Riding the Highest road in the World, Girl rides India! Guest Travel Blogs
If you had sat me down and told me how the 2019 Roof of the World’ tour with Aussie Bike or Hike would change my perspective on life….
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MOTORCYCLE TOUR -
Roof of the World
India
TRAVEL THROUGH THE MAGNIFICENT NORTH OF INDIA WITH WORLD CHAMPION MOTORCYCLE RIDER ALEX CUDLIN
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DESCRIPTION:
Experience the stunning sights of Northern India on a 14-day bike tour, where you'll take on winding hills, icy glaciers, rugged trails, and serene mountain views. Imagine riding alongside Motorcycle World Champion Alex Cudlin as he guides you through some of the most epic roads in the world.
But this tour isn't just about the thrill of the ride - it's about experiencing a unique and unforgettable adventure.
You'll have the opportunity to interact with locals, taste authentic cuisine, and explore ancient temples and historical sites. From the bustling city streets to the tranquil countryside, you'll witness the diversity and beauty of India in all its glory.
With expert guides, top-of-the-line equipment, and a carefully planned itinerary, we guarantee that this trip will be one you'll never forget. So pack your bags, grab your helmet, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.
Join us now and make memories that will last a lifetime!
HIGHLIGHTS
See the Taj Mahal
See Ancient Monastery's
Ride over the Himalayas
Ride Highest motorable Road in the World
Ride a Royal Enfield
See China border from india
Visit Pangong Lake
Visit town of Leh
June 16th to 29th 2023
Day 1: Arrival Delhi
Day 2: Delhi – Anandpur
Day 3: Anandpur Sahib - Mandi
Day 4: Mandi – Manali
Day 5: Rest Day Manali
Day 6: Manali – Jispa
Day 7: Jispa – Sarchu
Day 8: Sarchu – Leh
Day 9: Rest Day Leh
Day 10: Leh – Hunder
Day 11: Hunder – Pangong Lake
Day 12: Pangong Lake - Leh
Day 13: Fly to Delhi
Day 14 Taj Mahal
Fly home evening of June 29 2023
$6500 AUD
solo
$5150 AUD
Pillion
14
DAYS
June 16th to 29th 2023
DAILY DISTANCE:
70 TO 250 Kilometres PER DAY
The tour Aussie Bike OR Hike have designed will be mostly places where traffic is at a minimum and wild life and sights are at a maximum!
Our aim is for the ride not to test you physically but to be enjoyable whilst still covering a decent distance. A lot of thought has gone into the route for our tours to make it as enjoyable as possible.
BIKES:
The Bullet 500 is essentially the motorcycle with the timeless, iconic, handcrafted design of the legendary Bullet now powered with a solid 500 cc Unit Construction Engine for better combustion, superior power delivery and improved fuel economy. Now technologically equipped with modern advances in engineering, this motorcycle still maintains its impeccable lineage it has withheld for decades. The iconic Bullet is now available in an all new shade of Forest Green with the same aristocratic pinstriping now in a silver finish symbolic of automotive royalty.
How much will it cost?
Price for Riders is AUD $6500-00.
Price for pillion passenger is AUD $5150-00
Difficulty Level:
6 out of 10
Dirt VS Road
50%-50%
Tour Inclusions
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•Full motorbike rental for the duration of the tour (500cc Royal Enfield)
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•Clean, comfortable accommodation
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•Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional AUD $900-00)
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•All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) Except Lunch and Dinner on night rest days, you can choose to eat where you want
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•1x Australian Guide, 1x Indian Guide, 2x Motorcycle Mechanics and 1x Sweep Vehicle
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•Minibus support vehicle and driver, for luggage transport and assistance
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•Spare parts, tools, medicines, first aid equipment
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•All fuel costs,
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Airport transfers
Tour Exclusions
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•Airfares to/from Delhi
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•Comprehensive travel insurance policy, which must cover use of 500cc motorcycle
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•Tourist visa for India
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•Medical vaccinations before departure (recommended)
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•Expenses of a personal nature such as postage, laundry, souvenirs and all drinks
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•Tips for Indian staff at tour completion
Detailed Itinerary
•DAY 1: Arrival in Delhi
Delhi A warm welcome at New Delhi airport by one of our crew followed by a cab ride through the colourful hustle and bustle of our capital city. You stay in the brightly lit Paharganj area, very close to the heart of Delhi. The capital will bombard you with surprise, shock and overwhelming emotion, almost as if it were a living entity!
