The Land of Maharajas (Rajasthan, India)

Twelve nights through Rajasthan on a Royal Enfield, the operator’s longest-running Indian route and its most reviewed, taking in forts, palaces, three tribal regions and a tiger reserve.

Delhi opens it, then Mandawa in Shekhawati, where merchant families built havelis covered inside and out with painted murals and then largely abandoned them. Pushkar follows by way of Nawalgarh and the Sambhar salt lake, a holy town set around a lake with several hundred temples. Jodhpur comes next through Marwar, in Bishnoi and Jat country, with the Mehrangarh fort standing on a cliff above the blue city.

Ghanerao follows among Rabari villages, then Udaipur on Aravalli roads by way of Kumbhalgarh, a fifteenth-century hill fortress whose perimeter wall runs for 36 kilometres and is second in length only to the Great Wall of China. Udaipur gets a rest day for the city and the Monsoon Palace above it.

Chittorgarh comes next, the older Mewar capital and one of the largest forts in India, then Bundi, whose palace holds some of the best surviving Rajput murals. Ranthambore follows on worn roads for a jeep safari, with crocodiles, sambar, monkeys and a great many birds, and a chance of tiger that nobody can promise. Jaipur is next, the Pink City, good for craft shopping, then Alwar by way of Amber Fort and mountain roads to its own fort, before the transfer back to Delhi. Bike rental is included and the price is quoted per person. Rajasthani traffic takes some getting used to, which is the argument for riding it behind a guide with a support vehicle rather than alone.