“This trip was a good blend of riding and seeing sights. The food and accommodations were first rate. The mixture of riding country roads, touring sights, meal breaks and rest days were well planned. The people of India were so open and welcoming.The Art of Bicycle team looked after all our needs. We would do it again in a heart beat.”
“For us this was our second tour with The Art of Bicycle Trips and we were not disappointed. The Rajasthan experience is very different from the one we so enjoyed last year in Kerala which brought us back again to India for a repeat cycle.The lush green tea and cardomon plantations on the hills around Munna make way for a much harsher landscape but the history, the colourful people, the life in the villages and the amazing palaces and forts along the Rajasthan route make up for this. In short we had a wonderful week and learnt a great deal about the history, politics and culture of India from our extremely well informed guide Poonacha who was really engaging. The standard of the beautiful Heritage hotels that we stayed in was way beyond our expectations.The food was excellent and the people who attended to us friendly and really helpful throughout . We had a marvellous time and heartily recommend the company for making India accessible to those of us who love to travel by bicycle in a way that allows us to feel safe, pampered and informed."”
“"How do I put our trip into words! This was one of the most remarkable and enjoyable travel experiences we have ever had. Right from my initial enquiry, responses were prompt, questions were answered and your willingness to adapt and fit in around our specific requirements was fantastic. Cycling is such a great way to experience a country, not just see it. We had so many memorable interactions with the locals, especially the children! Being surrounded by cycling children on their way to school, scooters slowly travelling beside us so they could ask us questions, slowly manoeuvring through herds of cattle, sheep and goats carefully tended by shepherds, women in brightly coloured saris smiling and waving to us from the fields and school children yelling and waving with excitement as we cycled past schools. So many amazing and vivid memories. Their kindness, curiosity and generosity is something we will remember forever. We also enjoyed the many historical sites we visited. The local guides were knowledgeable, making our tours very interesting. Kumbhalgarh Fort was a favourite, such an amazing place, and of course Bhangharh Fort. Thank you for allowing us to detour into this very intriguing place, such a unique place to visit and to hear all the very intriguing tales. The walking tour in Jaipur with Vineet was outstanding and gave us an insight into the life and skills of the traditional arts and crafts within the city walls and also a taste of some delicious local street food. Something completely different was the slum tour in Delhi, a very educational and thought provoking experience, nothing like we had anticipated and an experience that I find myself still reflecting back on. We thank you for getting to know us well enough over the two weeks that you would suggest this as an option for us to do in Delhi, it really was a highlight. Visiting the villages was also an amazing privilege, being invited into homes and being given such a warm welcome by the families. How can we ever enjoy a Chai again after drinking one made from milk we saw being freshly milked! It was such an honour to be able to spend time with these wonderful people. Our accommodation was always of a high standard and provided a lovely insight into India's history and of course a lovely comfy bed after a day on the bike. The food was exceptional, our local Indian restaurant will never be the same! Our driver Munshi was always calm, patient, helpful and it was nice to know he was just a short distance behind us if we ever needed him for more water, a quick snack or puncture repairs. He was our hero. Finally, Pankaj, our tour leader. Thank you for organising such a memorable trip, taking care of every little detail, helping us understand local customs and answering our many questions. It was a privilege to spend time with you and to meet your lovely wife. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us and understand the type of things we enjoy doing and are interested in and tweaking our trip to meet these interests. We enjoyed our many conversations and laughs along the way. One day we will be back. "”
