15 days in Rajasthan by train and bus

Hi there,

I’ll try to help you out—I’ve traveled to Rajasthan five times, most recently this summer (if only I could find the time to finish that darn travel journal...).

What’s "must-see" or "less interesting" is always subjective and will resonate with some but not others. For my part, I’d start by considering how many days you have and not overpack your itinerary, especially since you only have two weeks and want to travel by train and bus, which I totally support. From there, I’d build a reasonable route that lets you enjoy each place without rushing, striking a good balance between "must-sees" and peaceful natural spots.

To me, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer—touristy as they are—are places you’d regret skipping on a Rajasthan trip. I might also add Jaipur and Bundi. Personally, I find Pushkar quite nice but not essential.

For quiet, natural spots, there’s no shortage. In Jaisalmer, you can stay with locals in desert villages. Bundi is relatively calm too. Halfway between Jodhpur and Udaipur, I discovered the Jawai Bandh leopard sanctuary, where you can stay in deluxe tents right in the heart of a stunning natural setting and watch the local wildlife and villagers living in harmony with leopards. Mount Abu is a hill station about an hour away, perfect for easy, scenic walks around the lake or in nature—just avoid weekends when crowds of Indian tourists flood the place and overwhelm it.

Booking buses is the easiest. The day before you leave, just go to a private agency or ask your hotel to reserve a bus for your next stop. There are air-conditioned sleeper buses with little cabins for 2–3 people, which are cheap for us and super comfortable for traveling. Trains are a bit trickier because you need an Indian phone number to book in advance. Here’s a trick I found: for the first reservation, I messaged the manager of one of the hotels I’d booked via WhatsApp and asked if they could book my train for me. After that, once I arrived at my first stop, I booked my other two trains at the station. Honestly, though, the bus is often more practical, both for booking and the journey itself. It really depends on your route.

I’d recommend planning just enough to limit your stops and spend at least 2–3 days in each place. That’ll force you to make some tough choices given your time, but you’ll enjoy the places you *do* visit more and won’t spend your trip racing between transports, exhausted and feeling like you’ve only skimmed the surface.

Don’t hesitate to ask if you’d like suggestions for an itinerary, transport connections, or anything else...

Hi there,

I’m not as much of an expert as Pagal, but my trip to Rajasthan was recent, so my take has the advantage of being the second one [;)]

I’m not sure how to organize my stay, given that we really love nature and peace....

I’ll jump in here. Rajasthan might not be the best region for what you’re looking for! Sure, you can find a bit more peace in Bundi or Jaisalmer... Bundi is a small town, and the hustle is less intense—probably because the big tour operators don’t focus on it. In Jaisalmer, a desert trip will give you what you’re after. For Jodhpur, for example, we chose (for the same reasons as you) to stay in a village 30 minutes away by road. Absolute peace! Plus, our host at Chhotaram Prajapat Home Stay organized a little "safari" in nature for us.

and I’m worried about too much hustle if everything isn’t planned

You *will* be, constantly. The stops on your itinerary are super touristy—that’s where the touts are most active. Where you stay makes a huge difference. Check guest reviews to at least make sure you’re sleeping in a quiet neighborhood.

2 nights in Agra 2 nights in Jaipur 2 nights in Pushkar 2 nights in Jodhpur 3 nights in Udaipur Flight back to Delhi.

I don’t think you need 2 nights in Agra. Jaipur is exhausting. I haven’t been to Pushkar. We loved Udaipur—it’s relatively peaceful, and there’s plenty to do. Jodhpur was great too, but mostly because of our village. If you’re traveling by train or bus, I’d skip Jaisalmer (sadly!)—it’s a bit out of the way, and you’ll end up rushing around.

I’m jumping in here. Rajasthan might not be the best region for what you’re looking for! Sure, you can find a bit more peace in Bundi or Jaisalmer...

I don’t really agree—Rajasthan is full of quiet spots, though they’re not always the "must-sees." On the flip side, even in the "must-sees," you can find places that are off the beaten path and peaceful (like that famous village near Jodhpur you mentioned—there are plenty of them). For example, it’s totally possible to plan an itinerary made up entirely of nature stops (mountains, desert, villages, reserves...).

You will be, constantly. The stops on your route are very touristy—that’s where the touts are.

I don’t necessarily agree with that either. Over 3 weeks this summer, we were hardly bothered, even though we took a pretty classic route by bus and train. I’ll admit it might be because I’m used to traveling in India, and it shows in my attitude. Speaking Hindi also helps me shut down tourist solicitations quickly.

