Q. What is the best time for Leh Ladakh Bike Trip?
A. The best time to accomplish a bike trip to Leh Ladakh is from June to September. These so because, both the routes, i.e. Srinagar via Kargil and Manali via Rohtang Pass are open during these months, owing to less snow and clear weather.
Q. Which bike should I opt for Leh Ladakh Bike Trip?
A. Royal Enfield is the best or the most popular bike for taking up road trip to Leh Ladakh. However, any other 150cc+ is also enough for Leh Ladakh bike tour.
Q. If we rent out the bike from you, do we have any option in selecting the bikes?
A. Yes. Besides Royal Enfield, you have other options available such as Bajaj Avenger, Bajaj Pulsar 150cc, and Yamaha FZ. We can also provide you Harley Davidson bike on additional cost. However, the availability of the bike and cost of renting it, is entirely depended upon the demand for a particular make. Hence, we welcome the idea of riding your own bike, if you have a suitable one.
Q. What is the condition of bikes we rent out from you?
A. While we keep adding new bikes to our fleet every year, you will find that all our bikes are handed over to the riders in well serviced, perfect conditions, so as to prevent hassles during the trip.
Q. Do you provide any backup vehicle which will carry our luggage and petrol?
A. Yes, a backup vehicle is always provided by us with road trips to Leh Ladakh. As the name suggests, this is a backup vehicle for breakdowns and emergency situations. Ladakh bikers are always recommended to get Ladakh Carrier installed on your bike to carry the luggage, which should be packed light with absolutely necessary and limited stuff. Please follow our list of required stuff for this trip which is generally shared after the booking is confirmed.
Q. Will there be bike mechanic and medical support team during this trip?
A. Yes, we have facility of a bike mechanic which accompanies you throughout the trip. Also, out tour leaders are well trained on handling medical emergencies, should such an unfortunate event occur during the tour.
Q. I have my own Royal Enfield bike but I am not yet sure whether to bring my bike or rent out one from you. So can I book for the tour now without bike and then pay for bike just before the trip, if needed?
A. It’s indeed a good thing that you have your own suitable bike for the trip. Since, you are equipped on riding it and understand it better than us, this is always the best option. However, under sceptical situations of not riding on your own bike, you can rent it out from us at the very last moment also. However, this last minute booking comes with its own disadvantages. Priority will always be given to clients who have pre-booked the bike with us. Also, in renting out bikes, you get fewer options to choose from and you may not be entirely comfortable riding it as compared to your own bike. Also, depending upon the demand for the bikes, charges may hike. So, as the best option, ride your own bike or else pre-book with us for renting it out. However, if that is not entirely possible, you can rent it out at the very last moment also.
Q. Can 2 people ride on a bike? Is a pillion rider allowed? If yes, then what are the charges?
A. Yes, pillion riders are allowed on bike tours to Leh Ladakh. It entirely depends upon the capacity of your bike. We at Crazy Riders Adventure Tours do not have a separate policy for individual or pillion rider. The charges quoted are per person cost, and, hence the pillion rider is also considered as an individual, and charges are applicable as per person cost.
Q. If Pillion rider is allowed, will it not be difficult to carry two peoples’ luggage on a single bike?
A. While embarking on the bike tour to Leh Ladakh, Ladakh carrier is a must to be installed on your bike. This is provided if you rent a bike from us, and, if you are taking the tour on your bike, then, it is recommended to get it installed. Also, for a bike tour to Leh Ladakh, always pack light so that luggage doesn’t become a problem. Still if you encounter difficulties accommodating your luggage on the bike, we can always help you out by accommodating it in the back up vehicle, which is at your service throughout the tour.
Q. My vehicle is registered outside of J&K or Leh Ladakh. So, do I need any special permission for riding or driving in my vehicle during this trip?
A. No, you do not need any special permission to take the road trip to Leh Ladakh with your own vehicle, as long as the vehicle is registered on your name and you are carrying original Registration Certificate, PUC and insurance documents with you. Please note that soft copies of these documents may not be acceptable at certain places.
Q. Is the fuel cost included in this trip?
A. No, the fuel cost is not included in this trip.
Q. What kind of roads can we expect to experience during this Leh Ladakh bike trip?
A. On this trip to Leh Ladakh, one experiences all kind of roads. You will get a privilege to ride on excellent tarmac roads, high pass roads, hair pin bends, off roading and riding even in waters streams.
