Himalayan Hill Stations Ride

Transcription

1 15 days Amritsar to Delhi Mountain bike through India s Himalayan foothills, visiting picturesque hill stations, seeing ancient temples, learning about the local culture and enjoying the spectacular scenery, on this off the beaten track cycling holiday. Starting in Amritsar, home to the amazing gilded Golden Temple, and ending in Delhi, India s bustling capital, this is an adventure of a lifetime. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Amritsar and its amazing Golden Temple, sacred to Sikhs Himalayan foothill mountain biking, off the beaten track Views of the peaks of the Pir Panjal from the Jalori Pass The former hill-station of Shimla and riding the `Toy Train' to Kalka Pakistan-India Wagah border closing ceremony (optional) Mcleodganj, home of the Dalai Lama Picturesque hill stations, villages and ancient temples What's Included 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 14 dinners 12 nights simple hotels and guesthouses, 1 night lodge 1 night sleeper train from Kalka to Delhi Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure transfer on day 15 Professional English-speaking bike leader All land transport involved in the itinerary One or more support vehicles Baggage transfer Group Size: Minimum 4, Maximum days of cycling, covering 457km, on 90% surfaced roads. Maximum altitude 3350m. What's Not Included International flights and visas Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature Tipping - an entirely personal gesture. Bike hire - if you wish to hire a bike, this can be arranged at an additional cost which is payable locally. Please see the Trip Notes for details. Day 1 : Amritsar Arrive in the Punjab city of Amritsar and make your way to the start hotel. You will have some free time in the afternoon and a chance to rest after your international travel. Meet the rest of your group and guide at the evening meal and then enjoy a guided visit to the fabulous Golden Temple. Overnight - Amritsar (D) Day 2 : The Golden Temple DETAILED ITINERARY The Golden Temple is a special place and it s certainly worth a second visit. We will look to make an early start and get to the temple as the morning light reflects (in the surrounding pool) -1-

2 from the gold-plated central dome, presenting a magical impression. After lunch in Amritsar, we board our transport for the drive to Kangra in the valley of the same name. Arriving in the afternoon, we will check in at our hotel and then take the opportunity of setting up our bikes, checking out the hire bikes and going for a short introductory ride through fields and farmland on the outskirts of the town. Time: 2 hrs cycling Distance: 20km Ascent: 100m / Descent: 100m Overnight - Kangra (B, L, D) Day 3 : Ride to McLeod Ganj Kangra - McLeod Ganj. The first Himalayan ranges (the Dhaula Dhar) run roughly northwest to south-east and can clearly be seen as we set out from Kangra this morning. We try to make a reasonably early start, as today s ride, although quite short, does involve a lot of ascent. An early start also means that we can do a couple of hours riding in the relative cool. To begin with, the road through the upper Kangra Valley is very straightforward, but beyond the road junction at Gaggal it starts to climb in a series of long hairpins that are, thankfully, quite well graded. There s no rush, you can bike at your own pace, and anyone who wants to can take a ride in the support vehicle. Throughout today s ride, there are inspiring views of the Dhaula Dhar (White Mountains). Dharamsala is one of the most famous of British Raj hill-stations and is spread across the foothills for several hundreds of vertical metres. Passing through the main streets of Dharamsala, we continue our ride to the upper suburbs of McLeod Ganj at around 2000 metres, where we check in at our accommodation. Free time to explore in the evening. McLeod Ganj retains much of the flavour of the original British colonial settlement and also resembles a Tibetan settlement, with its bazaars, prayer flags, handicrafts and traditional Tibetan food. For many years, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile have made McLeod Ganj their home. Time: 5-7 hrs cycling Distance: 44km Ascent: 1490m / Descent: 465m Overnight - McLeod Ganj (B, L, D) Day 4 : Explore McLeod Ganj Time: 4-6 hrs cycling Distance: 38km Ascent: 800m / Descent: 600m Overnight - Jogindernagar (B, L, D) Day 6 : Cycle to Mandi McLeod Ganj - Andretta. We will have some free time after breakfast for sightseeing and souvenir buying in McLeod Ganj, before setting off on the day s ride. We can visit the Residence of the Dalai Lama and stroll through the bustling market. Our day's ride starts with an easy descent through Dharamsala, where we pick up a network of country roads that take us eastwards just above the valley floor. We pass through a number of tranquil villages and tea plantations