The “Adventure” in Adventure Rider can mean different things to different people. An adventure for some is checking out an unknown backroad in their county, or an unmarked trail on the other side of the state. For others, it might mean days of highway riding to a forest retreat, or crossing several European borders.
Does a real adventure involve a flight across an ocean? Should an adventure require learning a few words of a different language? If one is looking for a true adventure, a motorcycle trip of a lifetime, the sort of journey that is described to friends and relatives and grandchildren for years to come, then surely the top of the world is the destination. What more exotic, rugged, beautiful place on earth exists than the Himalayas? Elevation Riders has arrived to make this adventure a reality.
Note: Elevation Riders is giving a 10% discount to forum members who book a trip by May 31, 2025!
Elevation Riders was born in Texas in 2024, but has solid roots in India. Founder Udayan Joshi is originally from Assam, India, but has lived in Texas for almost 20 years. Founder Alex Vassilakidis is a native Texan but has seen the world, and found a new frontier in the Himalayas where you can actually travel part of the ancient Silk Road route that linked China to the west. They have combined their experiences and expertise to provide travelers from around the world the opportunity to safely enjoy the Indian Himalayan region that they love so much, in a manner that respects the local culture and environment, and yet allows riders to immerse themselves in it.
Picture, if you will, 11 days in the Ladakh region of northern India, traversing breathtaking high passes, crystal lakes, snow-capped mountains, and high-altitude plains. Visit remote villages, monasteries, local markets, religious and historic sites, and cultural landmarks. Stay in a combination of comfortable lodges and camps with a blend of local culture and modern amenities, and dine on regional cuisine. Packages include a riding guide with local knowledge of the history, terrain, and traditions, a support and luggage van and driver, and a trip leader, all there so that you can concentrate on the ride and the scenery, not the logistics.
Elevation Riders provides the aptly-named Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 to ride, a rugged single-cylinder adventure bike built in India by an Indian company. Riders will need a motorcycle license, and the current tours that are available are rated as moderate to difficult, so they are not beginner friendly. That said, Elevation Riders provides a session of training at the Ladakh Enduro Park to get riders up to speed before heading out into the mountains. The first day is also spent resting and acclimatizing to the high altitude. The home base in the city of Leh is at 12,500 feet of elevation and the average elevation of the tour itineraries is 14,000 feet with the highest point coming during the Um-lingla pass at a whopping 19,000 feet.
Elevation Riders offers 10- and 11-day packages centered around Tsomoriri Lake, Kargil, and Hanle. Each of these high-altitude regions of the Ladakh territory of India, one of the most sparsely populated areas of the country, offers unique landscapes and opportunities. The tour season runs from May 1 through September 30.
Highlights of the Tsomoriri Tour include Magnetic Hill, the Sangam Confluence of the Zanskar and Indus Rivers, the Alchi Monastery, and the legendary Khardung La Pass, one of the highest motorable roads in the world. And, of course, Tsomoriri Lake, a remote and lesser-visited gem of Ladakh.
The Kargil Tour includes visits to the Shey, Thiksey, and Hemis Monasteries, offering a glimpse into Ladakh’s Buddhist heritage. This tour also includes Magnetic Hill, the Sangam Confluence, and Alchi Monastery, as well as the Gonbo Rangjon, a sacred mountain in Zanskar, Muney Monastery and Purne Village.
The Hanle Tour also visits the Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery, and Hemis Monastery, and adds the Khardung La Pass, gateway to the Nubra Valley, a desert landscape surrounded by mountains. From there, the tour visits Pangong Lake and the Shayok Valley, Tsoltak Lake and Changla Pass, and Umlingla, the highest motorable road in the world.
For Elevation Riders, the goal is a bespoke, custom, safe experience, with an acute attention to detail that allows riders to enjoy the ride, and bask in the downtime. The group sizes are purposely small, eight to ten riders, to maximize enjoyment and immersion.
Beyond holding a current motorcycle license, the only thing you need to handle is obtaining an entry visa to India and booking airfare. All other travel and logistics is handled by the Elevation Riders team.
A trip to India on its own would be an adventure enough, but doing it on a motorcycle to the highest, most remote areas of the region is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that requires the expertise and accountability that Elevation Riders provides. “Adventure”, you say? Visit www.elevationriders.com or reach out via email at info@elevationriders.com for more information or to book now. And make sure to let them know you are a forum member to save 10% on your trip with Elevation Riders!
NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with Elevation Riders
