Day 1: Flying
independently to Delhi
Day 2: Arrival in Delhi, bus transfer to Mandawa
Approx. 8-hour bus trip to the starting point of the tour, the
unique Mandawa Royal Desert Camp of the Raja of Mandawa.
The camp was created with great attention to detail and local
building traditions, and will give us a lively impression of life in
the desert villages of Rajasthan. We'll enjoy a dinner buffet under
the desert sky.
Day 3: Warm-up tour on the Royal Enfield Motorcycles, approx. 50
km
Today we’ll be taking a short tour through the arid countryside of
the Shekhavati District to get acquainted with our Royal Enfield
Bullets. We’ll be stopping in the bustling town of Mandawa with
its opulent merchants’ mansions. Evening buffet in the Royal
Desert Camp.
Day 4: Start of tour, Mandawa - Bikaner 200 km
Today is our first day on the desert highway, with pure motorbike
adventure on the road to Bikaner, an imposing walled city of palaces
and colorful bazaars. Our first overnight stay in a true palace
hotel.
Day 5: Bikaner - Jaisalmer, 350 km
Continuing along the highway on our Enfield motorbikes, to Jaisalmer,
an old caravan city. Sand dunes stretch across the northern Tharr
Desert. We'll take a mostly-paved military road to the desert
fortress of Jaisalmer, to this day a dream from 1,001 Nights. We’ll
visit the fortress with its impregnable city walls, the palatial
houses of merchants and princes, bustling bazaars and winding
alleyways of the old city. A mouth-watering dinner buffet will await
us in our palace hotel at the end of the day.
Day 6: Jaisalmer, desert ride, camel ride, 100 km
Heading further into the Tharr desert, we’ll saddle up our Enfield
Bullets first thing in the morning and take a military road
westwards to the remote San oasis. There we'll change to a different
mode of transport. We’ll spend the next four hours amid the sand
dunes riding ships of the desert. From our Sunset Point, we’ll
experience the magical glitter of the fortress of Jaisalmer in the
distance and the golden glow of the surrounding desert. From the
dinner buffet, we'll have a view of the illuminated fort.
Day 7: Jaisalmer - Jodhpur, 320 km
Today we’ll spend a long, meditative day on endlessly straight
desert roads to reach the next Maharajah city. The arid countryside
along the road is used as grazing land for camels, sheep and goats.
We’ll then reach Jodhpur, a royal city founded in 1459 with
imposing city walls, the mighty Meherangarh Fort and two unusually
beautiful palaces. The early evening wil be free for exploring the
bazaars of the old city around the bell tower in bicycle rickshaws
or on foot. Barbecue dinner and overnight stay in a historical
palace and garden hotel.
Day 8: Jodhpur - Luni, 60 km
After visiting the imposing Meherangarh Fort, we’ll move on riding
our motorcycles to Fort Chanwa in Luni. This stylish palace hotel,
which is still a tip for insiders, was recently restored and is now
run by the Raja and his family. It’s as though time stood still in
the 18th century. Musicians, dancers and puppeteers will entertain
us during the festive dinner. The Raja himself often joins us for a
drink in his audience courtyard, and we’ll warm ourselves by the
fire under the stars of a cold, clear desert night.
Day 9: Luni - Ranakpur, 200 km
Today we wll be starting the mountainous leg of the Rajasthan
Motorbike Tour through the Aravalli Range on our way to Ranakpur,
the Jain temple city. Quiet country lanes wind their way through the
fertile green hills. Our palace resort has a magnificent garden in
the middle of the bizarre, craggy landscape. We’ll visit the Jain
temples which are renowned for their marble sculptures.
Day 10: Ranakpur - Udaipur, 80 km
Weare start the day by riding up on our motorcycles to the majestic
mountain-top Fort Kumbalgarh, one of the true high points of our
tour.
We'll reach Udaipur in the afternoon. Many western and Hindi movies
have been set there, and Roger Moore – aka Bond, James Bond – is
virtually a local hero. The city features outstanding architecture,
palaces, bazaars, temples and parks. The artificial lakes integrated
in the forts and the views of the wild hill country around Udaipur
are also truly unforgettable. We’ll be spending two nights in the
city. Our hotel is in the middle of the old city’s bazaar. Dinner
will be in a roof garden restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola.
