The Ultimate Motorcycle Road Trip Through Rajasthan

After a restorative night’s sleep and delicious home-cooked breakfast, it’s time to climb aboard your gleaming Royal Enfield. Your first destination is Jaipur, the first imperial pearl of Rajasthan, 180 miles away. Admire the mixture of modern facades and historic buildings that line the succession of cobbled streets of Old Delhi as you leave the capital. Enjoy some smooth riding on the motorway and get a feel for this legendary vehicle. The landscape becomes increasingly beautiful as you pass through the state of Haryana and enter Rajasthan, the 'Land of Kings’. Along the way you can make a stop at Fatehpur Sikri to admire the 160ft door of the Jama Masjid mosque. As you approach the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, you’ll notice that rock and sand are the predominant building materials. The city then greets you with its gigantic pink sandstone monument: Hawa Mahal (nicknamed ‘Palace of the Winds’). This majestic palace is reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel's gingerbread house with its intricately carved balconies. Your home for the next two nights is a classic hotel in a lovely neighbourhood. After settling in and freshening up, head out with a knowledgeable guide to discover the nearby Amber Fort, where beautifully painted elephants parade through the great courtyard of the stables. Built at the end of the 16th century above Lake Maota, this colossal Hindu-style fortress is exceptional for both the power it expresses and the delicate art of its design. Visit the splendid Sheesh Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors, the subtle marble bas-relief of the Magic Flower and the Man Singh Palace.

Today is yours to spend discovering Jaipur, a city known for its rich history (dating back to the tenth century), curious legends and welcoming atmosphere. In fact, the city’s welcoming nature is written on the walls. In the 19th-century, Maharajah Ram Singh II had the walls painted pink as a symbol of welcome for the Prince of Wales. The prince never visited, but the pink remained, as did their welcoming spirit. Stroll down Jaipur’s beautiful avenues, popping your head into buzzing bazaars, trendy boutiques and elegant eateries. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the City Palace and the Jaipur Astronomical Observatory with a private guide. Built in the 18th century under Jai Singh II, these building speak to the glory of the ‘Pink City’. The City Palace is a splendid royal residence and is still partially inhabited by the current maharajah, while the observatory houses the world's largest staircase-shaped sundial. Built in the 18th century, this monument is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a busy day of sightseeing, enjoy an evening of relaxing and good food at your hotel before setting off again tomorrow.

It's time to tuck your hair back under your helmet and set off again, roaring along the roads of Rajput towards Narlai, 225 miles away. You’ll pass through mountains dotted with vegetation, arid expanses and small country villages before arriving at your destination. Narlai is simple and authentic, a haven for travellers who appreciate the road less travelled. At sunset, climb the 700 steps to the summit of Elephant Hill to admire the surrounding forests and lakes that were once the hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jodhpur. Settle in for the night in an authentic country residence with all the charm of traditional Rajput accommodations. Spend this evening relaxing in your new home and, when dinnertime comes around, tuck into a delicious meal at the hotel’s restaurant.

After fuelling up with a delicious breakfast at your hotel (Masala omelettes and British porridge are classics in Rajasthan) bundle your belongings back onto your bike and head north to Rohet, 55 miles away. It’s a long way through the vast semi-arid expanses of Rajasthan, but it’s all worth it when you arrive at the enchanting lake that feeds Rohet. Located just south of Jodhpur, this small Rajasthani village is a beautiful example of traditional rural India. Admire the ancestral farming techniques still practiced here, step into the homes of villagers and meet the men and women who have worked these lands for generations. Settle in for the night in a beautiful sand-coloured property nestled in the heart of the Thar Desert, a style of rural architecture typical in western Rajasthan. Weather permitting, enjoy dinner outside under the stars.

Today is yours to spend discovering the rich history and natural heritage of Rohet and the surrounding region. From horse riding and cookery classes to royal picnics, you'll have plenty of opportunities to savour the Rohet way of life. You can also decide to enjoy the pleasure of doing nothing in this delightfully peaceful location.

