6 weeks and travelling alone - suggestions?!

divadino

Hi

I'm planning a trip to India for 6 weeks (although I still haven't booked flights from UK, which is leaving it a bit late) during December and January. I've read so much on the web and in guide books etc. and my head is spinning, so maybe you can help me.

What would you recommend I do in 6 weeks? I'm drawn to Rajhastan as a region and also thought it would be nice to chill out towards the end of my trip in Southern India - Kerala, Cochin, possibly go up to Goa. I want to balance people watching, meeting local people, visiiting historic sights, shopping in bazars, seeing cities as well as countryside/wildlife..... and I suppose I should try to take it a bit easier before returning to work. I'm pretty good at exploring towns quickly but don't want to be rushing too much and not taking it all in properly.

I've considered a few ways of getting around.... I don't want to be constantly carrying my bag around with me as the worry of getting it nicked and just the sore shoulders at the end of the day can often get in the way of taking in the sights and sounds. My options are:

* doing an overland trip or two with the Exodus type companies. I spent 3 months in South America doing an overland trip with Dragoman, which I enjoyed and still managed to meet locals, but it was a different place every day, lots of camping and of course we were travelling in our truck with the same group of "westerners". However the local guides our driver hired were fabulous and I didn't get ill once cos we were very careful with hygiene and food.

* hiring a driver/car or getting a package including driver and hotels - would this give me flexibility to stop off at places along the way or is the "route" pre-defined? Is this a good way to meet locals? What are the down sides and up sides? If alone, will this cost me a ridiculous amount? How do I ensure I don't get ripped off and also find a good, knowledgeable driver? I'd only do this in Rajhastan as I get the impression that the pace is slower and easier down south for catching buses and trains etc.

* DIY - schlepping my bag around on buses and trains, taxis and rickshaws etc. and working out how to get from A to B and hotel to hotel. I know this is meant to be cheapest and give the best access to Indian life, but also the most stressful. This is what I did in Australia - but that country is so easy to get around and practically English (apologies to Ozzies!!!).

I'd like to get an open-jaw ticket flying into Dehli and back to London out of somewhere else depending on where I go after Rajhastan.

so I open the floor to you! I'm single female traveller by the way (and my mum is petrified I'll get some terrible illness out there!!). :-)

Dino

guerik

I used Intrepid (intrepidtravel.com) in Jan/Feb this year and they were great, it's like a cross between backpacking and your usual tour - you use mostly local transport (or rented vehicles - not an airconditioned coach in sight) and meet a lot of the locals while still travelling in a comfortable group etc. I've raved about them enough on these boards before, but if you'd like more info feel free to PM me.

SHIMLA

December and January are pretty easy and unhurried months for travel in India.

I suggest you go on your own and travel by trains - a wonderful experience !

Land at Delhi and cover Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur Mount Abu and Udaipur; before heading off to Goa and Kochi, via Mumbai. Exit from Mumbai. 3 weeks each in Rajasthan and the South will be fine.

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Lily

Rajasthan suggestions
Transport
The best way to tour Rajasthan is by road. Hiring a private taxi is more expensive than using public transport, but rates in India are not all that high and you can see my post to get an estimate of costs. In December and January you do not need air-conditioning, so you pay that much less.Rajasthan is one state where you want to stop at many places, and this kind of choice is only possible if you hire your own car.
For rates go to
Hiring a vehicle - Costs in Rajasthan

Hotels
If you are travelling in the last week of December, book now.
Rajasthan is not very busy in the first three weeks of January (we would be very happy to be proved wrong on this) and you can choose your hotels as you go along.

Oh! and hundreds of single female travellers have seen Rajasthan on their own; just take the precautions you would take anywhere else.

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Lily

LuAnnandJawahar

No matter which way you choose, you'll be happier the lighter you pack. You'll rarely be in a situation where you have to carry your own bag if you travel by train or by car. But inevitably you end up having to lug it Someplace, so keep that in mind. Never pack more than you caneasily carry yourself.

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