Leopard Safari
8 Days
India ( Best airport: Udaipur)
This exciting itinerary in north west India combines five days of riding with wildlife spotting, camping in the desert wilderness and visiting the beautiful town of Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh Fort. Experience rural India at itโs best on expertly-trained Marwari horses. Start the trail high up in the Aravalli hills, before cantering across the wooded valleys and open plains to reach camp. Jeep safari is available for morning and evening leopard spotting. Ideal for intrepid travellers who want to experience a true trail riding adventure.
Level of Riding and Fitness
This trail is suitable for riders from intermediate riders upwards. All participants should be comfortable cantering in the open countryside. You will be spending between 4 and 6 hours in the saddle each day so a good level of current riding fitness is required. The weight limit is 90kg.
Guides and Group Size
The Leopard Safari Trail is guided by renowned horse breeder Ajeet Singh who has decades of experience at guiding trails in the region.
The maximum number of riders in a group is 12.
Tack and Riding Equipment
English bridles are used and Indian Cavalry โsawarโ saddles. You can use a mixture of English riding and neck reining techniques – Marwari horses are adaptable and quick to learn.
Accommodation and Dining
Youโll be spending the first two nights of the trail in local hotels. Once on the trail youโll spend each night camping (5 nights). Tents are large 14 x 14ft Maharajah โshikarโ tents. These tents are erected and dismantled every night by a tent team. You can easily stand up in them and they are decorated inside. Each tent comes complete with real beds, linen and an attached private bathroom with a sink, mirror, shower tray and a plumbed-in porcelain toilet.
A variety of food is provided at mealtimes. Breakfast options include toast/butter/Jam, porridge, corn flakes, eggs, fruit, plus Indian options of Poha (savory flaked rice), Puri (puffed bread) and Chai (sweet spicy tea). Coffee is available but bring your own if this is a necessity as Indian coffee is not the same!
Lunch is a picnic on the trail and could be rice, Chapati, eggs, okra, aubergine, egg plant, peas, carrots, potato, pasta, turmeric chips, chick pea, cabbage, etc plus fruit juice and chai as per breakfast, local sweets for pudding, soft drinks (Pepsi, Sprite, cold beer). There is always one plain dish for those finding the heat and spices too much. Dinner will have similar options to lunch but also a meat dish when available and allowed (some camp locations are in the Bishnoi tribe area, who are vegetarian, so we respect this). A small selection of alcoholic drinks are available (Kingfisher beer, Indian whisky, dark rum and gin).
Get a free Leopard Safari mini-brochure in PDF format.
Gallery
Itinerary
Leopard Safari
8 days / 7 nights / 5 days riding
Single supplement ยฃ300
Flights & Airport transfers
Do not book flights until you have received the Booking confirmation email from saddletravel.com.
Please plan your flights to/from Udaipur as follows:
Arrive at Udaipur by midday on the first day of your holiday.
Departure flight on the last day of your holiday should not leave Udaipur before 16:00.
Transfers are included from/to Udaipur airport. Departures or arrivals at different times to the above can be arranged but the itinerary may need to be adjusted.
- 5 full days of riding
- Trail riding horse, tack and saddlebags
- Double or twin room/tent with private bathroom
- Breakfasts
- Lunches
- Evening meals
- Drinks with meals including water, soft drinks, beer, whisky, rum & gin
- Airport transfers from/to Udaipur
- Local transfers
- All arrangements as detailed in itinerary
- Internal or international flights
- Tips
- Drinks outside of mealtimes