Rajasthan by Bicycle: Udaipur to Agra — 12 Days
A 12-day cycling route through Rajasthan's backroads, from the City of Lakes to the Taj Mahal, with stays in Kumbhalgarh, Pushkar, Jaipur, and Agra.
This cycling tour covers roughly 400 kilometers across rural Rajasthan over twelve days, connecting Udaipur in the south to Agra in the north. Riders begin with two days in Delhi—an introductory backstreet ride and then an overnight sleeper train to Udaipur—before beginning the main route on quiet backroads through villages, farmland, and the Aravali Hills. The ride passes through the 15th-century Kumbhalgarh Fort, the pilgrimage town of Pushkar on its sacred lake, and the Pink City of Jaipur, where a rest day allows for visits to the Palace of the Winds, the Jai Singh Observatory, and Amer Fort. A game drive at Sariska National Park and a visit to the Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri precede the final days in Agra, which include a dawn visit to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. A support vehicle and mechanic accompany the group throughout. Daily distances range from 26 to 95 kilometers, with terrain varying from level farmland to undulating hills.
Highlights
- Cycling through rural villages on backroads between Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh, passing farmers and oxcart traffic
- Visiting Kumbhalgarh Fort, a 15th-century structure with 36 kilometers of fortifications enclosing hundreds of temples
- Overnight stay in Pushkar, a pilgrimage center on a sacred lake in the Aravali foothills, with a guided walk to the Brahma Temple
- Game drive at Sariska National Park in search of leopards, sambhar, chital, and other wildlife
- Pre-dawn visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, followed by exploration of Agra Fort
Day by day
1Arrival in Delhi and Bike SetupDelhi Airport · the hotel
Guests arrive at Delhi Airport and are transferred by group vehicle to the hotel. The afternoon is left unscheduled, providing an opportunity to reassemble your hired bike or collect it for thorough inspection before the tour begins. Take advantage of the hotel's swimming pool and gardens to settle in after your journey. Lunch and dinner are included.
2Delhi Backstreets and Overnight Train to UdaipurDelhi's quieter backstreets · Qutab Minar · one of Delhi's teeming market streets · Delhi railway station
After breakfast at the hotel, a leisurely two-hour cycle ride through Delhi's quieter backstreets offers your first taste of riding in India and begins the cultural immersion. The bikes feel manageable, the pace is gentle, and the city reveals itself differently from street level.
Lunch follows, then a short sightseeing tour takes in the Qutab Minar, an impressive 73-metre-high minaret, and a stroll through one of Delhi's teeming market streets—sensory and vivid. In the early evening, transfer to Delhi railway station to board your overnight sleeper train bound for Udaipur. Your bicycles have already been dispatched by road and will be waiting when you arrive.
3Udaipur: Cycling the Pearl of RajasthanUdaipur · Lake Pichola · City Palace complex · Jagdish Temple · Market areas
The overnight train arrives in Udaipur in the early morning. After transfer to the hotel and breakfast, the group departs on a leisurely sightseeing ride through the city, known as the Pearl of Rajasthan. Situated on the east side of Lake Pichola and ringed by the Aravalli Hills, Udaipur also earns the epithets City of Sunrise and Venice of the East.
The ride takes in the City Palace complex, a collection of interconnected palaces, courtyards, terraces, and gardens that date to the 16th century. From the palace hill, views sweep across Lake Pichola to the Lake Palace Hotel, which entirely covers the island of Jag Niwas, and across the city itself. The route also passes the Jagdish Temple, a large 17th-century Hindu temple and fine example of Aryan architecture.
Market areas dot the cycling route, offering opportunities to browse and purchase local souvenirs. If time allows, an optional boat trip on Lake Pichola provides another perspective on the city's geography and character. The day covers approximately 26 kilometers with 300 meters of climbing and descent over around four hours of cycling. Overnight at the Udaipur hotel.
4Cycling to Kumbhalgarh Fort Through Aravali VillagesKumbhalgarh Fort · Iswal · rural settlements
After a short half-hour transfer to Iswal, the ride begins on quiet backroads through rural settlements heading generally northward to Kumbhalgarh. The terrain is notably undulating, making this the most strenuous cycling day of the tour. The distance is approximately 65 kilometers with 700 meters of climbing and 400 meters of descent, requiring six to seven hours of riding. Kumbhalgarh Fort, built in the 15th century, features fortifications extending over 36 kilometers and encloses hundreds of Jain and Hindu temples. Time is allocated to walk the fort walls and view surrounding landscape before returning to the hotel.
5Ghomti to Pushkar via AjmerGhomti to Pushkar via Ajmer · Pushkar · Kumbhalgarh to the village of Ghomti · the hotel
The morning ride on minor roads leads from Kumbhalgarh to the village of Ghomti, a distance of approximately 40 kilometers with 340 meters of climbing and 650 meters of descent, taking about three hours. At Ghomti, the group boards the support vehicle for a drive to Pushkar, passing through Ajmer and crossing the desert via a low pass in the Snake Hills. Pushkar is one of Hinduism's five principal pilgrimage centers and is distinguished by white houses and temples clustered around a sacred lake. The afternoon includes a guided walk to the lake and to the Brahma Temple, a distinctive feature of this town. The hotel overlooks the setting for sunset views over the lake and temples.
