The Palace Trail - Cycling Rajasthan

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi
Day 2: Delhi
Day 3: Delhi - Udaipur (By Flight)
Day 4: Udaipur, 13 mi. (21 km)
Day 5: Udaipur - Ghanerao,  27 mi. (43 km) 
Day 6: Ghanerao - Bera, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 7:  Bera
Day 8:  Bera - Rohet, 27 mi.  (43 km)
Day 9:  Rohet - Jodhpur, 29 miles (46.4 km)
Day 10: Jodhpur - Khejarla, 46 mi. (52 miles)
Day 11: Khejarla - Jaipur, 32 mi.  (51 km)
Day 12: Jaipur
Day 13:  Jaipur - Agra
Day 14: Delhi departure 

It is possible to extend your itinerary and include visit to the Taj Mahal. See details below. Please note that it is closed on Fridays.

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi
Individual arrival at New Delhi’s Airport. Our local representative will meet you, transfer you to your first hotel, and assist you with check-in formalities. The transfer takes about 30 minutes.

Delhi is India’s capital and a major gateway to the country. The first impressions for any visitor traveling in from the airport are of a spacious, tree-lined "garden city", with a number of beautiful parks. However, this is also a  bustling metropolis, combining the ancient with the modern. In the shadows of the towering skyscrapers, you will find the remnants of a bygone era. The ancient monuments stand as silent reminders of the region’s legacy. (D)

Accommodation: Lutyens Bungalow

Day 2: Delhi
Today you will enjoy a full day in Delhi. You will first visit Old Delhi with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Later, you will drive past Red Fort and thereafter, visit Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. You will also enjoy a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi’s busy and narrow lanes. Then, from the old to the new you will be driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind.

The difference between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The contrasts between the walled city and New Delhi also marks the division in the life-styles. Within the walls, the colors of the past can be experienced. New Delhi, in contrast, is a modern and bustling city.

The tour of Imperial Delhi will include a drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President’s residence, and the parliament building, followed by a photo stop at the imposing India Gate. Later you will visit Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor Humayun. Before returning to your hotel you will also visit Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Lutyens Bungalow
Activity: Full day sightseeing in Delhi (By Car)

Day 3: Delhi - Udaipur (By Flight)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Delhi Airport for an early morning flight to romantic Udaipur in Rajasthan. On arrival, our local representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. After lunch, you are taken on a half-day tour of Udaipur. Lakeside Udaipur, the ‘City of Sunrise’, is set amidst the Aravali hills of south Rajasthan. Its enchanting ensemble of marble palaces, historic temples, placid lakes, landscaped gardens, and green hills, will enchant.  Stroll around Fatehsagar Lake and through the lively market before returning to the hotel.  (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Udai Kothi 
Activity: Sightseeing

Day 4: Udaipur, 13 mi. (21 km)
After breakfast, your first cycling tour begins leading around the lake and the countryside to the outskirts.  The tour is a delightful blend of scenery where you’ll get to experience the historic old city as well as the picturesque countryside, with minimum traffic to deal with. You will pass through pretty villages and cycle along the banks of splendid lakes in and around Udaipur. Most of the ride is fairly level but you will also experience some small but challenging hills. The stunning views are worth the effort. 

Later, you will enjoy a two-hour boat-ride on Lake Pichola, visiting many of the ghats (banks) where ablutions and meditation take place and enjoy excellent views of the Lake Palace and City Palace.  (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Udai Kothi 
Transfer: 1hr 20 mi
Activity: Cycling 13 mi. 

Day 5: Udaipur - Ghanerao,  27 mi. (43 km) 
After all the sightseeing and leisure biking, you will be ready today for the action to begin.  Be sure to eat a good breakfast at the hotel because you’re going to need all that energy for cycling from Udaipur to Ghanerao.  (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Ghanerao Castle 
Transfer: 50 mi 
Activity: 27 mi cycling through tribal areas, jungles, and hills
Total ascent: 1246 meters
Total descent: 1433 meters

Day 6: Ghanerao - Bera, 31 mi. (50 km)
Bera is today's destination. It is a small beautiful hamlet in Rajasthan where nomadic Rabari herdsmen are as much a part of the earth's tales as the mysterious felines that grace the hills and vanish at will into the folds. This is a land where pastoral fields meet and merge with wild grasslands and the swells of the Jawai Dam lap at the base of mighty granite forms. 

Hidden in the belly of Rajasthan, Bera is also known as leopard country, boasting of a considerable number of leopards (but very few tourists.)  To photograph leopards in Bera is on the to-do list of every wildlife enthusiast. It has a classic landscape with Aravalli hills dotted with scrub-land vegetation such as cactus and keekar, and caves which provide a perfect habitat for leopards. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Bera Safari Lodge
Activity: 31 mi cycling from Ghanerao + Cycling safari for 10-12 mi.
Total ascent: 225 meters
Total descent: 279 meters

Day 7:  Bera
Today is a day packed with adventure.

In the morning you are offered an early morning ride to Jawai Dam, a large reservoir and home to various species of birds. The Jawai dam is situated in Pali District of Rajasthan, built by Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur, it is the biggest dam in western Rajasthan. This is a winter paradise for migratory birds and holds a great diversity of birdlife both resident and migratory, with over 150 documented species. Lesser seen species include cranes, pelicans, flamingos, and a stunning diversity of waterfowls.  As well as birds, there are also crocodiles in its waters!  This ride will also be available post-lunch for late risers. 

Your ride to the local villages includes Rajasthan’s colorful rural belt. Jawai is a land of antiquity, wellness, adventure, and mystery. It is also the home of the fascinating Rabri herdsman who have shared this land with wildlife for many centuries and continues to link the wildlife and local culture. You will embark upon a wonderful rural village excursion to see how the culture is associated with wildlife conservation in the neighborhood. 

