Cycling Through Rajasthan

Gilly Dean   -  Traveled, January 2024

Amazing experience A really amazing trip Guides really good and looked after me well I’m not really a cyclist though and would have appreciated clarification of the level. Having walked at level 4/5, I was surprised that level 3 was this hard Most Inspirational Moment Bird Park Amber fort Udaipur lakes Thoughts on Group Leader Manu and Manish were always friendly and approachable Assessment of conditions not always absolutely accurate in my opinion Advice for Potential Travellers Be aware that road conditions are often rough Tourist sites are awesome but local guides may be difficult to understand Suggestions I was sorry that the trip to Old Delhi was on a Sunday Previous trip last year showed the traders in much more detail I was sorry not to go back to the spice market Shopping opportunities limited and I would have preferred not to be taken to commercial shops where the guides were known Overall a great trip but some tweaks to trip notes needed For example, it was cold and foggy. None of us had appropriate clothing.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/31/2024

Brian Meaney   -  Traveled, January 2024

An experience like no other This was my first visit to India and hopefully it’s not my last. Certainly it was a different experience from my trips to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand but not in any way negative and with Manu’s guidance and Sunny’s support the minor challenges were all manageable. Cycling in the larger cities and towns required one to be alert at all times and the constant blowing of horns from motor bikes, tuc tucs, cars and buses took some getting used to. The Indian way clearly!! But as with any change one does adapt and we even managed to have some fun on a few tuc tuc journeys. One was never too far away from the many shallow and ‘without warning’ speed bumps which will keep you on your toes. We crammed a lot into the 2 weeks but it was all very worthwhile and our time in Agra where we visited the stunning Taj Mahal in the late afternoon, and even though crowded due to the holiday period this was still an amazing experience. Then a visit to the Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was quite impressive. We had also spent a few hours the previous day visiting the beautiful bird sanctuary in the company of a wonderful guide. Most Inspirational Moment Without doubt the visit to the Taj Mahal. Thoughts on Group Leader Manu was excellent and very willing to share his family and general life's experience which gave an important and indeed enlightening insight into India and the impact Hinduism's teaching and philosophy has had on its citizen's way of life. Advice for Potential Travellers While the traffic can at times seem chaotic and intimidating it's important to stay calm and alert while cycling. Despite all the honking from vehicles, road users are not aggressive and honking appears to be just the Indian way of life. Suggestions One or two hotels were less than prepared for our early morning departures. Interestingly when I made enquiries these issues had occurred previously and with the same hotels. On the second last morning before undertaking the bus ride to Delhi we departed Agra and cycled some 45kms through very rural roads and villages. Of all the cycles this final one was exceptional and most enlightening as regards rural life in Rajasthan.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/29/2024

Wendy Tomes   -  Traveled, January 2024

Great cycling through the villages and some awe inspiring forts and palaces on the way We started in Delhi which is a crazy city . First day of cycling cancelled due to fog and the quality of air was very poor . Great days sightseeing of the city then the overnight train to Jodhpur which was an adventure . Not as much cycling as other Exodus cycling trips we have been on but the cycling we did was great . Bikes were good and the support was excellent. We visited a lot of palaces and forts all really enjoyed impressive . Food was brilliant and most of the hotels were usual Exodus standard and fine . It’s a great way of seeing Rajasthan from a different perspective Most Inspirational Moment Taj Mahal and the forts Thoughts on Group Leader We had two - Manu and Manish and both were very good . Advice for Potential Travellers If you are going in January bring warm clothes . The trip notes suggested we might be cold early morning but few of us were prepared for how cold it was for a lot of the time - one night we were even given hot water bottles Bring a mask or bandana to cover your mouth as when cycling through towns there is a lot of pollution and then n the villages a lot of dust Suggestions Some of the sections are optional but this puts a lot of pressure in those wanting to do it when others just have to sit in the bus At all times back up is great and anyone can stop when they want

