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India: Women's Expedition

13 Days
From $1,544 Was $1,715

Best Rate
Guarantee

Trip Type
Small Group

Activity Level
Light

Rating

(20 reviews)

Experience Overview

Journey between the cities, villages and desert of Rajasthan and gain a unique insight into the lives of Indian women. With an all-women group and local female leader, this 13-day expedition will immerse you in the culture and history of the region, as seen through the eyes of the women who live here. Starting in energetic Delhi, travel in the female-only carriage on the metro, then head out to the Thar Desert in jeeps to meet local women and enjoy a traditional Kalbeliya dance performance. In the village of Chandelao Garh, visit a project empowering female artisans and join an inspiring rickshaw tour of Jaipur with a female guide from the Pink City Rickshaw Co. This is India from a new perspective!

Highlights

Get to know northern India through the lives of the women who live there as you explore with a female leader, ride in women-only carriages on the metro and meet inspiring local women throughout your journey.
Head to the rural desert village of Chandelao Garh, where a local project provides female artisans with employment and education while preserving traditional craft practices. Check out their handicrafts and hear their stories.
Take jeeps into the Thar Desert and enjoy an exclusive Kalbeliya dance performed by local women at a desert camp. Enjoy some quality one-on-one time with the dancers while the men prepare dinner.
Visit a local woman's home and select a saree and accessories to wear on your visit to the Taj Mahal, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world inspired by the extraordinary love for an exceptional woman.
See the highlights of Jaipur and get to know your female driver on a tour with the eco-friendly Pink City Rickshaw Company – a non-profit providing employment and economic independence to women from low-income households.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 2120

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Moderate

Transport: Auto rickshaw,Bus,Car,Cycle rickshaw,Jeep,Metro,Train,Private vehicle,Shuttle bus

Guide Language: English

Supplier Code: HHSL

Starts: Delhi, India

Finishes: Delhi, India

Duration: 13 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical rating: Light

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (2), Lunch (1), Dinner (4)
Accommodation: Hotel (9 nights),Camping with basic facilities (1 night),Heritage Property (1 night),Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) $1,544 ($119 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi

Namaste! Welcome to Delhi. Your women’s expedition will begin with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. Meet your local leader and fellow female travellers and find out what to expect over the course of your adventure. After, get to know your group and enjoy your first taste of India’s famous cuisine over an included dinner at a local restaurant.

Included Activities:

Delhi - Welcome dinner

Optional Activities:

Delhi - Humayun's Tomb (600 INR)
Delhi - Qutub Minar (600 INR)
Delhi - Red Fort (600 INR)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Delhi to Bikaner

Navigate the city’s metro system to discover Old Delhi on a walking tour. You may ride the metro in a women’s only carriage today, giving you a unique insight into how local women travel around Delhi. Hitch a traditional cycle rickshaw ride through a typical Indian traffic jam in the streets around Chandni Chowk marketplace. Visit Delhi’s oldest and largest mosque – Jama Masjid. Duck into a Sikh temple for a quiet escape from the city and observe the spiritual side of this bustling metropolis. Visit the Dilli Haat market, where artisans from across the country are invited to showcase their wares for 15 days at a time, ensuring prices are fair and not subject to the inflation of big cities. The market is also home to a tempting array of food stalls, so you may like to take your tastebuds on a trip with some momos from Sikkim, spicy chicken from Nagaland or kebabs from Jammu. Later tonight, you’ll leave Delhi on an overnight sleeper train to Bikaner. Local vendors will board the train at various stops to sell snacks, but it’s advised that you bring some of your own food for the journey too

Included Activities:

Delhi - Dilli Haat INA Visit
Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour

Accommodation:

Overnight Sleeper Train (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Bikaner

Your overnight train will arrive in Bikaner just after 7 am this morning. Your group will be pick up by tuk-tuks and transferred to the hotel, where you can freshen up and grab some breakfast. Later, you’ll visit Junagarh Fort – built between 1589 and 1594, this red sandstone and marble fort is one of the most impressive forts in Rajasthan. You’ll explore the various palaces, courtyards and museums within the fort complex. After, you have a free afternoon to recharge or explore at your own pace.

