TRAVEL DIFFICULTY: HIGH

Transcription

1 Transcontinental 36days 5000 km India > Myanmar > Thailand > Laos November 27 - December 31, 2015 Laos > Thailand > Myanmar > India January 3 - February 7, 2016 Program HIGHLIGHTS o Be one of the first riders to cross Myanmar on a motorcycle! o Ride with world traveller, Jay Kannaiyan as your expedition leader o Discover the charm of riding a Royal Enfield on a transcontinental trip across 4 countries o Explore the ancient temples of Bagan in Myanmar and the mysterious Plain of Jars in Laos o Be lost in the wildernesses of northern Thailand and Laos o Feel like an explorer from the old world when visiting remote tribes TRAVEL DIFFICULTY: HIGH For physically fit riders, who have extensive experience of long duration riding. We will be on good asphalt roads for more than 50% of the ride but the high number of riding days requires riders to be physically fit and well-trained in endurance. We will ride some good off-road tracks in Myanmar and Laos and there will be some bad pot-holed roads also. Elevation will not be a problem but changing temperature from hot to cold will be challenging and high levels of humidity can be expected as we are riding close to the Equator. ROYAL ENFIELD 500CC Divided between India and Mongolia, our fleet consists of 16 Machismos 500cc (2010 models) and 19 Royal Enfield Classics 500cc (purchased in 2012 and 2013). The bikes have a European style gear shifting system (leftside, first gear down) to ensure the comfort and safety of our riders. The Machismos are also equipped with a tailor made 21L tank, which is very helpful for longer-distance trips. P a g e 1.

2 LOGISTICS & ORGANISATION For this special expedition, your tour leader will be Jay Kannaiyan, a world traveller who has ridden across 5 continents. He is very experienced in crossborder motorcycle journeys and will ensure the adventure is conducted in a safe and professional manner. Your tour leader is in charge of coordinating the support team (mechanic, driver, local agents) and makes sure that the group travels safely. He will also handle all cross-border formalities. To ensure a safe and exciting adventure, there will be only 6 riders (plus any pillions) along with the tour leader, making for a total of 7 motorcycles. There is limited space in the support vehicle so pillions will need to ride on their pilot's bike. The entourage comprises of the tour leader and a mechanic who will ride in the support vehicle that will also carry your luggage and tools and spares for the motorcycles. In each country, we will have a local guide accompanying us. The expedition will be from India to SE Asia, with the riding starting in Guwahati in the state of Assam in Northeast India and ending 36 days later in Vientiane, Laos, after journeying overland through Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. A domestic flight from New Delhi to Guwahati is included in the trip price, however flights to New Delhi and from Vientiane are not included. P a g e 2

3 AT A GLANCE Are you ready for a real adventure? This 5,000 km, 36day, transcontinental journey on a Royal Enfield Standard 500cc will be the trip of a lifetime as this will be the first time for a motorcycle tour expedition to cross all of Myanmar from India to Laos! Myanmar, previously known as Burma, has recently awakened from its long slumber under military rule and the country is safe and stable and ready to welcome visitors to its untouched wildernesses and enigmatic cultural sites. Only a few daring travellers have visited Myanmar so far and even fewer on a motorcycle but so far, besides us, no one has done a motorcycle ride across the whole of Myanmar. Be one of the first and be a part of history. We will begin the trip in Northeast India, which is not like the rest of India and is more similar to the countries and cultures ahead on the trip. Once we cross into Myanmar, we will be riding from the northwest across the middle and exiting in the east. We will experience sunrises across a field of temples, interact with tribes who have rarely seen a foreign face and cruise on sublime lakes, far, far away from civilization. There's also a special stone called Golden Rock that is balancing on the edge of a cliff, which now is a holy Buddhist site. After nearly two weeks in Myanmar, we will cut across Northern Thailand, which is very different from the beach culture of the south. We will ride through thick forests on small, twisting roads and experience an uncommon Thailand. After seven days, we will cross into the next exciting destination of this expedition, Laos! Once a French protectorate, this socialist republic is slowly opening up to travellers. Besides a few backpackers, not too many people have discovered this beautiful country, yet. The landscape is stunning with prominent hills and thick jungles criss-crossed with rivers. We will ride across the Northern Laos and then take in the remote central region of the country before riding along the Mekong River into the capital city of Vientiane where the journey ends. P a g e 3

