Enjoyed the most: Riding all around the Pushkar Fair behind the guide who carried the Princess Trails banner was fantastic. The fair itself is fascinating and exotic. and the Indian people are so welcoming.

Bothered you: Not enough light at night. You desperately need it, and I burned through all my flashlights AND my back up batteries as well!! A "headlamp" flashlight is strongly recommended.

Comments: The trip was fabulous and unforgettable, and I can't thank Ryan & Hidden Trails enough for all their efforts on our behalf !!!!! Ute and Viru, our hosts, were really terrific too, and very responsive to our needs. The horses were great and beautifully cared for. Our hosts were wonderful, and they and their staff couldn't do enough for us !! When it was clear that the group didn't all ride at the same level, they were able to divide us into a faster group and a slower group, which accommodated everyone.  The horses are very strong and spirited, and so I believe that the ride should be rated for "strong" intermediates !!

Enjoyed the most: Riding through tiny villages where all the children ran into the street to greet us. Also, the last day's long runs on soft, sandy ground were fabulous.

Bothered you: Riding a horse that was very competitive with the other horses. I didn't have the skill to keep it behind the guide horse or control its pace when another horse was running alongside. On the upside, I learned more about riding than I expected to. Frustating at the time, but a confidence-building experience in hindsight.

Comments: The Marwari horses we rode on this trip are more spirited and competitive than the horses on other trips I've taken. Also, the riding style was different than both English and Western. The tour operators offer lessons on their horses prior to the ride, but I didn't know that until the last day of the trip. I wish I'd known that before, because a couple of extra days for pre-safari lessons would've made me more comfortable at the beginning of the ride. I suggest making a note of the lesson option in future catalog listings.