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.
Meeting Time and Location:
On the first day of your trip, meet your Tour Guide at 8:00 am at your hotel. 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 luxury 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.
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.
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: Devi Garh
This day we start early in the morning and ride past small villages, mountainous and greener landscape and see more than thousand years old saas bahu and eklinji temples along the way. We also visit Devi Garh’s closest highlight, the village of Eklingji. Home to the famous namesake temple, the village is on the outskirts of Devi Garh. Dedicated to a lady saint, Meera, the temple was built in 734 A.D.
The ride is undulating and gives a chance to witness the rural life around Udaipur from close quarters. Having received numerous accolades from leading travel magazines, Devi Garh is the erstwhile residence of the local rulers of village of Delwara. Now luxuriously restored, the hotel is a heaven for tasteful extravagance, which you experience for two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 35km / 21mi
Day 3: Devi Garh
This day, is set aside for some more indulgence. We have kept it relatively free for you to fill your own time. Start your day at the yoga or meditation pavilion for an elevating morning. Pamper yourself to a traditional Ayurvedic massage at the hotel’s spa. Late morning, take a classic loop ride into the village to see this ancient testimony to India’s glorious history and the other 108 temples that are built in the same complex. This little village is quite a temple destination with many more made in black marble and granite.
At Devi Garh, traditionally inspired designs, motifs and materials come together with contemporary architectural facets here. Soothe your body, stimulate your mind strengthen your spirit at Devi Spa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 35km / 21mi
Day 4: 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 5: Narlai
This morning, we hop onto the bikes and make our way to Narlai, through the dense forest and undulating stretches. This is the most wholesome ride of the tour as you get a balanced day of different topographies.
Narlai lies at the epicenter of an area rich with more than 400 historic temples. Arriving in Narlai, settle into the Rawla Narlai, an enchanting 17th century mansion. Formerly used as a hunting lodge, it is located in the heart of a typical rustic Rajasthan village amidst craggy rock-scape interjected with village houses. Rawla boasts of an esteemed guest list with the likes of Mick Jagger and Francesco Clemet having stayed here.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Shuttle: 1hr
Day 6: Narlai
The hotel lies under the shadow of Elephant Hill, a massive granite monolith. In the early morning, climb the 700 steps to the top for a panorama over lakes, fields and forests.
If you sill have some miles left in your legs bike 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.
The rest of day is at leisure. Take a walk into the village here or settle in with a good book for the day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 30km / 18mi* (optional)
Shuttle: 1hr
Day 7: Jodhpur
On this day we cycle to Jodhpur 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. We arrive at Jodhpur and post-lunch visit the towering Mehrangarh Fort, a key highlight of Jodhpur, looms over the city from a small hill and can be seen from everywhere.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 45km / 27mi*
Shuttle: 1hr
Day 8: Pushkar
Today after a shuttle transfer, 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. Later in the evening enjoy walking around Pushkar Lake.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Day 9: 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 10: 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 11: 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.
Spend the rest of 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.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Shuttle: 1.5hrs
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: ~ 50km / 30mi*
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
