Chic & Charming Himalayas, India 9 days – including 5 riding days Best season: Mid-June to Mid-September Full board HIGHLIGHTS o A motorcycle tour off the beaten track o The legendary Royal Enfield o Charming accommodations o The warm welcome of the Ladakhis & the discovery of Buddhist culture o Stunning Oasis of the Indus Valley TRAVEL DIFFICULTY: AVERAGE For physically fit riders. Most of the time you will be riding on good asphalt roads, and a couple of tracks. Only 5% of the itinerary will be on broken trails. ROYAL ENFIELD 500CC Divided between India and Mongolia, our fleet consists of 16 Machismos 500cc (2010 models) and 19 Royal Enfield Classics 500cc (purchased in 2012 and 2013). The bikes have a European style gear shifting system (left side, first gear down) to ensure the comfort and safety of our riders. The Machismos are also equipped with a tailor made 21L tank, which is very helpful for longer-distance trips. LOGISTICS & ORGANISATION Your tour leader is a very experienced rider who speaks English and is familiar with the area you will visit. He is in charge of coordinating the support team (mechanic, driver, helpers…) and makes sure that the group travels safely. The tour leader is not a local guide, so, for your convenience, we advise you to bring a pocket guide with you. The entourage comprises of a tour leader and a well experienced mechanic. For groups of more than three, a support vehicle will be provided to carry the luggage and the mechanical equipment. The van can also accommodate participants (who must be registered with a pilot) if they choose to enjoy the ride in the comfort of a van. To guarantee a safe and pleasant tour, we recommend a maximum of 12 participants, including riders and pillions. We can easily welcome more participants in our “A la Carte” and “tailor-made” options. In that case, for your own comfort and safety, the content of the program and the logistics might change (itinerary, number of accompanying persons and support vehicle…). For more information, please ask your travel advisor. P a g e | 1 AT A GLANCE Riding the legendary Royal Enfield 500cc, we travel about 300km across one of the most isolated regions in the planet. The Royal Enfield rides are punctuated with a few visits and walks (always optional). The riding experience begins from Leh and takes you on a journey of about 300 km along the banks of the Indus River. This sacred river, which gave birth to one of the oldest civilizations of the eastern world, begins in Tibet and crosses Ladakh and Kashmir before imposing its majestic course in Pakistan. The higher valley of Indus today offers some incredible landscapes and an impressive cultural richness. Its turbulent streams inspire life to the valleys and turn them into lush green oasis, so different from the driest mountains that surround them. The winding roads that lead you into the valleys provide breathtaking scenery like no others. Ladakh is also a Mecca for Tibeto-Buddhist culture. Many monasteries and stupas have been an integral part of these surreal landscapes for centuries. During your journey, you will have the opportunity to visit the most prestigious sites and meet many monks, who have chosen Ladakh as their home for its serenity and overwhelming calmness. A journey into the world of exotic oasis, deserts and lunar landscapes, and surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the world, will leave no-one indifferent! P a g e | 2 YOUR ITINERARY P a g e | 3 ITINERARY (Subject to change depending on the road conditions) D 1: Arrival in Delhi Pick up at the airport and transfer to your hotel in the centre of Delhi. You room is available from 1200hrs onwards. Overnight stay at the Amarya Villa. Very nice guest house with excellent food and local products of good quality. A haven of peace in the Indian capital and a very warm welcome. D 2: Delhi – Leh (3 500 m) Early morning transfer to the airport and flight to Leh. Acclimatization day in the capital of Ladakh. Meeting with the Tour Leader and introduction to the bikes. Small ride for the most motivated if possible. Optional stroll through town for a first impression of the ladakhi culture. Overnight stay at the Tsermang eco camp. Located along the Indus in the heart of a sea buckthorn plantation and a 10 minutes drive from the center of Leh and Stok, the former capital, the Tsermang Eco Camp has 8 spacious tents with authentic, purified decoration. It respects the privacy and the quiet atmosphere you’re looking for. This is a new and innovative accommodation concept where everything is part of a sustainable development and in line with the local resources. P a g e | 4 D 3: Leh [30 km – 1H ride] Acclimatization day in Leh along the Indus