Uttarakhand Himalayas (15 Days Tour)

Your adventure begins with an early morning Express train journey from New Delhi to Chandigarh (about 3.5 hrs).  From Chandigarh you shall board transportation (bus/ coach) which shall bring you to the start point of your motorcycle adventure near the small hill town of Nahan (Elv. 515 M) in the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh.  You shall be staying at a hotel right on the edge of a small lake surrounded by hills. The remaining part of the day shall be utilised for completing the documentation, tour briefing & a quick test ride.

After breakfast, you shall checkout and set off on the first days ride on your Royal Enfield motorcycles.  The ride takes you into the state of Uttarakhand over some beautiful & lush landscape by-passing the capital city of Dehradun and through the forested areas in the foothills of the Himalayas to Rishikesh on the banks of holiest of the rivers in India, The Ganga.

After checking-in to the hotel and lunch, you shall get the opportunity to visit the heart of Rishikesh and walk along the river bank & the bazars, the famous suspension bridge called “Lakshman Jhula”, countless temples and ghats.  You may also have a quick bite or a coffee at the famous “Beatles café” while you’re there.

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Leaving Rishikesh, this day you shall head further into the Himalayas through some scenic B-roads at altitudes ranging between 1700-1800 M above sea level.  Today you shall also have your first glimpse of the spectacular snow covered peaks of the of Great Himalaya range.   Your accommodation tonight shall be at a hotel with views looking down the gentle Himalayan slopes towards the Jim Corbett National Park.

Named after the then Viceroy of India, Lord Lansdowne, this colonial town is connected with motorable roads, yet is remote on its own.  At an elevation of about 1700 M above sea level & dotted with charming churches, overrun by flowering thickets and small ponds, Lansdowne has many quaint attractions that add to its relaxed vibe. It was established in 1887 as a British cantonment. Today, it is the headquarters of the Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army and is dotted with temples and shrines.

Riding down from Lansdowne, this days ride will take along the edge of the  Jim Corbett National park (one of India’s most popular Tiger reserves), on some very scenic roads  which connects some villages surrounded by deep forests.  Besides, the big carnivores (Tigers, Leopards, Panthers, Hyenas etc) & elephants, the park also houses more than 650 species of native and migratory birds, along with over 50 species of raptors, 33 species of reptiles, seven species of amphibians, seven species of fish and 36 species of dragonflies.

Tonight, you shall be staying at a resort right on the edge of the Jim Corbett National Park (Elev. 570 M).  Spread over an area of 520 sq. km that comprises large lakes, grasslands, marshy depressions, hills and riverine belts, this reserve is renowned for sheltering the royal Bengal tigers of India.

An early morning “nature walk” will be organised by the resort (Duration: 1 hour).  After breakfasts, we shall proceed towards the next destination of the tour, the lake city of Nainital.  Todays ride will involve going up in altitude again as you ride the winding mountain roads over countless switchbacks to about 2050 M.  The town is named after “Naini Lake, a vast crescent-shaped stretch of emerald-blue waters, which is one of the major attractions of the hill station. Lush forests of tall oak trees fringe this freshwater lake that lies at the foothills of the Great Himalayas.

A sightseeing tour will be organised to take you to a couple of the popular spots but the rest of the day you’ll be free to explore the town on your own, enjoy its sights and wander along it’s bazars.  The lake is a major boating site and on most days you can see its surface dotted with colourful pedal boats, row boats and yachts that are an ideal means to explore its pristine beauty.  The Raj or “Governor’s house” was built by the British in 1897 as the residence of the governor of the North-Western Provinces.  It is built on European pattern and based on Gothic architecture.  The estate is spread over 220 acre of area with a golf course in 45 acre of land.  The golf course of Raj Bhavan, built in 1936, is one of the vintage golf courses in India.

Further north-east into the Himalayas, dominated by rhododendron and oak forests and providing splendid views of snow-capped peaks of Nanda devi (7816 M), Trishul (three peaks resembling a trident with highest at 7120 M) & Nada Kot (6861 M) is the Binsar Wildlife sanctuary.  Established as a sanctuary for the conservation and protection of the shrinking broad leaf oak tree population, Binsar has one of the last remaining natural temperate broad-leaved forests in the middle Himalaya. It is the only wildlife sanctuary where walking is permitted along 62 Km tracks and is open all year round.  To get you here from Nainital, we have charted a “scenic” route instead of the shorter one taken by most people which shall take you through some quaint Kumaoni villages and their terraced mountain farmlands.  The accommodation is at a forest resort inside the Wildlife sanctuary (Elev. 1975 M).

Typical of the Himalayas, an average days ride involves descending  and ascending in altitude (& repeated a few times).  This day shall be just that.  You shall ride down to the town of Bageshwar (~900 M) situated at the confluence of Gomati & Saryu rivers and then follow the road alongside & upstream of the Gomati river to Baijnath (~1150 M) from where you start ascending again till you reach your destination in Kausani.  At the elevation of 1700 M, this picturesque region  boasts a natural splendour that leaves one in awe.  The tranquil hill station is famous for its scenic splendour and its spectacular 300 km-wide, panoramic & uninterrupted views the majestic Himalayan peaks.

