Cycling in Rajasthan
If you are the sort of cyclist who wants to clock up the kilometres, conquer the cols and hammer down the hairpins, then a cycling holiday in Rajasthan is not for you. If cycling along a tarmac road that cuts through the wide open, arid environs of the Thar Desert, where the only traffic you have to give way to is a caravan of camels, then read on. If travelling between the iconic cites of Jaipur and Pushkar by bike, pedalling through millet and mustard fields to reach the sacred city by sunset gets your toes twitching, then start dusting off your bike and get in training. And if cycling through the luscious Aravalli Hills through welcoming villages with chai and cheers at every turn speaks to the explorer within, then pack your pannier.
Our India cycling Holidays
Rajasthan cycling holiday
Explore the palaces, temples and wildlife of India's desert state
From
£2249 to £2739
16 days
inc UK flights
Kerala and tropical India cycling holidays
Beautiful landscapes, fascinating towns and long white beaches
From
£2499 to £3199
15 days
inc UK flights
India hill stations cycling holiday
Quiet country roads and frequent superb views of the Himalaya
From
£2249 to £2429
17 days
inc UK flights
Rural cycling tours in South India
The perfect way to cycle in rural Keralan countryside.
From
US $980
8 days
ex flights
Walking and cycling holiday in Kerala, India
Walking and cycling through rain forests and grasslands.
From
£750
8 days
ex flights
South India cycling tour, coast to coast
Journey across South India's geographical & cultural landscapes
From
£1700
14 days
ex flights
Western Ghats mountain biking holidays, Southern India
Western Ghats mountain biking, off the beaten track
From
US $850
6 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday in the Maikal Hills, Central India
Cycling tour in indigenous tribal and tiger country.
From
Rupee85000
9 days
ex flights
Chennai to Kochin cycling holiday across India
Explore the contrasting nature of India
From
£2699 to £3049
15 days
inc UK flights
Southern India cycling holiday, tailor made
Explore the Rural South India on a cycling holiday with us
From
US $2030
14 days
ex flights
Manali Leh cycling tour in India
An exhilarating ride through the snow capped Himalayas
From
US $2250
16 days
ex flights
Sikkim cycling tour, India
Riding through a treasure cove of wisdom and beauty!
From
US $1700
11 days
ex flights
India cycling holiday, Mysore to Goa
Cycling through rural South India to the beaches at Goa
From
US $2280
14 days
ex flights
Backroads of Kerala cycling tour, India
Cycle in Kerala's rural backwaters
From
£1969 to £3020
14 days
inc UK flights
North East India cycling and hiking tour, Eastern Himalayas
Multi activity tour of the Eastern Himalayas
From
£2250
12 days
ex flights
Small group cycling holiday in Kerala, India
Cycle the coast of Kerala
From
£1799 to £2249
9 days
inc UK flights
Manali to Leh cycling holiday in the Himalayas, Ladakh
An epic journey in traditional Himalayan landscapes
From
£2499 to £2749
18 days
inc UK flights
India cycling holiday and tiger safari
Off road cycle adventure through wild India to help tigers
From
£1695
8 days
ex flights
Kerala cycling holiday, India
Kerala through the magical landscapes & backwaters of Kerala
From
£1340
10 days
ex flights
Goa cycling holiday, India
A kaleidoscopic blend of Indian & Portuguese way of life
From
US $1500
8 days
ex flights
Rajasthan cycling tour in India
A bicycle trail through the land of Maharajahs
From
US $1400
10 days
ex flights
E-Bike Tour in Kerala
An e-bike ride through diverse rural Kerala landscapes
From
£885
8 days
ex flights
Cycling holidays in Kerala
Cycling through the green magic of the Kerala countryside
From
US $1750
14 days
ex flights
Small group tours
Small group tours
Cycling holidays in Rajasthan are generally in organised small group tours, although there are also tailor made options where you chat with a local expert to create an itinerary to suit your timeframe and budget. Travelling in a guided, small group is a popular option as you create your own caravans through the desert and enjoy the inevitable cycling camaraderie. You will be following carefully crafted itineraries with local cycling guides who know the best places to stop. Where to tuck into the best local feni noodles to fill those hollow legs, or seek out the finest makhani lassi, the local favourite made from white buffalo butter with pure essential oils mixed into the yoghurt. Your bags will be transported from one hotel to the next on these tours, so all you need is your daypack and some a sense of adventure.
