Cycle the Backroads of Rajasthan

This trip is designed for cyclists of average fitness able to cover around 45km (average) each on back-to-back days. You'll be riding on rural roads through Rajasthan's desert, without too much elevation gain and loss and there are regular rest breaks each day, so the going is easily manageable by most cyclists with basic fitness. The Rajasthan heat is definitely a factor several months of the year, so bring some suitable breathable clothing to wear and your cycle leader will ensure the rides are broken up with regular hydration stops. No technical skill is required, just some strong legs and a sense of adventure! There will also be a support vehicle alongside the group to transport your luggage, so if the going gets too tough or too hot, you can always jump in for a bit of respite.

It's no secret that we love cycling and many of us at HQ think it's the best way to see a country, however, we realise that organising your own trip can be a total faff. On our cycling trips, we've found a local guide who has put together a perfect route and will navigate for you all the way. We even send a van that transports your overnight luggage and provide high-quality bikes and delicious snacks to keep you going. Faff eliminated! All you have to do is turn up, pedal and take in the landscape with your fellow tourers. You don't need to be a lycra-clad 'roadie' although they're welcome too!

You'll be riding Trek X-Caliber 6&7 bikes. These are aluminium 'hardtail' mountain bikes with front suspension - perfect for riding on rural and city roads in India. The bikes have standard flat pedals - if you would rather pack your own saddle and pedals (including SPDs), please do and these will be fitted for you.

Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. The following advice may be subject to change. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.

All foreign nationalities entering India require a valid visa, which in most cases must be obtained in advance of travel (please check the regulations for your nationality). You must have a machine-readable passport, valid for at least 180 days from your arrival date in India. Persons of Indian origin must have an OCI card. Clients with a Pakistani passport or of Pakistani descent will need extra time and additional documents for visa processing.

Applicants of eligible countries can either apply online for an Indian e-Visa or apply for a Standard Visa, which involves an in-person visit to a branch of the Indian High Commission's Visa Facilitation Service (VFS). There have been delays to Standard Visa processing times so please book your appointment ASAP if using this service.

Travellers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA and EU, can apply online via https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. Applications for 30-day e-Tourist visas can be made from 30 days before the proposed date of travel and not less than 4 days before your arrival date in India (applications for multiple entry 1-year e-Tourist visas can be made from 120 days in advance).

Applications for a Standard Visa (requiring both an online application and an in-person appointment) can be made via the VFS Global website.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Optional Tipping Kitty: Tipping is part of the culture in India. Your guide will offer to run a tipping kitty whereby everybody contributes an equal amount and they then take care of tipping on behalf of the group. This is often the easiest way to avoid the hassles of needing small change and knowing when and what is an appropriate amount to tip. The tipping kitty will cover tips for drivers, any additional local guides, and hotel staff (excludes restaurant tips). Your guide will keep a running record of all monies spent which you can ask to see at any time. Participation in this kitty is at your discretion and you are welcome to manage your own tipping separately if you prefer. For this trip, the kitty will be in the region of INR 4,000 per person (10 days). Please note the tipping kitty excludes tips for your main guide.

Tipping your Main Guide: If you have received excellent service and wish to tip your guide, the amount is entirely a personal preference and you are free to tip any amount you feel is appropriate. As a rough guideline only, your host recommends INR 4,500 – 5,000 per person (10 days) but you may decide to tip more or less as you see fit. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Filtered water is available at most of the hotels you stay at on this trip - you can fill up your refillable bottle and bike bottle from your hotel each day. Additionally, your tour leader and driver will carry a large container of purified water for the group to refill their bottles from.

Travellers flock to Rajasthan throughout the year, however for a physical trip the months of May-August are best avoided due to the heat of the pre-monsoon and monsoon months. We don't run departures during this period. Winter in Rajasthan is from October-March when temperatures are at their most pleasant and rainfall at its lowest. Expect highs of between 22-29°C / 72-84°F. Things start hotting up in April with temperatures notching up by several degrees and humidity rising as the monsoon builds up, however, cycling trips are still enjoyable during the month of April.

No. You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you. If you wish to ride with a small backpack or to bring along a saddle bag to keep your phone, camera and any other small valuables in, then please do - see kit list.

You can leave excess luggage at the Ambassador Hotel in Delhi, as you are staying here on the first and last nights of the trip. The same support vehicle is used throughout the adventure, so you are also free to leave additional luggage securely in the vehicle for the duration of your ride through Rajasthan.

Ramadan will take place from 22nd March to 20th April 2023 and 10th March to 8th April 2024. The national holiday of Eid ul-Fitr will follow for 2-3 days. Ramadan is an Islamic festival where the religious do not eat or drink during daylight hours. While this is a really interesting time to travel, you can expect some business hours will be shortened, alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and some restaurants will be closed during this festival period. Activities for local people tend to be limited during the day and the nights are very active in cities with lots of different foods being sold and consumed. However in hotel restaurants and tourist areas food and drink are served as normal and Ramadan will not affect the inclusions on your trip.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.