16 night Rajasthan plus Varanasi Trip-Feedback needed

jvrab12

I have been scouring Fodors, India Mike and Tripadvisor for months now. I have gone through many different itinerary possibilities and I now need the help of the knowledgeable people on this board. I am asking for suggestions and feedback on how to best use our time and ideas of how to maybe re-work the itin to make a better use of time.

I do 100% realize that this trip is VERY fast paced but we are going to go for it. I am 28 and husband is 32 so I imagine we will be exhausted but able to handle it.

I am working with a travel agent based in India that a few people on this board have used.
Day One/Dec 21 Arrive Delhi at 1:15am

Day Two/Dec 22 Delhi

Day Three/Dec 23 Delhi to Jaisalmer (Fly via JDH)

Day Four/Dec 24 Jaisalmer (Camel Safari)

Day Five/Dec 25 Jaisalmer

Day Six/Dec 26 Jaisalmer to Jodphur (Fly, Train or Drive?)

Day Seven/Dec 27 Jodpur

Day Eight/Dec 28 Drive Jophur to Udaipur (stopping at Ranakpur)

Day Nine/Dec 29 Udaipur

Day Ten/Dec 30 Udaipur to Kota/Bundi (Drive or Train?)

Day Eleven/Dec 31 Bundi (do overnight train to Agra from Kota)

Day Twelve/Jan 1 Agra

Day Thirteen/Jan 2 Agra to Varanasi (train I assume-arrive in Time for evening boat ride)

Day Fourteen/Jan 3 Varanasi

Day Fifteen/Jan 4 Varanasi to Delhi (Fly)

Day Sixteen/Jan 5 Delhi-depart at 3:05am on Jan 6

Caprimax

When I was there last year there were no flights to Jaisalmer...Have they reinstated them lately?

steven_ber

There's no guarantee the flight to Jaisalmer will be operational, it isn't at the moment. (Kingfisher were operating a flight, but have just stopped operating on this route this month)

The only overnight train is a slow passenger train, it calls at about 40 stations and only has Sleeper Class.

Sleeper Class details & photos.

A well timed overnight train on day twelve may be a better option.

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Train information.

jvrab12

Yes from Jodphur there is a nonstop flight on Kingfisher according to Expedia.

steven_ber

Travel agents.....what do they know.

I've edited my first reply with more details.

karuna

Doesn't help your itinerary much, but no Jaipur?

Usual time thing- Varanasi is a huge detour. It's possible but tiring as you say. 16 days would be perfect for just Rajasthan.

Don't rely on those Jaisalmer flights. Last December people had booked tickets for flights that suddenly didn't exist.

Alternative - Fly Delhi to Jodhpur, spend a night in Jodhpur. Go from there to Jais. After that spend a night in Chandeleo, then Chandelao to Udaipur and carry on as normal.

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