Why go slow in Rajasthan?
Why go slow in Rajasthan?
Maybe it’s because it is a desert state, but there are so many mirage like moments when you visit Rajasthan. You have to almost rub your eyes to check that what you are seeing is real, from ornate Mughal palaces to pink and blue cities and ancient sandstone forts that rise from the dunes. There is colour everywhere, camels too and festivals are Rajasthan’s forte. Which is why it is such a treat to cycle here and just take it all in slowly, at the same pace of Rajasthanis who also love their bikes. Many people visit this state as part of a cultural tour to see India’s famous Golden Triangle. To visit it by bike is more like exploring a big glittering golden circle, and one that is also filled with copious flavours, flowers and fun along the way.
How tough is it cycling in Rajasthan?
Most cycling holidays in Rajasthan are moderate level, following tarmac roads through a variety of terrain from the wide expanses of Thar Desert to the gently rolling Aravalli Hills. Most are about two weeks long with about 10 to 12 days of cycling. You will cover anything from 25-90 km per day but at an average speed of 13-16 km per hour, with a support team on hand if you want a breather on the hills.The toughest aspect is getting yourself into the Rajasthani cycling mindset when you hit towns like Jaipur, Jodpur and Udaipur. You have to own the road, just as everyone else does, whether they are camels, cows or crazies on scooters. As many people will tell you, Rajasthan is an assault on all the senses. The most important one to have on cycling holidays, however, is a sense of humour. And if it all feels a bit too much you can just leave the bike with your support team and explore the cities on foot. The other advantage of a cycling holiday is that it encourages you to explore the cities’ environs, without taking buses or trains. Because, as well as exploring the urban highlights of Rajasthan, it is great to escape the madness sometimes and take a breather on your bike. Here are a few examples of suburban cycling gems that you will discover on your holiday:
Jodhpur & beyond
Jodhpur & beyond
As well as taking time to explore the great blue city and its iconic Mehrangarh Fort, there are many more colours to seek out on Jodhpur’s pushbike palette. Cycle through the massive sandstone mines which are famous for their use in the building the state’s indigenous architecture, or around Kailana Lake, a manmade lake built in 1872 to provide water for the city. Now a bird watching haven and a great spot for a sunset picnic, it makes a wonderful end to the day’s cycle, looking out for blue bulls and wild boar in the open scrublands en route.
Another popular cycling route, a 65km journey north of Jodphur, is to Osian which takes you to the edge of the Thar Desert. This is a popular spot for swapping your bike’s saddle for a camel’s and exploring the terrain on four legs. The town itself is one of those mirage moments, where sandstone buildings and ancient temples emerged over time at this oasis, making it an important religious centre during the Marwar period. You can still see impressive ruins of these temples on your cycle trip here.
Another popular cycling route, a 65km journey north of Jodphur, is to Osian which takes you to the edge of the Thar Desert. This is a popular spot for swapping your bike’s saddle for a camel’s and exploring the terrain on four legs. The town itself is one of those mirage moments, where sandstone buildings and ancient temples emerged over time at this oasis, making it an important religious centre during the Marwar period. You can still see impressive ruins of these temples on your cycle trip here.
The fort to fort ride
The fort to fort ride
The most iconic cycle in the pink city of Jaipur is the 14km climb up through the Aravalli Hills to Nahargarh Fort, built in 1734 by Maharaj Sawai Jai Singh II to defend the city. Nahargarh translates as ‘abode of tigers’ because there were tigers around before these hills became royal hunting grounds. You will need a bit of tiger in your tank to make it up to the top, but the views are worth it. And then you have the wonders of the descent down to the city’s other icon, the Amber Fort.
