- discover contrasting cultures
- learn about the desert people of Rajasthan
- enjoy warm hospitality in authentic, welcoming guesthouses
- travel by camel to an overnight camp in the desert
- visit forts and palaces of the Maharajas
- combine with any of our Himalayan holidays
Rajasthan is the ‘Land of Kings’ – of fabled palaces and forts, and of cities rich in history and bustling with life. It is also synonymous with the tranquillity and mysterious beauty of the Thar Desert, which was created, so legend goes, by the falling of an arrow shot by Rama, and is characterised by vast horizons, camel trains and fairs, demoiselle cranes and other wildlife in abundance. Thus Rajasthan is a region of great contrasts, exhibiting the richness and creativity of both man and nature. This holiday gives a wonderful sense of all this, taking you from the fabulous world of the Rajput Maharajahs right into the heart of desert communities – or dhani – where life among the dunes is simple but surprisingly diverse.
The sheer opulence and grandeur of the forts and palaces of the Maharajas stand in contrast to the simplicity of the unassuming people who carve out a precarious existence amid the seemingly endless - yet beautiful - sands of the Thar Desert.
Your adventure begins in Jodhpur, dominated by the formidable Mehrangarh Fort, beneath which lies a jumble of blue-painted houses. From here, you journey to the edge of the Thar Desert to experience a very different side of Rajasthan. Here, in a largely untouched area of gently undulating semi-desert, lie the scattered houses of Hacra, between which roam herds of goats, cows and camels. Hacra is also home to a warmly hospitable people who live in harmony with – and great sensitivity towards – their surrounding landscape. You may encounter farmers harvesting watermelons or repairing camel saddles, hear musicians playing traditional songs, or see peacocks, blackbuck or the odd gazelle sauntering through the undergrowth. After a memorable camel safari during which you spend a night under the stars in a tented camp, you finish your adventure in Jaipur, whose grand palaces and noisy bazaars again highlight the sharp contrasts of this magnificent region.
> Learn how this holiday benefits the desert communities