We’ve taken the scenic and cultural highlights of this dream destination and put them together for you in a unique tour program on two wheels.
Important information
Equipment: Please bring your own protective clothing and helmet. Also be sure to bring your wet-weather gear to remain dry in rain.
Other helpful items: A flashlight – ideally a headband-mounted one. A Leatherman tool or Swiss army knife can be useful. Sunglasses are absolutely essential. A personal drinking bottle is also very convenient.
The Enfields are equipped with sturdy leather saddlebags. We nevertheless recommend a waterproof daypack for your most essential items, or a tail bag with mounting straps that will let you easily remove everything from the bike and take it with you anytime.
You should keep drugs (diarrhea and cold medication, vitamins, etc.) and other personal items (sun blocker, insect repellant) within convenient reach.
Currency: You are not allowed to bring Nepalese currency into the country or take it out. You may bring unlimited amounts of foreign currency into the country. We recommend euro banknotes in €50.00 and €100.00 denominations. Our guide will assist you in changing money. US dollars are not required. American Express Traveler’s Cheques (€100.00 or US dollar denominations) are accepted in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but are not essential. Credit cards (Maestro, Visa and MasterCard) can be used in Kathmandu, but not in the rest of the country. Cash advances are very easy to obtain at the new ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara, provided you know your card’s PIN.
You will need the equivalent of around €200.00 to €300.00 for drinks, lunch and tips for the duration of your stay.
Documents: Please be sure to carry photocopies of all of your important travel documents such as your passport, driving license and flight ticket for emergencies and don’t forgot to leave one copy of those documents in our office..
Arrival: A tourist visa is required for Nepal. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of your stay.
The visa can be obtained in advance at any Nepalese embassy or consulate, or at the airport on arrival ( 25 days Multi-visa currently costs USD 40.00; two passport-size photos are required).
We will send you a visa application and further information together with your booking confirmation.
Import regulations: Up to 20 films, 200 cigarettes and 1 liter of alcohol may be imported duty-free. All international film and battery types are available in Nepal. Customs checks of arriving tourists have become considerably less strict in recent years.
Food: Western food is not generally available, so we’ll be eating simple vegetarian meals and regional specialties throughout the tour. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price of the tour and will be served to the group. Hearty breakfasts will not always be available.
We can, however, promise you a wide range of cuisine, with a special emphasis on local specialties. In general, less meat is served in Nepal – chicken being the most common non-vegetarian food –, but therefore plenty of vegetables, legumes and rice. Nepalese cuisine is generally well-spiced and not overly hot.
Mineral water or purified water can be served during the trip.
Riding skills: You should be confident in handling a motorcycle on paved roads. Unpaved sections or rough gravelly trails should not be a problem for you. Roughly 90% of the roads we will be taking are paved.
Driving license: 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.
Baggage: Your baggage will be transported in the support vehicle. Don’t pack too much – remember: less is more. From time to time, we’ll have to carry our own baggage over short distances to the hotel.
Health: Tropical diseases do not occur in the Himalayas. A bit of prevention will ensure that plague, hepatitis and amoebic dysentery are not an issue. Malaria is only relevant in Terrai. Except for Kathmandu and the Terrai, the air and water in Nepal is clean, and our food and its preparation is completely hygienic. You should always use purified water – or better yet, mineral water – for drinking and brushing your teeth. The most frequent health disorders on our past tours were hangovers after long evenings around the campfire and mild cases of diarrhea that usually last a day or two and disappear without complications.
Altitude sickness is hardly a problem on our tours in Nepal, as we rarely stay at altitudes greater than 2,000 meters for extended periods.
Our tour dispensary is a small treasure chest for emergencies. We’re prepared to deal with almost any problem. In cases where we cannot provide adequate help on the spot, we will organize the appropriate measures quickly, conscientiously and in a professional manner. We do expect participants to be in good health and physically fit, however.
Vaccinations are currently not required for northern India and Nepal, but most physicians recommend immunization against hepatitis A and B. This is now available as a combined vaccine that is generally advisable for serious travelers.
Immunization against tetanus and polio is essential in any case. In addition to any personal prescription medicines you may need, we recommend carrying medication against diarrhea, insect bites, fever and colds. With regard to malaria, please contact your physician or an institute for tropical diseases to discuss whether prophylaxis or the subsequent treatment of an actual infection would be more appropriate for you. That also applies to the vaccinations recommended above.