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 02/16/2024

Bev Cejer   -  Traveled, October 2023

Amazing and crazy in equal measures If you want to experience Rajasthan’s famous sights and more peaceful rural life on two wheels this is a great trip. The distance covered is vast, so expect long days with lengthy transfers on crazy uneven roads If you are a confident cyclist the cycling is not too hard, however, you do need to concentrate as anything from a tuk tuk to a cow can suddenly appear in your path! Plus a tarmac surface can suddenly become rubble! Cultural highlights include hill forts, palaces and not forgetting the beautifu lTaj Mahal. Delhi and Jaipur are noisy and can feel overwhelming with the constant blarring of horns. The colours, sights and sounds will be with us for a very long time Most Inspirational Moment Visiting the Taj Mahal Seeing rural life close up Advice for Potential Travellers We timed our visit to coincide with Diwali. Sadly spending it in Jaipur wasn't the experience we had hoped for as its a bit like London on NYE Unless the itinerary is changed so Diwali is spent in a smaller town I'd avoid going then. Pack layers as the mornings can be chilly on the bike.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/25/2023

Adam Espir   -  Traveled, November 2022

Palaces and Backroads very good route and good rides through interesting countryside great palaces at Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur Taj Mahal is special Most Inspirational Moment Taj Mahal Thoughts on Group Leader Manu was very good. Delivered the programme. Told us a lot about India, and very open about his country. All the crew were very good. Advice for Potential Travellers India is chaotic and assaults all your senses. On the road you will see people, cows, dogs, buffalo, and lots of rubbish and plastic. It takes about a week to get used to the chaos ! Suggestions The hotel at Sariska (Virat Resorts) was very poor, and not up to European standard. The rooms were not finished, and had some very dubious wiring, the floors were marble and very slippery when wet. The dining room was full of flies and the kitchen took ages to serve food, and the staff were hopeless. The hotel in Jaipur (Fort Chandragupt Hotel) was in the wrong part of Jaipur. It was next to the bus station and there was a lot of noise from the station, and we had to travel across town to get to the tourist areas. Suggest you change these hotels, as they were poor, and detracted from my overall rating of the trip. Rest of hotels were fine.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/20/2022

Cathy Parmenter   -  Traveled, January 2019

Great cycling and site seeing combination This trip is a great way of seeing a selection of famous sites as well as getting glimpses of the real India from cycling on back roads, waving at friendly locals, looping round cows, avoiding wandering pigs, nipping past sleeping dogs, pausing to allow flocks of sheep and goats to cross, overtaking bullock carts and even camels. The sometimes parched scenery may not be as lush as south India but there are plenty of sights to see along the way and regular snack stops to break up the longer cycling days. The longer rides tend to be pretty flat and there are some stiff but achievable hills too. But there’s always a back up vehicle for anyone who has had enough and plenty of snacks and sweet chai to keep you going. Most Inspirational Moment The Taj Mahal literally took my breath away, the Amer Fort in Jodhpur was amazing and the City Palace in Udaipur was spectacular, but there were many fascinating insights into local life too whether seeing a couple making rope along the roadside or watching bricks being made by hand. Thoughts on Group Leader Sanjay and Manu were both excellent, highly experienced guides who worked hard to make sure that everything went smoothly. Advice for Potential Travellers If you are travelling in January, it is probably going to be colder than you think. I was glad of the down jacket I had worn to the airport and even wore it for cycling a couple of times until me and the day warmed up. Personally, I felt most comfortable wearing my over the knee mountain biking shorts as village women always have their legs covered but no one had any issues when wearing shorter shorts. Two pairs of cycling under shorts were sufficient as there are enough two night stops for them to get washed, three would be better if you have them. You'll need something warm to wear on cold evenings too as we ate outside a couple of times. But I guess that won't apply to later departures.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 02/19/2019