6Arid Farmland and Marble Country to RupangarhRupangarh · Pushkar · Naraina Railway Crossing
The ride departs Pushkar heading north across arid farmland and through small villages toward Rupangarh, a center for marble work. The area surrounding Rupangarh includes the Makrana marble quarries, source of material for the Taj Mahal, and Sambhar Lake, where large-scale salt extraction takes place. The day offers an optional extension south of the lake to Naraina Railway Crossing, from which the group can board a bus for a two-hour transfer to Jaipur. The cycling portion covers approximately 95 kilometers with 410 meters of climbing and 520 meters of descent, requiring seven to eight hours of riding.
7Jaipur: Pink City Monuments and HandicraftsCity Palace · Hawa Mahal · Jantar Mantar · Amer Fort
A rest day in Jaipur includes a sightseeing tour of the city, known as the Pink City for its sandstone buildings, many of which were later painted pink. The city was laid out on a grid of broad avenues by Maharaja Jai Singh. The City Palace, the former maharaja's residence at the center of the old city, now houses a museum with Mughal-era paintings, period clothing, and antique weapons. The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, is a well-known five-story structure visible from the main street. The Jantar Mantar, Jai Singh's astronomical observatory, features large instruments of brass and marble arranged in a garden setting. Amer Fort, located just outside the city, is another major site. Jaipur is also a center for handicrafts, including hand-woven carpets, leather goods, and jewelry. A second night is spent at the hotel in Jaipur.
8Aravali Hills Cycling to Sariska National ParkAravali Hills · Sariska National Park · Ramgarh
After a short transfer to Ramgarh, the ride follows quiet roads through the Aravali Hills via the small town of Pratapgarh. The landscape includes numerous farms, villages, and fields dotted with trees, with riders traversing open valleys and rocky ridges. The day involves a reasonable amount of climbing and descent—approximately 75 kilometers over five to six hours, with 190 meters of ascent and 240 meters of descent—before reaching accommodation within Sariska National Park in the afternoon. The resort-style hotel includes a swimming pool.
9Game Drive at Sariska and Backroads Cycling to BharatpurSariska National Park · Bharatpur bird reserve
An early morning game drive through Sariska National Park precedes the main cycling of the day. The park is a hilly, deciduous woodland reserve home to leopard, sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur, hyena, and jungle cat, among other species. After returning to the lodge for breakfast, the group sets out on bicycles through the reserve's minor roads. The park's tranquil, minimally developed landscape is well suited for cycling. The ride heads east and then south through rural areas toward the Bharatpur bird reserve, the overnight destination. The day covers approximately 60 kilometers over three to four hours, with 55 meters of climbing and 80 meters of descent. A short support-vehicle transfer may be used for the final section of the route.
10Bharatpur Bird Reserve and Cycling to Fatehpur SikriBharatpur bird reserve · Fatehpur Sikri · backroads to Fatehpur Sikri · Agra
An optional early morning visit to Bharatpur bird reserve is available for those interested in Indian birdlife; the reserve contains approximately 230 bird species, including waterfowl and several eagle species. This visit must be arranged locally by the guide and paid separately. Guests participating in the bird-watching tour return to the lodge for breakfast before rejoining the group for the final cycling ride of the tour. The short final ride departs mid-morning on backroads to Fatehpur Sikri, the former Mughal capital, covering approximately 34 kilometers with 15 meters each of climbing and descent over three hours of cycling. Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Emperor Akbar in 1569 and contains royal palaces, a harem, courts, a mosque, and administrative buildings, representing some of India's best-preserved Mughal architecture. A guided tour of the site precedes a transfer by support vehicle to Agra, where guests check into a hotel near the Taj Mahal.
11Taj Mahal at Dawn, Agra Fort, and Return to DelhiTaj Mahal · Agra Fort · Agra to Delhi
The group departs before dawn for a walk to the Taj Mahal, arriving before the gates open at sunrise. The white marble structure, built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal following her death in 1631, is a principal example of Mughal architecture. Later in the morning, a visit to Agra Fort, also called the Red Fort, commands views along the Yamuna River with the Taj Mahal visible in the distance. After lunch, the group transfers by vehicle back to Delhi, a journey of five to six hours. Accommodation for the final night is at a hotel with swimming pool.
12Departure from DelhiDelhi Airport
The tour concludes after breakfast. A group transfer to Delhi Airport is provided.
Where you go
- 1Udaipur
- 2Lake Pichola
- 3Jagdish Temple
- 4Pushkar
- 5City Palace
- 6Hawa Mahal
- 7Jantar Mantar
- 8Fatehpur Sikri
- 9Agra
- 10Taj Mahal
- 11Agra Fort
Included
- A professional local English speaking biking leader
- A single group transfer from Delhi Airport on Day 1
- A single group transfer to Delhi Airport on Day 12
- Overnight train from Delhi to Udaipur
- All land transport involved in the trip itinerary
- Support vehicle / driver and mechanic
- All accommodation as described
- One game drive in Sariska National Park and park fees
- Monument entrance fees as per itinerary
- All meals
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Indian Visa
- Delhi Airport transfers (other than the group transfers on Day 1 and Day 12)
- Tips for drivers and other staff
- Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc
- Bike hire
Activities: Cycle