and stop off for lunch en route. Our overnight accommodation is in the small and friendly village of Andretta (1100m), south of Palampur. Andretta is known as a Kala Gram or Village of Art and has an ongoing art and culture movement, with several galleries and pottery workshops. There will be time in the afternoon to do some exploration. Time: 5-7 hrs cycling Distance: 59km Ascent: 780m / Descent: 1520m Overnight - Andretta (B, L, D) Day 5 : Baijnath Temple Andretta - Jogindernagar. This part of Himachal Pradesh is important for tea-growing and today s ride will take us through lots of picturesque, emerald-green plantations, laid out in orderly rows. We have views northwards to the Himalayan ranges and nearer to hand can enjoy the spectacle of rural India going about its daily life. An early highlight of the ride is the chance to stop at the beautiful 13th century temple at Baijnath, dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Continuing our ride, we reach our overnight stop at Jogindernagar (1220m), which is the eastern terminus of the narrow gauge Kangra Railway. We stay here in a guesthouse. Jogindernagar - Mandi. The long ridge of the Dhaula Dhar turns towards the south and our route today turns with it. There are a number of hills to negotiate on this scenic ride, as the road crosses minor spurs that run down from the main ridge. However, the general character of the ride is downhill, as we follow the Uhl River towards its confluence with the Beas River and our overnight stop in the town of Mandi (800m). After checking in at our hotel in the afternoon, there is time for those who are feeling energetic to do some exploration. Mandi is effectively our gateway to the Kulu Valley. It is the main town in the region and, with its dozens of old stone temples, featuring many fine carvings, it is sometimes referred to as the 'Varanasi of the Hills'. The temples of Bhutnath, Trilokinath, Panchvaktra and Shyamakali are among the more famous. Time: 4-5 hrs cycling Distance: 54km Ascent: 700m / Descent: 1220m Overnight - Mandi (B, L, D) Day 7 : The Kulu Valley Mandi - Larji. The Beas River cuts through the first of the Himalayan ranges and provides us with a convenient route into the southern end of the Kulu Valley. Although the road twists and turns, we gain height only very gradually, considering the mountainous terrain on both sides of the river. The lowest slopes in many places are terraced and covered in apple orchards, whilst beyond the dam and hydroelectric plant at Pandoh, we find ourselves riding -2-

3 above an extensive reservoir. Our overnight stop is in a lodge in the small hamlet of Larji (960m), close to the point where the Beas River makes a dog-leg turn towards the west. Free time in the afternoon. Day 9 : The Jalori Pass Time: 6-7 hrs cycling Distance: 49km Ascent: 1700m / Descent: 1400m Overnight - Larji (B, L, D) Day 8 : Himalayan Foothills Larji - Shoja. To the north and to the east the terrain rises up towards the high Himalayas and the logical way for us to go is to continue through the foothills, towards the south. This is still a day of climbing, however, as we follow State Highway 11 alongside the River Tirthan, a tributary of the Beas. We take it steadily, with regular stops to admire the views and to take a breather. This is a wild and seldom-visited part of the Indian Himalaya, cloaked in forest of pine and oak. At the village of Banjar, after approximately 10 kilometres, we pass through a main street lined with wooden-fronted shops and then just a couple of kilometres further on have the chance to take a break at the attractive, pyramidal Murlidhar Temple, dedicated to Krishna. The last leg of the ride to Shoja (2600m) is steeper if anything and there is always the option if you are tired to take a ride in the support vehicle. Overnight at a charming guesthouse in Shoja, with great views over the valley. Time: 4-5 hrs cycling Distance: 27km Ascent: 1500m / Descent: 65m Overnight - Shoja (B, L, D) Shoja - Luhri. We have two rather tough days ahead of us, with lots of climbing and many zigzags to negotiate. There is a short and steep ascent above Shoja to the Jalori Pass (3135m) where we can look beyond the nearest ridges to an unbroken crest of snow-capped peaks, the Pir Panjal. From here, it s all downhill and we need to ride carefully, keeping our speed under control, particularly on the many bends. Here, we have left behind the forest of pine and find ourselves in a sub-alpine world with stunted birch trees and closely-cropped grassland. The road surface deteriorates too, broken by winter freeze-thaw and there are long stretches of hard-packed earth and gravel. Finally, we reach the Sutlej River and shortly thereafter our rest house accommodation in Luhri (800m). Time: 5-7 hrs cycling Distance: 60km Ascent: 800m / Descent: 2400m Overnight - Luhri (B, L, D) Day 10 : Scenic ride to Narkanda Luhri - Narkanda. What