Upon arrival at Jaipur airport, a private vehicle will transfer you to the accommodation in Samode.

Samode is a small feudal village located 1 hour from Jaipur. Nestled in the foothills of the oldest mountain range in the world, the Arravalis. Check into Samode Bagh, a Rajput- Mughal style walled garden with waterways and pavilions. Over seventy species of birds have been documented at the Bagh.

Check into your cottages with en suite bathrooms. At lunch, you will have a briefing to talk about all the adventures to come. Later in the afternoon, cycle to the nearby Samode Village and see the various artisans at work - potters, weavers, iron smiths, and jewel cutters!  Try your hand at bangle making or spinning the potter’s wheel. Visit the home of the village sarpanch (headman), who will speak to you about local village governance. Also, visit the local village temple deity for a traditional pooja (prayer) ceremony and to seek blessings.

Cycle further to the charming Samode Palace for a tour and enjoy high tea at the magnificent Durbar Hall. Cycle back to the Bagh. Dinner at Bagh.

Where to rest your head ?

Samode Bagh, Jaipur

Today, the adventure begins with a sunrise Balloon safari.

Take a safari over the Aravalli Mountains with spectacular views of hilltop forts & palaces, villages and the surrounding countryside.

After breakfast, hike up to the Monkey Temple and beyond, through dry river beds and ravines. This area was one of the locations for the shooting of the movie “The Far Pavilions” based on the book by MM Kaye. End your hike at a farm where you will interact with the local farmer and enjoy an interactive cookout, sharing a simple lunch with the farmer and his family. You will gather produce from the farm and cook alongside in traditional earthen pots, grind chutneys with stone pestles, churn chaash (buttermilk) from yogurt and learn to make Indian flatbread by hand on open wood fires! You also learn about small scale intensive farming.

In the evening enjoy 1 hr yoga session followed by a camp fire, barbeque dinner, and folk dances.

Where to rest your head ?

Samode Bagh, Jaipur

After early breakfast, a private vehicle will transfer you to Ranthambore.

En route, drive through the hilltop fort of Amer, following which, walk through the bustling colorful bazaars of the old city of Jaipur.

Lunch will be en route at Kanota Palace, the venue of the ‘club’ in the movie “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”.

After lunch, continue driving towards Ranthambore (4-hour journey). Check into the lodge, Dev Vilas, where you will be welcomed by your host Balendu Singh, the honorary chief wildlife warden of the park, who will take you through a brief orientation about tiger conservation and history of the park before dinner.

Where to rest your head ?

Hotel Dev Vilas, Ranthambore

After breakfast, proceed for a full day game drive to the national park.

After breakfast, explore the national park by taking a full day game drive.

To optimize the chances of seeing a tiger, you will depart for a full day game drive. This drive is limited to only 4 jeeps in the park, which allows you access across all zones of the park. You will be accompanied by an expert naturalist, driver and a forest guide.

Later, visit the local Women’s Cooperative “Dastkar”.

Dastakar, Ranthambore is a non-profit organization that produces handicrafts created by women from villages around the park. Founded in 1989, this was an effort to empower and provide income to villagers residing on the periphery of the National Park. Interact with the women, speak with them and watch them work.

Where to rest your head ?

Hotel Dev Vilas, Ranthambore

Early morning game drive into the park.

After a quick breakfast, a private vehicle will transfer you to Kota (3-hour drive).

After lunch, board a motorboat safari accompanied by an expert naturalist. Cruise upstream on the Chambal river up to the Jawahar Sagar Dam through scenic gorges and ravines. You will have an opportunity to view the Gharials, the rare long-nosed reptile endemic to Indian rivers. You will also see marshy crocodiles, otters, and many species of the turtles, abundant birdlife and the unique flora of the river valley.

Later, a private vehicle will transfer you to your accommodation in the medieval fortress of Bhainsorgarh, perched high above the river Chambal. Bhainsorgarh is an untouched rustic experience taking you back into time. Your hosts will welcome you and you will be assisted to your heritage rooms. This evening you will be served a traditional Rajasthani meal, cooked by the women of the royal household on the rooftop of the Fort overlooking the river.

Where to rest your head ?

Bhainsrorgarh Fort Hotel, Bhainsorgarh

Today, enjoy a full day of activity in Bhainsrorgarh.

Start your day before sunrise by walking down a steep gradient from the fort to the river bank. Board your boat and sail past the cenotaphs of the ancestors of the present royal family of Bhainsorgarh. Head downstream on the river Chambal and watch the sunrise bathe the fort, a golden glow and its reflection in the waters of the river giving you a fantastic photo opportunity. Past agricultural fields, the Chambal weaves its way through high cliffs and dense forests on both sides. You can dock and climb the cliff up to Shiva’s cave and meditate in gratitude on this bountiful paradise as the sun rises.

Get back on the boat and continue into this less explored territory. See abundant birdlife roosting on the cliffs darting to catch fish from the emerald green waters. Watch crocodiles emerge to bask in the morning sun. Take a short hike deeper along the river bed over rock boulders and crystal-clear water pools into the jungle as alarm calls of monkeys and peacocks warn you of unseen predators, probably watching you.

Return to the boat for a picnic breakfast and head downstream towards the dam, where you disembark and drive back to the fort. En route, visit the exquisite 9th-century Baroli temples.

Later in the morning, check out and drive for up to 40kms to a point from where you will start cycling for over 40kms to Pangarh camp. Cycle off the beaten track through jungles, past tribal villages, lakes and agricultural fields. En route, meet farmers perched on machans (platforms) in the middle of their fields to drive away birds or mammals from destroying their crop. Stop to rest and sit on a machan and share your packed lunch with a farmer and his family.

Carry on over the country roads and reach the campsite late afternoon. The Pangarh campsite provides basic tented accommodation with ensuite bathrooms with solar heated running hot water, on the banks of a pristine lake filled with lotus flowers overlooking the Pangarh Fort and temples. Check into your tented accommodation.

Before the sun sets, walk across and explore the ruins of the temples and fort of Pangarh.

Where to rest your head ?

Pangarh Lake Resort, Panagarh

Today, enjoy a morning yoga session on the banks of the lake.

After breakfast, enjoy the birdlife around the lake and walk through agricultural fields and explore the small local village.

After lunch, hop on to a cycle or enjoy a horse ride for 20km up to the Bijapur Castle. Check in and enjoy the day at leisure.

Where to rest your head ?

Castle Bijaipur, Bijaipur

After breakfast, cycle cross country for 30km, to the citadel of Rajput chivalry, the Chittorgarh Fort.

Explore the 10km spread-out complex filled with architectural gems of palaces, temples and the exquisite Victory tower. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. 

Later afternoon, a private vehicle will transfer you to the beautiful fairy tale city of lakes - Udaipur. Check in as the personal guests of the Maharana/King of Udaipur at the Fatehprakash Hotel overlooking the lake. The palaces were the location for the James Bond movie “The Octopussy”. Spend your evening exploring the town on your own and have dinner in one of the lake view restaurants.

Where to rest your head ?

Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur

After breakfast, explore the city palace complex.

Later, head for an interactive cooking session with the royal family of the Bedla to learn about secret recipe handed down by their ancestors. Enjoy an interactive afternoon spiced with tales of chivalry of Rajput warriors.

In the afternoon, walk through the markets of Udaipur and in the evening enjoy a sunset cruise on the lake followed by a farewell dinner at the magical Jag Mandir island in the middle of the lake.

Where to rest your head ?

Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur

Today, a private vehicle will transfer you to Udaipur airport where you can catch your flight back home.

Where to rest your head ?

NA