Adventure AsiaAI-assisted
India13 daysGroup 1-12

Rajasthan & Agra: Women-Led Cultural Expedition — 13 Days

Delhi to Agra via the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Jaipur — with female local leader and all-women group

This 13-day itinerary moves through Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with an all-women travel group and a female local leader, covering Delhi, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, the village of Chandelao Garh, Jaipur, and Agra. Transport across the route combines overnight sleeper trains, local tuk-tuks, and 4WD vehicles into the Thar Desert. Key visits include Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Amber Fort in Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal at sunset and optionally at sunrise. The itinerary includes several stops at social enterprises and community programs — among them Sunder Rang in Chandelao Garh, which employs more than 30 female artisans, and the Pink City Rickshaw Company in Jaipur, a not-for-profit providing employment to women from low-income households. A night at a desert camp in the Thar includes a Kalbeliya dance performance by local women. Accommodation spans nine hotel nights, one heritage property, one desert camp, and one overnight sleeper train. The itinerary includes two breakfasts, one lunch, and four dinners, with vegetarian options available throughout.

Highlights

  • Overnight sleeper train from Delhi to Bikaner, arriving in time for a morning transfer to Junagarh Fort — built in red sandstone and marble between 1589 and 1594
  • Included visit to a local home in Bikaner's Old Town, where women participating in the RGAVP government program demonstrate papadum and bhajia preparation
  • Included full-day 4WD excursion into the Thar Desert, covering approximately 200,000 sq km of sand hills, with an overnight stay at a desert camp
  • Kalbeliya dance performance at the desert camp — a traditional Rajasthani dance form in which women replicate serpent movements, historically associated with the Kalbelia community's snake-handling heritage
  • Included walking tour of Jaisalmer, a citadel city founded in 1156 AD by Rawal Jaisal of the Bhati Rajput clan on the former trade routes of the Great Thar Desert
  • Included guided tour of Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, followed by a market walk through Sadar Bazaar in the Old City
  • Included visit to Sunder Rang in Chandelao Garh — a craft enterprise employing more than 30 women, with one hour per workday allocated to education alongside traditional textile production
  • Included rickshaw tour of Jaipur with the Pink City Rickshaw Company, a not-for-profit organisation providing employment to women from low-income households
  • Included guided tour of Amber Fort in Jaipur — a red sandstone and marble palace set above Maota Lake
  • Included saree fitting at a local home in Agra, followed by an included sunset visit to the Taj Mahal
  • Optional sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal on Day 12 (traveller-paid entry), followed by an included stop at Sheroes Hangout — a social enterprise cafe in Agra staffed by survivors of acid attacks

