Detailed Tour Descriptions

These itineraries are also available in a more readable and printer-friendly pdf format, from within each of the individual tour description pages.

Himalayan Heights

Himalayan Heights Motorcycle Safari

This Motorcycle Safari is one of several itineraries offered by World On Wheels, Australia's only professional tour operator specialising solely in international motorcycle adventures. Operating for 20+ years as Ferris Wheels, Mike Ferris pioneered the Himalayan Motorcycle Safari concept in 1994 with his first crossing of the world's greatest mountain range by an Australian group of riders. In 1995, by now a qualified travel agent, he took his first commercial safari to the Khardung La in Ladakh (India), at 5,602 metres the highest road in the world. Mike and Denise Ferris now operate and personally lead annual World On Wheels motorcycle safaris to diverse destinations such as Nepal and Bhutan, Turkey, Morocco, Peru-Chile-Bolivia, Rajasthan, Iceland, the Dalmatian coast, Mexico-Guatemala-Belize, and South Africa, as well as this one through the Indian Himalaya, all of approximately three weeks in duration.

Be aware that this itinerary is a guide only and may need to change due to weather, road conditions or other factors. Please be flexible, but rest assured your Tour Leader will make the final day-to-day decisions only after consultation with our agent in Delhi, local authorities and group members.

Package Price

The Himalayan Heights tour price, excluding airfares and joining in New Delhi, is US$6,750-00. Riders must have a valid and unrestricted rider's licence. Pillions are welcome and we also have a limited number of seats available in our support vehicle, a 15-seater minibus which accompanies the riders for the Safari – price for pillion or passenger is US$6,250-00. Please note that our prices are subject to exchange rates and we reserve the right to alter any pricing, pursuant to Clause 9 of our Terms and Conditions, up to the date of final payment.

In this itinerary (and all others) our tour prices are set in US$ for stability but we will accept the Au$ equivalent. We ask for a US$1,000 deposit and will invoice you in US$ thereafter for the remaining balance, but you have some flexibility as to when to settle your account. Final payment of the US$ invoice will be due 60 days before tour date, but if you choose to pay us say 90 or 120 days before because you feel the exchange rate to Au$ is favourable, this works well for everyone all round.

Price includes

Full motorbike rental for the duration of the Safari (500cc Enfield Bullet)
Clean, friendly, mid-range accommodation throughout the Safari, nights 1 to 20 inclusive
Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional US$900-00) 1
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Experienced guide, local agent and Enfield mechanics
Minibus support vehicle and driver, for luggage transport and assistance
Spare parts, tools, medicines, first aid equipment
All fuel costs, maintenance and repairs, third party insurance for the bikes
Airport transfers if arriving & departing via our suggested Singapore Airlines flights
A complimentary World On Wheels long-sleeved Safari shirt, luggage tags and Himalayan maps

1 Accommodation is provided on a twin-share basis and if you're on your own we'll do our best to bunk you in with an acceptable roommate. But if you're the last person to book, there's obviously a 50-50 chance you'll have to take a room on your own and will therefore be liable for the single room supplement. So the moral of the story is, book early or bring your own roommate with you. Or preferably both!

Price excludes

Airfares to/from Delhi (approx. Au$1,800-00)
Travel insurance policy covering use of motorbike (approx. Au$207-00 for 24 days) 2
Tourist visa for India (currently Au$75-00, valid for six months)
Medical examination and vaccinations before departure (recommended)
Expenses of a personal nature such as postage, laundry, souvenirs and all drinks
Tips for staff at tour completion; optional but always appreciated, US$100-00 suggested 3

2 Please note that a motorcycle safari overseas must be considered one of life's more adventurous pursuits and therefore personal travel insurance is mandatory. If you wish, we can arrange comprehensive travel insurance for you (Australian clients only) for approximately Au$207-00 (single, 24 days). Be aware, however, that any travel insurance ceases immediately on return to your own country, even if on-going medical treatment or surgery is required. Private health cover or government Medicare resumes at that point.

3 A note on tips. We recognize tipping is not generally part of the antipodean psyche, but it is pretty much expected in most other parts of the world. Daily hotel porters will expect a small reward for carrying your bags to your room, and our mechanics, drivers and support staff anticipate reasonable tips to supplement their modest wages whilst on tour with us. We suggest something like US$100-00 is affordable for your three weeks (only about US$5-00 per day), distributed amongst the crew. If you've had a good time, we would encourage you to donate generously! (… if you haven't, please let us know).

Our benevolent side

It is important to us to make a positive contribution to some of the less privileged communities that we visit. Our strongest connection is with India, and in focusing our efforts we have decided certain communities therein are most deserving of our care and support. We provide financial support and facilitate the donation of clothing to the Ganga Brijghat Charitable Trust, a registered help center for poor and underprivileged people at Brijghat, on the shores of the Ganga (the holy river Ganges), about 90k east of Delhi.

International Flights

You will have to arrange your own airfares through your preferred travel agent, or Australian clients may wish to take advantage of an arrangement we have with our local agent, Press & James Travel Associates. Phone 02 9979 5235 or email natasha_dann@travel-associates.com.au and mention you're joining the World On Wheels 'Himalayan Heights' tour. They have a copy of this itinerary and they can arrange your route and flights as well as any stopovers or extensions you desire. Our suggested flight is Singapore Airlines SQ406, arriving at 20:05pm, and if you arrive on this flight we will meet you at the airport for transfer to your hotel.

Food & Health

Quality of food can obviously be a concern when visiting exotic foreign lands. We take care in selecting clean and reputable establishments for our meals and the local fare is not always as fiery and spicy as some people would have you believe. Our clients are often pleasantly surprised by the delicious meals available. Even so, an occasional upset stomach cannot always be avoided in remote areas, so we advise initial caution and we carry various medicines to ensure as much comfort as possible. Participants in any of our adventure activities are obviously expected to have a reasonably high level of health, fitness and capability, but in all cases a consultation with your doctor is recommended in order to identify necessary vaccinations and precautions, particularly if traveling overseas for the first time.

