The Marwari Ride

Palace to Palace Ride: 8 days, 7 nights (4 riding days)

Starting by exploring Udaipur and the dramatic Kumbhalgarh Fort, the journey continues on horseback through forested hills before a night at the atmospheric Ghanerao Rawla, a living 17th-century Rajput palace. From there, the trail winds through Aravalli villages, plains and volcanic rock formations, visiting a striking marble temple and boutique stays before culminating at mighty Mehrangarh Fort, the vast Citadel of the Sun towering above Jodhpur.

*A special edition of this ride runs over New Years which includes an unforgettable night of celebrations on New Year’s Eve.

Day 1: Arrival in Udaipur

Arrive in Udaipur and settle into one of India’s most romantic cities, set beside shimmering Lake Pichola and framed by the wooded Aravalli Hills. In the late afternoon, take a gentle boat ride across the lake as palaces, temples and havelis glow in the shifting light, offering a first glimpse of Rajasthan’s layered beauty.
Overnight: Hotel in Udaipur

Day 2: Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh

Spend the morning exploring Udaipur’s old city, where rose- and cream-hued architecture unfolds from the lakeshore inward through a maze of lively lanes, temples and markets. Visit the magnificent City Palace, gazing across the water to the fairy-tale Lake Palace, before driving north into the Aravalli ranges to Kumbhalgarh.
Overnight: Hotel in Kumbhalgarh

Day 3: Kumbhalgarh Fort & First Ride

This morning is dedicated to awe-inspiring Kumbhalgarh Fort, dramatically perched high in the Aravalli Hills and famed for its vast defensive walls that snake across the ridgelines. Late morning, meet your Marwari horses and begin riding through the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, following shaded forest paths, crossing small rivers and riding quietly through wildlife-rich woodland toward Ghanerao. A late picnic lunch is enjoyed en route.
By afternoon, arrive at the magnificent Ghanerao Rawla, a 17th-century Rajput castle still home to the local royal family, rich in marble, red sandstone and living history.
Overnight: Ghanerao Castle

Day 4: Ride to Ranakpur

Ride through villages and open plains beneath the Aravalli Hills, stopping for a relaxed picnic lunch before reaching Ranakpur and visiting its extraordinary marble Jain temple, renowned for its intricate carvings and serene atmosphere.
Overnight: Hotel in Ranakpur

Day 5: Ride to Jodha Stud

Today’s ride traces the base of the Aravalli Hills toward Shobhawas, passing rural farmsteads and smooth volcanic rock formations. A shaded picnic lunch breaks the day before arriving at Jodha Stud, the horses’ home, beautifully set beside a riverbed and often referred to as a ‘palace for horses’.
Overnight: Jodha Stud

Day 6: Ride to Narlai

Ride past lakes and villages to the village of Narlai, where you farewell your horses and settle into the exquisite Rawla Narlai, a lovingly restored 17th-century hunting lodge once favoured by the Jodhpur royal family. Each room is unique, blending original character with refined comfort.
Overnight: Rawla Narlai

Day 7: Jodhpur & Mehrangarh Fort

Depart early by road for Jodhpur, arriving in time to explore the colossal Mehrangarh Fort. Rising dramatically above the city, this immense red sandstone citadel is one of Rajasthan’s most impressive strongholds, its palaces, courtyards and museum offering a powerful finale to the journey.
Overnight: Hotel in Jodhpur

Day 8: Departure from Jodhpur

After breakfast, depart for your onward destination, carrying with you a deeply immersive journey through Rajasthan’s landscapes, horses, history and living culture.

Le Grand Tour: 13 days, 12 nights (9 riding days)

This holiday combines the Leopard Trail and the Palace to Palace ride into a 13-day deep dive into Rajasthan. Starting in Udaipur, you’ll take in Kumbhalgarh Fort, the forests, lakes, villages and foothills outlined in the Leopard Trail (and of course the big cats themselves) before visiting the marble temple at Rankapur, Ghanerao Rawla (where you’ll also spend the night), various villages and stately hotels, and Mehrangarh Fort.

*A special edition of this ride runs in late February/early March, coinciding with Holi – the Festival of Colours. It includes two incredible celebrations: Holika Dahan (a special dinner with a bonfire, religious rites and prayers, traditional music and performances) and Rangwali Holi, the famous free-for-all, explosive colour festival!