4 EXPEDITION ITINERARY (can be modified depending on circumstances) INDIA Day 1: Arrival to Delhi Get picked up at Delhi International Airport and overnight in New Delhi Day 2: Delhi Guwahati Take a domestic flight from New Delhi airport and arrive at Guwahati airport where you will be picked up and transferred to our hotel for the night. There you will meet your tour leader and also the motorcycle you will ride on this expedition. Day 3 : Guwahati - Kaziranga National Park [195 Km] We begin the journey early in the morning and enjoy a new highway out of the city and get further into the heart of Northeast India, a very different land compared to the rest of the country. By afternoon, we arrive at Kaziranga National Park and overnight at Nature Hunt Eco Camp. Day 4 : Kaziranga to Kisama, Nagaland [175 Km] In the morning, we leave the bikes and go for an elephant safari into this rich national park for sightings of onehorned rhinos. It is quite a magical experience as the rhinos slowly appear out of the thick fog. From the national park, we start heading to the foothills that define the eastern boundary of India. We enter the state of Nagaland, which is famous for its head-hunting tribes, so best to keep you helmet on! Day 5 - Kisama, Nagaland We take a day off to enjoy the famous Hornbill Festival where all the various tribes of Nagaland and other northeastern states come together to show off their rich heritage. The locals are very friendly and the day is full of cultural shows so be ready with your cameras. P a g e 4

5 D 6 - Kisama to Imphal, Manipur [195 Km] From Kisama, we enjoy the twisting roads of the mountains and manage to thread our way through small mountains towns before coming to the last stop in India, Imphal, the state capital of Manipur. The people here will not look like the regular Indian people that you might know. They have more in common with the peoples of the countries will be passing through ahead on this journey. Day 6 - Kisama to Imphal, Manipur [195 Km] From Kisama, we enjoy the twisting roads of the mountains and manage to thread our way through small mountains towns before coming to the last stop in India, Imphal, the state capital of Manipur. The people here will not look like the regular Indian people that you might know. They have more in common with the peoples of the countries will be passing through ahead on this journey. MYANMAR Day 7 - Imphal, India to Kalay, Myanmar [235 Km] We leave Imphal early in the morning after a 100 km ride through twisting mountains, we arrive at the border of India and Myanmar. Only until recently has this land border been closed to all traffic. But in recent years, some daring adventurers have managed to enter Myanmar and today, you will be one of the first few people in the world to enter Myanmar on a motorcycle. After crossing over and meeting our Myanmar guide along with police escort, which is required for foreign vehicles, we will proceed on a good road to Kalay for our overnight. Day 8 - Kalay to Monywa [230 Km] We follow the Chindwin River south and enjoy some twisting roads. Let it soak in that you are riding a motorcycle through Myanmar! The road is very rough for about 80 km and construction is ongoing so it might be better than expected. We will getting lots of stares and friendly waves from the locals. Near the town of Monywa, we will visit the Po Win Taung Cave Temples and in town, there is the famous but relatively unknown, Bodhi Tataung, a 95 meters reclining Buddha statue in front of the second-tallest statue in the world, Laykyun Setkyar, again of Buddha and this one is 116 meters tall! Day 9 - Monywa to Mandalay [120 Km] If you didn t have enough time to spend with the giant Buddhas, you can visit them in the morning and then we ll be on the road to Mandalay, in the words of Rudyard Kipling. The name of this city, the second-largest in Myanmar evokes many nostalgic feelings as there is a lot of history tied to this place, first in terms of royal palaces, then in terms of British colonialism and now in terms of modern Myanmar. Day 10 - Mandalay A day off in this bustling city to first explore the various temples of Buddha and then take a tour around town. The Chinese have migrated and you can get some authentic Chinese food. Our guide will take us to his favorite restaurant and then you have the afternoon off to spend as you wish. P a g e 5

