India: Women's Expedition Tour by Intrepid Travel

13 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

12 peopleMaximum group size

15 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

New Delhi, India

Ends

New Delhi, India

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.

Itinerary

See Rajasthan through a new lens on the India: Women's Expedition—a 13-day adventure designed for women and led by a local female guide. Begin in Delhi, ride the women-only metro carriage, and venture into the Thar Desert by jeep for an authentic Kalbeliya dance. Visit villages like Chandelao Garh for artisan workshops and Jaipur for a rickshaw tour led by Pink City Rickshaw Co. guides.

This easy-paced trip blends lively city life with intimate glimpses into the lives and traditions of Indian women. The USP? Genuine, female-focused cultural immersion—making it a safe, empowering travel experience unlike any other.

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:Delhi - Welcome dinner

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Dinner

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: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

day 3 - Bikaner

Your overnight train will arrive in Bikaner just after 7 am this morning. Your group will be picked 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, then hop in the tuk-tuks to visit a local home in the Old Town. Here, some local women will show you how they make papadums and bhajia. Try some of the savoury snacks, chat with the women and enjoy a cup of chai together. This initiative, started by the RGAVP’s government program, nurtures the economic capability of women living below the poverty line in rural and urban areas. Through the practice of cooking, the women of Bikaner created a self-supporting platform to develop their skills and provide snacks to a local marketplace, self-sustaining their livelihoods.

included:Bikaner - Junagarh Fort, Bikaner - Women’s Co-operative visit & tea

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

day 4 - Jaisalmer

This morning, take tuk-tuks to the train station for an early morning journey to Jaisalmer. There’s no food cart on the train, but your local leader will recommend the best snacks for you to buy before you board, 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 (1 night)

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:Thar Desert - Kalbeliya Dance Performance, Thar Desert - Jeep Adventure

accommodation:Camping (with facilities)

meals:1 Dinner

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:Jaisalmer - City Tour

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

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

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

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

accommodation:Heritage Property

meals:1 Dinner

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

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

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

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Dinner

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:Agra - Saree lesson, Agra - Taj Mahal

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

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.

included:Agra - Visit & Lunch at Sheroes Cafe

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Lunch

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.

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What's Included

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights), Camping with basic facilities (1 night), Heritage Property (1 night), Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)

Meals

2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners

Transport

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

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Delhi - Welcome dinnerDelhi - Dilli Haat INA VisitDelhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid MosqueDelhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tourBikaner - Junagarh FortBikaner - Women’s Co-operative visit & teaThar Desert - Kalbeliya Dance PerformanceThar Desert - Jeep AdventureJaisalmer - City TourJodhpur - Meherangarh FortJodhpur - Sadar BazaarJodhpur - City WalkChandelao Garh - Village WalkChandelao Garh - Sundar Rang Crafts Centre VisitChandelao Garh - Rangoli makingChandelao Garh - Henna paintingJaipur - Leader-led orientation walkJaipur - Bollywood movie at Raj MandirChandelao Garh - Morning YogaJaipur - Amber FortJaipur - City tour with The Pink City Rickshaw CompanyJaipur - Home-cooking ClassAgra - Saree lessonAgra - Taj MahalAgra - Visit & Lunch at Sheroes Cafe

What's Excluded

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