Day 1: Arrival in Udaipur

Arrive in Udaipur and settle beside shimmering Lake Pichola, framed by the wooded Aravalli Hills. In the late afternoon, take a gentle boat ride as palaces, temples and havelis glow in the changing light, offering a romantic introduction to Rajasthan.
Overnight: Hotel in Udaipur

Day 2: Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh

Spend the morning exploring Udaipur’s old city, from the lakeside grandeur of the City Palace to its lively inner lanes of temples, homes and markets. In the afternoon, drive north into the Aravalli ranges to Kumbhalgarh.
Overnight: Hotel in Kumbhalgarh

Day 3: Kumbhalgarh Fort & First Ride

Visit imposing Kumbhalgarh Fort, dramatically perched high in the Aravalli Hills and famed for its extraordinary mountain-hugging walls. Late morning, meet your horses and begin riding through the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, following shaded forest trails, crossing small rivers and riding quietly toward Ghanerao. A late picnic lunch is enjoyed en route before arriving at Muthana Lake at dusk.
Overnight: Camp

Day 4: Ride to Dantiwara Lake

A full day in the saddle riding through villages and across open plains beneath the Aravalli Hills, stopping for a relaxed picnic lunch before reaching camp beside peaceful Dantiwara Lake.
Overnight: Camp

Day 5: Bali Forest

Ride southwest along the foothills toward Perwa, passing rural farmsteads and villages and weaving through smooth volcanic rock formations. A long, shaded picnic lunch punctuates the day.
Overnight: Camp near Bali Forest

Day 6: Jawai Bandh

Continue riding into the wild heart of Jawai Bandh, a raw and beautiful landscape of granite outcrops, scrub and winding sand rivers where leopards roam freely.
Overnight: Camp

Day 7: Jawai: Leopards & Landscapes

A morning ride explores Jawai’s hills and grasslands, shared by Rabari herdsmen, abundant birdlife and elusive leopards. In the evening, head out by jeep for a leopard safari, offering another chance to spot these remarkable cats among the granite formations.
Overnight: Camp

Day 8: Ranakpur

Enjoy a morning ride before transferring by road to visit the extraordinary marble Jain Temple at Ranakpur, renowned for its intricate 15th-century carvings and serene atmosphere.
Overnight: Hotel in Ranakpur

Day 9: Ride to Ghanerao

Ride through plains and villages to the striking Ghanerao Rawla, a 17th-century Rajput castle still home to the local royal family. Rich in marble, red sandstone and living history, it offers a deeply atmospheric stay.
Overnight: Ghanerao Castle

Day 10: Ride to Jodha Stud

Ride along the base of the Aravalli Hills toward Shobhawas, passing farmsteads and volcanic rock formations. A shaded picnic lunch breaks the day before arriving at Jodha Stud, the horses’ home, beautifully set beside a riverbed.
Overnight: Jodha Stud

Day 11: Ride to Narlai

Ride past lakes and villages to Narlai, where you farewell your horses and settle into the elegant Rawla Narlai, a restored 17th-century hunting lodge once favoured by the Jodhpur royal family, now a refined boutique stay.
Overnight: Rawla Narlai

Day 12: Jodhpur & Mehrangarh Fort

Depart early for Jodhpur and spend the afternoon exploring mighty Mehrangarh Fort. Rising dramatically above the city, this vast red sandstone citadel is one of Rajasthan’s most impressive and best-preserved forts.
Overnight: Hotel in Jodhpur

Day 13: Departure from Jodhpur

After breakfast, depart for your onward destination, having journeyed deeply through Rajasthan’s landscapes, horses, wildlife and living history.

Horse Fairs & Leopard Trail: 12 days, 11 nights (8 riding days)

**NB: Daytime temperatures will be HOT at circa 40 degrees Celcius/104 Fahrenheit.

Day 1: Arrival in Jodhpur

Arrive in Jodhpur and check in to your hotel before an afternoon visit to the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort. Rising dramatically above the city, this vast red sandstone citadel is one of Rajasthan’s most powerful landmarks, its palaces, courtyards and museum offering a stirring introduction to the region.
Overnight: Hotel in Jodhpur

Day 2: Jodhpur to Balotra Fair

Depart Jodhpur by minibus and travel west to the Balotra Fair, settling into camp on arrival. In the evening, enjoy a ride around the fairgrounds as traders and travellers gather with horses, camels and cattle from across Rajasthan and neighbouring states, creating a scene that feels largely untouched by tourism.
Overnight: Camp

Day 3: Balotra Fair

Ride early to the fair, dismounting to explore the stalls and tents with a guide, before returning to camp for lunch and rest during the heat of the day. As evening falls, head back into the fair to experience its colour, movement and atmosphere at its liveliest.
Overnight: Camp

