DUNE BASHING IN THE THAR

Trip Highlights

India offers spectacular means to see the country. You could visit India by air, drive around in chauffer driven cars and buses, and have everything laid out for you to see, or you could take things into your own hands.

Go DUNE BASHING in the Thar Desert the MHE way.

Launched in 2003, in Rajasthan our off roads division is pioneering self-drive tours all over India since. Special 4x4 SUVs, expert off road teachers, wireless and mechanic and recovery backups, the MHE off road team sets up your trip and put YOU in the driving seat.

As you embark on the adrenaline pumping Dune trip, you are transported to a completely new world of stark and desolate landscape full of breathtaking sand dunes that challenge you at every level.

Use your own SUV options also available.

Location Chart

Jodhpur - Manvaar - Samrao - Osiyan - Khimsar - Jodhpur

ITINERARY

Day 01 - ARRIVE JODHPUR – DRIVE MANVAAR (105 KMS / FULL DAY)

• Meet an assistant on arrival. Drive to the car en route. We start with handing over of the cars. Each car will be checked by the clients in detail and signed off with the car rental company. Once our cars are loaded and ready we will have a detailed safety briefing and route introduction. We start driving slowly through the busy streets of Jodhpur and soon we are on smaller roads in the outskirts of the city.
• Jodhpur is the gateway to the Thar Desert and you will soon see the landscape changing to dry brush and sand. In the first half of the drive, you will drive through small dirt roads through villages where you will stop at local schools and Dhanis (shepard villages). You will also drive past local Bishnoi localities. The Bishnois are a tribe unique to this area. They are known as the first conservationists. Even today, they protect the local wild life specially the antelope that is considered holy in their community.
• The second half of the drive will be more challenging with small dunes and dry rivers that have to be negotiated. We will provide hot picnic lunch on the way.
• Arrive in the royal Manvaar Desert camp in the evening. The camp offers luxury accommodation in Royal Rajasthani tents set in the middle of sand dunes.
• Dinner, campfire and local dances will be organized at the desert camp.
• Dinner and overnight in Manvaar Fort. D, B, L

Day 02 - MANVAAR- OSIYAN (100 Km/ full day)

• Today will be our first challenging day on the road. We will pass through small villages and a very exciting jeep route through small sand dunes. We will arrive in the ancient village of Samrao for a late lunch. After lunch, we have a couple of hours before we reach the temple village of Osiyan, On reaching Osiyan we will climb on a 4x4 that runs by grass instead of diesel. We will go on a camel trip between the beautiful sand dunes of the area and see off the sun as it sets in the west with a cup of tea.
• Time permitting in the evening we will take a short walk through the town of Osiyan.
• Dinner and Overnight in the Royal Thar Camp. D, B, L

Day 03 - Dinner and Overnight in the Royal Thar Camp. D, B, L

• In the morning we get ready for another exciting go back to our original off-road-motor-powered a fascinating dirt road crossing sand dunes and them. Khimsar is a small village situated around Bikaner, on the outskirts of the Thar Desert. day of off road. Post breakfast , we will animals and head towards Khimsar in agricultural fields that dwell in between 92 km on the highway from Jodhpur to
• We will have a glimpse at the houses, yards, and lives of the villagers that live in this special desert. Come nightfall we shall drive at our palace in Khimsar.
• Dinner and overnight in Khimsar Fort resort. D, B, L

Day 04 - KHIMSAR- JODHPUR- DELHI

• Post breakfast drive for 3 hours by road back to Jodhpur. On arrival hand back your cars and move to a restaurant for lunch.
• Post lunch we will have some time free to roam in the market and do some last minute shopping before transfer to the airport for our flight to Delhi.

Costs include:

1. Night stay in Manvaar fort or similar at Manvar on twin sharing basis with breakfast and lunch
2. Night stay in Royal Thar camp or similar at Osiyan on twin sharing basis with breakfast and lunch
3. Night stay in Khimsar fort or similar at Khimsar on twin sharing basis with breakfast and lunch
4. Hot lunches during 4X4 session Local transportation.
5. Days self drive safari (4 pax in a car) using Ford Endeavour or Similar vehicles
6. Services of an escort and local Guide for the trip
7. Specialist escort for 4X4 self drive safari
8. Lead vehicle during the self drive
9. Services for Mechanic
10. Wireless connectivity in each car
11. Camel ride at Osian.
12. Arrival and departure transport (if hired car from us)

Costs do not include

1. Any transport costs to and from Jodhpur
2. Any fuel. You will be given a full tank and will have to hand over a full tank.
3. Any beverages in hotels / camps.
4. Any expenses of personal nature like tips. Laundry/phone calls etc.
5. Any increase in taxes etc.
6. Any vehicle damage
7. Any other services not mentioned above.

Payment Terms

1. 20% advance payment to be made on booking
2. Balance payment to be made at least 15 days prior to the trip

Cancellation Policy

A Note

MHE guided self-drive expeditions are professionally managed by experts who have been running off road trips for the past 10 years. We take utmost care to give to a safe, memorable and enjoyable driving experience. We have designed this trip to give you the comforts of the best accommodation in Rajasthan but at the same time give you the excitement of an adventure trip. While on the drive everyone will be expected to help and give a hand to cars and people in trouble.

Comprehensive Damage Waiver

As a driver you are liable to pay any damages to the vehicle up to a maximum of Rs. 50,000. However in most cases we have negligible or zero damages and rarely more than Rs. 2000 – Rs 4000 per car. In this security amount will be blocked off on your credit card before handing over the car. In case you would like to limit your maximum damage to Rs. 50,000 then you will need to pay an additional premium of Rs. 650 per day per car.

Gear list

1. Light cotton clothes
2. One warm jacket for the mornings and nights.
3. One warm woollen cap
4. Sun block lotion
5. Sun Hat
6. Sport shoes / river sandals
7. Dark glasses
8. Camera
9. Personal toiletries and medication.