Included Activities:

Bikaner - Junagarh Fort

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Jaisalmer

This morning, take tuk-tuks to the train station for an early morning journey to Jaisalmer. Make friends with entertaining chaiwalas (tea vendors), food vendors and enjoy conversations with the locals to pass the time. There’s no food cart on the train, but your local leader will recommend the best snacks for you to buy before you board the train, so you won’t be left hungry. When you arrive, rest and recharge at your hotel during a free afternoon and evening, or head out and explore at your own pace – your local leader will know all the best spots to grab some delicious local cuisine.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Thar Desert

After breakfast, jump into 4WDs and head towards the Thar Desert – covering 200,000 square km, you’ll spend all day exploring the rolling sand hills before arriving at your desert camp. Here, you’ll meet some local men and women – the men will head off to prepare a traditional Rajasthani dinner, giving you a chance to get to know the women. They’ll put on a Kalbeliya dance performance – a traditional female dance where women in long skirts replicate the movements of a serpent as a representation of the snake charmer’s role in traditional Rajasthani society.

Included Activities:

Thar Desert - Kalbeliya Dance Performance
Thar Desert - Jeep Adventure

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Jodhpur

After breakfast at the desert camp, you’ll drive back to Jaisalmer in your 4WDs. From here, you’ll have a chance to check in to your hotel and freshen up before heading out on a walking tour with your leader to get to know this storied desert city. The citadel was built by Rawal Jaisal of the Bhati Rajput in 1156 AD, and with a history that’s been carefully recorded by the bards of Rajasthan since the 12th century, it’s not hard to imagine what life here once looked like. Strung between the former trade routes of the Great Thar Desert, your leader will share stories of Jaisalmer’s prosperous past. Return to your hotel and transfer to the train station to board the train to Jodhpur, arriving in the evening.

Included Activities:

Jaisalmer - City Tour

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Jodhpur

Head straight to the striking Mehrangarh Fort that towers over the city. You’ll take a guided tour here to explore some of the ornately decorated palaces and visit one of Rajasthan’s most interesting museums to learn about battles past. From here, you’ll go to the Sadar Bazaar in the Old City for a guided market tour and the opportunity to taste local delicacies like lassi and dal baati – both classics of Indian cuisine. You may like to spend the rest of the evening exploring the Old City, and your local leader will be able to recommend great places for dinner.

Included Activities:

Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort
Jodhpur - Sadar Bazaar
Jodhpur - City Walk

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Chandelao Garh

Say goodbye to Jodhpur and drive to the village of Chandelao Garh. When you arrive, get your bearings with a walk through the village, then visit Sunder Rang – a project that employs local artisans, mostly women, while keeping traditional craft practices alive. Meaning ‘beautiful colours’, the vibrant pieces crafted by the women at Sunder Rang stand in contrast to the surrounding desert landscapes. More than 30 women are currently employed by Sunder Rang, with an hour of their workdays dedicated to their education. Meet the ladies who work here, browse the beautiful pieces they’ve created and learn about the project’s impact on their lives, their families and the wider village. This evening, take some time to explore Chandelao Garh further or relax at your heritage property accommodation. This evening – learn about the art of rangoli, where colourful patterns are made with various materials, join your hosts for traditional henna painting.

Included Activities:

Chandelao Garh - Village Walk
Chandelao Garh - Sundar Rang Crafts Centre Visit
Chandelao Garh - Rangoli making
Chandelao Garh - Henna painting

Accommodation:

Heritage Property (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Jaipur

Limber up and start your day with a yoga session at your accommodation, then hop back in your private vehicle and make the journey to Jaipur – the capital of the Rajasthan region. When you arrive, stretch your legs with an orientation walk around the city. Follow your leader down streets buzzing with camel carts, rickshaws, trucks and bicycles and explore bazaars bursting with colourful goods, including handcrafted textiles, folk art and the local speciality of semi-precious stones. After your walk, discover a beloved part of Indian culture as you head out for a screening of a Bollywood film. Visit the Raj Mandir Cinema – this Art Deco-style building is one of Jaipur’s most popular spots and has played host to many movie premiers.

