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India Horse Riding Tour

Ride off the beaten track on majestic Marwari horses and discover the beauty and wilderness of India. Come and discover majestic landscapes on horseback.

Key information

  • Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
  • Horse Breed: Marwari

Highlights

  • 7 days of horse riding
  • Approximate daily riding time: 4 - 6 hours
  • Ride through villages, hills, White Desert, and hamlets
  • 8 nights accommodation
  • Daily meals
  • Transfers to and from the airport

Skill level

  • Intermediate

Styles


7 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Hindi, Spanish
Group size: 6-30 participants
Airport transfer included: Bhuj Airport / Bhuj Rudra Mata Air Force Base
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Accommodation

Check-in Time:
09:00
Check-out Time:
12:00

You will stay in heritage or resort hotels, luxury desert camps, and large comfortable safari tents. The safari tents are tall and properly furnished with ensuite washrooms, offering an excellent level of comfort during the ride.

Traditional Bhunga (mud houses)

Immerse yourself in rural Gujarat with overnight stays in traditional Bhungas, designed to provide comfort and a unique cultural experience.

Tents

Experience nature in comfortable tents, providing a cozy retreat with essential amenities for a blend of rustic charm and modern comfort.

Program

Daily itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day

Your representative will greet you at the airport and take you to a beautiful resort hotel in the historic city of Bhuj. Upon arrival, KCRC Safari will serve a welcome drink and get you settled in your accommodation. There will be some time to rest and relax after your long flight. In the afternoon, you will do some local sightseeing around Bhuj, before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Days 2 - 3

You will start your ride at the edge of Bhuj, heading out after breakfast to meet the horses and set off. Today, as every day, the camp team will head out to gather supplies, arriving at the lunch spot to set up tents and get to work cooking your delicious meal. You will ride at approximately three hours to the lunch spot, where you will eat and rest for an hour, before continuing on to your overnight location in Devpar.

Tonight, your accommodation will be at a beautiful heritage property in Devpar, once a small palace, now a boutique hotel. They usually have this property to themselves. Upon arrival, the grooms take your horse while you settle into the hotel, relaxing in the courtyard, taking in the beautiful features of this 110-year-old haveli. Dinner will be served in the courtyard. The kitchen at Devpur serves delicious, home-cooked Kutchi meals, and a cooking demonstration can be arranged for interested guests.

Day 4

Setting out from Devpar in the misty morning, you ride Northeast, towards Nirona. Along the way you pass through varied terrain, from lush green farmland, where you will see local people working the land in traditional ways, oxen pulling plough, and camels grazing along the track, to wide open areas of dry scrubland and rocky hills. The team will set up lunch halfway, then overnight camp near Nirona village.

Day 5

In the morning, you will visit the village of Nirona, famous for the workmanship of its traditional artisans. Perhaps the most famous is Rogan art, a unique and intricate form of freehand painting on textiles using natural dyes, made famous when Indian Prime Minister Modi gifted a Rogan art ‘Tree of Life’ to Barrack Obama on his official visit. Rogan art is a tradition that has been passed down through one single family in Nirona for over 300 years and can only be found here.

In addition to Rogan art, you will visit traditional craftsmen working with leather, metal, and wood, giving you a glimpse of traditional village work which carries on now as it has for hundreds of years. Unlike the commercialized experiences of many ‘craft villages’, Nirona still retains its original charm. These are real craftsmen, working in their home studios without fanfare, using the same traditional techniques as their forefathers. You will then saddle up and ride out for the hills of Dhinodar, where peacocks roam and leopards prowl.

Dhinodar Hill is an inactive volcano, offering spectacular views across Chhari Dhandh wetlands towards the Rann, with a shrine at the top and the 12th-century Hindu monastery of Than at the bottom. The monastery itself is a fascinating, well-preserved site with many interesting stories and legends about its foundation and features. YOu will visit the monastery, before taking a ride around the foothills of Dhinodar, where you will camp overnight.

