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How do you operate your Tours?

Some answers to questions you may have about our Royal Enfield Road Tours in India. If your Question is not answered here, please use the Email Form in Contact US and ask your question.

• How far do we ride each day?

  Distances vary from ride to ride and from day to day. We always try to avoid long 'first days', though quite quickly we might be covering 250kms in a day. On days when we ride shorter distances we either use the gained time for local touring or we start later and enjoy a more leisurely day's ride. 

  Typically distances are between 150kms to 250kms per day. Mountain rides are often shorter in distance for the same number of hours riding. Riding after sunset is unwise over most of India and we will always try to be at our night stop before sundown.

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• Will we be riding together as a group?

  All our tours are lead by a Road Captain. Until we are familiar with everyone's riding style we ask that you don't ride off into the sunset. We ask that try and stay close to the Road Captain, it helps to prevent anybody getting lost. At the back of a group will ride one or two Outriders ensuring that riders at the back of a group are not left behind or miss turnings.

  Sometimes on rest days small groups go for local rides, as long as we we know where you are going and when you will return. This is always for your own safety and well being.

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• Do we ride fast?

  Of course at times we all ride fast, but fast is a relative measure and travelling fast on what appears to be an open road can be very dangerous.

  People, cows, rickshaws, trucks buses in fact almost anything is likely to join the highway without ever looking.

  Mountain roads are often hours and hours of blind bends, we have to ride slowly, accurately and carefully at all times.

  Typically on decent surafces and with clear conditions we cruise at 80kms per hour; this puts us in the category of vehicles 'moving fairly fast', though anyone riding without due care and attention will be taken to one side and spoken to 'firmly'. Seeing is believing in India. Most riders agree that 80kms per hour is fast.

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• I have heard driving in India can be quite dangerous?

  The rules of the road are different in India. Although they drive on the left (as do Britons and very few others) it doesn't necessarily mean their vehicles will remain on the left. On the Indian plains bus drivers are the race leaders and all other vehicles in a loosely defined heiarchy, give way in turn to the oncoming vehicle.

  Trucks give way to buses, cars to trucks, motorcycles to cars etc.  Any advanced driving skills you may have acquired in the western world will not fully prepare you for conditions in India.

  We always ride with care, caution and at safe speeds. Our motorcycles are powerful enough to get out of most situations, except perhaps when two buses are approching at full speed on both sides of the road. In such circumstances get off the road. Constantly planning your 'escape route' is a Must when riding motorcycles (even in India).

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• Will I be able to manage the right hand side gear change?

  If you have ridden older British motorcycles you will be familiar with the right hand gear change. We expect you as an experienced rider to be make such a descision yourself.

  Given some notice we will try to supply a motorcycle with a left hand gear change, although it is not always possible.

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• What capacity motorcycles do we ride?

  All our motorcycles are Standard 500cc Royal Enfields. They have a good front disc brake and an electric starter, they have a 4 speed gearbox and have a right hand gear lever.

  Our motorcycles are no more than 2 to 3 years old and all are maintained to the highest standards by skilled and experienced mechanics.

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• Will we have to pay for our own petrol?

  No. We have included fuel, oil maintenance and the motorcycle itself in your Tour price. We always try to fill at the same petrol pump and one payment is easier than say ten to manage each day.

  Where necessary we carry extra fuel with us, either on the motorcycle or in the support jeep.

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• What happens if/when my motorcycle fails me or if I break it?

  On normal Tours a mechanic and his helper travel behind us in the Support Jeep. They carry a range of spares
  to cover most failures. In the case of minor accidents and where ever possible they will maintain the motorcycles to keep them in the Tour.

  If a motorcycle is damaged beyond repair and we possible can, we will make arrangements to send for a replacement, though sometimes we are too far from base to arrange replacements. In that case a rider can continue with the Tour in the support jeep.

  A deposit of 100 euros is taken in cash before every Tour to cover damage to motorcycles. If your motorcycle is returned in a satisfactory condition (given the ride conditions) your deposit is refunded.

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• What happens if I hurt myself and cannot continue on the Tour?

  In the event that you are injured in a road accident and require hospitalising. The Tour leader will work as hard and as fast as possible to arrange your transfer to a hospital, though you must appreciate that sometimes we are in remote locations and possibly even two days drive to the nearest hospital.

  If your injuries permit and you choose to remain with the group and there is space you can ride in the Support Jeep.

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• What shall I do if I get separated from the group on the highway?

  We always issue contact mobile phone numbers (your Mobile Phone might work perfectly in Delhi, but it won't work in J&K). Always keep an eye open for other riders in your group.

  If you do get lost or separated do not wander far away, wait or call a number on the Contact List and we'll come and find you. It's very unusual to get lost (completely).

