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.
India Walking highlights
