Motorcycle trip

Rajasthan / North India

We run two guided motorcycle tours of North India from Delhi. The Land of Maharajas is a 13-day Motorcycle Ramble, 11 of them riding, rated Intermediate: forts, palaces and royal cities at a measured pace, and pillions are welcome. Rajasthan Adventure is an 11-day Adventure Tour, 8 of them riding, rated Sustained: tracks and sand all the way to the Thar desert, for experienced riders, and not recommended for pillions. Both are group tours with an English-speaking tour leader; we do not rent out motorcycles on their own in India.

From £2,190 (€2,490) to £2,490 (€2,790) per rider: £2,190 (€2,490) for Rajasthan Adventure, £2,490 (€2,790) for The Land of Maharajas, where a pillion pays £2,190 (€2,390). The price covers the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, fuel, the tour leader, the mechanic, the support vehicle, accommodation and some of the meals, as detailed on each tour page. Your flights to Delhi, the visa and drinks are extra, plus a £31 (€35) registration fee if it is your first trip with us.

From October to March, in the dry season. October, November, February and March are mild, with the odd hot afternoon; in December and January the sun still shines, but mornings and nights are cold, especially in the desert. From April to June the heat becomes fierce, then the monsoon arrives, so we do not ride then. The Land of Maharajas departs from October to March; the dates open for Rajasthan Adventure currently run from October to late February.

It depends on the tour. The Land of Maharajas, rated Intermediate, calls for a full motorcycle licence and regular riding: small country roads, a few stretches of easy track and riding days back to back. Rajasthan Adventure, rated Sustained, is for riders at ease off tarmac: about 190 miles (310 km) of track out of 870 miles (1,400 km), with sand that is sometimes deep. To build your confidence before you go, have a look at our off-road training courses.

Yes to both. Most British and European visitors can apply online for an Indian e-Visa before travelling, though the rules depend on your nationality, and every visitor completes an e-Arrival Card in the 72 hours before landing. On the road, India asks for an International Driving Permit, which UK riders get from the Post Office, together with your full licence. Passport validity, timings and health advice are in our help centre: Preparing your trip to India.

Fly to Delhi, which has direct flights from London: both our tours start there, and our team meets you at the airport. The Land of Maharajas brings you back to Delhi by road on the last day; Rajasthan Adventure ends in Jaisalmer, from where an included domestic flight takes you back to Delhi. So you simply book a return flight to Delhi. To arrive earlier or stay on, for instance to see the Taj Mahal, ask your travel advisor.

The real risk is the traffic: lorries, buses, cows, camels and pedestrians share the road, and the horn is a language of its own. India drives on the left, as in the UK. We ride in daylight, at the pace set by the tour leader, with a mechanic and a support vehicle behind the group and 24/7 phone assistance. Check the FCDO travel advice for India before you go, or your own government’s advice if you live elsewhere in Europe.

It depends on the season and on what you are after. Rajasthan is ridden from October to March, among forts, palaces and desert. The Indian Himalaya only opens in summer, from June to September, for the high passes of Ladakh and the altitude. South India can be ridden in winter too, among tea plantations, jungle and tropical coasts. All our routes are gathered on our motorcycle tours in India page.