Description

Day 1
Arrive at Delhi International airport and meet up with your local tour leader who will travel with you for the duration of your time in India.  Transfer to your hotel in private transport and relax before trying out your motorbike – Royal Enfield 500cc.  Trip briefing and welcome dinner.

Day 2
Ride to Agra (approx. 225 kms / 4-6 hours).  Check in to your hotel before going down to the River Yamuna to see the Taj Mahal from the outside for sunset.

Day 3
Early morning sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, which was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631.  Return to the hotel for breakfast.  Afterwards visit the Red Fort where Shah Jahan was imprisoned after being overthrown by his son, Aurangzeb.  Ride to Fatehpur Sikri for sightseeing at the fortified ancient city, which was the capital of the Mughal empire between 1571 and 1585 and is also a World Heritage Site.  Continue the journey on to Bharatpur (approx. 65kms / 2 hours).

Day 4
Early morning visit to Keoladeo Ghana National Park (World heritage bird park), home to nearly 400 species of birds, as well as mammals and insects.  Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the park with a nature guide before returning to your hotel for breakfast.  Ride to Ranthambhore National Park (approx. 260km / 6-7 hours).  Check in for a 3-night stay.

Day 5
Early morning game drive in Ranthambhore National Park in search of tigers, other wildlife and birds in a private jeep with a park guide and driver.  Return to your lodge for breakfast, to relax and have lunch before an afternoon game drive.  Ranthambhore used to be the hunting grounds for the Maharajas’ of Rajasthan (until 1970) and comprises nearly 850 square miles of jungle scrub, rocky ridges, lakes, old temples and buildings as well as the 10th century fort that looks down over the lake.

Day 6
Early morning game drive in Ranthambhore National Park in search of tigers, other wildlife and birds in a private jeep with a park guide and driver.  Return to your lodge for breakfast, to relax and have lunch before an afternoon game drive.

Day 7
Ride to Bundi (approx. 145km / 5 hours) and visit the Palace and see the fort.  Set on the edge of a hillside, this partly decaying building (built 1607-31) seems to grow out of the rock which it stands on.  See the murals, Elephant gate and several of the large rooms with murals and decorative ceilings.

Day 8
Ride to Udaipur (approx. 260 kms / 5-6 hours) visiting Chittorgarh Fort on route.  This is the largest fort complex in India and accessed by a zig-zag ascent and leads through 6 gateways before you see the rooms, towers and temples.

Day 9
Sightseeing in Udaipur (by bus) including the City Palace which overlooks Lake Pichola and is the largest in Rajasthan with a façade 244m long and 30m high.  See the many arches, colourful walls and ceilings and the courtyard.   Also visit the Holy Jagdish temple which is entered via a steep set of steps with elephants on each side and is a shrine to Vishnu.  Optional visit to the Gardens and Nehru Park for sunset.

Day 10
Ride to Jodhpur (approx. 265 kms / 6-7 hours) and visit the impressive Mehrangarh Fort over-looking the “Blue City.”  The fort itself is set on a rocky hill, high above the skyline of the city and is one of the best forts in India and is run by the Jodhpur royal family.

Day 11
Ride to Pushkar which is a Hindu pilgrimage town (approx. 240 kms / 6 hours) – check in to your hotel before a camel ride in to the desert to watch the sun go down.

Day 12
Visit the Holy Lake to see the ghats and Brahma Temple which is marked with a red spire and over the entrance gateway is the “Hans” (goose symbol) of Brahma.  Inside the floors and walls are engraved with dedications to the dead.  Ride to Jaipur – the “Pink City” (approx. 160 kms / 3-4 hours) – check in to the hotel for a 2-night stay and relax.  Optional visit to watch a Bollywood Movie or visit the Palladio Bar in the hotel (where the TV series the Real Marigold Hotel visited).

Day 13
Sightseeing (by bus) in Jaipur including the Amber Fort, (7 miles outside Jaipur) a royal palace built of honey-coloured sandstone with white marble from 1592.  It is divided in to 4 sections, each with a courtyard.  Amber was the original capital of Jaipur state before the Maharaja moved to the lower grounds.    See the Man Sagar Lake with the Jal Mahal Palace located in the middle, Observatory (Jantar Mantar) which is a sculpture garden of huge “instruments” dedicated to telling the time and navigating the stars, City Palace which is a complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings and is situated in the middle of the Old City, Palace of the Winds (from the outside) and a local market.

Day 14
Your last day on your bike.  Ride to Delhi (approx. 260 miles / 6 hours).  Check in to hotel and relax.

Day 15
Free day to relax or OPTIONAL sightseeing in Delhi (by bus) to the Fort, Raj Ghat, Humayun’s Tomb, Mosque and a rickshaw ride through some of the streets of Old Delhi, India Gate and Government buildings.  Final group dinner.

Day 16
Tour ends, transfer to airport – return home or onward travel