Dedicated to adding unique and authentic experiences at every turn,
Butterfield & Robinson announces India Walking for 2018. Focused on sights and cultural experiences across the region, the one-week tour from Jodhpur to Narlai to Delwara is designed for travellers to slow down and immerse themselves in India’s heritage. The India Walking trip also marks a return to the vibrant Rajasthan region for B&R, whose guests will enjoy preferential treatment at signature hotels and a recreational level of daily activity.
“In returning to north India, B&R not only provides guests with a unique, world-class cultural experience, but we get to remind travellers of our commitment to every moment of their adventure,” says Norman Howe, president, Butterfield & Robinson. “With India Walking, we have built-in surprises and detailed additions to enhance an already unforgettable walking tour.”
B&R travellers will bask in the warmth of private sunsets above the Blue City of Jodhpur, hike from a former Maharajas’ hunting lodge to overlook the desert, all before practising yoga and serenity over the Aravalli Hills. Along the way, daytime treks are rewarded with breathtaking views, a glass of wine, as well as evenings spent at luxurious, awe-inspiring and centuries-old resorts and hotels.
India Walking highlights
- A walking tour through the Old City of Jodhpur reveals bustling markets with trade, cultural traditions and cuisine, before a private, after hours tour of Mehrangarh Fort leads to a glass of champagne and the sunset from nearly 120 metres above the Blue City.
- A day in the village of Narlai and nearby foothills includes some of the oldest temples in the region before travellers can hike “elephant mountain” from their hotel. A single granite rock makes up the mountain, and at the top, a white elephant statue acts as the tusked guardian of the grand desert.
- A drive to Kumbhalgarh leads to the magnificent Mountbatten Lodge and a sanctuary hike, followed by a visit to the Jain temple of Ranakpur, where Jain religion, a maze of 1444 marble pillars and a humbling respect for life are at the forefront.
- The rolling, infinite views of the Aravalli Hills are the backdrop to morning yoga. Following this stretch, guests descend in to the wondrous green of Aravalli for a two hour hike to views from Rashtrasena Mata temple, a famous 150-metre-tall structure. The morning trek is rewarded with a lakeside lunch picnic near Devigarh Palace, before a local guide leads the group into the nearby village.
Activity level
- The activity level for India Walking is Recreational, meaning B&R’s itinerary of daily village, sanctuary and mountain walking is appropriate for people who enjoy a good hike. Some days, guests may choose to skip the walk and immerse themselves in yoga, resort-provided spa treatments or a dip in the pool.
Hotel details
- Raas – Boasting private vistas, grand guestrooms and gardens among four rose-red sandstone buildings from the 18th century, the rooms at Raas in Jodhpur also offer spectacular views of Mehrangarh Palace.
- Rawla Narlai – While staying in this former hunting lodge of the Maharaja, guests will hear the airy chanting of nearby temples and mosques from their comfortable rooms in a delightful accommodation rich in history.
- Raas Devigarh – Situated in the Aravalli Hills, the former fort and 18th-century resort has undergone years of restoration to offer modern day luxury. The boutique hotel offers 23 suites with embellished marble and semiprecious stones.
Availability
- The 7-day/6-night India Walking tour runs February 2018, from US$7995, with single supplements starting at US$1500.
