Cycling Through Rajasthan

Arrive in vibrant Delhi, where we meet around 2pm for bicycle fitting and safety checks before a short spin to get a feel for the local area. Around 6pm we come together for a welcome meeting to discuss the journey ahead, then we head out for a group dinner at a nearby restaurant. If you want more time in Delhi, you can secure pre tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

We start cycling early to adjust to the Indian warmth and city traffic – about 15.5mi (25km) – then return to the hotel. After breakfast and a shower, we tour New and Old Delhi by bus, driving past Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate before walking the narrow lanes of the Old Delhi market. We pause to view Jama Masjid from the outside, then visit the Raj Ghat Memorial. Our bikes and main luggage are sent by bus to Jodhpur – pack toiletries and any essentials in your day bag for the overnight train. In the evening we transfer to the station and board the overnight train to Jodhpur.

We arrive at Jodhpur station in the morning and transfer to our hotel to relax or explore. In the afternoon, we take to the bikes for a sightseeing ride, then visit the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort with sweeping views over the blue houses. You can upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details. Maximum elevation: 400ft (122m).

An early start for a full day – we cycle about 25mi (40km) from the hotel, then transfer approximately 3hr 30min to Ranakpur to visit the Jain temple built in the 15th century, dedicated to Adinath and famed for its 29 halls and 1,444 delicately carved marble pillars. A further 9mi (15km) transfer of about 30 minutes brings us to a roadside Hindu temple, where we get back on the bikes to ride through the Aravalli Hills for about 21mi (34km). We then transfer 1hr 30min to two hours to the lakeside town of Udaipur. Minimum elevation: 597ft (182m) – maximum elevation: 2,992ft (912m).

Udaipur – the Pearl of Rajasthan, City of Sunrise and Venice of the East – enchants with palaces and lakes. After breakfast, we spend the morning cycling flat rural backroads past farmland and small villages, continuing by Fateh Sagar Lake and Badi Lake. We finish near the city and visit the impressive City Palace, which looks across Lake Pichola towards the Aravalli Hills and the island palaces of Jag Mandir and Jag Nivas.

This morning we drive about 1hr 30min to Iswal and begin our bike ride to Kumbhalgarh, following quieter backroads that showcase the rhythms of rural India. Vehicle support is on hand if needed. We arrive for a late lunch and a rest, then there is the chance to cycle up to Kumbhalgarh Fort – a challenging 3mi (5km) climb – or you can opt for a 4×4. The fort boasts some of the finest defensive walls in Rajasthan plus a temple and palace with panoramic views. Minimum elevation: 2,119ft (646m) – maximum elevation: 3,2182ft (981m).

We return to desert scenery as we travel to the holy town of Pushkar. Our route follows rural backroads to the main highway, where we board the vehicle for the remainder of the journey – approximately five hours. Surrounded by desert, Pushkar is a Hindu pilgrimage town on a holy lake with 52 ghats and around 400 milky‑blue temples, including one of the few Brahma temples. We explore the sights and sounds before settling into our hotel. Pushkar Fair departures – 14 November 2026: the itinerary is adjusted to spend two nights in Pushkar (days 7 and 8) and one night in Sariska National Park (Day 11) to maximise time at the festival. Accommodation in Pushkar is in Swiss cottage tents with attached bathrooms – facilities are basic and hot water and electricity can be limited, though your leader will assist if issues arise. All meals are included. Minimum elevation: 2,214ft (675m) – maximum elevation: 2,933ft (894m).

We leave Pushkar by bike, following desert backroads through small villages to Rupnagar, a marble‑working hub. You can extend the ride by another 21mi (34km) to the Naraina railway crossing before we transfer about 1hr 30min to two hours to Jaipur. Minimum elevation: 1,135ft (346m) – maximum elevation: 1,4992ft (457m). Cycle: approximately 37mi (60km) or 58.4mi (94km) including the optional extension.

If you rise early, you can join an optional ride through Jaipur’s narrow lanes, passing havelis and temples to reach the majestic Albert Hall – with stops to sample popular local breakfast bites. After freshening up at the hotel, we enjoy a full sightseeing day, visiting the Amber Fort and the fine museum within the City Palace and pausing for photos at the Hawa Mahal. There is time to browse Jaipur’s markets for crafts such as rugs, printed cloth, semi‑precious stones and leatherware. Optional cycle: approximately 7mi (12km).

We depart Jaipur with a blend of transfer and cycling to return to rural India. After a 45‑minute to one‑hour transfer to Jamwa Ramgarh, we cycle to Sariska via Pratap Garh through the beautiful Aravalli foothills. Pushkar Fair departures – 14 November 2026: the plan is adjusted to spend two nights in Pushkar (days 7 and 8) and one night in Sariska National Park (Day 11), removing the optional afternoon cycle. On Day 11 for these departures, after arriving in Sariska we head out in open 4×4s for an early evening game drive, with wildlife that can include leopards, deer, wild boar, antelopes, jackals and hyenas. The following morning continues to Bharatpur National Park. Minimum elevation: 1,115ft (340m) – maximum elevation: 1,519ft (463m).

Before breakfast we set off in open 4×4s for an early morning game drive in Sariska, a beautiful park with abundant wildlife including leopards, deer, wild boar, antelopes, jackals and hyenas, plus a rich variety of birdlife. We return to the hotel for a late breakfast and, in the afternoon, you may join an optional 8.5mi (14km) cycle to nearby villages to glimpse daily Rajasthani life.

After breakfast we ride from the hotel to Muhwa, then transfer about one hour to 1hr 30min to our lunch stop. Another transfer of about one to two hours brings us to Bharatpur National Park, renowned for the World Heritage‑listed Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary. The area was originally dry and relied on monsoon rains until water was later diverted from a nearby canal, and the park was designated a bird sanctuary in 1956. On arrival we visit the sanctuary by bike, home to egrets, ducks, coots, storks, kingfishers, owls, eagles and harriers – now more than 360 species. You can upgrade to a room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details. Minimum elevation: 767ft (234m) – maximum elevation: 1,309ft (399m).

We leave Bharatpur in the morning and cycle on backroads through Fatehpur Sikri, the emperor Akbar’s deserted royal city. Later we transfer about one to two hours to Agra, arriving in time for sunset over the Taj Mahal, the white‑marble masterpiece built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Minimum elevation: 475ft (145m) – maximum elevation: 5182ft (158m).

In the morning we visit the imposing Agra Fort of Akbar, where massive sandstone walls enclose elegant white‑marble buildings, palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains added by Jehangir and Shah Jahan. In the afternoon we transfer five to six hours by bus to Delhi, arriving early evening. You can join a final group dinner if you wish to share memories of the trip.

Our adventure ends this morning. You can start your journey home, or speak to your sales representative if you would like to extend your stay in Delhi.