Castle to Castle Safari

Introduction
Rajasthan India
Combine the adventure and thrill of a horse safari with the privilege of staying in some of the most beautiful Heritage and palace hotels in Southern Rajasthan. This safari starts in the rugged mountain landscape around Kumbhalgarh and takes the riders from Kumbhalgarh to Ranakpur through the heart of the Aravalli Mountains and the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary down till the edge of the Great Thar Desert near Narlai and Jojawar.  Ride across great landscapes, through tiny villages and experience traditional Rajasthani culture. Overnight stays are in chosen Heritage Hotels along the way.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride, so nights are spent in different locations. You will be staying in 5 different locations total.

Description
All accommodations for this trip will be in Heritage Hotels. All rooms contain a TV, telephone, AC, ceiling fan, and private bath. Spa services are available at each hotel for additional cost.
Laundry is available for an additional fee.
WIFI is free of charge everywhere, however as some hotels are in the countryside so there might be a problem with speed or sometimes no connections at all.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Boheda Palace Hotel in Udaipur
Night 2: The Aodhi in Kumbhalgarh
Night 3: King's Adobe in Ranakpur
Night 4: Rawla Narlai in Narlai
Night 5: Rawla Jojawar in Jojawar
Night 6: Boheda Palace Hotel in Udaipur

Boheda Palace Hotel in Udaipur
This small hotel has been classified as an heritage building thanks to its traditional architecture. Each of the 16 rooms all come equipped with a TV, air conditioning, private facilities and free Wi-Fi access. The hotel’s most appreciated feature is without doubt its rooftop terrace offering panoramic views over the city. There are laundry facilities onsite (extra charge).


The Aodhi in Kumbhalgarh
This charming hotel offers 26 comfortable bedrooms. Each room is fitted with a TV, a kettle, air conditioning, internet access and a private bathroom. The hotels offers great views over the nearby Kumbhalgarh Fort and offers a beautiful garden with seating area and outdoor swimming pool, where guests can relax and cool off.


King's Adobe in Ranakpur
Set in the middle of nature, surrounded by lush vegetation, this hotel offers a quiet stay in a fort-like building. The hotel features 28 beautifully appointed guest rooms are all air-conditioned and include a television and a private bathroom. There is access to Wi-Fi with an extra fee and laundry facilities are available with a surcharge.


Rawla Narlai in Narlai
This beautiful 17th century heritage building used to be the hunting lodge of the Jodhpur royalty. It has since been restored in order to provide guests with comfortable and elegant bedrooms. Each room is tastefully decorated and offers a small balcony/patio, a flat screen TV, air conditioning, private bathrooms and free internet access. The hotel amenities include a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, a garden and a spa. There are laundry facilities available for an extra fee. From this property, you have an amazing view over the surrounding mountains.


Rawla Jojawar in Jojawar
This 18th century fort used to be the noble home of Mawar. In 2001, it was converted into a heritage hotel and restoration was undertaken in order to offer guest a comfortable stay. The original architecture was kept and according to the local tradition, no structures were added. Each bedroom is uniquely decorated and they all feature air conditioning and an ensuite bathroom. There is internet access available from the main office and laundry services are possible in exchange for a small fee. The hotel also offers a beautiful outdoor swimming pool.

Room Occupancy
The single supplement fee is mandatory if we are unable to find another rider to share.



Meals
All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7.

Over the day you will enjoy a continental breakfast plus fruits and Indian choice, picnic lunch with cold beverages (Indian vegetarian food), and 3-course buffet style dinner.

Alcoholic beverages are not included but alcohol can be purchased (not expensive) or brought. Beer, wine (Indian), whiskey, rum, gin and vodka are available.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice.
 

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Daily Schedule
A normal safari day includes between 5 and 6 hours in the saddle plus a lunch break (lunch is either taken as a lunch packet or brought to the riders by our jeep) and several smaller breaks for sightseeing on the way or a tea stop in the little hamlet by the way.

Our Horses
Nearly all the horses we use for safaris and trail riding are Marwari horses. This breed is native in Rajasthan and best suited for long rides in this region.
Our horses live in comfortable stables and paddocks and are left to roam free during the day on our farm. All our horses have been handpicked by us as we wanted to have only the best suited horses for our safari. As we have some foals every year, some of our riding horses were born in our stable and raised and trained by us. In fact, we are very proud that today we have a stable of finest Marwari horses fit for riding and breeding.
We believe in the principle of Natural Horsemanship which means that we keep our horses as natural as possible and train them according to NHS. Some of them are ridden with a hackamore, just a halter or even a simple neck rope. All are very well trained, obedient and a pleasure to ride. Our horses are cared for with love and affection. They are properly fed, vaccinated, de-wormed and shoed.
On the safaris we take only horses which are 100% fit and prepared. Already before the safari, we try to find a suitable horse for each rider according to riding skill and preference. Spare horses go along each trail in case another horse goes lame or one rider wants to change.

Tack & Riding Style
We have imported saddle tack for all our horses in order to maximize comfort for horse and rider.
The riding style is different to both English and Western. We offer lessons on the horses prior to the ride. A couple of extra days for pre-safari lessons may make your riding experience more enjoyable. Please let Hidden Trails know if you would like to book lessons before your ride.