I don’t think it’s necessary to spend 2 nights in Agra. Jaipur is exhausting.

Totally agree! For such a short trip, two nights in Agra isn’t useful. Jaipur *is* exhausting, true, but you can end up liking it if you take your time exploring.

If you’re traveling by train or bus, I think you should skip Jaisalmer (unfortunately!)—it’s too out of the way, and you’ll be rushing the whole time.

By taking an overnight train from Delhi right away—or even better, a domestic flight—it’s possible to start your trip in Jaisalmer, then head to Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar or Bundi, and finally Jaipur and/or Agra before returning to Delhi. Or add other stops along the same route. I’ll say it again: I *highly* recommend the Jawai Bandh leopard sanctuary.

Hi there, Thanks for these great tips. I’ll revise my itinerary based on them. We don’t like rushing, so we really need to make some choices and maybe come back later to see what we missed [;)]

Thanks for this reply as well. Everyone’s experience varies from city to city, but travelers’ feedback on Agra or Pushkar is often pretty consistent. I’ll revise my plans based on the info you shared.

Not really on board with that—the Rajasthan is full of quiet spots, but they’re not necessarily the "must-sees."

I think Richard’s reply took into account the itinerary Magfred had in mind ;) He didn’t specifically mention any quiet places! If he’s looking for nature and tranquility, then a "villages" itinerary would be the way to go.

It's amaz!

Good evening everyone. So glad VoyageForum is back up and running. This is a forum that’s helped me plan countless trips thanks to all your contributions. I’m reaching out for your advice on a trip I’m planning for March 2025, from the 7th to the 21st. I was thinking of a classic itinerary: Arrival in Delhi at 12:05 AM on Saturday, then taking a train in the afternoon to Agra. 2 nights in Agra 2 nights in Jaipur 2 nights in Pushkar 2 nights in Jodhpur 3 nights in Udaipur Then flying back to Delhi. Most of the travel would be by train (which we love) and bus. However, after reading various travelers’ comments, some cities seem less interesting, while others I hadn’t included—like Bundi and Jaisalmer—are catching my eye. But traveling by train and bus, I’m worried it might get really complicated. I’m not sure how to organize my trip anymore, knowing we love nature and quiet... and I’m afraid of too much hassle if everything isn’t planned. Also, how can I book trains and buses in advance from France? Thanks in advance. Magali

I’d add one more night in Jaipur and take one away from Udaipur if you’re only planning to visit the city.

Hi there. Traveling by train and bus is really complicated—you waste a lot of time and miss out on quite a bit. Finding quiet spots? Forget about it unless you rent a scooter, like we did in Udaipur and several times in South India.

In November, we did a Rajasthan tour: 38,000 km in 18 days with Ravindra, a French-speaking driver. He’s an excellent and cautious driver, even in that insane traffic. We hadn’t prepared much—just trusted his 15-day itinerary, which outlined the stops. He knows all of India, especially Rajasthan, and can find French-speaking guides or recommend audio guides. He takes you to steps off the beaten path, away from overcrowded or completely unknown sites. The hotels are chosen based on your budget, but you can also book them yourself. He knows the best roadside restaurants where you can eat for 2 to 3 €. Not used to traveling with a driver (we’re more the backpacker type, at 71 years old), we really enjoyed the setup. For example, instead of spending the first day in Delhi, we went straight from the airport to his village—right into the heart of rural India. His contact: +91 75686 16508 meenaravindra3@gmail.com

It’s really complicated to travel by train and bus—you waste a lot of time and miss out on quite a bit.

Not at all! You never waste time on trains and buses—it’s where the real experience happens! Unless you’re racing from palace to temple...

Finding quiet spots means forgetting about it or renting a scooter, like we did in Udaipur and several times in South India.

That’s not true—you can discover quiet spots without renting a scooter: just take a local bus or a rickshaw.

His contact +91 75686 16508 meenaravindra3@gmail.com

Ah, that explains it!

38,000 km in 18 days?! Isn’t there an extra zero in there?

We’ve got our Phileas Fogg here. Seriously, they need to change their ad pitch—who wants to spend that much time on the road in 18 days?

They must’ve been driving day and night[;)] That’s still 2000 km a day, and in India it’s not easy—with an average of 50 km/h, you can’t stop too often.😲

Even though it was actually 3,800 kilometers—over 200 every day—it still feels more like a real punishment than a trip. It’s just ticking off stages like in *Pékin Express*...