Delhi By Cycle

Delhi By Cycle describes itself as India's first cycle tour company, and its early-morning rides through Old Delhi have become one of the city's most popular guided experiences. The company was started by Jack Leenaars, a South Asia correspondent for the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, who had lived and cycled in Delhi for several years and was inspired by a similar bicycle tour he took in Bangkok.

The idea is simple: see the old city at the quietest time of day, before the traffic and crowds build, from the saddle of a bicycle. Tours have traditionally started early, around 7.15am in summer and an hour later in winter, and last about three hours. Groups are kept small, with a maximum of around six riders, which makes it possible to weave through narrow lanes that a larger group could never manage.

Routes wind through the alleys of Shahjahanabad, the walled city of Shah Jahan. Past rides have passed the old buildings of Lal Kuan with their stone and woodwork, the Fatehpuri Masjid, the flower and spice markets of Khari Baoli and the main sights of Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, sometimes with a detour to the former British quarter of Civil Lines. Stops for tea and snacks are part of the ride, and some tours have included breakfast at Karim's near the Jama Masjid.

The bicycle and tea are included. Riders need to be comfortable cycling in traffic, though the early start means roads are much calmer than later in the day. Wear closed shoes and clothes you can move in, bring water, and expect uneven surfaces. Booking is essential; the website directs enquiries to WhatsApp, and the meeting point and start time are confirmed when you book.

The tour suits active travellers, couples and families with confident teenage riders, and it is ideal for photographers who want to catch Old Delhi waking up. It is less suited to nervous cyclists or young children.

Doing this ride early in a trip gives a useful sense of the geography of Old Delhi, which makes it easier to return later on foot to explore the markets, mosques and food lanes you passed.