Day 6

Today, you descend from the rocky hills of Dhinodhar, riding north across green farmland out onto the dry open plains to reach the Chhari Dhandh Wetlands Reserve. Home to vast numbers of migratory birds, including flamingos, cranes, painted storks, and spoonbills, amongst others, the wetlands and nearby grassland also attract chinkara (Indian gazelle), Nilgai, blackbucks (antelope), Indian wolf (rare), golden jackals, caracal, desert cats, and desert foxes.

The best time to watch the birds is at sunrise or sunset. Upon arrival at Chhari Dhandh, the grooms will receive the horses while we explore the reserve by jeep, staying to enjoy the sunset, before heading to KCRC resort camp on the edge of the White Desert. You will have dinner at KCRC and spend the night here in luxury Swiss tents.

Days 7 - 8

Rising early, with tea or coffee served at your tent, you will find your horse prepped and ready, awaiting you in the half-light. You will take a short ride out into the White Desert, where we stop to watch the magnificent sunrise over this unique landscape. Breakfast will be served here, at a stunning location out on the salt flats, a surreal and otherworldly dining experience to start the day.

After breakfast, there will be plenty of time to explore this unique landscape and take some great photos before heading back to KCRC. There will be some time to rest and freshen up before lunch. In the afternoon, you will go by jeep to visit the Rann Utsav desert festival, a three-month-long celebration of Kutchi arts and culture that takes place every year in the White Rann. You will return to KCRC for a farewell dinner, followed by an evening of traditional music and dance performances.

Day 9: Departure day

Optional morning activities can be arranged for guests with later departure times, for example, for guests leaving after 12:00 p.m., a morning trip to Kala Dungar can be arranged, or perhaps a visit to the market at Rann Utsav for some last-minute shopping and souvenirs. Transfers to Bhuj will be organized based on suitable timing for your onward travel plans.

About the tour

Camp within the walls of ancient forts and experience rural village life and culture as you ride through uncharted territory, soaking in the sights, sounds, and vibrant colors of this stunning region. Experienced and knowledgeable guides will lead you through varied landscapes, from the famous salt desert to vast open plains and small hamlets, making it the most wonderfully unique and incomparable riding experience. This meticulously crafted safari package will lead you to off-the-beaten-path locations, ensuring an unparalleled experience of the area's pristine natural scenery.

The classic rider camp offers a unique horse safari in Bhuj, Gujarat, providing tourists with authentic cultural experiences and adventure, aiming to create sustainable economic opportunities while preserving and promoting Gujarat's heritage. Explore the beauty and wilderness of Kutch on an off-road journey riding majestic Marwari horses. Stay in ancient forts, immerse yourself in rural village life and culture, and take in the sights, sounds, and vibrant colors of Gujarat. Explore diverse landscapes from salt deserts to open plains on this unique horse safari in Kutch region, Gujarat.

Join KCRC Safari for an incomparable riding experience and discover Kutch on horseback. This horse riding tour caters to medium and experienced equestrians. Your guides will match you with a horse and route suitable for your skill level. Generally, participants must be at least 12 years old. Younger riders may be accommodated on special family safaris or private rides.

Please inquire for details. Safaris take place rain or shine but will be adjusted for severe weather to ensure safety and comfort. While wildlife encounters are possible, this safari focuses more on exploring scenic landscapes and enjoying the thrill of horseback riding. They adhere to wildlife viewing guidelines to minimize disturbance.