6 Day 11 - Mandalay to Bagan [180 Km] We leave the Mandalay and follow the Ayeyarwady River to one of the most enigmatic sites in the world, the ancient temple city of Bagan. Between the 9th and 13th centuries, this site was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Bagan, which first unified the regions that would later become Myanmar. During the kingdom s reign, they built over 4,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries and till today, over 2,200 of them survive all spread out on a vast plain, making for a tremendous sight, especially at sunset. Day 12 - Bagan If you re an early riser, the sunrise over the temples of Bagan is not to be missed with fog rising and slowly clearing as the sun warms up the land. We spend the day taking in the various pagodas around Bagan and after a tasty lunch of Burmese Food, we visit a Lacquerware workshop to witness how this age-old craft is done. For sunset, there is one pagoda from where we can get a magnificent view. The day is capped off with a dinner and puppet show, which is very entertaining. Day 13 - Bagan to Nyuang Shwe [325 Km] Today is a long ride as we cut across west to east of the country and pass through the towns of Meikhtila, Thazi and the cool mountain town of Kalaw. From there we descend into the valley and ride under colonial era treelined roads to reach the town of Nyuang Shwe on the northern edge of Inlay Lake. Day 14 - Nyaung Shwe We leave the bikes behind and get into traditional long boats for a sublime cruise on Inlay Lake and take in the vast number of birds that use Inle Lake as their breeding ground or migratory pit stop as the lake is a wildlife sanctuary. We will see fishermen using bamboo nets and the ingenious floating gardens where lake weed is used to grow vegetables using hydroponics. Sanctions or not, the people of Myanmar are very resilient. Day 15 - Nyang Shwe to Nay Pyi Taw [230 Km] We leave beautiful Inlay Lake behind and head to the new capital city of Myanmar, Nay Pyi Taw. This brand new city was only constructed in 2005 as the military government had many reasons to move the capital from Yangon. The streets are wide and the city will feel quite different to all the other places we have been to in Myanmar. There are lots of grand monuments and we ll take it all in from the Uppatasanti Pagoda. P a g e 6

7 Day 16 - Nay Pyi Taw to Yangon [340 Km] We leave the new capital city and head for the old capital of Yangon, also known as Rangoon. It s the longest riding day in Myanmar as there is no point of interest between the two cities so we ll just haul it out.. Motorcycles aren t allowed into the city center so we ll park up at our hotel and head into town for a visit of this commercial hub of Myanmar. Day 17 - Yangon A day off from the bikes to recover from the long day in the saddle. You are free to explore the city and in the afternoon, we ll head to the most important religious site in the country, the 98 m high gold-covered Shwedagon Pagoda. With candles lit all around its base and with the chanting of devotees, it makes for quite a spiritual experience. After that, we ll head down to 19th Street in old town for some good old barbeque and night life. Day 18 - Yangon to Kyaiktiyo [150 Km] From the bustling big city, we head east to one of the famous sites of Myanmar, that of Golden Rock. It is a stunning sight as there is a large boulder that sits on the edge of a cliff and looks like it might topple over at any moment but it has not. The local Buddhists say that a strand of hair from the Buddha himself is what is keeping the rock from falling over and so, there s a small stupa built on top of the boulder and it s covered in gold leaf, making for a very unusual sight. Day 19 - Kyaiktiyo to Hpa an [120 Km] We leave the busy tourist site of the Golden Rock and head further east to the small town of Hpa an on the Thanlyin River. There is no great stupa or tourist infrastructure in this small town and that makes for a perfect place to take a break and soak in the culture of the local people. There are some caves with Buddha images and even a real bat cave where at dusk all the bats leave the cave for their nightly feast. Day 20 - Hpa An to Mae Sot, Thailand [160 Km] Enjoy the last views of Myanmar and reflect on your past thirteen days in this country as we head to the border with Thailand at Myawaddy. We bid goodbye to our Myanmar guide and after crossing the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, we are in the 3rd country of our expedition! A short ride across the border leads to our hotel for the night. P a g e 7

8 THAILAND Day 21 - Mae Sot to Mae Sarieng [240 Km] From Mae Sot, we head north along the Myanmar border and pay a visit to the white marble temple in Mae Ramard. Then after a bit we come across the Mae Usu cave in Tha Song Yang. Along the way, we ll see some Myanmar hill tribe refugee villages. After lunch at a local restaurant we ride through the Mae Moei National Park, which has gorgeous views and a refreshing waterfall. The two-lane narrow road is twisting and very bendy as we get to the valley town of Mae Sarieng. The sleepy little town is slowly becoming popular for its lush surroundings and connection to the rural life. Day 22 - Mae Sarieng to Mae Hong Son [95 Km] We leave the small town of Mae Sarieng and continue on excellent roads twisting up and down through the mountains. Traffic will be sparse and the jungle will feel close. By afternoon, we arrive in Mae Hong Son, far away from the bustle of Thailand as you know it. Day 23 - Mae Hong Son Take a day off the bikes and explore the hilltribe villages of Mae Hong Son. We ll head for a small hike into the jungle where we can meet with villagers and take part in their village life. Get your camera ready for the sights are perfect for photographers. Day 24 - Mae Hong Son to Pai [146 Km] We continue riding fantastic roads and loop around towards the east. The ride can be chilly at times but the views are nonetheless stunning. After a few hours we arrive at Pai, a small town with a charm of its own. Day 25 - Pai to Chiang Dao [150 Km] From Pai, we down towards Chiang Mai but turn off towards Chiang Dao, a truly beautiful spot under some dramatic mountains. The short day s ride means that you will have time for a little hike to the peak to watch a fantastic sunset before coming back for a lovely cottage stay. P a g e 8