Climate & Clothing

It is perhaps unfortunate (or perhaps not) that the mountain roads into and out of Ladakh are only passable for the warm months of the northern summer, Jul / Aug / Sept. Even then there is usually some snow, so good cold-weather gear is necessary. The air is crisp and clean in the mountains and the days are usually sunny and warm, but the Himalaya is always unpredictable so we need to be prepared for any eventuality. We can promise you some very hot days, some very cold days, and some very wet days – possibly all in the same day! At times there will be little shade available, so plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and long sleeves will also be required. Jeans and our long-sleeved World On Wheels shirts tend to be the norm, with strong boots and riding gloves. Helmets should be brought with you from home, full-face or open-face a matter of personal preference.

Professional quality riding gear such as Cordura jackets, overpants and other protective clothing is an excellent investment and will go a long way to ensuring your comfort in what may sometimes be adverse conditions. Jackets are particularly versatile if they have a zip-in / zip-out padded liner for extra warmth and protection. But if you're susceptible to the cold, then probably a good set of thermal underwear would also come in handy. A couple of other products we've used for several years and are happy to endorse are the Kevlar-lined jeans and clothing from Draggin Jeans in Melbourne (www.dragginjeans.com.au) and those Velcro alternatives to 'occy' straps from Andy Strapz (www.andystrapz.com).

And while we're giving plugs, we'd like to suggest you consider a Rider Improvement course, regardless of your experience or perceived ability on a motorcycle, to brush up on your skills prior to joining an international riding safari. We've recently teamed up with motoDNA as our Adventure Training partner. An Australian outfit boasting an impressive array of hugely talented instructors (Mark McVeigh, Chris Vermeulen, Garry McCoy, Peter Goddard, Kevin Magee, Mark Willis....) they have the skills and the syllabus to get the most out of your riding ability, which will give you the weapons you need to survive and enjoy your next ride, whether it be the daily commute or an international adventure with World On Wheels. They offer track training, road training, off-road courses, bush bashing, sand and water techniques, you name it, in venues up and down Australia's east coast.

If you think you could benefit from some off-road instruction and you're in the Sydney vicinity, there's a guy called David Smith who's toured with us and has recently set up a very personalised training program. He's been a qualified instructor for 20 years or so, and he rides with you in the paddock and then on bush trails and gives real-time coaching via helmet-to-helmet bluetooth comms (he provides). Check him out on his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/HandmadebyDavid

Other important information you should note

India is not everyone's 'cup of tea'. It can be an extreme assault on the senses. In order to fully appreciate India's true beauty you will need the ability to leave western values behind and turn a blind eye to some of the harsher aspects of life in a developing nation. If you can do this, you will find it truly a rewarding experience.

India can be quite trying in other ways also. The riding conditions are sometimes arduous and whilst 200k or so would appear to be quite an easy day's ride, this is not always so. Some days may require us to be on the road early to beat the morning traffic, and the days can be long and hot. It is obviously expected that you are able to handle a motorbike competently and are fit and strong enough to cope with some demanding conditions. An important part of this is your mental approach and attitude. If you are the type of person who prefers lounging by the poolside with a dry martini, then perhaps this motorcycle safari is not for you. Try Club Med instead! (But having said that, at least one of our hotels does have a pool, so bring your swimsuit with you!)

Be prepared to rough it a bit, be prepared to accept delays and hastily changed plans, be prepared to be tolerant of India's oft-bungling bureaucracy and ineptitude. Be flexible and above all, bring your sense of humour. But let's not pull any punches here. A tour such as this is potentially a dangerous undertaking; it's inherent in the very nature of the trip. You'll be on an unfamiliar bike, on unfamiliar roads in unfamiliar traffic conditions. It is important for you to recognize this and accept ultimate responsibility, firstly for joining and secondly for riding in a circumspect manner for the duration of the tour. Please read and acknowledge Paragraph 15 of our Terms and Conditions! (End of sermon)

The Classic 'Royal' Enfield Bullet

Originally manufactured by The Royal Enfield Motorcycle Co of Redditch, Worcestershire, production of the Enfield ceased in Great Britain due to financial difficulties in the mid-1950s. The Indian subsidiary acquired the production line, transferred operations to Madras and simply continued to build Enfield Bullets without bothering to change any original design specifications. To this day they continue to churn out brand new, 60 year old bikes!

The Enfield is a true classic, with the single cylinder 500cc engine producing a deep, throaty rumble and powerful torque that have prompted some to christen it the two-wheeled tractor. At idle speed you can audibly count the engine revolutions per minute. High speed is not what the Enfield is about (any faster than about 60kph in India is suicidal anyway!), it's about aesthetics, comfort and style. Riding an Enfield gives a pure, unadulterated pleasure - particularly through the stunning scenery where you're going. It is the touring perfect bike for this part of the world, taking the rough roads easily in its stride.

Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1 of your trip involves the logistics of having all of you fly from different starting points at different times and somehow all meet up in Delhi. From your first glance at the sprawling metropolis you will immediately begin to appreciate that India is a land of contrasts, a land of diversity and variation unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Abject, squalid slums sit incongruously alongside amazing modern buildings of stunning beauty, like the lotus shaped Ba'hai temple. Five star hotels are served by 1950's-vintage Morris Oxford taxi cabs with engines the same size as their batteries. Something like 14 million people somehow manage to eke out an existence in this city whose levels of activity continue to escalate at an apparently unsustainable pace. At times confusing, at times challenging and at all times chaotic, Delhi is never still, never restful and never boring.

If arriving on our recommended flight you will be met at Delhi airport by our representative for your safe and rapid transfer to the hotel, to minimise what can sometimes be a testing introduction to the country.

Day 2 has us on an air-conditioned train, the Shatabdi Express, heading north to the Haryana state capital of Chandigarh. This relatively small city is a much better place than Delhi in which to come to terms with the vagaries of your motorcycle! Even the experienced biker will find the Enfield tricky to start until shown the TDC secret, but the purring chug of the single cylinder will have you falling in love with it immediately.

So, we practise a bit in the carpark to the amusement of the inevitable crowd of local onlookers, before heading out onto the road to tackle India's daunting traffic for the first time. We deliberately break you in gently, with a short casual ride of only 30k to Parwanoo where our hotel has a swimming pool and a cable car to take you to your rooms.