•DAY 2: Delhi to Chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib
We begin our travel on the Shatabdi Express Train connecting Delhi to Chandigarh, which is popular as the first planned city of India. After the 3+ hour train ride, we are greeted by our friendly crew and of course the Royal Enfield Motorcycles! Our ride begins after a friendly pooja (prayer) for the wellbeing of the whole journey. We ride some 90km to a private forest reserve in Northern Punjab. This introductory ride gives you a great opportunity to get a feel of your motorcycle, the gears, brakes and clutch, the power / torque and overtaking ability. After getting a feel of the bikes, we end the day with traditional dinner at a Haveli.
•DAY 3: Anandpur Sahib to Mandi
We start day three with a visit to Anandpur Sahib, one of the most important sacred sites of the Sikhs, located about 90 kms north-west of the capital Chandigarh and close to Kiratpur, the ‘Haven of Refuge,’ founded by his father Guru Hargovind, the Sixth Guru of the Sikhs. As you pass through the picturesque surroundings and into the gates of Anandpur Sahib a rejuvenating energy seems to infuse the mind and body. You drive into the pleasant town framed against the backdrop of Shivaliks as Sutlej flows quietly on the south-west and Naina Devi Temple beckons from top of the hill on the east. Just ahead, a giant Khanda, glints under the blue skies lighting up the entire town. After experiencing the tranquillity of the Gurudwara and the vast history at the Virasat-e-Khalsa museum, we set out for Mandi where we stop for the night.
•DAY 4: Mandi- Manali
This is where the real fun begins! We ride the involving twisties along the NH 21 all the way up to Manali. Among other interests en route are the Pandoh Dam and the Aut Tunnel. It is a long day, and you are rewarded by the superb hospitality of Johnsons Café! You could check out the Main Bazaar, Manu Temple and the quaint and charming town of Old Manali. The place is dotted with many cafes and eateries, various cuisines, hippies caught in a bubble, hikers, cyclists, motorcyclists... a travellers melting pot!
•DAY 5: Mananli – Rest Day
Its important when you are traveling the world to take some time out to explore the towns we stop in. Manali is the perfect place to explore to mazes of streets and Bazaar!
•DAY 6: Manali-Jjispa
The true adventure begins here. We have an early start to beat the landslides, muddy roadblocks, over- flowing nullahs (road rivers) and high altitude traffic jams! We have a chai pitstop at the mighty 4000m Rohtang La pass before descending into the Lahaul Valley. We cross Tandi, the last fuel station before Leh (another 375km odd) – so we tank up and carry spare fuel in jerry cans.
•DAY 7: Jispa- Sarchu
Today, you will feel like you’re in the upper Himalayas. Icy-cold glacial melts, broken bridges, turquoise coloured lakes and the 4900m Baralacha La are some of the elements we encounter today! Our destination is situated at the boundary between the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
•DAY 8: Sarchu-Leh
Being the longest day of our tour, we have an early start. But time will fly with the memerising beauty of the landscape that we are to witness today! Climb up the 21 steep Gata Loop hairpins, do a couple of 4500m+ passes, stop for a meal at Pang which looks like it’s out of a Star Wars set. And if that’s not enough, we climb up the daunting Tanglang La, only the third highest pass in the world at 5300m above sea level! The infinite view on both sides of this pass is beyond words. You’ll understand when you get there! We descend along the Indus river to the humble height of Leh city at 3500m at the end of the day.
•DAY 9: Leh - Rest Day
Leh is a melting pot of Ladakhis, Kashmiris, Trekkers, Motorcyclists, Hippies, Seekers and Tibetan Monks alike. It’s age old markets and weather beaten faces graciously take you back in time. It is dotted with open air cafes serving world cuisine to keep you satiated on your day of rest!
•DAY 10: Leh- Hunder
This morning, we are off to the high point of this trip – the worlds highest motorable road – Khardung La at a gaping 5300m+ altitude. Stop for a chai, but not too long. On the other side, we descend into the serene Shyok and Nubra valleys. You will reach a spot that’ll remind you of a beach in the middle of the Himalayas, and move on through a mix of lush green villages and desert sand dunes to the village of Hunder which is known for its small population of double humped Bactrian Camels.
