An Adventure throughout India
15 days / November - April
Pricing: Pricing is based on group size and seasonality, please check with us to secure the best pricing.
Highlights:
• Spend several days whitewater rafting on the Ganges. We’ll be tackling several exciting Class II and Class III rapids.
• Indulge in a unique wildlife experience with a horseback safari.
• Partake in the famous opium ceremony, at your own discretion.
• Spend some time getting to know the fascinating Bishnoi people. Bishnois are fierce advocates for the environment and for wildlife. They are considered, by many, to be the first “conservationists” and you’ll get a rare glimpse into their compelling lifestyle.
Start Map
Day 1: ARRIVE IN DELHI
You are met upon your arrival in Delhi and escorted to your hotel.
Day 2: DELHI
Spend the morning recovering from jetlag before an afternoon guided tour of the city.
Day 3: DELHI TO AGRA TO DELHI
In the early morning, take the Shatabdi Express Train to Agra where you will be your personal guide. Take a tour of the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 as the new capital of his kingdom before being abandoned due to scarcity of water. The tour includes some truly impressive buildings: the Jama Masjid, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal, and several Palaces. After lunch, tour Agra Fort and the stunning Taj Mahal. The historic Agra Fort, built along the Yamuna River, offers a glimpse into the world of the 16th-century Mughals. Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj, was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb, at the Agra Fort in a room where he had a clear view of the building he had made in the memory of his wife. Shah Jahan is said to have eventually died in this room in the Agra Fort. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This stunning monument, designed by Persian architect Ustad Isa, is noted for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens, and some of the world’s most magnificent inlay work. Return to your hotel in Delhi by train.
Day 4: DELHI TO HARIDWAR TO CAMP
We’ll catch the Dehradun Shatabdi Express train to Haridwar and then drive to the camp at Shivpuri village, just upstream from Rishikesh. Get settled in and oriented and then spend the afternoon relaxing.
Day 5: AT CAMP
Enjoy a yoga session before breakfast. Then have your first taste of rafting on the Ganges. After lunch in camp, take a walking tour of the fascinating town of Rishikesh, the spiritual birthplace of yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda.
Day 6: AT CAMP
Enjoy a yoga session before breakfast. Then we drive to Devprayag, the confluence of two sacred rivers, the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda. Both the rivers merge here to form the Holy Ganges. People gather along the roadside to watch as we head into the white water, just above the confluence. We take a holy dip in the river and commence our rafting. We’ll enjoy lunch en route on an isolated beach by the river and then enjoy some easy rafting in wide stretch for the next 30 kilometers.
Day 7: AT CAMP
Enjoy a yoga session before breakfast. Then we tackle some exciting Class II and Class III rapids like “Three Blind Mice,” “Black Money,” and “Crossfire.” We might even try some bodysurfing. We conclude our rafting session at Shivpuri and drive back to the base.
Day 9: HARIDWAR TO DELHI TO JODHPUR
Catch the Jan Shatabdi train to Delhi and spend the afternoon at your leisure in your hotel. After dinner, we’ll catch the overnight Mandor Express train to Jodhpur.
Day 10: JODHPUR TO ROHETGARH
Your guide will pick you up at the railway station and drive you to Rohetgarh, the fortified desert home of the descendants of the 16th century Rathore of the Champawat clan, Thakur Dalpat Singh I. After a quick wash and change, followed by breakfast, we’ll take a jeep safari tour and explore the villages around the area. After lunch at the fort, we’ll head out to the stables and get to know our horses!
Day 11: ROHETGARH TO CAMP AT KHANDI
After breakfast, we set out for a full safari through areas inhabited by the Bishnoi. At Bishnoi Dhani, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch and spend some time with the Bishnoi people and the local village craftsmen. Bishnois fight for wildlife and environment with a vengeance. They are considered the oldest conservationists and their lifestyle is very intriguing. Along the route we also get glimpses of various species of desert wildlife, like the blue bull (one of Asia’s largest antelopes), gazelles, desert foxes, and hares, along with partridges, sand grouses, and peacocks.
Day 12: CAMP AT KHANDI
We spend the day on a safari of the area, complete with a picnic lunch at Sari Ki Dhaniwe.
Day 13: CAMP AT KHANDI TO ROHETGARH
We set out for a full-day horseback safari. En route to Rohetgarh, we shall visit Dhoondli, a local village, and partake in the famous opium ceremony. After lunch at Dhoondli Lake and an afternoon exploring the area, we reach Rohetgarh.
Day 14: ROHETGARH TO JODHPUR TO DELHI
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we drive to Jodhpur and explore the capital city of the Rathore clan of Marwar. We will also visit the grand Meherangarh Fort, the old city, and Jaswant Thanda, an imposing marble monument, built in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II in 1899. In the evening, we’ll board the overnight Mandor Express train back to Delhi.
Day 15: DELHI AND DEPARTURE
You will disembark your train in the morning and we will bring you to your hotel to wash and change. You can spend the day exploring the city or shopping before dinner and departing to board your return plane.
Solar Energy.
To decrease our dependence on direct energy sources, we will try to use the power of sun to provide us with energy, our hot water, and some of our cooking needs.
Wormy - Composting
To make efficient and hygienic disposal of organic waste, we are using a process of decomposition by worms which is efficient, odorless, and provides us with rich organic fertilizers for our organic farming on site.
Organic Farming
Much of the fresh vegetables on this trip will come from the organic farm at the Lodge. One can see a variety of vegetables and fruits being cultivated. Guest are welcome to take a tour.
Medicinal Plant Garden
Some lodges will have an onsite nursery of indigenous medicinal herbs, providing an astonishing insight to how seemingly unimportant plants hold secrets of health.
Astronomy
As the sun sets and a galaxy of stars emerges, we will begin our star gazing session.