Day 3 sees us proceeding another 90k along a hilly and winding road to the Himachal state capital of Shimla, frequently alongside the railway track where the 'Toy Train' runs on narrow-gauge line through more than 100 separate tunnels in less than 100km, up to this picturesque hill station. Shimla was the summer national capital in the days of the British Raj, when the entire government would relocate up here for three months every year to avoid the sweltering heat of Delhi. The stately English houses are starting to look a little ragged around the edges these days, but the main street is still called The Mall where the locals enjoy a daily hawakhanna, their evening stroll. We should be there in time for a few pleasant hours taking in the charms before beer o'clock.

Day 4 and we are on our way to Mandi, along twisting roads above stunning terraced slopes such as might be seen gracing the cover of travel magazines on Bali. Densely wooded hillsides flank the many streams of the area. We cross the turbulent Sutlej River in the morning and arrive at Mandi in the afternoon on the banks of the boiling Beas ('Bee-Ahs'), a popular river for rafting or angling for India's famous mahseer, that monstrous freshwater fish weighing in at 30 kilos (65 pounds) or more! The world record stands at over 100 pounds.

Day 5 brings us to the wonderful Kulu Valley, a spectacularly beautiful region of lush green hills alongside the Beas. The narrow, winding road clings to the side of the sometimes steep gorge, with the river at times 300 metres directly below us. A road sign which always draws a smile advises, "Darling I want you, but not so fast". We encounter a rather daunting tunnel along the way; 3km through a hillside and without lighting! Make sure you know where the Enfield's headlight switch is, and slide your sunglasses down your nose.

Day 6 we shall spend having a 'rest day' in Manali, which could mean trekking through the forest to check out a 500-year-old temple. Or we can just wander through the markets, picking up bargains in the Tibetan bazaars. Today is also our first acclimatising day, before we start the serious business of climbing the Himalaya proper.

Day 7 is when we really start getting into it! On with the gloves and the jacket liner this morning. As we reach the snowline the sun will begin to disperse the mists, revealing the most sensational views ever imagined. Endless valleys stretch out in every direction from the 3,978-metre Rohtang Jot, ('pile of corpses') where we enter the remote world of the Lahaul Valley. Your head will be swivelling from side to side in amazement all the way to the tiny village of Keylong, our home for the night.

Day 8 Every turn into a new valley produces a breathtaking change of colour, texture, formation. Enormously deep river canyons combine with wind, rain and ice to carve impossible sculptures out of rock and gravel. To paraphrase the English author Douglas Adams, one section resembles the remains of a hundred Gothic cathedrals collapsed on top of one another. Several times today we may find water gushing across the road from glacier melt, causing us to dismount if deep; we push the bikes through with ignition turned off to prevent shorting out the spark plug. And yes, the water is cold. Our destination for today is a group of a dozen tents in a semi-permanent 'town' just before a police checkpost at Sarchu (4,400m), which marks our entry into the state of J&K (Jammu & Kashmir).

Day 9 and it just keeps getting better. The day starts with us tackling the 21 switchbacks of the Gata Loops up the side of a rocky mountain, then zipping along a flat, straight, lunar-landscape plateau where nomadic peoples tend their goats and yaks, which appear to have developed the ability to survive on a diet of gravel and sand. Then it's up, up and more up as we climb to the Taglang La, at 5,328 metres the second highest road in the world. (Don't worry, we're doing the highest in a couple of days, beyond Leh). At this altitude the Enfield as well as ourselves may have difficulty breathing the rarefied air - there's not a lot of oxygen up here! It's also cold, so after the obligatory photographs we then proceed to legendary Leh, the Ladakhi capital and a stunning green oasis in this otherwise desolate area. Red coloured run-off from the copper-rich bulk of the Zanskar mountains (zanz means copper, kar is white) feeds the sacred Indus river, source of all life in this region.

Day 10 is a Leh-day (pun intended) to allow further acclimatising. Either today or tomorrow we'll ride back along the Indus Valley a short way to Thikse Gompa, a dramatic Buddhist monastery clinging to the side of a hill and eerily similar to Lhasa's Potala Palace in Tibet. A little further on, Shey Palace houses a huge Buddha and a fine collection of thankas, Tibetan wall hangings. We can cross the river and ride back to Leh via Stok, where the Ladakhi royal family now reside. At sunset we can visit the splendid hilltop Shanti Stupa (peace pagoda) nearby, to watch the curtain be drawn on Leh.

Day 11 has us heading further north. Our objective is the Khardung La, at 5,600 metres the highest road in the world open to traffic! We have the satisfaction of knowing that no-one anywhere has ever driven or ridden higher in the world than we are right now. This is as close to heaven as we'll ever get on a bike! This whole area is actually a military zone and special permission is obtained from the authorities because it is fairly close to the sensitive border with China, aka Tibet. If anyone should happen to get shot, please advise your Tour Leader as soon as possible. We return to Leh again for the night.

Day 12 sees us following the Indus Valley, home of one of the oldest civilisations known to mankind. We head west with the river, passing some amazing scenery until we arrive at possibly the weirdest of it all; a 'moonland' of light-coloured composite rock wedged into a high little valley. Local speculation identifies it as a meteor or part of some other heavenly body crashed to Earth, but in reality it was a perched lake zillions of years ago. We then proceed a little further to Lamayuru, a spectacular 1000-year-old Buddhist gompa built in the traditionally accepted manner; ie clinging to an impossible hillside. This gompa is the oldest and one of the most important in Ladakh, but even more impressive is the medieval village beneath it. It's a little catacomb of dark passageways and stone dwellings virtually unchanged in over a thousand years and well worth more than just a casual glance.

After lunch we head the bikes further west again, crossing the Fatu La at 4147m and the Namika La at 3760m, to arrive at a quiet little town called Mulbekh. Here, having spent the first week of our travels in Hindu-dominated Himachal and the second week in the Buddhist-majority Ladakh, we now cross the threshold into very-Muslim Kashmir and proceed through to Kargil for the night, unnervingly close to the disputed border with Pakistan and the site of several recent conflicts between the two nuclear nations.