Included Activities:

Jaipur - Leader-led orientation walk
Jaipur - Bollywood movie at Raj Mandir
Chandelao Garh - Morning Yoga

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 10: Jaipur

This morning, head into town for a memorable rickshaw ride with The Pink City Rickshaw Company – a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide a new aspirational employment opportunity to 200 women from low-income households in Jaipur. See the highlights of the city and get to know your amazing female driver as you zip through the streets. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the Amber Fort – one of Jaipur’s most recognisable landmarks. The red sandstone and marble palace is set high on a hill overlooking Maota Lake, and there is plenty of history to learn about as well as picturesque sights. This evening, visit a local home in Jaipur, where you’ll be welcomed for an evening of fun and feasting. Chat with your hosts about their lives, learn about the meals they make at home then sit down for a truly tasty dinner.

Included Activities:

Jaipur - Amber Fort
Jaipur - City tour with The Pink City Rickshaw Company
Jaipur - Home-cooking Class

Optional Activities:

Jaipur - City Palace (1000 INR)
Jaipur - Jantar Mantar Observatory (200 INR)
Jaipur - Balloon Safari (280 USD)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 11: Agra

Today you’ll make the trip to Agra by train. Your first stop will be a visit to the home of a local woman who will help you choose the perfect saree and show you how it's worn. She’ll also help you dress up with an armful of glittering bangles and a matching Bindi in the traditional style, ready for your sunset visit to India’s most iconic landmark – the Taj Mahal. Spend time wandering around one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the pristine grounds, watching the setting sun illuminate the stunning marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan in his favourite wife’s honour.

Included Activities:

Agra - Saree lesson
Agra - Taj Mahal

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 12: Delhi

This morning there is the opportunity for an optional sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. Otherwise, you can explore Agra Fort before heading to Sheroes Hangout – a vegetarian cafe for lunch. This beautiful cafe is a one of kind social enterprise providing employment opportunities for women who were the victims of acid attacks. In the early evening leave Agra behind and hop on a high speed train bound for Delhi. Check in to your hotel and perhaps head out for a final farewell dinner with your group.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 13: Delhi

Today is your final day in India. There are no included activities planned, so you’re welcome to check out of the hotel any time before midday. If you’re departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel until your flight. If you want to stay an extra couple of days in Delhi, just speak to your booking agent.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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Reviews

Laura - Traveled, March 2024

An all round fantastic trip. No hesitation to recommend this trip. Go for it, you will not regret it.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2024

Stella - Traveled, March 2024

I would 100% recommend this trip, felt safe at all times, great itinerary and really got to see the real India.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2024

Felicity - Traveled, March 2024

This trip was life changing! Our guide Harsha went above and beyond to make our group feel comfortable. I learnt so much about India and came away with eight new lifelong friends. Camping in the That desert was the highlight of the trip!

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2024

Moirin - Traveled, March 2024

The Wonen’s Expedition was absolutely wonderful. All, bar two in the group were solo travellers, but we parted as friends, with our lovely leader Harsha too. I hope to travel with Intrepid again in the future.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2024

Maria - Traveled, March 2024

Lovely experience with beautiful women and an incredible guide. Enjoyed every single day of this tour in India. Always felt safe. Everything felt easy and natural, event the train and the camping. This tour is perfect for explorers that want some adventures and fun while travelling India

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2024

Michelle - Traveled, March 2024

Excellent trip, and huge variety in experiencing the real Rajastan. Our guide, Harsh, was fantastic and helped us get the very best of it.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/29/2024

Ciara - Traveled, March 2024

This woman’s expedition to India was absolutely INCREDIBLE! I was a bit nervous for this trip but once I met with the other women and group leader (Harshita) I felt so comfortable. This was an experience of a lifetime. I am so grateful for intrepid and their emphasis on responsible tourism. If you are considering this trip…DO IT! It will not disappoint!

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2024

Jenna - Traveled, March 2024

A life-changing trip, I came away feeling nourished having met so many amazing women and seen so much of beautiful India

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/01/2024

Christina - Traveled, March 2024

India, the destination of a lifetime, and one I will never forget. Thank you to my father for enabling me to do this.