goes down, must go up! Almost 2000 metres in this case. After breakfast at our rest house, we set off on the long climb out of the Sutlej Valley. Once again, there is the option for anyone who doesn t fancy the climb to use the support vehicle for all or a part of the day s ride. But, for those that do fancy a challenge, the order of the day is steady away. The road meanders amongst the trees and gains height gradually. We will take a break every hour or so to give the bikers the chance to regroup, take a drink and a bite to eat. The magnificence of the scenery will take some of the sting out of the day s exertions and will certainly give us plenty of excuse for stopping to take photographs. Our overnight guesthouse accommodation is at Narkanda (2708m) on the ridge-top and has great views of the Pir Panjal and perhaps even of peaks further north in Tibet s Ngari Province. Time: 6-7 hrs cycling Distance: 37km Ascent: 1850m / Descent: 40m Overnight - Narkanda (B, L, D) Day 11 : Final ride to Shimla Narkanda - Shimla. The big climbs are behind us now and we are left with a delightful, high-level ride through Himalayan foothills to Shimla. The road twists and turns, contouring around ridges and we find ourselves generally free-wheeling. Mixed forest of pine and oak covers most of the valley sides and we have occasional glimpses westwards into the Sutlej Valley, far below us. After several stops, including a lunch stop in a village en route, we cross a final low crest and drop down into the widespread settlement of Shimla (2400m), another former British Raj hillstation. We have time to look around in the evening and to walk along the pedestrian main street, known as the Mall. Time: 4-6 hrs cycling Distance: 64km Ascent: 530m / Descent: 1100m Overnight - Shimla (B, L, D) -3-

4 Day 12 : Free time in Shimla Day 14 : Delhi Travel Insurance Services end after breakfast at the hotel today. It is a condition of joining any of our holidays Airport transfers are provided for all clients departing on this day. (B) that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks including repatriation costs. We advise you to arrange insurance at the earliest opportunity including cancellation cover to protect your deposit and any other payments should you subsequently need to cancel your holiday. You will need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration which we will send to you. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover all of our Active Tours. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing holidays. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. We recommend the "Travelex Select " package for our holidays. For residents of any other countries, please carefully select a comprehensive insurance policy which covers you for all of the activities on your tour. As with all travel insurance policies, it s advisable to pay close attention to the limits of cover for all sections, particularly medical cover, before purchasing the policy. Also please ensure that your policy covers you for cycling up to the maximum altitude you will reach on the holiday. Our partners Shimla - Delhi. Once the summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla is nowadays the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and sometimes referred to as the Queen of the Hills. Built on a series of interconnecting ridges, its houses are strewn across the hillsides in a riot of coloured roofs. Parts of the old town have a faded charm that dates back to the late 19th century. We have most of the day in Shimla, then in the early evening take the narrow gauge railway to Kalka, where the mountains meet the north Indian plains. One of the world s great train journeys, this exciting 100 kilometre run meanders through forest and foothills and has more than 100 tunnels. At Kalka, we connect with the overnight sleeper train to Delhi. Overnight - Sleeper train (B, L, D) Day 13 : Delhi We arrive in Delhi in the morning and transfer to the group hotel in time for lunch. The afternoon is free for independent exploration or for relaxing at the hotel. There is a lot to see, both in Old Delhi and in New Delhi, which are completely different in character to one another. The busy bazaars of Chandni Chowk and the Moghul Red Fort are highlights. We have a celebratory evening meal and overnight at the group hotel. Overnight - Delhi (B, L, D) Please note that this tour is operated by KE Adventure Travel. Travellers on your trip will have made their reservation with KE Adventure Travel or On The Go Tours. Group Size & Holiday Status For this trip there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. It is essential that you DO NOT book flights until we have advised you that the trip is guaranteed to run. Once the minimum number is reached, the departure date will have a 'G' next to it on our website. