India on Bicycle

A land of extremes with brown mountains and blue waters, burning sun and freezing winds, glaciers and sand dunes, it is hard to distinguish between reality and fantasy in this mystical land.

Also known as 'Little Tibet', Ladakh has beautiful monasteries, full of priceless art and antiques, scattered across its arid landscape. The unforgiving yet beautiful landscape, the isolated yet elaborate monasteries, and the weathered yet spiritual people are bound to make this your most memorable mountain bicycle ride ever.

Magnificent views of the Himalayan peaks, amazing setting of the small villages dotted on the hillsides and charming local cultures – provide the perfect blend for a memorable Himalayan biking and hiking tour.

Right from the coquettish charms of the Rhododendrons to the sombreness of stately Deodars, the beauty of Kumaon is best explored on a bicycle or on foot. We not only show you the spectacular panorama of this land but also introduce you to it, so as to instil in you the age old conviction that great things are born when people and mountain meet.

The highlights of this biking and hiking tour are magnificent views of Himalayan peaks, walking/biking through quaint villages, valleys and forests and close interaction with friendly village folks.

Leh to Manali is one of the most stunning, but challenging, bicycle rides in the world. We start with arrival into Leh and spend the next couple of days cycling in the surrounding areas to give you time to acclimatize to the high altitude before longer rides and finally the long and adrenaline pumping journey to Manali.

In and around Leh, we visit many stunning monasteries housing priceless artifacts, raft on the river Indus, cycle to the Khardung-la pass before crossing over to the stunning Nubra Valley where Bactrian camels abound and the villages are remote even by Ladakh standards.

The ride to Manali takes you across beautiful trails with the majestic Himalayas serving as the perfect backdrop. We cross Tanglang La, the world' second highest motorable pass standing at 5280m. The roads are unpredictable in the region and are broken at many places. Each day the distance covered is 40 to 80 km traversing altitudes over 4000m. The route comprises cycling from Leh which is located in the Indus Valley to Manali which is located in the Kullu Valley, cutting across three mountain ranges of Zanskar, Himalayas and Pir Panjal. 

Highlights of the Trip 

Colourful and vibrant culture of Ladakhi people who practice Tibetan Buddhism tempered with the old animistic faith and Tantricism
Visits to beautiful monasteries, full of priceless art and antiques 
Cycling through some of the highest motorable passes in the world 
Visit to Nubra where villages are remote even by Ladakh standards 
Camping in stunning locations 
Magical landscapes with Himalayas as the backdrop 

Apart from visiting popular Pushkar, we cycle through the countryside to lesser known jewels to discover the rural India and the colourful people who make it so unique.

We see fascinating forts, palaces and temples of the bygone era and experience India’s rich cultural heritage.

We stay in the charming heritage hotels…some of these were royal residences now converted into hotels. We explore the countryside and interact with its inhabitants who make this land vibrant and colourful.

These vibrant historical towns with stunning forts, palaces and temples of medieval times (and also Taj Mahal).

Apart from these major destinations, you will also visit the off-beat towns of Karauli and Talabgaon. This is stunning countryside, ideal for cyclists.

During this trip, stay in few charming heritage hotels…some of these were royal residences now converted into hotels.

This cycling journey through backroads of Rajasthan explores the small villages nestling happily on the rugged terrains and introduces from close quarters the people who inhabit them. Wrinkled tree thickets, rustic huts with their thatched roofs, drooping camels chewing fodder, women cleaning their courtyards or designing the mud walls with plasters of clay, cow dung and hay and ever-smiling children is what these villages are all about.

This journey is ideal for cyclists looking to explore beyond the iconic monuments, as we uncover the real and un-spoilt rural Rajasthan.

Visit the historic cities of Jodhpur and Udaipur and their dazzling vista of stately and grandiose architectural buildings, forts and palaces. Cycle through colourful and rustic Rajasthan from one luxurious heritage hotel to another, and at the same time, experience the real India.

Stay in forts and palaces that have now been converted into some of the most luxurious and sought after hotels in the world. Perfect after a day of cycling to indulge and unwind and get in touch with your inner Maharaja or Maharani. You are guaranteed to feel like royalty!

During this trip you will ride through lovely countryside, discover quaint little villages and see some stunning monuments.

We arrive in Chennai and then take a train to the temple town of Madurai. From here we cycle through the lush green plantations and countryside to Dindigul, Palani, Pollachi, Coimbatore, Coonoor and Oooty (including the heritage toy train ride in Nilgiri Hills). From Ooty we will drive to Bangalore airport, en route visiting the lovely town of Mysore.

Memories of early seafarers and traders have faded, but boats of various types and styles have survived. Some of Kerala's popular beaches were rediscovered by back-packers in the sixties. That started the transformation of Kerala’s small fishing villages into busy tourist destinations.

Kerala’s coastal belt is relatively flat, teeming with paddy fields, groves of coconut trees, and heavily crisscrossed by a network of interconnected canals and rivers.

We will start the trip at Cochin, the cultural capital of Kerala. We will continue southwards to Kollam, Varkala, ending in Kovalam.

An equable climate, a long shoreline with serene beaches, tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters, lush hill stations, sprawling plantations ...all of which offer you a unique experience. And what's more, most of these charming destinations is only a short ride away from the other.

This Kerala bike tour includes culture and art at Cochin, amazing bird and wildlife at Thattekad and Periyar, Spice mountains and plantations at Munnar and Thekkady and serene Backwaters at Kumarakom - all in a span of 10 days