Day 4: Balotra to Kumbhalgarh

Travel by road to Kumbhalgarh and check in to your hotel before visiting the extraordinary Kumbhalgarh Fort. Set high among thirteen mountain peaks, this immense 15th-century fortress is famed for its vast defensive walls and dramatic setting in the Aravalli ranges.
Overnight: Hotel in Kumbhalgarh

Day 5: Kumbhalgarh to Narlai

Begin your horse safari with a full day’s ride through the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary and Ghanerao Forest, following shaded trails, crossing small rivers and riding quietly through wildlife-rich woodland. A picnic lunch is enjoyed en route before arriving in Narlai.
Overnight: Hotel in Narlai

Day 6: Godwar Horse Fair

Spend the morning at the opening procession and celebrations of the local Godwar Horse Show, followed by an afternoon immersed in the fair itself, with the option to take part in traditional horse and gymkhana games. In the evening, transfer to Muthana Lake and settle into camp.
Overnight: Camp

Day 7: Godwar Fair to Dantiwara Lake

Return to the Godwar Fair in the morning for festival visits and temple celebrations, where colour, sound and local life combine in unforgettable fashion. In the afternoon, ride on to Dantiwara Lake, reaching camp as the light softens.
Overnight: Camp

Day 8: Bali Forest

A full day’s ride takes you southwest along the base of the Aravalli Hills toward Bali, passing villages, farmsteads and smooth volcanic rock formations. A long, shaded picnic lunch punctuates the journey.
Overnight: Camp near Bali Forest

Day 9: Jawai Bandh

Ride onward into the wild landscape of Jawai Bandh, where granite outcrops, scrubland and winding sand rivers form prime leopard habitat.
Overnight: Camp

Day 10: Jawai: Leopards & Landscapes

A morning ride explores Jawai’s hills and grasslands, shared by Rabari herdsmen, flamingos, cranes and elusive leopards. In the evening, head out on a jeep safari for another chance to spot these remarkable cats among the granite formations.
Overnight: Camp

Day 11: Jawai to Udaipur

Depart by road for Udaipur and check in to your hotel before a relaxed afternoon boat ride on Lake Pichola, gliding past palaces and havelis framed by the Aravalli Hills.
Overnight: Hotel in Udaipur

Day 12: Departure from Udaipur

Thar Desert Ride: 7 days, 6 nights (4 riding days)

Beginning and ending in Jodhpur, this week-long ride pairs time at mighty Mehrangarh Fort with four unforgettable days riding through the vast Thar Desert, ancestral home of the Marwari horse and a landscape rich in wildlife and hidden history. From Mathania, the trail passes desert hamlets, the temple-strewn oasis of Osian and the village of Khichan, where tens of thousands of migratory demoiselle cranes gather each winter.

Day 1: Arrival in Jodhpur

Arrive in Jodhpur and transfer to your hotel before an afternoon exploring mighty Mehrangarh Fort. Rising dramatically above the city on a sheer cliff, this vast red sandstone citadel is one of Rajasthan’s most extraordinary landmarks, its palaces and courtyards rich with history and atmosphere. A wander through Jodhpur’s lively markets and central clock tower area completes your introduction to the Blue City.
Overnight: Hotel in Jodhpur

Day 2: Mathania & Introductory Ride

A short road transfer brings you to your desert tented camp at Mathania, where you’ll meet your Marwari horses and settle in. After lunch in camp, enjoy a relaxed afternoon trial ride to begin building your partnership with your horse and get a feel for the desert terrain.
Overnight: Tented camp (ensuite tents)

Day 3: Mathania to Osian

Ride northwest across the dunes toward Osian, passing small mud huts and desert hamlets as the vastness of the Thar opens up around you. A picnic lunch and midday rest break the journey before riding on to camp near historic Osian, an oasis town famed for its beautifully weathered Brahmanical and Jain temples dating back to the 8th–11th centuries.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 4: Osian to Hacra

Today you ride deeper into the dunes, through classic desert scenery of thatched-roof huts, acacia scrub and open sands. Wildlife sightings may include nilgai and blackbuck as you continue toward your camp near the hamlet of Hacra, where an evening visit with a local desert guide offers insight into the land and its history.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 5: Hacra to Cullu

A full day riding north through deeper sand showcases the stamina and surefootedness of your Marwari horse, bred for exactly this environment. Riding here, in the heart of the Marwar region, brings a powerful sense of connection between horse, land and history.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 6: Cullu to Khichan

Your final day in the saddle makes the most of wide-open sands, now ridden with confidence and rhythm after days together with your horse. Arrive at Khichan, famous for its winter influx of demoiselle cranes migrating from Mongolia, and known too for its finely carved merchant havelis.
Overnight: Khichan

Day 7: Departure from Jodhpur

After breakfast, say goodbye to your horses and transfer by road back to Jodhpur for onward connections, carrying with you a deeply immersive journey through the Thar Desert and the ancestral home of the Marwari horse.