Set off this morning for an adventurous day on the road to your next destination: a safari-style camp in the heart of the Thar desert, over 60 miles away. Along the way you can stop off at not one but two beautiful cities. Just 23 miles from Rohet is the ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur, where you can check out impressive palaces and fortresses, as well as the infinite expanse of narrow streets lined with blue houses. Hop back onto your Royal Enfield and travel a further 37 miles south to Osian, a small oasis in the Thar desert which houses a beautiful collection of temples and altars sacred to the Jains and Hindus. The village is said to be centuries old, a former commercial hub on the Silk Road before being attacked by the armies of Muhammad of Ghor in 1195. Make sure to climb to the top of the Sachiya Mata temple to soak in breathtaking views across the golden sand dunes that encircle Osian. The journey then takes a more adventurous turn as you hang up your hat in a safari-style tented camp in the middle of the desert. This afternoon you’ll briefly swap your motorbike for a jeep to bound across the sand dunes that surround you, before hopping back onto old faithful tomorrow.

It’s time to bid farewell to the wilderness and rejoin civilisation. A little over four hours' drive through vast arid expanses separates you from the splendid town of Jaisalmer. Settle in for two nights in a charming boutique hotel well located for exploring the city. This splendid caravan town in the heart of the Thar desert has long been a buzzing centre of imports and exports, which can still be felt in the warehouses and havelis built by the entrepreneurs of the 18th century. There are also a dizzying number of temples built by the city’s Jain community in honour of the Tirthankara, the masters of enlightenment. The rest of today is yours to spend at leisure. You could head into town to get a taste of your new surroundings or relax in your hotel ready for a day of exploring tomorrow.

Start your day bright and early with a hearty breakfast as you have a busy day ahead. Today you’ll be heading out with a knowledgeable local guide to discover the finest historic and cultural sights of the city. First up: Gadisar Lake. This artificial reservoir was built by the city’s first ruler, Raja Rawal Jaisal, way back in the 12th century and demonstrates the advanced urban planning techniques of such ancient times. Then head into the centre of town to admire the many beautiful havelis (mansions) that were once the opulent homes of the spice, date, opium and indigo merchants of yesteryear. The properties are adorned with amber-coloured facades enhanced by the mauve, turquoise and green painted on the doors and shutters. You’ll then visit the ‘Golden Fort’ of Jaisalmer, an immense architectural feat in the middle of the desert. This first guided tour finishes up in the Manak Chowk market, which is still as bustling as when the city was a major commercial stop on the ancient Silk Road. Later this afternoon, you’ll head out for another private tour with a local guide, this time to the Bada Bagh Cenotaphs, a collection of royal funerary monuments, the oldest of which dates to the 16th century. These grand pavilions were built in homage to the Bhatti dynasty and are a beautiful example of the Hindu architecture of the region. Each tomb is decorated with steles depicting the deceased on horseback with his wife standing beside him. Discover this beautiful site with its centuries-old peaceful atmosphere (with no souvenir shops or queues of tourists in sight) at sunset, when the golden glow of the sun highlights every spectacular detail on the pavilions.

Enjoy a fueling breakfast this morning as today you’re back on the road. A five-hour drive separates you from Bikaner, your next stop on this pilgrimage along the Silk Road. You'll be following the same tracks as the caravans that once linked Central Asia to China. Settle in for the night in an opulent hotel on the shores of Lake Gajner. Once you’ve freshened up, spend the rest of today discovering Bikaner, a city that was once one of the great desert kingdoms of Rajasthan. Make sure to visit the imposing Junagarh Fort, a huge construction protected by immense ramparts. Inside you can discover around 40 palaces rivalling in ornamental wealth bathed in tones of yellow, ochre, gold and red. There is also the Lalgarh Palace, now a hotel and museum. Finally, you could head 19 miles out of the city to the Karni Mata temple, where visitors pretend not to be surprised by the hundreds of rats scurrying around, all of which are venerated here.

Head off bright and early this morning for your next destination: an ancient fortress in the heart of Rajasthan, about five hours away. This beautiful construction is steeped in history and heritage, and a night spent within its walls is a great way to sample the ancient way of life here.

Hit the road first thing as today you’ll be heading to Delhi, over seven hours away. Even if you’re a little tired when you arrive, the electric energy of Old Delhi is sure to revive you. Once you’ve put down your bags in your centrally located hotel, head out with a local guide to make the most of your final afternoon and evening in India. You’ll be discovering the maze of dizzyingly narrow and bustling streets of Old Delhi, the immense traditional district of the capital. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a collection of important sites, including the great Jama Masjid mosque, which can host nearly 25,000 worshippers; the Chandni Chowk bazaar, a buzzing hub of colours and scents; and the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial.