India tours
India tours, run from our own office in Udaipur
This is where Trailisse started, and it is still a working part of the business. We arrange private, guided trips across Rajasthan and the north of India, using drivers and guides we know personally rather than whoever a booking platform assigns.
Why book this through us rather than online
Our office is on the highway outside Udaipur, in the middle of the region we send people to. That is the whole argument. We are not aggregating somebody else's tours: we know which drivers turn up on time, which havelis are worth the money and which are trading on a photograph taken in better days, and how long the drive between two cities actually takes rather than what a map says.
Where we take people
Rajasthan is large and the distances between its cities are longer than they look. Most people try to fit in too much. The honest advice is to give each place enough time to be worth the drive to it.
Jaipur
The obvious entry point and the busiest. Amber Fort, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar. Two full days is enough unless you want to shop properly.
Udaipur
Our home city, and the one people extend their stay in. Lakes, the City Palace, and a pace that is noticeably slower than Jaipur's.
Jodhpur
Mehrangarh is the single most impressive fort in the state and the blue old town below it is genuinely worth walking rather than driving.
Jaisalmer
A long drive west into the Thar, and the reason to make it is the desert rather than the town. Best between October and March.
Pushkar
Small, and easily done as a stop between Jaipur and Jodhpur. Different in character during the annual camel fair, when it needs booking well ahead.
The Golden Triangle
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The standard first trip to India, and it works, provided the driving days are planned realistically.
When to come
October to March is the season, and for good reason: daytime temperatures are comfortable and the desert is bearable. December and January are the busiest and the coldest at night, particularly in the desert, where it drops further than people expect.
April to June is very hot, frequently above 40 °C in the west. It is cheaper and quieter, and it is genuinely hard going unless you plan around the middle of the day.
July to September brings the monsoon. Rajasthan sees far less rain than most of India, the landscape turns green, and Udaipur in particular looks its best. It is a reasonable time to come if you do not mind some disruption.
How we work
- Private, not group. Your own car and driver, and your own guide in each city. You set the pace.
- Built around your dates, not fitted into a fixed departure.
- Accommodation to your budget. From well-run small hotels to heritage properties. We will tell you where paying more genuinely buys something.
- One contact throughout, reachable while you are travelling.
Common questions about travelling in Rajasthan
How many days do I need for Rajasthan?
Eight to ten days covers Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur comfortably. Adding Jaisalmer realistically needs twelve or more, because the drives west are long. Anything under a week means choosing two cities and doing them properly.
Is it better to drive or take internal flights?
Driving, for most of Rajasthan. The distances are manageable, the road scenery is part of the trip, and having your own car means stopping where you want. Flying makes sense only for the longest hops, such as Delhi to Udaipur.
Do you arrange flights to India as well?
Yes. We can arrange the international flights alongside the tour, or you can book those yourself and we handle everything from arrival onwards.
Is Rajasthan suitable for a first trip to India?
It is one of the better places to start. The tourism infrastructure is well established, the distances are manageable and the highlights are close together compared with most of the country.
Can you arrange a trip for a family or a larger group?
Yes, and we do this often. Larger groups need more notice, particularly for accommodation in the smaller towns.
Plan a trip to India
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and how long you have. We will suggest a route.