Himalayan Foothills Motorcycle Tour

Indian standard time is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT.

A travel day normally begins at 8 am with breakfast. Around 9 am, after a short briefing by the road captain, it’s time for the day’s riding, the mileage of which can vary quite a bit. Plenty of time will be available for lunch and coffee breaks, of course. Depending on the day’s mileage, we’ll reach the destination hotel between 3 and 4 pm.
Since our tours vary considerably, we may also hit the road at 8 am on high-mileage days – which is also nice, because then we have the whole day ahead of us.

You are not allowed to bring Indian currency into the country or take it out. You may bring the equivalent of up to US$ 5,000 in foreign currency into the country without prior notice. We recommend bringing euros in €50 and €100 notes. Please make a note of the daily exchange rate to avoid getting a bad rate at the airport. American Express Traveler’s Cheques are no longer in common use and will cause unnecessary hassles. Credit cards (Maestro, Visa and MasterCard) with PINs can be used for cash advances from ATMs in many towns.
You will need the equivalent of around €100 to €150 for drinks, lunch and tips per week.

Western food is generally not available, so we’ll be having simple, often vegetarian meals as well as regional specialties throughout the tour. Hearty breakfasts will not always be available. We can promise you a wide range of cuisine, with a special emphasis on local specialties. In general, a lot of curry is served in India, and little meat – chicken being the most common non-vegetarian food – but plenty of vegetables, legumes and rice. Indian cuisine is generally well-spiced, easily digestible and not overly hot. Vegetarians will have no problems in India.
Indian beer is not always up to international standards. The most common brands are Kingfisher, Castle and San Miguel. The local Chang beer is quite effective but requires a bit of getting used to. Wine – when it’s available – is even more of an acquired taste than Chang. Mineral water and beverages such as Coca Cola can be purchased anywhere and must be carried individually.

Indians drive on the left. The flexible and generally considerate driving style of the locals makes it easy to adjust to riding on the “wrong side” and coping with traffic conditions that initially seem chaotic. The behavior of pedestrians and cyclists, and the frequent presence of animals on the road call for considerably more attention, however. Extreme caution is required around children.
Further information on traffic and riding can be found here and here.

Depending on the tour, we provide several Royal Enfield models.

Royal Enfield Bullet 500 (classic model)

Single-cylinder four-stroke, 499 cc, 16 kW (28 bhp) at 4,600 rpm, 178 kg, 80 cm seat height, max speed approx. 123 kph. The Bullet is the classic old-school Royal Enfield, loved for its timeless design and relaxed riding character.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 411

Single-cylinder, 411 cc, approx. 24.3 bhp, 199 kg, 800 mm seat height. The Himalayan 411 is a proven adventure motorcycle, comfortable, robust, and well suited for rough roads and high-altitude touring.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 (new generation)

Single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, 452 cc, approx. 40 bhp, 196 kg, 825 mm seat height (adjustable). This is the newest Himalayan model, offering more power, improved suspension, and modern technology.

Our motorcycles are well maintained and regularly serviced. As touring bikes, some may show minor cosmetic signs of adventure, but technically they are in excellent condition and perfectly suited for our tours.

Average riding speeds on tour are typically 40–60 kph, depending on road conditions, terrain, and traffic.

Participants are required to sign an agreement document stating that in the event of damage to the motorcycle, costs of up to EUR 500 may be charged. This amount corresponds to the deductible of our partial comprehensive insurance.

On certain tours, we also offer the option to upgrade to fully comprehensive insurance. In this case, participants can pay EUR 100 before the start of the tour, and we will cover any additional damage costs beyond that amount.

European SIM cards now work almost everywhere in India. You’ll need patience if you want a local SIM card, as the registration takes a minimum of three days, and in some regions it is not possible at all.

Your baggage will be carried by the support vehicle. Please don’t pack too much – remember: less is more. From time to time, we’ll have to carry our baggage over short distances to the hotel. Baggage is not insured, so please be sure to purchase your own baggage insurance for the trip if necessary. Your personal items for the day are best kept in the saddlebags or your daypack. Tank bags – including magnetic ones – can be used on the Enfields, but we don’t provide them.

Simple street maps are often available locally. The best road maps are available from the German publishers Reise Know How and Nelles. These are only available in specialized bookstores or online.