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Is this holiday for you? ADVENTURE CYCLING. This is a reasonably challenging Adventure Cycling holiday with 10 days of cycling, averaging 45 kilometres each day. On the toughest day to Narkanda, there is a total of approximately 1800 metres of ascent. However, an average day will involve around 800 metres of ascent. This is not intended to be a tough ride, but this is the Himalaya and the terrain is best described as undulating, with some long, steady climbs and equally long downhill blasts. The altitudes we encounter should not cause us any problems and the support vehicle is always available. Your choice of tyres for this holiday will depend on your experience and preference. Semi-slick tyres with good tread on the edges for cornering work well for experienced riders on the country roads and long sections of unsurfaced roads that we encounter at the higher points of the trip. However, some riders may feel more comfortable with knobbly, crosscountry tyres and these are the tyres fitted to the locally available Merida hire bikes. BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE LOCALLY. Joining Arrangements & Transfers Transfers from Amritsar Airport to the group hotel in Amritsar are provided on Day 1. At the end of the holiday, on the final day, transfers are provided from the hotel in Delhi to Delhi Airport. Food All meals are provided. Breakfasts are provided at our overnight accommodation and are always plentiful, you can keep asking for more. Lunches are generally taken at a roadside cafe or hotel restaurant and we may occasionally have a picnic in a scenic spot, provided by our local staff. Dinners are generally eaten in the hotel restaurant and you can expect to be presented with a choice of dishes. Food in India is great, especially if you are prepared to sample some of the local, spicy dishes. Western style food -4-

5 is usually an option and vegetarians are well catered for. Dietary Requirements Please note that whilst we routinely cater for vegetarians, we cannot guarantee to provide for special diets. If you do have specific dietary requirements or allergies, please be sure to tell us in advance, and discuss this with your tour leader on arrival and liaise with them during the trip. Please note that we cannot provide separate menus for different diets and we cannot accept any liability for any problems arising from specific dietary needs. Accommodation Throughout this holiday, we will stay in a mix of hotel and lodge accommodation. Mostly, the accommodation is arranged on a twin sharing basis and if you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. A couple of our overnight stops are at simple government rest houses, which usually represent the best standard of accommodation in the area. Here, more than 2 people may share a room. There is also one night on the Kalka to Delhi sleeper train, where up to 4 people will share a compartment in bunks. Solo travellers will be share a room with another traveller of the same sex. If you would prefer the privacy of your own room you can opt to pay a single supplement. Single rooms are available every night except for the night on sleeper train. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be accompanied by a professional, English-speaking Indian biking leader. Large groups may have a second biking leader. There will also be one or more support vehicle drivers and a mechanic. Spending Money Approximately GBP 150 (in local currency) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses, including local staff tips (allow approximately GBP 50) and soft drinks, etc. (allow approximately GBP 40). There are several opportunities to buy souvenirs on this trip. It is not necessary to purchase local currency (Indian Rupees) before you travel. Sterling, US dollars and Euros are readily exchanged in Amritsar. Since you will be changing the majority of your spending money into local currency on the day of arrival, we recommend taking this in cash. Credit and debit cards can be used in some places and are particularly useful for more expensive souvenirs. It is possible to withdraw cash (rupees only) from cash machines in Amritsar and some of the other towns and cities that we visit. Guidance on Tipping Tipping is an accepted and expected part of Indian culture, although you should only tip for services which are well done. The total amount that you can expect to pay in tips for your local guide, drivers and other crew is approximately GBP 50 (payable in local currency). It is usually best to do this as a group at the end of the holiday, rather than individually, with one group member acting as the group spokesperson. Further information and guidelines for tipping will be provided with our acknowledgement of your booking. Baggage Allowance Taking a bike on an aircraft is usually straightforward. Different airlines have differing policies with regard to baggage allowances and transporting bikes. We