Gary Brown   -  Traveled, December 2018

Good cycling but a shame about the pollution in the cities. We’ve visited India twice before, the first time 20 years ago and then again 10 years ago, and so as keen cyclists we were excited about the prospect of cycling around the back roads of Rajasthan. The cycling was fantastic, along quiet country roads through small rural villages where everyone waves and shouts hello. Brilliant! But beware – after the cycling you end up in large cities where the levels of pollution are now so bad that it is not only unpleasant to walk around but potentially very bad for your health. I and 3 others ended up with chest infections and 2 of us couldn’t cycle again for the remainder of the trip. Our trip was over Xmas and New Year and the hotels, although perfectly clean and adequate, had no heating and it was very very cold at night – we had to ask for extra blankets just to be able to sleep. Our leader Manu and all the support crew were excellent but the bikes were a little tired. Would I recommend this trip – No! Although the cycling was great the pollution in the cities is horrendous! Most Inspirational Moment The cycling and the excitement of the local children. Suggestions Exodus like to promote responsible tourism and yet their tipping policy makes a mockery of this. Why is it necessary for the clients to subsidise the wages of the leader and support crew? Surely Exodus (and the company they subcontract to in India) should be paying these local people a decent living wage? I would certainly prefer to pay a little extra in the cost of the holiday if it would do away with this unpleasant tipping procedure.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/31/2019

Philip Atkinson   -  Traveled, October 2018

Fantastic trip through Moghul India This was a great trip to be on, saw amazing sights; buildings, landscape, wildlife as well as having a chance to see and interact with local people. We cycled through some varied and interesting landscape as well as some that was dull. The roads were quite a mix, some better than the guides remembered from their last trip, others much worse. The heat was relentless on a few days due to lack of shade and start times being later due to coach transfers, this did cause problems and maybe needs more thought. I have to say that, after a few days cycling, most of us improved but the 34km extenI think the trip will be a five in future but it needs some tweaking of itinerary and trip notes to get there. sion on day eight seemed to be wasted as the countryside was probably the worst we came across, uninspiring. Overall a great trip though with a few adjustments to trip notes and tweaking of itinerary. Most Inspirational Moment There were a few, sorry! 1) The forts and palaces generally, especially at Jaipur and Udaipur 2) cycle up to Kumbhalgarh and visit to the fort 3) Morning guided heritage cycle around Jaipur, everyone thought that was fantastic 4) Ride through Sariskar NP buffer zone on day 10 5) Day 13 cycle through backroads to Fatehpur Sikri 6) And finally, the visit to the Taj Mahal, amazing Thoughts on Group Leader We had two tour leaders who shared duties, Sanjay who was the most senior and Tapesh. I thought they were a good mix and ensured we had the chance to meet locals, especially in impromptu situations. They looked after everyone on the rides and catered for the varying levels of fitness and determination. Socially they were good fun as were the cycle rides. They made the trip in my opinion. Advice for Potential Travellers Don’t underestimate the heat and it’s impact on performance. Drinking plenty is difficult when the water in your bottle is 40C so try and mix with other drinks or take some squash or similar. Travel light, a bar bag is a useful thing to take rather than rucksack. Have camera handy for photos as you pass through small villages and chai shops. Suggestions There were a couple of fairly negative people in the group who were disruptive towards the end, I thought the group leaders dealt with them quite well considering. Not sure of the benefit of the extra 34km on day 8, just made us late into Jaipur because of traffic. Also, there was no mention of the length of some of the transfers, the ones to Jaipur and also to Pushkar were very long but nothing in trip notes to indicate that, should,be more honest/explicit. On a separate note, the support staff were all very good and worked very hard.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/18/2018

Ray Powell   -  Traveled, February 2018

Cycling with a bump A great first experience of India Most Inspirational Moment Handing out pens to local school Thoughts on Group Leader Manu was very good and was always around to help us out when we needed it Advice for Potential Travellers Make sure you have good travel insurance