Day 13 will see us riding through Drass, whose main claim to fame apparently is being the second-coldest town on the face of the Earth (behind Hobart, presumably… ). We then climb yet another pass, the Zoji La at 3529m and continue to Sonamarg, a stunning green valley sometimes described as the Switzerland of India. We proceed through the Vale of Kashmir to arrive at Srinagar, the long-troubled but exquisite capital of Jammu & Kashmir state, where accommodation consists of a couple of luxury houseboats moored on picturesque Dal Lake, which for centuries has moved men to poetry and music. Led Zeppelin fans may be familiar with Robert Plant's haunting lyrics in Kashmir; "I am a trav'ler of both time and space, to be where I have been . . ."

Day 14 Srinagar has been the centre of the dispute over Kashmir since the troubles began at the time of Partition, 50 years ago. Violence has peaked and ebbed several times, all but destroying the tourism industry upon which much of the city's economy depends. In the mid-1980's, 650,000 tourist each year flocked to the beautiful lakes of Srinagar to enjoy the decadence of lazing on a houseboat for a week. A decade later only 5,000 per annum were venturing into Kashmir, although the position has improved considerably in more recent years. We'll spend a day here to judge the situation for ourselves, lounging around on our houseboats or paddling through the city's quiet backwaters in a shikhara, the unique Kashmiri gondola-style paddled boat.

Day 15 sees us heading south from Srinagar on a rather busy highway to one of J&K's hill stations, Patnitop. En route we experience the rather impressive Jawahar Lal Tunnel, 2½ km long, literally right through a mountain. Like the previous tunnel you've done earlier in the Kulu Valley, it can be a little nerve-racking if you're at all claustrophobic, so the plan is to bunch up and ride in groups. Six headlights are better than one. But the scenery along the river valleys and through the hills is again very spectacular, and the hilltop location of Patnitop offers commanding views all round.

Day 16 will take us to McLeod Ganj, back in the state of Himachal. Since Tibet's spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was forced to flee in 1959 following the Chinese invasion of his homeland, this has been his home and the seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile. While the rest of the world seems to have forgotten that Tibet should be a sovereign state in its own right, the Tibetans have never given up hope that they will one day be permitted to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

Day 17 gives us another rest day. We may be lucky enough to be granted an audience with the Dalai Lama, or we may have to make do with visiting the Tibetan museum and library. The town is actually in two completely separate sections; McLeod Ganj is where the Tibetan community has settled en masse whilst Dharamsala is the lower part, a 3k walk away. The nearby cemetery and church of St. John in the Wilderness is worth a visit.

Day 18 and we're starting to wind down the clock, as we head back through the foothills of Himachal to complete our loop of the Himalaya. We cross a few more swollen rivers and the latter part of the day sees us descending to the plains to where it all began at Chandigarh just a few short weeks ago. We may need to fortify ourselves tonight for our final days' ride tomorrow to the nation's capital, New Delhi.

Day 19 The Grand Trunk Road, one of the great highways of the world and the busiest in India, described by Rudyard Kipling as 'that veritable river of humanity', traverses the country from Calcutta in the east right through Lahore in Pakistan to the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan. The traffic consists of as many bullock carts, camels, cows and pedestrians as it does cars, buses and trucks, so keep your eyes peeled and your thumb over the horn. We ride the 250k back to our hotel in Delhi, where a couple of celebratory beers are well in order.

Day 20 Today we get to view the road from the opposite perspective. We charter a bus to take us 200k south to the one-time Moghul capital city of Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. The magnificence of the Taj cannot be overstated; it is simply the most superb building and is a must for anybody visiting the north of India. We'll also take in the impressive red-sandstone Agra Fort before heading back to Delhi on our air conditioned bus.

Day 21 Congratulations, you have completed an epic 2,500 kilometre trans-Himalayan expedition! We may have time for some last-minute souvenir shopping, then we farewell you this evening with an early meal in one of the popular restaurants in Connaught Place before transfer to the airport for those on the night departure to Singapore or wherever you're headed. It's been a lot of fun! Home sweet home; please go tell all your friends.

Important Notice ! Please read carefully.

The political situation in Kashmir is a constant concern to any Tour Operator running trips into this region.

Government advisory websites, including Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) strongly advise against going anywhere near the place. But governments obviously have to err on the side of extreme caution and take the most conservative line, lest they be perceived irresponsible and held accountable for any mishap.

The world media focussed on the area in 1995 when six foreign tourists were kidnapped, and one subsequently killed, by a previously unknown Muslim guerrilla group called Al-Faran. These tourists were trekking in a remote valley in Kashmir, far from any major roads despite all sensible advice against such a risky undertaking. Rest assured that if we proceed to take the Kashmir route, our Safari will remain at all times on the main Leh to Srinagar highway, which is the principal supply route with several army and police checkpoints and other security measures along the way.

We have been running this Himalayan Heights Motorcycle Safari since 1995 and initially we would approach and return from Leh via the eastern route through Ladakh; ie back through Manali. In 1998 however, Ferris Wheels became the first international tour operator to put Kashmir back on the tourist map by extending our itinerary and running three motorcycle safaris into the region. We met with no troubles and all our clients voted overwhelmingly in favour of the inclusion, despite the military presence and conspicuous signs of unrest.

Since then we have continued to take three groups a year through Kashmir and have not encountered trouble of any kind. We obviously have no way of predicting exactly what the situation may be this year, but it is our on-going intention that our Himalayan Heights Motorcycle Safaris will continue to approach Leh through the eastern Ladakh route and leave via the Kashmir loop in the west, if this is practical.

But please be aware that if we consider it unsafe to do this, we shall revert again to our 'Plan B' format, returning via Manali and Shimla. Both options are designed to take the same number of days, so our flight schedules will not be compromised in any way.