  • Experience with tradition: Visits to traditional villages where you can experience the work of the local artisans
  • Folk music: Traditional music and dance performances in camp
  • Visit to Rann Utsav Desert Festival
  • Night sky view: Stargazing night in the desert, with a high-powered telescope and professional astronomers on hand to help you enjoy the wonders of the night sky
  • Beach ride: A ride on the beach will allow the riders to view and experience the beauty in the water of Kutch

Objectives

  • Adventure tourism: It is tailored to adventure enthusiasts in search of unconventional experiences
  • Economic impact: Their initiatives aim to generate revenue for local communities through tourism-related activities and the sale of artisanal products
  • Cultural preservation: Strive to instill pride in local heritage and crafts, nurturing their preservation and transmission to future generations
  • Environmental stewardship: Advocate for responsible tourism practices that reduce environmental impact and contribute to conservation efforts

Activities

1. Horseback riding

Embark on an unforgettable adventure as you explore stunning desert landscapes and peaceful rural villages on expert-led tours. They provide a wide range of accessories and equipment for horseback riding. Expert grooms are dedicated to providing top-notch assistance for unforgettable long-duration horse safaris. They offer a well-trained and disciplined herd of Marwari horses, one of the world's oldest horse breeds, originally from Rajasthan.

2. Cultural experience

Explore local villages to connect with skilled artisans, admire traditional crafts like embroidery and pottery, and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Kutchi folk music and dance. Join them for a traditional folk music and lively zippy dance event, followed by a bonfire for relaxation in the evening.

3. Nature trails

Explore the diverse flora and fauna of the region, including visits to wildlife sanctuaries, star gazing, and birdwatching spots. Home to over 300 species of birds, this location hosts the world's largest gathering of flamingos and cranes.

Safety measures

Experienced guides, well-trained horses, and adherence to safety protocols are in place to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience.

Marwari horses

One of the oldest breeds in the world, Marwaris are as beautiful as they are tough. With distinctive curved ears and a fine confirmation similar to Arabian horses, they are capable of covering large distances in harsh desert climates with ease and grace. This rare breed can only be found here in India as exports were banned to preserve the breed.

The route

Your ride takes you from the Great Rann, one of the world's largest salt deserts, through the Banni grasslands and Chhari Dandh wetlands, covering wide open stretches of scrub forest and sandy desert, passing through small hamlets and curving south, where the landscape turns lush and green before you reach the south shore of Kutch, finishing the ride by swimming with the horses in the Arabian sea.

Location

The tour will take place in India.

Beautiful riding terrain

Kutch is one of the largest and most geographically distinct regions in India, boasting vast open spaces without roads or fences and some of the most unique landscapes on the continent.

Wildlife

The striking landscapes of Kutch include a number of unique habitats and the region supports a vast range of native and migratory species, from flamingos and cranes in the wetlands to Indian gazelles, buffalos, wild camels, and desert foxes on the plains, leopards in the hills and crocodiles in the lake, each different habitat offers a new surprise.

History

History comes alive on this ride as you camp in ancient forts, stay overnight in heritage properties that were once small palaces, and visit historical landmarks along the way.

Food

You will be served daily meals and non-alcoholic drinks included in the price. Rajasthani chefs accompany the ride, preparing delicious meals at camp with fresh local ingredients each day. After enjoying the safari on horseback, on the last day of the ride, it will be a time to party and enjoy with everyone in a group.

The following meals are included:

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Drinks

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

  • Vegetarian
  • Lacto-ovo Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Gluten Free
  • Organic
  • Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
  • Hallal
  • Lactose Free
  • Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

What's included

  • Riding through various landscapes and terrains, 40 - 50 kilometers per day
  • Visiting cultural or historical sites along the route
  • 8 nights accommodation
  • 1 complimentary night stay for late departure
  • Diverse meals reflecting local and international cuisine
  • Experienced guides leading the safari
  • Airport or railway station pick-up and drop-off
  • GST

What's not included

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • GST

How to get there

Recommended Airports

Arrival by train

You can travel by train to Bhuj railway station in Gujrat.

Airport: Bhuj Airport / Bhuj Rudra Mata Air Force Base Airport transfer included: Bhuj Airport / Bhuj Rudra Mata Air Force Base No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

  • A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
  • The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
  • The rest of the payment should be paid 15 days before arrival.
9 days / 8 nights
from --
Retreat information

For participants who have late departures, there is 1 complimentary night included at the end of the tour.

Minimum group size

This trip requires a minimum of 6 participants

Select your package:

For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.

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