Exploring beyond urban Udaipur
Exploring beyond urban Udaipur
Also known as Venice of the East, Udaipur’s complex waterway system means that there are many arteries to escape the crowds. The main one out of the city is along the waterfront of Lake Pichola, passing a 500-year-old Lord Shiva Temple and then out through rural villages and farmland to a series of other lakes, such as Tiger Lake and Lake Fateh Sager. It is amazing to think that the latter was built in 1680s, and that most lakes have preserved islands of beauty on them, such as Nehru Park on Fateh Sager.
Our top India cycling Holiday
Kerala and tropical India cycling holidays
Beautiful landscapes, fascinating towns and long white beaches
From
£2499 to £3199
15 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 5 Jan, 26 Jan, 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 23 Feb, 2 Mar, 23 Mar, 13 Apr, 10 Aug, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 9 Nov, 16 Nov, 14 Dec, 21 Dec
2020: 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 22 Feb, 7 Mar, 21 Mar, 4 Apr, 8 Aug, 19 Sep, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov
2019: 5 Jan, 26 Jan, 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 23 Feb, 2 Mar, 23 Mar, 13 Apr, 10 Aug, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 9 Nov, 16 Nov, 14 Dec, 21 Dec
2020: 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 22 Feb, 7 Mar, 21 Mar, 4 Apr, 8 Aug, 19 Sep, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about India cycling or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Take some rehydration salts to add to your water bottles. It makes the water taste better, and prevents dehydration.
Won’t it be too hot to cycle in Rajasthan?
Organised small group tours take place between October and April which means that you won’t be melting as you go. The weather during this time is sunny but not too humid, with daytime temperatures in the low to mid 20s, and cooler nights. There is also a monsoon here between July and September which is definitely to be avoided on a bike. There is no better place to copy the camel technique than this desert state, however, and invest in a CamelBak-style water bladder backpack to keep you hydrated at all times. And rather than buying dozens of small plastic water bottles, you should be able to fill up from giant bottles carried in the support vehicle.
Rajasthan cycling tips from our holiday reviews
January is a great time of year to be cycling from a weather perspective - around about 22 degrees once the initial chill had dissipated.
– Keith Masters
“Make sure you have the correct cycle gear – breathable tops that can dry quickly and not cotton T- shirts that can stay wet once they are sweaty. Be prepared for a great welcome but the kids will laugh at these funny tourists in their Lycra!” – Ian Langford from our leading Rajasthan cycling holidays supplier, Exodus Travels
“Don't plan on convenient, ever-present wifi at your hotels. Be mentally prepared for very slow riding and the endless wild receptions as we rolled through village streets; young and old alike excited beyond measure!” – Peter Judd
You can find out about cycling holidays around other parts of the country in our Cycling in India travel guide.
“Don't plan on convenient, ever-present wifi at your hotels. Be mentally prepared for very slow riding and the endless wild receptions as we rolled through village streets; young and old alike excited beyond measure!” – Peter Judd
You can find out about cycling holidays around other parts of the country in our Cycling in India travel guide.
More about India cycling
This India cycling guide is not really for Lycra loving roadsters. If Rajasthan means more to you than Rapha, national parks more than national road races, then read on…
The best time to go on a cycling holiday in India depends on the region you are visiting. Read on for more of our weather wisdom…
Our map and highlights of cycling holidays in India take you down through southern India, coast to coast, up north around Rajasthan as far as Ladakh…
There are many types of cycling holiday in India: small group, tailor made, moderate or challenging. Read on for more ideas…
Cycling holidays in Kerala take you from the heights of the Western Ghats down to backwaters and beaches. Read on for more flavours of Kerala…
We have lots of tips and advice on cycling holidays in India. From padding to chafing, routes to cultural rules, do read on…
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Bill Bourne] [Top box: Abhijit Kar Gupta]
[Small group tours: Tiago Rosado]
[Why go slow?: Mitchell Ng Liang an]
[How tough is it?: Vyacheslav Argenberg]
[Jodhpur & beyond: Flicka]
[The fort to fort ride: Regan Vercruysse]
[Exploring beyond urban Udaipur: Arjuncm3]
[Too hot?: lensnmatter]
[Keith Masters quote: Sayan Nath]
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