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/15/2018

curtis wierenga   -  Traveled, January 2018

loved cycling in rajasthan This trip was great! The cycling wasn’t overly difficult. The trip offers a wide range of sites to please everyone. Our guides and crew were excellent, the bikes were great as was the support vehicle. We always had drinking water and snacks while we cycled. They took great care of us. Most Inspirational Moment Cycling through some of the small villages on our last day of cycling. There is no better way to be immersed in the Indian culture. Thoughts on Group Leader Manu was fantastic, very professional but also alot of fun at the same time. Great sense of humour! We have travelled many years in many countries with many guides and Manu ranks right at the top! Advice for Potential Travellers Enjoy! Don't be afraid of the food or drinking water or the sheer number of people. It is fantastic

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 02/15/2018

Jon richards   -  Traveled, October 2017

cycling through Rajestan This was a good trip, seeing the classic UNESCO sites of Jaipur, Agra & Taj Mahal, wildlife reserves, train rides, moderate cycling as well as some really off the beat village life. The hotels were mainly of a good standard with pools & the staff were excellent. Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the sites at Agra & Taj Mahal which were amazing. Some really fond memories of village life, visiting local schools, houses etc - Exodus really excel at this. The safari was ok, probably enjoyed the bird sactuary more Thoughts on Group Leader Tapesh & the whole team were brilliant - well organised, considerate, communicative etc Advice for Potential Travellers It's hot so take good screen, hat etc. Hardly any mossies, so didn't bother with Deet. Take alcohol hand wash to avoid the bugs. Suggestions There are lots of visits to palaces & forts which get better as the trip goes on to the well know UNESCO sites, some of these early ones are optional. There are some quite long bus transfers to the cities where these sites are - I believe changes are being made to the schedule to reduce the amount of these. The cycling scenery is fairly dry, and in my opinion much lusher with less urban centres to get to, on the Kerala or Sri Lanka trips. So if you want to see the UNESCO sites and have good (rather than excellent cycling), this would be a good trip. For a more relaxing trip, with lusher scenery & v few bus transfers, the Kerala trip might appeal more

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/17/2017

Janet Joy   -  Traveled, February 2017

Cycling through Rajasthan India is an amazing place – totally different & totally mad but what an experience it was. This is a busy holiday packed with so many different places and many wonderful memories. Most Inspirational Moment So many different memories- the overnight train ride, the mental traffic, tut tut rides! the wonderful people and children welcoming us everywhere we went, the amazing Taj Mahal, chai tea ! - the total India experience. Thoughts on Group Leader Manu was was brilliant. Very knowledgeable, very organised, great sence of humour & a totally top chap. Advice for Potential Travellers This is a busy trip but make sure you go at your pace and enjoy the different experiences and savour India. Suggestions Manu & his fantastic support team were brilliant. They were all so happy and helpful - nothing was ever too much for them and they really helped to make the holiday so special.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/25/2017

glen kite   -  Traveled, October 2016

Cycling through Rajasthan A fantastic whirlwind assault on the senses – incredible sights, smells and wonderful children waving us on throughout the villages. Delhi was very smoggy and choked to death with traffic, but still amazing views from the coach window as we battled the congestion, but after the overnight train, the visuals start. Most Inspirational Moment We were invited, or press ganged into a wedding, which was a real feast for the eyes, to see how a diiferent culture celebrate here - horses, parades, fireworks and entire banquet filled the hotel grounds. Of course the Taj is an excellent feat in building, but Udaipur palace interior was filled with impressive craftsmans skills. Though ultimately, its the people, the smiles, the friendliness that catches your heart Thoughts on Group Leader Manu and Rigsin were exceptional, the knowledge of India and its people, a question was never unanswered. Whilst we were there, we had the problem of the 'black money' - which caused a huge problem for everybody, and given the circumstances Manu helped out wherever he could, and even beyond his duties. Ali and Ramu always helped with water and the bike maintenance, and Mr Singh an amazing driver through those conditions Advice for Potential Travellers Check the weather before you go - it was much hotter than the average temperature on Exodus website If you see something, buy it, as youll never have the chance to buy it again - we found Johdpur market (clock tower) wonderful, but held out for Jaipur, which was disappointing and a very long day on and off the bus. Its a great holiday, but be prepared for non stop adventure - rest when you get back home!!!! Suggestions The Jaipur day out was laboured, too much to see in a short space of time, therefore withered with the guide, as you really had to listen hard to understand, plus added trips to the factories, were not for me Udaipur looked wonderful, but no chance to walk around as on a very tight schedule, we cycled, then straight out to eat later that evening Food at times went from fantastic at the lakeside in Udaipur, to very expensive roadside cafes, and uninteresting western style restaurants