•DAY 11: Hunder – Pangong Lake
After breakfast, set out for another day of fabulous sightseeing that begins with a scenic drive in the direction of Pangong Lake. Another full day of discovery lies ahead.
As you arrive at pangong lake, be prepared to be astounded by its beauty. See the migratory brahmoni Ducks, rare black necked cranes and seagulls. Capture the lake in all its glory on your camera and watch the sun go down on this unforgettable night by the lake side.
•DAY 12: Pangong Lake – Leh
Wake up to the suns rays on the roof of the world and get set for breakfast by a lakeside.
This ride takes you over the gorgeous Chang La – the second highest motorable road in the world located at an elevation of 17,388ft.
Soak in the memorizing Ladakhi landscape on the ride back to Leh.
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•DAY 13: Leh – Delhi
Check out of our hotels, head to the airport, board flight back to Delhi to finish our tour.
•DAY 14: Taj Mahal Tour
As a grand end to our incredible journey we will take one last trip by air conditioned coach to the city of Agra and visit the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven wonders of the World.
This is an optional inclusion if you want to join.
Fly home to your Home on evening of day 14
What the customers are saying:
ROOF OF THE WORLD - INDIA 2019
I have had an unbelievably great time in India. Never in a million years would I have attempted to do this trip on my own, let alone attempt the highest motorable pass in THE WORLD!!!!!
Alex and Shane Cudlin have been an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience and managed to get this road rider, through some of the toughest roads and trickiest conditions in India.
Many, many thanks for the insane, magical and crazy experience, Ill never forget. Highly, highly recommend!!
Ashley Debakker (First female customer)
Who is your Guide
Alex Cudlin, the owner and head guide of "Aussie Bike or Hike".
Alex Cudlin’s love for the great outdoors was built from a very young age, having grown up on a small farm in Australia with his parents and an older brother and sister. After completing his apprenticeship as a motorcycle mechanic in his parent’s country motorcycle dealership, at just 17 years of age, Alex moved to Europe to follow his dream and become a professional motorcycle racer.
Alex competed in the World Endurance Championships all over Europe, Asia and Middle East, becoming World Champion in 2010 and 2013.
Alex lived and raced in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, for a total of 12 years winning a total of 2 World championships, top 3 finish in the World championship 5 times, 7 national championships and a lot of race wins.
Throughout this journey of traveling the world racing motorcycles, Alex’s love for mountain biking and hiking grew.
Using it as part of his training regime for his motorcycle racing career, Alex cycled roads in Qatar (Middle east), pedaled the hills of the French Alps, Mountain biked in England and Scotland, trekked the mountain region of Lebanon, hiked the hills of Switzerland, walked the roads of India, and visited monuments in Indonesia and many other countries throughout his travels.
Alex then returned to Australia and decided to start an adventure company that brought together those 3 loves - Motorcycles, Mountain Biking and Hiking.
Alex has a wealth of experience and expertise and wants to share his love of these 3 pur-suits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a motorcycle license for riding in India?
A:Yes you do. To be legally riding in India you are required to carry your local driving licence, which must cover the size of bike you will be riding – 500cc for the Classic. This will also be a stipulation of any travel insurance company too
Q: Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP)?
A: Yes. An IDP is basically an official, multi-language translation of your driving licence. They are cheap, quick and easy to obtain in your home
Q: What about Insurance?
A: Travel insurance for a trip like this is a complete essential. We all know that riding motorcycles carries a certain amount of risk, so riding unfamiliar motorcycles on unfamiliar roads does not decrease that! Getting proper travel insurance that covers you for riding abroad is a no-brainer. If things go awry, you need to know that you have the correct cover to get you home safely such as emergency evacuation, medical bills, repatriation etc.
Q: What currency should I bring with me?
A: This one is both simple and complicated. The local currency is Indian Rupees – INR. However, unless you are a resident of India, importing rupees is prohibited so you cannot actually obtain the notes outside the country itself like you can for other countries. You can either bring in other currencies to exchange when in India, or simply withdraw rupees from ATMs as you would back at home. Well we say that, but if you are in a remote village with only three residents, a yak and an elderly donkey, there may not be an ATM, so don’t expect universal coverage through the entire Himalayas! If you do bring cash, US dollars are universally welcome.
