Best Weekend Bike Trips from Rishikesh

Not every good ride out of Rishikesh needs a fortnight of leave and a permit application. Here are the ones that fit into a weekend, or even a single morning, ranked roughly by how much time they ask for.

A morning: Kunjapuri sunrise

35 km, about an hour each way, leave by 4:30 AM. The best view within reach of Rishikesh for the cost of an early alarm — Swargarohini, Bandarpunch, Chaukhamba and the Gangotri group lit up in sequence at dawn. Full detail in ourKunjapuri sunrise guide.

A morning: Neer Garh Waterfall

A short climb past Laxman Jhula and a walk in through forest to the falls — genuinely easy on any of our bikes, including the Activa, and a good way to get a feel for a rented vehicle before committing to something longer. See ourwaterfalls guide for timing and what else is nearby.

Half a day: Neelkanth Mahadev

32 km, thirty-plus hairpins through Rajaji forest, and a temple with real mythology behind it — Shiva's throat is said to have turned blue here. The road is the actual draw. See theNeelkanth route guide for the full ride.

A full day: Devprayag

Around 70 km out, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers meet and become the Ganga — the literal starting point of the river you'll be back beside by evening. A good out-and-back for riders who want a proper highway day without an overnight.

A weekend: Chopta & Tungnath

200 km each way, no permits, no registration — the easiest big Himalayan ride to decide on with only a few days' notice. Ride up Friday, trek to Tungnath and Chandrashila Saturday, ride back Sunday. Full detail in our Chopta route guide, or join our guided 3-day tour if you'd rather not plan it yourself.

Picking the right bike

Kunjapuri and the waterfalls are comfortably done on the Activa. Neelkanth and Devprayag are more fun on a geared bike but don't need one. Chopta wants a Hunter or above — see the full rate card for every option.