Backtracking down to Baijnath and traveling northeast, you shall again ascend to elevations of ~2000 amongst beautiful cedar forests  of Gwaldam and some more spectacular views of the Himalayan peaks.  From here the road goes down again to Karnprayag (~800 M) where you shall be alongside the holy Ganges river again.  .  This destination near Chamoli-Gopeshwar (Elv. 1100 M) has been included as a stop to break the journey between Kausani & Auli.  The small village Birahi is on the main highway towards the popular pilgrimage of Badrinath ji and millions of pilgrims travel this road every year to worship Lord Vishnu in the temple, as a black granite deity in the form of Badrinarayan.

The first half of today’s ride involves the highest rate of ascent as you go from ~1100 M to 2665 M in about 50 Km. The village of Auli is nestled on the side of picturesque Himalayan slopes above the town of Joshimath and is a popular skiing destination. It is locally known as Auli Bugyal (“bugyal” means “a meadow” in the local dialect) as it has far stretching meadows that look stunning to the eyes. This is also the highest elevation at which you shall be spending a night on this tour. It has a plethora of wildflowers and trees like deodars, oaks, coniferous and pine forests. The slopes here that are as high as 9000 feet above sea level offer stunning views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks; like that of Nanda Devi, Kamet, Dunagiri and Mana Parvat. Between June and October, the valley has one of highest numbers of flower species found anywhere in the world, with 520 species of high altitude plants, 498 of which are flowering plants with significant populations of endangered species. After spending some time here you shall continue the ride on the Joshimath – Malari road to enjoy some more Himalayan vistas before returning to your hotel in Joshimath.

Today’s ride will take you to the highest elevation on this trip via Chopta (2910 M) a picturesque hamlet which is also famous as “Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand“.  This hushed abode is enclosed by the dwindling pines, deodars, rhododendrons and other conifers that can be found in this region, which makes it rich in flora and fauna.  Within kilometres of this hamlet is the famous Musk Deer Sanctuary (part of Kedarnath Wildlife Reserve).  You shall head further northwest from here to Guptkashi (Elv. 1750 M.  Set against the backdrop of high snow-covered peaks like Chaukhamba, Guptkashi is home to several significant Hindu temples.

From Guptkashi, you shall be riding over yet another scenic stretch of mountain roads through countless little hamlets.  This route shall bring you alongside the famous Tehri Lake (Elv. 800 M) which is an artificial dam reservoir that came into existence during the construction of Tehri Dam when the water from the Bhagirathi River was diverted to fill the dam reservoir.  From the dam, you shall be riding up almost 1000 M in elevation to an altitude of 1820 M to reach a Himalayan Eco Lodge surrounded by pine forests and spectacular views of part of the lake from high above.

A short ride but very picturesque nonetheless, as it takes you to higher elevations yet again (~2400 M) and perhaps your last views of the high Himalayan peaks of the tour, before you arrive at Mussoorie.  A very popular summer getaway, the quaint hill station of Mussoorie (Elv. 2000 M) is fondly referred to as the queen of hill stations. It was established by the British in 1823 and imprints of colonial architecture can still be found in its various structures like churches, libraries, hotels and summer palaces. The scenic locales and pleasant weather of Mussoorie invited many to make it their home.  It was also reputed for brewing fine alcohol. In fact, during the British era, it was home to several well-known breweries like McKinnon’s brewery that exported wine to England in the early 1880s. Today, while these breweries may no longer exist, Mussoorie is a good place to experience the vibe of a typical “colonial” India hill station.

The last day’s ride is definitely going to tick a few more boxes for you.  Riding down countless switchbacks to an elevation of 700 M, you’ll be reaching the bridge over Yamuna river, another one of the major Himalayan rivers. Riding alongside the river downstream you’ll be joining the main highway which shall bring you back to the starting point near Nahan.

After breakfast, you shall board buses (ETD 0830 hrs) which will bring you to Chandigarh Railway station.  An express train (ETD 1205 hrs) will bring you back to New Delhi (ETA 1520 hrs).  Taxis will pick you up from the station and bring you to the hotel in Delhi. (End of Tour)

If you have concerns regarding the standard of accommodation on our tours, we’d like to assure you that our selection of hotels will not disappoint you.  In fact, despite the limitations of this region (having seasonal tourism & remote locations) we have ensured that our riders get the most comfortable stay possible.  The reason for that is that we have carefully selected (and fine tuned) a good mix of heritage & modern hotels/ lodges/ holiday homes in the villages, towns & cities we stay at which have a good balance between the old charm and modern travelers needs. Some have been chosen for convenience, some for their spectacular location and some just to give you a taste of the “luxury” of the colonial era without sending our tour prices “through the roof”.

Please note:  On all our tours the space on the support vehicles is limited.  Hence, we request that you limit your baggage to 25 KG.

