Rajasthan Cycle 2019 8 17 FEBRUARY 2019 redruk people and skills for disaster relief
Rajasthan Cycle 2019 Welcome to the Rajasthan Cycle 2019! Join us on a once in a lifetime adventure through vibrant Rajasthan, led by Discover Adventure. We ll be with you every step of the way, from giving you fundraising tips, to advice on what to pack we guarantee this will be a trip that you ll never forget. Key information Dates: 8-17 February 2019 Location : Rajasthan, India Fundraising target: 3650 Registration Fee: 385 This is an exclusive RedR event, the team will be solely RedR fundraisers. We will be receiving a visit from RedR India during our stay, a member of the family organisation, giving you the opportunity to engage with the humanitarian community, explore glorious Indian landscapes and raise money for a worthwhile cause all in one unique experience. We are working with Discover Adventure to provide you with the highest quality travel. What s Included? Return flights from London to Delhi All accommodation (twin share) All meals including the celebration meal Discover Adventure leader and doctor Local guides, cooks, drivers etc Bicycle 24-hour emergency UK back-up Mobile travel app What s not included: Visa Lunch on day 10 (depending on flight departure time) Bicycle helmet Personal travel insurance (to cover personal injury, cancellation/curtailment, lost items etc) Fuel supplement levied by airline (approx. 225pp) I m really excited about experiencing a different culture, physically and mentally challenging myself and seeing one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. I m also looking forward to engaging with colleagues from across BP to share with them the work RedR does. Richard Stacey, BP, speaking before the RedR UK Petra trek in 2017; he also took part in the Kilimanjaro trek 2016.
Itinerary Day 1: Depart London for India Day 2: Arrive Jaipur We arrive and connect onto our flight to Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, India s largest state. We transfer to our hotel and relax! Night hotel. Day 3: Jaipur & Monkeys Jaipur is known as the Pink City because of the terracotta colour of many of its buildings, and we spend a whole day exploring its many sights. The setting for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel films, it s a fascinating city and gives us a good cultural introduction to India, whose frenetic and vibrant street-scenes assault the senses wonderfully but can be a shock to the system! We visit Amber Fort, look out for monkeys playing on the fort walls! We also have time to visit the famous Observatory, or Jantar Mantar a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the City Palace, and see the striking Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, which is actually just a facade. Heading back to our hotel, we have time to check our bikes and prepare our kit before dinner and a full briefing. Night hotel. Day 4: Jaipur Jamwa Ramgarh Bhanderej After an energising breakfast, we set out on our Rajasthan adventure! After an hour s transfer out of the busy city, we unload the bikes and start pedalling. Heading out into the countryside, we are able to appreciate the scenery around us: beautiful greenbrown hills surround us. The roads are fairly quiet now, but we ll see bicycles, motorcycles and camels pulling carts laden with all manner of produce. We head east to the 11th-century village of Bhanderej, passing small villages and plots of farmland. Our route is predominantly flat, but it s a long, hot day of cycling! A short transfer will take us the last 15km to our hotel, unless our group pace allows us time to ride the whole distance. We stay in a wonderful Maharaja s palace. Night hotel. Cycle approx 75km (or 90km) 5 6 hours; drive approx 1 hour Day 5: Bhanderej Lalsot Ranthambore National Park Our route today follows trails made by the many pilgrims, traders and armies whose journeys reflect the rich cultural history of this region. We
Itinerary follow small roads and tracks through villages and agricultural land, passing Hindu settlements, temples and shrines, and start to gain a real insight into the way of local life. Photogenic blue-painted Brahmin houses stand out from the natural colours of the land: Brahmins are the high priestly rank of the caste system. Vibrantly-clad children wave to us as we pass their houses and brightly-coloured truck-buses pass us, passengers riding on the roofs. We reach a larger road and follow it to the town of Lalsot, where we load up in the vehicles for the last 50km to Ranthambore National Park famous for its magnificent tigers and the Project Tiger conservation project. There are many other species living here, including samba, cheetah, wild boar, leopard, sloth bear, jackal and hyena. We stay in a hotel just outside the Park. Night hotel. Cycle approx 70km / 5 6 hours; drive approx 1.5 hours Day 6: Ranthambore National Park Karauli Our day starts with an exciting safari into Ranthambore National Park, where we can spot wildlife from canters (open minibuses). Formerly a hunting ground for Maharajas, the National Park is one of Rajasthan s few areas of lush jungle and grassland and forms a great contrast to the landscapes we have seen so far. The terrain is diverse with open bush, dense forest, grassland and jungle, and we can enjoy the views of the surrounding steep craggy hills while keeping alert for signs of wildlife. If we are very lucky we may see a tiger basking in the sun or ambling down a track. After our safari is over, we leave the green forest behind and head off on our bikes on small tarmac roads through scenic villages and fields growing crops and fruit. We arrive in lovely Karauli, an ancient holy city dotted with bright blue buildings and home to an impressive palace we should have plenty of time to explore. Night hotel. Cycle approx 30km / 2-3 hours; drive approx 2 hours Day 7: Karauli - Bharatpur We continue our Indian adventure, heading north over hillier terrain through more villages and towns. We ll be more used to the sights around us now, and we gain a greater insight into the lives of the local people with every mile that we pedal! The landscapes we ride through become more agricultural, and we