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/16/2016

Deborah Dawson   -  Traveled, October 2016

Our Indian adventure An enjoyable holiday, greatly enhanced by sharing it with a fantastic group of like-minded people. A fabulous way to capture the spirit of Rajasthan. With the added bonus of mixing the ‘sights’ with a glimpse of ‘everyday life’. A little disappointing not to have sampled more ‘local’ food. The leader preferring hotels or ‘tourist’ type restaurants. Would have liked to have seen more of the sights around Delhi, rather than driving round in circles by bus. Compared to our previous trips, there was a lot of time spent on the bus. The cycling was great. A mixture of easy and more challenging routes. I do however question Exodus’s assertion that everyone is able to ride at their own pace. There were no particularly slow people in our group, however there were times when the slowest were pressured to get on the bus, despite the group being happy to wait. Conversely others were required to slow down to keep the group together, this was often frustrating for both ends of the spectrum. This may have been due to there being only two guides cycling, only one of which was of reasonable fitness. Most Inspirational Moment Cycling through the villages were the most interesting and enjoyable times. The sleeper train was a surprisingly enjoyable experience also. Thoughts on Group Leader The group leader spoke good English and enthusiastically shared his local knowledge with the group. He wasn't however so enthusiastic about the cycling element and lacked cycling fitness which sometimes compromised safety. The assistant leader is more of a cycling enthusiast with the fitness to match but unfortunately showed little interest in the monuments and sights. Advice for Potential Travellers Take plenty of high energy snacks. Unlike on similar trips, these were not provided or easily bought. Our group were often hungry and energy reserves dipped on some of the more challenging cycling days. We soon learnt to take food from the breakfast buffet to refuel later on. We found we needed more money for food than the trip notes suggest. We were encouraged to tip more than the trip notes suggested also. There are opportunities to get laundry done. Suggestions Another great Exodus holiday which we thoroughly enjoyed, however it didn't quite match the standard of other Exodus holidays we have had.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/20/2016

Louise Masson   -  Traveled, February 2016

Cycling through Rajasthan A great 2 week trip visiting many cities, Palaces and Forts in Rajasthan. Great accommodation, variety of activities and fun guides. Cycling is varied and we were well looked after. Most Inspirational Moment Cannot say just one as many days were varied and fascinating places to visit. Agra, for Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Ranakpur was incredible, Jodhpur,Jaipur, Udaipur and Pushkar all different.... Thoughts on Group Leader Bhupesh ( Boo) and Anand (AK ) were very amazing! Very knowledgeable, fun and went out of their way to ensure we had all that we needed!( Including pharmacy, iPhone shop for smashed phone, birthday fireworks treats!) Advice for Potential Travellers There is some time for shopping built into the trip, however not specifically in your free time, which might be better as not everyone in the trip found this time well spent... Suggestions Standard of accommodation was one of the best for this type of trip and very well received. Would like to see this more often!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/14/2016

