Rajasthan on Enfield 26th Februry to 10th March
Rajasthan is the most typical and most visited state of India. Land of the Rajputs, the most feared warrior caste of the country that once ruled statewide impregnable fort and palaces and establishing strong independent kingdoms led by Maharajas. It is a state in which there are mixed desert landscapes, elephants, turbans, saris of many colors and old palaces, coming out of the A Thousand and One Night tales.
Bounded on the western edge of the Thar desert but with very diverse areas including the green Aravalis Mountains and the 1500m hight Mount Abu . The region has the best roads of all India. For two weeks, we will travel by motorcycle throught the Thar desert landscapes to arrive at the west end to the city fortressof Jaisalmer. From Jodhpur to Ranakpur to admire the architecture of its Hindu and Jain temples to reach Udaipur, the City of Lakes and whitewashed houses. In Pushkar, a holy city for the Hindus, we will get lost in the streets filled with pilgrims from around the country to make their offerings at the sacred lake of this typical village. Our journey will end at the Pink City of Jaipur where we will visit on elephant backs the ancient palace of Amber.
Some of the benefits of this trip will be donated to the NGO Amigos de Tara which helps children in Calcata and in Nepal and has a literacy programme for them. Tara School is in the neighborhood of the City of Joy, in Kolkata. Since 2007 Rakatanga Tour works and has donated more than 9000€ to this NGO in India which is equivalent to 30000€ in Europe . The amount of the donation will be given to NGOs at the end of the trip, depending on the number of participants.
To see our 2008 2009 trips with groups from Argentina, Spain, United Kingdom, France and Italy click here here
Programme
JOUR |
DATE Novembre |
ACTIVITY |
kms |
1 |
Saturday 13 |
Arrival of the flights to Delhi. Dinner with group. |
- |
2 |
Sunday 14 |
Delhi à Mandawa (Shekawati). |
260 |
3 |
Monday 15 |
Mandawa to Bikaner |
180 |
4 |
Tuesday 16 |
Bikaner to Jaisalmer. |
330 |
5 |
Wendday 17 |
Jaisalmer. Free day. |
- |
6 |
Thursday 18 |
Jaisalmer to Jodhpur. |
270 |
7 |
Friday 19 |
Jodhpur. Visit Ranakpur |
160 |
8 |
Saturday 20 |
Ranakpur to Udaipur . |
110 |
9 |
Sunday 21 |
Udaipur. Free day. |
- |
10 |
Monday 22 |
Udaipur vers Pushkar. |
280 |
11 |
Tuesday 23 |
Pushkar. Free day. |
- |
12 |
Wendday 24 |
Pushkar to Jaipur. |
145 |
13 |
Thursday 25 |
Jaipur. Free day. |
- |
14 |
Friday 26 |
Return to Delhi by mini-bus. End of the trip |
- |
Dates:
From 26th Februry to 10th March 2012. 14 days 13 nights (days 1-13 inclusive).
Arrival and meeting in Delhi on 26th Februry.
Price
- Price for motorbike driver: 1975€.
- Price for pillion passenger: 1675€. It is possible to make the trip as a pillion passenger or in the back-up vehicle.
The price includes:
• Hiring of the motorbike throughout the whole trip (500cc Enfield Bullet).
• Mid-range clean hotels. 13 nights (1 to 13 included).
• Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional 300€). (1)
• Food (breakfast and lunch ) water and tea during the trip and on the stops on the road.
• Trilingual guide (english, french spanish) with experience on this trip and a mechanic specialised on Enfields.
• Back-up vehicle and driver, to keep the luggage and provide assistance on the road.
• Spare parts, tools, first aid equipment and medicines.
• Petrol, tools and repairs and third party motorclycle insurance.
• Your contribution to Amigos de Tara NGO.
The price mentioned above does not include
• International airfares to/from Delhi (between 450€/800€ Europe departure).
• Your Indian Visa.
• Vaccines.
• Personal expenses like washing clothes, souvenirs or alcoholic drinks.
• Tips for the personnel on the trip, hotels and restaurants.
• Dinners except for day 1 and 13.
• Transfer from/to Delhi airport. (price of taxi between the airport and the hotel is 5 to 7€).
• Food and personal transport during the free days. Meals in India about 4 €
• Deposit of 200€ for the motorbike. The deposit will be fully refund at the end of the tour if no damage has been made on the motorbike.
The weather and clothing during the trip.
In November temperatures range around 28 degrees in the Rajasthan. Nights in the desert areas of Jaisalmer and Bikaner can be cool. At this time of year, we will have sunny days with very little chance of rain. During the day, it will be hot while driving so the ideal bike equipment will be summer type, with aerations. It is therefore advisable to bring high protection sunscreen, sunglasses and gloves. Bring a pair of warm gloves for early departures if you are sensitive to cold.
Motorcycle equipment: helmet (the better one adjustable), summer jacket, gloves, closed boots, and waterproof equipment for the rain (those two pieces of preference). A tank bag is very convenient to have the camera or small things at hand.
Road conditions and driving in India
If driving in India is not easy (the rules are not the same as ours), it is fast to get used to "local customs". Most of the roads in the region of Rajasthan are paved and in very good condition. We drive mostly on flat roads without too much problem even for less experienced bikers.
This circuit can be made by a rider with little experience as it is an easy ride on good roads.
