The Land of Maharajas

The Land of the Maharajas is a 13-day discovery tour with 11 riding days, rated Intermediate and open to pillions. It loops from Delhi through the painted havelis of Shekhawati, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Bundi, Ranthambore and Jaipur. Rajasthan Adventure is shorter but tougher, rated Sustained, with tracks and sand in the Thar Desert, and is not suited to riding two-up.

The tour is rated Intermediate: a full A or A2 motorcycle licence and regular riding experience are what you need. Most of the riding is on quiet secondary roads, with stretches of easy track that can be frequent, and a crossing of the Sambhar salt lake when conditions allow. Expect around 4 hours in the saddle a day, about 70 to 160 miles (115 to 260 km) depending on the stage. Some stretches are far from medical care, so the support vehicle follows the group.

The route strings together the highlights of Rajasthan: the frescoed havelis of Shekhawati, the holy town of Pushkar, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the walls of Kumbhalgarh, lakeside Udaipur with a free day, the hilltop citadel of Chittorgarh, Bundi, a jeep safari in Ranthambore tiger reserve, then Jaipur and Amber Fort. The Taj Mahal, in Agra, is not on the itinerary, but your travel advisor can arrange a visit before or after the tour.

Yes, this tour works well two-up. A pillion pays £2,190 (€2,390), against £2,490 (€2,790) for the rider. Their luggage goes in the support vehicle, which also has a seat for them if they want a break. The track sections are bumpier on the back, so the rider should be comfortable carrying a pillion.

A Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, equally happy on back roads and easy tracks. Our mechanic travels with the group, carries spare parts and checks every bike daily. Tell your travel advisor your height before booking, and they will tell you what can be done about the seat height.

An English-speaking tour leader rides with the group on every riding day. A local crew backs them up: an experienced mechanic and the driver of the support vehicle, which carries the luggage and the kit. The group is capped at 10 motorcycles, which means 12 participants at most once pillions are counted.

The tour costs £2,490 (€2,790) per rider and £2,190 (€2,390) per pillion. That covers the motorcycle, fuel, third-party motorcycle insurance, the tour leader and crew, the support vehicle, airport transfers, standard hotels with a few nights in heritage hotels, breakfast and dinner on riding days, and the Ranthambore safari.

On top, allow for flights, the visa, an international driving permit, lunches, drinks, entrance fees, tips and a €600 deposit per motorcycle.

We meet you at Delhi airport and drive you to your hotel in the city centre. The next morning, a private vehicle takes you out of the city to the motorcycles, so you never ride in Delhi traffic. On the last day, a private minibus brings you back from Alwar to Delhi, where rooms are booked so you can freshen up before your airport transfer, timed to your flight.

Yes, India requires a visa. Apply for the tourist e-Visa yourself, only on the official website indianvisaonline.gov.in. Then fill in the e-Arrival Card in the 72 hours before you land: every step is covered in our guide to documents for India.

An international driving permit is compulsory on top of your motorcycle licence. For vaccinations, see our health advice for India.

Departures run from October to March, in the dry season. October to November and February to March are mild, even hot around midday. In December and January the days stay sunny, but mornings and nights get cold, so pack a warm layer to wear under your jacket.