advise you to visit the website of your chosen airline and check out their baggage allowances before purchasing your air ticket. Take account of the weight and dimensions of your intended check-in baggage in advance of your arrival at the airport, since airlines can charge for both excess and oversize baggage, or refuse to carry oversized baggage. If you are using a domestic flight to connect with your International flight then it is likely that a different baggage policy will exist for the domestic and international flight sections. Any additional charges incurred for transporting your bike on any of the flights required for this adventure are the responsibility of each individual client. Your Bike We recommend semi-slick tyres for this trip. Your bike must be at least a mid level Mountain Bike such as a Specialized Rockhopper or Trek Please call us if you are unsure about the suitability of your current bike. Front suspension is essential and comes as standard on the vast majority of modern mountain bikes. Many of the roads and tracks we follow are only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles, and in many places not even these. We cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring that your bike is in perfect working condition before you start this trip. You are depending on your bike to transport you throughout your holiday, across demanding terrain. It is VITAL to ensure it is THOROUGHLY SERVICED to guarantee it is in good mechanical order before departure. If you are not mechanically minded, get your local bicycle dealer to service it for you. For home mechanics, points to note particularly are: a) Check rims and if they are worn, cracked or dented replace with a new rim or wheel to avoid wheel failure. It is especially important to check that the rims on rim-braked bikes are not worn concave by the brake blocks - replace them if they are. b) Check wheels are true and spoke tension is tight. c) Check ALL bearings and quick release skewers, adjust / grease bearings as required. d) Check and, if required, replace brake and gear cables. e) Check brake discs, brake pads, calliper mounts and cables / hydraulic lines - replace if necessary. f) Check, lube / threadlock (as required) and tighten all bolts to specified torque settings (esp. suspension pivots, bottom brackets, disc rotor bolts & disk mount bolts). g) Check chain, cassette and chain rings for wear - replace as necessary. h) Make sure you have the right tyres, inner tubes and BIKE SPECIFIC SPARES for your bike. Whilst not essential, it is a good idea that you familiarise yourself with how to carry out at least some basic repairs to your bike e.g. fixing a puncture and changing an inner tube. Naturally, our bike guides will always be happy to assist with any repairs. However, due to the oftenremote nature of our trips, being able to carry -5-

6 out a simple repair can save time and the inconvenience of waiting for assistance. Travelling With your Bike Travelling with a bike is usually as straightforward as travelling with any other type of baggage, providing you have packed it adequately. We have many years experience of travelling with our bikes, and nowadays we think that the best way to travel and fly with a bike is to partially dismantle it and put it into a purpose made soft bike bag. Although more expensive than a cardboard bike box, they are smaller in size to transport and are considerably easier to handle. To pack your bike you simply remove both wheels and pedals and prepare it for travel as follows. Obviously, extra care when packing your bike can minimise the chances of accidental damage occurring in transit. Ask your local bike store for plastic wheel hub protectors (which will prevent damage to your bike bag) and plastic fork and frame spacers, insert the spacers into the dropouts, tape them in place and then put extra padding over this area. Use pipe insulation lagging (from your local DIY store) to cover frame tubes, forks and seat post. If required, remove your bars from the stem and attach them carefully to your frame/forks using plastic ties or pvc tape -ensure that your Ergo/Sti levers are well padded to minimise the chance of damage. You may also wish to remove your rear gear mech, pad it with foam and tape it to the chainstay out of harm's way. Finally, you should partly deflate your tyres, but leave some air in them to help absorb any impact on the wheels. Don t forget to pack wheel skewers, pedals and any bolts you have removed, these are the items that tend to get left behind. Finally, find an old cardboard bike box and cut out panels to fit inside your soft bike bag for extra protection. Don t forget to bring sufficient packing materials to pack your bike on the way home. PLEASE DO NOT USE a purpose-made rigid bike box -these are heavy (which can put you over your baggage allowance) and are also too bulky to be easily stored or transported