Day by day

1Arrival in Delhi: Welcome Meetingthe group's hotel · a local restaurant
The itinerary begins in Delhi with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at the group's hotel. The opening session introduces the local leader, outlines the route ahead, and allows group members to meet one another. The first included dinner follows at a local restaurant.
2Old Delhi on Foot and Metro, then Overnight Train to BikanerOld Delhi · Chandni Chowk marketplace · Jama Masjid · Sikh temple in the same area · Dilli Haat · overnight sleeper train to Bikaner · Delhi's metro system
The day begins with a walking tour of Old Delhi, accessed via the city's metro system. Passengers may travel in the women-only metro carriage, a designated section on Delhi's rail network. From the metro, the group continues by cycle rickshaw through the streets around Chandni Chowk marketplace. Stops include Jama Masjid — Delhi's oldest and largest mosque — and a Sikh temple in the same area. The afternoon includes a visit to Dilli Haat, an open-air market where artisans from across India are allocated 15-day vendor slots, a model designed to keep prices independent of urban retail inflation. The market also hosts food stalls representing regional Indian cuisines. In the evening, the group boards an overnight sleeper train to Bikaner. Local vendors board the train at various stops to sell snacks; travelers are advised to carry additional food for the journey.
3Bikaner: Junagarh Fort and a Community Cooking VisitBikaner · Junagarh Fort · a private home in Bikaner's Old Town
The overnight train arrives in Bikaner just after 7 am. The group transfers to the hotel by tuk-tuk to freshen up before the day's activities. The main site visit is Junagarh Fort, constructed in red sandstone and marble between 1589 and 1594 and considered one of Rajasthan's most complete fort complexes. The tour covers its palaces, courtyards, and museums. From the fort, tuk-tuks take the group to a private home in Bikaner's Old Town, where women participating in the RGAVP government program — an initiative supporting the economic capability of women below the poverty line in rural and urban areas — demonstrate the preparation of papadums and bhajia. The visit includes tasting the snacks and sharing chai with the hosts.
4Train to Jaisalmer: Arrival and Free AfternoonJaisalmer · train station
Tuk-tuks transfer the group to the train station for a morning departure to Jaisalmer. There is no food cart on this service; the local leader identifies recommended snacks to purchase before boarding. The afternoon and evening in Jaisalmer are unscheduled, with the local leader available to suggest dining options in the city.
5Thar Desert: 4WD Excursion and Desert CampThar Desert · desert camp
After breakfast, 4WD vehicles head into the Thar Desert — a desert system covering approximately 200,000 square kilometers. The group spends the day among rolling sand hills before arriving at a desert camp. At the camp, a Kalbeliya dance performance is given by local women; the form involves dancers in long skirts replicating serpent movements, representing the snake charmer's role in traditional Rajasthani cultural life. The group stays overnight at the camp.
6Jaisalmer Walking Tour, then Train to JodhpurJaisalmer · desert camp · train station
After breakfast at the desert camp, the 4WDs return to Jaisalmer. Following a hotel check-in and time to freshen up, the local leader leads a walking tour of the city. Jaisalmer's citadel was founded in 1156 AD by Rawal Jaisal of the Bhati Rajput clan and positioned along the trade routes of the Great Thar Desert; its history has been documented by Rajasthani bards since the 12th century. In the evening, the group transfers to the train station for the service to Jodhpur, arriving that evening.
7Jodhpur: Mehrangarh Fort and Sadar BazaarMehrangarh Fort · Sadar Bazaar in the Old City
The day begins at Mehrangarh Fort, which rises above the city and houses a collection of decorated palace rooms and one of Rajasthan's more detailed historical museums, with exhibits covering regional battles and court life. From the fort, a guided market walk moves through Sadar Bazaar in the Old City, with opportunities to try local food including lassi and dal baati. The remainder of the evening is unscheduled, with dining recommendations available from the local leader.
8Chandelao Garh: Sunder Rang Craft Enterprise, Rangoli and HennaSunder Rang · Jodhpur to the village of Chandelao Garh · the village of Chandelao Garh · the heritage property accommodation
The group drives from Jodhpur to the village of Chandelao Garh. An orientation walk through the village is followed by a visit to Sunder Rang, a craft enterprise whose name translates as 'beautiful colours.' The project currently employs more than 30 women, dedicating one hour of each working day to participants' education alongside production of traditional textiles and handicrafts. The visit includes time to meet the artisans, view finished work, and hear about the project's role in the village economy. The evening at the heritage property accommodation includes an introduction to rangoli — the practice of creating patterned designs with colored materials — and a session of traditional henna painting with the hosts.
9Drive to Jaipur: Orientation Walk, Bazaars, and Bollywood CinemaJaipur · Chandelao Garh accommodation · Raj Mandir Cinema · Chandelao Garh to Jaipur
The day starts with a yoga session at the Chandelao Garh accommodation before the group transfers by private vehicle to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. On arrival, an orientation walk covers the city's main bazaars, where goods include handcrafted textiles, folk art, and semi-precious stones — a local specialty. The evening includes a screening at Raj Mandir Cinema, an Art Deco-style building in central Jaipur that has served as a venue for Bollywood premieres and is one of the city's most visited architectural landmarks.
10Jaipur: Pink City Rickshaw Tour, Amber Fort, and Home DinnerJaipur · Amber Fort · a local family home in Jaipur
The morning begins with a rickshaw tour of Jaipur operated by the Pink City Rickshaw Company, a not-for-profit organization working to provide employment to women from low-income households across the city. The afternoon is spent at Amber Fort, a red sandstone and marble palace positioned on a hill above Maota Lake on the outskirts of Jaipur; a guided tour covers the fort's history and architecture. The evening is spent at a local family home in Jaipur, where hosts describe their daily routines, explain the dishes prepared, and share a home-cooked dinner with the group.
11Train to Agra: Saree Fitting and Sunset at the Taj MahalAgra · the Taj Mahal · a local woman's home
The group travels to Agra by train. On arrival, a visit to a local woman's home provides the opportunity to select and be dressed in a saree with bangles and a bindi for a traditional styling session. The afternoon culminates in a sunset visit to the Taj Mahal — the marble mausoleum commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and listed among the Seven Wonders of the World.
12Agra to Delhi: Optional Sunrise Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Sheroes HangoutAgra to Delhi · Taj Mahal · Agra Fort · Sheroes Hangout
An optional sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal is available before the day's other activities. The morning also includes time to visit Agra Fort. Lunch is at Sheroes Hangout, a vegetarian social enterprise cafe in Agra that provides employment to survivors of acid attacks. In the early evening, the group boards a high-speed train to Delhi, where the night is spent at the hotel. A final dinner with the group can be arranged independently.
13Delhi: Final Day and Departurehotel
Your time in India concludes today with no scheduled activities. You're free to check out of the hotel any time before midday. If your flight departs later, the hotel can store your luggage until then. Should you wish to extend your stay in Delhi, your booking agent can arrange additional nights.

Where you go

Map: Rajasthan & Agra: Women-Led Cultural Expedition — 13 Days route
Numbers follow the itinerary order. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
  1. 1Old Delhi
  2. 2Bikaner
  3. 3Junagarh Fort
  4. 4Jaisalmer
  5. 5Thar Desert
  6. 6Jaisalmer
  7. 7Mehrangarh Fort
  8. 8Jaipur
  9. 9Amber Fort
  10. 10Agra
  11. 11Taj Mahal
  12. 12Agra Fort
  13. 13Sheroes Hangout
  14. 14hotel

Included

  • What's Included
  • Accommodation
  • Hotel (9 nights), Camping with basic facilities (1 night), Heritage Property (1 night), Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)
  • Meals
  • Breakfasts: 2, Lunches: 1, Dinners: 4
  • Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
  • Vegetarian options available
  • Local Guide
  • Guided
  • This adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
  • Wifi
  • Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.
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