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• Will I have my own tool kit and spares?

  In larger groups it is easier to leave the tools and spares with the Support Jeep and mechanics.

  If we are riding in a smaller group and maybe without the support jeep and its mechanics, then we will all carry the essential spares and tools to keep the bike roadworthyas far as possible. "Bullets go a long way even when they are injured."

  Road Captains and Outriders are all proficient in changing the usual failed components and conducting basic roadside repairs.

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• I can't read or speak Hindi, will I be able to manage?

  We always have at least one native Hindi speaker in the Group and our Road Captains and Outriders can all speak Hindi; with varying degrees of proficiency. Learning a few handy words or phrases will always help.

  If you ever have a problem and you find yourself alone, often you can quickly find the person who can speak (a little) English in a crowd, they will always push to the front to help you!

  Watch and listen carefully and you'll probably find they are speaking English anyway. Always remain polite, smile, SPEAK SOWLY and use SIMPLE WORDS and locals will generally provide all the help you require.

  Tourists have been know to travel the length and breadth of India on the kindness of locals.

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How do I Discuss, Book, Pay For or Cancel a Booking?

Some answers to questions you may have about Discussing, Booking, Paying For and possibly Cancelling a place on a Tour. If your Question is not answered here, please use the Email Form in Contact US and ask your question.

• How can I discuss a Tour with you?

  The easiest way to discuss the details of a Tour or you particular requirements is by telephone. If you let us know your phone number and mobile phone number, by writing to us either with the Reserve A Tour Place Form or the with the Email Form in Contact Us.

  If you are the other side of the globe, email is probably fine.

  Alternatively you can leave a phone message for us on our London of a Skype Voice Mail through Skype.

  My Skype Name is: peterfrancon.

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• Can I Reserve a place on a Tour?

  Certainly we will accept reservations for places on Tours.  Use the Reserve A Place On A Tour form and we will reserve you a place on you chosen tour.

  After some correspondence and when you are certain you wish to ride, we will get back to you with Payment Details.

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• How do I book a place on a Tour?

  Normally we will have discussed the details of your Tour by email or phone before you make a Tour booking.

  We will accept your booking by Email or FAX.

  When you confirm that you want to come on a Tour, we will send you payment Instructions and the Tour Joining Instructions.

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• How do I pay for my Tour?

  We ask that you pay for your Tour in Two parts.

  The Deposit Payment is 40% of the Tour Price, securing your place(s) on the Tour.

  We ask that Deposits are paid as early as is reasonably possible before a Tour Start Date. Your Deposit 'anchors' a Tour departure and knowing numbers and special/personal preferences helps us prepare well in advance.

  Deposit Payments can be made either by PayPal or Bank Transfer. Deposit Payment instructions will be sent out by Email after you confirm your tour place booking verbally or by email.

  The Balance Payment, 60% of the Tour Price, is payable on arrival in India or Nepal and we ask that it be paid in Indian Rupees or US Dollars (or Nepali Rupees in Nepal) on arrival for your Tour.

  We ask this because we incur large and variable costs en-route and having the money with us solves numerous banking problems. We can advise you on the different, secure and reliable exchange methods available in India and Nepal.

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• Why do I have to make a Deposit Payment?

  We ask that Deposits are paid as early as is reasonably possible before a Tour Start Date. Your Deposit 'anchors' a Tour departure and knowing numbers and special/personal preferences helps us prepare well in advance.

  The Deposit Payment is 40% of the Tour price.

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• Will I have to pay for Single Accommodation?

  Singles can opt for a single room for an additional fee of €50 (Tibet Overland Tours are more costly in this respect and can be high as €100 - but we will confirm this at the time of booking).

  Generally we put singles of the same gender together sharing a twin room (or a double + single bed room).

  Sometimes on a Tour single accommodation is available at no extra charge.

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• Can I pay for the whole Tour with one payment?
  You can pay for the whole Tour in one Payment, in particular for late entries.

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• What if I want/have to cancel my Tour?
  If you want or need to cancel your booking and the Tour is drawing near - say two or three weeks away, we may already have incurred costs due to your booking, in which case we may have to make deductions. But we understand that good causes are always deserving.

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• What are your Cancellation Terms?

  Our Cancellation Terms are fair. If you've paid your deposit and you want to or have to cancel, then provided your cancellation doesn't jeopardise the success of the Tour, we generally refund you in full.

  If we have incurred expenses due to your booking, we may have to make small deductions.

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• What if I am going to arrive late for my Tour?

  If you think you may be late or delayed, try to contact us. Remember to bring our Contact Numbers and your mobile phone (switch on International Roaming) and we will do our utmost to arrange a rendezvous 'further up the road'.

  In reality it is best to try and arrive at least a day before your Tour departs.

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