Q. What riding gears do I need for Leh Ladakh trip?
A. The road trip which you are about to embark, promises to give you all sort of experiences. So, all your riding gears should be able to withstand against nature’s force of rain, hail and snow. We recommend that at the very least, a riding jacket, riding pants, riding shoes, riding gloves and full face helmet should be used by all riders, whether it is the rider or the pillion rider. We help you out to rent out all the riding gears also.
Q. What if my bike meets with an accident or stops in between, to the extent that help may be required from nearby village? In such cases, what is your policy?
A. In such uneventful circumstances, we allow the rest of the group to move forward, while a person from our organizing team, stays back with you till the time help arrives and we are double sure that you and your bike are safe enough to take the rest of the day’s trip.
Q. What will be the minimum and maximum size of each batch?
A. We generally follow a policy of taking minimum 25 and maximum 40 pax.
Q. Can we take this trip to Leh Ladakh in a car? If yes, then do we need to pay petrol charge? And in case of breakage, of that personal car, will you be able to provide support? Will that be chargeable?
A. Ofcourse guests can join us with a CAR/SUV/JEEP/. Our package is excluding of fuel charges for all segments. Expert bike mechanic and backup vehicle driver are always present, but with limited knowledge of servicing 4 wheelers, to an extent that they will be able to fix the problems on temporary basis only.
Q. Being on such heights, can we face lack of oxygen or any such related medical condition?
A. Generally, with an increase in altitude, level of atmospheric oxygen starts to dip. This becomes highly evident at altitudes of places such as Leh Ladakh. You may face challenges with normal breathing or a medical condition termed as Altitude Sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness. We do keep oxygen cylinders with us for severe conditions that may arise occasionally. But, it is pretty easy to tackle this situation. Follow some basic rules like:
1. Drink lots and lots of water mixed with glucose.
2. Take everything slow. Even little labour at high altitudes will leave you spent.
3. Take one tablet of Diamox at Manali on the morning before leaving for Leh. Diamox takes one hour to start working on your body.
4. Don’t push too hard, take the trip slow. Ascent slowly, decent slowly.
5. If you feel the symptoms creeping up, stop and take some rest. Don’t keep pushing.
6. Always follow the instructions of your tour leader as they are accustomed to handling such situations.
Q. Are there any meals included in this bike trip to Leh Ladakh?
A. Yes. The tour cost is inclusive of all breakfasts & dinners for the entire length of the tour package.
Q. Can you brief us on the accommodation facilities?
A. The accommodation is provided to you in both, hotels and tents, depending upon the place of stay. Manali and Leh have hotel accommodations. Hotel preference is yours. We generally provide accommodations in Deluxe or 3 start hotels. Jispa, Sarchu, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake have comfortable tent accommodations.
Q. In case of accommodations in tents, what type of tent you provide? Are they waterproof? Are bed sheets, pillows, sleeping bags etc. provided? Do such locations have attached washrooms or common ones?
A. Tent accommodations are provided in either luxurious camps with bed or Swiss cottage type tents, which are completely waterproof which comprise of master bed room with attached washroom.
Q. My girlfriend also wants to join. So I am bit worried about safety and also washroom facilities during daytime. Can you explain on this?
A. You are most welcome to bring your girlfriend along on this trip. As part of our tour groups, there are many female riders or pillion riders, so safety never becomes a concern. Moreover, our team and our guests follow some basic rules of respecting each other’s privacy and dignity. Among the friendly atmosphere of the group, there is a strict discipline which is followed specially w.r.t. female members of the group. As far as the washroom facilities are concerned, during the trip there are many public conveniences en-route, which are used by female members of the group.
Q. What is the amount of tax paid on the total package cost?
A. As per Government of India GST policies, 5% tax will be levied extra on the total package cost.
Q. The first day of the itinerary shows a travel plan from New Delhi to Pathankot, which is roughly 500 km from Delhi. So are we riding this distance by bike on a single day?
A. Yes, the first and the last day of the trip plans to cover 500 km from New Delhi to Pathankot and vice versa on smooth tarmac national highway. This distance need to be covered on individual bikes or cars, and, so that we do not face any troubles travelling this distance, we start early from Delhi and make it a point to reach Pathankot by 6 – 7 p.m. The remaining days of the trip, asks you to ride for only 150 km – 200 km, per day.
Q. Which telephone network is accessible?
A. Generally network issues arise in Leh where you only have access to post-paid connections from BSNL, Airtel and Jio. At other halting points, network should not be such a concern. But, do remember to carry post-paid connection with you.