Guides
The safari is run by a member of the oldest and most honored noble families of Udaipur, whose history is interwoven with horses for many centuries, and his German wife.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival day                                   
We collect you from the airport and bring you to Udaipur, City of Lakes and one of the most beautiful towns in India. Transfer to your hotel to relax and freshen up. The rest of the day, we invite you for a sightseeing tour of Udaipur or if you prefer you can also relax and enjoy the serenity and amenities of your hotel.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight stay at Hotel Boheda Palace, Udaipur.
 
Day 2: Kumbalgarh Fort                                   
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the farm, around 8 km outside Udaipur. You will meet your horses and guides here and get a first introduction. Then we take you for a half-day ride (about 4 hours) through the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains around Udaipur. Your ride will take you past a couple of lakes, through the mountains, following tracks of sometimes dried river beds. You have the opportunity to get comfortable with your horse and if necessary change mounts.
After the ride, there will be lunch at the hotel and then we take you by car to Kumbalgarh. Arrival there, at your heritage hotel “The Aodhi” in the early afternoon. Once you checked-in, we take you to visit the historic Kumbhalgarh Fort.  Enjoy the great views all around and if you like stay there until the fort is illuminated after nightfall. We will then bring you back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight stay at “The Aodhi” in Kumbhalgarh.
 
Day 3: Kumbhalgarh Fort to Ranakpur Jain Temple                                    
Descending from the height of Kumbhalgarh Fort down into the valley of Ranakpur you will cross the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and have a chance of glimpsing some wildlife such as monkeys, wild boar or antelopes, smaller mammals such as mongoose or rabbits and countless birds such as nightingales, kingfisher, meena, peacocks or jungle fowls. The sanctuary accounts for a great variety of more than 250 different species of birds. The ride leads from the top entrance of the Sanctuary near Kumbhalgarh down right to the foot of the mountain, an ascent of 800 high meters. In the beginning, the views over the mountains are amazing. Then the riders are swallowed up by forest and the only sounds come from the birds and animals around them. Much of the forest up here is dry deciduous virgin forest and it is home to an astonishing variety of animals big and small. Depending on the season, the forest is lush and green or more autumnally golden and yellow. At times, the riders will have to cross streams and rivers which flow high after the monsoon or might be completely dry in spring.
At lunchtime, the riders reach a small Jain temple in a serene valley surrounded by mountains with the Kumbhalgarh Fort situated majestically on top. After lunch, the riders continue through the lower reaches of the Sanctuary before they finally leave it behind to cross a village and continue their ride through the fields of the Ranakpur valley.
Arrival at the Ranakpur Jain Temple is around one hour later. Visit the temple and enjoy the exquisitely carved marble pillars, each one of the 1444 different from the rest. After your visit we will bring you to your hotel, the gorgeous Heritage Hotel King’s Abode just a short drive away from the temple.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight stay in the Heritage Hotel “King’s Abode”.
 
Day 4: Ranakpur Jain Temple to Narlai                                   
After breakfast, we will collect you from your hotel and you start the ride through the serene Ranakpur valley and further down the way to the Rajasthani Bagar, which is the fringe area between the hills and the Thar Desert in the North-West. Today, the ride leads over an open plain dotted with small villages and little fields. Occasionally Nilgai Antelopes, India’s largest antelope, can be spotted. You will cross the little town of Sadri, which is quite an adventure for riders as well as for the locals with lots to see. Later, the ride continues over sandy tracks. The terrain on this side of the Aravalli Mountains is soft. Plenty of opportunity for long trots and canters!
After lunch, the riders reach the peculiar temple of Ketlaji built at the side of one of the many hills rising out of the plain in this area. At the foot of the temple is a small lake and plenty of shops selling food and religious items for the pilgrims coming here. The riders pass directly through here before leaving the village and continuing through a dried up river bed towards Narlai. The safari ends near the village of Narlai, famous for its pretty havelis and fort, which has been converted into a Heritage Hotel.
The afternoon is free to discover the palace and make use of all the amenities of the property.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight stay in Rawla Narlai.
 
Day 5: Narlai to Panota
Today, we leave behind the Aravalli Mountains. Our ride continues through the Rajasthani Bagar, an open and arid plain with sandy ground. Instead of bullocks, the villagers here use camels for their work and you will encounter quite a few all day long. The horses are eager to go fast, feeling the soft ground under their feet and seeing the wide plain before them. Open ground and long sandy village roads invite for long canters and gallops. 
Arrival in the small village of Panota in the afternoon from where we take you the last bit of the way to Jojawar by car.
Your hotel today is the beautiful Rawla Jojawar, a former village fort of the noble family, converted into a hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the hotel or visit the small typical Rajasthani town.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight stay in Ralwa Jojawar.
 
Day 6: Transfer back to Udaipur                                    
After breakfast, transfer back to Udaipur. The remainder of the say can be used for some additional sightseeing or just relaxing.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight stay in Udaipur in Hotel Boheda.
 
Day 7: Departure day                                   
Program ends after breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Castle to Castle Safari

Dates Note:
This trip is available any time during the year (except for June) with a minimum of 2 riders.

Other Info
Meeting: Udaipur
Airport: Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur (UDR)
Transfer: Udaipur airport or railway station

Climate:
                                                Udaipur area