Day 11: Udaipur, the Venice of the East
We are be spending the morning sightseeing in the old city, visiting
the city palace, the bazaars, and Honeymoon Point. The afternoon
will be free for shopping. Udaipur is the home of artisans,
miniature painters, silversmiths and puppeteers. Museums await you,
and a stroll to Sunset Point is a great experience, as are visits to
dance and puppet performances in the evening. We can also arrange an
especially stylish dinner with a view of Lake Palace Jag Nivas, the
Maharaja’s marble palace on Lake Pichola.
Day 12: Udaipur - Bambora, 100 km
We are be continuing the Rajasthan Desert Dreams Motorcycle Tour on
winding roads through the far south of Rajasthan, past peaceful Lake
Jalsamand and through landscapes virtually unknown to travelers. On
our last tour, many participants considered Bambora to be the
highlight of the trip. Be ready for a pleasant surprise. We'll be
spending the night in Bambora Fort.
Day 13: Bambora - Bassi, 170 km
Passing through exotic city of Chittogarh, we’ll wind our way up
to the vast, commanding fort overlooking the city from its rocky
plateau. Next, we’ll continue 25 km to the small town of Bassi and
the Bassi Fort Palace.
Day 14: Bassi - Bundi, 120 km
Today we are ride northeast on our motorcycles to the picturesque
little town of Bundi with its colorful bazaars. Hotel: Ishwari Niwas
Palace
Day 15: Bundi – Ranthambhore National Park, 190 km
We are be taking quiet country roads to Ranthambhore National Park.
The Enfield motorcycles will remain silent tomorrow, and with a bit
of luck, we’ll experience the roar of a tiger instead.
Hotel: Ranthambore Regency
Day 16: Ranthambhore National Park
We are spend the day on the lookout for tigers, hyenas, bears,
crocodiles, elephants and other wild animals. For centuries,
Ranthambhore was a hunting ground for the maharajas, who even
created artificial lakes and watering holes to attract big game.
This huge area of forests and swamps has some of the richest
wildlife in India. We’ll be seeing an incredible variety of animal
life, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a tiger in the wild.
We are wrap the day with a sundowner on the roof of the Jhoomar
Baorii hunting lodge and return to the resort for dinner and another
overnight stay.
Day 17: Ranthambhore - Bharatpur, 230 km
Look forward to a lively mix of country roads and national highways
on our last long day on our Enfield Bullet Motorcycles. We'll spend
the night in the nature reserve's palace hotel.
Day 18: Bus tour, Bharatpur - Agra - Delhi
Today we areake a tour bus to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, the
legendary monument to love, and the Red Fort.
We are be making a brief stop for lunch during the four-hour trip
(190 km) to Delhi. There, we’ll have time for our farewell dinner
and a couple of hours to relax in a basic airport hotel. Later that
night, we are be going to the airport to check in for our return
flight.
Day 19: Flying independently from Delhi to your home or next
destination
Rajasthan Desert
Dreams Motorcycle Tours - our services:
transfers and sightseeing in private tour buses from Delhi airport
to Mandawa (including breakfast on arrival) and from Bharatpur to
Delhi via Agra, and back to Delhi airport.
accommodation in heritage and palace-class double rooms with
en-suite shower and WC
breakfast and evening meals, including non-alcoholic beverages,
throughout the tour
all road and bridge tolls and admission fees for the entire program
(excluding photo and video fees)
late-model Enfield Bullet 500cc rental motorcycle with electric
start and gearshift on the left, yellow all-India rental
registration number plate and special insurance for rental vehicles
(EUR 500.00 deductible), disk brake, dual horns, crash guards and
roomy, rugged leather saddlebags
fuel, oil, etc. for the motorcycle
reserved seat in support jeep for passengers
warm-up motorcycle tour for all riders
English-speaking tour guide
mechanic with basic command of English
Rajasthan Climate:
Winters can be really cold in northern India! Rajasthan is a desert
state with a lot of sunshine and hardly any rain. Nevertheless, you
can expect daytime temperatures of around 10-15°C in December and
January, with considerably colder nights. Foggy days may occur
during those months. Hotels in India are generally unheated and can
become quite cold. The time around Christmas and New Years is also
popular for traveling among Indians. Indians are extremely sociable
and the concept of noise pollution is quite foreign to them, so
hotels can be loud at times during the peak traveling season.
We recommend November and February for travelers who value warmth,
as well as peace and quiet. The days tend to be warm and dry and the
nights mild during those months.
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