November 2017 Pushkar Relief Ride
** We welcome novice riders, slower riders can ride alongside the caravan. Riders may choose to finish any segment by riding in our accompanying jeep. If you have a member of your party who would like to join the trip but is not a rider, RRI can make provisions for him/her to accompany us in the jeep.
October 19th through November 2nd, 2017
Day 1: Thursday, October 19th
Arrive in Delhi and spend the night at a boutique hotel of your choosing.
Day 2: Friday, October 20th
We will have a leisurely morning for exploring. In the evening, we will depart for the Thar Desert on the overnight train to Sujangarh.
Day 3: Saturday, October 21st
Early morning, we will transfer via coach to our tented encampment in Baghsara for breakfast and an introduction to RRI. Baghsara will serve as our initial base camp and departure point for the Relief Ride. Later in the afternoon, after a traditional Rajasthani lunch, we will embark on an easy ride to get to know our horses. Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Baghsara.
Day 4: Sunday, October 22nd
We will enjoy the day engaged in purposeful and meaningful work, conducting both our Gift of Sight and Dental Care programs in the village of Baghsara. We will also be screening eye patients in order to qualify them for free eye surgeries. The camp will open from10:00 a.m. and will close by 4:00 p.m., or until the last patients have been screened and/or treated. Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Baghsara.
Day 5: Monday, October 23rd
After a hearty breakfast, we will depart for Dugastaau on horseback. This ride will take us through a serene desert landscape with rolling dunes. We will stop for lunch and a relaxing break in a shaded area before riding to our campsite. Expect to see a wide array of wildlife such as chinkaras, black buck, and blue bulls. Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Dugastaau.
Day 6: Tuesday , October 24th
In the morning, we will mount our horses and ride into Dugastaau to visit a school and deliver educational materials to students. After lunch, we will return to the village and distribute livestock to the villagers who qualify for our Give a Goat program. Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Dugastaau.
Day 7: Wednesday, October 25th
We will spend the day riding from Dugastaau to Chua. The trail will take us through a range of varied terrain from sandy dunes to farmed millet fields. Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Chua.
Day 8: Thursday, October 26th
In the morning, we will ride into Chua for a school visit. After lunch, we will return to the village, where we will distribute goats to individuals who are below poverty level. Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Chua.
Day 9: Friday, October 27th
Today's ride from Chua to Degana will take us through more spectacular terrain punctuated by a shrub desert. At the end of our ride, the topography will transform into rolling hills as we approach the Aravalli Mountain Range, ever closer to our destination, Pushkar! Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Degana.
Day 10: Saturday, October 28th
The morning begins with a visit to a school in Degana. We'll enjoy a leisurely afternoon as we prepare for equestrian fun and games like Ball and Bucket, a race where the object of the game is to put five tennis balls into a bucket positioned on the other side of a field. If Ball and Bucket is a bit too fast paced for you, join with your horse in a game of Musical Horses. Overnight at our tented encampment on the edge of Degana.
Day 11: Sunday, October 29th
Today's ride to Harsor will take us through the last of the desert landscape, with views of the The Aravalli Range surrounding Pushkar. Slowly the desert dunes transform into fields of cultivated flowers, one of the area's strongest industries. Overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Harsor.
Day 12: Monday, October 30th
We will experience an exciting day of riding as we approach Pushkar. On the way, we may have chance encounters with nomadic tribes traveling with their horses, camels, and cattle to and from the village of Pushkar. Overnight at our tented encampment at the Pushkar Fair.
Day 13: Tuesday, October 31st
We will enjoy the day experiencing all the fair has to offer. One highlight is the horse auction and equestrian events held over two days before the full moon. The finest Marwari horses can be found parading in races and dances in an effort to attract the highest bidder. The sacred village of Pushkar is home to India's only Brahma Temple, and Pushkar Lake is one of the five most sacred pilgrimage destinations for Hindus in India. No pilgrimage is said to be complete unless one takes a holy dip here. Overnight at our tented encampment at the Pushkar Fair.
Day 14: Wednesday November 1st
We will have a leisurely departure for Jaipur after breakfast (approx. 3 hrs.). In Jaipur, we will check into the Mandawa Haveli Hotel and have lunch. We will then be able to enjoy the afternoon at our leisure, either lounging around the hotel pool or traveling with a guide to the famous City Palace, Hawa Mahal, or Amber Fort.
Day 15: Thursday November 2nd
We will travel by coach from Jaipur to Delhi.
THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY POINT.
Travel Requirements
India offers both extraordinary opportunities and challenges. It is large, pulsing with energy and ever-changing drama, a feast for the senses. If you can appreciate the unexpected, you will quickly come to love it.
Travel Documents
To travel to India for tourism, business or studies you are required to have a valid passport and an entry visa. Visas are issued in Indian Embassies or Missions. E-Visas can now be granted upon arrival at certain airports in India.
A person applying for a visa must have a passport that will be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of the date of their intended departure from India. So make sure to renew your passport if it is due to expire within that period of time.
Tourist Visas
Entry visas for tourists are generally issued for six months from the date of issue. If you intend to visit neighboring countries and re-enter India, ask for a six months visa with a request for multiple entries.
To find the Indian Embassy or Mission nearest you and for the most reliable information about visas, please visit the Consular Passport & Visa Division of the Indian government.
Health
For the latest information on international health alerts, please check the website of the Center for Disease Control