• Driver’s license*
• International Driving Permit
• Travel insurance**
• Protective Riding Gloves
• Riding boots
• Riding jacket & pants (summer mesh jacket would be most suited)
• Helmet
• Rain suit
• Riding goggles
• Balaclava
• Eye drops
• Sunscreen
• Torch/Flashlight
• Thermal underwear
• Insect repellent

Suggested

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Scarf/Bandana
• a fleece/pullover/ warm jacket
• Ear Plugs

*Full and valid for  min 411cc motorcycle

**Must cover riding motorcycle overseas for leisure

Our Himalayan tours start and end in New Delhi where the temperature can get up to 40°C even in May.

Even in the Himalayas the temperature at low altitude can get up to 30°C. However, they can fall below freezing at high altitudes in the mornings and during the nights (0-5°C).  Although very unlikely during this time of the year, Rain & light snow are possibility if the weather turns bad and we’re riding over a pass.

Health

Please keep in mind that you need to be reasonably fit to participate in tours.

IMPORTANT: Applicants are advised against participating in any High Himalayan tours if they suffer from severe asthma,  muscular disorders, respiratory or heart disorders, or any medical precondition which might be detrimental to the health of the participant on a tour which involves spending nights in high altitudes (3500 to 4500 metres).

Please consult a doctor before booking a Himalayan tour which goes to high altitudes or write to us for further clarification.

Food & Drink

When travelling through India it is advised to carry your own drinking water that has been obtained from a reliable source (RO/UV water filter) or always drink branded mineral/packaged water.

Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised.

Avoid dairy products likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Milk in India is often unpasteurised and should be boiled before consumed.

Any fruit and vegetables should be cooked and/or peeled before consuming. To avoid TD or other sickness while travelling include avoiding undercooked foods and street vendors.

Hygiene

Popular tourist restaurants and hotels will have clean facilities for you to use.

The following vaccinations are recommended for your trip to India* (if visiting for less than 5 months):

• Hepatitis A
• Diphtheria
• Typhoid
• Malaria
• Tetanus
• Japanese Encephalitis, Poliomyelitis
• Rabies

Please ensure you are also up to date with routine vaccinations such as:

• Influenza
• Chickenpox
• Polio
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
• Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT)
• Rotavirus (for children)

If you are arriving from the following countries it is required for you to have the Yellow Fever vaccine:

• Angola
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo
• Cote d’lvoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ethiopia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• French Guiana
• Guyana
• Panama
• Peru
• Suriname
• Venezuela
• Trinidad
• Tobago

*This is a general guide. Please consult your doctor for country specific medical advice.

Telephone: Country code is 91

Mobile phone: Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns.

Internet: Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafes.

Post: Airmail service to U.S and Western Europe takes up to two weeks.

When travelling to India you will need the following documents:

• Passport (valid at least 6 months past the intended period of stay)
• Indian Tourist Visa

Indian Tourist Visa

Travelers should apply for a tourist e-visa before they visit India. Processing time is generally between 36-48 hours, you can apply for an e-Visa here. These are single/multiple entry visa’s that are valid for a 30/60-day stay. To see if you are eligible for a tourist e-visa visit this website.

We’ll get back to you within a couple of days with a registration form and a full list of T’s & C’s.  Once you’ve submitted the completed registration form we’ll send you an Invoice of the tours/services opted by you.  If the tour start date is more than 3 months away, a 25% advance payment will secure your spot on the tour.

To pay for your tour, we only accept Bank telegraphic (wire) transfer.

It’s our preferred option because it’s safe, transparent & cheap. While it may seem like outdated technology where you’re from, it’s still standard business practice here.  Transfer of funds takes place from your bank account directly to our bank account (with reasonable commissions or charges levied by the banks).

Our T’s & C’s document details more info about our payment policy, but if you’ve got questions about ‘wiring’ money please don’t hesitate to contact us or your bank.

We’ll send you an email with confirmation, a receipt, and everything else you need to know – so you can get ready for new experiences, with new friends, in foreign lands!

The open road beckons. See you at the airport.

Booking shall be subject to availability & eligibility. Your booking is confirmed after deposit is received as per the terms & conditions. Your privacy is protected and we agree not to share the information provided with third parties for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, unless legally required.

The price of the tour is per person on the basis of twin-share accommodation. “Twin Share” means sharing a “double bed” or a “twin bed” room with your companion, or another member of the tour of the same gender.

If you don’t want to share a room you can purchase a single accommodation add-on.  Single Accommodation is subject to availability.  On the Himalayan Tours, it cannot be guaranteed at locations where we stay in “tented camps” as the availability of such accommodation is scarce during the high season.

We reserve the right to impose a “single accommodation” price on a participant, like a minor participant or an unaccompanied participant, if he/she cannot be accommodated with another member of the tour due to any reason(s).

To participate as a rider an individual has to be an adult above the age of 18 years at the time of the tour, holding a valid full motorcycle driving license authorizing him/her to ride a 411/500cc motorcycle and in sufficiently good health to undertake a motorcycle journey without any pre-existing medical condition(s) which may be detrimental to the participants health & safety.   To participate as a co-rider on the pillion an individual has to be above the age of 12 years.

Further details will be available for your perusal in the terms & conditions appended to the tour registration form.