If we do have to use this alternate routing, the second half of the itinerary will look like this:-

Day 12 Kargil back to Leh 220k
Day 13 Leh to Pang 185k
Day 14 Pang to Keylong 175k
Day 15 Keylong to Manali 125k
Day 16 Manali to Shimla 255k
Day 17 Rest day in Shimla
Day 18 Shimla to Parwanoo 90k
Day 19 Parwanoo to Chandigarh to Delhi 270k
Day 20 Day trip to Agra, Taj Mahal, etc
Day 21 Spare day in Delhi then outbound flights

Further detailed trip notes, including a list of essential clothing and equipment to take, health considerations, visa formalities, etc, will be sent upon receipt of a completed Booking Form and deposit. Contact our office any time for further information on (02) 9970 6370 or email adventure@worldonwheels.tours

Yaks n Yetis

Yaks n Yetis Motorcycle Safari

This Motorcycle Safari is one of several itineraries offered by World On Wheels, Australia's only professional tour operator specialising solely in international motorcycle adventures. Operating for 20+ years as Ferris Wheels, Mike Ferris pioneered the Himalayan Motorcycle Safari concept in 1994 with his first crossing of the world's greatest mountain range by an Australian group of riders. In 1995, by now a qualified travel agent, he took his first commercial safari to the Khardung La in Ladakh (India), at 5,602 metres the highest road in the world. Mike and Denise Ferris now operate and personally lead annual World On Wheels motorcycle safaris to diverse destinations such as the Indian Himalaya, Turkey, Morocco, Peru-Chile-Bolivia, the Dalmatian coastline, Iceland, Mexico-Guatemala-Belize, as well as this one through Nepal and Bhutan, all of approximately three weeks in duration.

Package Price

The ARR Thunder Dragon tour price, excluding airfares and joining in Kathmandu, is US$7,500-00. Riders must have an unrestricted rider's licence. Pillions are welcome and we also have a limited number of seats available in our support vehicle, a 15-seater minibus which accompanies the riders for the Safari – price for pillion or passenger is US$7,000-00. Please note that our prices are subject to exchange rates and we reserve the right to alter any pricing, pursuant to Clause 9 of our Terms and Conditions herewith, up to the date of final payment.

In this itinerary (and all others) our tour prices are set in US$ for stability. We ask for a US$1,000 deposit and will invoice you in US$ thereafter for the remaining balance, but you have some flexibility as to when to pay. Final payment in US$ will be due 60 days before the tour date, but if you choose to pay us say 90 or 120 days before tour date if you feel the exchange rate is favourable, this works well for everyone all round.

Price includes

Full motorbike rental for the duration of the Safari (modern 500cc Enfield Bullet)
Clean, friendly, mid-range accommodation throughout the Safari, nights 1 to 20 inclusive
Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional US$900-00) 1
A scenic one-hour joy flight from Kathmandu to the face of Mt Everest !
All meals except on rest days, when we encourage you to explore on your own
Experienced guide, local agent and Enfield mechanics
Minibus support vehicle and driver, for luggage transport and assistance
Spare parts, tools, medicines, first aid equipment
All fuel costs, maintenance and repairs, third party insurance for the bikes
Domestic flight from Guwahati to Chennai at conclusion of tour
A visit to the Royal Enfield factory in Chennai
A complimentary World On Wheels Safari shirt, luggage tags, Nepal and Bhutan maps
A special one-off travel bag from Andy Strapz, an Enfield T-shirt, some other stuff…

1 Accommodation is provided on a twin-share basis and if you're on your own we'll do our best to bunk you in with an acceptable roommate (same gender, similar age). But if you're the last person to book, there's obviously a 50-50 chance you'll have to take a room on your own and will therefore be liable for the single room supplement. So the moral of the story is, book early or bring your own roommate with you. Or preferably both!

Price excludes

International airfares to/from Nepal/India (approx. Au$2000-00)
Travel insurance policy covering use of motorbike (approx. Au$169-00 for 20 days) 2
Tourist visas for Nepal, India, Bhutan (currently US$30-00, Au$75-00, and US$30-00 respectively)
Medical examination and vaccinations before departure (recommended)
Expenses of a personal nature such as postage, laundry, souvenirs and drinks
Tips for our support staff at the end of the tour; optional but appreciated; US$100-00 suggested 3

2 Please note that a motorcycle safari overseas must be considered one of life's more adventurous pursuits and therefore personal travel insurance is mandatory. If you already have existing travel insurance, you will need to ensure it covers use of a motorcycle of 500cc capacity. Or if you prefer, we can arrange comprehensive travel insurance for you (Australian clients only) for approximately Au$169-00. Be aware, however, that any travel insurance ceases immediately on return to your own country, even if on-going medical treatment or surgery is required. Private health cover or government Medicare automatically resumes at that point.

3A note on tips. We recognize tipping is not generally part of the antipodean psyche, but it is pretty much expected in most other parts of the world. Daily hotel porters will expect a small reward for carrying your bags to your room, and our mechanics, drivers and support staff anticipate reasonable tips to supplement their modest wages whilst on tour with us. We suggest something like US$100-00 is affordable for your three weeks (about US$5-00 per day), distributed amongst the crew. If you've had a good time, we would encourage you to donate generously! (… if you haven't, please let us know).

Our benevolent side

It is important to us to make a positive contribution to some of the less privileged communities that we visit. Our strongest connection is with India, and in focusing our efforts we have decided certain care facilities therein are most deserving of our care and support. We provide financial support and facilitate the donation of clothing to the Ganga Brijghat Charitable Trust, a registered help center for poor and underprivileged people at Brijghat, on the shores of the Ganga (the holy river Ganges), about 90k east of Delhi. This shelter was established and is administered by Srimata Kunti Devi, a lady in her 70's and mother of our business partner in New Delhi.

International Flights

You will have to arrange your own airfares through your preferred travel agent, or you may wish to take advantage of an arrangement we have with our local agent, Press & James Travel Associates. Phone 02 9979 5235 or email natasha_dann@travel-associates.com.au and mention you're joining the World On Wheels 'Thunder Dragon' tour; they have a copy of this itinerary and can arrange your route and flights as well as any stopovers or extensions you desire. We recommend you book at least six months ahead, and full payment is generally required six weeks before your departure. We need to fly into Kathmandu and return out of Chennai, and the most convenient way to do this from Australia is via Singapore with Singapore Airlines and their subsidiary; Silkair flight 412 from Singapore at 09:10am arrives into Kathmandu at 12:05 and this is the flight we will meet for hotel transfer. At the conclusion of the tour, we take a domestic connection from Guwahati to Chennai, visit the Royal Enfield factory, and then Singapore Airlines flight SQ529 departs at 23:15 Sunday night to Singapore, arriving the following morning (Mon) at 06:10am.

