Cycle Rajasthan

About this trip

Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.

1. 1
   Day 1 · DelhiDelhi

   You arrive in Delhi for a 6 pm welcome meeting with your trip leader and cycling crew, who'll fit you out with bikes. Before that, you could visit Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, or the Red Fort if you've got time. Afterwards, there's an optional group dinner to get to know fellow travellers.

2. 2
   Day 2 · DelhiJaipur

   

   Start with an early morning warm-up ride, then explore Delhi by private vehicle: Old Delhi, Jama Masjid, Sheeshganj Gurudwara, and India Gate. In the late afternoon, take the train to Jaipur, Rajasthan's Pink City. Tonight you're loose to find somewhere good to eat.

3. 3
   Day 3 · JaipurJaipur

   Explore Jaipur on foot and by vehicle. Visit Amber Fort overlooking Maota Lake and its Sheesh Mahal, plus the option to see City Palace and Jai Singh's astronomical observatories. If you fancy it, catch a Bollywood film at the iconic Raj Mandir Cinema.

4. 4
   Day 4 · JaipurPushkar

   

   Cycle from Naraiana to Pushkar, passing forts along the way. Once there, take a guided walk around this sacred city: see Pushkar Lake's 52 ghats where pilgrims bathe, and visit Brahma Mandir, one of India's few temples to the Hindu creator Brahma. Browse the main street market in your free time.

5. 5
   Day 5 · UdaipurUdaipur

   Cycle partway through red soil and farmland to Beawar, then ride support vehicle for the rest. Udaipur, the 'White City' and 'Venice of the East', sprawls around Lake Pichola with Jag Mandir and Jag Nivas palaces reflected in the water. Rest up at your accommodation.

6. 6
   Day 6 · UdaipurUdaipur

   Tour Udaipur with the group: wind through narrow streets to City Palace on Lake Pichola's banks, visit Jagdish Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and optionally explore Gulab Bagh's rose gardens, take a boat across the lake, or have a sitar lesson.

7. 7
   Day 7 · ChittorgarhPangarh

   Cycle through Chittorgarh countryside, then support vehicle to Chittaurgarh before cycling towards Bijaipur. Head south to Pangarh Lake and spend the night in a permanent tent camp. Watch the sunset over the lake and Vindhya Range, with 15th-century Pangarh Fort visible on the hill.

8. 8
   Day 8 · BijaipurBijaipur

   Cycle through farmland to Bijaipur village, witnessing rural life and seasonal opium poppy harvests. Stay in Castle Bijaipur, a 16th-century heritage hotel within original fortified walls. Relax by the pool or gardens, enjoying Mewar hospitality blending modern and Mughal architecture.

9. 9
   Day 9 · BundiBundi

   

   Cycle rural roads to Ratangarh, then van to Bundi, a popular Rajasthan destination known for intricate architecture and heritage. On a leader-led walk, explore narrow streets of blue Brahmin houses, bazaars, and temples. Visit ancient baoris (step wells) and the ornately carved 17th-century Bundi Palace with exquisite murals.

10. 10
    Day 10 · BundiRanthambhore National Park

    

    Cycle mostly flat roads beneath sandstone escarpments through rural Rajasthan to Lakheri, then drive to Ranthambhore National Park. Once a Maharaja hunting ground, it's now Rajasthan's best place to spot tigers in the wild. Rest up before tomorrow's early safari.

11. 11
    Day 11 · Ranthambhore National ParkRanthambhore National Park

    Safari before dawn hunting for tigers, leopards, wild boar, hyenas, nilgai and birds. Explore Ranthambhore Fort, founded in AD944, with its Badal Mahal ruins and Hammirs Court pavilions. Late afternoon canter bus safari across a different park sector increases your chances of tiger spotting.

12. 12
    Day 12 · Ranthambhore National ParkMadhogarh

    Your final cycling day: drive to Lalsot, then bike through farmland and villages to Madhogarh. Stay at 400-year-old Fort Madhogarh, built by Madho Singh Ji and once a Kachwaha Rajput battlefield, now a family-run heritage hotel. Experience Rajput hospitality after saying goodbye to the cycling crew.

13. 13
    Day 13 · AgraAgra

    

    Bus to Agra, a city of temples, gardens and Mughal palaces. Visit the Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz—one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Optionally see Akbar's Mausoleum. Tonight you're free to find somewhere to eat.

14. 14
    Day 14 · DelhiDelhi

    Tour the Red Fort, founded by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century, exploring its imperial palaces, mosques and halls. Afternoon drive back to Delhi, arriving early evening. Optional group dinner and drinks to celebrate, or a free night.

15. 15
    Day 15 · DelhiDelhi

    No activities after breakfast. You're free to leave whenever you like after check-out. If you want to stay longer, arrange extra accommodation with your booking agent beforehand.

