificent palace is one of India's most charming...

View Details

Devigarh

Udaipur

This beautiful, historic building has been turned into a design-led contemporary, five star hotel in the Aravalli...

View Details

The Serai

Jaisalmer

A wonderful luxury desert camp and spa, The Serai has 21 large canvas tents set on thirty acres of indigenous desert...

View Details

How to book your Private Journey

WF Difference

Check out what makes us different from the rest

Read More…

WF Recommends

More useful information when travelling to:
Rajasthan & the North

Flight Information

Flight time to Delhi from London is 8:30hrs, with a host of airlines including Jet, BA and Virgin. The same airlines also fly direct to Mumbai in around 9hrs. If flying to regional airports Jet are likely to offer the simplest connection.

Useful Tips

Depending on where you are travelling you can use the following to help you:

Kashmir & the Himalayas:
• If flying to Ladakh, rest on arrival. You might not feel the need, but you will if you don't and then it can be too late
• Staying in Srinagar, take a shakara through the old town, along the Bund. It’s not on the normal tourist circuit and its fascinating
• Be sure the visit the floating veg market
• If you want any clothes made, ask 95-year-old Tailor Tim - he's been doing it since British times
• In Amritsar check out the lassi, just behind the Golden Temple " joint best (with Varanasi) in the whole of India

Rajasthan & the Northwest:
• In Delhi, take the Metro: it’s clean, efficient and saves hours when sightseeing
• Again in Delhi if looking for general shopping - rather than souvenirs - try Khan Market
• Don’t take cash - use ATMs… they're everywhere
• Don't get caught up with guides shopping trips. Only go to the emporiums if you really want to
• Always carry plenty of small notes - getting change for a 5,000 rupee note is impossible

Kerala & the South:
• If staying in Cochin try the Brunton Boatyard for dinner - the open-air seafood restaurant is great
• Go for a walk along Covolum Beach " it’s one of the best the subcontinent can offer
• On the rice barge use candles. It's much more romantic and your ceiling won’t get covered in insects
• If travelling with kids, take the tree houses at Wayanad, they'll love them

Goa & Central India:
• Check out the veg market in Mysore - great place for photography
• If visiting Hampi, take your trunks, a swim in the river at sunset is awesome
• Take your driving licence - getting around Goa and Hampi is best on a moped
• Don’t miss the Hyderabad bazaar " it’s as good as Lahore
• Be warned, if in Goa on New Year’s Eve take care - the locals go a little crazy!

Kolkata & the Northeast
• Enjoy a lassi in Varanasi - jont best in the country!
• Try the Thali at the Peerless Inn in Kolkata - its delicious
• Also in Kolkata, take a tram - it’s a great way to get close to local life
• If travelling in October - just after the monsoon - take plenty of mosquito repellent
• In Jan and early Feb be prepared for early-morning fog on the Ganges - it can get pretty thick
• Make sure you have the right permits - some parts of this region you'll need special permission

When To Go

Travelling through Rajasthan from October to March you will generally experience warm days with plenty of sunshine and mild evenings. The same can broadly be said of travelling in the south.

If visiting Kashmir or the HImalayan regions then the main thing to remember, especially if travelling up from the Indian plains, is that weather-wise, anything can happen. There is the potential for chilly conditions on the high mountain passes. Therefore, as with so many of Wild Frontiers’ mountain trips, you need to come prepared for any eventuality.

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to India. With your booking confirmation you will receive a packing list specific to your tour, so please treat this as a general guideline only.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.
On all our trips a small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with. However, you should be aware of certain cultural sensitivities, particularly when visiting religious sites.
Therefore as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• Good quality fleece or warm jumper
• 2/3 Pairs of cotton trousers. If preferred, women can wear dresses and skirts
• An extra “outfit” if you’d like to dress up a bit on occasion
• Sun hat or cap
• Head scarf for ladies when visiting mosques
• Swim suit or trunks
• Pair of recreational shoes
• Pair of adventure sandals, trainers or pumps
• Flip flops/sandals for showers

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for you trip:
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Torch (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• A bandanna or large handkerchief is useful for dusty tracks
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Plug adapter (see ‘Electricity’ section)

Personal First Aid Kit:
While we do carry a large medical kit on all our group tours, we would still advise that you take some of the basics with you. This should include:

• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Malaria Tablets (if necessary)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
• Universal bath plug
• Calculator (for currency conversion)
• Trekking poles

NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Time:
India is 5.5hrs ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
One of the great myths about travelling in India is that the food is poor. We are delighted to inform you this is definitely not the case. Indeed many people find the delicious food to be one of the highlights of a visit to India, there is endless variety " it’s not all spicy " and can cater for any specific needs.

In terms of Alcohol, everything is available but often hard to get hold of and the quality is sometimes questionable.

Electricity:
Those bringing video & digital cameras that require battery chargers should also bring a two-pin, continental style adapter. In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug, in India they use 230 volts.

Money:
In India the unit of currency is the Rupee.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

A few points to help you plan:
• Payments are mainly made in cash.
• Some hotels and banks accept credit cards.
• There are ATM’s in the large towns and cities although you may incur a charge. It is unwise to rely on this as a means of accessing cash due to unreliability.
• If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel.
• Pounds Sterling, Dollars and Euros are easily exchanged in Delhi and some large towns
• Travellers Cheques can only be changed in the city during business hours, not ideal.
• It is useful to bring lots of small denomination notes.

Language & Religion:
In India, the major language is Hindi, with 17 other official regional languages and English as a common language for all. Religion is mainly Hinduism alongside Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity.

The Kashmiri’s are mostly all Muslim and dominate the northern section of the Jammu and Kashmir state. They speak Urdu which if you know any Hindi, you’ll notice some similarities.

In the Himalayan Mountains of Ladakh the locals show a strong resemblance to the Tibetans in both appearance and language and were Buddhists until a few hundred years ago. Most Ladakhi’s in Leh District and Zanskar are Tibetan Buddhist

Cultural Sensitivity:
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission. Photographing members of the army, police or official personnel can lead to your equipment being confiscated and bridges, borders or government buildings are usually the strictest.

K2 Trek and Baleygon School

View All