Accommodation
Hotels/heritage properties (13 nights), overnight camel safari (1 night).
Transport
Plane, air-conditioned train, private bus/vehicle, taxi, auto rickshaw, cycle rickshaw, camel, walking.
Meals
14 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners.
Staff
All operator group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. operator endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.
Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At operator we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit - and who better to hear it from than the locals themselves? If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Optional Activities
We list the following optional activities for your information. This is not an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only.
They are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by operator nor included in price of this trip. If you do any of them, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and does not form part of your contract with operator.
Red Fort, Delhi - INR100
Qutab Minar, Delhi - INR250
Taj Mahal additional visits, Agra - INR750
City Palace complex, Jaipur - INR300
Folk Lore Museum, Jaisalmer - INR10
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur - INR1,500
Palm reading, Jodhpur - INR150
Cooking class, Udaipur - INR250
Ayurvedic Massage, Udaipur - INR650
City Palace Museum, Jaipur - INR150
What To Bring
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking though, you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage (please see below for exceptions), and though you will not be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes) we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg/22lb.
Suitcases are not recommended for operatorlers! Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags with wheels are acceptable, although we recommend your bag has carry straps as well, as you may be required to negotiate bus and railway station steps. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day walks and day trips.The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments. Please avoid the purchase of bottled water by bringing a water purification method. Some of the options are:
- Refill from water dispensers when available at some of our accommodation.
- Water purification tablets available from camping stores or pharmacies.
- 2% tincture of iodine available from pharmacies - used at 4 drops per litre of water and left for at least 20 minutes. Longer in very cold weather.
- Personal water filters available from camping stores. (Bottles with filters built into the cap are lightweight and easy to use. Water is forced through the filter by squeezing the bottle as you drink.)
Blankets are provided on the camel safari and for the overnight train journey. Safety helmets are not provided for the camel safari, you may like to bring your own if this is an issue for you.
In India it is important that your bags can be locked as on the trains it may be necessary to store your luggage separately from the group. The smaller your bag in India the better, because on trains or buses only smaller bags will fit into the storage areas. If your bag does not fit in these areas then often the only place to put it is on your seat or on the roof. So to get maximum comfort, pack small and light!
Temperatures can be very low in the height of the winter months so bring a set of warmer clothes including thermal underclothes and fleece jackets.
During our trip there will be many opportunities for you to meet and "talk" with locals. One way to start any conversation is with pictures. We recommend that you bring some photos/postcards of your family, home, city or country where you live, animals peculiar to your country etc.
Please bring a photocopy of your passport main page and airline ticket if you will require airline reconfirmation at the end of your trip.
Checklist
The following checklist is to be used as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete packing list. Any other items that you wish to pack are at your own discretion however you should attempt to comply with the suggested luggage weight limit.
Travel documents: passport, visas, travel insurance certificate, air tickets, operator voucher
Health requirements arranged
Money: traveller's cheques/cash/credit card and money pouch
Day pack to carry your personal needs during the day
First aid kit
Medication/prescriptions (it is a good idea to have a doctors letter if you are carrying a large amount of medication), travel sickness tablets if required
Prescription glasses and contact lens solution if required
Alarm clock
Torch/flashlight
Travel plug/international adapter
Insect repellent
Refillable water bottle and water purification method
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
Swimming costume
Lightweight travel towel
Ear plugs/eye mask
Comfortable walking shoes
Local language phrase book
Camera, film and/or memory cards with spare batteries
Personal audio player with spare batteries
Raincoat/umbrella
Waterproof jacket
Warm clothes for the cooler nights all year round
Warmer clothes in winter including thermal underwear, fleece jacket, warm hat and gloves (Dec-Feb)
Tampons can be difficult to buy in India
Lock for your bag
Group Size
Maximum of 12 travellers per group
Other Information
PLEASE NOTE: This trip starts at 13.00 (after lunch) on day 1. Please be ready for your group meeting.
The Taj Mahal in Agra is closed on Fridays.
Operator Remarks
Allow USD $290 for meals not included.