Q: Do I need a visa for India?
A: Yes, unless you are a national of Nepal, Bhutan or the Maldives. The easiest way to get one is to apply for an e-tourist visa online. Assuming you live in an eligible country / territory you can apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival with a window of 120 days. For peace of mind, we recommend you do this nicely in advance to avoid any delays or issues. The visa lasts 60 days so unless you decide to extend your trip for vastly more than the length of the tour, then this should be plenty
Q: Where do I fly into?
A: You will need to book return flights to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi DEL. We will send someone to meet you at the airport – so be sure to give us your full flight details.
Q: How do I carry my main luggage?
A: We are followed on the ride by either one or two support vehicles depending on group size. This means that all your luggage goes in there rather than having it bounce around on the back your Royal Enfield for miles on end. You just need to take either a tank bag or small rucksack with cameras and any travel essentials you feel you can’t manage without. All the spares, luggage, medical supplies, fuel, and post-ride beer goes in the truck.
Q: What is the baggage allowance for the flight back to Delhi from Leh?
A: As this is a short domestic flight, the included baggage allowance is 15kg.
Q: How big is the group?
A: The average group size is between ten and fifteen riders as that’s about the manageable amount for a mixed group. If you are booking a private tour with a group of friends or a riding club we can be a bit more flexible on the upper number as it’s easier to coordinate a group that already know each other and ride together back home.
Q: Will we have a local guide?
A: Yes – definitely. All of our tours are accompanied by at least one local guide and allround fixer who can smooth our passage through India.
Q: Will a mechanic be riding or driving with us?
A: Yes, our mechanics travel with us as the sweep rider at the back of the group or in the sweep truck. If you get a problem, they’ll hop off their bike, give you theirs to allow you to continue and fix the problem before re-joining the group. The truck travels with a multitude of spares from spare wheels to foot peg rubbers.than most! and half a bean. It does! Add it up yourself.
Q: Do I need to take water with me?
A: Regular hydration is a good idea when you ride, so many of our riders will take a Camelbak or drinks reservoir with them. There’s plenty of water in the truck so we’ll ensure everyone gets a drink during our frequent stops but having some with you is always a sensible move, even if it’s just a bottle in your day bag my suggestion though would be to carry bottled water. If by chance your cambelbak bladder gets contaminated with a bug on the first day. The rest of the trip it may stay that way. I suggest carry a sealed bottle of water. Once you have drank it, throw it out and carry another bottle.
Q: Is there any medical support?
A: Yes. This tour is accompanied by either a local doctor in the support vehicle or a western qualified first aid medic who will ride with the group. Every tour is equipped with a GPS tracker so that our staff can identify the precise location at any time.
Q: What happens in case of an emergency?
A: Our medic will choose the best course of action depending on the situation. He will have a medical kit with him and he can use our satellite messenger device to contact Global Rescue / our office. We will assist from our office – we can see your location from the GPS tracker and we’ll have the details of your travel insurance company.
Q: How can I avoid altitude sickness?
A: 1. Stay hydrated. Caffeine and alcohol impacts hydration, so maybe keep intake to a minimum until you are acclimatised. Apparently a high potassium diet helps. Make a conscious effort to breathe properly as we climb to higher altitudes – you want to saturate your blood with oxygen. Your tour leader will explain this in more detail in your welcome briefing. Diamox is an altitude sickness tablet – please do your own research on this – if you decide you would like to take these, You’ll want to start taking these in Delhi, before we start climbing. Ibuprofen if you start to feel a headache coming on, but please notify the tour medic beforehand.
Q: What riding kit should I wear?
A: This is a regular question from all our riders. We don’t provide any riding gear for this trip so bringing your own is essential. As the riding is predominantly road based in this region, then road / adventure style kit is the way to go rather than off-road or enduro gear. So that’s going to mean a good helmet, protective riding jacket and trousers, ideally with CE or equivalent approved armour on the pointy bits – elbows, knees and shoulders. You are also going to need good leather gloves, a neck tube to keep out the cold and maybe even base layers for the days we are travelling at altitude and the temperature drops. You should take waterproofs if your kit doesn’t keep out the wet stuff, but in reality the region is fairly dry when our tours are running. We don’t recommend open face helmets as they simply do not offer the same level of protection as a full face or flip front helmet even at low speeds.