9 Day 26 - Chiang Dao to Chiang Rai [194 Km] We continue riding into northeast Thailand and hit some of the best riding roads that Thailand has to offer. This is the famous Golden Triangle area of Thailand where the mountains produce some excellent riding. Get ready to slide your butt off the seat into the corners and feel the torque of the Royal Enfield Bullet as you climb up sharp turns. It will get chilly at the pass but hang on as we descent back down. At Chiang Rai, we ll have time to visit a strange monument known as the White Temple where one artist had the creative freedom to design a temple as he saw fit. Day 27 - Chiang Rai to Luang Namtha, Laos [280 Km] We take the back roads out of Chiang Rai and head for the border with Laos. After a leisurely ride along a fourlane highway, we reach the brand new border crossing, which is very efficient but has many strict requirements. Patience is best when dealing with government officials. Once we cross over into Laos, a local guide will join us on our way to Luang Namtha. But before that, there is some of the best banked motorcycle road to enjoy. You might be sick of twisting corners at the end of it. LAOS Welcome to Laos, the hidden gem of South East Asia. This land-locked, socialist country is still not on the agenda on most travellers but it is quickly gaining popularity for its break-taking views and laid-back lifestyle. The country s official name is Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, shortened to Lao PDR and people who live there says it actually stands for Lao Please Don t Rush. So with that attitude, let s explore this mountainous and lush country. Day 28 - Luang Namtha to Nong Khiaw [225 Km] We leave the small town of Luang Namtha and head for the picturesque river town of Nong Khiaw. The road is covered in potholes, making for a tough journey but the surrounding views should make up for that. Tonight we ll be having a homestay in the hill tribe village of Tai Leu, which is known for its traditional cotton weaving. Each house has its own weaving loom from where families create beautiful scarves, tablecloths, and ornate wall hangings. The art of cotton weaving here has been passed from generation to generation for almost 300 years. P a g e 9

10 Day 29 - Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang [140 Km] We start heading south along some fun dirt roads and twisting asphalt roads. As with the rest of Laos, the scenery is breathtakingly spectacular. We ll cross the Mekong River by a small ferry and visit the historic and religious Pak Ou caves that are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. From there, we pay a quick visit to the village of Ban Xanghai, where they distill local rice wine. A short ride from there and we arrive at our destination for the next two nights, the charming city of Luang Prabang. Day 30 - Luang Prabang A day off the bikes to explore probably the most charming city in South East Asia. Luang Prabang exudes a lot of character and has been compared with the likes of Venice, Santorini and Cuzco. Once the capital of Laos and still considered to be its spiritual heart as it breathes a rich mix of French Indochinese architecture, Theravada Buddhist temples and a magical atmosphere. Luang Prabang is strikingly situated on a peninsula formed by the confluence of two rivers, the Mekong and the Khan. Its palm-lined riverbanks, terracotta roofs, golden stupas and saffron-robed monks all come together to form a picture postcard increasingly difficult to find in Southeast Asia. Somnambulant and languid, its peaceful feel masks a history of conquest and recapture, and only hints at the intricate culture and traditional rituals that still take place here every day. A popular pastime is simply lounging in a quiet cafe with a baguette and coffee (the real kind, not instant) and watching local life pass by. After lunch we can take a ride out to visit the stunningly beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls and even take a dip in the refreshing turquoise water. You will also have the opportunity to see and learn about the endangered Asian Bears at the Free the Bear sanctuary. We will return to climb the Phosi Hill and take in a spectacular sunset and finish the evening by visiting the Night Market. Day 31 - Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng [185 Km] If you wake up early enough, you can watch the saffron clad monks as they collect their alms before we head out of Luang Prabang. We will ride out along the Mekong River on a pleasant windy dirt road that has a few small river crossings. The road passes through different rural villages giving us the opportunity to see how the rural Lao people live. The landscapes are stunning with the road passing through teak tree plantations and farmlands. From Man Nang we will ride on one of the most spectacular paved roads and over one of the most scenic mountain passes in Laos before reaching Vang Vieng. P a g e 10

