Exotic India – Rajasthan, Agra & Delhi Bike Tour

Arrival Note:
Take a connecting flight to Udaipur either from Delhi or Mumbai International Airport. Most of the international flights to Delhi and Mumbai arrive around midnight hours. Allow at least 3 hrs of layover time between your international and connecting flight to Udaipur. We recommend to take either Jet Airways or Air India flight from Delhi for Udaipur as they fly from same terminal (T3) as international arrival terminal (T3). All other low-cost domestic airlines fly from T1 terminal at Delhi (keep minimum 4 hrs layover if flying from here).  Please note, during peak winter season (late Dec – early Jan) in Delhi, many of the domestic flights get delayed and some cancelled from or to Delhi due to heavy fog here. Mumbai is a good option around that time.

We recommend to do bike fit at least a day before departure. Please contact your trip consultant for a list of suggested pre-tour hotels at Udaipur, if required.

Day 1: Udaipur

Arrive in Udaipur and get transferred to your boutique hotel in Udaipur. Udaipur can be a jumble of sights, sounds and smells but is an absolute must for travelers. On the first day of the trip, we explore the ‘City of lakes’ on a short half day long loop on the bike, swerving to untreaded nooks and corners through the beautiful rural countryside and absorbing this historic capital of Mewar at your own pace. A colourful landscape unfolds here with brightly clothed village women. Here you can see a typical hamlet of Rajasthan with people busy with farming. We get to discover kingfisher, langoors, cows, goats, peacocks along the way and a chance to take a refreshing ride around Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar and Badi Lake.

Later in the afternoon, we cover some Udaipur highlights – a guided walk of the City Palace. The City Palace is enclosed in a large complex on the banks of Lake Pichola and has many more palaces inside.

We convene tonight at the dinner, next to the beautiful lake, to celebrate the start of a fabulous cycling journey.

Meals: Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 30km / 18mi

Day 2: Udaipur

Today ride past small villages, mountainous and greener landscape and see more than thousand years old Saas Bahu and Eklingji temples along the way. The ride is undulating and gives a chance to witness the rural life around Udaipur from close quarters with the company of a beautiful landscape.

The afternoon is free. Enjoy walking the old market and eating street food at Paliwal Kachori, take an amazing cooking class with Sashi or a boat ride in the Pichola Lake.

In the evening, we recommend to enjoy enthralling cultural show organized at Bagore Ki Haveli.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Distance cycled: ~ 35km / 21mi*
Shuttle: 30min

Day 3: Kumbhalgarh

This day we start early and take a shuttle to short distance and ride to the next town of Kumbhalgarh. This is the most scenic ride of the trip as you climb the Aravalis, maneuver through the rolling hills and cycle past a Dhonk (Anogeissus Pendula) strewn topography. The plant adds a spattering of colour to the pale brown stretches along the way. Kumbalgarh is yet another historic fort town from the 15th century.

In the evening, we climb the rugged Kumbalgarh Fort, surrounded by a 35km wall with 365 temples within.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Shuttle: 1hr

Day 4: Ghanerao

Another beautiful day on a bike through the dense forest and undulating stretches takes you close to the Aravalis and later to the famous Ranakpur Jain Temple here. After you have rested and had lunch, use this time to see the magnificent temple. Made of marble, the temple is an intricate artwork of local craftsmen; do not miss two of the most exquisite carvings here – one made out of a single marble rock, which showcases 108 snakes and 1444 pillars, which will leave you awestruck.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Shuttle: 1hr

Day 5: Chandelao Garh

We start cycling early this day across lush millet vegetation and carpets of yellow mustard fields. We ride about 30km and then take a transfer to Sardar Samand Palace for lunch. An erstwhile hunting lodge, the palace was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1933. Set in tranquil surroundings of a lake, the low lying Aravalli hill ranges, vast shrubby forests teeming with wildlife, the heritage resort is a great stop.

Post-lunch, ride along a beautiful route that, despite the barren landscape is known to support a surprising diversity of fauna. Enroute, you may spot animals like deer, black bucks, camels and blur bulls as you ride past swaying masses of yellow mustard and wheat.

This is a fairly easy terrain to ride in so you can enjoy the vistas with ease and look forward to your stay at the village homestay, Chandelao Garh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 70km / 42mi*
Shuttle: 1.5-2hrs

Day 6: Chandelao

On this day we shuttle to Jodhpur. We arrive at Jodhpur and visit the towering Mehrangarh Fort, a key highlight of Jodhpur, looms over the city from a small hill and can be seen from everywhere. The rest of day is free and you can spend as per your plan visiting a local market or spending quite time at nearby rooftop restaurants. We all meet post-lunch and shuttle back to Chandelao.