It is important to clarify all medical matters well in advance so that you do not have to receive multiple immunizations at the same time.
Deposit: Motorcyclists must make a deposit of €500.00 in traveler’s cheques or cash for their bikes.
The deposit will be returned when the bike is returned in good condition. The deposit also corresponds to the comprehensive insurance deductible for damage to the rented bike and damage or injuries to third parties.
Clothing: Whatever you need for riding and leisure at temperatures between 5° and 35°C, including swimwear. You should also be prepared for cold nights at higher elevations in the Himalayas, with temperatures that may drop below freezing. Rugged clothing is advisable. Formal evening attire will definitely not be required.
Cell phones: Your GSM phones may work in Nepal, if there is roaming facilities exchange between you cell phone company and Nepal Telecom or Spice Nepal.
Total distance: Approx. 1,250 to 1,500 km (depending on your activities on the days off)
Group strength: The minimum number of participants is 6, the maximum is 10 riders plus a tour guide. A maximum of 5 persons can ride in the support jeep or van.
Hotels: Our hotels have been selected with care and vary from basic to upper midrange standards. Some are especially comfortable or well-situated, others have excellent cuisine or atmosphere, but they all have in common that they warmly welcome motorcyclists. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms (except for the Last Resort).
Single rooms: Many of the locations we cover do not have a highly developed tourist infrastructure, so requests for single rooms can only be accommodated where the local hotel situation permits. We cannot guarantee the availability of single rooms at all times.
We’re confident that our tour guide will be able find a mutually acceptable solution wherever necessary, however.
Climate: Expect sunny weather with daytime highs of 15° to 30°C, with night-time temperatures ranging from below freezing to 20°C, depending on the altitude and weather conditions. Chances of rain in February, March, October and November are around 5%, with good to excellent visibility. There are no guarantees against freak weather conditions, of course.
UV radiation is extremely high due to the clear air. Be sure to take plenty of sunscreen.
Motorcycles: Royal Enfield Bullet 500
The Royal Enfield Bullet 500 stands out from the current crop of retro styled bikes like the Kawasaki W 650 in one important respect – the fact that its 1950s design is genuine. The Bullet is manufactured in India and features a torquey long-stroke single-cylinder 500cc engine that delivers 24 bhp at 4,600 rpm. The bike, which weighs in at 168 kg, has a four-speed gearbox and a top speed of just over 120 kph.
New: All bikes now feature a dual-piston front disk brake.
The original front drum brakes and their marginal performance are now history. The drum brake has been retained in the rear, where it’s perfectly adequate
Technical specifications: Single-cylinder four-stroke, 499cc, 16 kW (24 bhp) at 4,600 rpm, 168 kg, seat height 75 cm, 123 kph
Our Enfields were manufactured between 2004 to 2008 and are well-maintained and all electric Start. Naturally, some of them bear the minor battle scars typical of rental motorcycles. Technically, they are all in top shape and perfectly suited to the planned tours.
They’re tremendous fun to ride, and their handling is safe and predictable after a brief familiarization period. Our average speeds on the tour range from 40 to 60 kph, depending on the road conditions and traffic.
Road conditions: We will mainly be taking quiet country roads and narrow, often dizzying mountain passes. Over 90% of the roads are paved, and are mostly in surprisingly good condition. We will occasionally encounter badly deteriorated paved roads, potholed gravel roads and unpaved mountain tracks.
You should, however, always be alert to occasional potholes, rough surfaces, and loose gravel in curves, even on well-paved roads.
The flexible, considerate driving style of the locals makes it easy to adjust to driving on the left and coping with the seemingly chaotic traffic conditions. 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.
Day schedule: A travel day normally begins at 8:00 am with breakfast. This is followed by a short briefing by the guide at around 9:00 am, and the day’s riding, the mileage of which can vary considerably. Plenty of time will be available for lunch and coffee breaks, of course. A times, it can be a good idea to get up very early to enjoy the view of the surrounding snow-capped mountains in the clear morning air. The humidity tends to rise over the course of the day, with haze reducing the visibility.
Daily distances: Between 30 and 180 km
Insurance: We have already mentioned our recommendations regarding useful insurance policies at the appropriate places in the tour description. However, travel health insurance and travel accident insurance is mandatory for taking part in this tour. You must carry appropriate proof of insurance during the tour.
We also recommend taking out baggage insurance for the duration of the trip. Please contact your insurance agent to take out the necessary policies.
Time: Nepalese time is 5¾ hours ahead of GMT.