CYCLING IN INDIA TRAVEL ADVICE
Getting in shape
Getting in shape
Andy Ross, Cycling Manager at our leading cycling vacations supplier, Exodus:
“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.”
“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
Packing advice
Andy Ross, Cycling Manager at our supplier, Exodus:
“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.”
“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.”
Manali to Leh cycle tips
Manali to Leh cycle tips
Valerie Parkinson, Ladakhi expert and tour leader with our supplier, Exodus:
“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.”
“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
Hill climbing advice
Andy Ross, from our cycling in India experts, Exodus Travels:
“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.”
“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 India cycling Vacations
Kerala and tropical India cycling vacations
Beautiful landscapes, fascinating towns and long white beaches
From
US $2799 to US $3779
14 days
ex flights
Walking and cycling vacation in Kerala, India
Walking and cycling through rain forests and grasslands.
From
£890
8 days
ex flights
Small group cycling vacation in Kerala, India
Cycle the coast of Kerala
From
US $1399 to US $2099
8 days
ex flights
Rajasthan cycling vacation with Taj & tigers
Enjoy cycling tour in Royal Rajasthan with Taj and Tiger.
From
US $2380 to US $2540
16 days
ex flights
Cycling vacations in Kerala
Cycling through the green magic of the Kerala countryside
From
US $1480
11 days
ex flights
Kanha tiger safari & cycling tour, India
Gentle Cycling in the Secret Heart of India
From
£2500 to £3000
12 days
ex flights
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about India cycling or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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India cycling tips from our vacation reviews
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
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.
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.
Just relax and enjoy the color of the nature surrounding you while you cycle, listen to the many birds' songs, smell the cardamom or the other fragrances on the way.![]()
– Manuela Vismara, cycling in South India
“Cycling is the only way to go for so many reasons. The most memorable part? The endless wild receptions as we rolled through village streets; young and old alike excited beyond measure! Don't plan on convenient, ever-present wifi at your hotels. Be mentally prepared for very slow riding. The Leaders were conscientious and at the ready. If anything, we were over-coddled in that we were afraid, perhaps rightly, to go out on our own in some places.” – Peter Judd on a Rajasthan cycling vacation
“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
“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
The best part of the trip was probably the climb up on the way to Valparai in Tamil Nadu.![]()
– Roman Stöllinger on our Western Ghats mountain biking vacation
“A reasonable standard of fitness is required. We were a group of nine men with ages ranging from 54 to 67 years. Take a good pair of padded cycle shorts.” – Bob Stunt on the coast to coast cycling vacation
“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
“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
Kovalam, lighthouse beach, was a real treat with nice waves and clean seas.![]()
– Des Jarrett on our walking and cycling vacation in Kerala.
More about India cycling
This India cycling guide is not really for Lycra loving roadsters. If Rajasthan means more to you than Rapha, national parks more than national road races, then read on…
The best time to go on a cycling vacation in India depends on the region you are visiting. Read on for more of our weather wisdom…
Our map and highlights of cycling vacations in India take you down through southern India, coast to coast, up north around Rajasthan as far as Ladakh…
Cycling vacations in Rajasthan are as much about the desert culture as the desert. The great cities as clocking up the kilometres. Read on for more details...
Cycling vacations in Kerala take you from the heights of the Western Ghats down to backwaters and beaches. Read on for more flavours of Kerala…
Going by bike is a fantastic way to explore southern India, where the roads are better than the north, and there’s a rich agricultural landscape to explore between the cities.