Note: An audio guided tour of Mehrangarh Fort is organized here. 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Shuttle: 2hrs

Day 7: Pushkar

Today after a shuttle transfer, ride along a route that supports scrub-thorn, and a bit barren landscape. Pushkar is an enchanting religious Hindu pilgrimage town centred around a holy lake. It has one of the very few Brahma temples in India. In the evening, enjoy walking around Pushkar Lake and dig into a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*

Day 8: Jaipur

Enjoy a stunning countryside trail through small villages and farms from your hotel to Roopangarh Fort. Enjoy sumptuous lunch here and then transfer to Jaipur.

The riding is through typical hinterland to get upclose and personal with rural life of Rajasthan. Small shrines and village huts of the hamlets are extremely picturesque.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*

Day 9: Jaipur

We start a trip of the pink city of Jaipur with the famous fortress of Kacchawaha kings at Amber. Large courtyards, intricate carvings on formidable structure and nuances of
Rajput rule can be seen in the fort overlooking the Maota Lake. If you’re up for a walk, take a tunnel to Jaigarh Fort.

The rest of the day is at leisure. Jaipur is the erstwhile capital of the ruling Kacchawahas in the early eighteenth century. We recommend to take a walk in the old city and experience the delightful ancient markets at ease. Hawa Mahal and the numerous bazaars selling bright textiles and silver are worth every hour spent.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: Sariska

We cycle towards the forest of Sariska, through the amazing Aravalli hills, lakes and past Bhangarh Fort, the most haunted place in India. Today is an amazing trail for biking. We will continue cycling to Sariska National Park, a favourite haunt of wildlife buffs & professional wildlife photographers from around the world. The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, rocky landscapes, dry deciduous forests, rocks, grasses and hilly cliffs. The park is famous for its Bengal Tigers, one of the most magnificent animals of India, which has long fascinated people with its awesome power and beautifully striped coat. It is the first tiger reserve in the world to have successfully relocated tigers.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 45km / 27mi*
Shuttle: 1.5hrs

Day 11: Sariska

We take a gorgeous bike loop around Sariska in the morning and later in the afternoon, spend a day searching for tigers and other animals into the wildlife. Apart from the Bengal Tiger, the reserve includes many species of wild life, such as the leopard, jungle cat, caracal, striped hyena, golden jackal, chital, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara, four-horned antelope, wild boar, hare, hanuman langur, Rhesus monkeys.

Sariska is also ethereal for bird watchers with some of the rarest feathered species like Grey Partridge, White-throated kingfisher, Indian peafowl, Bush Quail, Sandgrouse, Treepie, Golden-backed Woodpecker, Crested serpent eagle and the Indian eagle-owl.

Please note Sariska Park is open only during Oct-Mar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Shuttle: 30min

Day 12: Bharatpur

Begin the day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, then set off on a bike ride through the picturesque countryside, chequered with mustard fields and millet farms to the Bharatpur. On the way, we make a stop at Abhaneri for lunch and visit Chand Baori, one of the largest stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan.

Later in the evening, we explore the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary on a bike, famous for avifauna sanctuary that plays host to thousands of birds, where you have an opportunity to interact with the local guide and gain greater insight into the bird lives.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 45km / 27mi*
Shuttle: 2hrs

Day 13: Delhi via Taj Mahal

People who love birds have another chance this morning to explore the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. In the late morning, we take a transfer to the Agra for a visit of Taj Mahal. We have a good half-day to visit one of the most awesome and extravagant monuments ever built – the Taj Mahal. It was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife in 1631-1653, with thousands of semiprecious stones inlaid.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14: Delhi

Delhi hoards centuries of history, remnants of which, lie unassumingly in all parts of the city. Weathered monuments mingle with modern life seamlessly. Plan your own day today, if you have time.

We recommend to take a walk in the old city, an area called Chandni Chowk. Old crumbling houses precariously line the edge of narrow streets while old wires obstruct your view of the sky here – with so much going on in one place, yet the warmth and acceptance of the area is heart-warming. If you have an appetite for street food, we recommend a bite of the oily parathas, kachoris, lassi and some tea.

Meals: Breakfast

* With shuttle – short transfers