Deirdre Pope   -  Traveled, January 2016

Cycling Through Rajasthan Enjoyed it a lot – amazing forts and palaces and mostly good cycling (we had one day on really bad roads I could have done without). Only criticism was lack of free time on our own. As we were a small group (6) it was hard not to join in all the time. On the Kerala trip we had whole days free in Cochin and Varkala but there was nothing similar on this trip. I did get tired of the food – chili with everything. Most Inspirational Moment ??? Knowing I could still be out at the front at 69! I loved Udaipur and the hotel there. Feeling the vastness of the cities - especially Jaipur from above at sunset. Thoughts on Group Leader Very competent and caring. Advice for Potential Travellers Take your own saddle - women especially. Suggestions Some, in fact all, the local guides were not especially interesting - their English was generally laboured. They often managed to say a lot of words without clearly conveying much. I do appreciate that we should be using local guides. More detailed and accurate notes on where we were going would have been helpful. The names of our hotels? in case we got lost. Advice on background reading? I picked up a second hand Rough Guide to India but not really appropriate.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 02/12/2016

Peter Jones   -  Traveled, November 2015

Cycling in Rajasthan A fantastic experience that lets you get up close to the real India with all its sights, smells and sounds. A great way to have an active holiday whilst a packed itinerary allows you to see many of the iconic sights of India. Most Inspirational Moment Riding through the villages where all the children would come out to line the streets and wave. Wherever we stopped a crowd would gather round to inspect both us and the bikes. I guess strangers, and especially European strangers are a very rare sight in some of these places. Whilst it does take a bit of getting used to, everyone was always really friendly. Thoughts on Group Leader Everything worked like clockwork, which given my previous experience of India was probably a minor miracle and a testament to the efficiency of our group leaders. Nice guys, always accommodating, flexible and willing to help. Advice for Potential Travellers It can be smoggy in Delhi (they appear to have a real problem with this these days) and it can be dusty in places on the road so do ensure you have something to cover your mouth. A buff kept round my neck worked well for me. Cycling in the cities is not for the fainthearted. Whilst there is a notional drive on the left rule, Indian traffic, people and animals come at you from all directions, and it can be very busy, although generally slow moving. Some element of confidence on a bike will help greatly. Suggestions If you don't like curry you may have a problem. Most of our group got a touch of Delhi belly at some point, but nothing serious, so do take plenty of pills with you.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/15/2015

Robbie Walker-Brown   -  Traveled, November 2015

Cycling Rajasthan A great mixture of cycling and sight seeing. A great deal was packed in so not one for those wanting a relaxing holiday. Once again Exodus combine well planned routes, great support and ethical tourism (which is wht=y so many of us come back!). Most Inspirational Moment There was more than one! The Taj Mahal, the fort at Kumbhalgarh, Pushkar (if you stay off the special Lassi's!!) but above all the assault on the senses that is the cmlexity of India. Thoughts on Group Leader Our leader, Anand Kapil worked his socks off to make sure we got the very best from this trip. He was really well supported by Sunil and the 'boys' (cycle mechanic and the drivers). Top marks to Anand and the team! Advice for Potential Travellers If you like some cycling and sightseeing, then include this tri on your list. It is moderate for cycling (but you can burn the calories) but action packed given the itneery. You will come away with a real feel for what makes Rajasthan tick!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/14/2015

Laurent Gengler   -  Traveled, September 2015

Cycling Rajasthan Nice way to discover Indi by bike. Most Inspirational Moment Cycling through rural India and the Taj Mahal Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent. Good knowledge, social and funny. Advice for Potential Travellers Be aware of the traffic in cities. Suggestions Just go for it. Prefer the cooler month of november and december.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/16/2015

Elizabeth Brindley   -  Traveled, February 2015

Cycling in Rajahstan Excellent trip with the benefit of a great leader. A full on trip with lots of variations. Only draw back was the lack of “down time”. Also needed more shopping time. Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the Taj Mahal Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent, knowledgeable, calm, clear, fun. Advice for Potential Travellers If you plan to extend your holiday arrange to stay at the Central hotel in Delhi. ( The Siddarth) rather than the Ashok. It takes an hour to get to the centre of Delhi from the Ashok. Suggestions Would seem more sensible to start holiday from central hotel and finish at the hotel nearer the airport. Need at least one free day ( Udaipur would be perfect ) More shopping opportunities.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/11/2015