Itinerary pass more small villages and people tending crops on the cultivated land. The diverse scenes of local life become one of the highlights of the trip for most people. We drive the last section to our hotel. If we have enough time (and energy!) we can then ride to the nearby Keoladeo National Park, home to hundreds of bird species. In order to preserve the park and wildlife, bicycles are the only vehicle permitted and the best way to explore the water marshes which attract thousands of water birds. Night hotel. Cycle approx 75km / 5 6 hours; drive approx 1 hour Day 8: Bharatpur Fatehpur Sikri Agra We set off, enjoying our last morning s cycle through picturesque rural India, with its fascinating villages, waving children, and colourful traffic. We are heading to the impressive ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. Capital of the Mughal Empire, it was built in the 16th century and abandoned little more than 10 years afterwards. Now its almost-perfectly-preserved sandstone buildings, which include mosques, palaces and living areas, allow an unique glimpse into the civilisation and an impressive backdrop for our grand finale group photos! We then load up onto the vehicles and leave the city s rocky ridge as we drive towards Agra on busier roads through more built-up areas. Agra itself is a huge, modern city with some beautiful historic landmarks the most famous of which is the iconic Taj Mahal, which we ll visit tomorrow. At our hotel we can wash off the dust and relax! Night hotel. Cycle approx 45km / 3 4 hours; drive approx 1 2 hours
Itinerary Day 9: Taj Mahal, Agra Delhi The Taj Mahal at sunrise is an unmissable experience and a wonderful finale to our Indian challenge. This incredible monument built by the Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife in the 17th century changes hue as the sun grows stronger and the shadows recede. We have plenty of time to explore and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. We then drive back to Delhi and celebrate our amazing achievement with an evening of celebrations. Night hotel. Day 10: Depart Delhi Enjoy a more leisurely start than we ve been used to, then we transfer to the airport for our flight home. (Lunch not included if not in-flight).
Trip Information Accommodation Hotels are comfortable and clean with private facilities and vary from simple city hotels to former maharaja s palaces; which provide a wonderful insight ino the region s history, as well as being fantastic places to stay. Although standards are generally very good, please do not expect palaces every night! Food and Dietary Requirements The food provided is plentiful, often local in style and freshly-cooked, and will give you plenty of energy. Sometimes we enjoy a buffet-style lunch-stop, other times we might have packed lunches. On some trips we stop at small local restaurants. Dinners are generally eaten in camp or at the hotel, depending on accommodation. The only meal not included is on day 10, where if the lunch is not in flight it will not be covered by trip costs. Being vegetarian or having other dietary requirements is not usually a problem provided you let us know well in advance. If you know there are plenty of foods you cannot eat we strongly recommend you bring extra snacks from home so you can top up your energy supply. Please feel free to ask us for advice. Weather and Climate Rajasthan s monsoon season is from July to September and it is unlikely to rain when we will be travelling. October March is the most comfortable time to travel, there are warm days and low humidity. The temperature will be around 11 30 C.
Trip Information Flights and Luggage Group flights leave from London Heathrow or Gatwick, (we regret that we are unable to book connecting flights), and are booked through Discover Adventure Ltd under ATOL licence 5636. By travelling with Discover Adventure you are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). You will receive confirmed flight details several months before departure. If you prefer to book your own flights please ask us for a land-only cost. Your luggage, food, water and equipment is transported for you from one night-stop to the next. If there is easy road access this is done by vehicle; if not porters, mules or even camels might carry your bags, depending on the destination and terrain. Space is limited and hard-sided luggage is not suitable, so it is essential that your kit is packed in a soft bag, rucksack or expedition kitbag. You should also bring a small daypack to carry for items needed during the day as you will not have access to your main luggage until the evening. Extending Travel It is possible to extend your travel and spend more time traveling around India if you would like to. Discover Adventure have put together a Kerela Beach Extension which is a three day trip to Kerala, where you can relax by the beach and spend your time in the areas as you wish. However, if there is anything else you d like to do we can work towards this too. Booking Own Flights You may wish to book your own flights, in which case we need to know by 20 November 2018. This will reduce your fundraising target, please contact us to confirm. Trip Support Your trip will be led by experienced Discover Adventure leaders. Leaders are selected for their experience, knowledge of travel in remote areas, friendliness, sense of humour and ability to safely and effectively deal with any situation. An expedition doctor or medic accompanies the group. Their role is to look after the well-being of the whole group and deal with any incidents. They help the leaders to ensure the trip runs smoothly, and encourage you when things get tough. Our local support crew is made up of local guides, assisted by drivers, porters, cooks and other support staff, depending on the type of trip. Local guides know the area well and are a great source of knowledge about local customs and lifestyles. Your leader will arrange a collection of tips for the local support crew at the end of your trek, and you will be provided with a guideline amount in advance. Tipping is not obligatory, but once you see how hard they work on your behalf you will be happy to donate something! All our local crew are paid wages, but bear in mind that the average wage is far below what you would spend on a normal night out. Preparing for the Challenge The cycling will be a challenge, and it is vital that you do enough training. We will supply you with a full training guide once you have registered. We expect everyone to train in advance, but also respect people's limits and do not expect everyone to maintain the same pace. Inadequate training will definitely have an impact your enjoyment and chances of completing the challenge. But with the right level fitness and preparation, we think you'll have the time of your life!