In the evening, there is an opportunity to go for another safari to the scrub forest of Bera to spot the spotted predator, but this time by jeep. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Bera Safari Lodge
Activity: 18 miles cycling to and from Jawai dam + Village cycling about 17 mi + Jungle safari by jeep.
Total ascent: 74 meters
Total descent: 114 meters

Day 8:  Bera - Rohet, 27 mi.  (43 km)
An early morning safari is your last chance to spot the majestic big cat in its natural environment. You can embark on a jeep safari at dawn or choose to sleep and get up late.  The ones who opt for the safari will be back in time for breakfast. After breakfast and a transfer, the flat but rugged cycling route leads to Rohet.  Lunch will be a picnic at some scenic place on the way, maybe under a tree shade, where there are possibilities to spot some deer, black buck, and antelopes.  You will pass through a few Bishnoi villages before you reach Rohet. 

After you check-in and freshening up, your day will end with a lovely dinner and some live folk music. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Rohetgarh 
Transfer: 2 hrs, 56 mi
Activity: 27 mi cycling

Day 9:  Rohet to Jodhpur, 29 miles (46.4 km)
Your destination is Jodhpur which is one of the most distinctive among the many princely settlements of Rajasthan. Countless tales of courage speak of a 500-year-old history and a culture that takes pride in its strength and valor. It is called the Gateway to Thar, as it is literally on the edge of the Thar desert. It is also called the Sun City as the sun shines (very bright and hot!) almost every day of the year.

After lunch, you can visit the Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur.  

The Mehrangarh fort stands witness to many battles. Learn about the intensely captivating history as you wander through the city. In an area prone to droughts, the shades of blue give a sense of relief. Look down from the fort at the soothing colors in sight, shimmering like a lake, an oasis, stuff that make the dreams of a desert people.

Jodhpur is also known as the Blue City, an apt name as most houses in the old city are shades of blue (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Ajit Bhawan
Activity: 29 miles cycling, Fort visit
Total ascent: 168 meters
Total descent: 143 meters

Day 10: Jodhpur - Khejarla, 46 mi. (52 miles)
Again a mixture of cycling and drive, start after breakfast and drive to some distance and then cycle to the Khejrala fort which is a 400-year-old Fort. The stunning red sandstone monument is a mesmerizing example of the architecture of the Rajputs. The rugged exterior contradicts an inner paradise with a striking blend of art and architecture leaving one with a magnificent aura! The spellbound grandeur of the Fort offers picturesque settings, latticework friezes, and intricate Jharokas that at once transports you back in time to experience the majesty of a long-gone era of valor and chivalry.   The historic structure amalgamates with the golden tint of the desert ambiance and the scenic setting suns in its most vibrant shades giving it a fairy tale appearance. Situated in a quiet and serene setting, Khejarla Fort carries a deep history and offers guests all the charisma and grandeur of an exclusive royal experience. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Fort Khejrala 
Activity: 26 miles cycling
Transfer: 26 mi., 1 hr
Total ascent: 320 meters
Total descent: 246 meters

Day 11: Khejarla to Jaipur, 32 mi.  (51 km)
This part of the tour involves more driving than cycling because you have to cover a long distance. You will leave fort Khejrala after breakfast and depart for Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan state. Jaipur, the pink city, was founded in 1727 AD by Maharaja Jai Singh II who ruled from 1699-1744. Initially, his capital was Amber, which lies at a distance of 11kms from Jaipur. After several battles with Marathas, Jai Singh was keen on the security aspect of the city. Due to this reason, he focused on his scientific and cultural interests to make a brilliant city. Being, a lover of mathematics and science, Jai Singh sought advice from Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Brahmin scholar of Bengal, to aid him to design the city architecture. Vidyadhar referred the ancient Indian literature on astronomy, books of Ptolemy and Euclid, and discussed the plan with the King. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Alsisar Haveli 
Activity: 32 miles cycling
Transfer: 138 mi., 3 Hr
Total ascent: 1489 meters
Total descent: 1349 meters

Day 12: Jaipur
First on the agenda is a morning excursion to the amazing Amber Fort by jeep, which imperiously looks down on the city from atop the Hill of Eagles. You don’t just come here for the views. To step inside the fort is to step back in time to the splendors of the Mughal Empire and the Raj. (If an elephant sounds uncomfortable, you can go up by Jeep.) 

The fort’s forbidding exterior belies the beautiful fusion of art and architecture behind the ramparts. Highlights include the Kali Temple, famous for its huge silver lions, and the Hall of Public Audiences, where the maharaja received the petitions of his subjects. The hall features a double row of columns each capped by an elephant shape. Back in Jaipur, a sightseeing tour takes us to see the City Palace, the adjacent Palace of Winds, the Jantar Mantar observatory, a batik fabric print works and more. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Alsisar Haveli 
Activity: Local Sightseeing

Day 13:  Jaipur -  Delhi (or extension. See below.)
After a leisurely and relaxed breakfast, drive back to Delhi and arrive by afternoon. Stay near the airport and catch a Bollywood Musical over farewell dinner. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Plaza 
Transfer: 167 miles

Day 14: Delhi departure 
You will be transferred to the airport to catch your onward flight.

End of Main Tour

Alternate Itinerary

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Accommodations

Your accommodations are as unique and exotic as your tour, featuring boutique and upscale hotels. For example, upon your arrival in Delhi, you will stay in Lutyens Bungalow, located near Lodi Garden in a lovely section of New Delhi, very central to most places of interest. On another night you stay in Bera Safari Lodge, an adventurer’s retreat snuggled in Aravalli ranges that offers a tranquil and beautiful backdrop in one of the country’s most popular leopard getaway destinations.

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