river. We take our bikes to go for a small ride and visit the Shanti Stupa. Overnight stay at the Tsermang eco camp. Dominated by the imposing Royal Palace, Leh was once a rich trading center. Caravans from Tibet and Central Asia would stop there before continuing their journey to Kashmir. The old town, underneath the royal palace, and the main street where the Ladakhi women in their black and fuchsia dresses sell their vegetables, are full of the typical scenes that make Leh so endearing. We begin our acclimatization quietly starting with exploring the bazaar. You will be fascinated by the diversity of the people who wander here, coming from all over the region: old, wrinkled ladakhi women, laughing kids with high cheekbones, farmers from the Nubra, Tibetan and Kashmiri traders, monks from Zanskar... A vibrant and colorful world. P a g e | 5 D 4: Leh – Temisgam [90 km – 4H ride] It’s the great departure! We leave Leh in the morning in the gorges of the Indus towards the west. We take the Khargil road towards Kashmir. Along the way, we visit the Alchi monastery, known for its construction and Kashmiri style murals. We later plunge in a small and deep valley along the Indus to the beautiful village of Temisgam. Overnight stay at the Hotel. D 5: Temisgam - Lamayuru – Temisgam [60 km – 2/3H ride] We take advantage of this day to explore the fabulous hilltop monastery of Lamayuru. Arguably the most prestigious and oldest Tibetan gompa in Ladakh. No less than 200 monks and Lamas live and survive there. We turn around and take small roads in the middle of beautiful canyons. Back in Temisgam, you have the possibility to ride in its green valley and visit its palace and colorful monastery. Overnight stay at the Hotel. P a g e | 6 D 6: Temisgam – Nimmu [60km –2/3 H ride] We reach the green banks of the Indus, lined with imposing, peeled massifs. These oases from the end of the world offer us a very exotic show. We ride upstream of the sacred river that gave its name to India, passing through the small villages of Yangtang and Rong, steeped in fascinating Tibeto-Buddhist culture. We finally reach the village of Nimmu after stopping at the monastery of Likir. Night in a charming hotel. D 7: Nimmu – Leh [60 km – 1/2H ride] We take the road to Leh, and take advantage of this short 60km ride to venture into the gorges of Zanskar. The river flows in a breathtaking setting. The mountain seems to close in on our way as we move forward. Before reaching Leh, you have the possibility to stop at the Phyang monastery for a visit. Back to Leh in the early afternoon for shopping. Overnight stay at the hotel. D 8: Leh – Delhi Early morning transfer to Leh airport and flight to Delhi. Transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon in Delhi. Night at the Amarya Villa. D 9: Delhi – International Airport Your room is booked until 1000hrs. Transfer to Delhi international airport according to your flight schedule. End of our services. NB: The day to day schedule is given as a rough guide. The itinerary is subject to change slightly from one year to the next depending on the natural state of the roads. P a g e | 7 CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY … You have a little more time… You have found cheaper flights which allow you to spend a few more days in India? Don’t miss the bustling and exuberant Delhi, rich in historical sites, markets and charming parks… Or continue your journey towards Agra and the gorgeous TajMahal - one of the 7 wonders of the world. Ask your travel advisor for more details! P a g e | 8 PRICES AND SERVICES A La Carte formula 2015/2016 11/12 participants = 2630 € / pilot 9/10 participants = 2740 € / pilot 6/8 participants = 2890 € / pilot 4/5 participants = 3130 € / pilot 2/3 participants = 3520 € / pilot Prices are valid for all tours between 15th June 2015 and 14th September 2016 Pillions: Deduct 300 € Single room supplement: 320€ PRICES INCLUDE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE A Royal Enfield 500cc motorcycle is provided with Compulsory insurances, including repatriation full mechanical assistance and all spare parts; assistance which covers you in case of a motorbike Domestic transfers as appearing in the program, accident in India and legal assistance. by private vehicle; Visa fees Domestic Flights: Delhi – Leh and Leh - Delhi International Flights and airport taxes An English speaking Tour Leader (from day 2 to day A refundable security deposit of 400 € for the 7); motorcycle (to be paid on arrival) Fuel expenses Drinks An expert mechanic of Royal Enfield motorcycles Meals on non-riding days (D1, D8 & D9) A support vehicle with driver for groups with 4 or Admission fees to various monuments, temples etc.