11 Day 32 - Vang Vieng Like a rural scene from an Oriental Silk Painting, Vang Vieng crouches low over the Nam Song River with a backdrop of serene cliffs and a tapestry of vivid green paddy fields. A ride out to the beautiful Blue Lagoon and a sunset cruise up the river on one of the many two seater motorised river boats is a must. Day 33 - Vang Vieng to Phonsavan [230 Km] From Vang Vieng, we ride out on twisting mountain roads through Laos' stunning landscape and head for Phonsavan, whose name means "hills of paradise" and how true that is as the countryside is filled with green hills and pine forests. The small town has more of a frontier feel and the local Hmong people are active cowboys, even wearing cowboy hats as they tend to their cattle. Nearby the town is the mysterious Plain of Jars where there are hundreds of large jars carved out of rock spread over the landscape. They have been dated to the Iron Age, around 500 BC and their purpose is slowly being revealed. Archaeologists think they were used in burial practices but no one really knows. Maybe you can help solve the mystery... Day 34 - Phonsavan to Pakxan [210 Km] We head south from Phonsavan and ride on even more spectacular winding roads down to the Mekong River and our overnight at Pakxan. The town is not much of a destination but it gives us the chance to reflect on this epic journey that is nearing its end. Get a good night s rest for the last day of the trip coming up. Day 35 - Paksan to Vientiane [140 Km] From Paksan, we ride on the home stretch to the capital of Laos, Vientiane. The road might be crowded as it will feel like everyone in Laos is driving to Vientiane. We arrive in the city and finish with a grand finale at the Patuxai, Victory Gate, that resembles the Arc de Triomphe. From there, enjoy one last sunset over the Mekong as you reflect on the amazing journey you have just completed. Congratulations! Day 36 - Vientiane Explore the most chilled out capital city of South East Asia and then head to the airport for your connection home. THE END P a g e 11

12 PRICES & SERVICES* Fixed departures 27/11/ /12/2015 India to Laos, via Myanmar and Thailand 03/01/ /02/2016 Laos to India via Thailand and Myanmar (reverse of the above itinerary Price per rider = $ Price per passenger = $ *This tour requires a minimum of 6 riders. To pre-book, 1000 USD will be asked. The tour s registration shall close by the end of April * prices applicable for all bookings made before 30 th April PRICES INCLUDE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE A Royal Enfield 500cc motorcycle is provided with full mechanical assistance and all spare parts An English speaking Tour Leader for the whole journey Fuel expenses for the entire trip An expert mechanic of Royal Enfield motorcycles A support vehicle with driver to carry luggage Lodging in standard to luxury hotels, in double bed rooms on a twin-sharing basis (Single supplement extra) Domestic Flight (Delhi to Guwahati) Meals: Half board Third party motorcycle insurance Fees for entering all mentioned tourist sites in the program Border formalities and paperwork Compulsory medical insurance covering repatriation International Flights and airport taxes Visa fees A refundable security deposit of $500 for the motorcycle to cover damages Meals that are not included in the program Personal expenses Alcohol Tips P a g e 12

13 Expedition checklist Having the appropriate gear makes for a successful journey. And remember to pack light! LUGGAGE : 1 duffle bag (stay under 20 kg, will be in support vehicle) 1 small backpack for hydration pack and day-use items (camera, sunscreen, etc.) PERSONAL GEAR : 2 light cargo pants/jeans 4 shirts/tops (including some long sleeves for sun protection) 1 warm sweater or thick jacket (for the cold evenings) 1 or 2 thin base layers 1 neck gaiter or woolen cap MOTORCYCLE GEAR : Full-face helmet Motorcycle jacket and pants Motorcycle boots Motorcycle gloves Lightweight rain suit MISCELLANEAOUS GEAR Sunblock Lip balm 2 pair light wool socks 1 microfiber travel towel Sunglasses Sun hat/boonie 1 pair sneakers or sandals (like Keens) Tylenol (panadol/paracetamol) Immodium (loperamide, anti-diarrheal) Granola bars Hydration pack (camelbak) or water bottle DOCUMENTS Passport Drivers License Medical Insurance Coverage with Repatriation ATM card (preferably Visa) US Dollars ($500 to cover refundable security deposit and maximum $1000 extra to cover personal expenses, new bills, dated 2006 and later) ELECTRICALS Plug adapter (2 round pin, Euro style, 230V) Camera, SD cards, etc. SIM card (prepaid can be bought on arrival) VACCINATIONS Tetanus Hepatitis A Typhoid Need more informations? The Vintage Rides team is at your entire disposal: contact@vintagerides.com P a g e 13