Food & Health

Climate & Clothing

Our tour is scheduled for spring, possibly the best time for touring in this part of the Himalaya. But it can also be quite cool in Bhutan, and single-digit temperatures but almost zero chance of rain will be the order of the day. At times there will be little shade available, so plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and long sleeves will also be required. Jeans and our long-sleeved World On Wheels shirts tend to be the norm, with strong boots and riding gloves. Helmets should be brought with you from home, full-face or open-face a matter of personal preference. The modern flip-top lids offer the convenience of both.

Professional quality riding gear such as Cordura jackets, overpants and other protective clothing is an excellent investment and will go a long way to ensuring your comfort in what may sometimes be adverse conditions. Jackets are particularly versatile if they have a zip-in / zip-out padded liner for extra warmth and protection. But if you're susceptible to the cold, then maybe a good set of thermal underwear would also come in handy. A couple of other products we've used for several years and are happy to endorse are the Kevlar-lined jeans and clothing from Draggin Jeans in Melbourne (www.dragginjeans.com.au) and those Velcro alternatives to 'occy' straps from Andy Strapz (www.andystrapz.com).

Other important information you should note

The Indian subcontinent is not everyone's 'cup of tea'. It can be an extreme assault on the senses. In order to fully appreciate its true beauty you will need the ability to leave behind western values and to turn a blind eye to some of the harsher aspects of life in third-world, developing nations. If you can do this, you will find it truly a rewarding experience.

The riding conditions are also sometimes arduous and whilst 200k or so would appear to be quite an easy day's ride, this is not always so. Some days will require us to be on the road by 8:00am to beat the morning traffic, and the days can be long and tiring. It is obviously expected that you are able to handle a motorbike competently and are fit and strong enough to cope with some demanding conditions. An important part of this is your mental approach and attitude. If you are the type of person who prefers lounging by the poolside with a dry martini, then perhaps this motorcycle safari is not for you. Try Club Med instead !

India and Nepal, and occasionally Bhutan, suffer from regular power shortages, so don't automatically anticipate a long hot shower every single day. Be prepared to rough it a bit, be prepared to accept delays and hastily changed plans, be prepared to be tolerant of some grinding bureaucracy and ineptitude. Be flexible and above all, bring your sense of humour.

But let's not pull any punches here. This is not a trip for the faint-hearted; you'll notice there are only 4 'rest' days out of 18 on the bikes, and some of these rest days consist of strenuous (but optional) activities. And a tour such as this is potentially a dangerous undertaking; it's inherent in the very nature of the trip. You'll be on an unfamiliar bike, on unfamiliar roads in unfamiliar traffic conditions. It is important for you to recognize this and accept ultimate responsibility, firstly for joining and secondly for riding in a circumspect manner for the duration of the tour. Please read and acknowledge Paragraph 15 of our Terms and Conditions! (End of sermon)

The Classic 'Royal' Enfield Bullet

Originally manufactured by The Royal Enfield Motorcycle Co of Redditch, Worcestershire, production ceased in Great Britain due to financial difficulties in the mid-1950s. The Indian subsidiary acquired the production line, transferred operations to Madras and simply continued to build Enfield Bullets without bothering to change any original design specifications. To this day they continue to churn out brand new, 60 year old bikes!

The Enfield is a true classic, with the single cylinder 500cc engine producing a deep, throaty rumble and powerful torque that have prompted some to christen it the two-wheeled tractor. At idle speed you can audibly count the engine revolutions per minute. High speed is not what the Enfield is about (any faster than about 60kph in India is suicidal anyway!), it's about aesthetics, comfort and style. Riding an Enfield gives a pure, unadulterated pleasure - particularly through the stunning scenery where you're going. It is the perfect bike for touring in this part of the world, taking the rough roads easily in its stride. Our late-model Enfields now have the modern conventional left-foot gears, right-foot brake configuration.

Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1 Your flights need to get you into Kathmandu today. It's not quite the mystical magical capital it was in its heyday of the 50's and 60's but it still has an olde worlde charm to its dilapidated facade. The traffic is chaotic, the congestion is crazy, but the temples are exquisite, the people gorgeous, the atmosphere electrifying. We're taking you a little closer to the edge of your comfort zone.

There are two other large cities in the Kathmandu Valley, but they are so close as to be almost suburbs of Kathmandu itself. Patan is just across the river and Bhaktapur is only 12k away; depending on your arrival flight we can visit one or both to examine their ancient temples and splendid artisan works, much of which is still being produced in the local streets and bazaars today. Another option is the huge Bodhnath (Boudha) Stupa, the largest in Nepal and one of the largest in the world. It is the main religious centre for Nepal's considerable Tibetan population. Then there are the shops!! Don't be afraid to bargain hard, as the prices are often inflated and very negotiable.

Day 2 For your first full day on tour, how about a scenic joyflight to Mt. Everest and back? The whole majestic panorama of the world's greatest mountain range spreads out before us for an hour, and it is a totally captivating experience. Then when we come back down to earth, we have the rest of the day to explore Kathmandu's bustling bazaars and streets, visit the city's Durbar Square, roam through the surrounding area of Thamel, drop in for a quick drink at the Rum Doodle Bar (the traditional watering hole for mountaineering expedition teams) or simply relax in the garden of our hotel.

And in the afternoon we'll introduce you to the Royal Enfield 500cc Bullet, your weapon of choice for the next three weeks. There'll be a briefing in the hotel car park, followed by a short familiarisation run to acquaint you with the nostalgia of golden-era Brit Biking.

Day 3 We have to leave early to escape Kathmandu before the traffic gets into full swing. Heading to the Trekker Mecca destination of Pokhara, the scenery along the route is spectacular, with terraced hills, rushing rivers, steep gorges and green hills back-dropped by the magnificent Himalaya. Be careful not to run into the back of a fellow rider when, in the latter part of the ride, you come around a corner and there in all its glory is Machhapuchare (the Fishtail Mountain), lit to perfection by the slanting rays of the afternoon sunshine.

