Colours of Rajasthan

• Accommodation: 12 Classic nights (hotels)
• Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
• Travel by air-conditioned private bus and train
• Holi, Diwali and Pushkar festival departures available

During October/November and February/March/April, the days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low with little or no rain. Evenings in Delhi can be surprisingly cool. It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings in December and January and warm clothes are essential. Fog is also a real possibility during this period. Please note, night-time temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a little above freezing in December and January.

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

Pace: This is a fast-paced cultural trip, jam-packed with the highlights of Rajasthan. It is not overly demanding, but some days can be busy and long, particularly where travelling is combined with sightseeing.

Journeys: The roads are generally pretty good, but traffic and/or road damage after the monsoon can sometimes slow us down. We travel mainly on comparatively quiet roads for at least half the journey. Longer distances are covered by private bus and should take around six to seven hours; however, delays are possible and journey times can increase. This trip does involve a lot of time on the road; however, this gives you the perfect opportunity to see the diversity of one of India’s most colourful states.

Weather: It can be quite hot and dusty (except December to February) and the bustle of the Indian cities can be tiring.

Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean that work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published so it is not possible to forewarn when work is taking place.

Festivals – Holi and Diwali: Some departures coincide with the festivals of Holi and Diwali. These can be quite local celebrations within communities and families and are not necessarily marked to the same extent throughout the country. We seek opportunities to see the festivities; however, we cannot guarantee what may or may not be going on in the area visited during the trip.

Holi celebrations typically involve people throwing coloured powders and water at each other and smearing powder on each other’s faces. This tends to be done in local communities and families so it is not always possible to be involved though you may see the colourful results of this boisterous festival left on the streets. During Holi, local monuments and markets close, so departures over Holi have a slight adjustment to the itinerary. Where possible, you will be offered a cultural experience with local musicians and dancers performing plus an opportunity to play with colours, dance, and enjoy food and drinks. You can also purchase locally the traditional white kurta outfit to look the part and avoid getting your own clothes covered in the coloured powders.

During Diwali, the festival of lights to mark the start of the Hindu New Year, people may illuminate their houses and shops and sometimes celebrate on the streets with fireworks. Lasting up to five days, it is difficult for us to predict what may be going on in the areas visited on our trips during Diwali. Where something is happening, we will endeavour to see how our groups can witness the festivities.

Pushkar Fair: Some departures are in Pushkar during the fair. These have a slightly amended itinerary. You have two nights in Pushkar (one night replacing a stay in Jodhpur). See the itinerary here.