Fundraising We know that a fundraising target of this size ( 3650)can seem quite daunting which is why we will be providing a plethora of fundraising ideas to you throughout the year. Remember that you are raising money for a fantastic cause and it has been done before, so it can be done again! Car Boot Sale / Garage Sale Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to donate books, DVDs, clothes, and unwanted gifts if people know the funds are going to charity, they may be happy to give a little extra! Pub Quiz Evening This is a great way to put the fun in fundraising. Design your own questions or contact us for our extra special red themed quiz, just ask! Bake Sale You ll most likely be doing a lot of training in the coming weeks, so treat yourself. Bake sales can be really profitable as well as yummy. If you fancy doing something different, how about a savoury bake sale? Friday Night Fundraising Invite your friends round for one evening of dinner, drinks, games and entertainment. Charge a ticket price (way above your core costs). It s a great incentive to donate. Use Your Talents and Hobbies Musical? Have a music evening. Funny? Hold a comedy night. Got a craft? Make things to sell. Absolutely anything can be turned into a fundraiser! Fundraising Top Tips 1 Use your online fundraising page, make sure it is compelling and explains your motivation. 2 Time your donation requests strategically - people are more likely to give after payday! 3 Ask close friends and family to donate first as other people may then match their generosity. 4 Tell people what your target is and what their contribution will help achieve. 5 Add a little perspective around suggested donation amounts, for example, 10 might mean giving up a takeaway dinner. 6 Break your fundraising target down into smaller regular targets, rather than thinking about the larger (more daunting) sum! 7 Don t be shy & know your charity. You re raising money for a great cause and the money is far reaching. We support all major humanitarian organisations including Oxfam, The British Red Cross, Amnesty, Unicef and many more. 8 Collect donations on your Facebook profile, mention your fundraising at work; on your answer phone messages, email signatures, notice boards, anywhere you can think of! Sharing your page on social media will also increase your number of supporters. 9 Get friends and family to spread the word and organise fundraising events for you too 10 Don t forget to ask your sponsors to sign a Gift Aid form, as this means more money goes to RedR. Please see the following page for more details about Gift Aid.
Fundraising Fundraising at Work Think Locally Get Your Message Across Make sure everyone knows what you re up to and why, and make use of what s available to you, whether it s a staff only website, or the kitchen notice board. Raise your social media storm and keep everyone up to date so they know how motivated you are to reaching your goal. If You Don't Ask, You Don't Get! Be bold and ask your boss for a donation. Be even bolder and ask your boss s boss. A lot of our fundraisers have had their sponsorship totals match funded by their employers. Casual Clothes Friday Ask your employer to let you organise a casual clothes Friday. Everyone that takes part donates 1 to your fundraising total. Match Funding Does your employer offer match funding? If so, it will make your fundraising a whole lot easier! Get in Touch with Local Businesses There are all sorts of ways local businesses can help raise awareness and boost your fundraising. They can donate prizes, events space, put out collection tins for you. Advertising Your Fundraising Event It might seem a little crazy, but it could be effective. Ask if you can put a poster in local shop windows, or leave some leaflets and a collection tin on the counter. Ask For Prizes You could ask for donated prizes and then hold a raffle to raise funds. Remember, if you don t ask you don t get you could end up with gift vouchers or donated prizes from restaurants. Reach a Wider Audience If you like to think big, contact local press, radio stations, and editors of local newsletters. You could try parish magazines, hospital radio, basically anywhere you can get your story told! For me, the real challenge was the fundraising, I have always hated asking people for money - but it was amazing and humbling how many people were willing to donate once they heard about the fantastic work that RedR does around the world. Joy Ezekiel, Petra trekker 2017 and Macchu Picchu trekker 2015
Rajasthan Cycle 2019 Anymore questions? All looks great but you re just not quite sure on something? Please email fundraising@redr.org.uk or call 020 7840 6005 we ll be happy to hear from you! redruk people and skills for disaster relief