Day 4 Many popular Himalayan treks start from Pokhara, including the Annapurna Circuit, Jomson Trail and Dhaulagiri Base Camp treks for the serious walker. We take a half-day ride up a nearby ridge to Sarangkot for a bird's-eye view of Machhapuchare, Annapurna and Pokhara with its picturesque Phewa Tal (lake). For the energetic or adventurous there's the option of trying your hand at paragliding – a more spectacular setting would be difficult to imagine! For the serious shopper, there's some pretty serious souvenir hunting to be done in the markets this afternoon.

Day 5 sees us heading out of the mountains to the Terai, as the lowlands of Nepal are known. Although very much the 'poor cousin' of Nepal's main attraction (the Himalaya) and thus to a large extent ignored, the Terai has its own beauty and is a very fertile and prosperous area, home to half the population. We pass through mud-walled villages, rice paddies and thatched houses built high above the floodplains of the numerous rivers bursting out of the foothills. The plains are a mere 100m above sea level, but over 1000 km away from the rivers' final destination, the Bay of Bengal. Our destination for the night is Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Lord Buddha, and the subsequent huge temple complex is very close to our hotel.

Day 6 Huge tracts of these floodplains were uninhabitable until the early 1950's, when a successful malaria eradication program was introduced. The subsequent land-grab rush from the hill tribes saw much of the wilderness cultivated almost overnight, which in turn had a devastating effect on the habitat of large animals such as the tiger and the Indian one-horned rhino. We traverse the northern extremities of the great Gangetic plain to the small trading centre of Hetauda, on the main Tribhuvan Highway coming out of India.

Day 7 We continue through the eastern Terai for a long day's ride to Biratnagar. On the way if the skies are clear, Everest can be seen again on the northern horizon, standing proud of her companions. Sagarmatha she is known as in these parts, the Mother Goddess of the Universe. The road and the ride is straightforward and we usually just turn everyone loose on such a day. See you in the beer garden at the hotel this afternoon!

Day 8 involves the potentially bureaucratic hassle of crossing into India. Passports and visas will be double-checked, road tax has to be paid, bike ownership and registration papers will be double-checked, our staff will be scrutinised . . . ! Always a time consuming exercise, but soon enough we'll be into the next chapter of this tour. We're off to Darjeeling, following some of the same route as the narrow-gauge 'Toy Train' up into the hills. The only (non-tourist) steam locomotive still in active service in India criss-crosses the road dozens of times and is a very impressive sight and sound accompanying us on the final part of our climb.

Day 9 If you feel like an early start, we can amble along to the nearby lookout to watch the sun rise over the Himalayan massif including Mt. Kangchenjunga, 3rd highest peak in the world. We shall then visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, established by Darjeeling's most famous son, Tenzing Norgay following his ascent of Everest with Edmund Hillary in 1953, and the associated Darjeeling Zoo, centre of the world breeding program for the endangered and stunningly beautiful snow leopard.

Day 10 After some small backroads winding from Darjeeling to Teesta Bazaar, we're on Highway 31 most of the way across the Great Gangetic Plateau, crossing a few more rivers as they burst forth from the mountains just above us. These rivers of course, all end up crossing into Bangladesh where they annually wreak havoc in this low-lying, impoverished country. Our destination tonight is the border town of Phuentsholing, where we cross and spend the night on the Bhutan side of the border, because the hotels are much nicer!

Day 11 Border formalities are refreshingly straightforward and efficient, so we'll soon be on our way into Bhutan. The first thing we'll notice upon leaving India is, there's virtually no traffic! The few vehicles we do encounter are well-maintained and well-mannered. The roads are great, the scenery is spectacular, the air is clean and fresh. We have a couple of 'foreigner registration' check-posts to pass through today but they don't slow us much as we wind our way along to third-largest town of Paro.

Day 12 we shall spend in and around Paro. As well as boasting the only airport in the country, the National Museum is also located here, housing an impressive collection of artefacts. Just a few k's out of town for the more physically-inclined, is the start of an arduous 4-hour trek up to the spectacular Tiger's Nest dzong perched high on a rocky ledge. Optional of course, but it just has to be done !

Day 13 sees us heading off to the capital, Thimpu, and it's a short enough ride to give us the afternoon doing some local sightseeing and souvenir shopping, as Thimpu is about the only commercial centre in the country. We'll visit a viewpoint overlooking the town and then the nearby 'zoo' containing maybe half a dozen takin. This strange beast, the national animal of Bhutan, is said to be the result of a god known as The Divine Madman having a huge feast, getting a little intoxicated, and sticking the head of a goat on the body of an ox.

Day 14 has us rolling out of Thimpu in the direction of Punakha, which has a stupendous dzong on the confluence of two rivers. (To get there we must first of all conquer our first serious mountain pass in Bhutan, the Dochu La at just over 3,000 metres). The dzong is the administrative head of both state and religion for the district, and this one is nothing short of sensational. We can spend a couple of hours strolling through its courtyards and temples. Then in the afternoon we proceed further, passing through Wangdue Phodrang on the way to our beautiful resort hotel at Chuzomsa, on the very banks of a raging torrent of a young river.

Day 15 keeps us heading east, through rhododendron forests and another pass (Pele La 3,300 m), as we come to Trongsa with yet another magnificent dzong, perhaps the most spectacular in the country, an imposing fortress of a structure built on several levels up a hillside. We can have a look around if you're not already dzonged out at this stage (you will have passed 5 or 6 by now), and our hotel is just outside of town.

Day 16 has us, guess what, climbing another pass, the Yutong La (3,400m) then we arrive at Jakar in the wilderness of the Bumthang Valley in time to check into our hotel and have a look around the town. The region is renowned for its local cheese production and perhaps we can find a small factory open for a visit.

Day 17 will probably see a cold start to the day (sometimes we've had ice on the seats of the Enfields….) so have your hand warmers in your pockets. We're getting into more remote areas now and it's another long day but we spend most of it riding through a national park on superb roads with no traffic. Overnight is a spotless little town called Mongar, the capital of the same-named district.

Day 18 is a more leisurely-paced day. With only 90k to Trashigang, we can cover this before lunch and then have the afternoon to stroll around and enjoy the second-largest town in Bhutan. A good time to catch up with writing those promised postcards back home, or watching the locals practicing their archery skills, or sitting in the tiny town square, a great place to enjoy an evening drink and watch the locals going about their business.