What's included

• Guide: All Intrepid cycling group trips are accompanied by one of our cycling leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Our cycling leaders are all passionate cyclists, as you’d expect, but they also go through some pretty rigorous cycle-trip specific training. Each one has undergone on-road training and supervision and knows how to do safety checks, basic repairs and emergency first-aid. And at the end of the day they’re still regular Intrepid leaders, which means they will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
• Meals: 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch
• Activities: Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour Jaipur - Leader-led walking & market tour Jaipur - Amber Fort Pushkar - Leader-led walking tour Udaipur - Leader-led walking tour Udaipur - City Palace Bundi - Bundi Palace Ranthambhore National Park - Morning Wildlife Safari Madhogarh - Leader-led village walk Agra - Taj Mahal Agra - Agra Fort
• Transport: While there are occasions when we use local public transport such as trains, buses or taxis to cover long distances or attend non-cycling activities, we predominantly use the bicycle as our main form of transport. On most of our trips we also have a support vehicle as secondary transport for travelling longer distances, avoiding hazardous areas to cycle, as a backup should we have any incidents and of course as an option for those that would prefer not to cycle for an hour or a day. In most regions, the support vehicle will be a minivan, but may range in size up to a full-sized coach or overland vehicle. Your main piece of luggage is transported in the support vehicle. Our bikes do not have panniers or bags on them, so we recommend a small backpack or a cycling jersey with rear pockets to carry any essentials you’ll need with you., OUR BIKES - INDIA: We use Trek X caliber 5 & 6 models (29” wheels) bikes on this trip. These bikes are mountain bike-style with flat bars, front suspension and 27 gears. For more specific information and sizing please see http://archive.trekbikes.com/us/en/2015/Trek/x_caliber_6#/us/en/2015/Trek/x_caliber_6/details, BRINGING YOUR OWN BIKE: While we’re confident in the quality and suitability of the bikes we include, we do recognise that sometimes you just need the comfort of your own bike to enjoy the ride. If you are thinking of bringing your own bike on this trip, please advise us at time of booking and take note of the below information. If you do choose to bring your own bike, please note that we will not being carrying a spare bike for you. SUITABLE TYPE OF BIKE: Although the surfaces of the roads we travel on are generally good there are occasionally gravel or potholed sections of road/track. As such, we recommend a 'mountain' or 'hybrid' style bike with plenty of gear selections for easy cruising. For more details on the type of roads we’ll be riding on see the ‘Physical Rating’ section of your Essential Trip Information. Please contact your booking agent if you have any questions about the suitability of your bike. We usually cannot accept tandem bikes on our trips as they are often too large for our transport. In some destinations we can make an exception. Please ask your booking agent if you are interested in bringing a tandem bike. BEFORE THE TRIP: We recommend that you have a full service of your bike performed by a trained mechanic to help minimise any issues you may have during the trip. Please also ensure that you have specific and adequate cover for loss, damage or theft for your bike under your travel, home and contents or specialist insurance policy. DURING THE TRIP: Your bike will be transported in the same way as our included bikes, usually in the support vehicle or on the bike trailer. While we endeavour to take the best care we can, you should recognise that transported bikes do get the occasional bump or scratch along the way. The same applies when we take other forms of transport, such as a train, where we are unable to pack the bikes ourselves. Your bike will be secured in the same way as our included bikes. This can occasionally be outside the vehicle (where the bikes are locked together). In order to reach our destination, it is necessary for us to travel via various modes of transportation, including planes and trains. Any extra costs involved with transporting personal bikes are your responsibility. This includes (but is not limited to) additional transport costs and customs/import fees. While our mechanics can usually assist with minor repairs, you are responsible for the safety and upkeep of your own bicycle. This includes conducting regular safety checks of your bike during the trip and cleaning your bike. In addition, any parts that require replacing are your responsibility. Most destinations have access to only limited spares along the way and access to bike shops can be days apart. Therefore, please ensure you bring any spare parts that you may require (especially specialist parts). TRANSPORTING YOUR BIKE TO/FROM THE DESTINATION: Your preferred airline should have no problem carrying your bike, but many will charge an extra fee. Contact them before departing to discuss their arrangements for transporting bikes. A well-padded bike box (obtainable from a bike shop) is usually the best method of plane transportation. We recommend that you accompany your bicycle on the flight. Unaccompanied bicycles have been known to spend some extra days in the hands of customs authorities. Many taxis are not large enough to transport a bike box/bag so you may be delayed waiting for a suitably sized vehicle. The possession and use of satellite communication devices without prior authorization is strictly prohibited under Indian law. This includes bike GPS : computers. Bringing these devices into the country may lead to fines, confiscation of the device, immediate arrest, or even deportation for foreign nationals. INCLUDED OR HIRE BIKES: CONDITIONS OF USE: You must not mistreat the bicycle and must return it in the same condition as when you received it (excepting ordinary wear and tear). You should immediately inform the supplier in the case of breakdown or loss. The provider is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the bicycle during the period of hire. You must also make sure that the bicycle is secured when not in use. If the equipment is lost or stolen you may be liable for the replacement value of the bicycle. The bicycle remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, rent out or part possession with the bicycle. You must not use the bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Bicycle, support vehicle, train, metro, cycle rickshaw, safari canter bus
• Accommodation: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available., ACCOMMODATION: Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, staying in local guesthouses and homestays. Some may have shared bathroom facilities with cold water only. We use a mixture of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms. Some areas of India experience daily load shedding. This is where the power may be turned off at certain times of the day and usually occurs for a few hours in the early afternoon. Most hotel properties have a restaurant or cafe serving local meals. Many restaurants and hotels do not serve alcohol for religious reasons or due to local laws. SHOWERS: Showers at some hotels only have hot water at peak times (usually morning and evening). Outside of these times, you may need to speak to reception to obtain hot water. ROOM ISSUES: If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your tour leader right away rather than your travel agent so that the problem can be addressed without delay., The periods of November to mid-December and mid-January to July, are commonly referred to as the 'Wedding Season' in India. This at times leads to very late changes to our scheduled accommodation, or even at times the actual location (City/town/village) we planned to stay at. While we endeavour to minimise any disruptions to our itinerary there will be occassions we are forced to change locations without notice. Hotel (10 nights), heritage property (3 nights), deluxe permanent tent (1 night)

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