OCTOBER 2014 PUSHKAR RELIEF RIDE

OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH NOVEMBER 07TH, 2014

Day 1: Thursday October 23rd
Arrive in Delhi and spend the night at a Boutique Hotel or similar.

Day 2: Friday October 24th
Relax the morning away at your leisure in and around your hotel. Enjoy Delhi's beautiful sights and sounds with an afternoon tour of the city. In the evening we will depart for the Thar Desert on the overnight train to Ratangarh.

Day 3: Saturday October 25th
Sunrise arrival in the town of Ratangarh. We will transfer via coach to the ancient 650 year old fort at Harasar for an introductory breakfast to RRI and its 15 day program. Harasar, known for being an oasis rest stop on the ancient Silk road, as well as a for pilgrims heading to the sacred village of Pushkar. Built in the 14th century this majestic Fort will serve as our initial base camp and departure point for the Relief Ride.

After we have freshened up we will head down to the local school to inaugurate RRI's "Build a Restroom" program. A newly developed program where RRI will enhance pre-existing bathrooms or build new one's in one of the schools we visit on each ride. We will return to the fort for a tasty traditional Rajasthani lunch after the program. Enjoy strolling around touring the fort in the afternoon, after light refreshments in the afternoon we'll gather around to meet the horses for a casual afternoon ride.

Day 4: Sunday October 26th
We'll depart after a healthy breakfast for Kasumbi. The ride will take us through a serene and beautiful desert landscape with rolling dunes to ride through. We will stop for lunch and a relaxing break in a shaded area before riding again to our campsite. Expect to see a wide array of wildlife such as Chinkara's, Black Buck and Blue Bulls. We will overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Kasumbi.

Day 5: Monday October 27th
We'll ride from Kasumbi to Thakriyawas. Along the way we may see the khejri trees commonly found in this district. The Khejri tree's leaves provide fodder for livestock, and it also gives gum, both of which have commercial value. The Khejri tree has been traditionally protected by the Bishnois of Rajasthan, for its value in checking soil erosion. Overnight in tented encampment on the outskirts of Thakriyawas.

Day 6: Tuesday October 28th
We plan to ride into Thakriyawas and visit a school in order to treat school children as well as deliver educational materials in the morning. After lunch we will return to the village and distribute livestock to the villagers who qualify for our Give a Goat program. We will spend the night at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Thakriyawas.

Day 7: Wednesday October 29th
The ride from Thakriyawas to Toshina will take us through a range of varied terrain from sandy dunes to farmed millet fields. We will spend the night at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Toshina

Day 8: Thursday October 30th
We plan to ride into Toshina and visit a school in order to treat school children as well as deliver educational materials in the morning. After lunch we will return to the village and distribute livestock to the villagers who qualify for our Give a Goat program at the local Ashram. We will spend the night at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Toshina.

Day 9: Friday October 31st
The ride from Toshina to Gachipura will take us through more fascinating terrain punctuated by a shrub desert. At the end of our day's ride the terrain will transform into rolling hills as we approach the Aravelli Mountain range as we draw closer to our destination, Pushkar! We will spend the night at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Gachipura.

Day 10: Saturday November 1st
Prepare for a day's worth of heartwarming and purposeful work as we conduct both our Gift of Sight in the village of Gachipura. We plan on screening eye patients in order to qualify them for free eye surgeries. The camp will open its doors at 10.00 am and will close by 4.00 pm or until the last patients have been screened or treated. We will overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Gachipura.

Day 11: Sunday November 2nd
The ride to Riid will take us through the last of the desert landscape, giving us the long distance vantage of The Aravelli range that surrounds Pushkar.
Slowly the desert dune-scape transforms into fields of cultivated flowers, one of the areas strongest industry. We will overnight at our tented encampment on the outskirts of Riid.

Day 12: Monday November 3rd
Enjoy a morning visit to a school in Riid. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon as we prepare for equestrian fun and games. We will play Ball and Bucket a wonderful race between horse and rider, where the object of the game is to put 5 tennis balls into a bucket which are positioned on the other side of a field. Caution: This game is highly addictive and competitive! If Ball and Bucket is a bit too fast paced for you, enjoy yourself and your horse in a game of Musical horses! We will spend the night at our tented encampment on the edge of Riid.

Day 13: Tuesday November 4th
Get ready to experience an exciting day of riding as we approach Pushkar. On our way to the Pushkar Fair our ride will be full of chance encounters with nomadic tribes traveling with their horses, camels and cattle to and from the village of Pushkar. We will overnight at our tented encampment at the Pushkar Fair.

Day 14: Wednesday November 5th
Experience a colorful and vibrant day at the fair. One of the highlights of the fair is the vibrant horse auction held for a two day period right before the night of the full moon. The finest Marwari horses can be found performing either in races or dances to large crowds, trying to attract the highest bidders. The sacred village of Pushkar is home to India's only Brahma Temple. As a devout Hindu it is customary to take a Holy dip in the Pushkar lake. We will overnight at our tented encampment at the Pushkar Fair.

Day 15: Thursday November 6th
We will have a leisurely departure for Jaipur after breakfast. The drive to Jaipur will take 3 hours, where we will check into the Mandawa Haveli Hotel and have lunch. The afternoon can be devoted to lounging around the Haveli's pool or traveling with a guide to the famous City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort and the Hawa Mahal.

Day 16: Friday November 7th
Travel by coach from Jaipur to Delhi for transfer to airports for return flights home or onward.

THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. RATES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANYTIME.





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Meeting Point:
New Delhi, India
Length of Ride:
16 days, 15 nights and 11 days of riding
Riding Ability:
Beginner/Novice/Strong
intermediate/Advanced
Group Size:
Minimum 8, Maximum 12
Riding per day:
4-6 hours
Pace:
**Slow/Moderate/Fast
Tack:
English Trekking
Horses:
Marwari
Weight Limit:
220 lbs
Dates:
October 23rd - November 7th, 2014
Price:
$7950
Single Supplement:
$1400

RELIEF RIDE RESERVATION OPTIONS

** 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.

What is included in the price of the trip?

• Inland transfers to and from arrival airport

• Lodging. Tour cost is per person, based on double occupancy. We do have limited availability for single occupancy, with a supplemental fee.

• All humanitarian programs on scheduled itinerary.

• All meals

• Taxes and gratuities, excluding all taxes at overseas airports.

• All scheduled entertainment

• All fees in regards to the humanitarian aspect of the trip

What is NOT included in the price of the trip?

• Airfare to and from our designated arrival/departure airport

• All unscheduled excursions to markets or other places such sights that are not on the scheduled itinerary.

• Snacks, beverages and incidentals other than meals provided.

 

Travel Requirements

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Tourist Visas

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