Royal Rajasthan - Pushkar Fair
Across India’s Legendary Desert Kingdom
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $9495 see pricing |
|---|---|
| Length: | 13 days |
| Arrive: | Delhi, India |
| Depart: | Delhi, India |
| Lodging: | 7 nights fine hotels, 3 nights rail travel with private stateroom, 2 nights tented camp at Pushkar describe |
| Meals: | All meals included |
| Activity: | Walking, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
Overland travel with walking tours, cultural explorations
|
Highlights
- Attend the Pushkar Fair, an exuberant celebration of nomadic life
- Palace on Wheels, with staterooms on a private train
- Heritage accommodations in former maharajas’ palaces
- Sunrise visit to the legendary Taj Mahal, romantic city of Udaipur, the walled city of Jaipur
A wonderful collection of the luxurious and the romantic!Peter F.—Cambria, CA
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
Resources
Rajasthan is best described by its colors—the brilliant reds and bold yellows of tribal dress, the soft pinks of airy marble palaces, the tawny tones of the desert. Our adventure in this vibrant land features rail travel on the Palace on Wheels and a visit to Pushkar, an amazing place to be in November during the annual Pushkar Fair, a flamboyant gathering of desert tribes, camel traders, camels—and a riot of color, song, and dance. As we travel, we enjoy overnights in some of the most sought-after hotels in the world—including Udaipur’s Lake Palace and Jaipur’s Rambagh Palace, two extraordinary maharajas’ residences where we sample the royal life. The famed hilltop fortress at Amber, the evocative lost city of Fatehpur Sikri, and a sunrise pilgrimage to the Taj Mahal add to this unforgettable taste of India.
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary
Itinerary below is for the November 2013 Pushkar Fair Departures. We also offer a Royal Rajasthan Nagaur Fair itinerary, call for more details.
Days 1-2
Delhi / Palace on Wheels
We explore New Delhi’s monuments, including the exquisitely detailed Humayan’s Tomb, a precursor to the Taj Mahal. In the afternoon of Day 2, we board the Palace on Wheels and settle into our en suite air-conditioned staterooms.
Days 3-4
Jaipur / Ranthambore / Palace on Wheels
The Palace on Wheels brings us to the “pink city” of Jaipur, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. After we explore Jaipur’s remarkable fortresses of pink sandstone, the train carries us to Ranthambore National Park, haunt of tiger, leopard, and sloth bear, for wildlife viewing.
Days 5-6
Udaipur
In Udaipur, one of the most romantic cities in the world, we explore its oasis of palaces, temples, parks, and royal courtyards, with overnights at the Lake Palace, the 250-year-old former summer palace of the Maharaja of Udaipur, a grand vision set in the middle of Lake Pichola.
Days 7-8
Pushkar Fair
At this festive gathering of nomads, we mingle among traditional singers, musicians, and acrobats and explore the lively Pushkar bazaar, with overnights at a superb tented camp.
Days 9-10
Jaipur / Bharatpur
After a magnificent overnight at Jaipur’s resplendent Rambagh Palace, former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, we continue to Bharatpur and Keoladeo National Park, a birder’s paradise.
Days 11-13
Fatehpur Sikri / Taj Mahal
We visit the ancient Mughal site of Fatehpur Sikri, then head to Agra for sunrise and sunset visits to the ethereal Taj Mahal. Continue to Delhi for flights home on Day 13.
For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary
Optional Extensions
If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:
- South India Extension: The Malabar Coast (4 days)
- Kanha National Park Extension (5 days)
- Varanasi and Khajuraho Extension (4 days)
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 1+, Easy. It is a comfortable, vehicle-based sightseeing trip. Accommodations include comfortable, modern hotels reflecting the traditional architecture of Rajasthan as well as former palaces and royal residences that have been converted into luxurious heritage hotels. At our tented camp at the Pushkar Fair, we sleep in Rajasthani-style air-conditioned tents furnished with cots and en suite facilities. Accommodations aboard the Palace on Wheels train are in air-conditioned twin staterooms with en suite facilities (toilet and shower). There are some long days of driving on rough, bumpy roads.
An optional early morning camel ride is offered at the Pushkar fair for an interesting “above the crowd” view of the activities as the day begins. Anyone participating in this optional activity must acknowledge the inherent dangers in riding and agree to accept any and all risks.
Please remember that travel in India is an intense experience. The essential requirements are flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity, enthusiasm about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.