on the group s support vehicle. Vehicle Support Throughout this trip we have the back up of one or more support vehicles. Each morning our main baggage will be loaded onto the support vehicle which will follow the group on the day's ride. The local biking leader and the support vehicle driver will watch over the group and will carry mobile phones, allowing you to contact them in the case of a breakdown or other incident. We want everyone to enjoy their cycling experience on this trip and we recognise the importance of group members being allowed to cycle at their own pace. On most of our biking holidays it is usual that there can be a fair distance between the front and rear cyclists in the group and there may be times when other group members, vehicle support and biking leader are out of sight. However, our regular stops mean that it's never long before we regroup. The support vehicle will pick up any group members who wish to take a break from cycling at any time. Bike Hire One option is that you take your own bike on this holiday. After all, it is the bike you know best. However, you can also hire a bike locally. Our local agent has a range of Merida (Matts 40 and Matts 20 hardtails). These bikes generally have Shimano Acera and Altus components. They have Tektro Disc Brakes, 100mm front suspension and 26 inch diameter wheels. They are available in a range of frame sizes - from 13 to 21 inches. Bikes can be reserved, subject to availability, at a cost of GBP 120 (approx USD $150) for the duration of the holiday. This cost will be paid locally and does not cover you if you lose the bike or damage it beyond 'fair wear and tear'. Please note that the price is subject to change. Contact us if you want us to reserve a bike for you. Your hire contract will be with our local agent and we cannot be held responsible for any issues arising from bike hire. If you do hire a bike, we recommend that you take your own shoes, pedals and possibly even your saddle, which will go a long way towards making it feel like your own bike. You must also take your bike helmet, which you will wear whenever you are biking. One final issue with regard to the hire bikes is that they are fitted with regular knobbly tyres. Experienced riders may prefer to ride on fastrolling, semi-slick tyres (the majority of this route is on tarmac). If so, you will need to take a pair with you. These can be fitted to your hire bike before the first day s ride. Altitude This holiday involves going to moderately high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 2500 metres. Most people will have no difficulty with this level of altitude but before coming on the holiday, we recommend you read the advice on trekking/ cycling at high altitude and familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and that you report any illness to your trip leader straight away. For further reading on the above issues we recommend the following websites: altitude_sickness.php diamox.shtml Equipment List The following is a basic checklist to help you with your packing. We recommend using the layering principle of clothing for predominantly warm climatic conditions during the day. Good padded cycling shorts are essential. Your bike MUST be at least a mid level Mountain Bike such as a Specialized Rockhopper or Trek Front suspension is essential. It is vital that your bike is THOROUGHLY SERVICED and in perfect working condition before the trip. PERSONAL CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES Stiff-soled cycling shoes or SPD s Base-layer - short sleeve cycling top (x 1) Mid-layer - long sleeved cycling top (x 1) Outer layer - lightweight waterproof jacket Fleece jacket or jumper Regular biking gloves Padded cycling shorts (x 2) Baggy overshorts for modesty Biking glasses Cycling helmet - mandatory -6-

7 Travel and apres biking clothes Trainers/Leisure shoes for apres biking Wash bag, towel, toiletries, including antibacterial handwash Small padlock (to lock trek bag) Swimwear Headtorch and spare batteries Sheet sleeping bag liner (silk ones are lightest) DAYPACK AND CONTENTS Cycling daypack (e.g. Camelbak) of at least litres total capacity is recommended Water bladder - min. 2 litres Lightweight waterproof top Multi-tool Puncture repair kit Inner tube Pump Camera Sun cream Lightweight loose trousers to wear for modesty in villages Basic First Aid Kit. Including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). PERSONAL TOOLS AND SPARES Note: If you are hiring a bike, you do not need to bring any spares. Although it is still a good idea to take a couple of 26 x 2 inch inner tubes with Presta valves. You should bring the following with you as a minimum. Whilst not essential, it is a good idea that you familiarise yourself with how to carry out at least some basic repairs e.g. fixing a puncture, changing an inner tube. Naturally the bike guide will always be happy to assist with any