Cycling in Rajasthan

As somebody who doesn’t own a bike and has never been to India the excitement I felt in booking the 16 day Rajasthan tour was edged with trepidation. I needn’t have worried. Though the cycling was challenging, there was always the safety net of an excellent, backup team, providing drinks, and snacks to energize, or a van to travel in, if the cycling became too much! The itinerary provided the perfect blend between amazing temples, palaces, forts and cities that Rajasthan has to offer, and the stunning (and calmer) rural areas. Carefully planned routes, with some sections in the van, meant we stuck to quieter roads where traffic generally wasn’t an issue. As I had hoped, it enabled us to see beyond the well trodden tourist routes and experience the ‘rawer’ backwaters. The itinerary was flexible enough that when the opportunity arose and the group was willing we could engage with the experiences on offer: we were privileged to eat and dance at an Indian wedding, sing with a class of 80 primary school children, and attend a village Hindu festival celebrating Shiva’s birthday.

Sabir, who owns and runs the company, is efficient, helpful and trustworthy. From first contact through to catching the plane home his communication was excellent, he sorted problems quickly (punctures, forgotten medication…) and put the wellbeing and happiness of the group first. I have no hesitation in recommending both the company and the tour, it is the stuff lifelong memories are made from!

I was not sure what to expect as this was my first visit to India and a bicycling tour.

Sabir and his team provided excellent support every step of the way. We saw rural villages and large cities such a Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Agra. I believe we saw India the way most tourists never do, cycling through rural villages. The hotels were well chosen and very comfortable. Sabir oversaw every detail to insure that we got the most out of our trip. At times the roads could be challenging but Sabir and his support team guided us every step of the way. Safety is a big concern for Sabir and he was extremely watchful of us the entire time. This is an amazing way to see the real India and I would highly recommend it. Sabir arranged for us to experience so much such as the Tiger Safari and the Taj Mahal. All our tours were very well selected and provided wonderful experiences.

A wonderful trip provided by Sabir and his excellent team. From the very start Sabir was available and willing to sort out what he must of thought were some innocuous issues, but he did so with a smile and with great efficiency.

From meeting in Delhi, the cycling took us from Udaipur to Jodhpur, Jaipur and Agra passing through the countryside and many villages. It gave us a real insight into the true Rajasthan, culture, the people, the food and the landscapes. So many amazing sights, sounds and tastes, and the local people were not only excited to see us as we passed through their villages but friendly and welcoming.

As someone who has not cycled in earnest for over 20 years, I was somewhat trepidatious, but whilst challenging on some days it was not too hard and has given me the bug to want to do more. It was clear that the route had taken a great deal of planning by Sabir, not only to stop at some of the amazing locations, but also in how he had accommodated for breaks and lunch stops in his schedule.

I would not hesitate to recommend joining one of Sabir's tours and am seriously considering joining one of his other tours in the future.