Departures & Leaders
Nov 5-17, 2013 Devendra Basnet
Nov 6-18, 2013 Hashmat Singh
Oct 25-Nov 6, 2014
Trip Cost
Prices valid through Spring 2014
$9495 (14-16 members)
$9695 (10-13 members)
$9995 (7-9 members)
Single supplement: $3590
Forced single supplement: $3590
Internal airfare: $295 (subject to change) (November 6, 2013 departure only)
more on pricing
Extension Costs
South India Extension: The Malabar Coast
from: $2195
Kanha National Park Extension
from: $2195
Varanasi and Khajuraho Extension
from: $1295
Trip Cost Includes:
- Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
- Accommodations
- All meals included
- Ground transportation
- Airport transfers for passengers arriving on the evening of Day 1, departing evening of the last day of the trip or early morning (before 4am) the following day
Trip Cost Does Not Include:
International airfare, internal airfare, airport departure taxes, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, hotels en route to or on return from Delhi or additional hotel nights that may be necessary due to airline schedule changes or other factors, individual arrival/departure airport transfers, visa fees, cost of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).Taj Palace Hotel
Day 1 (1 night), Delhi, India
The prestigious Taj Palace Hotel is the perfect place to unwind after a long flight or a day’s exploration of Delhi. We appreciate it for its ...
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Palace on Wheels
Days 2 to 4 (3 nights), India
In years past, the rulers of Rajasthan’s princely states designed their own royal coaches to serve as “palaces on wheels” and ...
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Taj Lake Palace
Days 5 to 6 (2 nights), Udaipur, India
It’s not a stretch to say that the Lake Palace, the 250-year-old former summer palace of the Maharaja of Udaipur, is one of the world’s ...
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Camp Thar
Days 7 to 8 (2 nights), Pushkar, India
Set in the Thar Desert near Pushkar, where one of India’s captivating traditional livestock fairs takes place each year, Camp Thar offers ...
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Taj Rambagh Palace
Day 9 (1 night), Jaipur, India
Experience one of life’s rare treats—a stay at the Rambagh Palace, an authentic royal residence and a treasure of India, with its ...
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The Bagh Resort
Day 10 (1 night), Bharatpur, India
This country estate offers a serene setting and a historic ambience in its 21 rooms, located in five separate compounds. Gulmohar, the main ...
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ITC Mughal Agra
Days 11 to 12 (2 nights), Agra, India
The ITC Mughal Agra Hotel is a comfortable property set on 35 acres of lush gardens complete with two swimming pools and an excelelt spa. It ...
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Radisson Blu Airport Hotel
Day 13 (1 night), Delhi, India
This stylish business hotel is just a few miles from Delhi’s international airport, with comfortable rooms and all the services you’d ...
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Extension Accommodations
If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:
- South India Extension: The Malabar Coast (4 days)
- Kanha National Park Extension (5 days)
- Varanasi and Khajuraho Extension (4 days)
Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Our Trip Leaders
Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).
Devendra Basnet was born in the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, India, and makes his home in Kathmandu, Nepal. He studied Zoology in college in India and began his guiding career as a naturalist guide in Nepal’s wildlife-rich Royal Chitwan National Park. His zoology background has ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips
Hashmat Singh has led over 100 journeys on three continents for us since 1990. He holds a BA in History from Delhi University and is a noted photographer. His book, Trekking in the Himalaya (Roli Books), features photographic essays from Ladakh to Bhutan. Born an army brat, Hashmat traveled ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips
Optional Extensions
If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:
India
Kanha National Park Extension
Gameviewing in one of India’s Great Wildlife Reserves
Wildlife & Natural History
5 days
-
Level 2
South India Extension: The Malabar Coast
Cochin and a Cruise Along the Backwaters of Kerala
Cultural Adventures, Walking
4 days
-
Level 1+
Varanasi and Khajuraho Extension
Holy City Along the Ganges, Magnificent World-Famous Temples
Cultural Adventures
4 days
-
Level 1
Client Comments
A wonderful collection of the luxurious and the romantic!Peter F., Cambria, CA
It was a splendid experience all around. I did not want to come home.Elizabeth P., Santa Fe, NM
Great trip, great hotels (how can you not like staying in palaces), and a great itinerary with just enough down time.William B., Portland, OR
The camel fair went beyond anyone's expectations. It was an incredible experience!Donna B., Sacramento, CA





