From the horse’s mouth
Itinerary
Highlights
- Stay in splendid Maharajas country side palaces.
- Experience true rural Indian life riding through coloured Vishnoi villages on horseback
- Visit Kumbalgarh, the last Rajput resistance stronghold.
- Your guide is Khem Singh, a direct descendant of the House of Ghanerao.
Dates & prices
Price details
- International flights to Jodhpur and from Udaipur are not included
- Rates are per person, based on two riders sharing a twin or double room.
- Groups are usually composed of a minimum of 5 riders and a maximum of 12 international riders.
- Please note: the ride will also confirm for 2-4 riders on payment of a supplement of c. £120/€180/$200 per person (2 riders). Once the group has reached 5 people, we will remove this supplement from your invoice and refund you if you have already paid it.
- There is a single supplement payable if you end up in your own room. The supplement is c. £430/500/$520 and will be refunded to you if a sharer is found.
- Please note rider's weight limit: 85 kilos, 187 lbs, 13.3 st.
- A visa is required to enter India and is your responsibility.
Please Note
The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.
Price includes
Support Team
1 horse equipped with saddle and bridle per rider
1 team in charge of the horses
Inland transports
All land transfers described in the itinerary
Accomodation
Double or triple room in hotel, guesthouse or palace in the countryside
Double room in hotel standard 3*/4*
Meals
1 bottle of mineral water per day during the ride
Additional equipment
First aid kit
Price doesn't include
Meals
Beverage and personal extra
Transports
Visa fees
Extra
Single room supplement if we are not finding somebody to share
Insurance
Optional
Accommodation
Equestrian info
Horses
Guide & local team
Khem is personally known and related to most of your hosts at the heritage hotels ensuring you are well looked after. He is also a keen naturalist, and can help you identify various species of flora, fauna and avifauna that you may encounter.
A keen sportsman and excellent rider - he has helped to train horses for Polo and now plays golf between Safaris. Khem - a committed bachelor, is a well travelled man and a world citizen, greatly committed to the conservation of the fragile ecology of our planet. All in all, the man most qualified to lead you on your adventure from the plains of Marwar to the hills of Mewar.
Minimum riding ability
Minimum riding ability
Weight limit: 85 kilos, 187 lbs, 13.3 st.
Pace
Tacking ability and participation
Trip conditions and Requested experience
Visiting a new country offers the opportunity to meet other cultures with different mentalities, therefore it is important to accept these differences and respect the local way of life.
Equestrian equipment
We recommend a seat saver be taken with you and the grooms will happily put it in place.
We recommend our riders to wear a helmet to the correct standard and you should bring your own to ensure a proper fit.
Travel info
Comfort
Meals
Contrary to popular belief, all Hindus are not vegetarians and strict vegetarianism is limited to the south. However, you are unlikely to be served beef steak as the cow is sacred. You can expect to eat either goat or chicken.
Water:
Take care and do not drink water unless it out of a bottle. It is better to buy mineral water when staying in the towns. The water you will be offered along the trail will be treated.
There will be limited alcohol to purchase and a variety of soft drinks.
Climate
The rides are scheduled for the cooler months and at this time the maximum temperature would be around 24°C during the day. Please be mindful that evenings can be cool (c. 5°C) and you should bring a warm sweater and be prepared for a chilly morning just in case there is a snow fall in the Himalayas as the temperature does drop suddenly at times. When camping, the nights can be cold are felt much more and you are advised to bring warm clothes for sleeping.
Tips
Be careful not to tip too much - being overly generous can affect the general standard of living and destablise the local economy. If children earn more money than their fathers by begging or asking for money for photos then this can create major distortions within the family.
Packing list
Please note luggage allowance:
Air India: 25 kgs checked bags, 7 kgs cabin bags
Indigo Airlines: 15 kgs checked bags, 7 kg cabin bags.
Head
- Equus Journeys strongly recommend that you wear a riding helmet and that you take your own to ensure a correct fit. There are many lightweight options available nowadays
- Sunhat for when not riding
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Wooly hat
- Buff or Bandana to protect against sand, sun and dust
Upper body
- Long sleeved shirts provide protection from the sun and are an extra layer
- T-shirts
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- A light waterproof jacket
Legs
- Lightweight, comfortable riding trousers or jodhpurs - we recommend riding in them at home before taking them on holiday to ensure they don't rub
- Casual trousers for the evenings.
- Swimsuit to enjoy the swimming pool of the hotels
Hands and Feet
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps. We don't recommend taking your favourite long leather boots in case they get damaged
- Trainers or equivalent light shoes for the evenings
- Socks
- Gloves - your hands are particularly exposed to the sun
Other useful items
- Towels - camping ones will both dry and pack more easily
- Small backpack 25-30 liters
- Camera and high capacity memory card. Spare battery
- Bumbag for carrying your camera and small items whilst riding
- Headtorch or small torch for moving around camp at night - bring spare batteries and bulbs
- Water bottle (2 litres or 2 x 1 litre)
- Swiss army knife
- Wet Wipes or equivalent (for when washing facilities aren't available)
- Toilet paper and a lighter to burn it with
- Small plastic bags for rubbish
- Ear plugs (for light sleepers)
In your hold luggage
- Any liquids, such as shampoo, moisturiser, deodorant unless they are less than 100ml and all bottles can fit in a small, clear, plastic ziplock bag. We recommend biodegradable washing products where possible.
- Swiss army knife (or equivalent)
In your hand luggage
- Any valuables, such as your camera, ipod, ipad etc.
- Travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes is highly recommended - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!
Medical kit
- Any medication you regularly take
- Sunscreen and lip balm - should be high factor
- Insect repellent, preferably containing deet
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs
- Antiseptic cream, plasters, aspirin, anti-histamine, insect-bite salve etc...
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Eye drops
- Imodium or similar anti-diarrhoea medication
- Re-hydration sachets
- Water purification tablets
- Antiseptic wipes
- Handwash gel
Our Recommendations
- Please don't take a hard sided suitcase. Your luggage should be soft sided with a capacity of about 80 litres. We recommend taking a backpack or similar.
- Backpacks cannot be worn whilst riding.
- We recommend a small bumbag or a coat with pockets so that you can carry small items with you during the day (camera, sunscreen, lipbalm etc) and whilst riding.
- We recommend travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes in your hand luggage - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride.
- We recommend taking a copy of your passport and insurance documents with you in case you lose your originals
- Please take your rubbish home with you. There are no recycling facilities in Rajasthan, so take your used batteries, aerosols etc back home and dispose of them appropriately. Try to leave excess packaging material at home before travelling
Sustainable tourism
- Travel light. It's a little known fact, but the lighter you pack, the better for the environment as heavy bags will produce higher emissions (when flying a plane or driving a car!).
- Reduce plastic waste. Take your favorite reusable bottle with you. Avoid single-use bags, cups, or straws.
- Preserve nature. Always take your rubbish with you during the ride and recycle them. Leave all the flowers or plants as you found them, and never get too close when observing wildlife. Make sure to use eco-friendly products such as body wash or laundry detergent (if camping) to protect both your skin and the environment.
- Choose your experiences carefully. Respect animal life by not participating in any activities that abuse wild animals (shows, elephant rides, etc.).
- Support local populations. Buy local handicrafts, be respectful of customs, and learn about the culture of local communities.
- Share! Raise awareness among your family and friends about sustainable tourism.
Did you know?
Did you know?
The Pushkar Fair also known as the Pushkar Camel Fair is a colorful and vibrant display of unique exhibitions, competitions and events. The Fair takes place every year between the months of October and November in the town of Pushkar. The festivities last as long as seven days and it is known as one of the world's largest cattle fairs. The fair brings together more than 200.000 visitors from all over the world. The crowds gather around the banks of the Pushkar Lake where men trade livestock like camels, horses, cows, sheep and goats.
Even though the Pushkar fair is primarily held to showcase the camels and livestock, the event in itself is an entire experience. And what better way than to experience it all during your riding holiday in Rajasthan! Itstarts off with a camel race followed up by songs, music and more exhibitions. Many events showcase Marwari decorated with beautiful ornaments and color pads while they dance to some traditional music.