Highlights of the Hippie Trail – A Cycling Adventure Across India – Part 1

 

“This is indeed India!”…. The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendour and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions…the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the world combined.” ~ Mark Twain

We have been running cycling tours in India since 2011 and we have to agree wholeheartedly with Mr Twain. There really is no place in the world like India, not even close. Next January, you can see for yourself. The 2023 Hippie Trail cycling adventure begins in Agra on January 29th. From the timeless Taj Mahal, the route takes the cyclists through the heart of magical Rajasthan and its ancient palaces and imposing Rajput forts, stopping for rest days in the Pink City of Jaipur and the Blue City of Jodhpur. From there the riders pedal by the famous cave temples of Ellora and Ajanta before spinning into the Bollywood capital of the world – Mumbai. Leaving the bustling city by ferry, the tour cycles along the undiscovered Konkan Coast with its seaside culture and cooling breezes, before finishing up in Goa, famous for its sprawling beaches and once the storied final stop on the 1970’s Hippie Trail.

Here are some great articles about the tour to get you inspired to join the 2023 edition of this journey through India by bike that will no doubt surprise you and show you a side of India you didn’t know existed. This is part one of two blogs with great content from our previous trips in India.

A Feast for the Senses

“I do not know how busy and how pretty other routes are or if even if they exist in this country. What I do know is that day after day we are cycling through what one rider called “a feast for the senses’. The vistas have been spectacular, the scenery constantly shifting, the peoples and cultures seems to change from morning to night. The Banyan trees, the Arabian Sea inlets, the mangrove forests, the pristine beaches, the coastal climbs and descents, the friendly people and the back roads” Read more…

Lost in Rajasthan

“’I just love this part of the tours’ George says to me as we cycle our way back on route after missing a turn in a village. ‘You know…getting lost and having to figure it out.’…I can’t say that everyone in our 6 person pack was as pleased to be lost on a rather long and bumpy ride to Kherjarla but George wasn’t shy about sharing his pleasure in all things unplanned and adventurous.” Read more…

Arriving to Mumbai

“On the bright side, we got to hold onto our helmets as we descended the same hill the following day. We approached the Mumbai metropolitan area from the south on incredibly quiet and beautiful roads after some grueling kilometers dealing with big-city traffic. The plan was to catch a ferry that would take us from Mandwa to the Gateway of India and the very heart of Colaba. The landscape changed again, with swaying palm trees as we reached the coast and smelled the Arabian Sea.” Read more…

Sleeping like a Maharaja

“India, and the Hippie Trail, our cycling expedition from New Delhi [now Agra] to Goa, are incredible experiences. The smells, the sounds, the colours, the people…and the hotels. Oh, the hotels. There is nothing like finishing an exciting ride and arriving at your home for the evening. On the Hippie Trail, many of those nights are truly special. Here are 4 of our favourites.” Read more…

The Konkan Coast

“Sun, sea, palm trees swaying in the wind and miles of rolling coast. This is Maharasthra since we left Mumbai. Three wonderful–and tough–days. We have done a lot of climbing but the lush landscape with mangroves and fruit trees and the vast expanse of empty, wild beaches is worth it all.” Read on…

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