Rajasthan is the jewel in India's crown. A region with a 3000 year history, it is the perfect introduction into riding incredible India. Rajasthan has a sense of space that allows you to comfortably explore the state’s exotic scenery as it unfolds before you. Massive forts emerge from mountaintops, their battle-scarred ramparts still defying long-dead enemies. Spiked doors that once held war elephants at bay open onto the twisting approaches to the palaces within. Once inside, the accoutrements of defence yield to the flourishes of regal opulence. Carved marble and stone, fountains and coloured glass decorate the halls of business and rooms of pleasure.
All across Rajasthan there are numerous forgotten forts and lovingly restored palaces, including Jaisalmer's imposing desert fortress, Jodhpur's dominating Mehrangarh Fort and Udaipur’s gleaming fort reflecting off the Pichola Lake. The variety of roads makes each day unique as we cross tiny villages and over the Aravali hills to head west into the vast Thar Desert. Nearing the Pakistan border, the landscape gradually transitions from low-lying scrub to endless expanses of sand and rock. As the palette becomes more earth-toned, with each passing kilometre the colours of the Rajasthani people become even more vibrant. Women’s saris, men’s turbans and children’s scarves all seem to fill the colour void and paint each scene with vivid, saturated hues.
Our expedition includes plenty of stops to interact with the people, excursions and extracurricular activities ranging from camel safaris to temple visits to a night under the stars among the dunes. The range of North Indian cuisine is too vast to experience in just two weeks but we ensure your taste buds are as thrilled as the adventure motorcyclist in you. Join the Rajasthan Expedition for all this and much more!
The best in the business
Try not to fall in love with it.
Transfers to and from the hotel
Chase vehicle for bags with mechanic, tools and spare parts
Dinners will focus on the best restaurants available at each location. We love food so we don't mess around here
Full first aid capabilities
Access to all cultural attractions
Evening on the Dunes
Is on you
Indian visa
Flights to India
Arrive in New Delhi and settle into your hotel by midday. We will have an orientation followed by dinner so you connect and get to know your guides and fellow adventurers. The next day brings a perfect introduction to motorcycling in India an early morning ride to skip the heavy Delhi traffic to enter the Rajasthan border and head to Jaipur. This is a long but rewarding day. We celebrate a full day of riding over a delicious Indian meal.
Today your Rajasthan Expedition begins in earnest as we take the road past small towns and mustard fields. The highlight of the day includes a visit to a 1000 year old
step well before riding into Jaipur, the magnificent pink city. With few hours to spare, we head over to the Amber Fort Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We set off at first light to beat Jaipur’s traffic rush to wind our way through lesser known roads, past shepherds and cattle herders and with enough tea stops to share the innumerable amusing and phenomenal sightings we make.Camels and cows become common on these roads and every so often brightly attired Rajasthani’s wave past us.
Winding through the Araveli hills we reach the sacred lake town of Pushkar where after checking into our quaint and rustic guesthouse, we set out by foot to explore the ancient streets and temples around the holy lake.
By now you should be confident on your trusty Royal Enfield and navigating the Indian traffic. The smooth highway will help cover quick miles as today is the longest day in the saddle. The second half of the day will be in sharp contrast as we take an ancient back road to reach Udaipur, the “City of Lakes”. With its rich history, palaces and lively streets, it deserves a full day of soaking in the romance and charm and that is what we will do the next day.
Finally, a morning you can sleep in or take a leisurely walk around this ancient city. Connect with the friendly locals, relax in a café by the Lake Pichola, maybe shop for
miniature paintings or camel leather-bound dairies or just soak in the vibrancy of the markets. After lunch we will take a walk around the Udaipur City Palace complex, built over 400 years and then gather for an exquisite dinner by the lake.
This day takes us on small roads northward to Jodhpur, the blue city. Farmers and herds of camels punctuate our route as the Aravalli green begins to be replaced by the barren ochre of the desert. Our day concludes with dinner and two nights in a beautiful heritage palace.
Famous for the special colouring of its houses in the old city and the second largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur, Jodhpur captivates. After some free time exploring the
massive Mehrangarh fort, you will have ample hours to explore the maze of alleys and markets in Old Jodhpur.
Today includes a long ride deeper into the Thar Desert toward the Pakistani frontier. Staying off the main roads as much as possible, we will pass camel and goat herders corralling their livestock between grazing lands. At the end of the day, we park our bikes near our tents that are pitched below the sand dunes. Replacing our riding gear with something more comfortable, we hop onto 4x4 Jeeps and drive into the dunes to behold the sunset at the western most part of the expedition. The day ends with Rajasthani traditional dinner in the open courtyard while our hosts sing songs that have sustained them and sojourners like us from time immemorial.
An hour-long ride brings us to Jaisalmer Fort where we will be staying for the night. The rest of the day is free for exploration in and around one of the few “living forts” in
the world where people have continuously lived throughout its 800year old history. No other place better evokes exotic camel-train trade routes and desert mystery.
Narrow lanes, stunning lookout points and a series of Jain temples teleport you to the middle ages.
After breakfast with our camel-herder host, we once again mount our trusty Enfield’s and turn eastward through the sandy landscapes, towards Bikaner, a dusty border town with a beautiful fort of its own.
Not yet on most tourist route, Mandawa and its surrounding towns burst with the magical site of ancient havelis, beautifully frescoed townhouses and mansions in
various states of degradation and begging for loving investment and restoration. On our final night in Rajasthan, it is apt that we stay at one of the finest and most
exquisitely restored haveli’s in the Shekhawati region.
Today we continue to ride east across miles of farmlands to reach the outskirts of Delhi. And just as the highway traffic begins to get intense, we stop for lunch. This is
where we say goodbye to our trusty motorcycles and make the final leg back to our hotel in the comfort of four wheels. We have our final meal and a round of drinks to
celebrate the completion of one of the richest experiences imaginable.
Based in Austin, Delhi and London, TWE offers premium motorcycle adventures through India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Tibet and Nepal.