Magical Marwar Ride: 13 days, 12 nights (7 riding days)

Bringing together the Leopard Trail and Thar Desert itineraries, the Magical Marwar tour also includes the vivid, chaotic spectacle that is Pushkar Fair. One of India’s biggest livestock fairs, it’s a cacophany of camels, horses, cattle, music, dancing, games and costumes. With your guides, you’ll get in amongst the bartering, chai sipping, tug-of-warring, performing, racing, shopping, whinnying and nickering. Fun fact: one of the main events is the ‘longest moustache’ competition!

Day 1: Arrival in Udaipur

Arrive in Udaipur by midday and transfer to your hotel before a sunset boat ride across Lake Pichola, framed by palaces and the wooded Aravalli Hills. As night falls, the city comes alive with Diwali fireworks, lamps and celebrations, offering a rare and unforgettable way to experience India’s Festival of Lights.
Overnight: Hotel in Udaipur

Day 2: Udaipur to Narlai

Spend the morning exploring the magnificent City Palace and browsing Udaipur’s markets before a lunchtime road transfer to Narlai. After a quick check-in at elegant Rawla Narlai, meet your Marwari horses for a gentle late-afternoon trial ride to Jodha Stud, where a home-cooked Rajasthani dinner is served in the atmospheric stable complex.
Overnight: Rawla Narlai

Day 3: Ride to Dantiwara Lake

Begin your horse journey with a full day riding through villages and across the open plains of the Aravalli Hills, stopping for a relaxed picnic lunch before reaching your lakeside camp at Dantiwara.
Overnight: Tented camp (ensuite)

Day 4: Bali Forest

Ride southwest toward Perwa in the Bali Forest, passing rural farmsteads and weaving through smooth volcanic rock formations. A long, shaded picnic lunch breaks the day before arriving back at camp.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 5: Jawai Bandh & Leopards

An early start offers the chance to spot leopards before breakfast, followed by a ride onward to wild Jawai Bandh, a dramatic landscape of granite outcrops, scrub and winding sand riverbeds. In the late afternoon and evening, head out by jeep in search of leopards among the rocks.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 6: Jawai to Jodhpur

Transfer by road to Jodhpur and check in to your hotel before an afternoon exploring mighty Mehrangarh Fort, rising sheer above the Blue City. The evening is free for market wandering and browsing antique warehouses.
Overnight: Hotel in Jodhpur

Day 7: Mathania to Osian

A short drive brings you to Mathania, where you reunite with your Marwari horses and ride northwest across pink granite landscapes toward the edge of the Thar Desert. Passing hamlets and farmsteads, pause for a picnic lunch and siesta before continuing to camp near historic Osian.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 8: Osian to Hacra

Ride deeper into the dunes, through classic desert scenery of thatched huts, acacia scrub and open sands. Wildlife sightings may include nilgai, chinkara gazelle and mongoose as you arrive at camp near the hamlet of Hacra.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 9: Hacra to Cullu

A full day riding north through deeper sand highlights the stamina and surefootedness of your Marwari horse, bred for this very landscape in the heart of the Marwar region.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 10: Cullu to Khichan

Your final day in the saddle makes the most of open terrain and the strong partnership built with your horse. Arrive at Khichan, famed for its winter gathering of thousands of migratory demoiselle cranes, and farewell your horses as they travel home for a well-earned rest.
Overnight: Kurja Resort, Khichan

Day 11: Khichan & Pushkar Camel Fair

Visit the nearby bird feeding grounds early this morning before driving to Pushkar. As the Pushkar Camel Fair unfolds, explore the vast fairgrounds in the cooler hours, then climb the hill at sunset to watch ‘cow dust time’ settle over one of India’s great spectacles.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 12: Pushkar Camel Fair

Spend the day immersed in the colour, energy and scale of the Pushkar Camel Fair, where thousands of camels, horses and cattle are traded and pilgrims gather to bathe in the holy lake ahead of the full moon.
Overnight: Tented camp

Day 13: Departure from Jaipur

Transfer by road to Jaipur, with time for lunch and last-minute shopping before continuing to the airport for onward departure, closing an extraordinary journey through Rajasthan’s festivals, horses and desert landscapes.