Shellie_Thompson

My husband, 2 children and I had hoped to take a luxury train tour through Rajastan in July 2013, but the luxury lines don't appear to run during that time. Can someone suggest an alternative train tour that includes the major sites - Agra, Udaipur, Jaipur and Jaisalmer?

Kathie

Here's the website: www.indiarailtours.com/index.html

You do know, don't you, that it will be hotter than hell then? That's why some of the trains don't run at that time.

vp_singh

I have limited experience with the Maharajas Express train. It is a fact that it does not run in the summers. This year they are also offering short journeys of 3 or 4 days till December 2011.
Contrary to the general belief, the month of July and August are not all that hot. I have lived in Rajasthan for several years. No doubt the best weather begins in mid September, the monsoons and the cloud cover in July renders the climate fairly tolerable. However, it is Delhi & Agra which will be unbearably hot/humid. Udaipur will be around 30c; Jaipur - 34c; Jaisalmer could be high at 36/37c. Jaipur & Udaipur have some heavy downpours during this period.
Some of the most colourful festivals occur during this time in Rajasthan. A trip to Rajasthan in July & August could be extended to Leh & Ladakh, where it will be peak season.
Happy travels!

dogster

Actually, Kathie - this is a better website for purely lux trains:
http://www.theluxurytrains.com/

To the O.P. - yup, July ain't happening. There's this thing called the Monsoon...

It's July right now. Go check the weather on the net. It'll be the same in 2013. But, your idea of a lux train is a great one. Wow, they are expensive - but they deliver. Don't use Palace on Wheels. That's for the tour groups.

Kathie

If you are just looking for luxe and it doesn't have to be a train, consider one of the packages put together by the Oberoi or Taj hotels. Go to the hotel websites and see what they offer. At that time of year you can get good prices.

Kathie

Oh, and thanks to dogster for the luxury train link.

lcuy

Looking at those prices (over US$400 per PERSON per day! , I think Kathie's got a good idea. Get one of the Oberoi packages and have them transport you between their hotels.

For six or more nights at a variety of Oberois, this family package costs about $400 per night, but is for a family of 4! Included are all kinds of kid activities (kite building, bath toys, cooking gardening or dance classes), breakfast, and air or rail transfers.

If you want the train rides, do it from one city to another in a regular first class cabin. With four of you filling up a cabin, and Oberoi sheparding you there, it will be nice!

http://www.oberoihotels.com/india/fa...p?refurl=INOFV

dogster

lcuy, the prices go up to $990 per person, per day on one of them - but I think, for that money, there is a team of wallahs to bathe you, strew your path with rose petals and carry the palanquin for excursions.

Indeed, for a small extra fee they will bring the Taj Mahal to <i>you</i>, erecting it overnight in a small car park just next to the station. One need only roll over in bed to see it.

kmkrnn

I like you idea of travel dogster. Are they good at pouring wine and keeping it chilled also?

dogster

Indeed they are, kmk. It's a very nice experience - at least, mine was. Very efficient.

It doesn't really compare to the Oberoi shlep, very nice though that would be - simply because all the traveling is done for you. The reality is, probably, that either way, you'll spend the same time at the sites and see the same things whether or not you do the shlep in a car/plane or on a luxe train.

Not all Dogster's travels are intrepid. I do very good trepid as well.