Q: Do I need any immunisations for India?
A: Yes, you may do, but clearly it depends on what you’ve already had. The usual suspects that our riders normally get is Tetanus, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, and Polio. These diseases still exist in many parts of the world and India is one of them, so getting adequately immunised is a wise precaution. Please contact your local doctor or your country’s national health advisory service to see what they recommend for the area you are visiting. Some on the immunisations are free, some you will need to pay for.
Q: How much spending money will I need to bring with me?
A: So, this is up to you, but as this is a largely inclusive tour, then you don’t need that much. All the food (apart from rest days), accommodation, permits and fuel are sorted by us, so you just need cash for souvenirs, tips and alcoholic drinks. Unless you go absolutely mad in the gift shops and bars, then around $200 – $300 should be adequate. Shopping in India tends to be very reasonable so you can get quite a lot for not much! On the beer front, we encourage a bit of restraint – this is a riding tour after all, so we like to keep eight hours between bottle and throttle.
Q: Are there ATMs on the way?
A: Yes, there are ATMs in the larger towns, but not the villages. The service can be variable as the internet coverage drops out as often as an ageing hippy, so it’s best not to rely too heavily on the ATMs Don’t forget to tell your bank you are heading to India, as without this information they will most likely think some rogue hacker is dipping into your account and promptly block your card.
Q: What is the accommodation like?
A: The accommodation on this trip is deliberately varied to give you a wide experience of the region. Sometimes we’ll be in top end hotels with all the facilities you’d expect, sometimes we’ll be in individual yurts at campsites miles away from anywhere. But wherever we stay, bear in mind this is India and things are not necessarily the same as back home. And that’s exactly the point – that’s what adventure travel is about.
Q: How do I charge my camera?
A: All the hotels have plug sockets. The campsites have sockets in the tents or in the main dining tents but turn the electricity off over night. So yes you will be able to charge your gadgets most nights. There are 2 types of sockets in India – 3 Pin connections – Type D, or 2 pin connections Type C.
Q: Is Wi-Fi available throughout the tour?
A: As we said earlier, yes in theory, although in practice, Wi-Fi coverage can be slow at best, slow on average and non-existent on many occasions. When you are riding in some of the most epic landscapes in the world, then just enjoying it for yourself is beautifully liberating – you can show your photos when you get back home.
Q: Can I get an Indian SIM card?
A: You can buy a local sim card in Delhi, however, this will only give you coverage for some of the trip, but far from all! Most riders just wait to use the wifi at the hotels that have it. Again the wifi isn’t great, enough to message people but not watch youtube videos or downloading. We recommend you set the ‘out-of-office auto-reply’ for your emails!
Q: Is it safe to drink the tap water?
A: In a word No! Although the locals may be drinking tap water, doing the same has a strong possibility of playing havoc with your insides. It’s called Delhi Belly for a reason. We recommend that you drink only bottled water and that you check the seal before drinking. If you chose canned drinks, give the lid a good wipe beforehand just to be sure. And for tooth brushing, rinsing with bottled water is a good idea too.
Q: Can you cater for vegetarians / food allergies?
A: As most of the population is vegetarian, then avoiding meat is no problem at all. As to food allergies that’s much harder to control, especially in restaurants with small kitchens and limited experience as to the complications of lactose or gluten intolerance. We will make every effort possible to communicate your requirements to the places we visit, but we are unable to make cast iron guarantees. If you are going to go into a life-threatening spasm if you touch a stray peanut, then share it with your tour medic – we need to know that stuff.
Q: Who operates this tour?
A: This tour is operated by Aussie Bike or Hike in collaboration with our local partner based in India.
Q: How do I book?
A: To secure your place we simply need a AUD $2500 non-refundable deposit. The remainder does not need to be paid until 90 days prior to the tour start date.
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: We accept direct bank transfers. We do not accept Paypal or American Express.
Price for Riders is AUD (Australian Dollar) $6500-00. Price for pillion passenger is AUD $5150-00.
Booking Link is here:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/AussieBikeOrHike/RoofOfTheWorldIndiaJune2023
BLOG ABOUT OUR 2019 TRIP
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