CYCLING IN INDIA TRAVEL ADVICE
Getting in shape
“Do as much training as possible beforehand as the fitter you are the more you can relax during the trip and properly appreciate the experience and where you are cycling. That said, always avoid the temptation to be competitive on the trip, someone will always be the slowest rider and it really doesn’t matter if that is you. A good cycling vacation will have always been designed to allow enough time for most people to complete the rides each day.”
Packing advice
“Close fitting cycle clothing really isn’t culturally appropriate in quite a few destinations. It is the duty of a tour operator to ensure that clients are aware of this and to implement it on the ground. You may have paid a lot of money to visit, but you are only a visitor.”
Our India cycling Vacations
Kerala and tropical India cycling vacations
Beautiful landscapes, fascinating towns and long white beaches
Rajasthan cycling vacation with Taj & tigers
Enjoy cycling tour in Royal Rajasthan with Taj and Tiger.
Walking and cycling vacation in Kerala, India
Walking and cycling through rain forests and grasslands.
Rajasthan cycling tour, Udaipur to Jodhpur
See the best of Rajasthan on a short cycling tour.
South India cycling tour, coast to coast
Journey across South India's geographical & cultural landscapes
Rajasthan cycling vacation
Explore the palaces, temples and wildlife of India's desert state
Kanha tiger safari & cycling tour, India
Safaris plus gentle cycling in the heart of rural India
Backroads of Kerala cycling tour, India
Cycle in Kerala's rural backwaters
The Golden Triangle cycling vacation in India
A fascinating introduction to Northern India
India cycling tour, Mumbai to Goa
Cycle the coast of Arabian sea from Mumbai to Goa
E-Bike Tour in Kerala
An e-bike ride through diverse rural Kerala landscapes
Kerala & Tamil Nadu mountain biking vacations, Western Ghats
Western Ghats mountain biking, off the beaten track
Manali to Leh biking vacation in the Himalayas, Ladakh
An epic journey in traditional Himalayan landscapes
Kerala cycling tours
Cycling in God's Own Country - Kerala, India.
India biking vacation, Mysore to Goa
Cycling through rural South India to the beaches at Goa
South India cycling tour
Cycling tour through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Chennai to Kochin biking vacation across India
Explore the contrasting nature of India
Jaipur to the Taj Mahal cycling tour, India
Intimately explore the best of Indian Culture on bicycle
Cycling vacation in the Maikal Hills, Central India
Tiger safari and cycling in rural central India
North East India cycling and hiking tour, Eastern Himalayas
Multi activity tour of the Eastern Himalayas
Southern India cycling vacation, tailor made
Explore the Rural South India on a cycling vacation with us.
Small group cycling vacation in Kerala, India
Cycle the coast of Kerala
Kerala biking vacation, India
Kerala through the magical landscapes & backwaters of Kerala
Cycling tour of Rajasthan with Taj Mahal
Classic Rajasthan cycling trip including the Taj Mahal
Rajasthan cycling tours in India
Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Easy Cycling in Rajasthan
Rural cycling tours in South India
The perfect way to cycle in rural Keralan countryside.
Cycling vacations in Kerala
Cycling through the green magic of the Kerala countryside
Manali to Leh cycle tips
“Ladakh is one of the best adventure travel destinations on earth. For both trekking and cycling there are endless opportunities. One of my favourite things to do is cycling down the Khardung La – the Khardung La is supposedly the highest motorable road pass on earth at 5,602m. The rewards of getting to the top include not only bragging rights and close-up views of the Karakorums, but an exhilarating 40km downhill ride, dropping 2,000m in altitude, back to Leh. Take it easy on arrival. The altitude takes your breath away literally. Rest and drink for the first 24hours. Expect to feel breathless when walking up the stairs – it happens to everyone.”
“It is an ideal place for a first time visit to India – many people go to Rajasthan as a first time in India – and they end up hating the country because it is so full on. Visit Ladakh as a first time in India. Once in Leh you feel you have left ‘real’ India. There is a hardly any hassle and although it is busier in summer it is never as busy as other tourist destinations within India.”
Hill climbing advice
“Pacing yourself is a key component of improving hill climbing although sometimes it’s just a case of grinning and bearing it, especially when undertaking steep gradients or lengthier distances. Eat and drink little and often when you’re cycling tougher climbs and distances and try to do so when you’re on a flattish section or cycling downhill so you can prepare your body for whatever climb might be waiting around the next bend. Listen to your group leader as they’ll have cycled the route before and they’ll know when and where you’ll need to make the most of fuel reserves, and which gear is best suited for which climb.”
Our top India cycling Vacation
Rajasthan cycling vacation with Taj & tigers
Enjoy cycling tour in Royal Rajasthan with Taj and Tiger.
2021: 16 Oct, 6 Nov, 19 Dec
2022: 22 Jan, 13 Feb, 1 Mar
HEALTH & SAFETY ON INDIA CYCLING HOLIDAYS
HEALTH
SAFETY
India cycling tips from our vacation reviews
We have selected some of the most useful India cycling vacation travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your panniers.


“You really don't have to worry about anything. We were happy and healthy the entire time, and very comfortable indeed! We met so many lovely people! My only advice would be to make sure that if there are things you especially like or don't like then let them know in advance...My wife and I went on this trip with our 17 year-old son. Even as seasoned travelers to India, we would never have been able to do this trip on our own because this part of central India really doesn't have much tourist/traveler infrastructure. Cycling from village to village was absolutely fantastic. Our wonderful guide, Saurabh, based in Raipur, was not only brilliantly organised and wonderfully knowledgeable about wildlife, architecture, people, plants, birds, customs etc. He also enabled us to visit families and villages in a way that was really rewarding and not the slightest bit 'icky'. We stayed overnight in one village, which was a fantastic experience - we learned so much. I especially enjoyed being taught how to make herb chapatis over a fire.” – Jonathan Drori on our Cycling vacation in the Maikal Hills


“Check the weather carefully as can be much wetter than the historic averages suggest. Rain never spoilt our days but does mean wildlife is harder to see. Kovalam, lighthouse beach, was a real treat with nice waves and clean seas.” – Des Jarrett on our walking and cycling vacation in Kerala.
“Try to see the Indian traffic (which varies from road to road) as part of the adventure, while at the same time being attentive. In fact the driving style in India is pretty unique but it is manageable as the speed of (most) vehicles is low which makes it less stressful for cycling. Make sure you drink enough and sugar up your body before the climbs! The best part of the trip was probably the climb up on the way to Valparai in Tamil Nadu. Another highlight in Valparai was the scenic view and the very friendly people at the Stanmore Estate. Other highlights included the climb up to Munnar as well as the descent the next day on a misty morning.” – Roman Stöllinger on our Western Ghats mountain biking vacation

