Cycling Through Rajasthan

• Accommodation: 13 Classic nights (hotels), 1 Simple night (sleeper train)
• 12 days of cycling (including optional rides) with full vehicle support
• Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
• Pushkar, Holi and Diwali festival departures available (see Dates & Prices tab)

October to March is the ideal time to visit northern India. Days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low and little or no rain falls. In March, April and October, it can get very hot during the day. Evenings in Delhi and in the Thar Desert can be surprisingly cool, so bring warm clothing plus a sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings between December and February.

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Cycling days: 12 including optional rides

Average distance: 29mi (47km) per day with full vehicle support

Terrain and route: Mostly cycling along backroads with some traffic in parts. All roads are surfaced. Our route is a mixture of rolling hills and flat plains. There are two steeper optional climbs: to Mehrangarh Fort on Day 3 and Kumbhalgarh Fort on Day 6. The support vehicle is there for anyone who decides to stop riding.

This part of India can be very hot.

Although this trip is moderately demanding there is plenty of time to explore.

Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published so it is not possible to forewarn when work will be taking place.

Some departures coincide with Holi and Diwali, both fascinating times to visit India. We will seek opportunities to see the festivities, though we cannot guarantee what will be happening locally during our trip – the festivals are celebrated in different ways throughout the country.

Holi typically involves people throwing coloured powders and water at each other and smearing powder on each other’s faces. This tends to be done in local communities and families, so it is not always possible to be involved (though you may see the colourful results of this boisterous festival on the streets). During Holi, local monuments and markets close, so departures over Holi have a slight adjustment to the itinerary. In Jaipur, sightseeing is limited, so where necessary we include a cultural day to see local musicians and dancers perform; there may also be an opportunity to join in: playing with colours, dancing, and enjoying food and drinks. Your leader will happily arrange some Holi activities (supplement fees may apply) and you can also purchase the traditional white kurta outfit to look the part and avoid getting your clothes covered in the coloured powders.

Diwali: Some departures coincide with Diwali, the festival of lights to mark the start of the Hindu new year, in which people may illuminate their houses and shops and sometimes celebrate on the streets with fireworks. Lasting up to five days, celebrations can be local (within communities and families) and are not necessarily marked to the same extent throughout the country. We seek opportunities to see the festivities; however, we cannot guarantee what is happening in the area visited. There can be occasional road closures, particularly coming into Jaipur, which may impact your cycle route. You leader will advise you of any changes to the route as soon as possible.

Pushkar Fair: Each year, we operate a departure of this trip that coincides with the Pushkar Fair; please see days 7 and 10 of the itinerary.