Day 19 is, dare we say it, another superlative day in the saddle on the road less travelled. We head directly south for nearly 200k, completing our traverse of Bhutan from one border to the other. Traffic out here is so rare that some of the locals take off their hat at the sight of an approaching car. Our destination is the frontier town of Samdrup Jongkhar which, whilst still actually in Bhutan, has a distinctly Indian feel to it….

Day 20 has us registering at the Indian side of the border crossing, which for some reason takes about five times as long as on the other side. We have a fairly short ride through more of the ubiquitous tea gardens to Guwahati, the state capital of Assam. It's a fairly typical Indian 'small city' of about a million people and we'll need to bunch up and follow our minibus in order to find the hotel. We scrub up for a cleansing ale and a celebratory farewell dinner – we've certainly earned it.

Day 21 is our "outa here" day. Kiss the bikes goodbye as we head to Guwahati airport for a domestic flight to Chennai where our charter bus is waiting to take us to the Royal Enfield factory. We can regale the production line workers with stories of what you've been doing to their bikes over the past three weeks. Then there's just enough time to catch your breath before it's back to the airport for your international connection back to Singapore. You're heading for home sweet home – thanks for your company, it's been a lot of fun!

Further detailed trip notes, including a list of essential clothing and equipment to take, health considerations, visa formalities, etc, will also be sent upon receipt of a completed Booking Form and deposit. Contact our office any time for further information on (61 2) 9970 6370 or email adventure@worldonwheels.tours

Royal Rajasthan

Royal Rajasthan Motorcycle Safari

This Motorcycle Safari is one of several itineraries offered by World On Wheels, Australia's only professional tour operator specialising solely in international motorcycle adventures. Operating for 20+ years as Ferris Wheels, Mike Ferris pioneered the Himalayan Motorcycle Safari concept in 1994 with his first crossing of the world's greatest mountain range by a private group of Australian riders. In 1995, by now a qualified travel agent, he took his first commercial safari to the Khardung La in Ladakh (India), at 5,602 metres the highest road in the world. Mike and Denise Ferris now operate and personally lead annual World On Wheels motorcycle safaris to diverse destinations such as the Indian Himalaya, Nepal, Bhutan, Turkey, Morocco, the Dalmatian coastline, the South American Andes, Iceland, Mexico/Guatemala/Belize and this one through Rajasthan, all of approximately three weeks in duration.

Be aware that this itinerary is a guide only and may need to change due to weather, road conditions or other factors. Please be flexible, but rest assured your Tour Leader will make the final day-to-day decisions only after consultation with our local agent, authorities and of course, group members.

Package Price

The Royal Rajasthan tour price, excluding airfares and joining in Delhi, is US$7,250-00. Pillions are welcome and we also have a limited number of passenger seats available in our support vehicle, a 15-seater minibus which accompanies the riders for the length of the Safari – price for pillion or passenger is US$6,750-00. Please note that our prices are subject to exchange rates and we reserve the right to alter any pricing, pursuant to Clause 9 of our Terms and Conditions, up to the date of final payment.

In this itinerary (and all others) our tour prices are set in US$ for stability. We ask for a US$1,000 deposit and will invoice you in US$ thereafter for the remaining balance, but you have some flexibility as to when to pay. Final payment in US$ will be due 60 days before the tour date, but if you choose to pay us say 90 or 120 days before tour date because you feel the exchange rate is favourable, this works well for everyone all round.

A feature of our Royal Rajasthan safari is that we choose to stay in Heritage Hotels at every available opportunity. These centuries-old palaces, forts and havelis (mansions) of maharajas and their nobles have been converted to provide modern accommodation facilities. They definitely add a royal and nostalgic dimension to the whole Rajasthan experience.

Price includes

Full motorbike rental for the duration of the Safari (500cc Enfield Bullet)
All accommodation throughout the Safari from day 1 to day 18 inclusive
Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional US$900) 1
All meals (breakfast, lunch and evening), including coffee or tea
Experienced guide, local agent and Enfield mechanics
Minibus support vehicle and driver, for luggage transport and assistance
Spare parts, tools, medicines and first aid equipment
All fuel costs, maintenance and repairs, third party insurance for the bikes
Entrance to Taj Mahal and selected other monuments and attractions
Airport transfers if arriving & departing via our recommended Singapore Airlines flights
Complimentary World On Wheels long-sleeved Safari shirt
1Accommodation is provided on a twin-share basis and if you're on your own we'll do our best to bunk you in with an acceptable roommate. But if you're the last person to book, there's obviously a 50-50 chance you'll have to take a room on your own and will therefore be liable for the single room supplement. So the moral of the story is, book early or bring your own roommate with you. Or preferably both!
Price excludes
Airfares to/from Delhi (from Australia, approx. Au$1800 via Singapore Airlines)
Travel insurance policy covering use of motorbike (approx. Au$188 for 21 days) 2
Tourist visa for India (currently Au$75-00, valid for six months)
Medical examination and vaccinations before departure (recommended)
Expenses of a personal nature such as postage, laundry, souvenirs or alcoholic drinks
Tips for support staff in India at the end of the tour (optional but appreciated; A$100 suggested)3

2 Please note that a motorcycle safari overseas must be considered one of life's more adventurous pursuits and therefore personal travel insurance is mandatory. If you already have existing travel insurance, we will insist on sighting a copy of the policy before you will be permitted to participate in this tour. Or if you wish, we can arrange comprehensive travel insurance for you (Australian clients only) for approximately Au$188-00 (single; 21 days). Be aware, however, that any travel insurance ceases immediately on return to your own country, even if on-going medical treatment or surgery is required. Private health cover or government Medicare resumes at that point.
3 A note on tips. We recognize tipping is not generally part of the antipodean psyche, but it is pretty much expected in most other parts of the world. Daily hotel porters will expect a small reward for carrying your bags to your room, and our mechanics, drivers and support staff anticipate reasonable tips to supplement their modest wages whilst on tour with us. We suggest something like $5 per day is affordable for your three weeks, but whatever funds are contributed by tour participants, we will match it dollar for dollar and the resultant pool of money will be distributed amongst our crew. If you've had a good time, we would encourage you to donate generously! If not, tell us why and we will contribute on your behalf.
Our benevolent side

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Detailed Tour Descriptions

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