Horses – A beautiful selection of mostly Marwari riding horses, bred and sourced by Ajeet and indigenous to Rajasthan. They have the unusual characteristic of curly ears which can turn 180 degrees, they are usually 15hh to 16hh but as with most breeds today, they are increasing in size up to 17hh. They have a high, arched head carriage, they are extremely strong and fast paced, especially over the desert terrain. In addition to the normal gaits of the horse, they can also travel at great speed on a smooth gait called the Revall.

Level of riding and pace – Intermediate riders. The pace varies from walk through the villages to plenty of long canters in the sand later in the week. It is not fast riding, but the horses are sensitive and highly strung, so you need to be a confident rider and fit as you are riding 5-6 hours in the heat.

Day 1
Arrive Udaipur, late afternoon boat ride around Lake Pichola. Beside Lake Pichola, with the ochre and purple ridges of the wooded Aravalli Hills stretching away in every direction, Udaipur has a romance of setting unmatched in Rajasthan and arguably in all India. Fantastical palaces, temples, havelis and countless narrow, crooked, colourful streets add the human counterpoint to the city’s natural charms. Overnight: hotel at Udaipur.

Day 2
Morning sightseeing Udaipur. Udaipur is the city of cream, rose and honeysuckle hues. The huge, cupola-crowned City Palace lines the eastern shore of Lake Pichola, with its balconies gazing out at Udaipur’s other famous landmark, the Lake Palace – a fairy-tale confection that seems to float on the lake’s waters, gleaming by day and spotlit by night. Eastward, away from the lake shore, extends a tangled inner city of lanes lined with homes, temples, shops and businesses that is fascinating to explore. Afternoon: Transfer by road North to Kumbhalgarh 2 hours. Overnight: hotel at Kumbhalgarh.

Day 3
Morning visit to Kumbhalgarh Fort. Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second most important fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh. This unconquerable fortress is secured under the kind protection of the Aravali ranges. Kumbhalgarh Fort was built by Maharana Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. Encircled by thirteen elevated mountain peaks, the fort is constructed on the topmost ridges around 1,914 meters above sea level. The fortifications of the fort extend to the length of 36 kilometres and this fact has made this fort to be in the international records. It is stated to be the second longest wall in the world, the first being ”the Great Wall of China”. The huge complex of the Fort has numerous palaces, temples and gardens making it more magnificent. 

Late Morning: Start Horse Safari. Meet your Marwari horses and ride slowly down through the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary and Ghanerao forest. We enter the sanctuary near Kumbhalgarh Fort and pick our way through the wood using old paths, crossing small rivers to the edge of the Ghanerao forest. The route is shaded and quiet, although harbours much wildlife – keep your eyes open, you never know which animals are watching you through the trees. Late picnic lunch en route. Standing watch over the small village of Ghanerao is the Ghanerao Rawla (castle). A magnificent showcase of Marble and Red sandstone Rajput Architecture built in 1606 that serves as the home of the royal family who still reside. There is a nostalgic air of past glory and of the royal lifestyle that the Thakurs led. The castle has 17 beautiful rooms, having their own quaint sit outs and verandas. A recent developing project of the museum is under away, where one can see the old elephant hodas and palkis which were used by the rulers when elephants and horses were the only means of travel. The House of Ghanerao has also been patron of the unique style Rajput miniature paintings. A School of Ghanerao Paintings is still functioning in the village employing local artists. Overnight: Ghanerao Castle.

Day 4
Full day ride to Ranakpur. Passing through villages and riding in the plains of the Aravalli hills, stopping for a picnic lunch, we visit the marble Jain Temple at Ranakpur, built in the 15th Century and with intricate carving this is one of the most spectacular Jain temples in Rajasthan. Overnight: hotel at Ranakpur.

Day 5
Full day ride to Kotri. We ride along the bottom of the Aravelli hills heading North East to Kotri. We pass villages and rural farmsteads, making our way through the volcanic smooth rock formations, stopping in the shade, or by a lake, for a picnic lunch and arriving at the 200 yr old heritage country seat at Kotri Castle, set amidst a farming village. Kotri Raola is a 200-year-old small fort palace where continuity with the past is still a norm. The village is located at the foot of Aravalli Hills and a 7th century archaeological site is nearby. Overnight: Kotri Castle.

Day 6
Full Day ride passing lakes and villages to arrive at the old haveli in the village of Narlai. Rawla Narlai is a delightful 17th century property, which was once a favourite hunting lodge of the Jodhpur Royal Family. It is still owned by members of the Jodhpur family who have invested vast amounts of time, money, love and care into restoring this little gem. Over the years it has transformed from a simple lodge into a stunning, stylish boutique hotel, albeit with all its original character and structure retained. The rooms are scattered all around the property and each varies significantly in shape, size and décor. Here we say goodbye to our horses. Overnight: hotel Rawla Narlai.

Day 7
Early morning departure for Jodhpur by road. Afternoon sightseeing Mehrangarh Fort. Mehrangarh Fort stands a hundred feet in splendour on a perpendicular cliff, four hundred feet above the skyline of Jodhpur. Burnished red sandstone, imposing, invincible and yet with a strange haunting beauty that beckons. Much has been written about the Citadel of the Sun, for truly, it is one of the most impressive in all Rajasthan.
So colossal are its proportions that Rudyard Kipling called it “the work of giants”. Today, it is acknowledged as one of the best-preserved fort in India. Overnight: hotel Jodhpur.

Day 8
After breakfast, departure for onward destination.

Please ask about

India is such an interesting place to experience, and we can easily arrange and recommend additional cultural highlights, like tours of Delhi and Mumbai and the beautiful monument of the Taj Mahal and the Amber fort in Jaipur.