All riders must have a valid motorcycle driving license issued in their home country. An international driving license is also required. Be sure to contact the relevant authorities in your home country well in advance for more information on obtaining an international driving license.

Up to 200 cigarettes and 2 liters of alcohol may be imported duty-free. All international cigarette and spirits brands are available in India. Customs checks of arriving tourists have become considerably less strict in recent years.

You will need your passport, national driving license, international driving license and flight ticket. Please be sure to make photocopies of all of your important travel documents and carry them separately. They can be invaluable in an emergency.

Depending on the tour, we ride Royal Enfield Bullet 500 motorcycles (manufactured between 2014 and 2017) as well as the Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 and the new Himalayan 450.

The Royal Enfield Bullet 500 is the classic model and features electric starters, 5-speed gearboxes with the gearshift on the left, front disc brakes, roomy and rugged leather saddlebags, crash bars, 19” tires, and twin horns.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 and Himalayan 450 are modern adventure motorcycles, designed for long-distance touring and rough roads. They offer comfortable ergonomics, long-travel suspension, and strong single-cylinder engines, making them well suited for the diverse road conditions encountered on our tours.

Our European tour guides are skilled motorcyclists and inveterate travelers who love Nepal. They’re resilient in the face of stress and know the history and culture of the regions they cover. Our Indian and Nepali mechanics are experienced Enfield specialists who all speak English and are happy to help with any technical problem, great or small.

A stand-in rider is always available. More information on our travel concept is available here.

Groups generally consist of 8 to 14 riders and 2 to 6 passengers. The minimum number of participants is 6 riders.

Yes, all passengers have a guaranteed seat. In bad weather or challenging riding conditions, they can switch to the support vehicle at any time – and back to the bike when conditions improve.

Riding two-up is almost always possible. In difficult terrain or on rough tracks, every passenger has a guaranteed seat in the support vehicle to keep things relaxed for both rider and pillion.

We always recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover costs incurred if you need to cancel the trip due to illness or other reasons. When shopping for travel health insurance, make sure the policy covers the potentially high cost of medical evacuation to your home country. Both forms of insurance can save you a lot of money in an emergency and we recommend them unreservedly. In many countries, your national motoring organization can provide the coverage you need.

Generally, vaccination against hepatitis A and B, or a booster shot, is recommended. In addition to personal medications, remedies for stomach problems, diarrhea, insect bites, fever, and colds are advisable. Some doctors recommend malaria prophylaxis for tropical regions such as Goa or southern Thailand. None of our tour participants have ever suffered from malaria. During our peak season, malaria is unlikely. Please consult your doctor or a tropical medicine institute regarding whether prophylaxis or acute treatment in case of infection is more appropriate. This certainly also applies to the vaccinations recommended above. We have had good experiences with the Dukoral oral vaccine, which significantly reduces the risk of cholera and amoebic diseases.

Our onboard first-aid kit is already a treasure trove for emergencies. We’re prepared for (almost) every ailment. For other eventualities, we’ll organize everything necessary conscientiously and quickly with professional efficiency. However, good health and general fitness are essential for every tour participant. It’s crucial that you take care of this in advance so you don’t end up receiving all the necessary vaccinations at once!

In the event of current threats from epidemics or the plague, we will react and inform you immediately. This hasn’t happened in the last ten years, though.

You will definitely want to bring your riding suit with protectors and a helmet. You will also need motorcycle boots or lighter riding shoes and gloves. While your gear should be breathable in hot climates, you need to be ready for anything at high altitudes and in the Himalayas. We recommend winter gloves, warm socks, liners for jackets and trousers, a scarf and face protection. Rain gear is a good idea if your riding suit is not waterproof.
Please note that we do not hire out clothing. We believe that your own riding gear will fit best and thus give you the best protection. If you forget anything, we’ll find a solution, however. We often have spare gear with us, or we can point you in the direction of a shop.

Visitors to India need a tourist visa, which you must obtain in advance.
Visas are not issued on arrival.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of your stay.
The e-Tourist Visa costs around 20 to 80 euros and you can apply for it online.
Important note: The terms for the e-Tourist Visa can be found here: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
The visa application itself can be found here: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/info1.jsp