India is an incredible country, full of magic, but it is not an easy country for those who do not have patience or are not used to the delays and the unforeseen situations. If you decide to join the group, I will ask you to be flexible with the possible delays and the unexpected situations due to the special conditions of the country. This type of motorbike adventures always has a share of risks of which you must be aware of, and accept before joining the group.
Being open minded with a good amount of humour is essential to be able to enjoy this trip to the maximum. A trip that you will almost certainly never forget.
The Royal Enfield Bullet
The Royal Enfield continues to be manufactured in the Indian factories of Madras after the closing of the head office in England in the Fifties.
There have been very few aesthetic and technical changes since then. It is a very solid motorbike with a legendary look and motor noise. With the gear box reversed and a 500cc engine, the Royal Enfield gives a pleasurable sense of a bygone time on the Indian roads. The Bullet is far from being a fast motorbike but it is the best adapted for the hard conditions of the roads in this part of the world.
Trip Details
Jour 1 Arrival of different flights to Delhi. Group meeting at the hotel, briefing (introduction to the country, driving in India and tour program). Dinner and night at the hotel.
Jour 2 We will meet the team who will assist us during the trip and first contact with the bikes that we will collect about 10 kms from Delhi. After practise to get used to them, we will set off to the Shewakati region. This region is strewn with abandoned "havelis" with a large number of frescoes on their walls. Overnight at Mandawa.
Jour 3 Departure to Bikaner and the first landscapes of the Thar desert in the background. Bikaner has a very impressive Fort that dominates the city that we visit after lunch upon our arrival. Overnight at the hotel.
Jour 4 Today we'll do the longest course of the trip: 330 kms separate us from the golden city of Jaisalmer. Our route then crosses the desert plains where we will cross the typical camels of the Thar desert. Jaisalmer city is the jewel of the desert of Rajasthan and was once one of the most important places through the Silk Road.
Jour 5 Free Day in Jaisalmer to get lost among it's narrow and labyrinth streets, filled with the most beautiful and delicate "havelis" of the country: authentic masterpieces that seem to be built in marquetry on the typical sandstone of this area.
Jour 6 Departure to Jodhpur, the blue city of Rajasthan. The houses of the old city are painted in blue, which at the time pointed out the houses of Brahmins (the priest caste, teachers and lawyers) the highest in Hindu society.
Jour 7 Early In the morning we visit the very impressive Meranghar Fort rose upon a rocky hill with magnificent views across the city. After lunch, we head towards the temples of Ranakpur, one of the most important shrines of Jain architecture. We spend the night next to the temple to attend the night ceremony .
Jour 8 Ranakpur to Udaipur. In the morning we leave to the beautiful City of Lakes. Ranakpur is at the begining fo the Aravalis Mountains, and is probably one of the most enjoyable roads of our journey. We pass through fields and villages full of traditional Rajasthani life visiting on the way the Kumbalgarh Fort, the only fort never conquered by the Mongols. From its heights we can admire the Aravalis Mountains. Afternoon arrival at Udaipur.
Jour 9 Free day to explore Udaipur and its lakes, palaces or simply wander through its streets with an amazing number of shops with Rajasthani miniature paintings. And if you are lucky enough, you could even meet an elephant on the street!!.
Jour 10 From Udaipur we will leave for the Hindu sacred city of Pushkar.
Day 11 Free day in Pushkar, a town famous for its camel fair and its sacred lake. A dramatic village for the photo amateurs, as it has a mixture of Sadhus (or holy men), rajasthani peasants dressed with typical turbans and women on saris full of colors. Pushkar is also a famous place to shop around for handicrafts from all over Rajasthan.
Day 12 Check in at the hotel. After lunch visit the Amber Palace on elephant, located ten kilometers from Jaipur. Back to the hotel for dinner and say goodbye to our bikes.
Day 13 Free day in Jaipur, everyone can choose to visit the City Palace, the ancient city with a large number of "havelis" or get lost in a bazaar where you can find the best gems and jewellery in the country. Jaipur est aussi renommée pour ses toiles et couvre-lits aux décors de motifs du Rajasthan imprimés à la main avec la technique de tampons de bois. Jaipur is also famous for his paintings and quilts on Rajasthani patterns printed by hand with the technique of wood stamps.
Day 14 Arrival in Delhi by mini car after midday. End the trip. Departures of flights at night.
Those who stay a few days longer in India visiting could visit Delhi, a city full of monuments, among which are the very impressive Great Mosque, the biggest in India, and the Red Fort. Those who prefer can go shopping, Delhi is a shopping paradise of all kinds. The Taj Mahal is located three hours by train from Delhi. It is quite easy to go and come back the same day.
Booking
In order to make a booking, it is necessary to pay a 500 € deposit. The deadline to be registered is on 15th january 2012.
To make a reservation please send an email and a form to fill in would be sent to you.
Contact :
If you have any questions, contact web site section.
By phone: 00 (33) 6 16 76 14 49
By post : Rakatanga Tour, 70 Bld de Clichy 75018-Paris, France.
- The inscriptions will be done by booking date order. That means that if you book at the last minute, you might perhaps have a single room option if there is no other person to share a double one. So the sooner you make your booking the more possibilities you will have to have a double room.
- It is compulsory to obtain travel insurance if you don't have one that goes with your credit card or your car/motorcycle insurance. This type of insurance covers medical expenses abroad and airplane repatriation in case of illness or accident. You will also need to bring your International Driving License .