repairs, but due to the often remote nature of our trips, being able to carry out a simple repair can save time and inconvenience waiting for assistance. Tyres - for this trip you will need: 1.9 to 2.2 inch tyres (knobbly or semi-slick according to your preference) suitable for mostly dry tarmac/dirt road conditions. Pump Plastic tyre levers Spoke key 2 x inner tubes Liquid chain lube (bottle not aerosol) Multi-tool with Allen keys Chain link extractor (if not on multi-tool) 2x puncture repair kits A rag and brush for cleaning bike and drive train Spare chain links Spares specific to your bike if applicable (e.g. disc brake bleed kits, shock pumps etc) TOOLS AND SPARES On all of our trips we carry a toolkit and a basic range of spares for emergencies. As bikes become increasingly part specific it is impossible to carry a comprehensive range of spares compatible with all makes and models of bike. ENERGY GELS/SPORTS DRINKS/POWER BARS Our back up vehicle will carry ample supplies of water, snacks and lunches but if you like a particular energy gel, sports drink or power bar we suggest you bring a selection of your preferred choice along. Visas All foreign nationals must obtain a visa for a visit to India and it is essential the visa be procured prior to travel. If you're a resident of the UK and would like someone to handle your visa application for you then we recommend CIBTvisas. Please visit for more details on how to start your visa application with them. Visa requirements are subject to change and that visa procurement prior to departure is solely the responsibility of the traveller and not of On The Go Tours. Please also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of return from India. Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumpsrubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remote low lying areas then they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. Currency The currency of India is the Indian Rupee. UK, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and USA passport holders are able to take advantage of India's online visa service (subject to eligibility). Information about the e-tourist Visa (etv) process can be found at: indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html The online application should be submitted a minimum of 4 working days and a maximum of 30 days in advance of proposed date of arrival. Entry to India must be within 30 days of the etv approval date and the visa is valid for 30 days from arrival. Please visit the website noted above for more info. The e-tourist Visas are 30 day, single entry visas. You cannot obtain an e-tourist Visa if you plan to stay in India for more than 30 days or if you require a multiple entry visa. A six month multiple entry visa can be obtained from the embassy in advance of travel. Pound Sterling, US Dollars or other major currencies can be exchanged only in India, as the Rupee is presently exchangeable only in destination. The Rupee is non-exportable, so spend it all before you leave! Exchange facilities are available at major airports and bureau de changes and to a lesser degree, ATMs/cash machines exist in larger towns. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Time & Voltage India is 5 hours 30 mins ahead of GMT. -7-

8 Standard voltage is V (usually 240V). Pack a universal travel adaptor that will allow you to use a hairdryer, electric shaver, charge a mobile phone and other electrical items. Take care with your choice of adaptor. Be sure that it is suitable for India, as Indian sockets accept round 3 pin plugs that are similar but not identical to European plugs. Preparing For Your Trip The better conditioned you are the more you will enjoy your trip. We suggest that you adopt a sensible weekly exercise regime and fit in a number of long cycle rides in hilly country to ensure you are physically capable of taking part in this trip - this will also provide you with an opportunity to make sure all your riding kit is tried and tested before you travel. Cycling is obviously the best activity to prepare for this trip, however, running, squash and swimming are also good for developing aerobic fitness and stamina. Climate We run this holiday either side of the summer monsoon season. Weather conditions should be broadly similar in the pre and post monsoon seasons, with daytime maximum temperatures of between 25 and 30 degrees Centigrade at the lowest points on our journey, becoming progressively cooler as we gain height. Nighttime temperatures at our highest overnight stops (Narkanda and Shimla) can drop to 10 degrees Centigrade. During the pre-monsoon departure, we may get quite close to the snowline on the highest points of our route. In this part of the world, most of the rainfall occurs during the monsoon months of July to September - but this is a mountainous area and short-lived storms cannot be ruled out at any time of the year. -8-